Zhu Yunying was in a good mood. The morning court session seemed to be going smoothly. He could continue discussing some matters without rushing.

After the court session, the ministers of the six ministries and the left and right commanders of the five military commands were summoned to the Wuying Hall. Clearly, there were some matters that needed to be discussed. These were important matters that only high-ranking officials were qualified to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor.

Upon arriving at the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yunying still appeared quite 'benevolent', saying, "Your Majesty, please take seats, my beloved ministers."

Being granted a seat was considered a slight act of 'favor'; if Zhu Yunying hadn't offered them seats, they would naturally have remained standing. Therefore, it's true that the status of officials was declining. Initially, ministers did sit, but only after completing various rituals and during discussions.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, ministers were treated relatively well, especially the prime minister, who was the head of all officials. When the prime minister attended court, the emperor would stand up and offer him a seat. In addition to being polite to the prime minister, the emperor would sometimes bestow privileges upon ministers who had made great contributions, such as not having to bow to the emperor, not having to use their names when addressing him, and being allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace.

Before the Northern Song Dynasty, ministers always sat during court sessions. It was only after Emperor Taizu of Song began that ministers started standing during court sessions. Of course, they were initially seated, but Emperor Taizu found an excuse to remove the chairs, and the ministers were left standing.

The Song Dynasty changed officials' attendance at court from sitting to standing, a significant shift that indicated a substantial decline in the status of officials. However, it didn't reach its lowest point. By the Ming Dynasty, officials were no longer allowed to stand during court sessions; they were required to kneel.

Zhu Yuanzhang was confident because he believed that ministers shouldn't even be allowed to stand during court sessions; all ministers had to kneel. This marked a new peak in monarchical autocracy. It's important to understand that Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister system, which had existed for thousands of years, placing all power directly in the emperor's hands. To 'stand up' was a difficult task.

The etiquette of kneeling and kowtowing appeared in the Ming Dynasty. Before that, ministers usually bowed when they greeted the emperor. The Ming Dynasty established the etiquette of three kneelings and nine kowtows when ministers met the emperor.

Since the emperor bestowed the seat upon them, it was only natural to express gratitude, which was perfectly normal.

Seeing everyone seated, Zhu Yunying said, "The morning court session is early, and I imagine you ministers are all quite hungry. Wang Chengen, bring some refreshments."

This naturally elicited cries of gratitude, a testament to the power and authority of the emperor.

The atmosphere seemed pleasant, but none of the ministers or nobles dared to be careless. The Emperor Yingshi, now seated on the dragon throne, was definitely not someone to be trifled with. While his imposing presence couldn't compare to that of the Hongwu Emperor, many did indeed feel that the Yingshi Emperor was not to be underestimated.

Zhu Yunying looked at Xu Huizu and said, "Duke of Zhongshan, in a few days, during the autumn hunt, you and the Duke of Kaiguo must protect the Crown Prince."

Xu Huizu and Chang Mao immediately stepped forward, naturally accepting the mission. They felt this was a sign of the emperor's trust and a recognition of their special status.

Looking at Fu Youde, Zhu Yunying said, "Duke of Ying, stay and guard Yingtian Prefecture. Duke of Liang, arrange the troop deployment."

The emperor's hunting trip was no small matter, and therefore required meticulous preparation. Moreover, such hunts were not merely for leisure; often, they were also meant to demonstrate the martial prowess of the Ming Dynasty.

Those going hunting will certainly not be just nobles accompanying the emperor. Furthermore, on such an occasion, the Court of State Ceremonial will also need to arrange for foreign dignitaries to accompany the emperor, which also demonstrates the military might of the Ming Dynasty.

All aspects need to be considered. As an emperor, some things require directness and decisiveness, while others are not simply a matter of arrangement. Many seemingly simple activities actually contain profound implications.

The military officers' task seemed relatively simple: just to accompany the emperor.

However, this time it's clearly not just about the autumn hunt; what we're about to discuss is something truly important!