The Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 120: A few banquet hall guards

Views:

Zhu Youjian led more than one hundred special teams such as Wang Mujiu, accompanied by ministers Zhang Wei and Huang Liji, through the Huangji Gate and came to the Huangji Hall.

The ministers were crowded in the wide square outside the Huangji Hall, all black. They are all talking or arguing about something.

The arrival of Zhu Youjian stopped them all from making noise, and some people were already ready to bow down.

Huang Liji held Cui Chengxiu who was about to kneel: "Master Cui, wait for a while, and talk to the hall." Then he said loudly to the ministers who were at a loss: "The new emperor moves to the palace of the emperor, my colleagues, please See you in Huangji Hall."

Wang Mujiu and Li Jun escorted Zhu Youjian into the Imperial Palace.

Zhu Youjian has not formally ascended the throne and cannot sit on the dragon chair for the time being. Wei Zhongxian took a slightly smaller mahogany chair and placed it near the dragon chair.

Zhu Youjian sat down on the chair that symbolized Emperor Heir. Wang Mujiu and Li Jun stood behind Zhu Youjian with waist and hip knives. Wei Zhongxian held Buddha's dust in his hand and responded to it on his side.

Zhang Wei went out of class and said: "My colleagues, the first emperor has gone, please visit the new emperor."

Some impatient ministers immediately began to kowtow, but Wei Zhongxian coughed, and the crowd realized something was wrong, and the ministers who were kowtow had to get up awkwardly.

Wei Zhongxian coughed again, as if to swallow the thick sputum in his throat, and try to make his voice thicker. All the officials waited restlessly.

Wei Zhongxian finally said: "See the new emperor, bye!"

Qunchen knelt down quickly.

"Kow!"

"Second kowtow!"

"Three knocks!"

The officials bowed three times.

"Get up--bye again!"

Following the voice of Wei Zhongxian's male duck, the officials completed the ceremony of three kneeling and nine knocking.

Three knees and nine knocks, the ministers recognized Zhu Youjian. Sitting on a mahogany chair, Zhu Youjian issued his first oral statement: "My ministers, the first emperor has already reached bliss. Please the Ministry of Ritual, according to the ancestral system and reality of the Ming Dynasty, arrange the first emperor's "Nine Yu" gift in time. ."

The chief assistant of the cabinet, Huang Liji, who is also the official book of the Ministry of Etiquette, went into class and said: "Enlighten the new emperor, according to the Ming ancestor system and the imperial decree of the empress, the first emperor's'Jiuyu' ceremony was held in the Jiyan Hall for a total of 27 days. The minister immediately proceeded to draft a detailed plan."

Zhang Wei went out: "The ceremony of enlightening the new emperor, the first emperor's'Jiuyu', lasts for a long time, but the country cannot be without an owner for a day. I pray that the new emperor will go to the throne as soon as possible and inherit the Ming orthodoxy."

Zhang Wei's meaning is very clear, that is, the new emperor should complete the enthronement ceremony before the first emperor's "Nine Yu" ceremony is completed, so as not to have many dreams at night.

Before the officials could react, Wei Zhongxian coughed again.

The members of the Eunuch Party looked at Wei Zhongxian and didn't know what to say for a while. Zhu Youjian was about to become the throne, which is irreversible. Are they still opposed to Zhu Youzhen's ascension

Xue Fengxiang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry and Wang Yongguang, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, exchanged glances, and bowed to the ground: "The minister agrees!"

The other members of the Donglin Party immediately understood that Zhu Youxiao trusted Wei Zhongxian to the extreme, which caused the eunuch party to continue to grow bigger and had stabilized the Donglin Party. The new imperial general is now a good opportunity to show loyalty and regain power from the eunuch.

Although Zhu Youjian’s political views are contradictory with the Donglin Party, Zhu Youjian and Wei Zhongxian are irreconcilable contradictions. The Donglin Party has always regarded itself as orthodox, and Zhu Youjian is the most direct descendant of Zhu Youxiao.

The Donglin party knelt down to support the British public Zhang Wei's initiative. Especially behind the court, where the Donglin Party members gather, countless official hats are in close contact with the ground.

Wei Zhongxian was unmoved, he lowered his head and stared closely at the Buddha Chen in his hand.

Zhu Youjian looked up at the sky, but the top beam of Huangji Hall blocked his vision, and he could only see the top beam in the palace.

Time seemed to be frozen. There was no sound in the Huangji Hall anymore. In the entire court, there were only the standing castration party and the kneeling Donglin party.

"The minister agrees!" A tall figure in the front row slowly knelt down, and it was the chief assistant Huang Liji.

Wei Zhongxian's eyebrows twitched slightly, still observing his Buddha Chen.

Li Chunye glanced at Yan Mingtai who was standing next to him, and Yan Mingtai nodded slightly. "The ministers seconded!" Li Chunye and Yan Mingtai both knelt down in front of the hall.

"The minister also agrees!" Because of the merit of supporting, Shi Fenglai felt that he was much closer to Zhu Youjian, and he even caught the eyes of Zhu Youjian constantly looking at him. Zhang Wei and Huang Liji had been robbed of the limelight in Xinwang's Mansion just now, and he was far behind.

Wei Zhongxian finally raised his head and glanced at the standing eunuch, everyone's mind was shivering, but those who were kneeling on the ground could not see his gaze at all.

The lower eunuchs were placed at the back. They did not speak, but bowed to the ground, closed their eyes, and looked at nothing.

From the perspective of number alone, the number of people kneeling on the ground has exceeded the number of people still standing.

Wei Zhongxian frowned, and there was a clear difference from Zhu Youjian's continued calm expression.

Chaotang fell into silence again.

Zhu Youzhen finally withdrew his gaze from the top beam of Huangji Hall and glanced at the officials. Of course, those officials who were kneeling on the ground could not see Zhu Youzhen's gaze.

"The minister agrees!" Cui Chengxiu hurriedly bowed when Wei Zhongxian looked away from him, knelt down, and hid behind Huang Liji.

Cui Chengxiu's defection has taken away a large number of eunuchs, and the eunuch members standing in the court have become an absolute minority.

"Tell the new emperor, the old slave is dizzy and needs to go down and rest." Wei Zhongxian's voice was not loud, but here it was as quiet as a court with no one, no less than the roar of a fighter jet.

"Duke Wei seems to have a cold. Be sure to take a break. I will send an emperor to see him." Zhu Youjian did not get up, but bowed Wei Zhongxian away from the court with his eyes.

"thump!"

"thump!"

Before Wei Zhongxian walked out of the court hall, the remaining eunuch members broke out in a cold sweat, and knelt down under the hall eagerly. In the entire lobby, except for Wang Mujiu and Li Jun, there was no one standing.

The court passed Zhang Wei's proposal unanimously, and the courtiers bowed down to express their approval, regardless of whether the approval was active or passive.

But no matter how suitable Zhu Youjian is to be Emperor of Ming Dynasty, no matter how eager Zhu Youjian is to be Emperor of Ming Dynasty, he must guard Zhu Youxiao for seven days.

The cabinet, the six ministries, and the Qin Tianjian discussed that the first day of September is the auspicious day of the eclipse, and the time for Zhu You to keep the spirit of Zhu Youxiao has ended. It is the best time for Zhu Youjian to ascend the throne.

In the afternoon, Zhu Youxiao's body was transported to the Jiyan Hall, and Zhu Youjian also rushed to the Jiyan Hall to guard Zhu Youxiao's spirit.

The soldiers of the Three Hundred Special Forces surrounded several banquet halls. In the hall, only the old people who believed in the palace were serving Zhu Youjian.

In the evening, the five cabinet members and the scholars from the six departments came to the Jiyan Hall. They were the most dependent ministers of the imperial court, and they must first guard Zhu Youxiao for a night.

Within a few banquet halls, sandalwood lingers, monks sing, and immortal music hums.

Zhu Youjian and the ministers bowed to Zhu Youxiao's body for the first time, heralding the official start of the watch.

After three kneelings and nine knocks, everyone closed their eyes and sat on the futon, as if an old monk had entered concentration.

"Knowing the new emperor, I can't go out for a few banquet halls in the past few days. Is there anything outside that needs me to wait for support?" Huang Liji Ai took Zhu Youjian to sit down, and took the initiative to check Zhu You.

"Yes, I'm all willing to serve the new emperor." Unwilling to be left behind, Cui Chengxiu, Shi Fenglai and others buckled their buttocks and knelt in front of Zhu Youjian to express their stance.

The rest of the cabinet members and scholars also knelt in front of Zhu Youjian, waiting for Zhu Youjian's dispatch.

In front of Zhu Youxiao's spirit, these important court officials of Ming Dynasty were kneeling in front of Zhu Youjian. Only Li Chunye, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, remained motionless, sitting on the futon.

Zhu Youjian pointed out Zhu Youxiao's spiritual position, and everyone got up.

"Master Huang, I can't leave a few banquet halls now. The outside affairs are up to you. Please, Master Huang and you, together with the British Duke, plan together the first emperor's "Nine Yu" ceremony."

"Yes, the new emperor. The ministers must arrange for the first emperor's'Nine Yu' ceremony as soon as possible." Huang Liji bowed his head and replied: "For the new emperor's ascension ceremony, the minister will also arrange for implementation as soon as possible."

Zhu Youjian nodded in the candlelight, "As for the important ministers, during the funeral of the first emperor and when the court is closed, do your job well, treat the officials from all over the place with all your heart, and don't let the court and the people of Ming Dynasty trust you."

"I will follow the new imperial order." Everyone answered in unison, but Zhu Youzhen didn't know how many of these answers were just as unintentional as the Sanskrit of the Sanskrit in this mourning hall.

At the time of the day, at midnight, Zhu Youzhen led the ministers to perform three kneeling and nine knocking salutes to Zhu Youxiao's spiritual position for the second time.

After bowing down, everyone returned to the futon again.

Cui Chengxiu quietly moved to Zhu Youjian's side: "It's midnight now, and the new emperor has many days to guard the spirit. I don't want to take a rest as follows, so I can continue to guard the spirit in the future."

Zhu Youjian shook his head slowly.

Daming ruled the country with filial piety, and Zhu Youjian used his younger brother as the guardian of Zhu Youxiao. This is a manifestation of filial piety. It doesn't matter if you work hard now, and you can't leave others a chance for criticism.

When the straight road was straight, the sky was already bright, and Zhu Youjian led the officials to bow down for the third time to worship the dead of Zhu Youxiao. After this time, the night's watch was over. Except for Zhu Youjian, the ministers have to leave several feast halls.

Zhu Youjian shook hands with them one by one and said goodbye: "I beg you for the outside affairs."

The ministers were so excited that they couldn't speak. In the end, Cui Chengxiu thanked Zhu Youjian for his entrustment on behalf of the ministers: "Don't worry about the new emperor, and the ministers will not disappoint the new emperor."

After the officials left, Zhu Youjian recruited Xu Yingyuan and Wang Mujiu.

"Ying Yuan, immediately go to Kunning Palace in secret to meet the queen and ask for truth."

"Yes, the new emperor." His master is about to become the emperor, and Xu Yingyuan is also very energetic when he does things.

"Mujiu, send someone to the palace and report to the empress's wife that they are safe." Zhu Youjian turned around, "At the same time, maintain close contact with Siwuying, which cannot be interrupted for a moment."

"The new emperor can rest assured, the minister will do it now."

Xu Yingyuan and Wang Mujiu were gone, and Zhu Youjian came to the apse. He wanted to sleep well.

This sleep means three or four hours asleep. When Zhu Youzhen woke up, it was already past noon, and Xu Yingyuan had returned long ago.

"Ying Yuan, what did the queen say?"

"Returning to the new emperor, the empress said that the new emperor must do two things well, one is to win over the officials; the other is to provide tea, water and meals, all supplied by the Royal Palace to avoid trouble."

Zhu Youjian smiled bitterly. Wei Zhongxian hasn't done anything until now. Does he really dare to poison the new king? If he wanted to assassinate, he would have done it a long time ago. In any case, assassination of the prince is much lighter than the emperor. However, Zhang Yan's caution was not wrong, "Just do what the queen said!"

In the evening, the general high-ranking officials of the capital came to guard Zhu Youxiao's spirit.

When leaving in the morning, Zhu Youjian shook hands with them one by one and said goodbye.

In the evening of the third day, Queen Zhang Yan led all the concubines of Zhu Youxiao with titles and without titles, and came to guard Zhu Youxiao's spirit.

Zhu Youjian's gaze slowly found Zhang Yan in the crowd: white clothes and white pants, black gauze on her body, and jute on her head. Zhang Yan lowered her head, not knowing that Zhu Youzhen was peeking at her.

The concubines of Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youjian were sitting on their knees in front of the spirit of Zhu Youxiao, separated by a screen.

Starting from the fourth day, all the officials of the capital who failed to keep the spirits of Zhu Youxiao will continue to offer incense to Zhu Youxiao. Together with the representatives sent by officials from various places, the incense activity will continue until the end of the'Jiuyu'.

Zhu Youjian returned the gift on behalf of the clan. Because he is the heir emperor, he can't kneel down, he just bows his waist and bows his head. Zhang Yan and others repaid the ceremony behind the screen.

After the seven-day watch is over, Zhu Youjian will leave a few feast halls, and the concubines of Zhu Youxiao will take turns to pay back the gifts to the officials who came to offer incense.