The current situation in the court was both within Xu Yan's expectations and beyond his expectations.
As he expected, he guessed that Song Yue might intervene and prevent his plan from proceeding smoothly. What surprised him was that Song Yue's "intervention" would be to "stand idly by" and choose to remain collectively silent.
Xu Yan couldn't help but twitch his lips. It was truly a difficult situation for these "crown princes." Pleading for leniency wouldn't work; it would only deepen Zhu Rui's misunderstanding of Zhu Yuluo's factionalism. Not pleading at all was also not an option; they could only helplessly watch as Zhu Yuluo was branded with the crime of forcing the emperor to abdicate and committing treason.
For them, it's a dilemma.
At this moment, many of Xu's supporters saw the "difficulty and embarrassment" of Song Yue and others, and couldn't help but secretly applaud their chief minister's brilliant plan.
Zhu Rui, seated on the dragon throne, remained silent. He waited a while longer, hoping the next person to plead for the crown prince would step forward. Faced with the one-sided situation and the entire court pleading for him to depose his son from the position of crown prince, he began to feel coerced and uneasy.
But compared to this discomfort, what occupied a larger part of his heart was this coup attempt. He didn't know if Zhu Yuluo really had the intention to rebel and usurp the throne. Compared to the Xu faction that acted openly, he hated those who plotted in secret more. The unknown and uncontrollable made him feel fear.
If the situation in the court continues as it is today, under pressure from the ministers' advice and his own inner suspicions, he might very well issue an imperial edict before the court adjourns—to depose the crown prince. But whether he will actually make that decision, Zhu Rui himself doesn't know at this stage. His heart is still wavering.
He glanced at his son, Zhu Yuluo, whose childlike face was filled with tension, his eyes blinking frequently. Zhu Rui knew that it was a habit he had developed when he was nervous as a child.
But what is the cause of this tension?
Is it fear of being wronged? Or fear of getting what one deserves?
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Rui asked again, "Does anyone else have anything to say?"
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."
Qingchen lowered his head slightly and stepped out from the queue.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the lights shone brightly, and the candlelight fell upon her, outlining her slender figure. The Emperor lowered his eyes and saw that the talent he had personally discovered was respectful, composed, and dignified, his two gazes still clear and gentle, yet revealing a firm resolve.
To be honest, this was the first time he had ever seen her wearing a scarlet robe.
"Granted." Zhu Rui raised his hand and quickly replied.
He was both curious and expectant about what Shen Qingchen was about to say.
She was a rising star in the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, offering him brilliant strategies and winning 20,000 warhorses for the Ming. She possessed unparalleled intelligence, a solid and diligent attitude, and a meticulous and keen mind. She had even received his promise: "As long as you don't disappoint me, I won't disappoint you either."
This was her first time attending court, her first time speaking in the imperial palace. What would she say? Would she plead for Zhu Yuluo?
"Since entering the Eastern Palace to assist the Crown Prince in his studies, I have failed to fulfill my duties and responsibilities and have been unable to properly assist the Crown Prince. I also fear that I will not be able to fulfill the duties of the Crown Prince's tutor in the future. Therefore, I hereby apologize to Your Majesty and earnestly request Your Majesty to relieve me of my position as Junior Chamberlain of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and to select a virtuous and capable person to fill the position."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent, and the people below looked at each other in bewilderment.
Zhu Rui was also stunned for a moment after hearing this.
He originally thought she stepped forward to plead for the Crown Prince, but he never expected that she would resign to take responsibility... Was she worried that the fire in the Eastern Palace would affect innocent bystanders?
Zhu Rui looked at her without speaking, his feelings a mix of emotions. Facing this handsome and gentle woman, this hidden gem he had personally unearthed, he felt a special connection to her.
That feeling was somewhat complex, impossible to describe clearly with just a word or a few words. But he knew very well that among the words used to describe it, one was undeniable: trust.
He trusted her completely.
She was a talent he personally promoted, and in just a few months, she rose rapidly from an unranked junior official to a fourth-rank junior official. He had shown her great favor, and she enjoyed his deep trust; she should have wanted him, the emperor, to continue ruling the country securely. How could she possibly help someone else force him to abdicate?
Moreover, she has only been in the Eastern Palace for a short time. Given Gu Ru's calm and cautious nature, it is impossible for him to discuss such a serious matter as treason with someone who is not yet able to discern loyalty.
Therefore, the coup attempt must have nothing to do with her; she must be innocent.
She has no need to worry about being implicated in this matter.
Just as Zhu Rui was frowning in deep thought, whispers began to rise again in the hall.
The officials lined up in the Fengtian Hall had different opinions about this man who had just arrived at the Eastern Palace as the Crown Prince's tutor. At this moment, he should be the one speaking up for the Crown Prince, but instead, he was eager to distance himself from the Crown Prince and draw a line between himself and the Crown Prince.
Song Yue and Zhao Qiran had anticipated Qingchen's actions, so they simply observed the situation without uttering a word.
Meanwhile, those who were willing to protect the crown prince were unaware of the inner workings of the situation and were like a young widow watching her bridal sedan chair, only able to watch helplessly.
They initially thought she was there to offer help, but instead, she came to kick them while they were down. Her meteoric rise to power reveals such self-preservation and callousness; it is truly hateful and despicable.
Qingchen's remarks shocked not only those who defended the Crown Prince, but also many of Xu's supporters present, who couldn't help but wonder if the poor Zhu Yuluo really had no one left to rely on.
Hearing the growing murmurs in the hall, the Grand Eunuch Huang Heng had no choice but to shout again, "No private discussions are allowed in the court. Silence!"
At this moment, Zhu Yuluo felt as if she had been struck by a bolt from the blue.
A twelve-year-old boy was already terrified by the clamor for the dethronement of the crown prince. His last hope was that his resourceful master, Master Shen, would stand up and plead for him.
But he never expected that what he had been waiting for so long would not be a righteous and warm defense, but a cold and distant resignation announcement.
When she helped him out of the horse racing predicament, he asked her, "If someone asks you to assist another prince, can you refuse?" Yesterday, he asked her again, "Master Shen, you promised me you would always stay by my side... I have no one else I can trust."
Her reply was: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly keep my promise."
However, overnight, everything changed. When he needed her most, she wanted to abandon him in front of all the officials. She didn't even glance at him.
Zhu Yulu couldn't control her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Shen Qingchen.
He was only twelve years old, yet he was betrayed and abandoned in public; naturally, he couldn't control his emotions. This was something Qingchen had anticipated.
For a child, such grief and tears cannot be faked. All the emotions he feels triggered by Qingchen's "betrayal" will be seen by Zhu Rui. In this way, Zhu Rui will completely believe that he has no allies, and that even his closest teacher has betrayed him.
On the dragon throne, Emperor Zhu Rui let out a long sigh.
Seeing Zhu Rui's sigh, Qingchen knew that the plan she devised with Song Yue's help had worked.
Previously, no one had spoken up for the Crown Prince, and Zhu Rui's anger over the coup had gradually subsided. When she resigned, he saw the desolation and tears on Zhu Yuluo's face, and he would feel sympathy for her, at the same time his suspicion and anger would completely disappear.
Only by dispelling his doubts could her plan be considered half complete. The other half depended on what she said next.
"Your Majesty, I have another matter to report."
Zhu Rui looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Speak."
"Your humble servant has always enjoyed studying the Book of Changes. After careful consideration, I have come to have a different opinion on the blood-painted pattern, but I am unsure whether I should speak of it."
The blood-painted pattern? That was the source of his anger back then. Zhu Rui raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"Yes." Qingchen replied and continued, "As you all know, the name of our Great Ming Dynasty is taken from the Book of Changes, 'The Great Ming begins and ends, the six positions are completed in time, and the six dragons are used to govern the Heavenly Stems.' All six lines are Yang, hence the name 'Great Ming,' which refers to the sun, symbolizing the operation of the Heavenly Way. The Qian hexagram has six lines, with the first line being the beginning and the top line being the end. It goes from Kun (earth) Yang to Qian, and from Qian (heaven) Yin to Kun. In addition, all six lines are Yang, which is 'The Great Ming from beginning to end.' When the dynasty was founded, the founding emperor named the country 'Great Ming,' taking the meaning of 'The Great Ming from beginning to end,' hoping that our Great Ming would be like the sun in the sky, shining brightly forever and prospering for ten thousand generations."
"Therefore, I believe that the character '日' (sun) in the blood-painted pattern refers to the Ming Dynasty, while the character '太' (great) under the sun does not refer to the Crown Prince." After a pause, Qingchen continued, "but rather to the founding emperor of our Ming Dynasty—Emperor Taizu. This pattern depicts the founding of our Ming Dynasty, and its appearance today foretells the prosperity of our Ming Dynasty, lasting for a century like it did at its founding. Only in this way can it conform to the meaning of 'the Ming Dynasty from beginning to end' in the Book of Changes."
Her voice was clear and gentle, yet it possessed an indescribable air of authority, for every sentence was reasonable and every word was precious.
Zhu Rui was completely stunned.
Qingchen continued, "Back when Emperor Taizu was expanding the territory, he was wounded in the war and separated from his soldiers, getting lost in the mountains. Because his injuries were serious, Emperor Taizu went without food for three days and was starving. Fortunately, he later encountered a sheep and quenched his thirst and hunger with its blood, which saved his life and laid the foundation for the eternal Ming Dynasty. The sheep's blood used to draw the pattern today is the very blood that saved Emperor Taizu and made a contribution to the founding of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Your Majesty is wise." Qingchen lowered his head slightly and said earnestly, "If we insist on interpreting this picture as the Crown Prince forcing the emperor to abdicate, wouldn't that go against the will of Heaven and the original intention of the founding emperor in choosing the name of the country as 'The Great Ming Dynasty'?"
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider."
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