My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Stepping out of Qiqige's courtyard, Zhu Cilang walked alone under the cool moonlight, slowly heading back towards his own bedroom.

Overnight, he managed to appease both of them. Although it took some effort and persuasion, the results were remarkable.

In response to Zheng Xiaomei's characteristics of being sentimental, seeking stability, and needing security, he provides her with emotional memories, family affirmation, and promises of status and offspring; in response to Qiqige's characteristics of being ambitious, seeking uniqueness, and yearning for the realization of her value, he provides her with recognition of her uniqueness, a vision of future possibilities, and promises that transcend the inner sanctum.

The two strategies, addressing the root causes, successfully defused potential conflicts in the inner court that might have escalated due to the Crown Princess's arrival in the palace, maintaining a basic balance.

He knew this was just the beginning. Long-term harmony required Ning Wanyao, the principal wife, to demonstrate sufficient composure and wisdom to govern, as well as his own continuous and measured attention and adjustment.

But at least, he took this crucial first step relatively smoothly.

Looking up, he could still see warm light shining from the windows of the bedchamber; Ning Wanyao was probably still waiting for him.

Zhu Cilang took a deep breath of the cool air, gathered his thoughts, and strode towards the lights. The imperial court and the inner palace—a myriad of affairs—all required his control.

And this was merely the first night of his era.

Although the grand ceremony of the Crown Prince's wedding was only held on December 23rd, the festive aftershocks and chain reactions it brought were like ripples stirred up by a boulder thrown into the center of a lake, continuing to spread and affecting every corner of the empire in the days that followed.

On the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month, the imperial court officially issued an edict announcing the successful completion of the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony, and on this auspicious occasion, bestowed a series of imperial favors:

The government reduced or exempted some of the taxes and rations for the year in Zhili, Shandong, Henan, and other areas severely affected by the war; pardoned prisoners of minor crimes other than the ten heinous crimes and treason; rewarded elderly people over eighty years old in the capital with rice, meat, and silk; and even gave an extra month's "holiday pay" to the soldiers of the Beijing garrison and the border troops.

These measures were quickly spread far and wide via post roads and official notices.

The people of the capital cheered and praised the emperor and the crown prince for their benevolence.

In the marketplace, in teahouses and taverns, the conversation for days revolved around the grandeur of the Crown Prince's wedding. The imposing procession of the Crown Prince's golden carriage through the streets, the scattered wedding coins and cakes—all became topics of lively discussion. An optimistic sentiment of "a prosperous age has arrived, a wise ruler is on the throne, and the heir apparent is virtuous" permeated the populace.

At the same time, congratulatory messages from all over the country, like snowflakes in winter, fluttered into the Office of Transmission and then piled up on the desks of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Cabinet.

Governors-general and governors of various provinces, provincial governors, regional princes, and even envoys from vassal states such as Ryukyu, Korea, and Annam all submitted memorials of congratulations, expressing their sincere praise and utmost admiration.

These congratulatory messages were not merely ceremonial; they represented a collective statement from various political forces regarding the new Crown Princess, the Crown Prince's status, and the future of the Ming Dynasty, demonstrating the empire's strong centripetal force and cohesion.

Compared to the bustling activity outside the palace, a subtle yet profound change is taking place within the imperial palace, especially in the outer court.

On the 25th day of the first lunar month, Emperor Chongzhen still sat on his throne during the regular morning court session, but the entire process was almost entirely presided over by Crown Prince Zhu Cilang.

From the officials' reports and initial discussions to the proposals for handling the matter, Zhu Cilang was clear-headed and decisive. Only when there were difficulties or when major personnel or financial matters were involved would he slightly turn his head and whisper a few words to Emperor Chongzhen on the throne for instructions.

Most of the time, Emperor Chongzhen would simply nod slightly or say something like, "Do as the Crown Prince wishes" or "The Crown Prince can consider it," rarely raising any objections.

After the court assembly, memorials sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs that required "red approval" were increasingly marked as "to be sent to the Crown Prince's Palace for judgment."

Wang Chengen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, personally oversaw the approval process. Unless it involved extremely sensitive matters or personnel matters specifically instructed by the Emperor, anything approved by the Crown Prince was generally permitted to be stamped.

Throughout the court, from the Grand Secretaries to the Secretaries of various ministries, everyone could see clearly that the Emperor was transferring the core power of governing the country to the Crown Prince in a calm and resolute manner.

This is not a temporary regency, but a full transition of power.

Emperor Chongzhen himself was completely immersed in the comfort of "retirement countdown".

He would sleep until he naturally woke up each day, and would either admire the plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden, play chess with Empress Zhou, or read some leisure books and miscellaneous notes.

More often than not, he would summon Crown Princess Ning Wanyao to Kunning Palace together with Empress Zhou.

Sometimes it was casual conversation and inquiring about each other's well-being; sometimes it was tasting newly presented pastries and fruits; more often, it was Empress Zhou, in her dual roles as mother-in-law and empress, imparting to Ning Wanyao her experience in managing palace affairs, the etiquette and manners of receiving noblewomen, and even some old palace rules and personnel relationships that only the empress needed to know.

Emperor Chongzhen listened from the side, occasionally adding a few words, his eyes full of satisfaction, clearly already grooming Ning Wanyao as the future empress.

Sometimes, after finishing his official duties, Zhu Cilang would come over to dine with him.

In a small side hall of Kunning Palace, a family of four sat around a table. Although the rule of not speaking while eating still applied, the atmosphere was harmonious and warm.

Emperor Chongzhen was enjoying this rare moment of family bliss, and the smile on his face showed a level of ease and contentment he hadn't felt in over a decade.

In stark contrast to his father's leisurely pace, Crown Prince Zhu Cilang was busier than ever before.

He officially took full control of the empire's daily administration as crown prince.

He spent almost all his daytime hours summoning ministers, reviewing memorials, and handling urgent military and civil matters.

And this is just the most basic daily routine.

The matter of vassal kings "redeeming" their overseas fiefdoms has entered the substantive operational stage.

The "Department for the Management of Property of the Princes," jointly established by the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Clan Court, has begun operations. It has made initial contact with the chief secretaries and accountants sent by the various princely mansions. The final decision on matters such as the valuation standards for land, the conversion method for shops, and the conversion ratio between "contribution value" and the area of ​​the fiefdom and the level of support from the imperial court is required.

Every day, relevant requests and documents were sent to the Crown Prince's Palace.

The governance plan following the recapture of Dongfan has reached the stage of detailed implementation.

He needed to carefully review and approve the establishment of prefectures and counties, the list of officials and troops to be stationed, the financial and food support for the initial development, and the policy of appeasing the remaining Western barbarians and natives on the island.

In addition, the investiture ceremony for Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige as concubines also needs to be put on the agenda.

He personally oversaw the procedures, regulations for the imperial seal and edicts, and the list of rewards submitted by the Ministry of Rites, striving to hold the ceremony as soon as possible while maintaining a solemn and proper atmosphere, so as to reassure the people in the inner court.

A myriad of issues arose one after another.

But Zhu Cilang enjoyed it and handled it in an orderly manner.

He was energetic and quick-witted, often able to grasp the key points and make decisions quickly from mountains of documents.

In the study of the Eastern Palace, candlelight often burned late into the night.

Ma Bao and his close attendants could all see the undisguised confidence and drive shining in the Crown Prince's eyes. This was his era, and he was embracing and shaping it with boundless energy and a clear mind.

Crown Princess Ning Wanyao is also adapting to her new role and life at an astonishing speed.

Every morning after paying her respects to the Emperor and Empress, she began to learn how to manage the vast internal affairs of the Eastern Palace.

From personnel allocation, monthly allowance distribution, and equipment storage, to meal arrangements, holiday preparations, and social interactions, she needed to gradually become familiar with and master every detail.

Fortunately, she had the assistance of a seasoned female official sent by Empress Zhou, and she herself was diligent and made rapid progress. In her interactions with Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige, she also kept in mind Zhu Cilang's advice to "use both kindness and severity".

She observed morning and evening greetings, and bestowed rewards and provisions according to established rules, without bias. She responded to Zheng Xiaomei's respectfulness with gentleness and respect; she also dealt with Qiqige's straightforwardness with generosity and appropriate tolerance.

While they weren't exactly inseparable, a facade of harmony and impeccable manners had been maintained. She no longer tried to hastily integrate or change anything, but instead, with the composure of a crown princess, she slowly observed and gradually built her own authority.

On several occasions when Empress Zhou accompanied Ning Wanyao to meet with noblewomen from both inside and outside the court, her dignified demeanor, proper speech, and her dignified yet resilient temperament gradually won the recognition and respect of these ladies.

She began to try to build her own network and influence among these women of noble birth, and although it was only in its initial stages, it had already shown remarkable potential.

The third day of the first lunar month, just ten days before the Crown Prince's wedding.

The capital city was still immersed in the afterglow of that grand wedding, and the red silk and colorful lanterns hanging everywhere had not yet been completely taken down. The Forbidden City then ushered in another ceremony, which was not as grand as the wedding, but was equally significant – the Crown Prince taking a concubine.

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sky was just beginning to lighten, and a chill still lingered.

The plaza outside the west side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony had already been prepared. Although not as grand as the main hall of the Hall of Supreme Harmony used on the wedding day, the west side hall itself was spacious and solemn enough as a ceremonial venue second only to the main hall.

Inside and outside the palace, newly replaced colorful silks and red lanterns can be seen everywhere, and the ground is covered with brand-new red felt.

In the square in front of the palace, the complete set of the Crown Prince's ceremonial guards was already on display—golden gourds, axes, flags, parasols, and bands were all present, though the scale was slightly smaller than that of the wedding, but it was still majestic and imposing.

The Imperial Guards and Imperial Bodyguards, dressed in distinctive uniforms, stood solemnly on both sides of the imperial road, separating the ceremony area from the outer perimeter.

As soon as the palace gates opened, the invited guests began to arrive one after another.

The first to arrive was Zheng Zhilong, the Duke of Jinghai, and his entourage.

Several ornately decorated carriages, escorted by guards, entered through the Donghua Gate and stopped at the square in front of the palace on the west side.

Zheng Zhilong was the first to get off the carriage. Today he was dressed in the full set of the Duke of Jingguo's court robes, with bright unicorn embroidered patches, a seven-beam crown on his head, and a jade belt around his waist, exuding a dignified and composed air.

Following closely behind him was his wife, Lady Tian, ​​who was also dressed in the finest attire befitting a duke's wife, her expression showing a mixture of excitement and reluctance at the prospect of marrying off her daughter.

Next came Zheng Zhihu, Zheng Zhibao, and several of their brothers, as well as several of their nephews and nieces in Beijing, all dressed in official robes of their respective ranks, forming a neat and orderly procession.

Almost simultaneously, another group of people also came from the direction of Xihua Gate.

The leader was a burly, dark-skinned middle-aged man dressed in a Mongolian noble robe and wearing a sable hat. He was none other than Taiji Bater, a trusted confidant sent by Abunai, the leader of the Khorchin tribe.

Behind him followed twenty envoys dressed in Mongolian finery, and further back were ten heavy, vermilion-lacquered wooden boxes carried by dozens of strong Mongolian men.

Bateltaiji's sharp gaze swept over the majestic palace, his eyes showing both awe for the Celestial Empire and a hint of the untamed spirit of a steppe warrior.

Zheng Zhilong and Batel met in front of the palace and exchanged simple greetings under the introduction of the master of ceremonies.

Zheng Zhilong bowed:
"You've come from afar, Taiji. You must be tired."

Batel placed his hand on his chest and replied stiffly:
"My lord, congratulations!"

The conversation was brief, but both knew that the daughters of the other family would be receiving titles that day, thus establishing a sense of "colleagueship."

Following the guidance of the Ministry of Rites, everyone waited in the designated area in front of the hall.

Zheng Zhilong whispered to Zheng Chenggong beside him:
"Is everything arranged?"

Zheng Chenggong, also dressed in a count's formal attire today, stood tall and straight. Upon hearing this, he whispered:
"Father, rest assured, all the formalities have been verified. As for my younger sister, Mother just went to see her, and she is all dressed up."

He paused, lowering his voice even further.

"Father, from this day forward, my younger sister's status is settled. My Zheng family and the Tian family..."

Zheng Zhilong gazed intently at the palace eaves gradually illuminated by the morning light, and slowly said:

"Thunder and rain, both are blessings from Heaven. The Crown Prince is a wise ruler, and my Zheng family only needs to uphold our duties as subjects and be loyal to the king. Today, you and I are both subjects and relatives of the emperor, so we must be even more careful in our words and actions, observe the ceremony, and not say anything more."

"Yes, son understands."

Zheng Chenggong lowered his head.

Just then, a slight commotion arose outside the square. It was then that Bateltaiji was directing the Mongol envoys to open the vermilion-lacquered wooden boxes one by one.

A senior official from the Ministry of Rites, holding a list of gifts, recited it aloud, his voice exceptionally clear in the morning air:

"The Khorchin tribe presented the following gifts as congratulations on the investiture of the Crown Prince's concubine: three thousand top-quality horses, already settled in the West Garden Horse Ranch; five hundred fine sable pelts; ten bushels of pearls; thirty pieces of red gold utensils; two boxes of various gemstones; ten tiger skins and ten bear skins; ten cartloads of cheese and dried meat..."

Each time an item was read aloud, a low gasp of surprise rose from the officials and guards standing around.

This gift list was incredibly substantial, far exceeding the tributes usually given by vassal states, demonstrating the extreme importance the Khorchin attached to this marriage alliance and showcasing the tribe's wealth.

Bateltaiji stepped forward and, addressing the officials of the Eastern Palace who had emerged from the side hall, spoke loudly in broken Chinese:

"The Khorchin Borjigit clan congratulates His Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Ming on taking Qiqige of our tribe as his concubine! May the Crown Prince and his concubine live in harmony, and may the alliance between the Ming and the Mongols last forever!"

Zhu Cilang, the representative of the Crown Prince's officials, accepted the gift list and said gently:
"His Highness the Crown Prince has issued an edict, which we deeply appreciate. We hereby bestow upon him one hundred bolts of brocade and one thousand catties of imperial tea as a reward for his long journey."

Immediately, eunuchs carried out the gifts.

The offering of gifts had just been completed on one side when the sound of whips cracking was heard on the other, and the ceremonial procession began to move.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou arrived slowly in a palanquin, surrounded by ceremonial guards, eunuchs, and palace maids.

Unlike their wedding attire for the Crown Prince, where they wore a twelve-symbol imperial robe and a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, the two were dressed in everyday clothes today.

Emperor Chongzhen wore a bright yellow everyday robe with a black cloak over it; Empress Zhou wore a pale yellow everyday robe, exuding elegance and nobility.

Both men wore relaxed smiles, clearly regarding this as a "family gift," and their demeanor was much more casual. (End of Chapter)