Chapter 001: The Emperor's Diligence in Learning
For the emperor personally, it is naturally a crucial opportunity to win the hearts of scholars across the realm, allowing them to recognize him as a capable ruler.
The greatest difference is that in this life, Zhu Yijun possesses a soul from a future era.
However, this was merely casual attire. After finishing his breakfast, Zhu Yijun changed into a grand outfit of red silk embroidered with golden dragons, adorned with jade accessories, and then, yawning, he boarded the palanquin, carried by the inner eunuchs, to pay his respects to the two empress dowagers.
Thus, whether the emperor is willing to hold a scripture lecture and whether he can earnestly complete it are related to the harmony or opposition between the emperor and the bureaucratic gentry.
Zhu Yijun still found this intriguing
Due to the lingering emotional memories of the original owner, the thought of meeting Empress Li suddenly caused Zhu Yijun to feel a moment of panic, instantly experiencing a sense of social anxiety
The spring chill is biting, and the morning light is faint.
At that moment, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside the warm pavilion, and a eunuch called out.
However, the more one fears something, the more likely it is to come to pass
Before long, Zhu Yijun, under the service of the palace maids, donned the Yishan crown and wore the embroidered round-collared robe, truly embodying the appearance of an emperor
People only flatter the source of their power
Adding some interest, doesn't it amount to at least ten books?
The Forbidden City, with its palace lanterns still aglow, has just revealed its vermilion silhouette
Returning to the topic, knowing that the true constraint on his imperial power in the future would not come from Zhang Juzheng, but rather from the entire bureaucratic group, Zhu Yijun did not mind Zhang Juzheng usurping his authority; he was solely focused on nurturing his own ambitions
On the second day of the second month in the first year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty
The palace eunuchs and maidens on night duty were startled when they heard the sound and turned to look.
Otherwise, where would one place their dignity in front of the emperor
Immediately thereafter, Empress Dowager Li issued a command
The biological mother, Lady Li, formed a political alliance with the Chief Eunuch and concurrently the Supervisor of the Eastern Depot, Feng Bao, and the Chief Minister, Zhang Juzheng, which was referred to as the "Iron Triangle," thereby limiting his imperial power
It is important to note that he is now a young ruler, which can be described as a situation where the youth leads and the state is in doubt
To this end, he took the initiative to rise early and personally pushed open the palace doors
Standing in the Qianqing Palace of the city, Zhu Yijun cast his gaze out the window, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth
After experiencing a series of psychological changes marked by panic, irritability, confusion, and eventual acceptance over several days, he came to accept his identity as the Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty
Moreover, if this emperor were to consider the long-term interests of the Ming Dynasty, he might need to control the extent of the bureaucratic group's retaliation against the Zhang Juzheng family
Thus, even though the early spring weather is still quite chilly, Empress Dowager Li will urge the palace maids to wake the Emperor before dawn, without considering that Zhu Yijun is only ten years old, an age when one tends to enjoy sleeping.
Even Zhu Yijun knew that he did not need to consider what means to use in the future to suppress this iron triangle, especially to suppress Zhang Juzheng
Quickly attend to the Emperor's washing!
Among the two empress dowagers, the most powerful is naturally Empress Dowager Li
In fact, as long as he does not act recklessly, this iron triangle will not seek to create trouble, at the cost of undermining the Confucian principle of legitimate succession to replace the emperor
Just say that I have a slight headache, which is why I got up late, and ask the emperor to wait outside
In the Ariake era, high-ranking court ladies were referred to as "Madam".
However, the second day of the second month in the first year of the Wanli era is not a date of significant historical importance
Empress Dowager Li then instructed the lady, saying: "You go to see Feng Bao and have him immediately inform the gentlemen outside about the Emperor's virtue of diligent study"
Your Majesty! The Emperor has arrived
If the fate of Zhang Juzheng's family is too tragic, then in the future, no chancellor of the Ming Dynasty will dare to offend the bureaucrats for the sake of the state and the people
The lady beside Empress Dowager Li also smiled and said: "Your Majesty is eager to learn, all thanks to the excellent guidance of Her Highness."
Empress Dowager Li truly did not wish for her son, the Emperor, to be late due to his oversleeping, which would delay the imperial court meeting and lead the ministers to perceive the current Emperor as lazy
The Grand Lecture, on the surface, serves the political purpose of having the lecturers read Confucian classics and history for the emperor. However, in the Ming Dynasty, which governed by the principles of propriety, its deeper significance symbolizes the emperor's willingness to adhere to the rites in governing the state and his aspiration to become a wise ruler, thus heralding an era of great governance for the realm
Therefore, Zhu Yijun, who is already aware of the historical development, does not mind the actions of certain powerful ministers like Zhang Juzheng, nor does he care that Qi Jiguang, a national hero, acted as Zhang Juzheng's lackey by presenting two Persian beauties to him
To ensure the proper care of her son Zhu Yijun, Empress Li had originally lived in the same palace as Zhu Yijun, even sharing a bed. It was only in the first year of the Wanli era that she moved to the warm chamber.
Moreover, if it were not for Zhang Juzheng being a politician who was also adept at statecraft, Qijiguang, as a military general, might not even have qualified to be Zhang Juzheng's subordinate.
Come here, go and announce that His Majesty should awaken
If he were to exhibit even a slight deviation from the expected qualities of a benevolent sovereign in this era, there would be a possibility of his being deposed
Therefore, Zhu Yijun knows that he cannot act on impulse at this moment; he must endure for now and wait until he grows up smoothly before making any decisions
Because this day is the date for the new emperor to hold the imperial lecture
Because in the future, without waiting for this emperor to take action, the bureaucratic groups will actively attack Zhang Juzheng, and even if Zhang Juzheng is dead, he will not be spared by the bureaucrats
After washing up, Empress Dowager Li couldn't help but smile at the corners of her mouth, saying to the head palace maid beside her: "Madam, my son has actually taken the initiative to rise early!"
Empress Dowager Li was momentarily taken aback after hearing this
However, in the present Ming Dynasty, it is a significant day, especially for the privileged bureaucratic class of the entire Ming Empire
Of course, Zhu Yijun was merely thinking this way.
After the Empress Dowager gave her instructions, she hurriedly got out of bed
As long as he grows up smoothly, his rightful power will naturally return to him, provided he does not make any mistakes during this period
Having not yet come to power and lacking accumulated popularity, Zhu Yijun naturally did not dare to be negligent in this imperial lecture
Because historically, his biological mother, Lady Li, had threatened to depose him due to his mistakes and allow his younger brother, the Prince of Lu, to ascend the throne
Empress Dowager Li may not be aware that the impression left by Emperor Wanli in history on the scholar-officials is characterized primarily by laziness, rather than by incompetence or tyranny
Many people hold a sense of tension and gravity for this day of the Baohua Book Fair
However, the current Zhu Yijun is no longer the same Wanli Emperor from history
Even after moving to another palace, Empress Dowager Li still did not relax her supervision over Zhu Yijun. Accustomed to being cautious, she feared that her son might exhibit any behavior unworthy of a benevolent sovereign due to her negligence in discipline, which would also tarnish her own reputation.
The palace maids hurried over to assist her with her ablutions
Zhu Yijun was only concerned about the fact that Qi Jiguang sent two courtesans to Zhang Juzheng, and when he himself would eventually hold power, would he not deserve to receive five courtesans from Qi Jiguang?
is not
During the Wanli era, there were two Empress Dowagers: the Empress Dowager Ren Sheng, born Chen, who was the legal mother, and the Empress Dowager Ci Sheng, born Li, who was the biological mother
After all, I am the emperor! How could I be inferior to the Prime Minister
The Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty did not refer to herself as "the grieving family," as mentioned in Fan Shuzhi's "History of the Late Ming." On the eve of the wedding of Emperor Wanli, the Empress Dowager Cisheng conveyed a message to Wanli, stating, "Tell the Emperor that your wedding is about to take place, and I shall return to the palace..." This serves to corroborate that Empress Dowager Li primarily referred to herself as "I."
Empress Dowager Li resided in the warm chamber of the side hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity
Zhu Yijun cannot grant power to Qi Jiguang at present; it is Zhang Juzheng who can bestow power upon Qi Jiguang. Therefore, even if Qi Jiguang truly wishes to accomplish tangible deeds for the state and its people, he cannot afford to offend Zhang Juzheng.