As the crown prince, Zhu Xiong Ying was still somewhat sensible.
Don't be fooled by his current penchant for frequenting shipyards; he also has connections within the imperial treasury. Many civil and military officials are aware of the situation at the Maritime Trade Office and know that it is this Crown Prince who is in charge.
However, the Crown Prince's influence is basically limited, rarely extending into the court.
Of the six ministries in the imperial court, the Crown Prince is most interested in the Ministry of Works. To be more precise, the Ministry of Works has four departments.
Zhu Xiong Ying was only interested in the Construction and Repair Office because it housed a black kiln, a glass factory, a sacred wood factory, etc. In short, it dealt with timber, fuel, and so on. As for the other duties of the Construction and Repair Office, Zhu Xiong Ying did not care about them.
Zhu Xiong Ying also had a small amount of influence in the Water Conservancy Bureau, mainly in the construction and repair of warships. He also had some involvement in the Imperial Fisheries Bureau and the Agricultural Settlement Bureau, with some departments in charge of military equipment or managing coal mines and supplying fuel for the government.
To prevent the methods of making gunpowder and firearms from being leaked, these items were also placed under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department.
Zhu Xiong Ying wielded some influence within the Directorate of Palace Attendants, and the Bureau of Armory was entirely under his control. The Grand Eunuch and the Eunuch in charge of the Arsenal were both personally recruited by Wang Chengen from Zhu Yuanzhang, as this department not only managed firearms but also the Gunpowder Bureau.
This comprised the Twelve Directorates, Four Offices, Eight Bureaus of the Inner Palace, and other forces, primarily led by eunuchs and female officials. However, these individuals were essentially the emperor's household servants, making them relatively easier to control.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince were aware of the Crown Prince's ideas. If the Crown Prince wanted to do something, he could do it. As long as it wasn't too outrageous, it would be fine. Just like how Emperor Zhu treated Zhu Biao back then, he was willing to delegate power.
Zhu Xiong Ying naturally knew that the upcoming sacrificial ceremony would be very solemn and formal, but he didn't need to worry about it too much. Crown Prince Zhu Biao needed to take charge of the overall situation, and Old Zhu would lead the princes, grandsons, and civil and military officials to participate in the ceremony.
Zhu Xiong Ying, who had been sleeping well, was woken up by Wang Cheng En and began to wash up.
Both Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yuntong wore the crown and robes of a prince, with a nine-tassel crown, a black upper garment and a red lower garment. The upper garment was decorated with five patterns: dragon, mountain, pheasant, fire and ancestral vessel, while the lower garment was embroidered with four patterns: algae, rice grains, axe and embroidered dragon, for a total of nine patterns.
Zhu Xiong Ying looked at his own official robes again and found that they were the same as those of his two younger brothers.
I didn't notice anything wrong with it before, but now that I look at it again, there are some problems.
Leading his younger brothers to the Meridian Gate, Zhu Xiong Ying felt the problem had become even more serious. The Crown Prince's robes and hat were identical to those of Zhu's other sons who had not yet been enfeoffed; their robes and hats were the same as the Crown Prince's.
Only Old Zhu was different; he wore a black robe and yellow skirt with twelve embroidered patterns, something no one else dared to wear.
The Ming Dynasty was approaching its 22nd year of existence, yet the crown prince and princes' robes were sometimes still not very different. Or perhaps, Emperor Zhu had intentionally or unintentionally made the princes and crown prince wear similar clothing, allowing the princes to have some prestige.
The clothing of the Ming Dynasty imperial family is not considered particularly standardized by some people today.
This won't do. Zhu Xiong Ying felt that these things had to be taken seriously, and that distinctions had to be made.
In fact, in the first year of the Hongwu reign, scholar Tao An requested the creation of five types of crowns, which were the five different outfits worn by the emperor on five different occasions.
Over the years, there have been some changes. There was a slight adjustment in the third year of the Hongwu reign, and the system of official robes and crowns was established in the sixteenth year of the Hongwu reign. However, the system of crown princes, princes, and princes' heirs was still somewhat chaotic.
If Zhu Xiong Ying hadn't mentioned it, it might have been a regulation established in the 26th year of the Hongwu reign.
Actually, it's not just that the princes and grandsons' clothing is a bit messy now; although the court has roughly established a system, there have been some changes, and it hasn't been completely unified.
While Zhu Xiong Ying was still lost in thought, his two younger brothers obediently went to the line of princes and grandsons, taking their places at the back. Zhu Xiong Ying, on the other hand, walked to the front of the line, as he was, after all, the nominal second in line.
Led by Crown Prince Zhu Biao and accompanied by the music of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) band, the procession proceeded in a grand procession to Fengtian Hall.
After the officials finished their four kowtows, the Minister of Rites knelt down and bowed four times, saying, "Your humble servant, Li Yuan, on this New Year's Day, when the three yangs bring prosperity and all things are renewed, humbly beseech Your Majesty the Emperor to receive blessings and to uphold the eternal prosperity of Heaven!"
The officials bowed again and stood up.
The messenger exited from the east gate, walked to the steps of the imperial palace, faced east, and announced, "The emperor has decreed..."
The master of ceremonies shouted, "Kneel!"
As the officials knelt down once more, the messenger proclaimed, "May this joyous occasion of your new beginning be shared with you all!"
As the music ended, the master of ceremonies announced loudly, "Hail, honk!"
The officials raised their hands above their heads and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"
The master of ceremonies exclaimed, "Hail!"
The officials continued to respond, "Long live the Emperor!"
"Hail!"
Long live the Emperor!
This concludes the ceremony of paying homage...
Zhu Xiong Ying was thoroughly tormented, but he fared relatively well. Some of the princes, only four or five years old, had to obediently learn from him. Even some civil and military officials, some as young as six or seven, dared not be careless at such a time, for breach of etiquette was a serious offense.
Zhu Xiong Ying no longer needs to worry about his younger brothers; those two children are no longer little kids, they are both enfeoffed princes.
Zhu Xiong Ying was exhausted after a morning spent attending court ceremonies and offering sacrifices. The elaborate rituals of ancient times were incredibly demanding. Old Zhu usually didn't pay much attention to these things, but he wouldn't be careless on such an occasion.
"What British aristocracy? Wearing a tailcoat and carrying a silver plate doesn't make you an aristocrat," Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but mutter to herself. "These old-fashioned things from our ancestors are no joke when it comes to being particular!"
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