Every year-end, not only are ordinary people busy, but the government is also very busy. Each department has its own tasks, and basically no one is idle.
The Ministry of Personnel, of course, was responsible for evaluating the performance of its officials. The Ministry of Justice was tasked with investigating backlog cases, and the Ministry of Revenue was concerned with issues of finances and provisions... It was perfectly normal for them to be busy summarizing and taking stock at this time.
For some, however, this year-end seems even more unusual, and they need to consider the current emperor's health.
When Emperor Zhu, who had not appeared in court for a long time, suddenly reappeared, many people were indeed taken aback. The emperor, who they remembered as always full of vigor and fighting spirit, now looked truly old. The white-haired emperor sat on the dragon throne, seemingly lacking his former terrifying and domineering aura; he really looked old.
Old Zhu, who appeared in the imperial court, listened attentively to the report, when suddenly he began to cough violently.
Without a word, Zhu Xiong Ying quickly went to Old Zhu's side. Even though Old Zhu subtly gave her a wink, Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but worry that Old Zhu's health might be in some way. After all, Old Zhu was getting on in years, and Zhu Xiong Ying dared not be negligent.
"Let the court adjourn first. All departments should submit their memorials if they have any matters to report." Zhu Xiong Ying said immediately after helping Old Zhu up.
The civil and military officials became even more nervous as they saw the Crown Prince anxiously helping the Emperor away. This was an extremely rare scene in the nearly thirty years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty; it was truly uncommon to see the morning court session being prematurely ended halfway through.
This has caused even more people to worry about the emperor's health, as he has been ill for several days and seems to be quite ill. Everyone was already worried, but looking at the current situation, it seems to be even worse than they imagined; perhaps it has truly reached a stage where many only dare to think about it in their hearts.
As Zhu Xiong Ying helped him away, Old Zhu smiled slightly. "Not bad. I thought if we caused a couple more trouble like this, those people would get restless. When we say we're stepping down, they'll probably just be putting on a show for appearances."
"They all still ask and decline three times, but that's different from what we do here." Zhu Xiong Ying chuckled and said to Old Zhu, "The Emperor's health is not good, and these people have all seen it. If it really comes to that, these people won't say anything more."
Old Zhu slapped Zhu Xiong Ying on the back of the head and said irritably, "So eager to become emperor? If others hear this, they'll say you forced the emperor to abdicate and are unfilial. Don't turn this abdication into the Xuanwu Gate Incident."
The Xuanwu Gate Incident is unlikely, but it could easily turn into a situation where Emperor Taizong forces Emperor Gaozu to abdicate, which would be a complete disaster. After all, the intention of both the old and young Zhu families was for a smooth transition of power in the Zhu family, as the emperor was too old to handle state affairs and had no choice but to pass the throne to the crown prince at this time.
It seems that only the grandfather and grandson know their plan, and their vision for the future is crystal clear. After all, while imperial power may seem supreme, it can sometimes be subject to certain constraints.
It is obvious that Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the People's Republic of China, could impose certain constraints on his descendants in many matters, and there is no doubt about that.
This may not just be a series of one-sided benefits; there could also be quite a few drawbacks. It all depends on how you approach it, and that requires examining the specific circumstances.
Zhu Xiong Ying always understood the principle that you can't have your cake and eat it too, and he accepted this fact. Advantages naturally come with disadvantages, which is undeniable and there's nothing more to say about it.
In a good mood, Zhu Xiong Ying chatted with Old Zhu as they reviewed memorials, just as they always did. It was the end of the year, and there was plenty to do; clearly, there was no time to truly relax, and they still needed to work hard when necessary.
Little Zhu also arrived. This little fellow is the most free in the imperial city; there's almost nowhere he can't go. This is even better treatment than Zhu Xiong Ying's. Zhu Xiong Ying doesn't go to the real 'harem,' after all, he's of a certain age and needs to avoid suspicion.
But Little Zhu doesn't need to care about any of that. She runs around happily and is incredibly popular wherever she goes.
Besides the baby's cuteness, the main reason for the good fortune was that everyone knew Emperor Zhu doted on his great-grandson. Everyone also understood that if little Zhu grew up smoothly, he would become the crown prince and then the emperor, so naturally, they wanted to leave a good legacy.
Little Zhu, upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, didn't remain idle, sitting down on the ground by himself. Of course, Wang Chengen and Shuangquan were very careful, immediately laying down a blanket to prevent Little Zhu's little bottom from getting cold.
Old Zhu was reviewing memorials, occasionally glancing up at his grandson who was diligently reviewing them, and his great-grandson who was lying on the blanket playing with small toys.
“You didn’t come here when you were this age,” Old Zhu suddenly said to Zhu Xiong Ying. “You only came here when you were a little older. Your father and I were reviewing memorials, and you would sit beside us reading and grinding ink for us. We felt so happy then, knowing that the country we had built had a successor.”
Pointing to little Zhu, Zhu Xiong Ying said, "This one is too. I will definitely teach him well. If we four generations work hard, we can have a prosperous dynasty. My grandfather founded the country, and my father has also governed it well over the years. The Ming Dynasty is already a prosperous era."
This is not self-praise, nor is it an attempt to deliberately flatter Lao Zhu; it is absolutely a fact.
When Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor) was conquering the country, the people were suffering terribly. But now, the world is at peace, and most people can eat their fill. The powerful military of the Ming Dynasty has the surrounding countries suffocating under its pressure, and they are constantly worried that the Ming army will launch a punitive expedition.
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