Lu Fang considered it. The Emperor was only fourteen back then, and he was nineteen, arriving in the capital from the Chu Prince's manor. On his very first day, he had encountered Yang Tinghe forcing a abdication.
It was even more intense then. He recalled that upon entering the imperial city, they were blocked at the gates by Yang Tinghe and hundreds of officials, who demanded an "adoption." His own father was to be disowned, and Emperor Hongzhi was to be recognized as his father, making his biological father, King Xingxian, an uncle. Yang Tinghe and Mao Cheng were ferocious, even stating in their official proposals that any official who dared not support them was a traitor and would be executed…
Lu Fang later understood their true objective was not this minor detail, but to break the Emperor's will and then use it to whip the other officials into submission. If Yang Tinghe could subdue the Emperor, how could any other official dare to utter a single word of dissent?
Thus, what was supposed to be an enthronement was blocked at the gates. He was just a young lad then, older than the Emperor by a few years, but far less experienced… The Emperor was indeed remarkable, stubbornly refusing to agree, even leaving the capital and retreating to the southern outskirts, declaring that he would not be Emperor until matters were clarified.
Thinking of this,
Lu Fang couldn't help but glance at Jiajing. Forty years had passed, and it felt like a mere flick of a finger. Now, both their temples were streaked with white. Their lives had been caught in an endless storm since that time, never knowing a moment's peace…
He remembered the Emperor mentioning that Emperor Wen of Han faced a similar situation upon his accession, with Zhou Bo and Chen Ping trying to obstruct him. A formidable official at the time had stated that the Son of Heaven could have no private affairs, and had also retreated to the outskirts, only entering Chang'an after matters were settled.
Recalling it, he couldn't quite remember how it was resolved. It seemed the Empress Dowager had decreed that the enthronement would proceed first, and the rites would be discussed later. Only then could the young Emperor ascend the throne. Following this, the young Emperor appointed Zhang Cong and Gui Yue, along with several provincial governors, and even the great scholar Wang Yangming supported the Emperor. Only then did he manage to gain a shaky foothold.
For several years afterward, Yang Tinghe and his son continued to press the issue, eventually confronting the Emperor over the posthumous title of his birth mother. Two to three hundred people surrounded Wenhua Gate, led by Yang Tinghe's son, Yang Shen… The Emperor had already made arrangements, replacing personnel in key positions both internal and external, and arrested nearly two hundred people at once.
Now,
Prince Yu was clearly facing a similar situation, with an even more formidable opponent. The Emperor then had the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard at his disposal. Prince Yu, while lacking these, had the Emperor's support. If he truly understood, he should come to the Emperor. As long as he presented a viable solution, even if the Emperor couldn't openly intervene, Lu Fang could dispatch a supervising eunuch to assist him, using the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to suppress the opposition…
At this thought,
He felt a pang of softheartedness and secretly glanced at Jiajing again.
Jiajing let out a snort and said,
“Don't be absurd and come up with bad ideas… If Prince Yu understands my intentions, understands the predicament of the Great Ming, he will naturally come to Yuxi Palace…”
Lu Fang naturally understood this, but he was genuinely worried that Prince Yu might make a grave mistake. He cautiously asked,
“Your Majesty, if… if Prince Yu doesn’t come… will there be any trouble…”
Jiajing had already stood up, gazing at the starlit sky outside the hall, and said leisurely,
“There's nothing that can be done about it then…”
Lu Fang was still wary of Yan Song and reminded him,
“Your Majesty, but what if Yan Song seizes the opportunity to cause trouble…”
Jiajing sighed,
“Then let him be… One does not know the difficulty until they experience it. Moreover, the people of this world can also see what is truly happening in the Great Ming… If Yan Song wants to jump, let him jump…”
This?
Lu Fang was instantly speechless—
If this was the case, and Yan Song seized the opportunity to make a comeback, firmly control the officials, and sabotage the reforms, wouldn't all their efforts be in vain?
But he ultimately did not voice these words.
Because he knew well that if the Emperor acted this way, he likely had a plan. Perhaps letting the situation become chaotic for a while, to shock people's minds, would make the subsequent restoration more legitimate…
…
At the same time,
Yan Residence, Liangqian Mountain Study.
Despite the late hour, Yan Shifan was full of vigor. He had thoroughly enjoyed confronting Prince Yu during the audience today and felt that the state was in their grasp. The suffocation he had felt for the past two years under Zhu Mo had finally dissipated.
He toyed with an ivory ornament, still contemplating with a proud demeanor.
Yan Song, however, was still writing, each stroke meticulous and adhering to strict discipline, showing no signs of arrogance. This was a long-standing habit of his; he became particularly calm and thorough when facing significant matters.
The atmosphere in the hall was no longer as somber as before. An undercurrent of subtle restlessness permeated the air, and the long-dormant hearts of everyone were secretly stirring.
Zhang Yu, who was supposed to be heading south, had been delayed. He was not agitated and instead smiled, saying,
“Young Grand Secretary, while the Crown Prince’s audience had some minor cleverness, it ultimately cannot abolish the Grand Secretariat… I often think that the Great Ming’s strength lies in the Grand Secretariat governing on behalf of the heavens, truly a perfect system throughout the dynasties! You, Grand Secretary, as the Senior Grand Secretary, are the hope of the nation. Advising the Crown Prince to uphold the ways of the sages will bring peace to the world.”
Mm-hmm,
Everyone expressed their admiration.
In the past couple of days, officials in the capital had also been discussing privately. It seemed as if the forty years of frost and ice in Jiajing’s reign had thawed overnight. Now, everyone saw the core issues of the Great Ming. Overnight, everyone was discussing profound topics, feeling that the Grand Secretariat was the fundamental basis for all scholars in the realm.
Unseen, the Yan family's authority suddenly soared. The Yan family, previously unable to retaliate against Zhu Mo, had now become golden Bodhisattvas. Everyone was simply waiting for Prince Yu to ascend the throne, for a decree to abolish the reforms, and for Zhu Mo to be dragged out and executed, which would bring immense satisfaction.
Yan Maoqing, of course, longed for this day. He couldn't help but smile and say,
“Grand Secretary, Young Grand Secretary, everyone, Zhu Mo committed the gravest error by presumptuously discussing the Jingnan Campaign and babbling about the great Way of Yao and Shun. Now, it’s fortunate that the Emperor is uneasy, and this has given us a golden opportunity… Once Prince Yu understands and heeds the Grand Secretary’s painstaking efforts, peace will be restored to the realm…”
Right, right, right!
Everyone's spirits immediately became lively.
However, Luo Longwen was deeply worried. He suddenly said,
“Young Grand Secretary, I have a concern…”
Yan Shifan scoffed, “What are you worried about? Zhu Mo’s reforms are failing! Mu Chaobi is blocking him over there, and he dares not provoke him, so he’s retreating in the face of difficulty.”
Luo Longwen, however, shook his head,
“Young Grand Secretary, my worry is not about Zhu Mo, but about Prince Yu… The audience Prince Yu organized, one cannot say it’s entirely without ideas. At least it shows he still wants to seize power… Young Grand Secretary, Xu Jie said that the reforms are to be directly overseen by Prince Yu, which means abolishing the Grand Secretariat! This is beyond my expectations. I originally thought Prince Yu was timid and wouldn't dare to oppose us. Moreover, Xu Jie has always been a sycophant; how could he suddenly jump out?
In the past two days, Prince Yu first held a grand court and then a small court, but both failed… Since he wants to seize power, he certainly won't be satisfied! If he comes up with something else and sidelines us, it will be difficult to handle…”
Heh heh,
Yan Shifan scoffed,
“What else can he come up with? Prince Yu has been confined to his prince's manor all these years; what can he do? Can he really become Emperor Zhengde?”
Hahaha,
Everyone burst into laughter.
Yan Song was immediately displeased. A sharp gaze swept over them, and everyone immediately lowered their heads.
Yan Song let out a soft hum and said,
“Han Zhang’s worries are valid!”
He put down his brush and said,
“You all are always impatient… Prince Yu has the Emperor behind him! Have you not considered why the Emperor is letting Prince Yu take the reins? Is the Emperor not watching from behind?”
He clasped his hands behind his back, looking out at the quiet courtyard, and said leisurely,
“You all should not just focus on the surface; you must look deeper, do more, and speak less… No matter what Prince Yu intends to do, or how the Emperor views it, we should not interfere… What should not be yielded, we cannot yield even an inch. Beyond that, whatever Prince Yu wishes to do, we should go along with him…”
Luo Longwen then suddenly said,
“Grand Secretary, I believe Prince Yu will most likely form his own faction, just as the Emperor did back then, gathering disgruntled or trusted individuals to bypass the ministers… In that case, what should we do?”