Seeing him act this way, Noble Consort Li was having none of it; she knew her own son better than anyone.
Her face was cold, her tone interrogating. "What? Are you going to do what you did at Huiji Gate during the petition to ascend, fearing the civil and military officials like tigers and wolves, cowering in Ciqing Palace and not daring to step outside!?"
She showed no mercy to her son, for this was not the first time Zhu Yijun had acted like this.
Several days earlier, the civil and military officials had submitted a formal petition at Huiji Gate urging him to ascend the throne. According to court etiquette, Zhu Yijun had to decline in person at least once.
Yet he had been so timid and frightened that he shrank from showing his face at all. In the end, backed into a corner, he had merely sent out a verbal decree to brush past the matter.
That had nearly infuriated Noble Consort Li to death, and she had given him a severe dressing-down afterward.
And today, at the Wenhua Hall routine court, when representatives of the army and the common folk alongside the civil and military officials were set to petition him once more, Zhu Yijun was hiding in his palace again and refusing to go out. How could she not be beside herself with rage?
Carrying this body's memories, Zhu Yijun naturally understood what was going on.
He sighed inwardly. It was little wonder that even after the Wanli Emperor's royal wedding in history, Lady Li had been unwilling to return government authority to him. With such a temperament, it was truly hard for her to place her trust and reliance in him.
Gathering his thoughts, he adopted a solemn expression and spoke: "Mother Consort, Imperial Father was barely thirty years old, flourishing like the spring, with a long and prosperous reign ahead. Who could have foreseen that he would suddenly pass away and forsake all under heaven?
"My heart was pierced with grief, as though cast into boiling water and flames. For a moment I lost my bearings, which was why I acted so inappropriately last time. After Mother Consort's reprimand, I have engaged in deep self-reflection over the past two days, and there is no reason I would commit the same mistake again.
"Today, I truly did not delay on purpose."
Zhu Yijun was not choosing his words so carefully to show off; these were simply phrases from the previous formal refusal, which he now cited to show that he had taken her rebuke to heart. In everyday speech, he would never talk like this.
It was a clumsy tactic, yet perfectly suited to the psychology of a child his age.
In short, the message was: Imperial Father died suddenly, and he, a fine crown prince, was designated to ascend the throne in the blink of an eye. Naturally, a little panic was only normal. Now that he had come to his senses, he would do it right next time! Mother, please stop scolding.
Sure enough, seeing his orderly demeanor, respectful speech, and calm composure, Lady Li's expression softened slightly.
Yet she did not let him off easily. Furrowing her brows, she asked, "The military, the commoners, and the hundred officials are all waiting in Wenhua Hall. What reason do you have to dawdle inside the palace?"
Noble Consort Li came from humble origins and had later become a palace maid, so her manner of speaking was naturally unpolished.
Her tone was stern, making it clear that without a proper reason, another harsh scolding was inevitable.
Just as her words fell, Zhu Yijun looked up at her, the rims of his eyes faintly red.
As if struggling to hold back his sorrow, he said clearly, "Mother, during the celestial dog's eclipse of the sun just now, it felt as though I was seized by a nightmare.
"I vaguely saw Imperial Father standing right here in the hall. He looked so kind and loving, reaching out to take my hand and smiling at me. But when I reached out to touch him, I could not reach him no matter what."
At this point, though his expression remained taut, tears streamed down his cheeks, and an uncontrollable sob crept into his voice.
This was the prowess of a veteran actor, effortless and natural.
Seeing him like this, Noble Consort Li froze.
Looking at Zhu Yijun's grieving face, she suddenly remembered with a dazed realization that this mischievous son she had spent days constantly criticizing was, in the end, only a ten-year-old child who had abruptly lost his father.
Perhaps he had not slept well these past few days and had succumbed to a nightmare.
For a moment, her heart softened.
She almost bent down to comfort him tenderly, but stopped herself abruptly, snuffing out the impulse.
He was about to ascend the throne as emperor. The nine provinces, the vast lands, and all the common folk under heaven were about to be placed upon his shoulders. How could he afford to be weak?
In extraordinary times, one had to steel one's heart in raising a child so that he could shoulder great responsibilities early on!
At this thought, Noble Consort Li immediately frowned and reprimanded him severely: "Look at you! Where are your manners?"
Naturally, Zhu Yijun had not done this just to play the victim. He took a step back and bowed once more.
Wiping his face haphazardly, he said in a resolute tone, "Mother Consort, I am not weeping out of self-pity, but because of what Imperial Father said just now. I was simply overcome with grief."
His reply left another hook for Lady Li.
Sure enough, hearing his words, Noble Consort Li immediately seized on the key point.
Her expression shifted in startled disbelief, and she asked uncertainly, "The late emperor left further instructions?"
Noble Consort Li had revered Buddhism since youth, and toward matters of ghosts and spirits, she had always preferred to believe rather than disbelieve.
In history, she would even advocate releasing all death row inmates out of concern that executions harmed heavenly harmony.
Earlier, when Zhu Yijun spoke, she had assumed it was merely a nightmare and had not thought much of it. But now he claimed the late emperor had left words behind—this was a manifestation of his spirit!
Her thoughts immediately drifted toward the supernatural.
At this thought, the look in Noble Consort Li's eyes grew considerably more serious as she waited for his reply.
Beside them, Feng Bao's body stiffened at once.
He was terrified that the Crown Prince had been manipulated by treacherous persons into uttering some shocking pronouncement.
Having engaged in political struggles for years, he possessed keen instincts; he had seen such tactics far too often!
After all, he had just ousted Meng Chong from the position of Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Meng Chong had once wielded great power, and seeing his fortunes slipping away, there was no telling what venomous scheme he might hatch!
Moreover, Meng Chong had a patron in the Grand Secretariat—Gao Gong, who viewed Feng Bao as a thorn in his side.
That was the Senior Grand Secretary of the court! A veteran minister spanning three reigns!
Feng Bao had recently seized on a vulnerability of Gao Gong's and was currently plotting to launch an attack against him. It was not impossible that Gao Gong had caught wind of it and was moving to strike first!
In an instant, a hundred thoughts raced through Feng Bao's mind. He stared fixedly at Zhu Yijun, anxious only that he had no room to interject.
Zhu Yijun felt Feng Bao's gaze, but ignored it.
With tear stains still on his small face, he appeared innocent and pitiful. "I vaguely heard Imperial Father instruct me, saying... saying... that the three of us, a widow and orphans, have only each other to rely upon, and that I must be deeply filial to Mother Consort and the Empress; otherwise, he could not rest in peace."
The empress he spoke of was naturally the late emperor's empress, his ritual mother, which was why he referred to the three of them as a widow and orphans.
Upon hearing this, Feng Bao let out a quiet sigh of relief.
There was nothing out of line in those words.
Unfortunately, that relief came only because Feng Bao was trapped within the game, his perspective limited. He had no inkling that Zhu Yijun's real goal was to curry favor with Noble Consort Li!
This was the subtle art of moistening things silently.
One had to understand that power could not be seized in a few quick words.
No matter what, when he ascended the throne now, he would effectively be a child emperor.
There was no power vacuum; since he could not exercise imperial authority, that authority naturally fell into Lady Li's hands.
Therefore, if he wanted to rule in his own right, the key lay with this imperial mother.
If she insisted on entrusting state affairs to the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Grand Secretariat, Zhu Yijun would have a very long wait ahead.
In history, this Lady Li had withheld full authority from him even after his royal wedding.
How could that be allowed?
If he spent ten years on the throne without governing, what could he achieve?
If he could not spread his wings and take charge of state affairs as early as possible, what use was his modern knowledge that surpassed this era? How could he make the Great Ming great again?
Since his original self had been unreliable and left Lady Li so uneasy, he naturally had to learn from that failure, starting with subtle gestures to gradually instill confidence in her.
Thus, every aspect of his performance just now had been staged for Lady Li.
From his measured demeanor to his refined phrasing and diction, down to this emotional appeal, all of it was meant to show Lady Li what he was capable of and reshape her mindset.
In short, he had to let her know that her son was exceptionally intelligent, astute in state affairs, filial and benevolent—in a word, completely dependable!
For a woman of commoner origins who had not yet been deeply immersed in political cynicism, playing the emotional card was the most effective approach.
In history, Lady Li's reluctance to return power had stemmed partly from viewing the Wanli Emperor as a perpetual child.
Partly, it had likely also been because the political landscape had stabilized over her prolonged exercise of influence, making her reluctant to disrupt it.
Therefore, the groundwork had to begin early!
What sense was there in trusting outsiders over her own flesh and blood?
Fortunately, Zhu Yijun was different. Techniques for connecting with older women in an office setting came naturally to him. Moreover, with the face of an eight-year-old child, he possessed natural deceptiveness. Even Feng Bao at his most vigilant had merely wondered if the prince was being coached; how could Noble Consort Li suspect anything?
Since he had an advantage, he naturally had to exploit it fully.
Today was merely an appetizer.
He would have to perform even better going forward!
It was precisely for this reason that he had laid the groundwork with his final remark.
He needed a reason—a justification for a sudden awakening.
The Crown Prince, mourning the late emperor, had cast off his former habits and resolved to strive forward. That was an explanation that would hold up anywhere!
What a magnificent narrative. In his previous life, he could have spun ten different administrative reports out of it without repeating a single point.
Sure enough, under Zhu Yijun's barrage of moves, Noble Consort Li was finally moved.
A trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes.
The late emperor had passed away so suddenly, leaving behind a widow and orphans while the ruler was young and the nation uncertain. These words struck right at her soft spot, resonating deeply within her.
Her lips trembled, leaving her momentarily speechless.
She merely looked down at Zhu Yijun, slowly extended her hand, and firmly wiped away the tear tracks on his face.
Only after a long moment did Noble Consort Li say with a solemn expression, "If that is so, my son, you must devote yourself all the more to learning and cultivating virtue, never growing lazy or neglected, so as not to fail your imperial father's expectations.
"It has been over three months since you formally began your studies outside the inner quarters. Whenever I asked about your progress, the lecturers all hesitated to speak. If your heart is truly in this, then before the Classics Colloquium convenes, you must thoroughly read and master the Four Books and the Five Classics."
She paused, then added, "Do not, as you did before, show enthusiasm for two or three days only to slip right back into sloth."
The Crown Prince's departure from the inner quarters to begin instruction was merely elementary schooling focused on literacy and recitation; the Classics Colloquium, by contrast, involved the emperor analyzing the classics and studying political philosophy in depth. There was a clear distinction between the two.
Hearing this, Zhu Yijun felt momentarily choked up.
He sighed inwardly. So having intermittent bursts of great ambition was a bad habit everyone had on their record, was it? What a pitfall.
It seemed Lady Li would not be so easy to win over. Although her attitude had softened somewhat, the road ahead remained long.
Still, it had produced some effect. He had time on his side; this was not something accomplished overnight, but a matter of water dripping through stone.
He nodded heavily and said in a childish voice, "Mother Consort's reprimand is just. I will surely not fail the hopes of Imperial Father, Mother Consort, and Her Majesty the Empress!
"From now on, I will diligently pursue learning and cultivate virtue, mastering the Four Books and the Five Classics as swiftly as possible so that Mother Consort and Her Majesty the Empress may examine me!"
With that, he cupped his hands in a bow toward the residence of his ritual mother, the Empress, signaling that he had kept the late emperor's words regarding the three of them firmly in mind, without omitting anyone.
Noble Consort Li neither praised nor rebuked him.
"Let us go. A nine-story terrace begins with a mound of earth. I will escort you outside Wenhua Hall. Once inside, display your imperial dignity properly before the civil and military officials. You must not shrink back as you did before."
She then took Zhu Yijun's hand and led him outward. Flanked and surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, the two made their way toward Wenhua Hall.
Wenhua Hall was the venue for imperial court deliberations, an informal palace hall for the emperor. Under years of established political consensus, the inner court had no right even to step inside, so she could only escort him to its exterior.
Back when Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, ascended the throne at age nine, someone had requested that his grandmother, Grand Empress Dowager Zhang, listen to politics from behind a curtain. That had sparked a fierce debate, which ultimately settled when Grand Empress Dowager Zhang declared, "Do not violate the ancestral regulations."
Today, Lady Li was not even the principal empress, so naturally she dared not transgress ancestral systems and established laws.
The entourage had just exited Ciqing Palace.
They had walked only a few paces when they saw a eunuch carrying a lantern running toward them in a frantic hurry.
Noble Consort Li's brows knitted at once. She saw clearly that the newcomer was coming from the direction of Wenhua Hall. At such a critical juncture, what could have happened for him to rush over like this?
Naturally, there was no need for her to ask in person.
Feng Bao immediately took a step forward, seized the young eunuch, and struck him across the face with a slap. "Blind fool, are you trying to collide with the royal procession!?"
Struck so abruptly, the young eunuch dared not argue.
Clutching his face, he fell to his knees with a thud and gasped for breath: "Noble Consort, Your Royal Highness, I have an urgent matter to report!
"Senior Grand Secretary Gao Gong waited long for the Crown Prince without his arrival. Just now in the hall, he said to this servant: 'It has turned out just as expected. The Crown Prince is surely not coming again. Go fetch another verbal decree, you wretch.'
"This servant did not dare act on his own authority, and hurried over to report!"
Zhu Yijun's heart gave a jolt. Inconspicuously, he glanced at Feng Bao, who had stepped aside with eyes lowered toward his nose and his nose toward his heart.
Inwardly, he thought: This is bad.
Chapter 2