I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 6: Unexpected disaster! I will never take the blame for this
The next day, it was nearly noon.

Hanlin Academy.

Liu Chuxian walked quickly into the review room and shouted, "Everyone, something has happened, something serious has happened!"

"Your Majesty, I don't know what fault you have committed to incur the wrath of Empress Dowager Li, Prime Minister Zhang, and Eunuch Feng. They have forced Your Majesty to kneel in the Wenhua Hall for an hour, and the three eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department have also been caned with twenty strokes of the cane!"

Shen Nian interjected, "It's probably because of schoolwork, otherwise how could these three be so angry at the same time!"

Everyone else nodded in approval.

Since the fall of the former Prime Minister Gao Gong, Empress Dowager Li, Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao formed the iron triangle.

These three giants.

On the one hand, he controlled the court, and on the other hand, he taught the young Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun to read.

Empress Dowager Li was very strict in disciplining the young Emperor Wanli.

He would punish people by making them kneel, and he would threaten to depose the emperor at any time.

Zhang Juzheng was also a strict teacher.

If the young Emperor Wanli read a word wrong, he would be scolded loudly; if he showed off his calligraphy, he would be warned not to learn from Li Yu and Song Huizong.

Feng Bao took good care of the young Emperor Wanli so that he could concentrate on his studies.

These three people.

He can be said to be the strictest parent, the strongest teacher, and the best study partner in the Ming Dynasty.

Logically speaking, we should be able to teach the best students.

But not so.

At this moment, Shen Nian, combining the memories of the two lives, finally understood why the young Emperor Wanli gradually gave up after taking power.

He was suppressed too harshly in his childhood and had too much hope placed on him, which led to his psychological distortion.

As the saying goes, everything has its limits.

Once these three ropes are loosened, he, as the emperor, will indulge himself and become even more rebellious.

In this regard.

Although Shen Nian knew the reason, he was powerless to change it.

A low-ranking official’s words have little weight.

If he made a report, he would most likely be beaten with the cane twenty times in court.

The Ming Dynasty loved beating officials with sticks.

It was the kind where the pants were taken off, the white butt was exposed, and it was spanked in public.

The purpose was to completely crush the reputation of the literati and officials to ensure the supremacy of imperial power.

……

Just then, a clerk walked quickly into the review room.

"Where is Shen Nian Shen's self-reflection?"

Shen Nian was stunned and said quickly: "It's me."

"Master Ma ordered Shen Jiantao to go over there!" said the clerk.

Mr. Ma, that is, Ma Ziqiang.

He is currently the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, the Chancellor of the Chancellery, the Academician of the Hanlin Academy, and the Daily Lecturer of the Imperial Lectures.

He returned to the court at the beginning of the year after completing his mourning period.

He took over the vacancy left by Zhang Siwei, who was promoted to Minister of Rites, and took charge of the Hanlin Academy.

I haven't had any interaction with Shen Nian this year.

Shen Nian looked puzzled, not knowing what Ma Ziqiang wanted to see him about. He quickly tidied up his appearance and followed the clerk out of the house.

……

A moment later, the Hanlin Bachelor's public housing.

Shen Nian met Ma Ziqiang, who was over 60 years old, had re-recorded the "Yongle Encyclopedia" and was known for his uprightness.

"I am Shen Nian, the reviewer of the Hanlin Academy, and I would like to pay my respects to Master Ma!" Shen Nian bowed and clasped his hands, very respectfully.

The imperial examinations of officials below the fifth rank in the Hanlin Academy are jointly reviewed by the Hanlin academicians and the Ministry of Personnel.

To be more precise.

Shen Nian's future career path depends almost entirely on the evaluation of this scholar Ma.

Ma Ziqiang looked at Shen Nian.

"Reviewer Shen, do you know that you caused three eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department to be caned twenty times in court, caused His Majesty to kneel in the Wenhua Palace for an hour, and caused Lord Zhang to be so furious that he didn't even have breakfast!"

"what?"

Shen Nian was confused and bewildered.

"Master Ma, this... this... where do you even begin to get this idea? I'm only focused on my duties and have nothing to do with Your Majesty!"

Ma Ziqiang smiled helplessly.

"Yesterday afternoon, you gave a lecture in the inner study hall. His Majesty attended incognito. After listening, he said, 'This is how teaching should be done!'"

"Tell me, is it because of you?"

Hearing this, Shen Nian felt a slight chill down his spine. He had never expected that he had gotten into such a big mess without realizing it!

He worked hard to give lectures.

It was indeed to attract the attention of the young Emperor Wanli, so as to win the opportunity to lecture on history in front of the emperor and compile daily records.

But I didn't expect this result.

The Inner Study Hall of the Imperial Household Department was located in the northeast corner outside the imperial palace. When the young Emperor Wanli secretly went to the Inner Study Hall, he was actually secretly leaving the palace.

"The Imperial Ming Dynasty Ancestor's Instructions" says: Be careful when going in and out.

The actions of the young Emperor Wanli clearly went against the ancestral teachings.

In addition, the young Emperor Wanli praised Shen Nian with this compliment, but insulted the highly respected and knowledgeable Japanese lecturers.

It is only right to be punished by kneeling for committing such a mistake.

However, the source of the consequences was Shen Nian.

The sentence "Teaching should be like this" seems to be a good thing.

But it came from the mouth of a thirteen-year-old emperor who had not yet taken power, and it was a compliment to a seventh-rank reviewer in the Hanlin Academy.

Subconsciously, everyone will feel that——

Shen Nian must have said something he shouldn't have said in an attempt to please the king.

How can a seventh-rank official possibly rival a group of university scholars in teaching?

Shen Nian slowed down and looked at Ma Ziqiang.

"Master Ma, your humble servant... your humble servant is truly wronged and does not know how to respond next. Please give me your instructions!"

He wanted to listen to what Ma Ziqiang would say first, and then think about how to respond.

Ma Ziqiang stroked his beard lightly.

"What exactly did you say to elicit such praise from His Majesty? Did you say anything offensive to the sage, or did you share some rather bizarre folk gossip?"

The thirteen-year-old Emperor Wanli was most curious about things that were unconventional.

And lecture.

If you cater to his interests, you will lead the little emperor astray.

It is a big taboo.

In the past two years, no less than ten eunuchs have been beaten to death for misleading the young Emperor Wanli into paying attention to some strange and lewd tricks.

"No, absolutely not! What I said was all from the classics of the saints, and there was no extraneous meaning. I just spoke for a little longer, and my body movements and expressions were a little exaggerated."

Although Shen Nian's explanation is novel.

But the content is very positive.

It does not put new wine in old bottles, nor does it use the past to satirize the present.

He knew very well that now was not the time to bring in any illicit goods.

Ma Ziqiang frowned slightly.

"Even if there's nothing wrong with what you said, it's still difficult to deal with. His Majesty refuses to admit his mistake this time!"

"I have a suggestion for you. Write a memorial immediately admitting your fault, stating that you spoke recklessly during the lectures in the inner academy and unintentionally misled His Majesty. You request punishment. Then I will intercede for you and allow you to be exiled. If you perform well in the examinations, you will have the opportunity to return to the capital in five or six years."

Shen Nian looked helpless.

He's not wrong.

No careless words.

Nor did it mislead the young Emperor Wanli.

Ma Ziqiang also knew that he was not wrong. He did not speak without thinking and did not mislead the young Emperor Wanli.

But at that moment, the little emperor was punished to kneel and refused to admit his mistake. The problem was very serious.

Only Shen Nian admitted his mistake.

Only in this way can the fault of the little emperor be alleviated and the Big Three be given a way out.

When it comes to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, there is no right or wrong, only the overall situation.

As an old minister, Ma Ziqiang's first consideration was naturally to share the emperor's worries. A thousand or ten thousand Shen Nians were not as important as a hair of the little emperor.

Shen Nian took the main responsibility and took the blame.

The little emperor was able to quickly reconcile with the "Big Three".

The content of the daily notes will be easier to write.

"The Emperor mistakenly entered the inner study hall to attend a lecture. The Hanlin Academy reviewed Shen Nian's misleading remarks and misled the Emperor. The Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Zhang angrily rebuked him. The Emperor regretted his actions and changed his ways."

How wonderful!
The destruction of Shen Nian gave rise to the allusion of "ministers assisting the emperor and the emperor correcting his mistakes when he realizes them."

A loyal and patriotic minister should always be prepared to take the blame for his emperor.

But Shen Nian curled his lips slightly.

Once he admits his mistake, his career will almost be over.

Immediately.

Shen Nian bowed and said, "Master Ma, I understand your meaning. As a minister, I should share the worries of my sovereign. However, I would like to wait a little longer. Perhaps there will be a chance for improvement."

Ma Ziqiang looked at Shen Nian.

"I know what you mean. Once you admit your mistake, this stain will follow you for the rest of your life. You are thinking that if His Majesty takes the initiative to take the blame and admits the mistake, the Queen Mother and the Minister will not pursue you, right?"

"Given the elder's temper, it might be possible, but have you ever considered that if you don't admit your mistakes in advance, once those censors report them, your crime might be even greater!"

How many people are looking forward to sharing your worries!
Sacrifice a seventh rank.

It is a great achievement to be able to reduce the mistakes of the monarch, allow historians to write a better history of the monarch's youth, and also to make a name for oneself.

What a deal!

In the future, the emperor will definitely be the one in charge of the Ming Dynasty. There is absolutely nothing wrong in helping the emperor reduce his responsibilities.

Shen Nian straightened his chest.

"Thank you, Scholar Ma, for your reminder! I am not afraid of public opinion and believe that the court will make a fair judgment. The greater the crime the censors charge me, perhaps my fault will be smaller."

Hearing this, Ma Ziqiang looked at Shen Nian again.

"You remain calm and have your own ideas. That's good! You're just unlucky. I'll do my best to help you. Just follow your own ideas and don't regret it."

"Thank you, Master!"

Immediately, Shen Nian bowed and took his leave.

(End of this chapter)