The Empress Dowager came again?
Zhu Yijun's face tightened. He immediately ordered the eunuchs to put away all the memorials to the back, leaving only the books of Confucius and Mencius on the table. He adjusted his clothes and put an ice cube in his mouth to calm his hot body. He breathed a sigh of relief and greeted his mother in his best state. He had no choice. He had given the jade seal to her in a moment of hot-headedness. If he didn't get the jade seal back, he really wouldn't be able to feel the majesty of the Emperor.
He couldn't lose the majesty of the Emperor and the power of the Emperor. Even if the imperial power had been castrated, he had to at least grasp some of it.
Empress Dowager Li's carriage stopped in front of the Emperor's bedroom. Empress Dowager Li walked out with the help of her maids. She saw Zhu Yijun standing respectfully under the hot sun, waiting for her.
Strangely enough, although the sun was not small, it did not warm Zhu Yijun's body at all. Zhu Yijun could even feel a trace of coldness — this was something that would only happen after mid-October in previous years. Now, there were still two days before October.
"Your son welcomes mother."
After so many years, Empress Dowager Li understood that the Emperor had regained his spirit. It was just that he gave the jade seal to her in a moment of hot-headedness. Now he couldn't put down his pride and couldn't find a reason to take back his jade seal and power. That was why he was so anxious. But now was not the Song Dynasty or the Han Dynasty. Women didn't have that much power. Daming stereotype had been flourishing for more than two hundred years.
The Empress Dowager of the Great Ming Dynasty was born in a small family. She had no outside help and no internal allies. The only one who came to the front was Empress Dowager Li. After Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao died, she completely lost her position to influence the court. The civil officials' alliance was so strong that it could not be suppressed. Even if Empress Dowager Li had a certain prestige, without the means of Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao, she could do nothing. The civil officials had good reasons. They only recognized the Emperor. If you asked them to choose between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, they would definitely choose the Emperor.
It wasn't that she didn't want to help the Emperor, but the Emperor destroyed his own hope of turning the tables. He destroyed Zhang Juzheng's painstaking efforts, destroyed Feng Bao's internal power, and almost destroyed the Imperial Bodyguard. The three powers that Jiajing's grandfather used to control the civil officials were almost destroyed by him just for a sage dream. When he woke up from the sage dream, he suddenly realized what a stupid thing he had done. At this moment, Empress Dowager Li's warning was meaningless.
Thinking of Empress Dowager Li's warning before Zhang Juzheng abolished the new policies, Zhu Yijun regretted it very much, but he couldn't do anything. He could only sigh.
The mother and son looked at each other silently under the big sun for a while. Empress Dowager Li withdrew her gaze and sighed slightly. She said, "The sun is so big. The Emperor shouldn't stand under it. Come in with me. Don't hurt yourself."
As she said this, Empress Dowager Li entered the Emperor's palace. Zhu Yijun followed her into the palace.
It's not hot at all. Why are you saying such polite words?
Zhu Yijun thought to himself.
Although the ministers limited the Emperor's spending, the Emperor himself was rich. Zhu Yijun was quite well-off during this time. Xiao Ruxun had transferred a lot of money from Country R. He also had the income from the mines. He didn't lack money. The incense in the palace was obviously of high quality. Once inside, it could make people feel refreshed and comfortable. Empress Dowager Li's mood also improved. With the help of her maids, she sat down in a private room. A palace maid served her tea.
Zhu Yijun stood next to Empress Dowager Li and didn't sit down.
Empress Dowager Li glanced at Zhu Yijun. After a while, she drank the tea and said slowly, "Why is the Emperor standing? Sit down! "
Only then did Zhu Yijun sit down. With a smile, he asked, "May I know why Imperial Mother is here today?"
Empress Dowager Li smiled and said, "Isn't it for the Emperor? I heard that the Emperor hasn't left the palace for almost two months. He didn't summon the ministers or even the concubines. I'm very worried! The Emperor is the ruler of a country. How can he stay in the palace without saying a word and not summon the ministers or concubines? As a result, the ministers are uneasy. I'm afraid it's not a good thing for the country. "
"Mother, you're right. I know I was wrong. These days, I've been reflecting on myself and studying. I've read the books of Confucius and Mencius in order to find the way to be a ruler."
Although he said that, Zhu Yijun cursed in his heart, "Those bastards want me to ignore everything and leave the Imperial Jade Seal in the Cabinet, letting them manage all the affairs of the state. I only want to be a mascot. I'm afraid I'm fulfilling their wish now. If I can still do whatever they want me to do, I won't be able to escape the title of Sage for all eternity."
This group of shameless bastards just had to hold the pen and control the writing of history books. I wonder what they will write about me after I die with my current appearance? I'm afraid I won't be able to escape the title of a muddle-headed and incompetent ruler! In their eyes, his father and Lord Hongzhi were the models of a sage because they were easily persuaded and listened to everything they said.
Emperors with real achievements would be slandered as muddle-headed and mediocre rulers. Emperors who used eunuchs to protect the power of the Emperor would be reprimanded as an immoral ruler who trusted eunuchs. Emperors who set up the Imperial Bodyguard to ensure that they would not be deceived by the ministers would be described as cruel and unjust. In their eyes, only they were allowed to do whatever they wanted and the Emperor was not allowed to set things right. Everything in the world was decided by them. The Emperor could just stay in the palace and be a puppet. He was the sage that everyone cheered for three times.
Emperor Chenghua, Emperor Zhengde, and Emperor Jiajing were demonized by the history books. Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Longqing were beautified by the history books. However, if one looked closely at some interesting details in the history books, one would know that the Ming Emperor who was demonized as a muddle-headed ruler after Emperor Yingzong was basically an emperor who had a brain and was not deceived by the ministers. He could basically use eunuchs and Imperial Bodyguard to fight against the civil officials. The virtuous and benevolent ruler was an Emperor who was easily persuaded and did nothing.
After the Tumu Castle incident, the Ming officials had low moral standards and absurd double standards. They had reached a historical peak.
Zhu Yijun, who was aware of all this, was powerless to do anything. He could only watch helplessly as his power fell from his hands. It was not easy for him to make up his mind to have a showdown with the ministers, but in the end, he was tricked by his own mother, and his great opportunity was ruined …
However, after calming down and thinking carefully, Zhu Yijun knew that he had been too impulsive. If he followed his previous method, no matter how loyal and devoted Xiao Ruxun was, he would not be able to escape the fate of Chao Cuo. How could he fight against the entire coalition of civil officials and gentry alone? These people didn't even put the Emperor in their eyes, let alone a general like Xiao Ruxun. He reckoned that it wouldn't be long before he would be forced to 'execute Chao Cuo', and where was his Zhou Yafu?
Now that he thought about it, Zhu Yijun felt that his situation was very similar to that of Emperor Jing of Han. Both of them had government decrees that did not leave the capital, and the local tyrants had their own way of doing things. The central army was weak, while the local forces were tyrannical. It was just that he was not harmed by the vassal lords, but he had the joint resistance of the central civil officials and the local gentry. Without an alliance, he could not even gather Chao Cuo, Zhou Yafu, and the Xiliu Battalion. How could he remove the vassal lords?
The situation faced by Emperor Jing of Han was much easier than that of him. At least at that time, the Han had only been established for a few decades, while he was facing two hundred years of maladministration. How could it be easy? It was easy to kill the ministers, but it was difficult to clean up the mess. Who would handle the government affairs? Who would issue the decrees? Emperor Taizu Taizong was such a powerful emperor, but didn't he still have to set up a cabinet to help handle the government affairs? One person could not govern the world, so he had to share the power. But he did not have an alliance, so how could he stage a coup?
It was frivolous, sloppy, and simple. Fortunately, it was stopped. Otherwise, not only would he not be able to protect Xiao Ruxun, who was the most promising commander to become Zhou Yafu, he might not even be able to keep his throne. But now at least Xiao Ruxun was still alive, and his throne was also in his hands. He was only thirty years old, in the prime of his life, and it was the time when he was the most energetic. There was still a chance, a chance.
Empress Dowager Li looked at the Emperor's obedient appearance. How could she not know what the Emperor was thinking and saying? But at this moment, she really could not allow the Emperor to play a joke with his life and the Zhu Family. To be more direct, she still wanted to live a comfortable life in her old age. She did not want to face the disaster of war when she was old.
Therefore, she personally intervened to stop everything.
But it seemed that the Emperor did not give up, but became more cautious. This was not a bad thing. After all, the world still belonged to the Zhu Family. She was also very dissatisfied with letting the people under her do evil. But the beast tamer Zhang Juzheng was dead, and so was Feng Bao, who secretly played dirty tricks. She was powerless and could not do anything. If her son could do it, she would naturally support him. But all of this must be within the scope of political struggle, not involving military affairs.
So she made the decision to keep Xiao Ruxun in Myanmar and not let her come back.
But Empress Dowager Li still overestimated her son. Zhang Juzheng could succeed, and he had a group of helpers and generals like Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang, who held military power, and they all supported him. But what did Zhu Yijun have? Besides the throne, what did he have? Political reform needed helpers, supporters, and to put it more directly — guns! When the other party was dissatisfied, kill him!
Zhu Yijun had nothing. How could he stage a coup?
"It's good that the Emperor knows he was wrong. The way of being a ruler is in your heart, in your books, and in your daily actions. As long as you can see through it and understand it, then you will naturally understand the way of being a ruler. Let bygones be bygones. I'm old and can't bear the torment. What I want most is to live the rest of my life in peace. I was too tired and nervous in the first half of my life. Now, I just want to live the rest of my life in peace."
Empress Dowager Li put forward her minimum needs. The subtext was that if you let me live the rest of my life in peace, I won't torment you. You can do whatever you want. If you are really sure, then do it. But if you are not sure and still cause trouble, then you won't let me live the rest of my life in peace. Although I'm old, I can still deal with you!
Remember! Don't ever go against your old lady! I, your mother, have eaten more salt than you have walked on the road!
Zhu Yijun was not stupid. Of course, he understood what his mother meant. He knew what he should do.
"I will follow mother's teachings. In the future, I will be careful and think before I act."
After making such a political promise, Empress Dowager Li was relieved and changed to a softer tone.
"I'm tired. These days, I have helped the Emperor deal with some things. Now, I have handed them over to the cabinet to take care of. Wang Xijue will return to his hometown after finishing the last few things. Be careful, Emperor. Wang Xijue can still keep his mouth shut, but you have to take precautions."
Zhu Yijun's heart trembled as he nodded in agreement.
"I understand!"
Empress Dowager Li nodded and waved her hand. A eunuch beside her came over with a plate. The eunuch brought the plate in front of Zhu Yijun and presented it to Zhu Yijun. Zhu Yijun looked at the familiar jade seal and hesitated before taking the plate.
"The rest of the matter will be left to the Emperor to deal with. I don't want to manage or participate in anything. If the Emperor can do it, I won't say anything. I will go back to my comfortable life. If the Emperor is free, come visit me. If not, focus on the affairs of the country. The country of our ancestors is much more important than a lonely old woman. Do you understand?"
Zhu Yijun knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Empress Dowager Li.
"I understand!"
Empress Dowager Li felt that the time was right and there was no point in continuing. She stood up and said, "Then I won't disturb the Emperor's reading. I will go back now."
After a few steps, Zhu Yijun followed. He wanted to send his mother out. Empress Dowager Li didn't stop him, but halfway through, she told Zhu Yijun not to follow.
"Don't follow me. Let's stop here. You still have a lot of things to deal with."
Zhu Yijun nodded and didn't follow.
After a few more steps, Empress Dowager Li stopped and looked back at Zhu Yijun.
"By the way, Emperor, your beloved general, Xiao Ruxun, won a great victory in Myanmar and destroyed the Dongwu Country. Now, the cabinet has decided to rebuild Myanmar Town, which will be under the jurisdiction of the Yunnan Inspectorate. Xiao Ruxun will be given the title of Marquis Zhennan and the Military Chief of Myanmar Town. He will be in charge of Myanmar and will be in charge of the military affairs of the southern border. Don't worry. From now on, the southern border of Daming will be stable. You can handle the matters of the northern border!"
After Empress Dowager Li finished speaking, she quickly left Zhu Yijun's bedroom. By the time Zhu Yijun came back to his senses, Empress Dowager Li was already far away.
In the courtyard, the sun shone on Zhu Yijun's body, but Zhu Yijun couldn't feel any warmth.
Xiao Ruxun won a great victory, destroyed the Dongwu Country, and stabilized the southern border of Daming. This was a good thing. Of course, this was a good thing. But … what did it mean to let Xiao Ruxun be in charge of Myanmar? Was he not allowed to come back? Was he not allowed to come back to the Emperor?
Mother, Wang Xijue …
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
