Volume 1, Chapter 6: The Morning Court (Part I)
The Next Day at the Prince of Qin’s Mansion
“Your Highness, it is three quarters past the hour of the Tiger. As you instructed, it’s time to prepare for the morning court.” Yu Zhong, Zhu Rui’s personal eunuch, pushed open the door and bowed respectfully.
“Hm. Send someone to prepare my bath and change my clothes. Also, summon Qin Yi to wait for me in the study.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Soon after, Zhu Rui bathed and donned his four-claw python robe, exuding an imposing aura that commanded respect without a word. Before he could reach the study, he saw Qin Yi clad in armor, standing at attention outside.
“Sir,” Qin Yi greeted respectfully.
“How did the task I gave you last night go?”
“Your Highness, it’s done. Everything is in this memorial.” Qin Yi handed over the report with both hands.
“Well done. You didn’t sleep all night, did you?” Zhu Rui asked, noticing Qin Yi’s weary expression.
“Go rest. You don’t need to attend court with me today. Are the people at the Inspection Office good for nothing? Such a small matter, I’ll handle myself.”
“That won’t do. Your affairs are of great importance. If you don’t personally come, I won’t be at ease.” Qin Yi smiled upon seeing Zhu Rui’s concern.
“Heh, you’re getting cheeky. Off to sleep, then. I’m too tired to bother with you.” Zhu Rui gave him a sharp glance but felt a flicker of warmth in his heart.
Qin Yi and Qin Er were once brothers fleeing hardship. Zhu Rui took pity on the two elder brothers during their escape, especially moved by their brotherly bond, which reminded him of his relationship with his own older brother. Thus, he took them in.
Nearly ten years had passed; Qin Yi and Qin Er had grown up alongside Zhu Rui, their bond stronger than that of mere siblings. The two brothers had become Zhu Rui’s trusted right and left hands—Qin Yi overseeing the Inspection Office, Qin Er in charge of personal guards.
Speaking of the Inspection Office’s prison, what a mess it was. Zhu Rui, more a figurehead than a hands-on leader, had never truly examined the people under his command.
Though these thoughts lingered, Zhu Rui’s steps did not falter. Clutching the memorial, he headed toward the imperial palace. After all, there was still a grand performance to unfold in Feng Tian Hall, and as the protagonist, he could not afford to be late.
Feng Tian Hall
The ministers stood solemnly, the atmosphere heavy as if a storm were about to break. Many cast furtive glances at Prince Qin Zhu Rui seated at the front of the court.
“The Emperor has arrived!”
“Let those with petitions step forward; others may take their leave!”
...
“Your Majesty, I must report that the Fourth Prince and others beat a physician at the academy yesterday. Such behavior is unfilial and violates the very foundation of the Great Ming.”
“Though the offender Bai Xintao was at fault first, assaulting a physician is a dangerous precedent. I urge Your Majesty to punish the prince severely to maintain order in the realm.”
An Imperial Censor stepped forward urgently, his anger barely contained as he presented his case.
“Oh? And what punishment do you deem fit for the princes?” Zhu Yuanzhang lounged on the dragon throne, speaking lazily. No one noticed the cold glint flashing in his eyes: ‘To punish one’s own sons in front of their father? Such audacity.’
The Imperial Censor, carried away by fervor, responded passionately, “Naturally, their fiefs and guards should be reduced. Without strict punishment, filial piety in the realm cannot be upheld, which will surely bring disaster upon the Great Ming.”
“Your Majesty and the Crown Prince should rely more on the ministers to handle trivial matters, leaving more time to discipline the princes. You understand that nothing concerning the royal family is trivial and must be treated seriously!”
Zhu Rui’s expression darkened as the censor’s words grew more excessive. He cut in coldly.
“How dare you! Why don’t you mention that wretched man who dared to curse the Great Ming and insult the Father Emperor as a tyrant unfit to rule while teaching the princes? What kind of tutor is that?”
“Moreover, my brothers acted to defend our Father Emperor. And yesterday, they were punished accordingly. As for their education, Father Emperor and the Crown Prince are occupied with state affairs; it falls to me to discipline them. I have accepted my punishment; does this satisfy you, Imperial Censor?”
“I have addressed my faults. Now let me ask you—according to your Confucian ideals, the order of Heaven, Sovereign, Parents, and Teachers, how can you stand idly by while your own father is insulted by so-called scholars?”
“If the teacher surpasses the parent, then someday, will the sovereign also fall beneath the teacher?”
Such accusations stifled the censor’s tongue, leaving him unable to reply—he had committed a grave taboo.
“Hmph! That wretch wants me to reduce my fief? Seeking power, are you? Do you want my position?”
“Guards, seize him! Thirty lashes! Let him sober up!” Zhu Yuanzhang’s voice rang out fiercely. Then he turned to Prime Minister Li Shan Chang, putting on a pleasant smile.
“Prime Minister Li, what do you think?”
Li Shan Chang felt as if he were sitting on needles under the emperor’s gaze. Inwardly, he cursed Hu Weiyong for his foolishness—how dare he test the sovereign over such a trivial matter? His lust for power had driven him mad.
Outwardly, Li Shan Chang replied smoothly, “Our sovereign is merciful; the censor’s flogging is justified.”
“Very well, as you say—let him be flogged to death,” Zhu Yuanzhang agreed, going with the flow.
The two chancellors on either side were dumbfounded.
“Anything else of great importance?”
“Your Majesty, I have a matter to raise. It is said that yesterday, the phrase ‘the unfaithful are often scholars’ came from Prince Qin himself, is that correct?” Liu Sanwu stepped forward and bowed.
“Yes. And?”
“Your Highness, we scholars have studied hard for many years to serve the court, not to be insulted by you. You owe an explanation to the people.” Liu Sanwu stared hard at Zhu Rui.
“I second that.”
“I second that.”
...
More and more ministers voiced their agreement.
“An explanation to the people? Isn’t that for you scholars?” Zhu Rui sneered.
“Yesterday, Father Emperor, upon hearing this, severely reprimanded me, administered twenty lashes, and made me kneel in the ancestral hall. Is that not explanation enough?”
Zhu Biao, hearing Zhu Rui’s blatant lies without hesitation, nearly stumbled.
Zhu Yuanzhang on the throne was speechless. The twenty lashes had nothing to do with the phrase. And after the punishment, Zhu Rui stood firmly here—did he take everyone for fools? And the nonsense about kneeling in the ancestral hall—pah! Shameless!
“That’s not enough. The people will not be convinced. This concerns the dignity of the court and the royal family—it cannot be taken lightly.”
A group of Imperial Censors and Grand Academicians stared daggers at Zhu Rui, determined not to relent.
“Oh? And how do you propose I apologize to you scholars?”
“I request to relinquish military command and have my fief reduced, retiring to my domain immediately.”
Upon hearing this, the civil officials showed no surprise or disapproval.
Little did they know Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were already counting heads.
Perhaps a game of clan annihilation was in order? Not a bad idea.
“Hahaha! One explanation and you want my military power and fiefs? Hahaha!”
Zhu Rui was amused by their audacity. They seemed to forget that the Ming dynasty of the Zhu family was not some feeble Song of Zhao.
With a cold glare, he added, “Such a big appetite—you aren’t afraid of choking?”
“The words were mine. I dare say them again before you all, but you’re not worthy of an explanation.”
“You insolent whelp! You—”
“Silence! Old fool, your face is thick as leather.”
As he spoke, Zhu Rui stepped beside the grand scholar who had just spoken.
“I remember correctly, your rise in status owes much to Madam Ling’s generosity, does it not? Yet I hear since gaining your position, you have taken a new concubine every year.”
“The last one barely came of age, if I’m not mistaken?”
“A girl barely in her teens, and you, a man in your fifties, still full of vigor, old man.”