Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 48: It’s All Caused by the Imperial Decree
Upon hearing this, Zhu Qiyu immediately frowned and asked, "Yu Qian, what do you mean?"
Yu Qian looked calm and replied, "Thinking back, when His Highness Prince Xiang served as regent twice, the late emperor did not suspect him and even gave him the name of a wise king. Therefore, I think that as long as His Highness is devoted to the public, even if he serves as regent now, the emperor should not have any grudges against His Highness when he returns to the court."
Zhu Qiyu paced back and forth and said, "As for the important affairs of the court, there are six ministries and the cabinet, so there won't be any trouble for the time being. If someone must supervise the country, don't we still have our nephew Jianshen?"
"The six ministries and the cabinet can ensure the normal operation of the court in a short period of time, but what if the emperor does not return for a month or a year? The prince is young, and the country relies on the eldest prince. Someone will have to step up in the end."
Zhu Qiyu was silent. It was true that Zhu Jianshen was only two years old and still an ignorant child, but he was not.
However, as for that position...he didn't dare to think about it, and couldn't think about it!
Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu were not born of the same mother. The two brothers were only one year apart in age and had a very close relationship when they were young. Because Emperor Xuanzong died early, Zhu Qizhen succeeded to the throne at the age of eight, and one month later he canonized his younger brother Zhu Qiyu as King of Qin, and served as a vassal in the capital.
From then on, the relationship between the two changed from brothers to monarch and subject. As he grew older, Zhu Qiyu had already reached the age to be a fiefdom, but Zhu Qizhen was reluctant to let him go and never gave him a clear fiefdom, so he stayed in the capital.
Although Zhu Qizhen did not designate a regent when he led the army in person this time, everyone knew that there was a Prince of Qing in the capital.
To everyone's surprise, what came back was an imperial edict, making Prince Qing the first heir to the Ming Emperor!
This is very intriguing. Although the throne is inherited from elder brother to younger brother, Zhu Qizhen already has a son, so how could it be the turn of Zhu Qiuyu, his younger brother?
This imperial edict made Zhu Qiyu feel at a loss. He tried every means to find out what others were saying, but he could never guess what Zhu Qizhen was thinking.
"Yu Qian, I'll ask you one last time, are you really unaware of the imperial edict?"
"I really don't know, and I am also confused!"
"Those people just now really have nothing to do with you?"
"I swear, it has absolutely nothing to do with it!"
Zhu Qiyu pondered for a while and said, "Do you know why I want to host a banquet for these people?"
"this……"
Yu Qian was stunned. He originally thought that Prince Qin coveted the throne and secretly won over these people. But from what he said, it seemed that they were just like him, tricked by the emperor's edict and had no choice.
"Since the news of my brother's deep journey into the desert came, there have been rumors in the capital. Some say my brother has been killed, and some say he was captured by Wala Yesen. In short, rumors are flying everywhere. Are you aware of this?"
"I know a little bit, but those are just rumors. Don't believe them."
"Just because you think this way doesn't mean the ministers and the people think the same way. If we let these rumors continue to spread, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Yu Qian thought for a while and said, "Your Highness is right. It is my fault for not considering it carefully!"
"As for these people... Humph!" Zhu Qiyu snorted coldly, "I have seen clearly what they have done. If I refuse them this time, they will look for other opportunities in the future. It is better to take advantage of their tricks and see what these people are capable of!"
After hearing this, Yu Qian couldn't help but shake his head and said, "So your Highness has such deep meaning. It's me who is too narrow-minded!"
"That's enough!" Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said, "Since your name is mentioned in the imperial edict, it means that my brother values you very much. Now that the throne is vacant and the country is unstable, the court depends on ministers like you!"
Yu Qian bowed and said, "Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will do my best and will not stop until my death!"
The two talked until late at night, and Yu Qian then said goodbye and left.
Zhu Qiyu sat alone in the study, scenes from his childhood flashing before his eyes. Although Zhu Qizhen was only one year older than him, he knew that as an elder brother, he had to give in to him and protect him everywhere.
As they grew older, their relationship had become increasingly subtle. Zhu Qiyu knew that he could not stay in the capital forever and it was time to go out and become a fiefdom.
However, at this time, the Wala army marched south, and Zhu Qizhen led the army in person. Then, he received this imperial edict.
It was clearly written above that he, not the prince, was the successor.
Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Zhu Qiyu murmured: "When will you come back..."
September 1st, the fourteenth year of Zhengtong, Fengtian Hall.
The court meetings of the Ming Dynasty were divided into two types: the Grand Court Meeting and the Regular Court Meeting. The Grand Court Meeting was usually held on New Year's Day , the Winter Solstice and the Emperor's birthday, and was a ceremonial court meeting.
The regular court meetings are divided into the new moon and full moon court meetings and the daily court meetings. As the name suggests, the new moon and full moon court meetings are held on the first and fifteenth day of each month and are semi-ceremonial court meetings. The daily court meetings are regular court meetings for handling daily government affairs.
The scale of the New Moon and Full Moon Courts was second only to the Grand Court Assembly, and all officials of high rank in the capital had to be present.
As the emperor was away on a military expedition, this court meeting was presided over by the Queen Mother Sun.
At the beginning of the court session, eunuch Jin Ying stood up with an imperial edict and read out, "The edict says: Since ancient times, emperors have succeeded heaven to establish the throne and govern the world. They must establish a crown prince and prosper the foundation of the country to ensure the endless prosperity of the clan and society. The eldest son of the emperor, Zhu Jianshen, is the first heir of the royal family and is the will of heaven. I hereby strictly abide by the initial edict, review the ceremonies, and follow public opinion. I hereby inform heaven and earth, the ancestral temple, and the country that I will grant you the imperial seal and make you the crown prince, and take the throne of the Crown Prince, to restore the rule for thousands of years and to satisfy the people. I decree this!"
The ministers began to whisper and made Zhu Jianshen the crown prince, which showed the position of Empress Dowager Sun.
However, rumors are circulating that Prince Qing will soon ascend the throne, and judging by the situation, there will inevitably be another bloody storm.
After Jin Ying finished reading, he cleared his throat and said, "My Lords, since the Emperor has not yet returned to the capital, today's court meeting will end here first, and we will withdraw..."
"Your Highness, I have something to report!"
Xu Yun suddenly stood up and bowed his head, saying, "The country cannot be without a king for a day. The emperor has not returned yet, and the ministers are without a master. I beg His Royal Highness Prince Qin to take over the throne and preside over the overall situation!"
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
After Xu Yun finished speaking, some people immediately stood up to second the motion. They were Shi Heng and Shi Biao, uncle and nephew, Ma Shun, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Cao Qin, assistant commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. After these people, more than a dozen people stood up one after another.
Seeing this, Empress Dowager Sun said with a sullen face, "When the Emperor led the army in person, why didn't you mention the matter of the regent?"
As soon as the voice fell, the cabinet chief Cao Nai stood up and said, "The Queen Mother is right. Before we get the exact news from the Emperor, we should fulfill our duties and do our duty well!"
"Master Cao is wrong!"
Although Xu Yun held a low position in office, when it came to a verbal battle, he was also a Jinshi and thought he was not much worse than the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.
"The emperor sent someone to deliver the imperial edict back from the front line. It clearly states that if the emperor dies for his country, His Royal Highness Prince Qin will succeed him. Captain Jing, Scholar Zhang, you two were the ones who delivered the imperial edict back. Don't you think so?"
