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

Chapter 546 Zhu Houzhao's Marriage
On the fourth day of the first lunar month in the seventeenth year of Hongzhi's reign, Chen Ce was summoned into the palace.

At the beginning of this spring, Zhu Houzhao was about to get married. Emperor Hongzhi was very worried about his son. Chen Ce thought that Emperor Hongzhi summoned him to discuss Zhu Houzhao's marriage.

but not.

Emperor Hongzhi looked unhappy. After seeing Chen Ce, he smiled bitterly and said, "Chun Jian, I have some unfortunate news to tell you."

Without waiting for Chen Ce to respond, he said self-deprecatingly: "The Imperial Hospital diagnosed my physical condition..."

When Chen Ce heard this, he roughly understood what was going on.

Emperor Hongzhi sighed and said, "The Imperial Hospital said that I have worked too hard and exhausted my body. I am afraid I will not live long."

This is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for everyone. Who can accept that a good person is about to die?
Chen Ce doesn't have much time left, so at least everyone has a process of acceptance and they won't be so sad, because they have been sad countless times and have calmly accepted the news that Chen Ce is about to leave this world.

But Emperor Hongzhi was different. He was only in his early thirties, which was the prime age for a man, an emperor, a father, and a husband!

Emperor Hongzhi smiled bitterly and said, "I used to worry about your health, but now you are well, I can go with you."

Chen Ce felt a little uncomfortable. Although he had known this would happen, he still felt very heavy in his heart. He asked Emperor Hongzhi, "Your Majesty, what is going on?"

"Is there still a chance of salvation?"

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head and said, "I don't know. The Imperial Hospital is also trying to find a solution. They told me about it around the end of the year."

It can be seen that Emperor Hongzhi took a long time to digest the information before summoning Chen Ce.

"I didn't tell anyone. Houzhao is still young and I was afraid he couldn't handle it."

Chen Ce felt increasingly heavy-hearted. Emperor Hongzhi might not be a qualified emperor, but he was definitely a qualified father. His love for his son moved Chen Ce.

"It will be fine, don't worry, Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said, "Chunjian, you are calmer than I thought..."

Chen Ce sighed softly, "The Imperial Hospital is helpless, and I have no other options. All I can do is pray silently for the Emperor in my heart. Anything else would be a show in front of the Emperor, but I don't think the Emperor would want that."

Emperor Hongzhi hummed and said, "I am not afraid of death. I am just worried about what Houzhao will do after I am gone."

"Chun Jian, I summoned you here today because I want to think with you about how to help Hou Zhao grow up quickly and allow him to take over the imperial seal from me smoothly and steadily."

"It will allow all officials to be controlled by Hou Zhao in the future, and it will allow him to grow up quickly and become a man of integrity, and a qualified king in the future!"

"I didn't understand you before. Why did you force things to happen by teaching Houzhao all your skills and letting him grow up so quickly? Now I understand."

"Who can be used by Houzhao?" Emperor Hongzhi suddenly asked.

It is obvious that he will start to make adjustments to the officials of the Ming Dynasty this year. Those officials who look down on Zhu Houzhao will be transferred away from the central government by Emperor Hongzhi, no matter how talented they are.

Emperor Hongzhi would never keep those ambitious and talented so-called honest officials in the capital.

"Who are destined not to be controlled by Houzhao?" Emperor Hongzhi added.

Chen Ce pondered for a moment and said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Lord Li and Lord Xie are both very steady in their work, but Lord Li has too many admirers in the court."

Li Dongyang founded the Chaling Poetry School, and many people followed him. Li Dongyang had great prestige both among the people and in the court. Emperor Hongzhi nodded. When he was in power, he had made many concessions to the cabinet, but Zhu Houzhao had a completely different temperament from himself, so a clean official like Li Dongyang could not continue to be in charge of the cabinet. The cabinet had to add people to gradually replace Li Dongyang and Xie Qian.

"Fei Hong can join the Ministry of Rites."

Chen Ce gave suggestions.

Fei Hong was Zhu Houzhao's teacher. He was not as old-fashioned and impartial as Yang Tinghe, nor as scheming as Jiao Fang. The Ming Dynasty did not need very capable civil servants like Zhang Juzheng.

Zhu Houzhao did not need such a cabinet prime minister. He only needed a cabinet prime minister who was obedient, could support him, correct his shortcomings and give reasonable opinions, but was not too aggressive and not too greedy for power.

Fei Hong is very suitable as Zhu Houzhao's teacher in the Eastern Palace.

"My three students and Wang Shouren can all enter the court."

Chen Ce said: "I have already explained to them, their loyalty to the prince is beyond doubt."

Xu Jing, Zhu Zhishan and Tang Yin were not experienced enough, so it was impossible for them to be promoted all at once. Emperor Hongzhi nodded and said, "I will gradually promote them."

Chen Ce was silent for a moment, then asked, "Your Majesty... has it come to this?"

Emperor Hongzhi nodded and said, "In the middle of last year, Liu Wentai told me that my health had not improved in half a year, but was getting worse. I knew what was going on with me."

“Maybe this year, or maybe next year.”

"I am afraid. I am worried that if I am gone, you will be gone too. The two people closest to Houzhao have passed away one after another. I am afraid that he cannot bear it. He is still a child. How can I be so cruel as to face all this?"

"What I can do now is to arrange everything for his future as soon as possible, so that he won't have to worry too much about government affairs. So I must think about Houzhao as soon as possible."

Chen Ce said sincerely: "Your Majesty, you are a good father, and the prince has a good father!"

Looking at the entire history of the Ming Dynasty, the only royal father and son who could support each other so well, apart from Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, were probably Emperor Hongzhi and Zhu Houzhao.

"Chun Jian, can we hold on together for another year? Just one year. This year, we, the king and the minister, will work together to pave the way for Hou Zhao, okay?"

Chen Ce's eyes were a little moist. This was the most sincere love a father had for his son. How could Chen Ce not be moved.

He nodded heavily and said, "Okay! I will try my best...but I am worried about my health this year..."

Emperor Hongzhi held his hands down and said, "I believe in you! You are worried about Houzhao, you will definitely be able to hold on!"

Chen Ce did not say anything else. Emperor Hongzhi looked very tired. He said, "Your Majesty, there is still time. There is no rush. You should have a good rest first. I will take my leave. You can call me back if you have anything else."

Seeing that Emperor Hongzhi did not look well, Chen Ce did not continue to disturb him and told him to have a good rest.

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and said, "Well, go ahead."

Chen Ce left the warm room with a solemn expression. As the cold wind blew, he looked up at the gray sky and couldn't help but sigh heavily.

"Huh? Why are you here, little brother?"

Zhu Houzhao walked over from outside the warm room with a smile on his face. Seeing Chen Ce with a serious face, he asked curiously, "Are you worried? Did the emperor scold you? Humph! Let me teach the emperor a lesson!"

(End of this chapter)