Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 139 If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too!
Having heard this edict, even without anyone translating it for me...

Yan Maoqing instantly understood what that fucking amazing surprise meant!

He now feels that his career advancement in the officialdom has been like a firecracker, while most officials rise step by step, and some even remain in the same position for decades without any progress.

He, on the other hand, was like a firecracker that had already been lit, leaping twice in a row within a month!
The first time, he jumped directly from no rank or position to the fifth rank; the second time, he jumped directly from the fifth rank to the third rank...

What exactly are you trying to do, you big idiot Zhu?!
If you're really playing with firecrackers, then I've already jumped twice enough. Shouldn't it explode next?

the most important is.

The position of Crown Prince's Chamberlain is fundamentally different from other official positions.

Most other official positions require serving one master, and very few people can remain favored in the new dynasty after the death of the old master and the ascension of the new master. As a result, the political lives of many people will end, or even face great disaster.

But the Crown Prince's Chamberlain is different; he not only lives in the present but also in the future!

Especially now that the crown prince is still young, once a deep relationship of kingship and ministership, and teachership and studentship is established with him, there is a great possibility that he will wield immense power when he ascends the throne in the future.

Gao Gong's life trajectory in history followed this pattern.

After passing the imperial examination, he spent ten years in the Hanlin Academy before being selected to serve as a lecturer in the household of Prince Yu, Zhu Zaihou.

This lecture lasted for more than ten years, during which he established a very deep relationship with Zhu Zaihou as a subject and teacher.

During this process, the current Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyi suddenly fell ill and died the day after his coming-of-age ceremony. Later, Prince Jing, Zhu Zaizhen, also died in the Prince of De'an's residence in the forty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign.

From then on, Zhu Houcong only had one son, Prince Yu, Zhu Zaihou, thus firmly establishing his position as crown prince.

From that time onward, Gao Gong's career advancement in officialdom was like a rocket launch. He first rose to the position of Minister of Rites, and the following year, he quickly entered the cabinet as Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Although he later fell out with Xu Jie and resigned, he was immediately reinstated by Zhu Zaihou after Xu Jie's retirement. With Zhu Zaihou's support, he controlled the cabinet and held immense power, which no one could challenge.

It wasn't until after Zhu Zaihou's death and the young Wanli Emperor's ascension to the throne that Zhang Juzheng, together with Feng Bao and Empress Dowager Li, finally managed to dismiss Gao Gong from his post and put him in retirement.

Coincidentally, Zhang Juzheng expelled Gao Gong and became a powerful minister.

This also relied on the close relationship between Empress Dowager Li, Feng Bao, and Emperor Wanli...

This is what makes the position of the Crown Prince's Chamberlain so special!

This was, however, one of the official positions that Yan Maoqing most resisted.

He only wants to retire and return to his hometown. If he gets involved with the Crown Prince again, wouldn't he be targeted by the Emperor in the next dynasty and forcibly brought into the court to serve as an official?
this moment.

Yan Maoqing even suspected that Zhu Houcong had already figured out his purpose and was deliberately going against him, using this most vicious method to punish him!
"Yan Maoqing, why haven't you accepted the imperial decree and expressed your gratitude?"

After Huang Jin finished reading the imperial edict, he waited for a long time but Yan Maoqing was still lying on the ground without moving. He had no choice but to speak up and urge Yan Maoqing on behalf of the emperor.

"Woooo..."

Yan Maoqing finally reacted somewhat upon hearing this, but when he looked up, he revealed a tearful emoji that seemed to say, "I'm done playing, give me my money back."

“Your Majesty, I am a wicked subject who is utterly worthless, shameless, petty and easily pleased, narrow-minded and calculating.”

"Your Majesty has ordered this humble subject to tutor the Crown Prince, but I fear this will mislead the Crown Prince and ruin the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. I humbly beg Your Majesty to rescind your order!"

"..."

Seeing this, Huang Jin and Lu Bing had no choice but to secretly agree.

Putting everything else aside, just look at his current appearance. He doesn't even have the most basic dignity. Does he look like someone who can shoulder such an important responsibility?

Don't let the Crown Prince turn out like this. Otherwise, Your Majesty will have two little devils. You'll probably cry even more than Yan Maoqing.
"hehe."

However, Zhu Houcong seemed to enjoy the current situation, and sneered, saying...

"Since you have such self-awareness, I believe that when you tutor the Crown Prince, you will also know how to avoid these things that are not befitting a ruler. You are exactly the most suitable candidate in my mind."

"Please, Father, rescind your decree!"

Tears streamed down Yan Maoqing's face, and he wailed and kowtowed again, pleading.

“This humble subject has neglected his own studies. If you do not believe me, Your Majesty, send someone to the Hanlin Academy to inquire. They will find out that I have only attended the ceremony three times in the past month.” “How can someone like this, who has neglected his own studies, tutor the Crown Prince?”

"..."

Huang Jin and Lu Bing remained silent to themselves.

They actually exposed this kind of thing themselves. Does this mean they don't plan to continue this relationship?

Then Zhu Houcong said with a half-smile:

"What's the big deal? Sometimes when I feel unwell, I don't go to the morning court. There's no need to ask anyone else about this; Huang Jin can testify to it."

"Furthermore, you don't even attend classes at the academy, yet many Hanlin officials and students came to your rescue after you were imprisoned. I think this proves your ability, and you are still the most suitable candidate in my heart."

"???"

Hearing this, Huang Jin and Lu Bing felt even more choked up.

Your Majesty, perhaps you should reconsider?

Your Majesty, please, you're blinded by your own involvement!
Haven't you noticed that you've only known Yan Maoqing for a few days, but you're already starting to sound a bit like him?
Listen carefully. Is it really Your Majesty's golden words to utter such treacherous and wicked words?
"We implore Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"

Snot bubbles also blew from Yan Maoqing's face, and his crying became even louder.
“Your Majesty may not know, but this humble subject has no real talent or learning. When the Hanlin Academy was selecting candidates, this humble subject did not even submit any articles. I don’t know how I was selected in such a muddled way.”

"Such acts that undermine the imperial examination system should, according to the law, be punished by stripping the offender of his official rank; otherwise, the fate of the nation will be difficult to restore..."

"!!!"

Huang Jin and Lu Bing were even more dumbfounded at this moment.

Are they all crazy? They dare to say anything. This time, they're even giving up on fame and fortune. Are they really giving up?
Furthermore, do you think you were selected as a probationary official based on your writing skills? Actually, it was based on… Huang Jin subconsciously glanced at Zhu Houcong.

"Oh!"

Zhu Houcong also felt a strange sense of guilt. No wonder he always felt that Yan Song had a bit of his style when he looked at Yan Maoqing's selected articles... So that's what happened. This old man is indeed a rare loyal minister!

However, if he continued like this, it would become a case of "like father, like son," so he immediately slapped the armrest, interrupting Yan Maoqing:
"enough!"

"Your three refusals have already demonstrated humility and conformed to etiquette. To continue to refuse would be extremely disrespectful!"

"Lu Bing, I don't want to see this man again. Hand him the imperial edict and drag him out of the palace!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Lu Bing immediately stood up. Seeing that Yan Maoqing had already opened his mouth as if he wanted to continue speaking, he immediately leaped forward and forcibly swallowed the words that were about to come out.

"Waaaaah! Waaaaah! Waaaaah!"

Then, amidst Yan Maoqing's unwilling sobs, she disregarded the tears and snot covering her hands, picked him up, and dragged him out of the palace.

"..."

Watching Lu Bing and Yan Maoqing's retreating figures, Zhu Houcong shook his head and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

This crown prince, though born with extraordinary intelligence and spiritual abilities, was deeply loved by him.

But now, at less than six years old, he already shows... to put it nicely, he is cautious and prudent, and abides by etiquette; to put it bluntly, he is timid and hesitant.

First, there were court officials who colluded with Tao Zhongwen to create the prophecy "two dragons cannot meet" to separate father and son. Then, there were palace officials who manipulated the court. The court was rife with undercurrents. It should be known that the court system designed by Emperor Taizu was originally tailor-made for strong and wise rulers. Weak and foolish rulers would inevitably suffer the consequences.

If this crown prince continues with this personality, he will certainly be unable to shoulder heavy responsibilities in the future.

If Zhu Zaihou and Zhu Zaizhen, who are only one year apart from him, are encouraged and swayed by the court officials and develop a desire to seize the throne, it could be a matter that shakes the foundation of the country.

"Zai Rui, I have gone to such great lengths to arrange this, even if you only learn eleven percent of what you have learned from that scoundrel Yan Maoqing."

"Now I can finally rest easy..."

(End of this chapter)