Chapter 888: Give My Brother a Merit

Zhu Qiyu widened his eyes in disbelief: "This—how could this happen?"

Pan Yun stared straight into his eyes and sighed softly.

Why wouldn't it?

The practice of human sacrifice—since the fourth century BCE, Confucius had advocated abolishing it; during the Warring States period, Duke Xian of Qin led the way in eliminating it from state policy.

For the next thousand years, though private殉葬 persisted despite repeated bans, every dynasty officially maintained a stance of prohibition.

Who knew that two thousand years later, Zhu Yuanzhang would revive it on a grand scale, reinstating the practice of live burial within the imperial family, overturning all the efforts of past sages to suppress it.

As the emperor acted, so did the people: private殉葬 of wives and concubines, and the cult of chastity, surged among the populace, and the imperial court followed by erecting countless chastity arches.

But whoever this befalls, whoever suffers—it breaks their heart.

Pan Yun said calmly: "If it were Consort Wu Xian and the future princess who were to be sacrificed, would Your Highness feel rage?"

Zhu Qiyu's expression shifted slightly—the future princess was naturally his daughter, and Consort Wu Xian was his own mother.

Merely imagining it, Zhu Qiyu's heart clenched in agony, filled with fury.

Pan Yun said: "Even as a hypothetical, you're visibly enraged—how much more so for the ministers? Their sisters and daughters have lived under this threat since the Hongwu era; don't they harbor resentment?"

"There are truly few people in this world cold enough to trade the lives of loved ones for wealth and power," Pan Yun said, "and as the emperor leads, so the people follow—over time, more and more commoners have imitated the imperial practice of live-burying wives, daughters, and servants; all these sins will be laid at the feet of your Zhu clan."

Zhu Qiyu was shaken—he was easily influenced, prone to putting himself in others' shoes.

Once Pan Yun presented her example, Zhu Qiyu understood.

He grew restless, eager to abolish the practice immediately: "If the宗人府 opposes, what should I tell them?"

Pan Yun: "Why care what they say? Your Highness—you are the Emperor."

Zhu Qiyu's eyes brightened slightly, gaining a new confidence.

He lowered his gaze, thought for a moment, then raised his head, resolute.

Zhu Qiyu hurriedly left.

Pan Yun watched him depart.

Zhu Qiyu moved swiftly—he had barely left Pan Yun's side when he summoned Yu Qian, Chen Xun, and other ministers, and wept openly before them.

Yu Qian: …

The ministers: …

They assumed Zhu Qiyu had broken under the Empress Dowager's pressure; Cao Nai and others held their breath—until Zhu Qiyu began recalling the past.

He chiefly recalled the benevolence, voice, and smile of the late Emperor, and his correspondence with the former Zhou Wang.

The ministers were no fools; at first puzzled, but when he mentioned the former Zhou Wang, they instantly understood.

Was the new Emperor unwilling to let Empress Qian and others be sacrificed? Was he seeking a special pardon?

The ministers relaxed, waiting for him to propose it so they could agree.

They weren't monsters—why would they hesitate? If the imperial family proposed it, they'd agree! But… why weren't any members of the imperial clan present?

What use was their approval?

As they wondered, Zhu Qiyu revealed his purpose through tears: "My elder brother long intended to abolish human sacrifice, but since it touched ancestral custom, he wished to proceed gradually. Yet now he has passed, and his bond with Empress was deep—how could he bear to see her sacrificed? So I intend to honor his final wish, and abolish the practice in his name. If the ancestors disapprove, let them blame me alone. What do you all think?"

The ministers were stunned—abolish it outright? Yu Qian reacted fastest; after a moment of shock, he knelt instantly, bowing respectfully: "Your Majesty is wise! The late Emperor was benevolent!"

The other ministers snapped out of their shock and followed suit, kneeling in unison: "Your Majesty is wise! The late Emperor was benevolent!"

Among them were men whose daughters or sisters were among the concubines on the sacrifice list; as soon as they finished, tears streamed down their faces as they slammed their heads against the floor before Zhu Qiyu.

Zhu Qiyu saw this and felt overwhelming turmoil—Pan Yun had been right. The ministers had suffered under this system for years. Then, was the world, as Pan Yun had said, filled with countless innocent deaths due to ancestral custom? Zhu Qiyu's toes curled into the ground, his face flushed, his heart pounding—ashamed before the people, ashamed before his ancestors.

To issue such an edict—wasn't it a denial of his ancestors?

His ancestors weren't just his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—they included the founding Emperor and Emperor Taizong; his reverence for them was as boundless as the Yellow River. To overturn ancestral custom, even for the sake of the realm, filled him with profound shame.

Fortunately, Chen Xun quickly recovered and asked: "Shall we issue the edict in the late Emperor's name?"

Zhu Qiyu murmured "Mm," hinting: "This was my elder brother's final wish. I am the one defying heaven and violating ancestral law."

Meaning: the merit belongs to the late Emperor; the blame falls on him.

At that moment, Zhu Qiyu's heart was full of Zhu Qizhen's kindness to him—the two brothers had never endured the imperial power struggles of another world; he was simply a devoted younger brother.

His brother was dead; he could not bear to let him bear a bad reputation.

In truth, he wasn't fond of the posthumous title the ministers had drafted—he wanted to give his brother a better one.

The ministers instantly understood.

In special times, decrees were issued through special channels, at special speed.

The ministers, fearing imperial clan obstruction, consulted Zhu Qiyu on details, then immediately drafted the edict.

Zhu Qiyu went to find the Empress Dowager, informed her of the matter, and said: "My elder brother was benevolent. The ministers all feel that though the personal campaign was unfavorable, he ascended the throne as a child and worked diligently for ten years—his merits outweigh his faults. They will draft a new posthumous title for him."

Empress Dowager Sun froze. The anger long etched on her brow faded, grief softening: "They say the late Emperor's merits outweigh his faults?"

Zhu Qiyu bowed his head: "Yes."

Empress Dowager Sun's shoulders slumped slightly, a faint, bitter smile on her lips: "Of course—abolishing human sacrifice… but…"

She murmured: "Won't he be lonely down there? Could we delay the edict until after the palace sacrifices are completed?"

Zhu Qiyu's face darkened: "Mother, my elder brother's posthumous title will be decided within two days. If… if we proceed with live burials now, won't it offend Heaven? Moreover, this truly was his final wish—he loved Empress deeply; had he known, he would have wished her to live."

Empress Dowager Sun snapped: "The Empress certainly need not die, but Consort Liu and Consort Zhou—your brother especially favored them, especially Consort Liu. I saw how much he loved her, even more than the Empress. She herself wishes to die with him…"

Zhu Qiyu clenched his fist slightly. After putting himself in others' shoes and witnessing the ministers' tears, he knew some things could no longer be taken at face value.

Who knew if Consort Liu truly wished to die—or was forced?

Fearing this would harm the state's fortune, he whispered: "This has not been approved by the imperial clan. If we now allow the young consorts to be sacrificed, the edict will be meaningless—it will undermine the court's authority. My elder brother's merit will be greatly diminished."

He said: "Since we've made our decision, no one in the palace must be sacrificed—not only must we prevent it, we must stop those who harbor death wishes. We must not allow any sacrifice."

Zhu Qiyu grew more confident with each word, lifting his head slightly, finally daring to meet the Empress Dowager's gaze: "Mother, I will sincerely pray for my elder brother, with the nation's prayers—he will be well. He has our Empress Dowager and Father to care for him."

Empress Dowager Sun stood frozen, locked in silent gaze with Zhu Qiyu. Long moments passed. Finally, she nodded: "Fine."

Zhu Qiyu knew the Empress Dowager had been won over here, and bowing deeply, said solemnly, "I entrust this matter entirely to you, Mother."

This meant the Empress Dowager was to keep watch over the people of the inner palace — not a single one could die — and carry out this decree to solidify the late Emperor's accomplishments.

Empress Dowager Sun agreed, and at once summoned her trusted confidants.