Please call me the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty

early morning.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony.

early morning.

Zhu Youjian, dressed in a wide red court robe with narrow cuffs and a crown, strode into the main hall.

He was in high spirits, with bright eyes, and sat steadily in his wheelchair.

All the civil and military officials knelt on the ground, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Youjian raised his right hand slightly: "My dear ministers, you may rise and dismount."

After the civil and military officials stood up, they lined up on both sides.

Zhu Youjian looked at everyone and said, "My dear ministers, I have something to announce to you. I intend to bestow the title of Empress Yi'an upon Zhang Yan and establish Zhou Ling'er as Empress."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wei Zhongxian stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant disagrees."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian frowned and asked, "Eunuch Wei, why do you object?"

"Let's start with Zhang Yan. After a detailed investigation, we learned that Zhang Yan is not Zhang Guoji's daughter."

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials began to discuss it animatedly, whispering and gossiping among themselves.

Zhu Youjian was also surprised: "Eunuch Wei, you said Zhang Yan isn't Zhang Guoji's daughter, then whose daughter is she?"

"Your Majesty, Zhang Yan was originally the daughter of the prisoner Sun Er."

Because Sun Er had committed a capital crime, he entrusted Zhang Yan to his friend, the student Zhang Guoji, for upbringing.

Later, when the imperial court was selecting concubines, Zhang Guoji concealed Zhang Yan's true identity and reported her name.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan was chosen.

Upon hearing Wei Zhongxian's words, Zhu Youjian simply did not believe him: "Do you have any evidence to support your claim?"

"Since this old servant says so, there must be evidence."

There was a man named Song Ba in their hometown.

Song Ba knew their family situation inside and out.

If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send Song Ba to testify.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian thought to himself, "You damn well have witnesses too. It seems you came prepared."

Where are Sun Er and Song Ba?

"They're both in the capital. We can summon them anytime."

Zhu Youjian said to Liang Tianqi, "My dear Liang, I'm entrusting this matter to you."

"Your humble servant obeys the decree."

"Is it true that Eunuch Wei sent Sun Er and Song Ba to the Dali Temple? I will know the answer after one trial," Liang Tianqi said.

"Can."

Wei Zhongxian nodded, then winked at the censor Liang Menghuan.

Liang Menghuan understood and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Speak," Zhu Youjian said, one hand resting on the dragon throne.

"Zhang Guoji has violated the laws of the court at the Imperial Academy and has privately accepted money and property from other students more than once."

Moreover, his lifestyle was also problematic; he frequently visited brothels and had ambiguous relationships with multiple women.

It is truly indecent.

Therefore, I, your humble servant, request that Zhang Guoji be removed from the Imperial Academy and punished according to the law.

Zhu Youjian was even more skeptical. Zhang Guoji was an upright and honest man; how could he possibly be like what he said? It was utter nonsense.

"Alright then, let's also hand this matter over to the Court of Judicial Review for trial."

Wei Zhongxian continued, "Your Majesty wishes to make Zhou Ling'er Empress, but this old servant also objects."

Firstly, Zhou Ling'er's father, Zhou Kui, was originally from Changzhou. When Zhou Ling'er was around ten years old, he made his way to the capital.

Then, they settled in the capital.

He made a living by swindling and telling fortunes for others.

How could the daughter of someone like that be fit to be an empress?

If this gets out, wouldn't it make us a laughingstock to the world?

Secondly, as far as this old servant knows, Zhou Ling'er was not selected during the concubine selection process.

However, in order to have his daughter chosen as the Princess Consort of Xin, Zhou Kui went to his fellow townsman and friend, the Imperial Censor of Dongcheng, and spent a lot of money.

Gu Zongmeng then wrote Zhou Ling'er's name on the list of candidates.

Later, Zhou Ling'er ranked third among the many candidates, but not first.

Zhou Kui then spent money to bribe officials at all levels. It's said that he gave Zhang Yan a considerable sum of money, and ultimately, Zhou Ling'er was chosen as the Princess Consort of Xin.

"You... cough, cough," Zhu Youjian almost cursed, thinking that Wei Zhongxian was really good at making things up. "Eunuch Wei, don't talk nonsense without evidence. Don't just listen to hearsay."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Wei Zhongxian continued, "but now that you have been married for several months, Zhou Ling'er's belly shows no sign of pregnancy."

This old servant even suspects that she, like Empress Chen Ajiao of Emperor Wu of Han, is infertile.

Zhu Youjian felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this, thinking to himself that sometimes these things depend on luck and talent.

Liu Bang was very capable. Back then, he and Bo Ji were together only once, and Bo Ji became pregnant with Liu Heng, who later became Emperor Wen of Han.

Then there was Emperor Yuan of Han, Liu Shi, who inherited the skills of his ancestor Liu Bang. He slept with Wang Zhengjun once, and Wang Zhengjun became pregnant with Liu Ao, who later became Emperor Cheng of Han.

"If Zhou Ling'er were pregnant with the dragon's child, it would be easier to explain."

How can we make her empress at this time?

Xu Xianchun was the son of the prince consort, and his family was wealthy. During the selection of a consort by Prince Xin,

He also gave his daughter's name.

He made connections and almost succeeded.

However, Fang Sicheng believed that the royal family should not form a marriage alliance with relatives of powerful officials, so he strongly advocated choosing Zhou Ling'er as the Princess Consort of Xin.

Ultimately, Xu Xianchun's daughter was unable to compete with Zhou Ling'er and was eliminated.

Xu Xianchun harbored resentment.

Therefore, he took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, since Zhou Ling'er entered the palace, she has not performed well, has not made any great contributions to Your Majesty, and has no good character."

The reason why Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, made Empress Zhangsun his empress was because Empress Zhangsun and her brother Zhangsun Wuji made great contributions in the process of Li Shimin pacifying the country.

Moreover, Empress Zhangsun and Zhangsun Wuji were also involved in the Xuanwu Gate Incident launched by Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was thus able to successfully become the crown prince and inherit the throne.

It can be said that without Empress Zhangsun, Li Shimin would not have become emperor.

Empress Zhangsun held great prestige in the harem and managed it very well.

Your humble servant believes that Zhou Ling'er is unfit to be the mother of the nation.

Therefore, this humble subject also opposes making Zhou Ling'er empress.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian was extremely annoyed.

He thought to himself that Wu Zetian was once Li Shimin's concubine.

After Li Shimin passed away, he sent Wu Zetian to Ganye Temple.

Logically speaking, Ganye Temple should have been Wu Zetian's final resting place.

However, Li Zhi fell in love with Wu Zetian, and he often went to meet with her.

At that time, Empress Wang wanted to suppress other concubines in the palace, such as Consort Xiao, but she lacked an outside ally.

Therefore, Empress Wang strongly advocated bringing Wu Zetian into the palace.

In this way, Wu Zetian grew her hair back and successfully entered the harem.

However, Empress Wang did not expect that Wu Zetian was a political mastermind.

Soon after Wu Zetian entered the palace, she framed and killed Empress Wang and Consort Xiao.

Wu Zetian enjoyed almost exclusive favor from Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi).

Wu Zetian was originally Li Shimin's woman. Logically speaking, given this history, how could she be made empress?

Li Zhi went to Changsun Wuji, but Changsun Wuji also disagreed.

Finally, Li Zhi and Wu Zetian went to find Li Ji.

Li Ji said, "Who should be made empress is the emperor's family matter, so why ask those ministers?"

By saying this, Li Zhi was essentially supporting Wu Zetian's decision to become empress.

Emperor Gaozong was overjoyed and decided to make Wu Zetian his empress.

Didn't Li Ji make it very clear? Establishing an empress is the emperor's family matter. Why am I bringing this up?

I was just informing you, and you've started giving me all this criticism.

I'm going to do whatever I want today, let's see what you can do to me.

Upon realizing this, Zhu Youjian immediately decided to issue an edict to make Zhou Ling'er empress.

Liang Tianqi, observing Zhu Youjian's expression, understood his intentions and quickly said, "Your Majesty, our Great Ming Dynasty also governs the world with filial piety."

Your humble servant believes that your mother should be posthumously honored first, and it would not be too late to establish an empress after this matter is resolved.

In addition, during this period, I will carefully review these cases to see if there are any problems.