Chapter 184: Proclaimed to the World

After Zhu Youxiao's words fell, the ministers below exchanged glances, standing somewhat stiffly in place.

For a moment, these ministers had no idea how to find their footing. Because they didn't know whether their Son of Heaven's words about suspending palace construction were meant to test their attitudes and force them to pick sides, or whether His Majesty genuinely meant what he said.

Without confirming the Emperor's stance, the ministers present truly didn't know how to choose — if they chose wrong, the consequences were not something they could bear.

Especially Cui Chengxiu and his ilk — they had always based their rhetoric and actions on Zhu Youxiao's thinking. Before figuring out the Emperor's intentions, they truly didn't dare open their mouths, because Xu Guangqi's identity was simply too special.

Everyone present knew Xu Guangqi's identity. Xu Guangqi had originally been unremarkable — not a major minister at court, his status not high. It was His Majesty who had personally promoted him. In other words, Xu Guangqi was His Majesty's confidant.

An opinion raised by one of His Majesty's confidants was usually something His Majesty wanted done — everyone just needed to support it.

But this time was different from before. This was clearly Xu Guangqi pressuring His Majesty — something only the Donglin Faction had done in the past. What was Xu Guangqi trying to do?

All at once, everyone felt uncertain, and no one dared to speculate recklessly.

So the court fell into a brief silence. Many people turned their gazes toward the several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat, wanting to see what they would say.

This was also the aftereffect of several previous incidents — the ministers at court no longer dared to speak freely.

Of course, not all ministers dared not speak — Sun Chengzong, for instance.

Sun Chengzong didn't know about this matter, because too little time had passed and no one in the palace had leaked information outward. So Sun Chengzong didn't know that Xu Guangqi had already proposed this suggestion to Zhu Youxiao before the court session.

But now, after hearing Xu Guangqi's suggestion, Sun Chengzong felt that requesting His Majesty to suspend palace construction was a good thing.

The court had no money — this was something everyone present knew.

Liaodong was at war, famines were widespread across the realm, and the court had countless places needing expenditure. If palace construction could be temporarily halted and the Emperor could use that money elsewhere, it would hardly be a bad thing.

Compared to the others, Sun Chengzong didn't overthink it. He stepped forward and declared in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, your minister believes this move is most excellent."

"Such an act lets the world know of Your Majesty's benevolence and love for the people, and can also ease the court's fiscal strain — it is a matter that kills two birds with one stone."

"It is only that Your Majesty will be put out. We ministers feel ashamed in our hearts. Once the court's finances ease, we will surely rebuild Your Majesty's palaces splendidly."

After Sun Chengzong stepped forward, many ministers, as if suddenly enlightened, immediately knew the direction to take.

This was a suggestion raised by Xu Guangqi, and His Majesty's teacher Sun Chengzong had taken the lead in endorsing it — so there shouldn't be any great danger. Thus many more people stepped forward to voice their agreement.

"Your Majesty, your minister believes this move is most excellent!"

"Your minister seconds the motion!"

Especially Cui Chengxiu — he stepped forward and said with great emotion: "Your Majesty's move is one of great righteousness and love for the people. If the common folk of the realm learn of this, they will surely be filled with gratitude and bathe in Your Majesty's imperial grace."

"With such a measure, Your Majesty may surpass all past sovereigns above, and serve as a model for future emperors below — truly a blessing for ten thousand generations!"

This bout of flattery was so shameless that everyone couldn't bear to look, and even Zhu Youxiao gave Cui Chengxiu a few extra glances.

Not because Zhu Youxiao thought Cui Chengxiu spoke poorly, nor because he found the flattery too nauseating — but because he felt Cui Chengxiu had spoken extremely well.

He truly hadn't misused Cui Chengxiu — the man had good judgment, and the court needed talent like this!

Zhu Youxiao's purpose in doing this was precisely to build his reputation. So Cui Chengxiu's flattery was a good thing for him.

After all, did everyone know how many emperors got their good reputations?

They were built up — hard-blown into existence by certain people. For instance, there was a rather famous "Ten-Perfect Old Man" in later ages — that was thoroughly blown up by himself and his ministers. In comparison, the Ten-Perfect Old Man was far inferior to his old man.

So Zhu Youxiao needed such ministers by his side, and Cui Chengxiu had that potential.

Thus the entire court took on a bandwagoning air. Many people began imitating Cui Chengxiu and flattering His Majesty, the flattery flying thick and fast.

"Your Majesty is truly the foremost emperor in a thousand ages!"

"A model for ten thousand generations!"

If Zhu Youxiao hadn't known in advance what he was doing, he might have thought they were going to blow him up into the greatest emperor ever.

"Enough. I have merely done what an emperor ought to do." Zhu Youxiao suppressed his laughter inwardly, waved his hand to cut off their flattery, and said: "Yesterday, when Xu Guangqi spoke these words, the Empress was also present. After returning to the inner palace, the Empress admonished me at length, even saying she was willing to reduce the inner palace's expenditures. I was very pleased to hear this. To have such a worthy Empress — my heart is greatly comforted."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao suddenly said: "Read it!"

Chen Hong, standing to one side, immediately understood. He quickly stepped forward and unfurled an imperial edict.

Seeing this scene, the ministers understood — so His Majesty had already made preparations in advance. At the same time, they inwardly rejoiced that they hadn't stepped forward to oppose just now.

So the ministers, led by the several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat, all knelt down, preparing to hear this imperial edict.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Since the Three Sovereigns ruled the world and the Five Emperors took their turns, since Yao and Shun took their rightful thrones and Yu and Tang brought peace to the people — emperors shepherd the people as the foundation of the state. Since the Grand Ancestor achieved his great enterprise, fixed the capital in the Central Plains, and received the mandate of Heaven, he became the Son of Heaven; the throne has passed through fifteen sovereigns, enjoying the state's mandate for over two hundred years."

"Now it has passed to me. Ascending the throne in youth, I tread as if on thin ice, fearing to fail the trust of the late emperors. I ought to embody Heaven's virtue of loving life, extend grace to all things; when the sovereign is wise, his ministers rise to the occasion, and court and countryside work as one."

"Now Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat Xu Guangqi, reflecting my heart above and cherishing the common folk below, has offered remonstrance to me. Emperor Taizong of Tang once said: using bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's attire; using the past as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of dynasties; using people as a mirror, one can perceive one's gains and losses. Looking across the wise sovereigns of antiquity, not one failed to know men and accept remonstrance — I wish to emulate them."

"All palace construction shall cease; the surplus materials shall all be handed over to the Ministry of Works, to be used for water conservancy projects across the realm, helping the people increase their harvests. Now I proclaim to all the people of Great Ming: from this day forward, so long as any person of Great Ming lacks a settled dwelling, I will never build a new palace."

"This word is witnessed by Heaven and Earth, and supervised by all ministers. By imperial order."

After hearing Zhu Youxiao's edict, everyone was struck speechless.

Originally everyone had thought His Majesty would merely agree to Xu Guangqi's suggestion — that alone would have been a remarkable act.

They never expected His Majesty to go even harder — proclaiming to the world that so long as any person of Great Ming lacked a dwelling, His Majesty would not build a new palace.

The moment these words came out, someone immediately sensed something was wrong — among them, Xu Guangqi.

Xu Guangqi hastily said: "Your Majesty, although the court's finances are strained, once the court's coffers are comfortable, Your Majesty's palaces must certainly be rebuilt. Your Majesty's palaces are the prestige of Great Ming. This move is improper — your minister begs Your Majesty to rescind the order."

After Xu Guangqi spoke, the others all spoke up as well, loudly saying: "We beg Your Majesty to rescind the order."

Glancing at Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao didn't know whether those words came from the heart or were said with other considerations.

But it no longer mattered — Xu Guangqi's words had been perfectly spoken, with impeccable timing and measure.

Zhu Youxiao directly stood up, and said with a grave expression: "I ascended the throne in my youth, relying on the loyal and upright ministers of this court to assist me. Yet the court is riddled with accumulated ills, the state's coffers are insufficient, the people suffer beyond words, border soldiers die in foreign lands, and court ministers exhaust themselves within — how could I bear to build my own new palace?"

"My mind is made up. You shall all follow the edict and act accordingly — speak no more of this."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao did not sit back down. He stood there quietly, expressionless, gazing at all the ministers.

Seeing that they still hadn't accepted the edict, Zhu Youxiao said loudly: "Do you intend to defy the imperial order?"

After hearing these words, everyone still didn't know how to respond.

But the several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat spoke up: "We ministers accept the edict."

With the Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat taking the lead, the others knew what to do, and hastily bowed, saying: "We ministers accept the edict."

After hearing them say this, Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction, sat back down on his dragon throne, and said with a gentle smile: "This imperial edict shall be proclaimed to the world, transmitted to all government offices throughout the realm, and let every office spread it among the people. I want the people of the world to know that I care for them."

"Your subjects obey the decree." Everyone answered once again.

This matter was bound to be proclaimed to the world, so that everyone would know. He believed the ministers would spare no effort, because this time it was something they had accomplished together.

Because of the earlier affairs, the remaining officials at court did not have a very good reputation among the scholarly circles and the common folk either, and this time was also an opportunity for them to polish their own prestige.

With such a good opportunity presented to them, they naturally would not let it pass.

"If there is nothing else, then we shall end the court session." Zhu Youxiao stood up with a smile and walked out toward the back.

Listening to the sound of kowtowing behind him, Zhu Youxiao felt that it seemed considerably louder than the kowtows at the end of several previous court sessions, and so his steps became even lighter.

In fact, Zhu Youxiao could roughly understand that the ministers at court had somewhat changed their impression of His Majesty.

Over the previous period, the atmosphere at court had been far too tense, leaving many ministers at a loss for how to conduct their affairs. They did not even dare to speak up about anything, afraid that this Emperor might implicate them.

If this continued for long, it would form a prevailing attitude—that doing more meant making more mistakes, doing less meant making fewer mistakes, and doing nothing meant making no mistakes at all—thereby tipping the atmosphere at court toward the other extreme. This was something Zhu Youxiao would absolutely never permit.

After returning to Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao did not linger for long, but instead went to Kunning Palace to see Empress Zhang.

Zhu Youxiao wanted to discuss this matter with Empress Zhang, because someone would soon be singing her praises, and he needed to prepare her for it.

Of course, this was not the main matter, but rather a side issue.

After this affair, the situation at court had finally stabilized. The ministers could now devote themselves to their work, and he did not need to stir up any more trouble at court for the time being.

The main reason Zhu Youxiao was going to Kunning Palace this time was to begin preparing his next move.