Chapter 1608 The Queen Mother is Reluctant to Part with Yueyue

After Wanli ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Li lived in the Qianqing Palace so that she could take care of the emperor's daily life and supervise him to study hard and make progress every day.

She believed that the reason why Emperor Longqing neglected his duties and ended up with a miserable fate, neither a human nor a ghost, was because he spent all his time playing when he was young and did not leave home to study until he was sixteen, so he was so playful!

Empress Dowager Li was born in a humble family, and feared that her son would become the second Little Bee, and that others would say that she was not a good teacher of the emperor, so she was very strict in disciplining the young emperor. She would conduct surprise inspections from time to time, and she found out how many comic books, figurines, and various novel toys the emperor had privately collected.

Whenever the emperor exhibited behavior that was detrimental to his studies, Empress Dowager Li would make him kneel for a long time as punishment.

On the day of court, Empress Dowager Li would wash and dress neatly at five o'clock in the morning and say, "It's time for the emperor to get up." She would then order her attendants to help the sleepy little emperor sit down, fetch water for him to wash his face, and then lead him out in a carriage to attend court in front of the Huangji Gate.

She also ordered Feng Bao to strictly discipline the eunuchs around the emperor. Anyone who dared to teach the emperor a lesson would be sent directly to the Inner East Factory to be beaten to death. Under the all-weather and all-round excessive control of the Empress Dowager and Feng Bao, the Wanli Emperor was naturally submissive and did not dare to make his own decisions on anything.

Therefore, the one who has the final say in the Ming Dynasty is not the emperor but Empress Dowager Li. However, Empress Dowager Li is very self-aware and full of awe for national affairs. She never dares to make her own decisions and entrusts all powers to her most admired and trusted Zhang Xianggong.

Not surprisingly, when Feng Bao reported the tragic news that Zhang Juzheng had lost his father and would soon have to go into mourning, the Empress Dowager was immediately panicked.

"What, mourning? That means he'll be gone for more than three years, right?" Li Caifeng, who was chanting the Buddha's name, dropped her rosary and immediately expressed her disapproval. "No, no, absolutely not! Who will preach Buddhism to me after he's gone?"

"Three years is an imaginary number. To be exact, it is 27 months." Feng Bao hurriedly picked up Li Caifeng's giant clam rosary, which was made by Zhang Xianggong himself and strung into a string to give to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager Li always regarded it as her life and hurriedly took it and wiped it carefully.

"Twenty-seven months is too long!" Empress Dowager Li could not imagine not being able to see Mr. Zhang for such a long time.

Her fingertips slid across the smooth beads, just like slid across Mr. Zhang's long beard like a waterfall, and she couldn't bear to part with him. She didn't want him to leave for a moment. So she asked Wanli, "My son, what do you mean?"

"Of course, I will do it according to your wishes." Wanli looked at his mother's face and said timidly, "Doesn't your mother always listen to you?"

He was being a little clever. With Wanli's intelligence, how could he not know that his mother did not want Mr. Zhang to be in mourning? But he really longed for the days when he could be free from Mr. Zhang's supervision and not have to attend classes or court.

"You are confused!" But the queen mother scolded him flatly: "How can Mr. Zhang say that he wants to stay? We have to be determined to keep him!"

"But mother..." Wanli whispered, "The three-year mourning period for one's parents is stipulated by Confucius. How can we not allow you to mourn? You will be very sad."

"But we are even more sad that he is in mourning!" Empress Dowager Li choked with tears. Without Mr. Zhang, who would comfort her inner loneliness? Who would protect the emperor from the wind and rain? Who else could fill the vacancy left by this great man? Who else could the emperor and herself rely on?

Thinking of this, she became more determined to keep Mr. Zhang. She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, calmed down and asked, "After you left, there were hundreds of memorials and petitions from inside and outside the country every day. Can you review them personally? There are also emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, border conflicts and civil unrest. Can you handle them?"

"No..." Wanli shook his head in frustration.

"There are so many officials who are appointed, dismissed, promoted or demoted. Do you have an idea of ​​whether they are virtuous or not?"

"No." Wanli shook his head again.

"Sir, the reform of the country has reached a critical moment. Do you have the confidence to continue the reform?"

"No..." Wanli's eyes were completely dark. He had only thought that he would not have to study after Mr. Zhang left. But he forgot that Mr. Zhang was still carrying a heavy burden for him.

"But don't we still have Lu Xianggong?" But he had the same temperament as his grandfather, and showed signs of stubbornness at a young age, so even his mother could hardly convince him. "If it doesn't work, let the ministers recommend a few more university scholars to join the cabinet. Wouldn't three cobblers still be as good as Zhuge Liang?"

"You're talking nonsense! There are thousands of people in the family, but only one person is in charge! Too many people and too many mouths, nothing can be done!" Empress Dowager Li finally slammed the table and said angrily: "The only one who can manage this family for you is Mr. Zhang! There is no other handsome man in the Ming Dynasty who is as wise, loyal and patriotic as him, and treats our family as his own family!"

"I know I was wrong. I understand now. Sir, you cannot leave. You must come!" Wanli was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, thinking that his mother was talking about "great man".

"I'm glad you understand." Empress Dowager Li snorted, and her expression eased a little. "Your Majesty, there is a saying that goes 'One should never forget the well digger when drinking water'. If it weren't for Mr. Zhang's hard work in managing our ancestors' country, would my mother and I be able to live such a comfortable and peaceful life? When your father was in power, you were still young, and you may not even remember that he would not even eat his favorite donkey intestines. Why? Because there was no money in the national treasury, and there was no money in the private treasury either!"

"What the Queen Mother said is true. The rice in Taicang can last for ten years, and the silver deposits exceed 20 million taels. It is all thanks to you, sir." Wanli nodded sincerely. His desire to escape from Zhang Juzheng's control did not conflict with his admiration for him. Just like a naughty child always loves and fears a strict class teacher.

"You can't take everything for granted just because the country is peaceful and the court is stable. Mr. Zhang will be gone for more than three years, and someone must take his place. What if another traitor like Gao Gong appears? You are still young, can you defeat him? If something goes wrong with the country, how will you explain to our ancestors of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Your Majesty is right, mother. I was wrong. We cannot let my husband do this. We have to make the decision to keep him." Wanli was still a mama's boy after all, and was finally persuaded by Empress Dowager Li.

"It's good that you know. Then quickly issue an edict to comfort Mr. Li." Empress Dowager Li urged.

"I understand." Wanli nodded, walked to the imperial desk, took the red brush from the eunuch, but could not finish his words: "But doesn't this violate the laws of our ancestors?"

"This..." Empress Dowager Li was stunned. In her opinion, her son became emperor because of his ancestors, and the laws established by his ancestors were naturally more important than anything else.

"Don't worry, Empress Dowager and Emperor, it's not unprecedented for a Grand Secretary to be reinstated after mourning." At this time, Feng Bao interrupted with a smile:

"In June of the sixth year of Yongle, Yang Rong was in mourning, and was reinstated in October; in January of the first year of Xuande, Grand Secretary Jin Youzi was in mourning, and was reinstated immediately; in August of the fourth year, Yang Pu was in mourning, and was reinstated immediately. In May of the fourth year of Jingtai, Wang Wen was in mourning, and was reinstated in September. In March of the second year of Chenghua, Li Xian was in mourning, and was reinstated in May. These are all the laws established by our ancestors."

Feng Bao obviously came prepared. After listing all the treasures, he continued, "Among these five ministers, Li Xian and Li Wenda are also the chief ministers. Moreover, in the second year of Chenghua, Emperor Xianzong Chun was already 21 years old. Even when there is an old ruler, the country still needs the chief minister to restore the emperor, let alone the emperor who is still young now?"

"That makes sense!" The Queen Mother nodded in agreement, looking at Feng Bao approvingly and said, "Eunuch Feng is indeed a cultured person. It would be better if you were not a eunuch."

"Your Majesty, you are too kind." Feng Bao smiled awkwardly, thinking that since I am not a eunuch, I cannot be the chief eunuch of the palace.

"My son, what else are you worried about?" Empress Dowager Li glanced at the emperor again.

"No more." Wanli shook his head quickly and wrote quickly on the yellow silk. Zhang Juzheng had taught him carefully for six years, so writing an imperial edict was no problem for him.

Then Feng Bao reminded him that according to the rules, officials in mourning had to submit their resignation to the Ministry of Personnel, so he should not deny this and approve that, which would cause confusion everywhere.

Wanli then wrote another imperial edict to the Ministry of Personnel:

"My Yuanfu was entrusted by my father to assist me when I was young and stabilize the country. I rely on him deeply. How can he leave me for a day? The father system should be observed, and the emperor and father are more important. If you are allowed to not attend the court after the 79th day, your department will go and inform you, and there is no need to resign."

As for the funeral gifts to the two palaces and the emperor, and all the honors for Zhang's father, they were naturally handled according to the highest standards and there is no need to elaborate.

~~

By this time it was already dark, and the imperial edict sent to the Ministry of Personnel could only wait until tomorrow. However, the Empress Dowager opened the palace gates and asked Feng Bao to go out of the palace in person to convey the imperial edict to Zhang Xianggong to stay and bring her love.

When Feng Bao arrived at Dashamao Hutong, he saw the entire hutong was covered in white, and had become a world of wreaths and mourning couplets. There were so many officials coming to pay their respects that there was no room for them in the front yard of the prime minister's residence, so they had to put them on the street...

What's even more outrageous is that it's already midnight, but the alley is still crowded with "filial sons and grandsons" in green clothes and ribbons.

Although everyone hoped that Mr. Zhang would leave as soon as possible, they also knew that he would come back again, so no one dared to neglect him.

It was mid-September and frost had already fallen in Beijing. The officials were wrapped in blankets, freezing like grandchildren. The sounds of sneezing and coughing were endless, but they all insisted on keeping vigil for the old emperor.

When they saw Eunuch Feng arriving with the imperial edict, the frozen quails quickly stood up and saluted.

"Good." Feng Bao wiped his eyes with satisfaction and said, "Everyone's feelings for Yuan Fu are so deep... You guys continue, I have to go in and pass on the imperial edict."

"Please come in, eunuch." The frozen quails hurriedly said goodbye, envious in their hearts. The respect that the emperor and the two concubines showed to Zhang Xianggong was unprecedented.

Fortunately, in the next three years, everyone no longer had to live under his shadow and could see the light of day again. So even though we were freezing and sleepy, everyone was still in a good mood...

Until they heard the eunuch Feng read the imperial edict to Zhang Xianggong, everyone immediately became nervous.

'Now that I know your father has passed away, I have been mourning for a long time. I wonder how you feel when you are so sad? However, you are sent by heaven, you are not an ordinary person. You personally accepted the trust of the late emperor and assisted me when I was young. You have helped the country to maintain peace and the world to be peaceful. You are the greatest loyalty and have rarely been seen since ancient times. Your father's spirit must be happy. Now you should think of me and suppress your grief to be a filial son. I am very lucky, and the world is very lucky!'

(End of this chapter)