The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 127 Return to the Palace

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Jiajing's expression was indifferent, but he was actually in a good mood. The Jinyiwei had just sent someone to report the specific situation. Even the most troublesome Xun Gui had bowed his head and had not caused any trouble. The Beijing garrison was also quite stable.

In this way, other powerful families who were observing would naturally donate money and grain, without having to use his private funds, and could even supplement them.

With his back to them, Jiajing looked up at the statue, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Going door-to-door begging for food, is this how you provide disaster relief?"

Prince Yu trembled in fright, while Zhu Zaizhen immediately knelt down again: "Your subject knows his crime."

When someone says you're wrong, and you have no choice but to kneel down and reply, just admit it.

Prince Yu wanted to help explain, but he was too scared to do anything but kneel down beside him.

Zhu Zaizhen was not afraid. He knew that he had cut Xun Gui, but he wouldn't bleed much or lose any flesh. It would only be those merchants who would die.

Does anyone in the imperial court really care about them?

The capital city is in turmoil due to famine, which is unpleasant to look at and hear, and could easily lead to real trouble. But merchants are the ones who are truly a constant source of profit, like crops that keep growing back after being harvested.

If the current situation continues, the disaster victims will generally receive relief. Even if some people still die, they will not cause trouble. Even without natural disasters, it is normal for some people to freeze or starve to death in winter.

The nobles gained a good reputation, the officials amassed wealth through bribery, and the emperor's funds for his Taoist practice were replenished.

This is the ideal situation, where everything is handled perfectly and no one's interests are harmed. Such a situation will never come to pass.

Jiajing snorted coldly: "Do you know that there are rumors circulating outside that a prince who confiscated property and forced grain taxes has emerged from the palace?"

Zhu Zaizhen immediately responded: "Your subject is guilty. Disaster relief is a matter of court administration and has its own regulations. As a prince, I have overstepped my bounds by going to the door to coerce nobles into making donations. This has disrupted the court's rules and damaged the imperial dignity. I humbly beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Zhu Zaizhen confessed his guilt directly without any explanation, without uttering a single word of grievance for speaking out for the people, and without trying to gain sympathy by exploiting the suffering of the disaster victims. In this dynasty, if you want to get things done, you have to learn to take the blame first.

Prince Yu, who was standing to the side, trembled even more violently. He had also visited several households. Could it be that rumors about him were also circulating outside?

"Your son—your subject is also guilty, please punish me, Father Emperor."

Jiajing looked at him with suspicion. What business was it of his?

"Your Majesty, please allow me to present my report."

Duke Zhu Xizhong, whose knees and legs were in excruciating pain from kneeling, finally found an opportunity to speak.

It seems that His Majesty is reprimanding Prince Jing, but it's just a veiled attack. Otherwise, if you're going to scold your son, why am I kneeling here with you?

Moreover, the Imperial Guards hadn't avoided him when they came to report, and he already knew that his son had spoken out first.

Regardless of the specifics of what was said, since the intention was to curry favor with Prince Jing, it was only right to see it through to the end.

"explain."

Jiajing turned around, his hair tied up with a Taoist hat, the Taoist patterns on his clothes subtly swirling, his voice flat and emotionless, revealing no emotion.

His gaze swept over the two kings, finally settling on Zhu Xizhong, waiting for his words.

Zhu Xizhong grunted and crawled a few steps on his knees, then said loudly, "Your Highness Prince Jing is doing his job diligently and is by no means overstepping the rules. This time, the refugees are gathered outside the city, starving and freezing, and their livelihood is uncertain. The Ministry of Revenue's funds and grain are circulating slowly. If we follow the usual procedures and wait for the grain to enter the city, I'm afraid there will be widespread starvation and chaos."

Fortunately, the wise ruler presided over the court and appointed the two princes to take charge of disaster relief. Prince Jing personally visited the residences of the nobles and explained the important matters of the court and the benefits and harms of the disaster, which united the nobles and made them determined to overcome the disaster.

As for the so-called rumors about the princes confiscating property, these were maliciously spread by profit-seeking merchants. They hoarded rice, inflated prices to make a profit, disregarding the lives of the people and the difficulties faced by the court. Such beasts deserve to be torn to pieces.

"Our noble families have received boundless imperial favor for generations, and we have all voluntarily donated grain and silver to assist in the relief efforts. I guarantee this with the lives of my entire family!"

"Is that really the case?"

"I request that all the meritorious officials be summoned to an audience, so as to clarify the will of the people!"

It's impossible to summon so many people for an audience with His Majesty in the middle of the night.

"Get up, everyone."

His words were sincere and well-considered, shifting all criticism to the common merchants and preserving the dignity of the imperial prince and the nobles of the capital.

More importantly, this represents the obedience of the nobility to the imperial family and their reverence for the emperor.

Jiajing's expression finally softened considerably, and the Duke of Cheng was finally allowed to stand up.

In that instant, Zhu Zaizhen saw his pained and contorted face, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, as if to say, "You dared to avoid me? Remember this, there will be times when you have to kneel everywhere."

When Jiajing noticed this, he immediately glared at him, and Zhu Zaizhen acted obedient and ashamed.

"Although your actions were out of line, they were done for the sake of the country, and are therefore understandable. Your merits and demerits cancel each other out, so you will not be punished this time."

"Your son thanks Your Majesty for Your Majesty's grace."

Prince Yu looked up blankly. He followed along to apologize in a daze. At this moment, his father had neither affirmed his achievements nor said that he had made any mistakes. He didn't know what to do.

But he's just an ordinary twelve or thirteen-year-old child, nothing special. It's not that he's stupid or dumb.

"Dong Chengguo."

"Your subject is here."

Zhu Xizhong's face was deathly pale and his legs were trembling. Kneeling on the hard stone slab for several hours was not easy. Fortunately, he was in his prime and had practiced archery and horsemanship since childhood, so his foundation was not bad. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't even be able to stand up now.

"In this disaster relief effort, noble families have generously donated, showing compassion for the victims and loyalty to the court, demonstrating the integrity of hereditary officials."

"As the head of the nobility, your family has set an example and rendered meritorious service to the nation. Therefore, I hereby decree that all noble families who have donated money and grain shall be recorded by the Ministry of Rites and uniformly commended and rewarded after the New Year."

"On behalf of all the nobles and officials in the capital, I thank Your Majesty for your great favor. Your Majesty is truly wise!"

"Furthermore, although the rumors were fabricated by merchants, they should not be allowed to spread unchecked. The harm caused by rumors in the marketplace is enough to confuse the public and corrupt the court. After you leave the palace, immediately order the Five City Garrison and the Shuntian Prefecture to thoroughly investigate those who spread rumors inside and outside the capital."

Anyone caught spreading rumors, slandering the princes, or making unwarranted comments about the court will be severely punished.

"promise."

Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, essentially serving as the imperial court's mules for regulating finances and distributing goods.

As long as the disaster victims remain calm, the capital region is stable, and the imperial treasury is not damaged, everything else is not a big deal.

A moment later, Cheng Guo announced his departure. After he left the palace, Huang Jin sent people to help and escort him, so that he wouldn't fall in the snow before leaving the palace.

The palace doors slowly closed, shutting out the wind and snow and the chill from the outside world. The warm fire in the stove blazed, and the fragrance of sandalwood dispelled the harshness of the previous audience.

Jiajing's gaze first fell on the bewildered Prince Yu. He hesitated for a moment, then finally said only, "Go back and summon the imperial physician first, then send someone to bring the medical records over."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your compassion."

This was the first time Prince Yu had clearly felt the care from his father, the Emperor.

"Go."

Only three people remained in the hall. Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaizhen and said, "Do you think you did a wonderful job this time?"

"I dare not. Your subject knows how capable you are, and you know that it was only through the Emperor's might that you were able to make everyone bow down. You also know that you have offended many people, both high and low, this time."

Moreover, the disaster relief efforts have only just begun, and there are still many troubles to come. Whether they will ultimately be effective is uncertain; therefore, I dare not be complacent in the slightest.

Jiajing squinted slightly as he looked at his son, whose face was filled with weariness and calmness. This surprised him greatly, as he knew that this boy was clever and daring.

But he hadn't expected that someone so young would act so maturely and skillfully.

Some people accomplish things without even realizing it, and don't know how they did it.

"You knew that, yet you were still willing to do it?"

Zhu Zaizhen simply lowered his head slightly and said, "Your subject is first and foremost the Emperor's son, and then the Emperor's subject. But the civil and military officials of the court are first and foremost subjects, and then sons. The two are ultimately different. They may not consider the Emperor's interests, but your subject cannot."

He paused deliberately, giving his father a moment to feel moved.

"Urgent matters must be addressed, and infamy must be borne by someone. Otherwise, the people will not be able to survive, and if trouble arises, it will damage the emperor's virtue."

After a moment of silence in the hall, Jiajing nodded slowly, his tone softening: "It is rare for you to have such a mindset and sense of responsibility."

""

The officials in the court were all well-versed in the art of seeking profit and avoiding harm. When faced with dirty and tiring work that would offend powerful figures and earn them infamy from both the court and the public, they would only verbally agree to it. But once the disaster victims actually caused trouble, they would send out a few unlucky ones to be beheaded and their property confiscated to settle the score.

In the end, the son is more reliable, as he knows to consider the son's reputation.

"Now that I've started, I must see this through to the end. Starting tomorrow, I will be in seclusion for a religious ceremony."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I respectfully wish Your Majesty a blessed and auspicious fasting ceremony."

This means he's been given free rein to do it. Such generosity! Could it be that Father Emperor also wants to eat pork for the New Year?

Most likely, Xun Gui and Yan Shifan are going to slaughter a pig, but no one can forget that before eating the meat, the fattest piece of meat must be placed on the offering table to honor the ancestors.

Jiajing said no more, raised his hand and waved it lightly. Huang Jin, who was standing to the side, understood and bowed and said softly, "Your Highness, it is late at night and the weather is cold. His Majesty is about to meditate. Your Highness should also go back and rest early."

Zhu Zaizhen bowed again to take his leave, turned and stepped out of the palace gate. After getting into the sedan chair, he closed his eyes wearily. His body was not tired, but his mind was a little tired.

Before she knew it, she had returned to her own palace. In a daze, the imperial physician quickly took her pulse, and then she changed into new clothes that were warm and smelled of incense.

After soaking his feet on the tatami mat, he finally came to his senses and let out a comfortable sigh.

The wet nurse, Liu, presented a bowl of piping hot ginger, jujube, and longan soup: "Your Highness, have some to dispel the cold from your body."

"Hmm, do we have enough grain and charcoal at home?"

Knowing that His Highness was asking about her home outside the palace, Lady Liu nodded gently: "Your Highness need not worry, my family has already made preparations, and we will get through this winter without any problem."

"That's good. Tomorrow, ask the people serving me if they have any relatives who are struggling to make ends meet outside the palace. If so, arrange for someone to send them some money, food, and charcoal."

"Your Highness is kind and benevolent."

Zhu Zaizhen didn't say anything. He had to take good care of the people around him. Besides, how much would it cost? He was going to feed tens or hundreds of thousands of mouths anyway, so a few more wouldn't make a difference.

"Your Highness, I'm back. I feel chilly, so I'll stay outside and give my report."

Ma Dezhao's voice came from outside the warm pavilion. Liu quickly went to check and then came back, saying, "His face is all blue from the cold."

Zhu Zaizhen instructed, "Have your servant go change and warm up first, and feed him some ginger soup. He will come back to report later."

"yes.

""

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