The Queen's departure brought about another pressing issue: the emperor's eternal good fortune.
Throughout the dynasties, many emperors began to worry about their own mausoleums very early in life.
But His Majesty the Emperor doesn't care about this now, and even refuted it with a bad attitude before.
The target of the refutation was Yan Song, who was the Minister of Rites at that time. The reason was the death of An Concubine. Yan Song euphemistically asked: When choosing the mausoleum site for An Concubine, did he also start to choose auspicious land for ten thousand years?
The reason the emperor refuted at that time was: Although Bodi was dead, how tight was the money and food in preparation for the Northern Expedition? Why rush a project like Ten Thousand Years Good Land in a short time?
Despite this, the courtiers at the time couldn't help but secretly wonder: Is His Majesty taboo on this matter?
Because except for Emperor Taizong's mausoleum, which was built before his death, in fact, so far, the other emperors have not started construction during their lifetime. But not building it does not mean that the location has not been selected and some preliminary preparations have not been made.
Otherwise, can we wait for the people to disappear and repair it in a hurry? Or should we let the emperor lie in the Forbidden City for another year and a half?
So spending too much seemed like an excuse. The emperor seemed not to like others mentioning his death so early.
It doesn’t cost much money to prepare in advance.
But now, according to the rules, the queen is buried first, and she should be buried together with the emperor in the future.
Therefore, we have to choose, and in fact, we should choose His Majesty’s auspicious land.
At this sensitive moment when the death of the empress might affect the position of the future crown prince and heir apparent, Yan Song and Liu Long had to go to Zhu Houcong to report the results.
Because no matter what, the emperor must check it out personally to determine which "alternative place" he will be buried in in the future.
In the imperial study room, Yan Song and Liu Long did not dare to show their anger.
After the capital was moved to Beijing, the imperial mausoleum actually covered a large area, which was called Tianshou Mountain.
"Acorn Ridge and Shiba Daoling?" Zhu Houchun read it with interest and said without hesitation, "Where are An Bin and the others buried? Choose that side."
Yan Song and Liu Long were agitated and immediately knelt down to dissuade them: "Your Majesty, you must not do this!"
Zhu Houcong frowned: "Why?"
Yan Song and Liu Long knelt down and looked at each other, and then they began to guess that the emperor probably really didn't understand the details of the funeral, and didn't even know much about these funeral rituals.
"...Your Majesty, Concubine An, Concubine Zhuang, etc. can be buried in Tianshou Mountain. This is a special favor from Your Majesty. However, how can His Majesty, the Nine-Five Supreme Being, have auspicious soil for ten thousand years... How can it be... not to mention that there, now Gong Su
Duan Shenrong, the noble concubine of Emperor Jing, Ji Rang, has already occupied the top position in Feng Shui..."
The two of them talked to each other and explained carefully, and then Zhu Houcong slowly came back to his senses.
Indeed, why did he care so much about these funeral matters? It was true that he did not want to spend more money at that time, and it was also true that he felt that he could still live.
But now that Sun Ming has passed away, this issue has to be put on the agenda.
According to the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty, only empresses could be buried in Tianshou Mountain, and concubines were buried in Jinshan Mountain in the western suburbs.
However, Zhu Jianshen had already broken this rule before. After her death, Concubine Wan Gui became the first person to be buried alone in the imperial mausoleum area of Tianshou Mountain.
So after An's concubine left, including Zhuang's concubine and others last year, Zhu Houcong arranged to be buried directly there, and the others didn't say much.
In fact, Zhu Houcong had no idea, including the fact that he arranged for his grandmother to be buried together in Zhu Jianshen's Maoling Mausoleum, which also violated the ancestral system - the Shaw family had no successor after all. Although Zhu Houcong respected him as the Empress Dowager after succeeding to the throne, that was after all
It was only later that his grandson, Zhu Houcong, pursued him.
In the environment at that time, everyone followed the emperor's wishes, and Zhu Houcong did not even hear any explicit opposition.
But now, the emperor actually plans to go to Wanniang's tomb where Concubine Wan Gui is buried to accompany An Bin and others who are already buried there. This is shocking.
Yan Song felt deeply in his heart and sincerely advised: "The Empress Ci Xiaoxian was buried in Lu. Although the Xianling Mausoleum has been renovated, your Majesty strongly insisted that it does not need to be moved to Tianshou Mountain. This is to cherish the people's strength, to be frugal first, and to be wise. However, your Majesty will live forever."
Jirang, Holy Queen Xiaojie has a noble position, how can you ignore her?"
On Tianshou Mountain, very few concubines other than the queen are buried alone. In other words, except for Concubine Wan Gui, only Zhu Houcong's woman is currently buried there alone, and her status is only a concubine!
It was Zhu Di who was the first to be buried in Tianshou Mountain, where he built the East and West Wells. Although all the concubines were buried, they were buried in a sacrificial manner. They had no names, and they were all buried together.
After Zhu Jianshen set the precedent, his son Zhu Youtang only had one queen, who is still alive today.
Zhu Houzhao's Kangling was buried together with the Xia family last year. His other concubines who had passed away did not need Zhu Houzhao's personal care at all, and they were not buried there.
Zhu Houcong looked at Yan Song and said slowly: "In the past year or so, you have been doing a lot of mourning. In your opinion, which one is better, Acorn Ridge or Shibadao Ridge?"
Yan Song lowered his head: "How dare I speak nonsense? Your Majesty, the auspiciousness of the year is serious. Your Majesty, for the filial piety and purity of the Holy Queen, it is better to choose the mausoleum."
"...To view the mausoleum for the queen..." Zhu Houcong thought for a moment and fell silent.
He said that he had a lot of good luck for ten thousand years, but now he went to personally inspect it for Sun Ming.
How could the government and the public not know that this was a matter of choosing the emperor's eternal good fortune? But should we emphasize the queen to the outside world? Does the emperor's emphasis on the queen also mean that he values the prince?
Zhu Houcong looked at Yan Song deeply: had he heard something?
No matter what, Yan Song tried his best to be a considerate person and continued to ask: "Your Majesty is very affectionate. After choosing Ji land, I and Shun Qing will make a new arrangement. The emperor and empress will be in the middle, and the concubines will be by the side. This burial,
If we relocate in the future, we can first build the Shinto Road, the Qin'en Gate, etc., so that the auspicious land will be built in the future and the cost will be less."
Zhu Houcong couldn't help but was speechless. What this means is: You are planning to bury yourself with An and the others. Presumably other concubines will be treated the same way in the future. In this case, your future mausoleum should be repaired little by little. Which concubine will be more unfortunate to pass away?
, just continue to add bricks and mortar, and we will get married as a family in the underworld in the future?
However, from a ritual perspective, is this appropriate?
Regardless of Sun Ming's own thoughts, would the current prince and future emperor be happy to see such excitement in the late emperor's mausoleum?
Zhu Houcong was a little tired. Behind this incident, there was also Yan Song's euphemistic temptation: if this was confirmed, the emperor would have the intention to treat the other concubines almost the same as the queen.
Doesn't this give other concubines and other princes another hope?
"Let's go take a look first and then talk." Zhu Houcong said, "By the way, I will also go to Zhuling to worship in person."
…
The three purposes of selecting auspicious soil for thousands of years, personally viewing the mausoleum for the queen, and worshiping ancestors to "pray for good fortune" were all considered by the courtiers.
Which one is more important?
uncertain.
However, it is a fact that the emperor finally took practical action and started to worry about his own affairs.
In less than a year, his biological mother passed away and the queen left. The courtiers were also wondering whether the emperor's mood had changed.
Judging it by oneself, it is probably possible.
Judging from history, it is probably very possible.
Throughout the dynasties, how many emperors were only half-lived emperors? After twenty years of hard work, the Ming Dynasty has become prosperous. The emperor has reached middle age and the princes have grown up one after another. What will be the main theme of the second half of the Jiajing Dynasty?
Everyone has a premonition of the crown prince's turmoil.
Another important point is that, let alone the emperor and his ministers, after the new emperor ascends the throne, will the current national policy conference, state affairs hall, military affairs conference, general auxiliary general staff and other systems be changed?
Your Majesty is indeed wise and powerful and can control everything. Where is the current prince and your future majesty?
It is full of uncertainty, so everyone has their own judgment.
Among them, the one who felt most at a loss was Zhu Zaiyan, who was already nineteen years old.
As he got older, he now lived alone with Zhu Zaiyin, the third son of the emperor, who still lived alone in the newly built palace, located in the south eighth hall of the former Donghua Gate.
After entering through the Donghua Gate, the Neijinshui River turns a corner at the Wenhua Hall and continues to flow eastward.
To the east of the Wenhua Hall, across three bridges and the Huiyin Gate, is the residence of the princes. The one to the south is the Prince's East Palace Duanben Palace. On its west side is the Imperial Academy, which was converted from the original Guanghui Hall area.
, and to the north of Duanben Palace, the total area is only slightly larger than Duanben Palace, and it is the Nanbasuo composed of eight other prince courtyards.
Now, those who once had separate courtyards were the eldest son of the emperor Zhu Zaiyuan, the king of Yue, the third son of the emperor Zhu Zaiyin, the king of Ao, and the fourth son of the emperor and Wang Zhu Zaiqi.
The King of Ao is fifteen years old, and the King He is twelve years old. Only when he is over twelve years old can he move to these eight southern villages after being granted the title of king. So after this year, the fifth son of the emperor Zhu Zaiyi and the emperor were born in the ninth year of Jiajing.
The sixth son, Zhu Zaiyuan, will also be granted a title and move here.
More princes are still on the way. At the end of the 12th year of Jiajing, Concubine Shu Wen Suyun gave birth to the seventh son of the emperor, Zhu Zaiyan. In the past six years, two more sons and four daughters were born in the harem.
Judging from the current situation, it will be a situation where nine sons coexist in more than ten years.
Now Zhu Zai'an has married the daughter of the Duke of Guizhou and built the Palace of the Prince of Yue in Nancheng, Beijing.
After visiting the palace regularly to pay respects to the emperor and his mother-in-law, he came to Zhu Zaiyin.
In the imperial palace, Zhu Zaiyin has a special status. His mother is Carolina, just Zhaoyi. Although Zhu Zaiyin's mother is a royal concubine, she comes from a humble background.
Zhu Zaiyin looked even more strange in the palace because of his mixed-race appearance. Although he had black hair, he had blue eyes.
The two brothers met, and the fifteen-year-old Zhu Zaiyin was a little troubled: "Brother, what are you doing at this time?"
"Let me see you by the way." Zhu Zai'an said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and his fourth brother are both at Jiyan Hall. Have you been there today?"
"Of course I've already been there."
"...Hey, I also wanted to drag you and Lao Wu Lao Liu along."
"Brother, why don't you go on your own?"
Zhu Zai'an did not answer.
The mother of the third child is Portuguese, the mother of the fifth child is the undisputed Jing concubine Zhang Qinghe, and the mother of the sixth child is Zhaoyi Tana, who was born in a beautiful family. They are all people who are unlikely to be related to the position of queen.
Zhu Zaiyao was also in a dilemma. As a concubine, his mother should be the queen in name.
Going to pay homage and keep a vigil are all proper etiquette. But if he, the eldest son of the emperor, behaves too "filially", it will be very embarrassing.
Zhu Zai'an came here just for this matter.
I can't even stay here for a little longer, lest people say that the princes are starting to form cliques now...
Zhu Zai'an stayed very briefly, as if he just came to say hello, and then went to Jiyan Hall.
When they arrived at Jijen Hall, they first saluted the sad and haggard Zhu Zaiyi: "Your Highness, your condolences, please take care of yourself."
Zhu Zaiyi also returned the greeting: "Brother."
Then Zhu Zaiyao knelt down to the Queen's Zi Palace.
After lighting the incense and burning the paper, Zhu Zai'an knelt down beside Zhu Zai'an and stayed here for a while to fulfill his duty.
Zhu Zaicheng spoke softly: "I heard from Eunuch Zhang that my father left the palace and went to Tianshou Mountain."
Zhu Zai'an lowered his head: "Yes. I went to the Yangxin Hall to say hello and was told that the imperial chariot had already left the palace."
"After my eldest brother moved to the palace, did he still practice martial arts diligently?"
Zhu Zai'an was silent for a moment, and then replied: "I dare not or forget my father's teachings. Naturally, I will still practice martial arts diligently and keep fit."
"You and I, brothers, may not practice martial arts together at the Nanba Elementary School like we did a few years ago."
"... After this year, the fifth and sixth brothers should live there. I am already married, but it is inconvenient for me to go to the palace to accompany His Highness the Crown Prince often."
Zhu Zaiyi only said slowly: "They are still young..."
"...It's a pity that the third brother only likes Wen."
There was silence in the banquet hall.
After a while, a song was sung outside the palace: "Concubine Shu, the seventh son of the emperor has arrived."
Wen Suyun came over with Zhu Zaiyan, the seventh child, and they greeted each other first. Then Wen Suyun cried and went to Zi Palace and said this. Zhu Zaiyan, who was eight years old, joined the kneeling queue.
.
Zhu Zaiyi didn't speak, only looked at Wen Suyun's back.
Before his mother's death, he heard her mother's last wish and his father's promise. But now that Dean Wen's reputation has spread far and wide, and there are many disciples of Huangming University, who knows if there will be any changes?
If two sisters take over the world one after another, there will definitely be discussion and resistance between the government and the public.
Even though his father's prestige was enough to suppress everything, Zhu Zaiyi was still full of worries about the future.
Thinking of what he had witnessed over the years in the dispute between the crown princes of North Korea, which his father had warned him to be concerned about, Zhu Zaiyi was filled with dark clouds.
At the moment when his mother had just passed away, and in a state of grief and uneasiness, even though the brothers had been educated by their father to love each other, had grown up together, and played together in the Nanba Palace and the Palace, it was difficult for Zhu Zaiyi to truly understand each other after all.
Relax.
What's more, he also has officials from the East Palace. They talk about history and governing the country on weekdays, and they always remind him tactfully that it is difficult to be a prince.
Zhu Zai'an looked at his second brother, the prince, who was kneeling with his back straight from the side and behind, and sighed in his heart: It is difficult for him, the eldest son of the emperor, who is a concubine...
Living alone outside the palace, he never dared to take the initiative to interact with courtiers, but some courtiers and other people would take the initiative to come to his house.
I reported it to my father obediently, but only got one sentence: It's not a bad thing for you to know some people. Wen's relationship is good with Yang Shilang, Wu's relationship is good with Qian Guo Gong, and business people have a good relationship with Cheng Guo Gong.
Zhu Zaiyan had already heard about it from Yang Bo, and he should be going to outer Yunnan in the future.
But everything is not clear yet. In the eyes of the government and the public, it is the eldest son of the emperor who has broad connections!
After staying in Jiyan Hall for half an hour, Zhu Zai'an said goodbye to Zhu Zai'an and left the palace.
Back at Prince Yue's Mansion, his princess, the daughter of Mu Shaoxun, whom she had known since she was a child at the Duke of Guizhou's Mansion, saw that her husband was frowning, so she could only comfort her.
Zhu Zai'an sighed: "I hope my father will make a decision soon. If this continues, sooner or later this string will be stretched."
…
Around Wen Zhengming, the people who came and went closer were actually his relatives.
Those relatives who mainly take the Huangming Assets Bureau as their current direction.
Because various companies now have more senior talents coming from Huangming University.
Wen Zhengming has been the dean of Huangming University for nearly twenty years. Even though he is now seventy-one years old, he is in extremely good health.
During this period, any cultural gatherings or banquets are not allowed.
But when I think of Wen Zhengming, there are also many people who come to visit Taihe.
After the queen left, there were only two people in the palace who were concubines. Although Concubine Xian had an earlier relationship with the emperor, she came from a humble background. On the contrary, Concubine Shu had two daughters and a son, and because of her lively personality, she had always been popular with the emperor. Beloved, she is naturally the one who is closer to the position of queen now.
But Wen Zhengming was afraid and closed the door to thank the guests.
I can't avoid the guests from the Taihe residence, but I can't avoid the guests from the Huangming University.
In a roundabout way, Huangming University received more academic donations during this period.
Huangming University, which was originally only supported by Huangzhuang and the internal transportation warehouse, is now getting bigger and bigger. After the emperor approved it, many clans, relatives and even wealthy gentry and wealthy people have donated money in recent years.
But the queen was in mourning, and these people suddenly concentrated on throwing money at Huangming University. What does it mean?
Wen Zhengming felt like he was being roasted on a fire, and he never dared to forget the frightening feeling he had twenty years ago.
Stop making trouble, just write poetry, draw a picture, do something related to the important responsibilities shouldered by the Department of Music and Arts, and take care of Huangming University, which the emperor values very much.
Wen Zhengming was frightened by the recent situation. He had already started writing a glossary, wondering when the right time would be to submit it.
The reason is of course very good: I am already seventy-one! I don’t know which day I will be buried.
But now it is difficult to seize the opportunity.
The queen left and he resigned. Was this a test of the emperor's will?
Wen Zhengming only regretted that he had not done this earlier last year.
One is because his political consciousness is really low, and the other is because he really feels that he is in great health.
If she can do more things for the emperor, her daughter will definitely be more stable in the palace.
Sadness lingers in the hearts of many people in the capital, but Xia Yan is as stable as a mountain.
At the age of fifty-nine, he has been serving as the general staff officer of the Military Affairs Conference for thirteen years. However, for more than six years, matters at the Military Affairs Conference have not been the main theme of the court.
However, Xia Yan was not without merit. It took six years for the military reform to be completed one after another.
Today, the Ming Dynasty has a total of more than 600,000 infantry, cavalry, and navy soldiers. In addition, the two major Great Wall Companies in Shanghai and Mainland China, as well as the Maritime Trade Bank, the Ming Dynasty Bank, etc., can be said to be very powerful.
After six years of accumulation, the national treasury and grain reserves are also well prepared.
The key issue is that he is already fifty-nine, and the emperor's eldest son is also nineteen.
It's time to get started on some things. Xia Yan saw clearly that if it continued like this, if Ming's accumulated strength was not released to the outside world, he would inevitably have to fight internally.
There is a question: now the main theme is courtesy, border trade, the Longevity Ceremony and the World Games. A school of singing and dancing has prospered. Why is it so famous?
I'm afraid there is only one place: from the twelfth year of Jiajing to the present, Anda has been conquering the west and plundering the east.