The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 676 The Crown Prince Should Be Established
Xiao Zhu Changxun is really starting to grow taller.

This little guy drank a big glass of milk and ate a lot of beef jerky this morning, but he still doesn't seem full.

Before noon, he rubbed his stomach and said, "Father, I feel hungry again."

The little one is growing a lot right now, so he can't go hungry.

Upon hearing this, Wanli immediately stood up and said, "Chang Geng, let's stop teaching here for today. Let's go eat."

After saying that, he lifted his foot and walked towards Kunning Palace.

Upon hearing this, Song Yingxing quickly put down the book in his hand, got up, and followed.

Xiao Zhu Changxun jumped up and followed after him eagerly.

However, they seemed to have arrived a bit too early. The kitchen of Kunning Palace was still empty; there wasn't a single person inside, and not a trace of food.

It's definitely not lunchtime yet.

Seeing this, Li Xuancheng was about to order someone to urge the imperial chefs to hurry up and prepare the food when Wanli raised his hand and said, "Uncle, there's no rush. Order someone to summon Doctor Wan."

Wan Bangzhong was basically on duty in the Qianqing Palace at this moment; his arrival was incredibly fast.

A short while later, he strode in.

When he saw that Xiao Zhu Changxun was touching his stomach and seemed to be in some pain, he quickly asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

I was just hungry.

Instead of ordering people to cook, Father Emperor summoned you here. I have no idea what that means.

Could the imperial physician really cure hunger?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun simply looked at Wanli.

Wanli smiled slightly and said, "Dr. Wan, Xun'er is fine. He's just hungry."

I feel he's growing taller, so he gets hungry very easily.

"Dr. Wan, have you ever researched what foods can help you grow taller during your growth spurt?"

This also falls under pediatrics.

Wan Bangzhong nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I have some experience with this."

There's a saying that the better you eat, the taller you'll grow.

There is some truth to this. If you can't even get enough to eat, you definitely won't grow more than half an inch in a month when you're growing.

If you eat well, it's possible to grow half an inch or even an inch taller in a month.

However, eating well doesn't mean eating everything is good.

Having observed many children and asked many questions, I have gained some insights.

Children who eat more fish, shrimp, lean meat, and eggs during their growth spurt will grow faster than other children.

However, eating only these isn't enough; you also need to eat some vegetables, otherwise, you're prone to getting a fever.

He truly is a miracle doctor.

I've studied all of these.

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slightly and then decisively said, "Uncle, order the imperial chefs to prepare more fish and shrimp, as well as pork, beef and mutton, choosing the leanest cuts. Also, prepare some eggs and vegetables."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuancheng immediately ordered someone to deliver an oral message.

When Empress Wang and her concubines arrived with several young princes and princesses, all the food had already been served.

They were usually the ones waiting for Wanli and Xiao Zhu Changxun, but today it turned out that Wanli and Xiao Zhu Changxun were waiting for them.

Seeing this, Empress Wang couldn't help but ask curiously, "Your Majesty, why are you back so early today?"

This is because my precious son is hungry.

Emperor Wanli smiled and explained, "Xun'er is growing a lot and gets hungry very easily. I was afraid he would get hungry, so I brought him back early."

Oh, so Xun'er is hungry.

Upon hearing this, Empress Wang nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, you may have been taking Xun'er out all the time and didn't notice."

Actually, Xun'er has grown quite a bit taller and heavier in the past six months; I can hardly carry him anymore.

Xiao Zhu Changxun is indeed growing taller.

He was so hungry that his throat felt like it was about to burst, and his eyes were fixed on the food on the table.

Seeing this, Wanli quickly raised his hand and said, "Everyone, please sit down and eat. Xun'er is starving."

Seeing that everyone had picked up their chopsticks, Xiao Zhu Changxun immediately started eating, devouring the food like a whirlwind. Empress Wang was so busy serving him food that she couldn't keep up.

This little guy ate like crazy and grew incredibly fast.

The New Year holiday has just passed, and this little guy seems to have grown up in an instant.

Wanli could clearly feel it; the little guy was originally only a little taller than his waist, but now he was almost up to his shoulder.

Moreover, the childishness on the little guy's face has obviously faded, and he doesn't look like a child anymore. He looks quite mature and composed.

It's time to establish a crown prince.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, around 7 a.m., Wanli summoned Grand Secretary Shen Li and Minister of Rites Wu Daonan to his study.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, he solemnly said, "Zhonghua, Huifu, Xun'er has grown up and should be made crown prince."

Oh dear, you've finally thought of establishing a crown prince.

Upon hearing this, Shen Li and Wu Daonan were overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "What are the rules for establishing a crown prince? Tell me all of you." A crown prince is not appointed frequently; a dynasty is considered fortunate if it appoints one every few years or even a decade or more.

Emperor Wanli had also been the crown prince, but that was more than 30 years ago, and he couldn't quite remember it.

Someone will naturally keep track of this.

The Ministry of Rites was specifically responsible for recording these things.

Upon hearing this, Shen Li simply looked at Wu Daonan.

Wu Daonan quickly explained in detail: "Your Majesty, the process of establishing a crown prince is roughly divided into nine steps."

The first step is for you to summon all civil and military officials to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to announce the decision to establish the crown prince, and then send the chief and deputy envoys with imperial credentials to the crown prince.

The second step was for the chief envoy to present the document establishing the crown prince, and the deputy envoy to present the crown prince with the seal, robes, and other formalities, thus officially establishing the crown prince's status.

The third step is for the chief and deputy envoys to return to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to report back to you, and at the same time let all civil and military officials know that the crown prince has been formally established.

The fourth step is for you to lead the Crown Prince in offering sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors to show your respect for them.

The fifth step is for you and the Empress to sit together in the main hall of Kunning Palace, accompanied by a group of concubines. The Crown Prince will then bow to you, the Empress, and the concubines to show his filial piety.

The sixth step is for you to return to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to receive the congratulations of civil and military officials, and then announce to the world the establishment of the Crown Prince.

The seventh step was for princes, nobles, dukes, marquises, and officials outside the capital to submit memorials of congratulations and express their support.

The eighth step was to summon dukes, marquises, nobles, and civil and military officials to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to pay homage to His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness the Crown Prince would return the greetings to the dukes, marquises, nobles, and civil and military officials to show humility.

The ninth step was for His Highness the Crown Prince to move into the Cining Palace and for officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to assist him in managing state affairs.

Is it so troublesome?

However, this process must be followed; establishing a crown prince is no joke.

The crown prince is the foundation of the country, and the ceremony for establishing a crown prince must not be taken lightly.

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slowly and said, "Well then, you should quickly prepare the investiture documents, seals, and robes. Next month, we will choose an auspicious day to invest the Crown Prince, and you will serve as the chief and deputy envoys."

"The minister obeys the order."

Shen Li and Wu Daonan quickly bowed and took their leave.

After thinking for a moment, Wanli said loudly, "General Shan, quickly send someone to deliver an imperial edict, ordering the Imperial Father-in-law to lead the craftsmen to renovate Cining Palace as soon as possible."

When Yongnian Earl Wang Wei heard that Ciqing Palace was to be renovated, he was overjoyed, for this meant that a crown prince was to be established.

He immediately summoned over a thousand experienced craftsmen to rush to the capital.

Around noon, he had already led over a thousand craftsmen to Cining Palace to begin renovations.

Emperor Wanli also arrived with Zhu Changxun and Song Yingxing.

After the emperor and his minister exchanged greetings, Earl of Yongnian, Wang Wei, cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, in your opinion, which areas need renovation?"

This Cining Palace is indeed quite old.

He moved out more than 30 years ago and hasn't renovated it since.

Wanli looked around briefly, then thought it over carefully, and then decisively said, "Replace all the doors and windows with golden nanmu wood and gold glass."

The tables, chairs, benches, beds, wardrobes, and everything else were all replaced with sandalwood.

Also, check the roof tiles carefully. Replace all the old and damaged ones.

As for the walls and pillars, you can decide what kind of paint to use, but just repaint them all.

Oh, and the flooring too. This bluestone is too rough. Replace it all with marble, and remember to carve patterns on it to make it slip-resistant.

Does this need to be completely renovated from top to bottom?
Upon hearing this, Earl Wang Wei of Yongnian thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, when will His Highness the Crown Prince move in?"

Emperor Wanli estimated, "Let's see which day is an auspicious day in the middle of next month."

Are you in such a hurry?
Yongnian Earl Wang Wei carefully inspected the work again, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, the doors, windows, furniture, walls, pillars, and tiles are all fine. It should be completed within a month without any problem."

The key issue is the flooring. Your Majesty, there's no marble produced in the capital region. It would probably take ten to fifteen days to transport it here. Then, after processing and carving, laying it all on would likely take more than ten days.

This one is simple.

Wanli pondered and said, "You can have Wanshengtang place an order, order the pre-processed ones, the ones with carved patterns."

You can also make requests to have them work day and night to deliver it within twenty days, and then just lay it on the ground directly after it arrives.

Oh, that's no problem.

Upon hearing this, Yongnian Earl Wang Wei nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, you go about your business. I'll take another look."

Earl of Yongnian, Wang Wei, quickly bowed and took his leave.

Immediately afterwards, he directed the craftsmen to begin the renovation.

Wanli thought about it carefully again, and then solemnly said, "Uncle, all the palace maids and eunuchs here have been replaced. We must choose those who are trustworthy. We would rather have none than to have the wrong ones."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuancheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay."

Wanli then carefully instructed, "Xigao, Dingchen, Weixian, Weizhi, after Xun'er moves in, you no longer need to follow me. From now on, you should do your best to protect Xun'er."

"You all need to discuss this carefully and figure out how to take turns on duty. In short, Xun'er must have at least thirty Imperial Guards protecting him at all times."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xigao, the heir apparent of the Duke of Dingguo, Zhu Dingchen, the heir apparent of the Duke of Chengguo, Zhang Weixian, the heir apparent of the Duke of Yingguo, and Xu Weizhi, the heir apparent of the Duke of Weiguo, repeatedly bowed and said, "Your humble servants understand."

(End of this chapter)