Chapter 186: A Quick Plug for the Reader Group

A quick plug for the reader group

In this era, for any ordinary commoner family, a daughter's marriage was a momentous affair for both households—let alone the marriage of the reigning emperor's daughter, Princess Changping. Beyond the requisite Six Rites of the Western Zhou, the spectacle naturally had to be as lavish as possible.

Last year, the Chongzhen Emperor had confiscated the estates of a large batch of Donglin Faction members and locust-like merchants, so at present he was still relatively wealthy. His cheap daughter was only getting married once in this lifetime, so the standard naturally had to be higher—after all, he hadn't designated Zhang Huangyan as his son-in-law just to raise him like a breeding boar to play with birds all day.

The lad was a rare talent versed in both letters and arms, and would surely be sent out in the future to accomplish great things, so he naturally deserved to be treated well.

"Since ancient times, when the Son of Heaven married off a daughter, he did not personally preside over the wedding; a feudal prince of the same surname presided instead, hence the term 'princess.' The Tang dynasty still had feudal princes preside over weddings; only in the Song did this cease, with the wedding officiant merely presenting the betrothal documents at the Inner East Gate, meaning the Son of Heaven presided personally. The Ming followed this practice."

Although the Chongzhen Emperor had nearly lost his life last time when he was assassinated while showing off, at least the culprit Gong Dingzi had already been done to death by him. He now had the attitude of "once the scar heals, the pain is forgotten," and would not easily pass up other opportunities to show off.

Besides personally presiding over the wedding to show off, Wei Zaode—who had transformed from a Donglin Faction member into the Emperor's loyal lackey—was this time designated by the Chongzhen Emperor as the wedding officiant, responsible for all ceremonial matters of the wedding. This again set a precedent.

Besides carrying the blame for me, you also need to take the bullets for me—otherwise, what use is there in keeping you?

Such matters had always been handled by the presiding officials of the Ministry of Rites on the spot. After all, Wang Duo was the one specifically in charge of all internal and external ceremonial affairs. This time, having the dignified Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat personally serve as wedding officiant made many Donglin members smell something unusual.

This couldn't go on—if they let this fatuous ruler keep playing his games, wouldn't the court become the world of lackeys, with no place left for their great Donglin Faction?

Wei Zaode paid no attention to the colorful expressions on the faces of the various ministry officials around him. He had long since become unperturbed by the Emperor's behavior. Now, with a perfectly serious face, he called out on his own: "Divination performed, the oracle says auspicious. Your servant Wei Zaode respectfully announces the presentation of betrothal gifts."

Before his words had even faded, a group of young eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, under the direction and leadership of Li Fengxiang, Wang Dehua, and others, had prepared jade and silk, fine horses, and other items. Just as Wei Zaode finished his first proclamation, the eunuchs happened to walk out of the great hall.

He took the second proclamation from Cao Huachun's hands, cleared his throat, and said again: "His Majesty graciously bestows his daughter in marriage to Zhang Huangyan, son of Zhang Guizhang, Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice. Observing the rites of betrothal, your servant Wei Zaode presents jade, silk, and carriage horses as betrothal gifts."

In truth, while reciting this proclamation, Wei Zaode himself was also puzzled.

He had previously scoured the registry records of Zhang Huangyan's father, Zhang Guizhang, and found that the highest official position the Zhang family had ever held was a mere Vice Bureau Director of the fifth rank. When this was mentioned, quite a few people whispered among themselves, and some were even secretly laughing.

It was even more amusing when he called out Zhang Huangyan's name—the lad had no official position, had never served as an official, and had only recently passed the imperial examination to earn the juren degree. According to convention, Wei Zaode should have appended Zhang Huangyan's official title and background when announcing his name, but he had only called out the name itself, because the Zhang family was destitute and there was simply nothing worth announcing.

As for anything else, even if Wei Zaode wanted to forcibly add it, it wouldn't conform to ritual propriety.

"What a fine imperial son-in-law—a poor wretch of humble origins with no family standing. How on earth was he selected?" Among the crowd, Jia Kui, the Director of the Treasure Note Bureau under the Ministry of Revenue, said in a low voice, his words full of contempt.

Upon hearing this, Hu An, a Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Rites, gave a snort and said with a cold laugh: "What else could it be? Whatever the Emperor says goes. Can you or I control the Emperor?"

As he spoke, Hu An furtively glanced around, and only when he found no one nearby paying attention did he lean in and whisper: "Besides, is there anything this fatuous ruler wouldn't do? The rules of this Great Ming are nearly all ruined by him."

The Chongzhen Emperor, seated in the place of honor, seemed to suddenly notice something. Pointing ahead, he asked: "I see those two struggling to hold it in over there. What are they saying?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dehua went down to inquire a few questions. Learning the content of Jia Kui and Hu An's conversation from the agents, he reported it all verbatim, not missing a single word. After hearing it, the Chongzhen Emperor rose, interrupting the ceremonial proceedings, and bellowed:

"Jia Kui, Director of the Treasure Note Bureau! Hu An, Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Rites!"

"Your... your servant Jia Kui (Hu An) is here!" The officials' whispered murmurs vanished instantly. Looking at the Emperor who had risen, Jia Kui and Hu An both had guilty consciences; as they spoke, their eyes darted furtively, too cowardly to meet his gaze.

"I see you two struggling to hold it in. Go ahead and laugh—laughing will make you feel better!" The Chongzhen Emperor gave a cold smile and walked up to the two men.

"Your servant is guilty. Your servant should not have recklessly discussed the Imperial Son-in-law. Please punish your servant, Your Majesty." Jia Kui trembled all over, instantly realizing that those elusive agents had reported his words to the Emperor. With no thought of denying it, he confessed outright, hoping to beg for leniency.

Seeing Jia Kui cave so quickly, Hu An could hardly say anything else. Kneeling on the ground, he said:

"Your servant is also guilty. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, today is the wedding day of the Princess and the Imperial Son-in-law. In your servant's view, it would be best to spare these two men, so as to bring good fortune to the wedding." Wang Duo, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was the first to step forward and speak.

"I have an account to settle with you sooner or later." The Chongzhen Emperor glanced at him without acknowledging the gesture, then waved his hand and said: "I ought to have both of you beheaded directly, but considering that today is the Princess's wedding and it would be inauspicious to see blood, I will temporarily have you thrown into the Imperial Prison to answer for your crimes. Take them away."

As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor said to the side: "Li Ruolian, I'm handing these two criminals over to you. Interrogate them thoroughly for me."

"Your servant obeys the decree!" Li Ruolian immediately stepped forward. After speaking, he walked down and said in a low voice to an Embroidered Uniform Guard standing to one side: "Sun Guang, this Commander still needs to remain by His Majesty's side for protection. These two men are handed over to your Western Office. You know what to do, don't you?"

Sun Guang, the Superintendent of the Western Office of the Northern Bastille of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, glared with a pair of hawk-like eyes. Though his build was not particularly imposing, it was passable. Hearing these words, having served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years, he naturally understood what needed to be done. He immediately stepped forward in response and said in a sinister voice: "This subordinate understands. I guarantee these two will sign their confessions and never see the light of tomorrow's dawn!"

"Mm, go handle it."

Seeing that Sun Guang indeed had a hawk-like countenance, Jia Kui and Hu An finally knew fear. They began weeping and wailing as they begged for mercy: "Spare us, Your Majesty! Your servants are guilty! Your servants are guilty!"

"Your Majesty, please let your servants atone for their crimes with merit!"

"Your Majesty, spare us..."

Such scenes were commonplace for the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Sun Guang produced a wire ball from who knows where and, without a word, forcibly stuffed it into the mouths of Jia Kui and Hu An, leaving both their mouths bloody and mangled. Though they could no longer shout, they let out continuous miserable howls.

The other ministers all fell silent as cicadas in winter. None had expected the Chongzhen Emperor to show such disregard for sentiment on his own daughter's wedding day, completely ignoring ritual propriety and ancestral rules, directly ordering two ministers thrown into the Imperial Prison.

"What, do you think that just because I haven't made a move for some time, things won't be the same as last year?" The Chongzhen Emperor signaled Sun Guang to hurry and take the prisoners away. With a cold laugh, he swept his gaze across the assembled ministers, and every one of them started in fright wherever his eyes fell.

Walking as he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor said with a smile: "Let me tell you all right now—no matter when, this realm belongs to the Great Ming, belongs to me, the Emperor. It is not something your Donglin Faction can lay hands on or usurp."

"Zhang Huangyan is the Imperial Son-in-law I have personally designated. If anyone disagrees, step forward. I would rather stain this ground with blood and grant you a swift death, fulfilling your so-called reputation for righteousness!"