Top Scholar

Chapter 227 The Fatherly Reign
From that day on, Comrade Youcai also joined the army of test-takers. Although taking care of an elderly father was more difficult than taking care of ten adopted sons, Su Lu didn't care, because Comrade Youcai was worth it.

For Su Lu, it was nothing more than staying up half an hour later and becoming a man in the eyes of the Corsican dwarf.

The next morning, he was still able to get up energetically, exercise, and then go to the academy to study with the old headmaster. It just goes to show that people's physical condition cannot be generalized.

On his way to school that day, he saw another convoy of messengers, traveling 600 li (approximately 300 kilometers) on urgent missions, rushing into Luzhou City. But there was nothing surprising about it; they were undoubtedly there to deliver the new emperor's enthronement edict…

Even without reading Su Lu's records, one could know that the new emperor's reign title was Zhengde. According to custom, the reign title should be changed the following year, and a general amnesty should be granted. Unfortunately, the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty did not hold a special imperial examination upon his ascension to the throne. Scholars throughout the land would have to wait patiently for three years, that is, the third year of Zhengde's reign, before they would have the opportunity to take the imperial examination again.

'The third year of Zhengde...' Su Lu silently calculated. He had only taken the preliminary examination in the first year of Zhengde, the provincial examination in the second year, and the metropolitan examination in the third year.

If you are good enough and have a lot of luck, theoretically you can advance one step at a time, and after three years you will pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi!

By then, I'll be eighteen, and Huang E will be seventeen—the perfect age for marriage. Hmph, let's see how that old scoundrel will act then!

Thinking of the pleasant parts, Su Lu couldn't help but chuckle a few times. Fortunately, he quickly realized, "Su Lu, Su Lu, why are you in such a hurry? Such a restless mindset won't do!"

We must remain steadfast and focused, abandoning unrealistic fantasies and concentrating solely on the task at hand, completing our plans step by step!
No, I need to think of something scary to calm myself down. Su Lu then began searching his memory of the Zhengde Emperor.

The good news is that he didn't have the same complete lack of impression of the Zhengde Emperor as he did of the Hongzhi Emperor. The bad news is that he didn't have a single good impression...

He remembered that Zhengde was a ridiculous emperor, extremely fond of playing around, a good wife, and liked to adopt sons—he had over 130 adopted sons. In this respect, the two of them had quite a bit in common.

I was talking about adopting a godson...

Furthermore, Su Lu also knew that Emperor Zhengde had a powerful eunuch named Liu Jin, who, along with Wang Zhen and Wei Zhongxian, was known as one of the three most powerful eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty. He had eight powerful subordinates and committed countless evil deeds. He reopened the Eastern and Western Depots, which Emperor Hongzhi had shut down, and also established the Inner Depot, sending secret agents everywhere to crush the civil officials throughout the land…

In short, being an official during the Zhengde reign was not only less comfortable than during the Hongzhi reign, but could even lead to terrible misfortune!
With this in mind, Su Lu calmed down completely. The Zhengde reign was too terrifying; he had to think things through carefully...

Lost in thought, they arrived at the academy and met up with Zhu Zihe. The two then headed to the headmaster's study.

In the month since the late emperor's death, the old headmaster has lost a lot of weight and looks much older.

After the two junior disciples bowed and greeted him, he forced a smile and said, "The latest official records have arrived. We'll look at them today."

"Yes." Su Lu responded, stepped forward, picked up the official records, and stepped back to read them with Zhu Zihe.

Because the late emperor had passed away, the imperial gazette was suspended for a period of time, so this issue is particularly thick, and the news covers the period from April to May.

The two of them then flipped through the pages one by one and soon came across the news of Li Mengyang's release. Moreover, the release date was April 18th, so it was the late emperor who personally released him.

Even more remarkably, the official gazette recorded the details of the events—

The emperor asked the cabinet, "What do you think of Li Mengyang's proposals on various matters?"

Grand Secretary Liu Jian said, "This is an act of arrogance on my part."

Xie Qian said, "This is simply loyalty to the country."

Emperor Xiaozong nodded in agreement. A month later, he issued an edict to release Li Mengyang, only deducting three months' salary from his salary.

After causing such a huge uproar, Leader Li was reinstated to his original position.

To be honest, the fee for one piece of calligraphy by Chief Li is equivalent to three years' salary. Those three months' salary are less than what would be worth without the penalty.

The so-called deduction of salary was practically a way of praising him, since he was completely unharmed, which hardly highlighted his heroic deeds.

The most outrageous part is in the second half. The official records openly claim that Empress Kim, Emperor Hyojong's mother-in-law, was very dissatisfied and went to Emperor Hyojong to complain, but Emperor Hyojong was unmoved.

Those around him advised, "There's no need to severely punish Li Mengyang; a light beating will quell the old lady's anger."

Emperor Xiaozong still disagreed...

Not long after, when Liu Daxia, the Minister of War, was presented to the Emperor in a side hall, Emperor Xiaozong said: 'Do they think I am unaware that these eunuchs intend to use the punishment of caning to kill Li Mengyang? How can I possibly kill a loyal and upright minister to please those in power?'

At first glance, this seems to be promoting the late emperor's magnanimity, forbearance, refusal to listen to slander, and protection of loyal ministers. But even novices like Su Lu and his companion, who had only read a few issues of the Imperial Archives, found something amiss the more they read it.

First of all, this is an official newspaper published by the imperial court. How could it publish private conversations between the emperor and his ministers? I've never seen anything like it before...

Secondly, these three dialogues took place in three different settings. How did the officials of the Office of Transmission manage to know them all?
Third, the late emperor has only just passed away; is it really appropriate to be so eager to mock his mother-in-law? Putting aside everything else, she is the new emperor's maternal grandmother. Shouldn't we at least show her some respect?

Su Lu and Zhu Zihe exchanged glances, both feeling a deep sense of bewilderment. The latter whispered, "It feels like a petty person has gotten their way. Isn't this taking advantage of the late emperor's passing and the new emperor's young age to celebrate their newfound power?" "It certainly doesn't seem appropriate," Su Lu nodded. Zhu Zihe was always more perceptive in this regard than he was. He only vaguely sensed something was amiss, but couldn't articulate the reasons.

"It's like a declaration, announcing to all officials that they are now in charge of the Ming Dynasty," Zhu Zihe whispered again.

Su Lu glanced at the old abbot who was resting with his eyes closed, and said softly to Zhu Zihe, "Zihe, be careful with your words."

"Yes." Zhu Zihe nodded obediently. The two continued reading and came across the events leading up to Emperor Xiaozong's illness and death—

On April 29th, the emperor left the palace to pray for rain due to the drought. After returning to the palace, he suddenly felt unwell. The imperial physician diagnosed him with a minor cold, and he subsequently suspended court sessions.

On the first day of the fifth month, Zhang Sheng, the Minister of Rites, and others submitted a memorial to the Zuoshun Gate to inquire after the Emperor's health. The Hongzhi Emperor replied, "I have read your memorial and understand your sincerity. My health is gradually improving, so you should all focus on your work."

He also personally issued a warning against Prince Ning, Zhu Chenhao, for his numerous illegal acts...

Unexpectedly, on the sixth day of the fifth month, the emperor fell critically ill. The imperial records of this event remain as detailed as before, as if the emperor had witnessed it firsthand—

When the emperor's condition worsened, he immediately dispatched the eunuch Dai Yi to summon Grand Secretaries Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian. They arrived at the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace before the imperial bed. Liu Jian and the others, dressed in casual attire, sat on the dragon bed and bowed to greet the emperor.

The emperor said, "The heat is unbearable."

He then had his left and right hands fetch water and wipe his tongue with a cloth, allowing the late emperor to continue speaking. He then announced that he would pass the throne to the crown prince and appointed Liu Jian and two others as regents.

The late emperor then grasped the hand of Grand Secretary Liu Jian and said, "I know how hard you have worked to guide him." He added, "The Crown Prince is intelligent, but still young and fond of pleasure. I ask you to take charge of his upbringing and assist him wholeheartedly so that he may become a wise ruler. Then I can die in peace."

Liu Jian and the others were in tears, pleading with the late emperor to "rest assured and not worry." Afterwards, the emperor and his ministers spoke for a long time, exchanging hundreds of words before concluding.

The following day, on the seventh day of the fifth month, the late emperor summoned Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao again and instructed him to follow the example of his ancestors and employ virtuous men. Not long after, he passed away...

~~
After watching it, the two looked at each other in disbelief. This was truly the most mind-blowing episode they had ever seen.

"What else do you want to say?" Su Lu asked Zhu Zihe in a low voice.

"The Emperor was able to talk to the Grand Secretary for hundreds of words less than a day before he passed away?" Zhu Zihe whispered in Su Lu's ear, "It doesn't seem like he was about to die."

“Indeed.” Su Lu nodded. The hundreds of words were an exaggeration, and there was a serious loophole—the Grand Secretaries could now do whatever they wanted. Whatever they desired, they could claim it was a dying wish of the late Emperor, and no one could verify it!
Several hundred words would be enough for the three Grand Secretaries to use until they retired.

"Furthermore, how could you say in the official records, 'The new emperor is still young and fond of pleasure. I request that the gentlemen discipline him on my behalf'? This is a thousand times more serious than mocking Lady Jin!" Zhu Zihe exclaimed in amazement, "Now, there's no way you can get away with this before the new emperor comes of age."

“Indeed, with just a few words, power can be temporarily concentrated in the cabinet, and no one will listen to what the emperor says.” Su Lu nodded.

"And look at this reign title—Zhengde!" Zhu Zihe couldn't suppress his anger any longer: "A reign title should either have a beautiful meaning or reflect the new emperor's governing philosophy. How can you use such a persuasive reign title?"

"That's true." Su Lu had no choice but to nod.

The name "Zhengde" is taken from the "Great Yu's Counsel" in the Book of Documents, which means "to rectify one's moral conduct" and is the fundamental principle for a monarch to govern the world in the ideal of Confucianism.

However, considering the Hongzhi Emperor's dying words that he was "still young and fond of pleasure," the strong paternal instinct couldn't be suppressed.

"Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia, Li Qianshun, used the reign title 'Zhengde' from the second year of the Jingkang era to the fourth year of the Shaoxing era." At this moment, the old abbot, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly said in a low voice:
"And this isn't the first time. Emperor Taizong's reign title, Yongle, was used by Fang La..."

The two were completely dumbfounded.

If the first incident was an accident, after such a serious accident, people will definitely be extra careful and it will absolutely not happen a second time.

This is a blatant attempt to diminish the emperor's sanctity...

"It's too ugly." The old mountain chief squeezed out four words through gritted teeth, his deep disappointment evident in his words.

"When the tiger is away, the monkeys become king." Zhu Zihe couldn't help but sarcastically remark, "Some people are eager to seize power!"

Su Lu suddenly asked, "Among the many reforms and reforms listed in the late emperor's edict, was there any matter of re-registering the household registration?"

"Guess?" The old mountain chief gazed at the lone wild goose in the sky.

"I guess not," Su Lu said in a low voice.

"You guessed right, there isn't any," the old headmaster said in a tone of utter despair. "And there never will be again..."

(End of this chapter)