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

Chapter 148 Double Happiness! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

After a while.

Zhang Zuo, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, strode quickly into the hall.

He then knelt down and kowtowed, choking back tears in a sorrowful voice:
"Your Majesty, just half an hour ago... Empress Dowager Zhaosheng Cishou fell ill and... passed away!"

“升遐” means “薨逝”.

This is a respectful but subtle way of referring to imperial relatives during funerals in the palace.

Furthermore, different people have different funeral rites.

In cases like the death of an empress dowager, the chief eunuch in the empress dowager's palace must first confirm her passing.

Then he had to run to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and find the eunuch in charge of writing or the eunuch in charge of the seal of office to report.

Then the Grand Eunuch or the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs would immediately request an audience with the Emperor to give the most formal report.

That is why it was Zhang Zuo who came to report the death to Zhu Houcong at this moment.

"You mean, Empress Dowager Zhang, she..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong staggered two steps, and a look of grief immediately appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences and take good care of your health."

Huang Jin quickly stepped forward to help him up, his face also showing concern and grief, his eyes instantly turning red, with glistening tears already welling up in them.

Zhang Zuo, who came to deliver the news, burst into tears and pleaded in an increasingly choked voice:

"Your Majesty, please change into mourning clothes and proceed to Cining Palace to see Empress Dowager Zhaosheng Cishou one last time!"

"Zhang Zuo... You first order someone to prepare the carriage outside the palace. I will change into mourning clothes and depart at any time... Uh... uh... uh..."

Zhu Houcong's voice trembled as he spoke, and at the end he turned his back, his shoulders shaking as he let out a strange sob from his throat.

"The slaves obey the order."

Zhang Zuo kowtowed again, then rose and slowly withdrew.

"call--"

Zhu Houcong then took a deep breath, and when he turned around again, there were not a single tear in his eyes, and even the grief on his face had instantly diminished by more than half.

Huang Jin also sniffed, but dared not change his expression like Zhu Houcong, and continued to speak with a sorrowful face:
"Please move to the back hall, Your Majesty. This servant will assist you in changing into your mourning clothes."

In the palace, everything depends on acting skills.

Huang Jin knew it, Zhang Zuo knew it, and Zhu Houcong knew it even better.

For them, the death of Empress Dowager Zhang was not a sad event, but rather a joyous occasion to celebrate.

Because Empress Dowager Zhang was not Zhu Houcong's biological mother, but the mother of the previous Zhengde Emperor.

The "Great Rites Controversy," which had been raging for so many years, was also closely related to this Empress Dowager Zhang.

Because the Zhengde Emperor Zhu Houzhao, who died at the time, was Zhu Houcong's cousin, and Zhu Houzhao had no children, Empress Dowager Zhang and Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe jointly managed the government.

During this period, undercurrents were swirling within the imperial court, and significant disagreements arose regarding who should inherit the throne.

In the end, Empress Dowager Zhang and Yang Tinghe overruled all objections and chose the fourteen-year-old Zhu Houcong to succeed to the throne.

The problem lies precisely in the phrase "successor to the throne".

These four characters are usually used to refer to the succession of a crown prince or imperial prince.

Empress Dowager Zhang and Yang Tinghe both believed they had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor and intended to use this to restrain Zhu Houcong.

Therefore, he insisted that Yan Maoqing enter the palace through the "Crown Prince Gate" Donghua Gate, which he had used to enter the palace that day, and temporarily reside in the Wenhua Hall, and ascend the throne on a chosen day.

This was the first clash of power between the two sides. The fourteen-year-old Zhu Houcong understood that this was a show of force before entering the palace, so he resolutely refused. In the end, Empress Dowager Zhang and Yang Tinghe were forced to compromise, allowing Zhu Houcong to receive the imperial edict in the suburbs and enter the palace through the Daming Gate at noon on the day of his ascension to the throne, where he immediately took the throne in the Fengtian Hall.

Following this, the Great Rites Controversy officially began.

The two sides engaged in a long-standing struggle over the issue of minor branches being incorporated into major branches and succession without lineage.

In the end, Zhu Houcong won this political struggle. Yang Tinghe could not defeat Zhu Houcong and had to submit a memorial to resign. In the end, he was punished by Zhu Houcong and dismissed from his post.

Empress Dowager Zhang was forced to accept living in the palace with Empress Dowager Jiang, the birth mother of Zhu Houcong, and they were now on equal footing, known as the two empress dowagers.

Such a beginning destined Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Dowager Jiang to have a difficult time getting along peacefully.

Zhu Houcong would naturally side with his birth mother, Empress Dowager Jiang. After all, during the "Great Rites Controversy," there was an incident where he wanted to welcome his mother, Jiang, to the capital with the honors due to an empress dowager, but was opposed by the entire court, led by Yang Tinghe, who wept bitterly.

At that time, Zhu Houcong expressed his willingness to abdicate the throne and return to his fiefdom of Xingwang with his mother, forcing Yang Tinghe and others to compromise.

Zhu Houcong naturally blamed Empress Dowager Zhang for this matter.

Therefore, his attitude and respect towards Empress Dowager Zhang and his birth mother, Empress Dowager Jiang, were already evident after he ascended the throne.

For a long time, in Zhu Houcong's mind, Empress Dowager Zhang and the group of former officials led by Yang Tinghe were originally one and the same.

Throughout the entire "Great Rites Controversy," Empress Dowager Zhang was a key target of the former court officials who opposed her, and may even have been their backbone.

Now that Empress Dowager Zhang has passed away, it is as if the former officials have lost their backbone. Only now can the "Great Rites Controversy" truly be considered over, and the shadow that has always weighed on Zhu Houcong's head will naturally dissipate immediately.

This was naturally good news for him.

and so……

Today, his crown prince has finally shown his father's traits!
Empress Dowager Zhang also passed away at the same time!
What is this called?
This is called double happiness!

"Fuchen!"

"Yan Maoqing truly is my blessed minister!"

Zhu Houcong maintained a facade of grief with difficulty, but the joy in his heart was already becoming increasingly difficult to contain.

No wonder he insisted on contacting me in this way.

There's no need to elaborate on the matter of Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyi; Yan Maoqing was directly involved.

As for the sudden death of Empress Dowager Zhang...

It should be noted that Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Dowager Jiang previously resided in Ciqing Palace and Cining Palace, respectively.

The Cining Palace, where Empress Dowager Zhang resided, was originally the official residence of the Crown Prince, commonly known as the Crown Prince's Mansion. Furthermore, the office of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, where Yan Maoqing worked, was located right outside the palace gates.

Today was Yan Maoqing's first day at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, when Empress Dowager Zhang passed away.

Furthermore, after Empress Dowager Zhang's death, Cining Palace will soon be available for Zhu Zai Rui to reside in, making it more convenient for Yan Maoqing to provide guidance...

How could he not be taught to connect Yan Maoqing with this matter?
Besides, he was originally quite obsessed with metaphysics. Even if Tao Zhongwen is no longer trusted by him, it is impossible for him to completely deny the metaphysical concept of destiny that he has believed in for many years.
This must be fate...

Thus, with Huang Jin's help, they entered the rear hall of the Qianqing Palace.

"emperor……"

Consort Wang, who was temporarily avoiding the situation in the rear hall, immediately came forward with tears in her eyes.

"My beloved concubine, Empress Dowager Zhang has passed away."

Zhu Houcong frowned, and said with immense grief,

"My heart is breaking right now, I am heartbroken and devastated. We can talk about the matter of the Crown Prince's tutor later. It's not like the fish can't be caught at all... Cry, just cry it out."

(End of this chapter)