Chapter 4, Eastern Palace

Just the thought that he might be the Hongguang Emperor who reigned for only one year made Fuba feel a bit dizzy

If this is indeed the time of the Ming Dynasty, then it is highly likely that we are currently in the Wanli era

Zhu Changluo waved his hand and said: "Officer Yang means well. Since there are already officials from the Eastern Palace, these matters should not be handled by you. I believe Officer Yang and his colleagues will take care of it privately."

The attendant Wang An immediately comforted Zhu Changluo, saying: "Young master, rest assured, I have already contacted several honorable gentlemen, and soon there will be a memorial submitted urging Prince Fu to take up his fief."

"Useless!" Zhu Changluo shook his head. "Over the years, how many memorials have been submitted regarding Prince Fu's fiefdom? Either my father has kept them in the palace without response, or he has demoted the officials who presented them under the pretext of sowing discord among the royal family. What does this indicate? My father simply does not want Prince Fu to take up a fief!"

Therefore, for the time being, let us accept the situation as it is and make ourselves comfortable with it

Soon, Fu Ba awakened from his thoughts. Indeed, he had not yet confirmed the time and space he was in. What was the point of thinking so much? If he was mistaken, wouldn't that be a waste of brain cells?

However, although there are speculations, it is not so easy to ascertain. What if the guess is wrong? It may not be the Ming Dynasty, but rather another unfamiliar dynasty resulting from a distortion of time and space. At that point, Fu Ba's understanding of Ming history would be of no use.

Yang Daobin then pointedly remarked: "The Dao De Jing states: 'Only by not contending can one be unmatched in the world; what is meant by 'bending preserves' is not mere empty words. I hope Your Highness can deeply appreciate and carefully consider this. It must be understood that the rightful position of the Eastern Palace is the result of over ten years of effort by all the subjects of the realm. Even if the Sovereign wishes to go back on this, all the subjects of the world would not agree. In this case, why should the Eastern Palace be in a hurry?"

Clear stream? Unwilling!

No, it should be to grow up as soon as possible

Zhu Changluo also said in a barely audible voice: "We must not leave any traces, and at that time, we must ensure that the other side is completely locked down"

The Eastern Palace official Yang Daobin, sitting over there, also remarked: "Since the position of the heir has been established, the Eastern Palace should maintain tranquility and not allow the feelings of filial piety and brotherly love to become a source of concern for the sovereign. The intentions of Lord Wang are good, but in the future, he must not recklessly engage with those in the examination system. Although it may be presented by the Ministry of Rites, if the security forces truly wish to investigate, they may very well find leads that lead back to the Eastern Palace!"

Wang An responded and left, while Yang Daobin expressed his satisfaction, saying: "Your Highness is truly a wise ruler"

However, if it were during the reign of Emperor Shen Zong, then I would be the eldest son of Prince Fu. The fate of Prince Fu was not very good, and his eldest son was none other than Emperor Hongguang of the Southern Ming dynasty

If it were merely verbal attacks, it could be overlooked; however, the members of the Donglin Party continuously undermined the situation, even instigating the father and son of Zuo Liangyu to eliminate the emperor's side, which ultimately led to the complete opening of the Southern Ming's gates and the total destruction of the Hongguang regime

Young Master, the Prince of Fortune and his wife have once again brought the young prince into the palace to pay their respects to the sovereign

These two words fell into Fu Ba's ears, instantly prompting him to associate them with something

It is important to note that the Hongguang regime was the only government in Southern Ming that adhered to the principles of succession and propriety. The downfall of the Hongguang regime signified the complete loss of opportunity for the anti-Qing forces in southern China to unite as one. This ultimately led to the sinking of the divine land and a prolonged period of humiliation lasting two to three hundred years in the future

Indeed, it was not impossible during the Jiajing era, as throughout the history of the Ming Dynasty, the only instances of succession disputes occurred during the reigns of the Xuanzong, Shizong, and Shenzong; however, when the Yingzong ascended the throne, he was still young and had no offspring with the Prince of Cheng; furthermore, during the Shizong era, there was the anecdote of the two dragons not being able to meet, which contradicts the fact that he had met the emperor multiple times; in addition, having seen the grandmother consort in the palace, thus the Shenzong era is the most likely.

However, after Yang Daobin's departure, Wang An reappeared before Zhu Changluo, saying, "Young master, Officer Yang is somewhat pedantic"

Wang An retreated once again, while Zhu Changluo cast a cold and grim look towards the direction of the Qianqing Palace, his fists clenched tightly, and his eyes revealed a deep-seated hatred!

Zhu Changluo nodded and then shook his head: "Wang Banban is absolutely right; there are some matters that the scholars can handle, which the inner servants cannot. However, on the other hand, whether the position of the Eastern Palace will change ultimately depends on a word from Father Emperor, so we must be prepared for the worst outcome"

However, Zhu Changluo gritted his teeth for a long time without uttering a single curse. Instead, his expression gradually softened, and he replaced it with the weak and lecherous demeanor he usually displayed in front of others.

Although Prince Zhu Changluo was relatively late in his formal studies, he was quite intelligent. Therefore, after listening to Yang Daobin's words, he immediately said to Wang An: "Wang Banban, now that we have clarified the details, do not add unnecessary embellishments in the future"

Wang Anying replied, "Please rest assured, young master, if it cannot be done, I would rather not act at all"

Thus, Fu Ba became lively again, resuming the life of a rice weevil characterized by eating, making a fuss, excreting, and then sleeping...

Thus, having truly arrived in the time and space of the Ming Dynasty, one can respond even earlier

Wang An immediately displayed an expression of sudden realization: "What I said is correct. Since they are the officials of the Eastern Palace, their honor and disgrace are naturally tied to mine. It is indeed inappropriate for the eunuchs to handle certain matters. Instead, having these scholars, who share the same year, the same list, the same school, and the same hometown, take care of it would yield twice the result with half the effort"

However, if one reads other materials carefully, it becomes evident that Hongguang did not commit any heinous acts. Taking in concubines was quite normal, as at that time Hongguang had no heirs, and in order to ensure the continuation of the dynasty, it was necessary to take in more consorts. Moreover, he was a good emperor who governed with a light hand. The real issue was that the power of the Hongguang regime had fallen into the hands of the so-called "eunuch faction" led by Ma Shiying, which caused dissatisfaction among the "gentlemen" of the Donglin Party and the Restoration Society. Thus, the combination of new grievances and old resentments led to their malicious attacks on Hongguang.

After confirming his expression was correct for the third time, Zhu Changluo loudly commanded outside, "Immediately summon Li from the West..."

After listening to the report from the eunuch, Crown Prince Zhu Changluo smiled wryly and said, "Wang Banban, it is normal for Fu Ba to call his mother and grandfather at 8 months and to walk by himself at 10 months. It is only natural that His Majesty and Consort Zheng cherish him like a treasure. Unfortunately, I do not have such fortune myself"

Yang Daobin is not wrong; at present, Emperor Wanli is in good health, and the leaders of the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei dare not overly align themselves with the Eastern Palace, nor would they dare to cover up the actions of the officials of the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Changluo nodded slightly and said, "This is the best way, so go ahead!"

Wang An lowered his voice and said, "The servant understands and has already begun to arrange that move."

Indeed, due to the struggle for the national foundation, the Donglin Party portrayed the father and son of the Fuwang and Hongguang in an extremely unfavorable light. Meanwhile, the Qing court, in order to demonstrate its legitimacy in replacing the Ming dynasty, continued to vilify the emperors of the Ming era. As a result, the Fuwang came to understand Hongguang as a buffoon