The cabinet still needs further consideration and improvement. While considering ways to slightly reduce the emperor's workload, we also need to take into account some balances and limitations to ensure that its existence can play its greatest value.

According to the ideas of both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor naturally needed to wield absolute power, and they certainly did not want the cabinet to restrict imperial authority. However, both of them also understood that not every emperor of the Ming Dynasty could be wise and powerful.

This naturally means that if any unworthy descendants emerge, the cabinet should step in promptly to ensure that the operation of the nation is not disrupted.

In such a situation, it is necessary to restrict the cabinet. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is a good way to do this, but it could very well lead to eunuchs interfering in politics, and the lessons learned from the late Tang Dynasty should obviously be heeded.

To put it bluntly, both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang were greedy. They wanted the horse to run fast without feeding it. They wanted all the benefits that were good for the Ming emperor, but they didn't want to see any potential problems.

Look, these are the characteristics of a workaholic emperor, these are the characteristics of an emperor with an extremely strong desire for control.

There's no need to rush this matter for now. The main issue is that Zhu Yunying is still young, and he considers himself to be in good health. The cabinet could consider a 'pilot program,' temporarily assigning them tasks, and immediately removing them if any negative signs are discovered.

After all, Zhu Yunying currently maintains a strong grip on the court, giving him the confidence and resources to do so. If things spiral out of control, he will naturally act without hesitation. And for now, he can at least reap some benefits.

That's how greedy emperors are; they only think about all the benefits.

There's nothing wrong with that; greed is human nature, and even an emperor is not immune to it under such circumstances.

It was best to continue with other matters. This was also the second year of Zhu Yunying's reign as emperor. The first year was generally a period of smooth transition. Zhu Yunying did not actually make any major moves, focusing on a smooth transfer of power and not needing to rush into anything.

But now Zhu Yunying feels differently. He has many plans and has made some preparations in Yingshi a year in advance. He can be considered to have a certain foundation, so he can naturally consider launching it in the right direction.

This was an extremely important matter in Zhu Yunying's eyes, far more important than anything else, including the cabinet, and absolutely could not be taken lightly.

Just after attending court, Zhu Yunying received some not-so-good news.

Minister of Justice Yang Jing is seriously ill. This pillar of the state, born into a commoner family, has an outstanding political record, is incorruptible and upright, but now he can only lie on his sickbed. However, all of this may soon become a thing of the past, as he is too ill to attend court.

Zhu Yunying naturally followed the procedure many emperors used to comfort their ministers. He arranged for imperial physicians to treat them, and also bestowed gifts upon them and dispatched imperial envoys to express his condolences.

This is only because Yang Jing is seriously ill, and Zhu Yunying doesn't need to do anything at this time. If Yang Jing were to pass away, Zhu Yunying would likely have even more to do.

Just as Zhu Yunying was still considering who should take over the Ministry of Justice, his father-in-law, Lian Zining, stepped forward and reported to Your Majesty: "Minister of Rites Ren Hengtai has failed in his duties. Annam usurped the throne and cut off its tribute missions. The court only sent envoys to appease him, but his household is mostly populated by barbarian slaves. Not only does the Minister of Rites frequently buy barbarian servants in the private market, but the Siming chieftain also has a border dispute with Annam. The court sent envoys to appease him, and many of these envoys were involved with Ren Hengtai."

Zhu Yunying was dumbfounded. It seemed that among the six ministers, it wasn't just a matter of finding someone to control the Ministry of Justice; did the Ministry of Rites also need some adjustments?

Ren Hengtai panicked. He knew he wasn't exactly a confidant of the emperor, but as Minister of Rites, he still held a high position and wielded considerable power. But now, impeached by Lian Zining, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, he risked losing his job!

He no longer cared that Lian Zining was the father of the Imperial Noble Consort. At this point, Ren Hengtai began to put up a last-ditch resistance. He really did not want to lose his official position or even be imprisoned.

Zhu Yunying's face was ashen. He hadn't expected his Minister of Rites to do something so ridiculous. To be honest, Zhu Yunying did acknowledge Ren Hengtai's abilities. The first scholar in Chinese history to have a memorial arch built to honor him by imperial decree was both talented and diligent. However, what Ren Hengtai was doing now was not so good.

Ren Hengtai actually came from a good family; his family had been merchants for generations, making him a true playboy. Moreover, his father was actually a Xindu, and Ren Hengtai took his mother's surname. His mother was a princess of the Wugulun clan during the Yuan Dynasty, a Semu person, and his wife was also Mongolian.

So it's not surprising that this guy went to the private market to buy barbarians as slaves. He's talented and capable, but this rich young master can't endure hardship and has gradually become accustomed to being a 'superior person'.

Leaving aside the issue of buying slaves in the private market, it's normal for the court to send envoys to Annam after the usurpation. However, Ren Hengtai seems to have connections there, possibly accepting bribes, which explains his lenient treatment. Clearly, in Ren Hengtai's eyes, Annam is merely a barbarian land, and its local officials are not worth paying attention to.

Faced with the evidence, Zhu Yunying coldly said, "The Ministry of Rites, together with the Four Barbarian Tribes Office, is in charge of receiving tributary envoys from various vassal states and foreign countries, as well as translators. The Minister of Rites is in charge of all matters concerning court rites, sacrifices, banquets, and the imperial examinations. If the Minister of Rites is without virtue, how can he command respect?"

Zhu Yunying glanced at Ren Hengtai, who was prostrate on the ground, and said, "The Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review will jointly handle this case, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot assisting. I entrusted you with this important matter of the state, and this is how you treat it?"

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