I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 156 His Majesty is Now an Adult! One Half-Dead, One Beaten to Death

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Seeing the four Grand Secretaries arrive below the main hall, the kneeling eunuch Xu Kang felt a slight relaxation in his tense heart.

He seized the opportunity to report.

The idea was to involve the four Grand Secretaries and Shen Nian, who was in charge of writing the daily records of the emperor's activities.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to say such a thing.

He's gambling.

I'm betting that the four Grand Secretaries will support him, that Empress Dowager Li will support him, that Feng Bao will support him, and that Shen Nian will support him.

His greatest asset is—

The court regulations stipulated that the writing of records of the emperor's daily life, both inside and outside the court, must adhere to one principle: every action of the emperor must be recorded.

Today, he is going to expose the shortcomings of the young Wanli Emperor.

However, it maintained order within the inner court and prevented further disruption of royal etiquette and rules.

He angered the emperor, but he rendered meritorious service to the Ming Dynasty.

He believed.

Even if the young Wanli Emperor was displeased by this matter, with the recommendation of the four Grand Secretaries, his career as a eunuch could still advance further.

Now, Feng Bao doesn't recommend him, and Zhang Jing is gaining popularity again.

If he doesn't take a gamble and prove himself, his future as a eunuch will be incredibly miserable.

Xu Kang looked up.

"Your Majesty, I am a convict and have no right to speak in the Wenhua Hall. However, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the royal etiquette, I have no choice but to speak!"

“The day before yesterday afternoon, Zhang Jing, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial who was on duty in the Imperial Archives, went to the Inner Treasury and took a set of polychrome erotic porcelain plates that the late emperor had used to the Wenhua Hall. He secretly returned them early yesterday morning. Moreover, when I asked Zhang Cheng, the eunuch in the Imperial Archives, this matter was not recorded in the Inner Daily Records.”

"The 'Daily Records of the Inner Court' records secrets of the inner court, involving the etiquette and system of the royal harem. This is a matter of great importance, and this servant dares not fail to report it!"

Xu Kang stood tall with his chest puffed out.

He spoke these words, which had been brewing in his heart for a long time, with a firm and powerful voice.

this moment.

He considered himself to be the most loyal eunuch to the royal family in the entire Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor's expression changed drastically.

Recently, several palace maids have been instructing him on intimate matters of the bedroom, and they have even brought him a jade Buddha statue with a mechanism that can be moved.

He couldn't help but think of his father's erotic porcelain plates, so he asked Zhang Jing to bring them over for a look.

This was an extremely confidential matter, yet Xu Kang unexpectedly revealed it in the front court.

The four cabinet ministers and Shen Nian all frowned.

In their eyes.

It was not a big deal for the fifteen-year-old Wanli Emperor to peek at the polychrome erotic porcelain plate, but the fact that the eunuch on duty did not record it in the "Daily Record of the Emperor's Activities" was a huge matter.

Although the "Inner Daily Records" are not made public, their importance is no less than that of the "Daily Records".

after.

The "Daily Records of the Emperor's Inner Palace" are primary evidence of when a concubine conceived a child during the Wanli Emperor's reign.

The "Daily Records of the Emperor's Activities" must be written down: every action of the emperor must be recorded, and not a single event can be omitted.

Anyone who dares to deliberately conceal the truth shall be sentenced to death.

At this moment, the four Grand Secretaries all looked at the young Wanli Emperor.

They need an explanation.

Emperor Wanli coughed lightly and said, "It is my fault. The day before yesterday, I ordered Zhang Jing to retrieve the polychrome erotic porcelain plate. I saw it, and I even instructed him not to record it in the 'Daily Records of the Inner Palace.' I was wrong!"

The young Wanli Emperor immediately admitted his mistake.

On one side, a smile appeared on Shen Nian's face.

Honesty is the best policy.

If Zhang Juzheng fabricated reasons to shift the blame onto the eunuchs, he would likely have to give the young Wanli Emperor extra lessons.

Upon hearing the truth from the young Wanli Emperor, the eunuch Zhang Jing immediately knelt on the ground.

"It was my fault, I failed to dissuade Your Majesty, but... but I did not erase this matter from the Imperial Daily Records!"

“Eunuch Zhang has repeatedly instructed me that falsifying or concealing the contents of the Imperial Daily Records is a capital offense, and it is tantamount to smearing His Majesty. Although His Majesty has instructed me not to record it, I still dare not break the royal rules!”

This "Eunuch Zhang" naturally refers to Zhang Jing's godfather, Zhang Hong, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Zhang Jing's sudden remark caught Xu Kang off guard.

Royal rules supersede the words of the young Wanli Emperor.

If Zhang Jing had truly continued to write the "Daily Records of the Inner Palace" as it was, it would not only not have been considered a violation of the law, but would have been a great achievement.

Emperor Wanli looked surprised. After thinking for a moment, he said to the eunuch beside him, "Immediately summon Zhang Hong, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and Zhang Cheng, the eunuch. Have them bring the records of the past ten days to the Wenhua Hall. Once they have examined them, they will know the truth."

At this time.

Zhang Juzheng flicked his official sleeve and strode to the center of the hall.

"Your Majesty, please also invite the Empress Dowager to come. The contents of the Inner Palace Records are unbearable for us, and Your Majesty is also unbearable to see!"

Little Wanli curled his lips slightly.

He didn't want Empress Dowager Li to know that he had been secretly looking at the late emperor's colorful erotic porcelain plate, but at this moment, he had no reason to refuse.

"As the Grand Secretary says!" said the young Wanli Emperor.

At this moment, Xu Kang felt a little flustered.

If this matter is recorded in the "Daily Records of the Inner Palace", then he is completely finished.

……

About a quarter of an hour later.

Almost simultaneously, Empress Dowager Li, Zhang Hong, and Zhang Cheng all arrived at the Wenhua Hall.

Empress Dowager Li stood behind a curtain, her face solemn. On her way there, a eunuch had already told her what had happened.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at Zhang Cheng, who was kneeling on the ground, and asked, "Zhang Cheng, did you tell Xu Kang that the 'Daily Records of the Inner Emperor' did not contain... did not contain the contents of the polychrome erotic porcelain plate that I had viewed?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I lied to him. This is Your Majesty's private matter and cannot be revealed. Because Xu Kang holds a higher official position than me, I could only tell him some trivial matters!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Kang's legs trembled uncontrollably.

He overestimated the value of one thousand taels of silver and underestimated the relationship between Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing.

"Zhang Hong, dismantle the 'Daily Records of the Emperor'!" said the young Wanli Emperor.

Immediately, Zhang Hong opened a wooden box, took out several rolls of fine yellow cotton paper, and after selecting the contents of the past ten days, presented them to Empress Dowager Li behind the curtain.

The "Daily Records of the Inner Rites" is a daily record.

After the daily records were completed, they would be stamped with the copper seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs' Documents Office, and would also bear the signature of the official on duty, such as: "Reviewed by Zhang Cheng, the eunuch of the Documents Office."

Then it will be put into the box.

Then at the end of the month, a unified copy will be compiled, with the final draft stored in the Imperial Archives and the duplicate draft placed in the Grand Secretariat.

Once the record of the day is stamped and signed, it is difficult to forge.

Swish!Swish!Swish!
Behind the curtain, the sound of Empress Dowager Li turning the pages of the "Daily Records of the Inner Palace" could be heard.

Lean slightly.

Empress Dowager Li slowly said, "This matter is recorded in the 'Daily Records of the Inner Palace.' Your Majesty has not committed any major mistakes, and Zhang Jing is innocent!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Kang collapsed to the ground.

He never expected that he would fall into Zhang Jing and Zhang Cheng's trap.

in a blink.

Zhang Jing and Zhang Cheng became good servants who maintained the dignity of the young Wanli Emperor, while he became the wicked servant who made the young Wanli Emperor lose face in front of the main hall.

Feng Bao looked at Xu Kang with some disgust.

He made Xu Kang slap himself dozens of times, but he still couldn't make him understand.

A godson like that is better off without.

Empress Dowager Li paused for a moment, then looked at Zhang Juzheng and the other four Grand Secretaries through the curtain.

"Four Grand Secretaries, how should this matter be handled?" What Empress Dowager Li wanted to ask was naturally how to deal with the matter of the young Wanli Emperor peeping at the colorful erotic porcelain plate. As for the life and death of these eunuchs, she didn't care at all.

Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment, then stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe that it is perfectly normal for His Majesty to take such action as his wedding date approaches. It is only because we have been too strict with him in the past that he secretly went to see the emperor and did not want to record it in the 'Daily Records of the Emperor'!"

"I second that, this is a normal phenomenon, after all, Your Majesty is already a fifteen-year-old adult!" Lü Diaoyang also said.

"I second that!" Ma Ziqiang and Yin Zhengmao said almost simultaneously.

When the two new cabinet members entered the cabinet, after Zhang Juzheng and Lü Diaoyang had expressed their opinions, they mostly spoke with the words "seconded".

Empress Dowager Li immediately nodded in approval.
It is normal for the young Wanli Emperor to be experiencing romantic feelings at this time.

Empress Dowager Li was hoping that after the young Wanli Emperor got married, he would soon bring her a grandson!
If he is reprimanded for this, the young Wanli may develop a fear of this matter in the future, which could affect his ability to continue the family line, and that would be terrible.

Immediately, Empress Dowager Li stood up.

"This matter is not a major mistake, but it has gone too far to have it spread to the Wenhua Hall and become known to the four cabinet ministers!"

"Feng Bao, Zhang Hong, you two better manage your men. If this happens again, you're all going to Nanjing to guard the imperial tombs!"

Feng Bao and Zhang Hong immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

If Zhang Juzheng had said in a fit of anger that he would send the two men to Nanjing to guard the imperial tombs, he might not have been able to do so.

Because their power was an extension of imperial power.

However, if Empress Dowager Li ordered them to go to Nanjing to guard the imperial tombs, she could issue an imperial edict the next day to have them leave the capital.

Empress Dowager Li and the young Wanli Emperor were the greatest nemesis of eunuchs.

After saying this, Empress Dowager Li left.

She might have had something to say to the young Wanli Emperor, telling him not to be overly lustful and not to emulate the absurd behavior of the late emperor.

But some things can only be said in the inner garden.

It cannot be said in the Wenhua Hall, in front of the four Grand Secretaries.

The young Wanli Emperor was somewhat bewildered.

He was surprised that he had not been reprimanded at all.

boom! boom! boom!
At this time.

Xu Kang kept kowtowing to the ground, and in the blink of an eye, his forehead was bleeding.

He was sobbing.

"Your Majesty, I am reporting this to you for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and for the sake of royal etiquette. It was...it was Zhang Jing and Zhang Cheng who conspired to harm me. Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to you!"

At this moment, Xu Kang had no desire to climb the ranks; he only hoped that the young Wanli Emperor was merciful and would spare his life.

"Humph!"

The young Wanli Emperor snorted coldly; he had no liking for Xu Kang whatsoever.

If Xu Kang truly cared about royal etiquette, he could have privately reported this to Empress Dowager Li.

But he deliberately chose to report to Shen Nian while she was recording his daily life in the Wenhua Hall, right next to the four Grand Secretaries.

It's obvious that there were ulterior motives involved.

In order to gain favor and promotion, they were willing to sacrifice the emperor's privacy.

How could the young Wanli Emperor dare to use such a servant again!
"Your Majesty, this servant is truly loyal to you..."

As Xu Kang was speaking, Feng Bao suddenly strode over.

"Snapped!"

He slapped Xu Kang across the face and then cursed, "You stupid lackey, shut up!"

After that, Feng Bao knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, Xu Kang was brought here by this old servant. Today, he exposed Your Majesty's private affairs and committed such a heinous crime. This old servant is also guilty and begs Your Majesty to punish him!"

As Xu Kang's godfather, Feng Bao naturally bears joint responsibility.

And this moment.

A smug smile appeared on Zhang Jing's face, but it vanished in an instant.

Little did he know that Shen Nian, who was standing to the side, could see this smile clearly, and that Zhang Juzheng and Lü Diaoyang also noticed it.

Little Wanli thought about it.

"Daban, you shall deduct three months' salary from your salary. As for Xu Kang, you shall deal with him as you see fit. I do not wish to see him again!"

After saying that, the young Wanli waved his hand.

The eunuchs who were kneeling on the ground all retreated.

Inside the hall, only the young Wanli Emperor, the four Grand Secretaries, and Shen Nian remained.

The hall was very quiet at this moment, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Yin Zhengmao licked his lips and couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, there is no need to feel guilty. This is only human nature. Your Majesty bears the heavy responsibility of continuing the royal family's lineage. It is perfectly reasonable for you to have such thoughts. It's just a few eunuchs being silly!"

Yin Zhengmao, who always spoke with a sharp tongue, comforted the young Wanli Emperor perfectly this time.

Zhang Juzheng echoed, "Now that Your Majesty is an adult, I also feel that this matter is harmless!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

Lü Diaoyang and Ma Ziqiang also immediately expressed their support and comforted the young Wanli Emperor.

All four old men have reached this age.

At this critical moment, we absolutely cannot suppress the young Wanli Emperor, otherwise, if the emperor were to die without an heir, their sins would be immense!
A smile involuntarily appeared on Xiao Wanli's face, and then he suddenly turned to look at Shen Nian.

Shen Nian was taken aback for a moment, then instantly understood.

The young Wanli Emperor was worried that the daily records of his reign might portray him as a lecherous ruler.

Shen Nian's eyes darted around, and he said loudly, "I also agree with what Grand Secretary Zhang just said. Now that His Majesty is an adult, this matter is not a big deal!"

This matter was not a big deal for the fifteen-year-old Wanli Emperor, so Shen Nian naturally wouldn't make a big deal out of it and write anything about lust.

Little Wanli nodded with satisfaction.

At this time.

Lu Diaoyang added, "Your Majesty, this Zhang Jing is a bit too clever. It is not advisable for Your Majesty to keep him by your side all the time."

Zhang Juzheng and the other two nodded in agreement.

They could tell at a glance that Xu Kang had fallen into Zhang Jing's trap.

Everyone already knew from Feng Bao that Xu Kang was extorting Zhang Jing.

Zhang Jing could have reported this matter to Feng Bao in advance, but instead deliberately made a big fuss about it.

His goal was to provoke Feng Bao and Xu Kang into being punished, while amplifying his own achievements and loyalty to the young Wanli Emperor.

Such a person is too selfish and should not be given important responsibilities.

……

In the afternoon, at the Directorate of Ceremonial, in the front courtyard.

More than fifty eunuchs were gathered in the courtyard.

Two eunuchs, Xu Kang and Zhang Jing, were bound hand and foot on the bench in the middle, their mouths gagged.

Opposite the two sat Feng Bao and Zhang Hong, the two most powerful eunuchs in the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Feng Bao glared and said, "The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has its own rules. Everyone should know what they can and cannot do. Do you think you are a remonstrating official who risks his life to speak out against injustice? You are the only eunuch in the entire inner court who is loyal to His Majesty. You are a complete fool!"

“And you!” Feng Bao looked at Zhang Jing.

"You've only just gained favor, and you're already thinking of using this to push me down? Do you think that by pulling me down, you can take the seal? Do you think that others can't see through your little tricks? Do you think that the four Grand Secretaries don't know that Xu Kang has fallen into your trap? In the palace, those who think they're clever rarely live long!"

……

After giving the two men a good scolding, Feng Bao said, "One will be beaten to death, and the other will be beaten half to death!"

Xu Kang was the one who was beaten to death, while Zhang Jing was the one who was beaten half to death.

……

It was nearing dusk, close to the time when the government offices would close.

Shen Nian wrote in the daily record: "On the 25th of June, the Emperor gave a lecture in the Wenhua Hall. Xu Kang, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, claimed that the Emperor had spied on the late Emperor's polychrome erotic porcelain plate, which was not recorded in the Daily Record. Later, it was found that it was recorded. The Emperor's spying on the erotic plate was true. The regent Zhang Juzheng said: 'Now that Your Majesty is an adult, this matter is not a big deal.' Lü Diaoyang, Ma Ziqiang, and Yin Zhengmao seconded the statement."

(End of this chapter)