Chapter 13: The Boring Morning Meeting

  On August 26th, Emperor Taichang once again issued an edict, summoning the officials from yesterday to the Qianqing Palace.

  The body of Emperor Taichang seems to have become even weaker, and he needs two people to support him when walking. The officials in the grand hall are all sighing in their hearts, thinking that His Majesty is really not going to make it. Looking at the crown prince standing beside Emperor Taichang, the officials know that this child will probably become a young emperor soon. However, they don't know if this emperor will be like the previous ones, doing nothing. In all dynasties, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty have the lowest quality, and it's not clear if it's because Zhu Yuanzhang's genetic inheritance is poor.

  With that classic "The Emperor has arrived", the ministers once again knelt down to pay their respects. After everyone stood up, no one spoke, and the entire hall fell silent once again.

  The Taichang Emperor glanced at the ministers below and let out a soft sigh. At this moment, the emperor's mood was not very good. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "My dear officials, you have worked hard for so many years, I don't know how your lives are now? Are they going well? How is your health?"

  The Emperor Taichang asked a series of questions, leaving all the officials in the great hall speechless. No one knew which play he was referring to and they looked at each other in dismay.

  The Emperor Taichang did not speak, but instead looked at the Grand Secretary Fang From Philosophy and said: "Fang Ai Qi, you say something!"

  In this way, the Taichang Emperor chatted idly with each of his ministers about their daily lives. By the time he had asked after everyone's well-being, an hour had passed. The ministers were all exhausted and stumbling about, some of the older ones barely able to stand upright.

  Subconsciously, Ye Xiang touched his sore calf and couldn't help but glance at Emperor Taichang. For that woman, his nominal father had truly gone all out. But her Dream White was done, and you, Emperor Taichang, also can't achieve it. When I take the throne, I'll take back what I've lost.

  The Taichang Emperor seemed to have said enough of these polite words, at this time his face was even more unsightly, and sweat had even flowed out on his face, looking very painful.

  After taking the tea handed over by the eunuch and drinking a mouthful, he seemed to be slightly better. Emperor Taichang spoke: "My son is still young, I really can't put my heart at ease. Now that my body is in this state, if something unexpected happens, I'm afraid I'll let down our ancestors!" As he said this, Emperor Taichang glanced at the crown prince in front of him, and a hint of affection flashed in his eyes, but was quickly replaced by determination.

  But the many officials who heard Emperor Taichang's words were extremely excited, especially those with high enough status. They had been through a lot and once the emperor spoke like this, it meant that the emperor's body was really not good. And there was another more important point, which was the regent.

  It is well known that every emperor before his death will arrange his own posthumous affairs to avoid major turmoil in the country. For those who inherit at a young age, there is one very important thing: appointing a regent minister. Such regent ministers, although many were eventually purged, left behind an immortal name in history. The closest among them was Zhang Juzheng, the chief assistant of the Grand Secretariat. Although many people say that Zhang Juzheng abused power and misled the country, many others want to become someone like him, whether for power or to fulfill their ambitions.

  When Zhang Ju was alive, it was glorious and can be described as "powerful in the court". This is the dream of every Wen Chen. However, if the emperor is wise, those ministers who were not cleared up will all become marquises and chancellors, with unparalleled wealth and honor.

  In the great Ming dynasty, there was a group of people who were the most envied and hated. They were the princes and nobles who had been granted titles. The ministers who followed Zhu Di to suppress the rebellion were all extremely wealthy and powerful, although many of them no longer held actual power or positions. However, they still commanded respect and awe from others. As long as they were not accused of treason, these people would never be imprisoned, for they were considered to be on the same level as the emperor himself.

  Although every Wen Chen mentions these honors with a disdainful expression, few people can get such wealth and honor.

  All the ministers were excited, and everyone looked at Emperor Taichang with hope. At this time, Emperor Taichang was a promising future in their eyes.

  Looking at the ministers below, Emperor Taichang gently stroked the dragon head in his hand. This position was so enchanting that he had not had enough of it. However, heaven did not give him this opportunity, and his life was not long. He let out a soft sigh and said slowly: "My imperial son is still young, once I have an accident, I really can't put my mind at ease."

  The Taichang Emperor continued, "So I want to find someone to assist my son. What are your thoughts, my ministers?"

  All the ministers immediately knew the emperor's thoughts, which were exactly as they had guessed. The body of Fang Zhenru, the chief assistant, was trembling constantly. He, who had originally prepared to retire and return home, was now unwilling to do so. If he could become a regent minister, he would certainly be able to make his name shine in history.

  Upon hearing Emperor Taichang's words, all the officials knelt down and chorused in unison: "Long live Your Majesty!"

  When everyone stood up, Emperor Taichang nodded in satisfaction and said excitedly: "Li Xuan is my most beloved woman. Although she has no son, she gave birth to a daughter for me. I want to make her a noble concubine, hand over the throne to her, with the assistance of all you loving officials, it should be fine."

  As soon as the words of Emperor Taichang came out, the ministers below were stunned and collectively stunned. The first assistant minister, Fang Congzhe, even shook violently for a few times, almost falling to the ground. Giving a big hope, but then instantly shattering it, this is indeed somewhat cruel.

  At this time, Ye Xiang stood on the grand hall, looking at the expressions of the ministers below, and a cold smile in his heart. You think it's too simple. The three most unreliable emperors in the Ming Dynasty, Wanli, Taichang, and Tianqi, also ended the Jiang Dynasty of the Great Ming.

  The Taichang Emperor found it strange that his ministers, who had just been so enthusiastic, were now silent.

  All the ministers understood that, whether it was the seemingly caring family talk or the recent inquiry, they were all for one purpose, Li Xuan's servant girl. The emperor really went to great lengths for this woman, but these ministers all knew what this meant: the emperor was young and had a woman by his side.

  If this woman were the emperor's biological mother, these ministers would not be able to rest easy, but that was something none of them could change. Even if they did not agree now, once the new emperor ascended to the throne, he would still promote his own mother to empress dowager, which no one could stop. At that time, all these ministers would have to constantly guard against the empress dowager's abuse of power; in history, Empress Lü, Empress Dowager Cixi, and China's only female emperor Wu Zetian - which one did not kill a large number of civil officials when they rose to power?