My father is Jiajing

After a journey of twelve days, Emperor Jiajing and Zhu Zaigui finally arrived in Anlu, which is now Chengtian Prefecture.

The time taken for this trip was just like the time it took for Emperor Jiajing, who was still Prince Xing, to come to Beijing after receiving the imperial edict from Emperor Wuzong in his vassal state and inheriting the throne according to the system of succession from elder brother to younger brother.

After arriving at the former Prince Xing's Mansion, Emperor Jiajing actually felt a sense of homesickness.

He looked at the furnishings and environment in Prince Xing's Mansion, which seemed to have remained unchanged, and psychologically he felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

"Third son, look at the stone platform over there. It's called 'Yangchun'. That's where your royal grandfather taught me to write and read when I was a child."

In Prince Xing's Mansion, Emperor Jiajing excitedly introduced to Zhu Zaigui all the past events in the mansion.

Although it was Zhu Zaigui's first time here, after hearing Emperor Jiajing's introduction, he deeply felt the Emperor Jiajing's unstoppable joy and happiness in his heart.

Zhu Zaigui said, "I have heard from old friends that my father was very intelligent and was loved by the emperor. When he was in the palace, the emperor often took my father to his side to teach him poetry, literature and etiquette."

Emperor Jiajing sighed, "Yes, your great grandfather not only loved me very much, but also loved the people of the vassal state very much. When he was alive, he often provided medicine and practiced medicine among the people to help the common people. The people in Chengtian Prefecture are all grateful and praise your great grandfather's kindness."

"However, God did not give your royal grandfather a long life. In the fourteenth year of Zhengde, your royal grandfather passed away, leaving only the twelve-year-old me and your royal grandmother in this world. Now, in the blink of an eye, almost fifty years have passed. I can hardly remember what your royal grandfather looked like."

When Emperor Jiajing said the last sentence, a rare look of pitiful sadness appeared on his face.

At this moment, he seemed more like a person who needed care and understanding.

Zhu Zaigui couldn't help feeling sad when he saw this scene.

He is the one who can best understand the feeling of powerlessness that transcends time and space.

As an inexplicable time traveler, although he gained supreme glory and status in this strange era, he also lost his original loved ones forever.

And counting on my fingers, it has been almost twenty years.

Zhu Zaigui could hardly remember what his former relatives and friends looked like.

Zhu Zaigui suppressed the sadness in his heart and said to Emperor Jiajing: "Father, there should be a portrait of the emperor's ancestors for worship in the palace, right?"

When Emperor Jiajing heard Zhu Zaigui's words, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.

Emperor Jiajing said happily: "Yes, there is a portrait of your great ancestor in the palace. I will take you to see him."

After Emperor Jiajing remembered this, he couldn't help but walk a little more cheerfully. Zhu Zaigui and Li Fang, who was serving him, hurried to catch up and watched him carefully, fearing that he would get too excited and fall.

Soon Emperor Jiajing brought Zhu Zaigui to the ancestral temple in the back hall of the palace.

There are only two portraits enshrined here, one is a portrait of Emperor Jiajing's father, Prince Xingxian Zhu Youlang, and the other is a portrait of Emperor Jiajing's mother, Empress Dowager Xingguo.

The portrait of Zhu Youlang is different from that of Empress Dowager Xingguo. Except for the part above the neck, which is kept original, the rest of his portrait was repainted by court painters according to the regulations and specifications for the emperor's service after Emperor Jiajing officially honored King Xingxian as Emperor Xingxian.

It is a bit similar to photo-editing, but this method of photo-editing is purely handmade and there is no trace of PS at all.

Emperor Jiajing led Zhu Zaigui to pay respect to the two portraits, and then began to explain to Zhu Zaigui: "These are the portraits of your great grandfather and great grandmother."

Zhu Zaiqi looked up at the two portraits and said with emotion: "When I see the portrait of my great grandfather, I feel a sense of benevolence and morality. When I see the portrait of my great grandmother, I feel as if I am being watched by a kind and loving gaze."

Emperor Jiajing said: "Your royal grandfather loved poetry and books, and he didn't like to keep precious toys. He didn't keep female musicians, and he didn't set up sacrificial animals or wine unless it was a public banquet. Chu people valued witches and shamans and despised medicine, but your royal grandfather selected and distributed good prescriptions and prepared medicines to cure the sick. Zhang Jingming, the chief secretary, presented his book "Six Benefits" to your royal grandfather, and your royal grandfather gave it gold and silk, saying: 'I will hang this on the palace gate.' You can see how kind your royal grandfather was."

Zhu Zaigui was filled with emotion as he listened to Emperor Jiajing's introduction of Prince Xingxian Zhu Youlang. Although he didn't know what his abilities were, based on his words and deeds, Zhu Youlang surpassed the vast majority of the incompetent royal family members.

This also shows that apart from those lazy and corrupt people, there are still some ambitious and talented people among the royal family.

It’s a pity that due to their status, although they have noble titles, they have no political power.

Therefore, no matter how well they did, it was difficult for them to realize their ambitions. Moreover, in later legends, they would all be classified as negative and become one of the important factors in the financial bankruptcy of the Ming Dynasty.

Although Zhu Zaigui felt regretful about this, it was all he could do.

Who made Old Zhu and his eldest son Zhu Laosi draw such a harsh and large circle for these princes?

Zhu Yuanzhang granted all princes the gift of hereditary succession without demotion. Zhu Laosi, based on the strategy of reducing the power of the princes under the guidance of Emperor Jianwen, changed his strategy and implemented a series of precise and effective controls based on limiting the power of the princes.

From then on, the princes of the Zhu family became wealthy masters who only needed to eat and drink and live a peaceful life.

But when they became rich, the people around them suffered.

Therefore, the system of vassal kings began to distort and become poisonous starting from Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Laosi.

So much so that during the Hongzhi period of Emperor Xiaozong, the imperial court found that it could no longer support these bigwigs, and began to amend and restrict various matters such as the weddings and funerals of the princes. During the Jiajing period, they began to use the Ming treasure notes, which were not even hard enough to wipe one's butt, to dilute the salaries of the royal family in order to offset the financial pressure of the court.

But as a result, the livelihoods of ordinary royal family members, who already had low salaries and no means of livelihood, became even more miserable.

Not only were their salaries and food rations withheld by their respective clan leaders, they were also unable to leave the clan and fend for themselves.

As a result, many members of the lower-class clan were reduced to working as tenants for the larger clans in order to survive.

Moreover, according to historical records, during the Wanli period, there was a flood in Henan and other places. When the court officials came down to provide disaster relief, they saw those poor lower-class royal family members who could not even get food to eat. They could not help but write a memorial to Emperor Wanli to explain the miserable plight of these royal family members.

Finally, Emperor Wanli could no longer hold back and gave relief to these poor relatives, but on average each person received only a little over one or two taels of silver.

It can be seen how miserable the lives of these lower-level royal family members were. Even when the Ming Dynasty was overthrown, some royal family members could not survive and joined the uprising. Therefore, in addition to reforming old malpractices with new policies, Zhu Zaigui's biggest concern in recent years was how to improve and liberate the lives of the lower-level royal family members.

Should they be removed from the clan register, or should a professional technical school be established for them to allow them to learn a professional skill and become the Ming Dynasty's scientific research reserve force?
However, these things are easier said than done.

After all, people have their own thinking habits and cognitive limitations. Just because someone points out a clear path doesn’t mean they can follow it to the light. They are all afraid of unknown risks and are worried that if they leave their current environment, it will be even more difficult for them to survive.

Therefore, many people often do not dare or are unwilling to make new attempts or changes even if they are in dire straits in their original environment.

Because for them, new attempts may mean new efforts, and they are afraid that their efforts will not be rewarded.

At the same time, they are afraid of change, worrying that after the change, they will never be able to return to their original comfort zone.

This is just like most ordinary people who would rather deliver food than learn a craft and technology. They also know that delivering food is not a long-term solution, but the current situation and life have made them lose the courage to change themselves and break through themselves.

I am only willing to use this simple and direct way to earn a meager and hard-earned salary.

They are afraid that their little or even no savings will be spent on a risky and potentially costly learning experience.

They worry that after spending money and time, the skills and crafts they have learned will still not be able to change their difficult situation.

Therefore, it is actually extremely difficult to expect such people to change their minds, break out of their limitations, and find new hope and ways of living.

Even if Zhu Zaigui wanted to give them an opportunity, they would hesitate whether this opportunity was a new trap.

Therefore, the road to royal family reform is bound to be a long, arduous and difficult road.

Even if Zhu Zaigui forced the princes to choose between staying in the Ming Dynasty and inheriting the throne after being demoted, or going overseas to become powerful vassal lords, they would not obediently obey Zhu Zaigui's orders and would definitely cause Zhu Zaigui a lot of trouble.

However, this time Zhu Zaigui would never be like Zhu Laosi, Emperor Xiaozong Hongzhi, and the current Emperor Jiajing, who were hesitant and reluctant to make some changes to the royal family system that did not touch the fundamentals.

Zhu Zaigui must give them a strong dose of medicine to make them wake up and take a good look at the world, which is no longer the same as before.

It is impossible to just lie down and do nothing. You have to have the determination and action to struggle and work hard to survive in this new era!

Otherwise, the imperial court would not keep idle people!
After accompanying Emperor Jiajing in wandering around the ancestral temple for a while, Zhu Zaigui then accompanied Emperor Jiajing in walking around the palace which he had been away from for decades.

They did not stop until Emperor Jiajing was tired of walking and looking. They went to the "Yangchun" platform that Emperor Jiajing mentioned at the beginning and sat down.

In addition to being the place where Emperor Jiajing learned poetry, books and etiquette from King Xingxian when he was a child, Yangchun Terrace was also the place where King Xingxian hosted banquets and had his ministers and guests compose poetry.

Emperor Jiajing sat in the seat where his father had once sat and became interested in talking again.

He said to Zhu Zaigui: "Do you know a poem your royal ancestor once wrote?"

When Zhu Zaigui heard what Emperor Jiajing said, he was stunned. How would he know what poems King Xingxian had written?

Even before Zhu Zaigui arrived in Anlu, he took the initiative to look up a lot of information about Anlu and the time of King Xingxian, but there were still many omissions.

After all, in this era, there are no search tools like Baidu Bing, nor artificial intelligence assistance like DeepSeek. If he wants to fully understand the past of King Xingxian, he can only rely on manual search.

Therefore, it is understandable that Zhu Zaigui did not know the poem written by King Xingxian.

But now that Emperor Jiajing asked him about it, Zhu Zaigui could only apologize awkwardly: "I am stupid and have never learned the poems of my royal grandfather."

Emperor Jiajing smiled indifferently and said, "It's okay, it's okay. So many years have passed, I can hardly remember it. Your royal grandfather wrote a seven-character regulated verse called "Yangliu". The poem goes: Who is weaving the golden threads? Sometimes I see nightingales throwing shuttles. In late spring, catkins fly and the shadows are thin. In early summer, cicadas chirp and the green shade is thick. The weak figure of the young girl is worried, and her tender feelings are in love with the blue waves. There are many travelers on the crossroads, and what will happen if the long branches are broken?"

The tone of Emperor Jiajing's reciting poetry was very pleasant to the ear, although the level of the poem was limited.

But after being recited by Emperor Jiajing, it was elevated to a higher level, making people feel that this poem is a masterpiece of the time!

After listening to it, Zhu Zaigui praised sincerely, "The royal grandfather's poem has a profound artistic conception. It is a great blessing in my life that I can hear my father recite this poem today! At this moment, I can't help but feel that the royal grandfather is also here on Yangchun Terrace, accompanying my father and me to share the joy of family life."

Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but smile happily when listening to Zhu Zaigui's words. What he lacked most in his life was the warmth between his relatives, and what he missed most was the happy time he spent as a child in the Prince Xing's Mansion.

Now that he is in his sixties, he can still revisit the old place and reminisce about the happy times in the past. Emperor Jiajing's mood is naturally extremely relaxed and happy.

Emperor Jiajing said: "Bring Jiang Yi with you tomorrow. I will take you two to Chunde Mountain to worship your royal ancestors."

Zhu Zaigui immediately replied: "Yes, I will obey your order."

Emperor Jiajing sat on Yangchun Terrace for a while. Perhaps the excitement and happiness of the day finally made him feel tired. He said to Zhu Zaigui, "I am tired. You can walk around for a while. I will take a rest."

Zhu Zaigui stood up and bowed, "Farewell, father."

At this time, Li Fang also walked respectfully to the side of Emperor Jiajing, bowed slightly, and stretched out his arms to support the strength of Emperor Jiajing.

Then he respectfully and carefully helped Emperor Jiajing all the way to the bedroom where Emperor Jiajing once lived in the Prince Xing's Mansion.

Returning to the palace after an absence of nearly thirty years, Emperor Jiajing felt both familiar and unfamiliar. Everything in the palace seemed to have changed, yet it seemed as if it had never changed.

He came to the edge of the bed and sat down gently on it, with a feeling of nostalgia. The long-forgotten sense of security came back to him. Emperor Jiajing sighed in a low voice, "Home is still the best!"

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Ask for monthly ticket~~(End of this chapter)