Since ancient times, there has been a custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve.
The Zhu family all came from the common people, so naturally they also have this custom.
Moreover, there is a saying that staying up all night to honor the elders. Even if it is just a legend and not credible, the royal family would certainly rush to do it.
Therefore, after the dinner, New Year's Eve is not over yet. As it is a royal palace, there are still a lot of singing and dancing performances.
Every New Year's Eve, Zhu Ying would spend a sum of money to prepare for the New Year's Eve program in the palace.
The stage was mainly built in Fengtian Square. There were large stoves set up around it, with flames rising, so there was no feeling of cold at all.
There are sheds built around to keep out the wind and cold.
In addition to the royal family, many ministers could also be invited, which could be regarded as another form of Spring Festival Gala.
Moreover, tomorrow is Zhu Ying's coronation ceremony, so this year's New Year's Eve is particularly different.
Nominally speaking, this is the first night of the transition from the Hongwu period to the Yongsheng period, and it has great significance.
The recruitment for this Spring Festival Gala will not only include various types of operas from the Ming Dynasty, but also some programs from other countries. Many performers have been preparing for this more than half a year ago.
For any drama troupe or performer, being able to perform on the Fengtian stage is the highest honor.
Therefore, we started rehearsing very early.
In the front row of the stands, of course, were Zhu Ying and Zhu Yuanzhang.
The second row is the princes, followed by the princes and the emperor's grandsons.
Behind them came the dukes and marquises such as Lan Yu, and then the ministers of the seven ministries and important officials of the court.
Probably no one will sleep tonight, because after the hour of Chou, that is, after the opera, singing and dancing on the stage end at 2 am, Zhu Ying's coronation ceremony and sacrifice to the heaven will begin.
Not only in the imperial palace, but in the entire capital city of Nanjing, there were bright lights at this time.
In order to celebrate the crown prince's coronation ceremony tomorrow, all major theaters are holding free performances, and a large number of stages have been built on Zhengyang Avenue.
In the teahouse and restaurant, the storyteller looked excited and spoke in a high-pitched voice, with no intention of stopping at all.
The sound of firecrackers rang out continuously and the streets were filled with crowds of people. It was truly a celebration for the whole world.
Looking further away, the entire Ming Dynasty was completely immersed in a sea of joy. All the major cities, counties, and even villages in the countryside were filled with jubilation.
All the people of the Ming Dynasty understood that after New Year's Eve, it would be the transition from the 37th year of Hongwu to the first year of Yongsheng.
"Thirty-seven years, thirty-seven years, it has passed in the blink of an eye. I still remember that back then, when I was a cowherd, I tried every possible way to have a bite of food to eat."
"In the turbulent times, I lived in turmoil, joined the Red Turban Army, and crawled out from the pile of dead bodies. Who would have thought that the ragged cowherd who became a monk and a beggar decades ago would be me today."
There was loud singing on the stage, but Zhu Yuanzhang didn't have much interest in listening. He held his eldest grandson's hand and spoke quietly.
Zhu Ying also seemed to have sensed something. He didn't say anything, but just held the old man's rough hand tightly.
"I used to think that I would die in battle somewhere like the other brothers and be buried in a foreign land. After all, I have nothing."
"Grandson, please don't look down on me. I know you are good at martial arts, but I was also a warrior in the front back then. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been appreciated by Marshal Guo and married your grandmother."
"If it weren't for your grandma, we really wouldn't be able to accomplish such a big thing today. It's a pity that your grandma missed you so much that she passed away early. Otherwise, she would have lived longer than us."
"I still remember the first time I saw the elder sister, she was the adopted daughter of Marshal Guo. I was thinking at that time, how could there be such a beautiful female Bodhisattva in this world?"
"My great grandson, let me tell you, when your grandmother was young, she was a great beauty. There were countless people in our army who admired her, and many people tried every means to see her more."
"But your grandmother, who doesn't like anyone, chose me. Marshal Guo also liked me. He asked the eldest sister what she thought and betrothed her to me."
"That was truly the happiest moment of my life. I was so happy that I didn't sleep for two days and two nights. I lay there in a mess, tossing and turning, laughing under the quilt. That old guy Tang He thought I was crazy and almost went to call a doctor for me. Hahahaha..."
"After we got married, Marshal Guo was bewitched by a villain and locked me up without food. It was your grandmother who stole the freshly baked pancakes and hid them in her arms to bring them to me, and she burned herself."
"If it weren't for this, we might have starved to death there. Your grandma saved our lives."
"For me, being able to marry your grandmother is the proudest thing in my life."
Zhu Yuanzhang's calm tone was full of sighs. His eldest sister had always been in good health, much better than him. However, when his eldest grandson passed away, his eldest sister could not bear the blow and passed away due to depression.
"I just hate that fate played such a trick on me. My elder sister thought she could find you down there, but she never expected that you were still up there."
"If...if...ah...it's hard for her, but luckily she has the boss with her, so she shouldn't be alone down there."
"This guy, the eldest brother, is also an unfilial person. As the saying goes, one should not travel far away while his parents are still alive. We are still here, but he left us and went to find his mother."
"Back then, when your father was born, we were fighting in Jiqing, which is the capital where we are now. At that time, it was the critical moment to attack the city gate. The news of your father's birth came, and then the city gate was broken."
"The achievement of conquering the city should be half due to your father."
"When your father was young, he wasn't as naughty as you. He was very well-behaved. We and my sister never had to worry about his studies. Great scholars like Song Lian all said that your father was very talented."
"The only shortcoming is that your father is too soft-hearted and not ruthless enough. Being too kind is not a good thing when you are an emperor. At that time, whenever the second and third brothers made mistakes, it was your father who came to beg for mercy every time."
"Even before leaving, he still begged me to say something good to the second brother. This child, eh..."
As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly became choked.
The memories of the past years suddenly began to become clearer in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind. Those deeply buried memories seemed to be blown away by the wind and vividly revealed.
Joyful moments, happy moments, blissful moments. In the beginning, I, my elder sister, Biaoer and our family of three had a very happy time.
However, when the eldest sister left, and when the eldest brother Zhu Biao left, all these happy, sad, and tragic memories also flooded into my mind.
"My dear grandson, how could they be so cruel to leave me like this? They left me in this world, all alone, all alone... How could they be so cruel?"
With all kinds of thoughts coming to his mind, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was only eighty years old, burst into tears.
"Grandpa, I'm still here, and my grandson is still here."
Zhu Ying held the old man tightly with both hands and spoke quickly.
Feeling the touch in his hand, Zhu Yuanzhang, whose eyes were already a little cloudy, slowly stopped his grief when he saw the person in front of him.
"Yes, grandson, you are still here, and you are still with us."
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang felt the sound of opera on the stage, the cheers from the surroundings, and the prosperous scene, which gave Zhu Yuanzhang a somewhat real feeling.
Just now, he seemed to be detached from everything around him and fell into his own world.
This feeling is actually very similar to autism in later generations. It is a manifestation of emotional closure. Fortunately, Zhu Ying is here.
Zhu Yuanzhang must have had completely different feelings towards this eldest grandson, whom he and his eldest sister raised personally when he was a child.
At this moment, there were sudden fireworks and roars of cannons.
The sky above the entire city of Nanjing was covered with colorful and brilliant fireworks. It was New Year's Eve and the New Year had arrived.
From now on, the Hongwu year has passed and it is the first year of Yongsheng.
With the development of gunpowder technology, today's fireworks are more colorful than the firecrackers of the past. The imperial palace even directly uses artillery to launch high-altitude fireworks, allowing the fireworks to bloom higher in the sky.
Even a hundred miles outside Nanjing city, it is still clearly visible, and even the clouds can be seen.
"Really, it's beautiful. This is the most beautiful fireworks we have ever seen."
"If the elder sister were here, she would definitely be very happy. She loves watching these the most."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes froze for a moment. He looked up blankly at the fireworks in the sky and muttered to himself.
Be it a son or a grandson, in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, his eldest sister is always the first.
In a person's life, the people who accompany him/her the longest and are closest to him/her are not his/her parents, nor his/her children and grandchildren, but the person by his/her side, the partner with whom he/she will grow old together.
Especially for Zhu Yuanzhang, the years of mutual support and care occupied the most important place in his heart.
Therefore, after the eldest sister left, Zhu Yuanzhang did not even want to establish a queen.
The fireworks were set off in the sky for nearly half a day before they stopped for a while. In later times, this would have been just over an hour.
For ordinary people, the number of fireworks set off in more than an hour was a figure they could not believe. It was a sum that an ordinary family could not earn in a lifetime. Only the wealthy royal family could afford such expenses.
"It's almost time, grandson. It's time to prepare for the coronation ceremony."
"I have one more thing to tell you. Remember, in the future, don't make things too difficult for your uncles. I know you have forgotten your past memories, but when you were little, each of them loved you very much."
"The royal family has always been ruthless, but we hope that our Zhu family will not be like this. Don't embarrass them. Promise us, okay?"
There was a hint of pleading in Zhu Yuanzhang's voice. Perhaps he had felt something, which was why he said that.
"Grandpa, please rest assured. I won't make things difficult for them."
Zhu Ying said solemnly, with his eyes slightly red. He seemed to have sensed something, but at this moment, he didn't know what to say, perhaps he was afraid to speak.
Zhu Yuanzhang grinned and said, "Hurry up and get ready. We want to see our eldest grandson ascend the throne in all his glory."
The enthronement ceremony is cumbersome and strict. Whether it is offering sacrifices to the heavens or some other arrangements, every process is very particular and sacred and majestic.
This can be said to be the most solemn and dignified ritual, and it is also the embodiment of imperial power.
A large number of eunuchs and soldiers appeared and quickly dismantled the stage and other facilities built in Fengtian Square, and then replaced them with new decorations.
Ministers also had to wait outside the Fengtian Gate, and only descendants of the royal family were allowed in the Fengtian Square.
A large number of court musicians prepared dozens of pieces of music, from sacrifices to coronations, including military parades.
How can such a grand ceremony as the enthronement be without background music?
Take a bath, change clothes, and put on a brand new dragon robe.
This dragon robe is not as complicated and gorgeous as those commonly seen in later generations. Instead, it is a bit simpler. Apart from a few dragon patterns, there are only simple dark patterns. It looks grand and majestic, but not extravagant.
The twelve-chapter pattern on the dragon robe was only used by emperors after Yingzong in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
The cuffs are not wide but very narrow, which is somewhat similar to later generations, and adds a bit of simplicity and efficiency.
According to the procedure, Zhu Ying first went to the Taimiao and Sheji Altar to offer sacrifices, and then went to Zhengyang Square for the flag-raising ceremony.
After completing the sacrificial process, the sky was already slightly bright.
In Zhengyang Square, there were already dense crowds of people, not only the people of the Ming Dynasty, but also a large number of foreigners.
Because the announcement was made half a year in advance, many foreigners came early, just to wait to see the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, or the new Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
The fact that the Ming Dynasty can be as vast, prosperous and strong as it is today is inseparable from the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.
Especially in recent years, the Crown Prince is not much different from the Emperor.
Whether in the history of China or in foreign history, such a powerful emperor is extremely rare, especially now that the Ming Dynasty has influence on the entire world and its territory far exceeds that of China's history. It can be said to be the first in the true sense.
Such a powerful emperor's coronation ceremony can be said to be the most impressive event in world history. It is no wonder that almost everyone wants to participate.
Not to mention the area around Zhengyang Square, even the houses were crowded with people, and of course, guards.
This kind of scene, not to mention that there will never be another one in the future, is definitely unprecedented.
The scene was grand, but Zhu Ying didn't say anything.
Of course, there's no point in saying anything, because no one can hear it.
When the dragon chariot arrived at the flag-raising platform, Zhu Ying stepped down from the chariot and nodded slightly to the eunuch Guo Zhong next to him.
Guo Zhong immediately shouted loudly: "Your Majesty has ordered the flag to be raised!!!"
Behind Guo Zhong, there is a guard group of dozens of people. These people are the loudmouths who are doing the selection.
Following Guo Zhong's shout, the imperial guards immediately raised their voices and repeated: "Your Majesty's decree, raise the flag!!!"
The flags were raised, and the thousands of soldiers and eunuchs surrounding Zhu Ying all knelt down and bowed their heads, shouting: "Long live the emperor!!!"
Farther away, all the soldiers in Zhengyang Square knelt on the ground: "Long live our emperor!!!"
Immediately afterwards, all the people who heard the sound knelt on the ground excitedly and shouted loudly: "Long live the emperor!!!"
Zhu Ying stood on the flag-raising platform and could hear this sound echoing throughout the city of Nanjing.
In the distance, even farther away, no matter what people are doing at the moment, as long as they hear this voice, even if they are far away from the palace and can't see anything, they will immediately kneel down and shout.
In fact, it’s not just the city of Nanjing.
The time for the coronation ceremony was fixed, which was Chenshi, or seven o'clock in the morning.
At that time, all the major prefectures, counties, and towns within the territory of the Ming Dynasty knelt on the ground and shouted in the direction of Nanjing City.
Goryeo, Japan, Champa, Zhenla, Siam, Annan, and India all shouted "Long live the emperor!"
This is Zhu Ying’s current influence and the majesty of the Ming Dynasty’s imperial power.
At this moment, Zhu Ying could boldly say: I am the state!
If he were more arrogant, he could call himself the greatest emperor of all time.
The flag-raising ceremony is not the end, but just the beginning of the entire coronation ceremony.
In the next process, the main process is the military parade.
Three hundred thousand elite soldiers of the Ming Dynasty will line up in formations on Zhengyang Avenue, waiting for their new emperor to inspect them.
At the same time, this is also a protection for the people of the Ming Dynasty and a deterrent to all countries in the world.
In preparation for this military parade, all participating soldiers underwent the most rigorous training. Unlike the military parade that held when Zhu Ying enthroned his grandson, the requirements this time were more stringent.
When a square formation approaches, you can almost only hear the sound of footsteps. If you close your eyes and feel the ground shaking, it's like a giant walking slowly towards you.
Such a phalanx consists of 300,000 elite soldiers, all of whom possess superb military qualities.
Even ordinary people who have no knowledge of military affairs can understand the horror of this.
The envoys from other countries who came to watch the ceremony all looked pale in the face of such elite troops.
Three hundred thousand elite soldiers! How many countries don't even have this number of soldiers to participate in the military parade? Even if there are ten thousand, no, thousands of such soldiers, they can easily break through their capitals.
Not to mention, the Ming Dynasty now has over two million soldiers. There are many countries, even with their total population, that do not have such a number.
As people of the Ming Dynasty, all the people felt a strong sense of pride in their hearts at this moment.
Look, this is our country, our Ming Dynasty.
Even Zhu Chong, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di and other princes could not help but feel convinced at this moment.
Zhu Di, in particular, had thought about ascending the throne several times. In his opinion, after the death of his elder brother Zhu Biao, he was the most qualified among his father's sons to inherit the throne.
But now, I have to admit it.
He knew clearly that even if his father had passed the throne to him, the Ming Dynasty would not have been able to reach its current prosperity under his leadership.
It can even be said that it is far inferior.
Zhu Yunwen raised his head slightly and looked in the direction of Zhu Ying, with a complicated look in his eyes.
Next to him was Zhu Yunxun, who was filled with excitement.
At this moment, Zhu Yunhuan really wanted to shout loudly: This is my elder brother, my dear elder brother.
Troops marched in rows along Zhengyang Avenue, and when they reached the Fengtian Gate, they shouted "Long live!"
The military parade lasted until noon, which was 2:00 p.m.
The next ceremony was held at Fengtian Square in the imperial palace.
Above the steps of Fengtian Square, in front of the Fengtian Hall, there are two dragon thrones.
When thousands of civil and military officials came over, Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on the dragon throne.
Zhu Ying walked up the steps step by step from the bottom, came to Zhu Yuanzhang, knelt down and kowtowed.
"Good grandson."
Zhu Yuanzhang said this with a smile. Next to him, the eunuch Liu He from the Imperial Household Department was bowing with a crown on a wooden tray.
The crown with tassels is a crown that can be often seen in later generations. It is a cylindrical hat with a horizontal board on top and curtains in the front and back.
The horizontal board is very particular. It is round in the front and square in the back. There are 12 jade stones strung with colorful ribbons on the front and back, forming a small "door curtain".
The tassels on the crown originated from "Zhou Li". The emperor's crown has twelve tassels, princes have nine, senior officials have seven, and junior officials have five.
After the Zhou Dynasty, the crown and tassels were usually used as symbols of imperial power.
The emperor rarely wore the crown and tassels, and only wore it on very formal occasions. At these times, the crown and tassels also symbolized the change of imperial power.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and walked forward, took off the Wusha Yishan crown on Zhu Ying's head, took the crown from the tray from eunuch Liu He, and put it on Zhu Ying.
This moment is the final process of the entire ceremony.
Zhu Ying, wearing the crown and tassels, sat on the dragon throne that belonged to him together with Zhu Yuanzhang.
In Fengtian Square, all the civil and military officials knelt on the ground again and shouted: "Long live the emperor!!!"
Zhu Ying first glanced at the old man, and under his affirmative gaze, he said loudly: "My dear ministers, please stand up!"
At this time, the celestial phenomena changed.
In the sky, there appeared a rare sight of the sun and the moon shining together.
(End of the book)
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