Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Sure enough, Zhu Zhanji drank a few cups of hot wine.

A blush crept onto her fair face, and she finally couldn't help but sigh.

"Prime Minister Gu, I have summoned you here today not to discuss state affairs, but only family matters."

Zhu Zhanji stared intently at Gu Yannian.

"Empress Sun is about to give birth, and the renowned physicians of the Imperial Hospital all say that this child is most likely a boy. After several years on the throne, I will finally have an heir!"

"Your Majesty, I offer my congratulations! The continuation of the imperial line is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty."

Gu Yannian cupped his hands in congratulations, his expression remaining calm and composed.

Zhu Zhanji abruptly put down his wine cup, lowered his voice, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.

"But if this eldest son is born to a concubine, his status will ultimately be illegitimate. I and Lady Sun are deeply in love, and if she gives birth to the eldest son, she should rightfully be the empress."

"Although Lady Hu has committed no wrongdoing, she is naturally dull-witted, childless, and without favor, making her position as Empress inappropriate. I intend to depose Lady Hu and establish Lady Sun as Empress!"

"Prime Minister Gu, you are the head of all officials; in this matter, you should give your full support to me!"

Wang Zhen, who was sitting in the corner, was terrified and didn't dare to breathe.

Depose the empress!

This is a monstrous storm that could shake the very foundations of the nation and cause the entire court to perish against the pillars of Fengtian Gate!

Gu Yannian's hand, holding the wine cup, paused slightly in mid-air.

His deep gaze pierced through the rising aroma of wine as he quietly looked at Zhu Zhanji.

He knew these well-read civil officials all too well.

Empress Hu was gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and modest; she was practically the most perfect empress in the eyes of Confucianists.

Being childless is not a big mistake.

Throughout history, there have been numerous instances of empresses who raised the children of their concubines even though they themselves had no children of their own.

If Zhu Zhanji forcibly deposes the empress.

Those upright officials who had been suppressed by Gu Yannian would inevitably swarm like flies that smelled blood.

He submitted a memorial to the throne in a frenzy, even to the point of death, to remonstrate with the emperor.

At that time, a deluge of memorials will flood the cabinet like snowflakes.

As the chief minister, he had to work day and night at his desk, dealing with the turmoil that gripped the court.

There's no time left even to have a sip of hot tea.

This is something he absolutely cannot tolerate.

"His Majesty."

Gu Yannian put down his wine cup, his tone calm and gentle.

"I do not support this matter."

Zhu Zhanji was taken aback, then his face showed displeasure, and his brows furrowed tightly.

"What? Even Prime Minister Gu, like those pedantic scholars, wants to use ancestral laws and hypocritical womanly virtues to pressure me?"

Gu Yannian shook his head slightly, a relaxed smile appearing on his lips.

"Your Majesty misunderstands. I am an accountant, and I don't care about any ancestral laws or regulations. I only care about whether this account is worthwhile or not."

Gu Yannian stretched out his slender fingers and tapped them lightly twice on the table.

"If Your Majesty were to issue an edict to depose Empress Hu, Empress Hu would have committed no wrongdoing. All the civil and military officials, especially the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate, would surely kneel outside the Meridian Gate, weeping bitterly and remaining kneeling for a long time."

"If Your Majesty punishes them, they will take pride in it and seek to be remembered in history; if Your Majesty does not punish them, they will make a ruckus day and night."

"If such chaos were to begin, it would not only damage His Majesty's reputation as a wise and virtuous ruler, but would also delay the proper affairs of all departments."

Gu Yannian looked at Zhu Zhanji, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness that was barely perceptible.

"Most importantly, all these memorials from the court, and the complaints from the officials, will eventually be crammed into the cabinet."

"Your Majesty, I have no intention of staying up all night for months on end because of your romantic affairs. It would be a terrible deal."

Zhu Zhanji was speechless after Gu Yannian's unorthodox remarks.

The entire court of officials dared to discuss such a momentous matter as deposing the empress as a losing proposition or as a matter of avoiding overtime work.

Apart from the current Chief Minister Gu, there is no other person like him.

"Then, according to Prime Minister Gu's opinion, what should I do?"

Although Zhu Zhanji found it amusing, most of his annoyance dissipated.

He knew that since Gu Yannian had spoken up to stop him, he must have a way to break the deadlock that would satisfy both sides.

"Your Majesty has a plan that can both satisfy Your Majesty's feelings for Consort Sun and elevate her status, while also silencing public opinion and preserving peace in the court."

Gu Yannian leaned forward slightly.

"Say it!"

Empress Hu was of a simple and unassuming nature, and was fond of the teachings of Huang-Lao (Taoist philosophy). She often spent her time in the palace worshipping Buddha and copying scriptures.

"Your Majesty may go with the flow and allow her to devote herself to Taoist cultivation, and entrust all the trivial matters of managing the six palaces, along with the seals of the harem, to Consort Sun for her management."

Gu Yannian picked up the warm wine, took a small sip, and his eyes were clear.

"As for Consort Sun, once she gives birth to the eldest son of the emperor, His Majesty may specially create a title for her as Imperial Noble Consort."

"Her status was second only to the Empress, surpassing all others in the harem. More importantly…"

A knowing smile appeared on Gu Yannian's lips.

"According to ancestral rules, only the Empress can receive the Golden Book and Golden Seal. Your Majesty may make an exception and bestow the Golden Book and Golden Seal upon Lady Sun! In this way, although Lady Sun will not have the title of Empress, she will have the substance of an Empress and supreme honor."

"As long as Empress Hu retained the empty title of Empress, the civil and military officials could not find any fault with her, so they naturally did not bother the cabinet."

Zhu Zhanji's eyes widened in surprise, and he suddenly understood!

What a brilliant scheme to switch the beams and pillars and secretly advance the Chencang Pass!

He neither deposed the empress nor angered the court officials.

This also granted Sun an unprecedentedly high status and real power.

Such skill in manipulating rules and people's hearts is truly ingenious!

Zhu Zhanji clapped his hands and laughed.

"Prime Minister Gu's plan is exactly what I wanted! It has truly relieved my great worry!"

Zhu Zhanji picked up the wine pot and personally poured a cup of wine for Gu Yannian.

"With Prime Minister Gu here, I can finally rest easy in my court and harem."

Just as the emperor and his minister were clinking glasses and drinking merrily.

Suddenly, a series of extremely hurried footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by the eunuch's altered shouts.

"Your Majesty! Great joy! Great joy, Your Majesty!"

A eunuch, carrying good news, rushed into the South Study and knelt down with a thud.

His face was filled with ecstasy, and his voice was trembling.

"Your Majesty! Good news has arrived from Chengqian Palace: Consort Sun has successfully given birth to the Emperor's heir! It's a prince! Mother and child are safe and sound!"

"really?!"

Zhu Zhanji suddenly stood up, so excited that he overturned the wine table in front of him.

The scalding hot Shaoxing wine spilled all over the ground.

He laughed heartily, his laughter filled with the ecstasy of becoming a father for the first time and the pride of having a worthy successor to the Ming Dynasty.

"I have a son! I have a crown prince! Rewards! Everyone in Chengqian Palace will be richly rewarded! Issue an edict to the Ministry of Rites to immediately draft a golden edict and seal, and promote Consort Sun to Imperial Noble Consort!"

Zhu Zhanji was so excited that he became incoherent. He didn't even bother to put on his cloak before rushing out of the Southern Study and heading straight for Chengqian Palace.

Wang Zhen and the other eunuchs hurriedly held up umbrellas and scrambled to follow behind.

The study fell silent instantly.

All that remained was the heat emanating from the earthen ceiling and the rich aroma of wine filling the air.

Gu Yannian remained quietly seated, not getting up to join in the commotion.

He still held the warm wine cup, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of Chengqian Palace.

Winter of the second year of the Xuande reign.

That emperor who left a deep mark on history and brought unprecedented catastrophe to the Ming Dynasty, the God of War of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Qizhen, a student from the Oirat Mongols, was finally born.