Chapter 189

These words were spoken.

Liang Chu led the hundred officials in a loud, unified cry:

"Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Son of Heaven, long live, long live ten thousand times!"

Amidst the hundred officials' thunderous cries of "Long live Your Majesty,"

the carriage traveled south all the way,

heading straight for the capital.

This journey left Jiajing, a shut-in who hadn't left the inner palace in decades, thoroughly shaken.

Fortunately, the Great Ming Son of Heaven guards the national gate; the capital is not far from Xuanfu.

In less than two days, Jiajing's carriage had already arrived at the capital.

Sitting in meditation inside the carriage, Jiajing heard the street vendors' cries, and a trace of weariness involuntarily appeared on his face.

People of later generations all know that Zhu Houzhao was the number one only son in history.

Yet Jiajing was actually the only son of the Prince of Xing.

These two brothers, both only sons in their families, had personalities almost diametrically opposite.

Jiajing was extremely fond of quiet.

While the Zhu Houzhao on the other end seemed as if he had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Gu Dayong, driving the carriage ahead, secretly glanced back at the "Zhu Houzhao" sitting behind him.

It was as if he had bumped into a ghost.

Could it be that the Emperor lost his soul on the grasslands during this trip?

When the carriage entered Wumen,

Gu Dayong looked at Jiajing cautiously and asked,

"Your Majesty, we are returning to the palace. Shall we go to the Report Room, or...?"

Jiajing, sitting in meditation with his eyes closed, spoke in a low voice:

"Report... oh, go to the Western Garden. I am used to living there."

The secluded places of Jiajing and Zhu Houzhao, though their names differed greatly, were actually the same location.

Hearing this,

Gu Dayong finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He gave Zhang Yong, who was following beside the carriage, an affirmative look.

The Emperor still does not wish to return to the palace!

This is still our Emperor!

Yet before Gu Dayong could rejoice for long,

he heard Jiajing speak in a low voice:

"How much state business has accumulated in the court during these days?"

"Bring it over; I will review and approve it all at once."

"Summon the Grand Councilors to the Report Room to await orders."

These words were spoken.

Gu Dayong's face instantly turned deathly pale.

It's over.

The Emperor's soul has truly been lost.

He is actively requesting to read and approve memorials!

Not only is he reviewing memorials,

he even allows the Grand Councilors to enter the Report Room!

Then why build this Report Room at all?

We could have just returned directly to the palace!

Shortly after, inside the Report Room,

Zhang Yong and Gu Dayong walked up carrying two large stacks of memorials.

Under the gaze of the two,

this "Young Son of Heaven" immediately began to peruse the memorials before him.

Jiajing ordered people to bring three trays.

The first tray contained miscellaneous matters reported from various regions, such as how many days it rained last month.

The middle tray held the memorials that Jiajing had kept within.

Only the last tray remained empty until now.

Finally,

as Gu Dayong and Zhang Yong nearly witnessed with their own eyes the "Zhu Houzhao" seem to brighten with excitement,

he picked up a stack of memorials.

Zhu Houcong, having picked up the memorials, held them as if they were a precious treasure.

He immediately initiated a video call within the chat group.

After receiving Zhu Houcong's video call invitation,

the various Emperors directly joined in.

Jiajing was seen slowly rising to his feet and saying leisurely,

"Summon the Grand Councilors to enter the hall."

Gu Dayong and Zhang Yong dared not make the slightest mistake, following tightly behind Jiajing as they walked toward the distant front hall.

And once Jiajing stepped into the front hall,

he immediately saw his old acquaintance, Yang Tinghe.

Looking at Yang Tinghe before him,

Jiajing's lips curled upward slightly, in a way barely perceptible to others.

The two sides of the grand and tumultuous Great Ritual Debate of the Jiajing reign,

were none other than Jiajing and the Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe, father and son.

Jiajing and Yang Tinghe were considered old rivals.

Only this Jiajing was no longer the green youth who had just stepped out of the nest back then.

"Old subject Yang Tinghe pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Under Yang Tinghe's lead,

three Grand Secretaries and the six Ministers of the Ministries all bowed in unison.

Looking at the crowd before him,

"Alas..."

A sigh

echoed within the front hall.

Yang Tinghe and the others were left bewildered by Jiajing's sigh.

This young master,

surely he isn't brewing some mischief again?!

But what "Zhu Houzhao" said next made them even more doubt reality.

"I, the Emperor, am guilty."

Yang Tinghe / Liang Chu:?????

What is going on?

Did Your Majesty admit a mistake?

Did the sun rise from under the quilt today?!

Just as Yang Tinghe was shocked, Liang Chu immediately gave Yang Tinghe a secret glance.

Yang Tinghe then suddenly came to his senses.

He hurriedly clasped his hands and said,

"Your Majesty, to know one's error and correct it is a great virtue. If Your Majesty now has the will to govern with vigor, in time, the Great Ming can surely be restored to prosperity."

"As long as Your Majesty no longer indulges in pleasure, draws near to virtuous ministers, and stays far from petty men, this subject is willing to give his life for Your Majesty!"