The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 4 Disowning relatives
At around noon, the sun begins to rise.

The dark clouds in the sky have not yet dispersed, and there is still some haze in the Forbidden City.

Wanli sat high on the dragon chariot, looking at the huge team in front of him, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

At this time every day, he would go to the Cining Palace to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Li as a sign of filial piety.

It's been like this every day for ten years.

Originally, he really listened to Empress Dowager Li in everything and never dared to make decisions on his own.

This time it's different.

He issued the order to execute seven censors without the permission of Empress Dowager Li.

Moreover, the current Empress Dowager Li has clearly sided with Zhang Siwei.

After he did this, would Empress Dowager Li easily forgive him?
What should we do if Empress Dowager Li gets angry?
This problem is really a headache. As he thought about it, he couldn't help but frown.

The Cining Palace is not far from the Qianqing Palace. Turn right after exiting the Qianqing Gate and pass the Yangxin Palace. It is less than two hundred steps in total.

Before he could figure out how to face Empress Dowager Li, they arrived at the Cining Palace.

There was no other way, he could only bite the bullet and get off the dragon chariot and walk towards the main hall of the Cining Palace.

At this time, Empress Dowager Li was sitting high in the warm room with a frosty face, and the eunuchs and palace maids on both sides were silent.

It was obvious that she was angry.

When Wanli saw this, he couldn't help but panic and his steps hesitated.

Empress Dowager Li was extremely strict. If he made a mistake, she would punish him by making him kneel for an hour or two, even after he became emperor.

He was traumatized by his kneeling.

I won’t be punished to kneel again this time, right?
He bravely stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your son greets the Queen Mother and wishes her long life and good health."

Empress Dowager Li's face darkened as she scolded him harshly, "How dare you! You've just taken power, and during your first morning court session, you've already ordered the execution of seven censors. Are you planning to emulate King Zhou of Shang and become a tyrant?"

What King Zhou of Shang?

Why do you speak so harshly?

I am not just your son now.

Besides, what do you know?
If I don't kill him, the Ming Dynasty will perish.

When Wanli heard this, he felt annoyed for no reason.

There's nothing he can do, this is his biological mother.

He patiently explained, "Mother, they forced me to betray my teacher and destroy my ancestors. They forced me to strip my teacher of all his official positions, seize the imperial seals bestowed upon him during his lifetime, confiscate all his property, and exile all his sons.

If I really did this, what would the civil and military officials in the court think, and what would the people of the Ming Dynasty think?
Disrespecting one's teacher and ancestors is unacceptable to Heaven. If I really did this, the people and officials would lose their trust."

Empress Dowager Li angrily rebuked: "Is this a reason for killing censors indiscriminately?
Do you know what Zhang Juzheng said? He said, "I am not a prime minister, but a regent." He wanted to be the regent.

Moreover, he blatantly rode in a sedan chair carried by thirty-two people to attend the funeral, which was a crime of deceiving the emperor.

Are those censors wrong?

You actually ordered them all to be beheaded. Do you really want to be a tyrant?"

When Wanli heard this, he frowned.

Women are fickle, easily deceived and easily influenced.

When Zhang Juzheng was alive, Empress Dowager Li regarded him as a pillar of the Ming Dynasty and listened to him in everything.

It has only been a few days and Empress Dowager Li's heart has become like this.

It is obvious that Zhang Siwei has ordered people to feed Empress Dowager Li a lot of love potions in the past few days.

Who is it?
Zhang Hong and Zhang Jing, the chief secretaries of the Imperial Household Department, and Zhang Cheng, the eunuch in charge of ceremonies, were all close confidants of Empress Dowager Li, and they had all been bribed by Zhang Siwei long ago.

There is also a Master Miaofeng, who seems to have a close relationship with Zhang Siwei.

These people may have drugged Empress Dowager Li.

Unfortunately, he had no confidants, and he was blind and deaf in the palace. He had no idea what these guys said to Empress Dowager Li.

He could only patiently continue to explain: "Mother, it was you who asked our mentor to be the regent.

You also said that I was ignorant and had to obey my teacher in everything. As for the thirty-two people carrying the sedan chair, that was a conspiracy by Gao Gong's disciples Zhang Siwei and Qian Pu to frame my teacher.

When my teacher left Beijing to attend the funeral, he was still riding in an ordinary sedan chair. However, when he arrived in Zhending Prefecture, the prefect Qian Pu gave my teacher a sedan chair with 32 people bearer.

This sedan chair with 32 men would take at least 10 days to half a month to build. It is obvious that they planned to frame their mentor.

My mentor also told me about this. The fancy sedan chair is carried by everyone, but if he doesn't sit in the sedan chair given by others, it means he looks down on others, and others will say that he is arrogant.

So, he doesn't look down on me, nor does he want to deceive me, he just fears losing the support of the people."

Empress Dowager Li had obviously been provoked into being furious.

She angrily scolded him without caring about anything: "You still dare to quibble. Censors are not guilty of speaking out on hearsay. Don't you know? Throughout the Ming Dynasty, there have been so many emperors, but who has slaughtered loyal officials like you?"

Are they still loyal?
You know shit!

Wanli's little patience was almost exhausted.

He stiffened his neck and said, "Mother, they are not just hearsay. They framed our mentor in order to abolish the reforms. After abolishing the reforms, they can continue to engage in corruption and annex land. If this continues, the Ming Dynasty will be doomed."

You still dare to quibble?
Empress Dowager Li, still disregarding the situation, angrily rebuked, "You are killing loyal and honest people indiscriminately, which is the behavior of a tyrant. If I allow you to do so today, what will happen? Kneel down!"

You bastard, are you going to be punished to kneel again?
I've been explaining this to you for so long, don't you understand?

You are unreasonable, right?

A surge of anger suddenly emerged in Wanli's mind, and he was uncontrollable.

He is not only the son of Empress Dowager Li now, at least not half of it.

How could the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the supreme ruler, endure such humiliation?
He couldn't help but get angry and said, "Mother, I am the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler, the emperor and teacher. I only kneel to heaven and earth. Even my teacher has never asked me to kneel. What right do you, the last relative, have to make me kneel?"

Do you dare not listen to me?
You've turned the world upside down!
Empress Dowager Li flew into a rage and shouted, "You disobedient and unfilial creature! Come, make him kneel before me!"

Several strong eunuchs actually rushed in.

your mother.

Still want to take action?

Wanli could not help but roared, "You are trying to rebel! Anyone who dares to touch a hair on my head today will be tortured to death and all his clans will be exterminated!"

You also want to execute people by slow slicing and exterminate all nine generations of their clan?
Empress Dowager Li flew into a rage and said, "You tyrant, can't I punish you?
What are you afraid of? I promise you won't be tortured to death, and he has no right to execute your entire clan."

Upon hearing this, several eunuchs were ready to take action.

I****!

I am the supreme ruler, how can I endure such humiliation?
Wanli turned around and roared outside: "Big companion, protect the emperor."

Upon hearing this, Feng Bao hurriedly rushed in with a group of imperial guards.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Li could not help but roar, "Feng Bao, who let you in? Get out!"

You have colluded with Zhang Hong and Zhang Siwei to deal with me, and I should listen to you?

Feng Bao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it was His Majesty who summoned this servant to protect him."

Empress Dowager Li ignored her and roared, "I am here to discipline my son, why am I protecting the emperor? Get out!"

Feng Bao looked at Wanli with embarrassment and stood there without moving.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Li was furious and said, "Feng Bao, you want to rebel? I told you to get out, didn't you hear me?"

Do you still want people to humiliate me?

You want to rebel!
I am not your son.

It’s better not to acknowledge a mother like you!

Wanli roared without hesitation, "I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Who wants to rebel? This world belongs to our Zhu family, not your Li family!"

After saying that, he walked away.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Li roared hysterically, "Stop, you disobedient and unfilial thing! If you dare to walk out of this door today, don't even think about coming back in."

Do you think I will come again?

Wanli left without looking back.

(End of this chapter)