Zhu Yunying was in a good mood and kept rambling on and on. Wang Chengen wasn't in a hurry; he just waited outside the Fengxian Hall. He wasn't qualified to come in, and neither was anyone else.
As for the fact that it's almost time for the morning court session, there's nothing wrong with having the civil and military officials waiting there; Wang Chengen felt it was the most reasonable thing to do.
In reality, many civil and military officials were unaware of these matters and simply lined up and entered the palace as usual. However, after the three shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", the emperor, who was supposed to arrive late, still did not appear, leaving many people puzzled.
Chang Mao felt a chill run down his spine, because not only was the emperor absent, but the emperor's personal eunuch, Wang Chengen, was also nowhere to be seen.
Ru Chang suddenly stepped forward and sternly reprimanded, "Silence! This is an important place for the imperial court; what kind of decorum is this, making such a racket!"
Chang Mao also stepped forward and rebuked Wu Xun, "You are all important ministers of the country, why are you making such a fuss? Censors, do not forget your duties."
The censor was displeased. When did it become the Duke's place to arrange matters of the Censorate? Even if you are the descendant of the Prince of Kaiping and His Majesty's maternal uncle, you shouldn't be so arrogant at this time. Do you want to become a powerful maternal relative?
Just then, a middle-aged eunuch walked expressionlessly to the steps of the palace and addressed the civil and military officials, saying, "His Majesty is currently in the Fengxian Hall. Gentlemen, please wait here."
Now the civil and military officials seemed to have a better understanding of the situation, mainly because what had happened earlier was the first time in more than 30 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, so many people were flustered and confused.
Don't be fooled by the fact that during the Hongwu reign, the crown prince or grandson often held court, and the emperor rarely appeared in court. But even if the emperor didn't come, there was always one of the crown prince or grandson in charge of the government, which provided a central figure. This was the first time in the Ming Dynasty that no one was in charge of the government.
Now that they knew the emperor was in the Fengxian Hall, there was no need to worry. Since nothing seemed amiss and nothing untoward had happened, everyone felt much more at ease.
However, many people couldn't help but become curious. Emperor Ying Shi was a diligent ruler, and there had never been a case where the morning court was delayed for any reason, nor had there been any instance of civil and military officials waiting in the Fengtian Hall.
Even if they were curious, they could only wait and see, because all the civil and military officials knew that if they were to behave improperly at this time, they would be punished. These matters could be serious or minor, depending on how the emperor thought.
This could even become a black mark on history, something the emperor could use to bring up old grievances later.
Zhu Yunying finally arrived late, and his appearance in court attire surprised many. This was just a regular court session; the emperor usually wore everyday clothes, not such formal court attire. Clearly, something important had happened.
In high spirits, Zhu Yunying did not allow the civil and military officials to continue speculating. He smiled and said, "The Empress has given birth to my third son. All my beloved ministers, please congratulate the Empress."
Xu Zengshou was stunned for a moment, then his expression brightened with joy. This undoubtedly further solidified the Xu family's position.
At this point, all the civil and military officials ceased their curiosity and knelt down in unison, saying, "Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations..."
In truth, whether it was the third prince or the second son of the legitimate wife, it all depended on the empress's status and the emperor's mood. Many civil and military officials in the court understood that among the princes of the Ming Dynasty, only the eldest son of the legitimate wife truly had influence.
However, since the emperor was in a good mood, the civil and military officials naturally followed suit and offered their congratulations. They didn't want to be insensitive at this time, as that would only cause them trouble.
Zhu Yunying smiled and said to Wang Chengen, "Order the Prince of Wu to return to Fengyang to offer sacrifices at the imperial mausoleum, and order the Prince of Xu to return to Xuyi to offer sacrifices at the ancestral tombs."
The imperial mausoleum in Fengyang is where Zhu Yuanzhang's parents are buried. The imperial ancestral mausoleum in Xuyi is a cenotaph for his great-great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and grandfather, as well as the actual burial site of his grandfather.
Actually, the ancestral mausoleum is not fully completed yet. Emperor Hongwu only began construction of the ancestral tomb in the nineteenth year of his reign (1388) and reburied his grandfather. Although the main hall was built long ago, the surrounding walls and other structures were not fully completed. After all, this is an imperial mausoleum, and it cannot be perfected in a short period of time.
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