"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Your Highness."
The assembled ministers and officials bowed in salute one after another.
Many of the officials were laying eyes on this heir apparent of the Great Ming for the first time, yet nearly all had heard something of his disposition—pure-minded and simple, cautious and timid.
During the previous petition urging him to ascend, intimidated by the sheer throng of soldiers, civilians, and civil and military officials, he had not even dared to show his face.
In the minds of the ministers, an evaluation of mere mediocre ability was inevitable.
Yet, seeing him in person today, his deportment was unexpectedly measured and his speech clear, not in the least dull or tongue-tied like the rumors claimed.
None could resist sizing him up, whether openly or through stolen glances.
As the head of the attending officials for the Crown Prince's lectures, Gao Yi was the most familiar with Zhu Yijun among all the officials. At this moment, he cast frequent glances his way, astonished to find that the Crown Prince seemed to have been thoroughly reborn.
At his side, Gao Gong bowed with keen interest in his eyes, inwardly guessing just how long Noble Consort Li must have drilled the Crown Prince to produce such poise and speech.
Only Zhang Juzheng maintained an impassive expression, his calm gaze sweeping over in a brief glance.
Zhu Yijun felt their eyes on him and was rather helpless. Did they really think he couldn't see them peeking?
How was this so different from Qing dynasty period dramas? Where was the rule that looking up at the emperor was a capital offense?
Fortunately, it was only because today was his first time holding court that the officials had come outside to receive him as a formality; it wouldn't be this troublesome in the future.
The scene reminded Zhu Yijun of the first time he had stepped through the doors of the municipal government building...
He made an effort to shake the sense of déjà vu from his mind.
This scrutinizing did not last long before Gao Gong stepped forward from the crowd: "The late Emperor has suddenly departed this world, leaving the chief seat of Wenhua Hall vacant. Today, Your Highness the Crown Prince holds court; we, your ministers, feel as if blessed with rain after a long drought, overjoyed beyond measure."
Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi followed immediately behind: "We respectfully welcome Your Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the hall."
The assembled officials echoed their words, inviting the heir apparent to enter the hall.
Zhu Yijun readily complied, striding forward and looking around at the officials once more as he passed.
Key figures from the Six Ministries and Nine Courts were all present. Drawing upon the memories of his predecessor, he matched their names to their faces as best he could.
With head held high, he strode until he arrived before the Grand Secretariat, where he looked up to study the three men carefully.
Senior Grand Secretary Gao Gong—staunch advocate of reforming official administration and rooting out corruption, whom later generations would dub an "old indignant youth."
Associate Grand Secretary Gao Yi—who couldn't afford a house, couldn't afford a house, and couldn't even scrape together enough for funeral expenses.
And Second Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng—with whom he had long communed in spirit: a master of statecraft, yet inept at self-preservation.
This was the leadership team he had to work with.
Yet judging by their expressions, they probably didn't feel the slightest genuine allegiance toward their new sovereign.
This was not going to make carrying out his work any easier.
Lamenting inwardly, Zhu Yijun stopped in his tracks, turned toward Gao Yi, and said with utmost respect, "Teacher."
Gao Yi's heart leaped, and he hurriedly stepped aside to avoid the salute!
"Your Highness, this is not the daily lecture! You must not perform the rites of a student to a teacher!"
As Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince and head of the attending lecture officials, receiving a teacher's salute during lectures conformed to ritual. But what occasion was this? The Crown Prince was ascending the hall to hold court! How could he dare accept such a salute? He hastily turned aside and explained.
Unfortunately, Zhu Yijun was already prepared to latch onto him. A look of sudden realization appeared on his face, yet he did not change his form of address: "Oh, Teacher's reprimand is quite right."
Gao Yi was left speechless. Looking at the innocent and unpretentious heir apparent before him, he opened his mouth, wanting to speak.
Zhu Yijun gave him no chance to speak, turning instead toward Zhang Juzheng.
His gaze was inquisitive. "Grand Secretary Zhang, I have admired you for a long time."
His words carried a double meaning, but he paused only briefly before continuing, "You have worked hard, Grand Secretary Zhang."
The persona Zhu Yijun currently adopted was that of a clever child.
Naturally, his actions could not stray beyond the bounds of a child. He could learn fast, but he could not suddenly understand everything.
Moreover, too much was as bad as too little; history provided ample cautionary tales—young emperors who were too clever tended to "accidentally fall into the water." He hadn't learned to swim yet, so he couldn't afford to be careless.
Thus, he could only engage in simple words and gestures within those limitations.
Zhang Juzheng assumed these were mere pleasantries meant to assert the hierarchy between ruler and subject as heir apparent. He hurried to bow, modestly declining the praise.
Zhu Yijun was inclined to say a few more words to him, but knowing there was plenty of time ahead, he suppressed the urge.
Only then did he turn to the lead actor on today's stage: Gao Gong.
Gao Gong stood quietly where he was, waiting dryly.
He was the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. The heir apparent had exchanged pleasantries with the cabinet ministers but left him for last. He was somewhat displeased, wondering whether this young successor was simply ignorant of propriety or whether Noble Consort Li had failed to teach him properly.
Or perhaps—his peripheral vision flitted toward the head eunuch, Feng Bao—was it this man who had secretly corrupted the prince?
Zhu Yijun did not keep him waiting long, pulling his thoughts back: "Senior Grand Secretary, you just sent someone to tell me that I definitely wouldn't come again. Now that I have come, I ask the Senior Grand Secretary to take back those words."
He stiffened his neck, his eyes filled with solemn earnestness, looking every bit like a child throwing a petulant sulk.
Feng Bao's mouth parted slightly in astonishment.
Gao Gong lifted his gaze in bewilderment.
Gao Yi and the rest of the officials looked on with perplexity.
Zhang Juzheng cast a discreet glance at Feng Bao.
In an instant, a whole spectrum of reactions was laid bare, and Zhu Yijun took it all in.
Surprised, aren't you? Breaking political rules, isn't it? That's right! I am of tender virtue and youth—how would I understand political etiquette? What I embody is the blunt, straightforward temperament of a child! Can't bring this out into the open? Nonsense!
On his way here, he had already devised his plan.
With the trap Feng Bao had laid before Noble Consort Li, Gao Gong was doomed to suffer in silence.
After all, Feng Bao's move was an open scheme.
Even if Gao Gong explained himself to Noble Consort Li, it wouldn't redeem anything.
A person's first impression was the most important—especially a woman's. In Noble Consort Li's heart, the label of Gao Gong being arrogant, overbearing, and intimidating his sovereign could never be peeled off.
What was more, Gao Gong had inevitably said something along those lines. With just a few words, Feng Bao could shift the blame onto the messenger eunuch and continue smearing Gao Gong with half the effort and twice the result.
However, even if Gao Gong had to take a loss, Feng Bao could not be allowed to walk away unscathed.
Had Noble Consort Li remained the arbiter, so be it, but unfortunately for Feng Bao, this matter had landed in Zhu Yijun's hands.
That was the real reason he had paused outside Wenhua Hall to bring this into the open.
Outside the hall, it did not count as official affairs of state, nor did it hinder him from questioning Gao Gong in his capacity as sovereign.
Furthermore, the eunuchs were his household slaves, and he was an involved party; as long as he brought the issue up, he possessed natural standing as arbiter.
Unless both sides joined forces to shut him out, no one could shake his position.
Though this might look like a trivial matter, real power was accumulated step by step by serving as arbiter.
Under the premise that his tender age prevented him from deciding affairs of state, opportunities to play the arbiter were few and far between.
Zhu Yijun watched Gao Gong quietly, waiting for his answer.
Gao Gong truly lived up to the moniker of "old indignant youth." Suffering an unprovoked injustice, he immediately raised his voice, booming impassionedly: "Your Highness! At the time in the hall, I only intended to send someone to the Eastern Palace to request a verbal decree if the Crown Prince insisted on not coming. In fact, no one was even sent, as I was stopped by my colleagues in the Grand Secretariat!"
"Never did I say that the Crown Prince would definitely not come! I do not know which vile eunuch stirred up trouble! I beg Your Highness to see clearly!"
Zhu Yijun gave an inward thumbs-up.
Although Gao Gong lacked high political wisdom, he had no problem identifying his enemy. Calling out "vile eunuch" right from the start paved the way nicely for Zhu Yijun.
He promptly spoke up: "Ah? Just now, a junior eunuch came to report that the Senior Grand Secretary was certain I would definitely not come, which made me quite sad."
Zhu Yijun put on an embarrassed expression, as though ashamed of having misunderstood the Senior Grand Secretary.
As he spoke, he turned to look at that junior eunuch.
The other eunuchs suddenly parted around the young eunuch, leaving him isolated in the open. Terrified, he still clung to a final sliver of hope, his peripheral gaze darting toward Feng Bao.
Feng Bao remained impassive, his eyes drifting half-shut.
Knowing he could not escape unscathed, the young eunuch dropped to his knees before Zhu Yijun with a thud. Terrified, he glanced toward Gao Gong from time to time, stammering, "Your Highness! This servant... this servant has an ear affliction; perhaps I misheard!"
Hearing this, Zhu Yijun could not help but shake his head faintly.
This fellow was determined to walk this dark path to the bitter end.
Had this eunuch merely feared Feng Bao and taken the blame upon himself, Zhu Yijun might have spared his life.
Yet not only did he invent lies to exonerate himself, but he also put on an act as though he had been intimidated by Gao Gong into changing his testimony, thus allowing Feng Bao to frame Gao Gong before Noble Consort Li.
He truly showed not the slightest regard for the heir apparent; he had brought death upon himself.
Gao Gong flew into a rage on the spot: "You vile eunuch! How dare you sow discord between ruler and subject! Who instructed you? Speak the truth at once!"
Zhu Yijun wished he could bury his face in his hands. No wonder Gao Gong couldn't outmaneuver Feng Bao; his methods were far too crude.
The young eunuch kowtowed repeatedly: "This servant wouldn't dare again! This servant wouldn't dare again!"
Zhu Yijun had no patience to watch the young eunuch's performance, nor did he need the man to implicate Feng Bao. He looked at Gao Gong and said seriously, "Senior Grand Secretary, it was I who mistakenly believed slander. I will certainly give you an accounting!"
Without waiting for Gao Gong's reaction, he turned to Feng Bao and said, "Companion, this man has deceived his sovereign and flouted the throne. What should his punishment be?"
Even if he had not yet ascended the throne, he was the heir apparent, so it could naturally be called deceiving the sovereign.
Dealing with eunuch household slaves required no imprisonment or formal trial; one could deal with them right on the spot.
Confronted with this interrogation, Feng Bao seemed like an outsider detached from it all. His voice barely fluctuated as he replied respectfully, "In reply to Your Highness, the crime of deceiving the sovereign warrants death!"
In front of Wenhua Hall, with the heir apparent bringing the pressure of the Grand Secretariat bearing down upon him, Feng Bao was not crazy enough to protect a mere junior eunuch.
This was an expendable pawn prepared from the beginning. He had already taken care of the eunuch's family outside the palace; how could the boy dare not die for him?
Naturally, Gao Gong was not content with punishing a mere junior eunuch; he knew perfectly well who was plotting against him. "The eunuchs previously on duty at Wenhua Hall were inexplicably replaced entirely, and the moment the new ones arrived, we had this little spectacle. Manager Feng, could this be a fine show deliberately orchestrated by the Directorate of Ceremonial?"
Feng Bao lowered his eyelids and said listlessly, "The Senior Grand Secretary should not be overly suspicious. Those previously on duty were dismissed along with Meng Chong by Her Ladyship Noble Consort Li; they were merely filled according to routine."
The moment he brought up Noble Consort Li, no matter how angry Gao Gong was, he could not continue pressing in that direction. He could only fume, "Such a grave crime of deceiving the sovereign—how could a mere petty eunuch dare commit it? How could there be no one behind him!?"
The Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat and the Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial clashed right outside Wenhua Hall, leaving the civil and military officials looking at one another in dismay.
Just then, Zhang Juzheng spoke up: "Senior Grand Secretary, this matter can be discussed later. Today, His Highness holding court is what matters most."
Gao Gong jolted awake, suddenly realizing that the Crown Prince and all the officials were held up outside Wenhua Hall. He had no choice but to rein in his wrath resentfully.
Seeing Gao Gong lose his steam, Feng Bao added in an oily, sarcastic tone, "Indeed, Senior Grand Secretary. His Highness holding court must not be neglected. We in the Directorate of Ceremonial will handle this properly upon returning. We only hope the Senior Grand Secretary will utter fewer startling remarks in the future, lest they invite baseless speculation."
He had covered his tracks cleanly and had nothing to fear wherever it was aired; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared trip up Gao Gong so brazenly.
As the Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial—a post commonly known as the "Inner Prime Minister"—he truly wasn't afraid to lock horns with the Grand Secretariat.
This attitude provoked Gao Gong into renewed fury.
Zhu Yijun watched with keen relish. In his past life, big conferences were always a picture of superficial harmony; a scene so thick with gunpowder like this was truly a rare sight, and he couldn't help but find it novel.
Seeing that the heat was about right, he stepped in: "Senior Grand Secretary, Companion, allow me to say a word."
Feng Bao closed his mouth at once.
Gao Gong still wanted to argue, not giving an inch of face.
Seeing this, Zhu Yijun hurried to continue, giving him no opportunity to interrupt: "I am lacking in virtue and young of age, which has allowed people to bully us, a solitary orphan and widowed mother, and led me to mistakenly trust slander. I must reflect upon myself first."
This was the standard politically correct humility employed by royalty. As if by reflex, the officials fell to their knees en masse.
"Your ministers deserve ten thousand deaths!"
In such a situation, no matter how senior one's credentials were, one had to kneel along with the rest.
Gao Gong could say no more and had to bow immediately: "The villain acted brazenly! How could blame ever fall upon Your Highness!"
Zhu Yijun hurried to help him up: "When the late Emperor was still with us, he often told me, 'If the myriad realms err, the fault lies with my own person.' Though I am not yet emperor, presiding over court today as the heir apparent, I cannot shirk my responsibility."
The officials bowed once more.
Gao Yi felt all the more that after just a few days apart, the heir apparent's speech and deportment truly commanded newfound respect.
Zhu Yijun turned to Zhang Juzheng and said seriously, "Grand Secretary Zhang spoke rightly just now. The ceremonial program deliberated by the Ministry of Rites is of great importance and should not be delayed. However, I have just promised to give the Senior Grand Secretary an accounting. How about I make a ruling and cut the tangled knot swiftly?"
Zhang Juzheng pursed his lips and met his gaze: "Your Highness may exercise your sovereign discretion; we, your ministers, respectfully listen."
As he bowed, his hands tucked inside his sleeves, he rubbed his thumbs continuously, his thoughts churning.
Zhu Yijun nodded, then looked back at Feng Bao: "Companion's words were prudent and seasoned. Since the change of duty in Wenhua Hall was ordered by my Imperial Mother, there is nothing further to investigate. There will always be those who show no respect for ruler or father, so whatever they do is no surprise. Drag him out and cane him to death."
He pointed at the young eunuch, but for a moment, nobody moved.
Only when Feng Bao made a subtle gesture in secret did eunuchs rush forward, gag the boy's mouth, and drag him away by force.
Seeing that sacrificing a mere junior eunuch had ended this farce, Feng Bao sneered inwardly, yet prostrated himself on the ground: "None is wiser than Your Highness!"
Zhu Yijun nodded.
Yet Gao Gong was not satisfied: "Your Highness!"
Zhu Yijun felt a headache coming on. What are you in such a rush for?
He cut him off immediately, pivoting his words: "However, what the Senior Grand Secretary said also makes sense! That this fellow has no regard for ruler or father is no surprise, but that he could slip into Wenhua Hall to serve on duty truly leaves me ill at ease!"
"Companion, who in the Directorate of Ceremonial is in charge of supervising duty assignments across the halls?"
Feng Bao's eyelid twitched. Just as he was about to speak,
Zhu Yijun waved his small hand: "No matter who it is, dismiss him. Once I return, I will consult my Imperial Mother before drawing up a new candidate."
Assigning staff for duty had always been overseen by the Superintendent Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. This was a ranked inner official and bound to be one of Feng Bao's confidants. Removing him was enough to cause Feng Bao acute distress.
As for a suitable replacement, Zhu Yijun had faint plans of his own. Still, he needed to persuade Noble Consort Li; using this opening to place people he could use would be ideal.
Feng Bao seemed about to argue: "Your Highness..."
Gao Gong cut him off immediately: "It should be so! Your Highness's wise decision fills this minister with admiration!"
Though still not entirely satisfied, Gao Gong had other calculations; now that he could vent his frustration, he certainly wouldn't let Feng Bao off.
Zhang Juzheng chimed in as well: "None is wiser than Your Highness!"
Feng Bao froze.
If Zhu Yijun had spoken alone, he could have pretended not to hear.
Yet now, it was the unified will of Zhu Yijun and the Grand Secretariat, leaving him powerless to refute.
He could only curl his toes in frustration and kowtow repeatedly to Zhu Yijun: "None is wiser than Your Highness!"
Gao Gong glared at Feng Bao, noting this score down in his heart.
Seeing the dust settle, Zhu Yijun took a deep breath, his heart at ease.
Administrative authority was power.
By borrowing the momentum of the Grand Secretariat, he had forced Feng Bao to bow his head. Even if it was only the personnel authority over a single eunuch, for him, its significance could hardly be overstated.
Truly, this was a splendid start.
There was still a long road ahead. Zhu Yijun sneered inwardly, yet betrayed nothing on his face. He simply bade everyone rise, bringing this interlude to an end.
Now that this matter was resolved, he delayed no further.
He nodded to the masters of ceremonies and walked at an unhurried pace toward Wenhua Hall, saying without looking back, "Open the court."
The ceremonial officials were still engrossed in the spectacle that had just unfolded.
Receiving the order now, they snapped back to their senses and straightened their backs one after another.
The instant Zhu Yijun stepped into Wenhua Hall, an official of the Court of State Ceremonial immediately cried out: "Requesting His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend Wenhua Hall!"
With head held high, Zhu Yijun strode into Wenhua Hall.
A rustling sound echoed incessantly as four junior eunuchs carried a gleaming golden dragon chair, carefully placing it behind the imperial desk.
Two directing officials guided Zhu Yijun from ahead, bowing low: "His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the hall and takes his seat."
As the words fell, guards clad in armor with sabers at their waists filed in and took their positions at critical posts, solemn and grim.
Zhu Yijun walked up to the steps.
Step by step, he climbed toward the imperial desk, walking exceptionally slowly.
What he climbed were not merely the stone steps of Wenhua Hall, but the path toward the pinnacle of power in the Great Ming.
He stepped slowly behind the imperial desk and gently stroked the armrest of the dragon chair.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly sat down.
Crack!
The sharp crack of the ceremonial whip rang out.
Standing at the entrance of Wenhua Hall, a junior eunuch cried at the top of his lungs: "Civil and military officials, enter the hall! Form ranks according to grade!"
Zhu Yijun opened his eyes and looked down upon Wenhua Hall, beholding a sight he would never forget in this lifetime.
He saw the ministers divided into civil and military ranks, filing inside in single lines.
With leather belts and hanging sashes, they took their places according to their ranks.
Court officials in ridged caps and fine silk robes gathered in grand procession. Leading the front were high dignitaries in scarlet robes, followed in succession by rows of blue and green.
All prostrated themselves inside and outside Wenhua Hall, stretching out until the very end of his vision.
Behind the hall, the bronze bells and ceremonial music rang out long and sonorous.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The multitude inside the hall performed five bows and three kowtows.
With one voice, their cry shook Wenhua Hall: "We, your ministers, respectfully welcome the heir apparent to hold court!"
Though his eyes saw only the court ministers, his ears seemed to hear the entire Great Ming empire crying out his name.
From the churning banks of the Yellow River to the sand-swept deserts of the northwest, from the misty willows and painted bridges of the scenic southeast to the perilous defiles of Ba-Shu that rivaled the climb to heaven, in a daze he felt as if tens of millions were shouting in unison.
Zhu Yijun sat upright upon the dragon chair, scarcely able to tell reality from illusion, feeling as though his soul had left his body.
Was this the supreme throne of the realm?
Was this truly the body of the thirteenth new monarch of the Great Ming dynasty—spanning east to Joseon, west to Tubo, encompassing Annan in the south, reaching the Great Desert in the north, stretching eleven thousand seven hundred and fifty li from east to west, and ten thousand and ninety-four li from north to south?
Was it real? An illusion? A transmigration? A dream?
Was he Shi Yue? Or Zhu Yijun?
At last, he brought his thoughts to a halt, a faint smile surfacing on his face.
He spoke slowly: "My ministers may rise."
He exhaled a breath of turbid air.
A light, airy phrase, yet suddenly it felt as though a burden of thousands of jin had settled upon his shoulders.
It was the two capitals and thirteen provinces; it was the myriad common folk; it was the realm of the Great Ming!
To bear the realm's disgrace is to be the lord of the altars of soil and grain; to bear the realm's misfortune is to be the king of all under heaven.
From now on, let him be Zhu Yijun.
The blessings and misfortunes of this world—he would shoulder them all!
---
*Note 1: Superintendent of the Directorate of Ceremonial: in charge of overseeing all ceremonial rites and penal matters within the Imperial City, supervising personal attendants, duty staff, and office runners, enforcing gate security, and expediting provisions from the Court of Imperial Entertainments. — History of Ming, "Treatises," Vol. 50, "Eunuchs."*
Chapter 4