Chapter 18

"Master, Jiang Keqian is here; this servant has him waiting outside the hall."

Zhang Hong said softly by Zhu Yijun's side.

Zhu Yijun gave a hum: "Let him in."

He was burying his head in copying Daoist scriptures, looking very casual.

Just now, he learned that the Earl of Yutian's line is even more isolated than he imagined; even in the circle of nobility, they are not well-regarded.

The reason is none other than the roots buried by the Shizong Emperor.

When the Wuzong Emperor fell into the water and died extremely suddenly, leaving no son to succeed him, according to the ancestral instruction of "brother succeeds brother," the 14-year-old Prince of Xing's heir, Zhu Houcong—the later Shizong Jiajing Emperor—inherited the throne.

This matter of a vassal prince succeeding to the throne involved a sensitive issue.

By what legal system should the throne be continued?

Should Zhu Houcong be adopted into the main branch, or should the minor branch replace the main branch?

To put it more simply, who should the succeeding Zhu Houcong recognize as his father?

Some people's opinion was that, in order to show the continuation of the legal system, he should naturally recognize the Xiaozong Emperor as his father, and his biological father, the Prince of Xing, should be renamed "Imperial Uncle."

This was equivalent to adopting the Prince of Xing's only son, Zhu Houcong, to the Ming Xiaozong as his son, thereby formally becoming the younger brother of the Ming Wuzong, thus succeeding to the throne through "brother succeeds brother."

Those who held this opinion included the then-Senior Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe, and even the Empress Dowager in the inner palace.

Zhu Houcong naturally did not agree. Not only did he insist on refusing the Cabinet's proposal for him to enter the Wenhua Hall through the Dong'an Gate with the etiquette of an imperial son, on the grounds that "the imperial edict says I succeed to the throne as Emperor, not as an imperial son," but he also preferred to accept the petition outside the suburbs, forcing the Cabinet to bow their heads, and entered through the Great Ming Gate to ascend the throne directly in the Fengtian Hall.

After ascending the throne, he disregarded the opposition of court officials and posthumously honored his biological father, the Prince of Xing, as the Emperor of Xing, and his biological mother as the Empress Cixiao Xian.

He also moved the spirit tablet of the Emperor of Xing into the Taimiao, ranking it above the Ming Wuzong—and because the number of spirit tablets in the Taimiao was limited, the Shizong Emperor, in order to make room for his biological father, actually moved the Renzong Emperor's spirit tablet out of the Taimiao.

And the Empress Cixiao Xian, who was honored in this storm, was the older sister of Jiang Keqian's grandfather, his great-aunt.

The twists and turns of the "Great Rites Controversy" naturally did not stop at the succession of the ancestral temple.

It was mixed with the infighting of all parties, and even the number of court officials who were beaten to death for kneeling at the Left Shun Gate at that time reached more than ten.

The intensity of the situation cannot be fully recorded.

Regardless, although the Shizong Emperor finally honored Xiaozong as his father and Wuzong as his brother, in reality, the result of this uproar was that the minor branch seized the main branch.

The status of almost all the nobility of the main branch plummeted.

It can be said that the Shizong's maternal relatives, represented by the Earl of Yutian, were able to be enfeoffed by stepping on the bodies of the main branch's nobility.

With conflicts of interest and a sudden rise to power, it was inevitable that they would act recklessly.

Later, there were many daily occurrences of nobility acting arrogantly and slapping faces.

Because of these various historical problems, there were not a few nobles who added fuel to the fire when the Earl of Yutian's line was demoted.

After the decline, it was even more a case of "everyone kicks a fallen man."

It is no wonder that the Duke of Cheng pushed Jiang Keqian out.

Not well-regarded among civil officials and kicked while down by the nobility, his situation can be imagined.

Precisely because of this, with family wealth dangling in front and the Duke of Cheng driving from behind, he could be said to be unable to act on his own; aside from pledging loyalty to the imperial family, he had no other way out.

This naturally did not require Zhu Yijun to spend any effort to suppress him, and his attitude was naturally a bit casual.

Before long, a young man in his early twenties, wearing a flying-fish robe, followed Zhang Hong and stepped into the hall.

As soon as he entered the hall, he knelt down: "Subject Jiang Keqian pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yijun didn't even lift his head and continued copying the Daoist scriptures.

He spoke while multitasking: "What is the reason for Minister Jiang's visit?"

Jiang Keqian can write books, even if they are books on music theory, so he is certainly not a fool.

Hearing this, he immediately knew that this answer would determine the relationship between sovereign and subject.

Jiang Keqian buried his head extremely low and replied: "I have heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guard are the eyes and ears of the Son of Heaven."

"Now that the late Emperor has passed away and the heir is in court, I serve in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and am on duty in the Donggong; it is only right that I come to pay respects to Your Highness."

The Crown Prince asked why he came—was it on the orders of the Duke of Cheng, or for himself?

He answered without reservation: he obtained the opportunity from the Duke of Cheng and came voluntarily to offer his humble services.

For Jiang Keqian, there was no need to hesitate at all.

Not to mention that this was originally the Duke of Cheng's intention; taking a step back, even if the Duke of Cheng had other ideas, he would cast the Duke of Cheng aside and firmly cling to the new sovereign's thigh!

Whether the Earl of Yutian's line can be revitalized depends entirely on this; he has no other choice.

At that time, when Zhu Xixiao saw his dilemma, he repeatedly urged him, saying that this Crown Prince has a deep sense of strategy, and pledging loyalty will surely be rewarded.

Don't look at his reluctant appearance at the time; in fact, he had already decided in his heart that even if a pig were sitting on this throne, he would crawl over and flatter it until it was comfortable.

As long as there is a straw to save his life, he will firmly grasp it!

Sure enough, hearing this, Zhu Yijun smiled: "Minister, please rise! Since we are sovereign and subject, and also cousins, there is no need for the great kowtow in private."

The way he said this, it seemed as if it wasn't him who just made someone kneel to answer questions.

As for this kneeling ritual, throughout the dynasties of the Ming, it can be said to have been established and abolished, abolished and established.

Whether to kneel or stand in private depends on the preferences of the reigning emperor, and there are those who argue for each; the court officials don't really care either way.

Jiang Keqian breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and humbly declined: "Serving is my duty; I dare not claim kinship with Your Highness."

By generation, the late Emperor was of the same generation as him, so the Crown Prince should call him "Uncle."

He would have to be insane to dare to claim kinship here and act as the sovereign's elder.

Zhu Yijun gently comforted him: "The previous dynasty bestowed rewards on maternal relatives, and your Earl of Yutian's family was the most generous."

"Even if the younger generation occasionally loses their sense of propriety, they will not lose the dignity of your Earl of Yutian's mansion."

"In the future, I will have to rely on you to revitalize it."

Jiang Keqian was overjoyed.

He hurriedly knelt down to thank him: "I will surely keep Your Highness's teachings in mind and dare not tarnish the reputation of the imperial relatives."

The two were like dry wood and fire; just one question and one answer completed a political commitment and a pledge of loyalty.

Jiang Keqian is now inheriting a demoted title; in another generation, this line will be no different from commoners.

Now, the only one who can pull him out of the mud is Zhu Yijun.

And Zhu Yijun was naturally very generous in his promise: your kinship is close, your foundation is good, and even if you commit some minor offenses, it's not a big deal; as long as you work hard, I will remember the Earl of Yutian's line.

Jiang Keqian heard this and almost without hesitation, bowed his head.

He was already in a desperate situation; he didn't care about the Cabinet's monopoly on power or the two-heartedness of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Jiang Keqian never lacked the spirit of a gambler.

Not to mention that this heir began to contact the nobility before ascending the throne, looking increasingly like the Wuzong Emperor, which made his thoughts even firmer.

Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction: "The Duke of Cheng told you what I want to do, right?"

He didn't mind that Zhu Xizhong was only entering the game tentatively.

After the Confucian revival movement and the Qingli reforms, Dong Zhongshu's teachings were discarded like worn-out shoes.

The Emperor was no longer the Son of Heaven who could naturally obtain the loyalty of court officials through the interaction of Heaven and humanity and the divine right of kings.

Today's loyalty requires interest and human sentiment as prerequisites.

Of course, taking a step back, since Zhu Xizhong has already placed his bet, can I still let him run away?

Jiang Keqian bowed and replied: "I understand, Your Highness. This morning I sent people out; all the major wine shops and teahouses are moving. By sunset tomorrow, it will spread throughout the markets and countryside."

This is the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the secret service agency most feared by court officials.

Zhu Yijun reminded him: "It can be slower; it doesn't matter."

This is too fast; anyone could figure out there's a problem with their toes. Aside from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, no one else has this ability.

The time needs to be relaxed so that it seems natural, as if the news could have spread on its own.

Even if someone becomes suspicious, any court official with a bit of a foundation could do this; with many suspects, the water becomes muddy.

Jiang Keqian is a young man after all, unable to see this point, eager for quick success and instant benefits, losing his steadiness.

Jiang Keqian lacked experience, but his talent was not bad; once pointed out, he immediately realized and hurriedly excused himself: "Your Highness's guidance is correct; it was my recklessness."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at this heir.

Previously, he had dismissed Zhu Xixiao's praise, thinking it was just the Duke of Cheng trying to cozy up to the Crown Prince and deliberately creating momentum.

Now, after this exchange, he was shocked to find that the Crown Prince's strategy and methods almost made him forget that he was only ten years old!

His words were sharp, steady, and mature, far above his own, almost like an elder.

Zhu Yijun didn't care what he was thinking and said: "There is one more thing."

Jiang Keqian bowed and listened.

Zhu Yijun said: "Can the Embroidered Uniform Guard still spy on the homes of court officials now?"

Secret service politics is not impossible, but it requires attention to methods.

Jiang Keqian was startled, then said with some difficulty: "Your Highness, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is no longer what it was at the founding of the dynasty..."

At the beginning, the Embroidered Uniform Guard could be everywhere, because they had the founding Emperor backing them.

Since then, the situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse—without the founding Emperor pressing down, why would civil officials tolerate secret service politics?

The current Embroidered Uniform Guard is more like a forbidden army yamen with the functions of the Ministry of Justice.

Zhu Yijun pondered for a moment and said: "In that case... then help me keep an eye on the public movements of several Grand Secretaries."

"And Zhang Siwei; keep a close eye on this person."

He didn't explain why; Jiang Keqian only needed to do the work.

Jiang Keqian lowered his head, his eyes complex.

Squatting at a bun shop at the entrance to watch carriages is fine, but... spying on Grand Secretaries—this Crown Prince is more surprising than he expected.

He suppressed the thoughts in his heart and replied with a confident look: "Your Highness, rest assured; I will handle it immediately upon returning."

After finishing the serious business, Jiang Keqian thought he should take his leave.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince brought up something he didn't expect: "Minister Jiang, I heard that you are compiling a zither score?"

Jiang Keqian was stunned.

Compiling a zither score himself is not a secret; three generations of his family have been dedicated to completing this, but he didn't know why the Crown Prince mentioned it.

The Crown Prince's intention was unclear, and he was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so he cautiously replied: "I am neglecting my proper work, making Your Highness laugh."

Zhu Yijun shook his head: "Zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—these are elegant matters; how can one talk about neglecting proper work?"

Jiang Keqian paused for a moment, his expression hesitant: "I can offer a song for Your Highness."

Zhu Yijun laughed in spite of himself.

What does this Jiang Keqian take me for?

He smiled: "No need. But when you publish your book, can you give me the draft?"

The draft?

Jiang Keqian was even more confused and couldn't help but probe: "It will be some time before I finish the book; I'm afraid it will be too late for Your Highness's ascension gift..."

This attempt to guess his intentions was too much, and Zhu Yijun suddenly lost interest.

He felt a bit listless and waved his hand with a sense of boredom: "Wait until the book is finished; you may go first."

The Crown Prince stopped abruptly, and Jiang Keqian didn't understand why.

Seeing no further movement from above, he had to bow and turn to leave, his heart heavy with thoughts.

Zhu Yijun didn't speak again and quietly copied the Daoist scriptures.

Now that he has the Embroidered Uniform Guard, things are much more convenient; Jiang Keqian is already on duty in the Donggong, so summoning him is also convenient.

It's just that this exchange actually made Zhu Yijun feel a bit lonely...

He knows the "Complete Collection of Zither Books" written by Jiang Keqian, and he also knows that when it was passed down to later generations, parts of it were already lost.

There are still many books like this lost in the Ming Dynasty, including the highest achievement of the dynasty's works—the "Yongle Encyclopedia," known as an encyclopedia.

Since Zhu Yijun is a transmigrator, he inevitably holds the original intention of preserving classics, and he has long had a rough idea about these lost books.

Although he is not yet in power and cannot implement it, today was ultimately a timely encounter.

It was precisely because he had the idea of preserving these classic works that he mentioned it casually just now.

Who would have thought it would be such a bore.

Jiang Keqian blindly guessing his intentions made him feel somewhat listless.

He naturally couldn't blame others for this attitude; after all, they are sovereign and subject, and it was their first meeting; this reaction is normal.

Zhu Yijun just suddenly felt a loneliness that no one understood.

He is not a person who only fights for power and profit; on the contrary, he has his pursuits and ideals. Even though he has been seizing power and influence these days, he has not forgotten who he is and why he is fighting.

Zhu Yijun is not willing to be assimilated by power and the imperial throne.

But he looked through the people around him.

Zhang Hong before him treated him as the Yingzong Emperor who acted with conspiracies and fought for power.

Jiang Keqian now treats him as the Wuzong Emperor who secretly allied with the nobility and cultivated his own party.

For him, this is nothing short of an insult.

If it weren't for doing great things, one must have great power; why would he need to operate here all day long?

Aside from himself, who else knows that his eyes are not just on mere power, and his heart is not just on the mere imperial throne?

This three-hundred-year curse of the world's dynasties—today, aside from him, who else will try to break it?

The old affairs of the Mongol Yuan are right before his eyes; if he doesn't clear away the accumulated ills and reform with determination, will he reverse the car again?

The Western Renaissance is nearing its end; how can this three-thousand-year civilization of China not advance but retreat?

Billions of years of resources are only enough for one opportunity for civilization to develop.

The wheels of history roll forward, with no room for turning back.

Just like the world's arable land; once it stops for twenty years, it will be wiped out by geological movements.

From the day humans learned slash-and-burn cultivation, aside from continuing to move forward, there was no way back.

He was born with a mandate and transmigrated here; aside from him, who can steer the rudder of the Great Ming Dynasty?

The building is about to collapse right before his eyes; who else but him can open up the path ahead and carry out the mandate of Heaven!?

It's just a pity that no one in the world can understand him.

His confidants, Zhang Hong and Jiang Keqian, view him as a cunning man; his fellow travelers, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, view him as an opponent.

Zhu Yijun is truly a lonely man.