Chapter 7 Chongzhen

  By around four o'clock in the afternoon, the evening court session came to an end.

  The imperial kitchen has already started preparing the imperial meal, and when someone from the Qianqing Palace comes to deliver the invitation, they happen to see Crown Prince Zhu Ciyan walking out of the deep palace gate with his hands behind his back.

  Behind Zhu Ciyan was a group of eastern officials who bid farewell with courtesy, the ministers stood sideways until Zhu Ciyan walked far away before turning around to leave.

  This day is well spent with both literary and military pursuits.

  "Look who's here, young master!"

  More than a hundred people suddenly knelt down in front of the hall, all with very respectful expressions.

  Only the eunuch from the Qianqing Palace stepped forward, bowed and smiled: "The emperor is in a good mood today, all the ladies are here, urging me to hurry you along."

  "Oh, okay, I know."

  Today is a rare occasion for Chongzhen to be happy, usually he eats in his own palace, and nine out of ten times he eats alone, rarely calling someone to serve him. Unless it's New Year's Day, the whole family will definitely eat together.

  Enter from the middle left gate and exit from the rear left gate. The Qianqing Palace, which is only slightly smaller than the Taihe Hall, comes into view.

  There are no tourists to be seen on the Qianqing Gate Square, and there is no sense of decline and dilapidation in later generations. The temple tiles are replaced at any time, the red walls are painted every year, and there is a kind of unspeakable majesty and beauty.

  Beyond the Gate of Supreme Harmony is where the inner court is located, and no longer can the shadows of the imperial guards be seen. Looking around, there are only eunuchs wearing green robes and white boots.

  "Get down from the sedan chair, young master!"

  When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, even the eunuchs who were usually calm and composed looked tense. As the sedan chair was about to stop in front of the palace gate, everyone quickly helped Zhu Ciyan down from it.

  Standing still, Zhu Ciyan also couldn't help but straighten his waist before taking steps to climb the stairs and head towards the Qianqing Palace.

  The Palace of Heavenly Purity is very large... This magnificent inner palace was built in the 12th year of Yongle, and its foundation is connected to the Taihe Temple and the Kun Ning Temple. The temple is nine bays wide and five bays deep, with a high and majestic two-story building on the white marble base of the Danbi Platform. The surroundings are decorated with pairs of bronze cranes, turtles, tripods, etc.

  The main hall is divided into a bright room and a warm pavilion. The bright room has a golden stage, on which there is a gold-lacquered chair. In front of the chair, a wide, thick, and sturdy desk is placed.

  Behind the throne hangs a plaque with four large characters that read "Respect Heaven and Ancestor".

  Zhu Ciwen saw it and felt deeply moved. This plaque was replaced with the four characters "Zheng Da Guang Ming" during the Qing dynasty.

  The plaque in front of us was replaced in the first year of Chongzhen, and it is dignified and majestic, with a strong and powerful atmosphere.

  This was written by Gao Shiming, the eunuch who served as the master of ceremonies at that time. As a eunuch from the Neishu Hall, he indeed had some skills and his handwriting was not bad.

  The couplets on both sides of the plaque are written in Chongzhen's own handwriting. One side reads: "Human heart is only anxious, moral heart is only subtle." The other side reads: "Only refined, only one, allowed to grasp the middle."

  This was where Chongzhen held daily office hours and met with his eunuchs.

  When Zhu Ciyan came in, the "Mingjian" of the Qianqing Palace was already crowded with people. Chongzhen, wearing a dark blue changshan and a warm hat on his head, also smiled at Zhu Ciyan.

  Zhu Youjian stepped forward and paid his respects to Chongzhen: "Your son pays homage to the Emperor."

  They were like family father and son, so Zhu Ciyan only needed to go forward and kneel down, without waiting for orders, and then stood up by himself.

  After he came to, he saw Chongzhen no more than three times, two of which were when he was not clear-headed and in a state of madness. At that time, he just caught a glimpse of a man in his thirties who hastily came and went, without taking a closer look.

  Now it's possible to take a closer look.

  Chongzhen was wearing a regular court dress, a yellow wing-shaped hat decorated with Dongzhu golden threads, which looked very beautiful.

  He wore a dark blue dragon robe with gold thread embroidery of dragons on the chest and shoulders, followed by jade belt and leather boots.

  The emperor's attire was a masterpiece of handmade craftsmanship at that time, with an exceptionally beautiful and majestic appearance, yet without losing its delicate and exquisite details.

  From crown to robe, all are impeccable works of art.

  However, there are obvious flaws on this artwork: under the hem of Chongzhen's dragon robe, there are two very noticeable patch marks.

  "It... someone said Chongzhen's clothes were patched up, looks like it's true."

  Although his clothes and hat were beautiful, they could not conceal the worried look on Chongzhen's face.

  This emperor, from the moment he ascended to the throne, was extremely hardworking, diligent in handling government affairs, adhering to the regular court system, treating the Donglin ministers with courtesy, restraining the eunuchs, abolishing the tax and mining supervisors... He did everything that needed to be done, but now, the signs of a dying nation are clear, and the disaster of collapse is already looming before his eyes. Chongzhen was worried and anxious every day, he was only thirty-three years old, with large patches of white hair on his temples, and deep wrinkles on his face, occasionally revealing a sorrowful expression, or letting out a low sigh for no reason.

  "It seems you've recovered well, I'm too busy, take care of yourself and focus on recuperating."

  When Zhu Ciyan got up, Chongzhen gave orders very casually.

  "Yes, I, your son, will never let you worry again, Father."

  "Hmm." Chongzhen nodded and said, "Recently your writings have been quite good, the officials often mention them and praise your great progress. I am very pleased! I heard that you still practice physically every day?"

  "The son respectfully admires the Emperor Father and wishes to follow the example of the Emperor Father, with both literature and martial arts being important."

  Chongzhen thought he was a godly and martial sage, but the praise of his ministers didn't count for much. Now that state affairs were declining like a river flowing downhill, he rarely heard words like "sagely ruler" or "restoration".

  It was he himself who feared that the two words "Zhong Xing" had already become extremely difficult to hear as a taunt!

  But in any case, it is still pleasant to hear such words spoken by one's own child.

  Chongzhen smiled and said: "My son has recently spoken quite reasonably, I suppose it's because of his illness, he suddenly enlightened like Bodhi."

  The emperor rarely told jokes, and the people in the hall also followed with a smile.

  Zhu Ciyan said, "Your son has recently made progress in reading books and often reads the newspaper. The military situation on the front lines is all in my heart. Therefore, I wish to practice riding, shooting, and sword fighting, please grant me permission, Your Majesty."

  "Huh?" A hint of surprise flashed in Chongzhen's eyes, roughly because he hadn't expected that this previously mediocre and fortunate son would actually have such ambitious thoughts.

  He felt joyful in his heart, stood up, put his hands behind him and turned around the imperial desk, finally revealing a smile on his face.

  Seeing him like this, Zhou Hou and Yuan Fei also had a smile on their faces.

  After a week, he was overjoyed and felt that his efforts of more than ten years had not been in vain as he looked at his son.

  Zhaoren and Changping, the two princesses, one leaning against Empress Zhou's back, the other lying in her arms. Changping smiled with pursed lips, her starry eyes fixed on her brother. Zhaoren was still young, but she also knew that Crown Prince Zhu had won great favor from their father, and her big round eyes stared at Zhu Ciyan, her small apple-like face full of smiles.

  Ding, Yong'er Wang and Huang Wu Zi Zhu Ci Huan were all standing respectfully by the side. Chongzhen looked at them, raised his hand and pointed to Zhu Ci Huan, smiling: "Look at your elder brother, this is what it means to be a good example. You all studied together with him, now he wants to learn martial arts, choose a teacher, I have agreed, you should also strive to keep up, as princes, you should originally be well-versed in both literature and martial arts, that's how your grandfather taught me!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  The three princes all bowed respectfully and hastily nodded in response.

  "I am very pleased in my heart." Chongzhen also looked at the concubines, princes and princesses with a sense of nostalgia. It was rare for them to gather together like this, and his face was filled with smiles. However, he had always been introverted by nature, so although he was happy, he didn't say much more. He simply waved his sleeve and ordered: "Serve the meal, I've finished eating, and I still have to attend to state affairs and review memorials!"