Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 39: The Three Shocked Elders

Zhu Houzhao was very curious. Brother Chen left and came back to say this to him. There must be some deep meaning behind it.

He asked me to figure it out myself, but I couldn't, so I decided to ask my father.

While he was still thinking, he didn't notice that not only the Third Elder's expression changed slightly, but even Emperor Hongzhi couldn't help but look surprised.

"hehe."

Emperor Hongzhi asked calmly, "Zhao'er, did you come up with this yourself?"

Say yes now! Say yes to me even if it’s not!
What I implied was obvious!

Zhu Houzhao didn't need Emperor Hongzhi's hint. He didn't understand the meaning, but he understood the expression. He knew how to answer by looking at his father's expression. He patted his chest and said, "Of course!"

Emperor Hongzhi smiled comfortingly, then waved his hand and said, "I understand. You can go back to the East Palace first. I will have someone arrange the rest."

After Zhu Houzhao left, Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Jian and the other two calmly and asked, "What do you think of Crown Prince Houzhao?"

The three of them clasped their fists and said in unison: "We are ashamed of ourselves. The Crown Prince is intelligent, benevolent and filial, and has a natural character."

There is a part where they brag, but there is also a part where they feel ashamed of themselves. They really didn't expect this.

Offering sacrifices to heaven is certainly important, as it allows the people to feel the emperor's attention to this natural disaster and to the people of the world.

But if the Crown Prince is allowed to go among the people at the same time, then both the formality and practical measures have been taken, and this will win more hearts and minds of the people.

Moreover, Emperor Hongzhi had no other princes, and Zhu Houzhao was the legitimate and orthodox king of the Ming Dynasty. If the crown prince personally went to Shuntian Prefecture for a stroll at this time, it would be able to restore a lot of lost reputation for the court.

That's why the Third Elder's expression just now became subtle. They looked at each other, and then their eyes suddenly turned away.

The compliments just now spoken to Emperor Hongzhi were righteous, but after eye contact, they both saw a hint of doubt in each other's eyes.

The general meaning is, how could the prince say such a thing? Is there someone behind the scenes giving advice? Who is it in the East Palace? No matter which one, it's not simple! He may be a tough opponent in the future!
When Emperor Hongzhi heard the cabinet bragging about his son, a trace of pride and satisfaction appeared on his face. He just waved his hand and said calmly, "It's not worthy of the Third Elder's praise. He is still young and has many shortcomings. He needs to study hard in the future."

Why does this sound like Wang Po bragging about melons?

Emperor Hongzhi continued, "Your cabinet should arrange for the Crown Prince to inspect Shuntian Prefecture as soon as possible, and have the Jinyiwei strongmen accompany him, and the Five Military Commands and the Bingma Division cooperate to ensure the Crown Prince's safety during this trip."

"The ministers obey the order."

Just when the three cabinet ministers were about to leave, Emperor Hongzhi did not let them go and said to the outside world: "Go and summon the Minister of Personnel Tu Yu to come for an interview."

"According to the order."

The three elders hung their heads in silence, no one knew what they were thinking. Not long after, the Minister of Personnel Tu Yu arrived at the Yangxin Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Minister Tu, please tell me whether it is appropriate for me to continue to serve as the Director of the Imperial Observatory?"

The Third Elder seemed to have anticipated this and stood aside in silence.

Tu Yu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should ask the Censorate to investigate the dereliction of duty of the Imperial Observatory."

"I beg Your Majesty to promote Deputy Supervisor Wu Hao to temporarily take over the post of Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded, and seeing that the three elders did not object, he asked again: "Is the Minister of Rites suspected of neglecting his duties and seeking glory?"

"Are you in collusion with the Imperial Observatory? Why do you want to protect the Imperial Observatory?"

The Minister of Personnel was silent for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, this matter needs to be investigated by the Censorate." Emperor Hongzhi sneered, "Why is Minister Tu interceding for the Ministry of Rites? Or are you all a partisan?"

Tu Xun was sweating profusely. He could not bear the accusation of forming a clique. He quickly bent down and clasped his fists, saying, "Your Majesty! How dare I?"

"I am not defending Minister Xu, but if the Censorate has not thoroughly investigated this matter and hastily dealt with a minister, it will chill the hearts of other officials."

Liu Jian glanced at him and sighed in his heart, thinking that this man could not accomplish anything, so he clasped his fists and stepped out of the line, saying, "Your Majesty, why don't we remove Minister Xu from his post first and let the Censorate investigate thoroughly, and then discuss it later."

Xu Qiong's tenure as Minister of Rites must have ended, otherwise why didn't Emperor Hongzhi summon the Ministry of Rites to discuss such an important event as offering sacrifices to heaven?

The emperor has hinted so clearly just now, but Tu Yu has not figured it out and is saying such confusing things. How can he be of any use?

Besides, the reason why Xu Qiong was dismissed did not conflict with the interests of the civil servants. If he had to sacrifice himself, why would he go against the emperor's wishes?

Wouldn't it be better to give the emperor a way out? Someone has to take responsibility for this natural disaster. Xu Qiong is a minister, which is enough. Otherwise, if it is expanded to the point that the emperor has lost his virtue and the disaster has been sent down from heaven, how can it be tolerated?
He, Xu Qiong, doesn't take the responsibility, but you, the Ministry of Personnel, take it? Don't you understand these principles?

Even if we take a step back and say that the emperor also has selfish motives, if you, Xu Qiong, had not stepped on his precious son to gain a good reputation in the Ministry of Rites, perhaps there would have been a chance to turn things around.

How could the emperor give you any chance now? Do you really think the emperor is not angry at all? Anyone can bully his precious son?
It’s not that I don’t want to retaliate, it’s just that the time has not come. Now that the time has come, can Xu Qiong still land safely?
Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Jian with admiration and said, "Just take it as Lord Liu's. Please step down."

"I'm waiting to retire."

Everyone clasped their fists and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation respectfully.

……

The gloom in Emperor Hongzhi's heart faded a little, and he went to the East Palace with Eunuch Huai En.

When Zhu Houzhao saw Emperor Hongzhi coming, he hurriedly said, "Father, you were discussing government affairs just now, and I was embarrassed to ask you."

"Why do you think I have to go out of the palace for inspection?"

Emperor Hongzhi: “…”

I said it couldn't be your idea, and it was probably Yang Tinghe, so I asked, "Has Scholar Yang come in the past two days?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded. Yang Tinghe came to the East Palace to teach this morning. The earth was already turning over, but he didn't stop. He was really a dog-skin plaster.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded secretly, thinking that it was indeed Yang Tinghe. If Houzhao ascended the throne in the future, Yang Tinghe would be a loyal and trustworthy minister.

Emperor Hongzhi smiled warmly and said, "Didn't he tell you why he had to go out of the palace to inspect and appease the people?"

What is his business? Zhu Houzhao thought to himself and shook his head: "Nothing."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled even more and said, "Silly boy, the reason I asked you to leave the palace for inspection was fake. The reason I asked you to appease the people and consolidate your reputation as the crown prince was real."

"After all this, aren't the people grateful to you? As the crown prince, you can go to the disaster area to comfort the people regardless of your own safety. You will definitely be a wise ruler in the future!"

"This is to win your support. Of course, it will also help my court regain some credibility. It's a good strategy that kills two birds with one stone."

Is that so?
Zhu Houzhao was a little dazed. So that's how it is. It seems that Brother Chen's thoughts are indeed a little deeper than mine.

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(End of this chapter)