I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

October 20th, at 9:00 AM.

Jingwu Academy.

Three hundred trainees, dressed in their uniforms, stood on the training ground.

Although many people still had redness and bruises on their faces, their complexions were rosy and their smiles were radiant.

These people became students of the Jingwu Academy.

They and their families enjoy many special privileges that are difficult for other households to access, ensuring that they can focus on training.

Of the 300 trainees, less than 30% were from military families.

This is the proportion that both the young Wanli Emperor and Shen Nian liked.

In the future, the selection of students for the Jingwu Academy will limit the proportion of children from military families to less than 30%, so that lower-ranking soldiers will have the opportunity to rise through the ranks.

Immediately afterwards, the young Wanli Emperor delivered a speech.

He incorporated the inspiring words Shen Nian had spoken at the Jingwu Academy, such as "A soldier who doesn't want to become a general is not a good soldier," "The support of the people is the strongest force to protect the Ming Dynasty," "Become a hero of the Ming Dynasty," and "Break the bad habit of the sons and grandsons of generals becoming generals and the sons and grandsons of soldiers becoming grandsons," into his speech, which made the students shout "Long live the Ming Dynasty!"

Following that, Shen Nian and Zhang Wubo Yang Bing also gave brief speeches, and a group of instructors read out the various regulations of Jingwu Academy.

It's approaching noon.

When the young Wanli Emperor hosted a banquet, it was time for all the instructors and students to "eat meat and drink wine to their hearts' content."

They ate large chunks of mutton and drank large bowls of imperial wine.

This is a unique feature of Jingwu Academy.

On the first day of school, martial arts students must eat and drink heartily.

After finishing the preparations for the start of the Jingwu Academy, Shen Nian shifted her focus back to the Cabinet and the Ministry of War.

The Jingwu Academy was merely a small appetizer on the Ming Dynasty's table; the new policies and reforms were the main course.

In recent days.

Because of Shen Yanwang's training method, Shen Nian has a new nickname in official circles and among the common people: Shen Yanwang.

As expected, this nickname will soon reach the North.

Those border soldiers who have tried Shen Yanwang's training method will definitely grit their teeth and call Shen Nian: Shen Yanwang!

Shen Nian didn't care at all.

He only hoped that this "Shen Yanwang Training Method" could raise the intensity of training for all the soldiers in the Ming Dynasty's garrisons.

……

The next two days.

The only noteworthy event that occurred in the capital's imperial court was the return of Shen Li, the lecturer whom the young Wanli Emperor favored most (before Shen Nian).

Shen Li, courtesy name Zhonghua, is fifty-one years old this year. He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the forty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign.

During the Longqing era, he served as a lecturer in the Eastern Palace and was favored by the young Wanli Emperor, who promoted him to Left Assistant Minister.

Then, in the fourth year of the Wanli reign, Shen Li's father passed away, and he returned home to observe the mourning period. After his mother passed away, he continued to observe the mourning period until he returned to the capital.

Emperor Wanli immediately reinstated him to his position as Left Assistant (a sixth-rank official) and appointed him to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler and daily lecturer.

His appointment as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy was clearly a sign that he was to be given an important position.

Shen Nian was also very happy that Shen Li had returned to court.

This person can be described in four words as "upright and righteous," which is much better than a smooth-talking official like Shen Yiguan.

Moreover, Shen Li's lectures were insightful yet easy to understand, which relieved Shen Nian of much of the pressure during the daily lectures.

……

October 30th, early morning.

The weather is sunny and cold.

Chen Jingbang, Zhao Zhigao, Wang Jiaping, Shen Li, and other lecturers on duty arrived at Huangji Gate to prepare for their daily lectures.

Currently, Zhang Juzheng and Shen Shixing only hold the title of daily lecturer and rarely give daily lectures themselves.

Shen Nian's daily lectures were scheduled twice a month, plus two martial arts lectures. As for the compilation of the "Great Ming Code", Shen Nian no longer participated, only holding the title of deputy chief editor.

Before long, it was time for the daily lecture.

However, the young Wanli Emperor's imperial carriage did not appear, which greatly surprised the lecturers.

It should be noted that the daily lectures at the Imperial Lectures were either canceled a day in advance or conducted according to the scheduled time. Even if the young Wanli Emperor was ill, he would inform the lecturer in advance.

According to the Xiao Wanli Emperor's daily report, many eunuchs would be punished for being late without a valid reason.

at this time.

Fang Ping, a eunuch and relative of the young Wanli Emperor, who was also a clerk in the Directorate of Ceremonial, rushed over.

After running up to the lecturers, he paused for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Esteemed lecturers, His Majesty went to the Cining Palace to pay his respects this morning, but was kept in the palace by the Empress Dowager to discuss matters. Today's lecture is canceled."

Chen Jingbang, a Hanlin Academy Reader, frowned slightly and asked, "Eunuch Fang, may I ask what could have caused the daily lecture to be canceled at the last minute?"

At present, the young Wanli Emperor has not yet assumed personal rule, and his studies are his top priority. He will not let any personal matters interfere with his studies.

Fang Ping thought for a moment and said, "This...this...this servant is not very clear at the moment either."

After saying this, Fang Ping bowed to the assembled lecturers and then quickly left.

Seeing Fang Ping's reaction, which seemed to indicate that he was hiding something, Chen Jingbang and the others became even more curious.

“What could be more important than this daily report? Even His Majesty’s closest confidants don’t know what’s going on. What’s happening in the inner court? We should report to the cabinet immediately!” Zhao Zhigao said.

“Yes, there must be a reason for temporarily suspending lectures, otherwise how can we write today’s daily records?” Wang Jiaping added.

For no apparent reason, the daily lectures cannot be stopped.

If the lecturers disperse without knowing the reason, it is a dereliction of duty on their part.

A quarter of an hour later.

The five Grand Secretaries learned that the daily lectures had been temporarily canceled and that the young Wanli Emperor had been left in the Cining Palace.

Zhang Juzheng also found it very strange and immediately sent someone to communicate with the eunuch.

……

Meanwhile, in the front hall of Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Li sat high above, her face somber.

The young Wanli Emperor stood to one side with Empress Wang, whose belly was swollen high.

A young palace maid knelt in the center of the hall, sobbing softly, her face streaked with tears.

Outside the palace gate.

Two eunuchs, each holding a broad cane, were beating Zhang Yu, a scribe in charge of recording the "Daily Records of the Inner Court."

boom! boom! boom!
He was beaten thirty times, and after the beating, Zhang Yu's buttocks were a bloody mess.

With each strike of the staff, young Wanli's heart would leap with a "thump".

"Take him away!" Empress Dowager Li said coldly.

Then, Empress Dowager Li looked at the young Wanli Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I am old and have not yet had the chance to play with my grandson. If a son is born, it will be a blessing for the dynasty. Why hide it?"

"The eunuchs are currently selecting the nine concubines. The emperor should cherish himself and refrain from such disgraceful acts. Otherwise, how can he set an example for the people? From now on, matters of the inner court must not be kept from me and the empress, and you must not interfere with the 'Daily Records of the Inner Court'!"

"Your son understands!" Young Wanli bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

Empress Dowager Li looked at the sobbing palace maid and said, "As for her, give her a room to rest quietly and do not go out. Order the physicians to check her pulse frequently."

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!" The palace maid kowtowed heavily.

"Your Majesty, go and explain what happened in the previous court session!" With that, Empress Dowager Li rose and walked toward the side hall.

Emperor Wanli breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling that he had finally overcome this hurdle.

The ins and outs of this matter are as follows:

The palace maid was Lady Wang, a palace maid in Cining Palace. A few days ago, when Lady Wang was serving the young Wanli Emperor with a basin of water, the young Wanli Emperor took a liking to her and then had sex with her.

After his affair, the young Wanli Emperor recalled the palace maid Yue Rou, who had been executed for having an affair while visiting the imperial tombs.

He felt that the palace maid surnamed Wang was unlikely to be pregnant, and he did not want to make her a concubine, nor did he want to watch her die.

Therefore, after Emperor Wanli had sex with her, he did not give her any gifts as was customary, and forbade the eunuch Zhang Yu, who was in charge of recording the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Reign," from recording the matter. He also ordered the palace maid to keep it a secret.

Emperor Wanli thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of having an affair.

This behavior made him feel that neither Empress Dowager Li nor Zhang Juzheng could control him.

He was very comfortable.

Just when Emperor Wanli thought the matter would not be leaked, Empress Wang unexpectedly discovered it.

Empress Wang, who was nearly eight months pregnant, knew that this matter could not be concealed, so she reported it to Empress Dowager Li.

Empress Dowager Li was furious and immediately summoned the young Wanli Emperor to the Cining Palace early the next morning.

However, considering that the young Wanli Emperor was about to assume power and was extremely concerned about his reputation, she did not punish him severely. She only beat up the eunuch Zhang Yu and then warned the young Wanli Emperor not to do such absurd things again.

……

After a while.

When the young Wanli Emperor returned to the Wenhua Hall, he instructed Fang Ping to inform the cabinet and the lecturers that it was merely a private matter of the inner court and did not involve the previous dynasty, and that today's lecture could be made up the day after tomorrow.

The young Wanli Emperor wanted to gloss over the matter.

However, Wang Jiaping, who is on duty recording the daily events today, needs to explain the reasons for canceling the daily lectures.

He inquired with the palace officials and discovered that the reason for canceling the daily lectures was because the young Wanli Emperor had a private affair with a palace maid.

The emperor's affair with a palace maid was wrong, but not a major one.

In addition, given Wanli's young age, his desires were strong, and officials, knowing about such matters, would generally turn a blind eye rather than accuse the emperor of lust.

After all, the royal family currently has no heirs, and he can choose any woman in the palace.

Later, Wang Jiaping also learned that the young Wanli Emperor forbade the eunuch Zhang Yu from recording this matter in the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Reign" and ordered the palace maid surnamed Wang to keep it a secret. In the end, Empress Wang discovered it and reported it to Empress Dowager Li.

Wang Jiaping was immediately displeased.

The emperor interfered in the writing of the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Reign," and what he interfered with was the very issue of the heir apparent.

This is actually a violation of ancestral rules and etiquette.

This mistake is even greater than having an affair with a palace maid!

If this continues, the young Wanli Emperor, who had not yet assumed power, dared to interfere with the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Activities," and the young Wanli Emperor, after assuming power, would dare to interfere with the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Activities."

This trend must not be allowed to continue, and this matter must be reported to the emperor.

If the young Wanli Emperor did this, and Wang Jiaping recorded it in the "Daily Records," it would precisely prove that the lecturer had neglected his duties.

The lecturers talk about ancestral customs and etiquette every day.

Despite being taught for so many years, the young Wanli Emperor twice had affairs with palace maids and still dared to interfere with the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Activities." This was due to improper instruction from the lecturer.

By doing this, the young Wanli Emperor was clearly slapping the faces of all the Japanese lecturers.

If the lecturers do not immediately report this matter, the officials of the censorate will surely use it to impeach them.

Wang Jiaping reported this matter to the cabinet, and then informed the Japanese lecturers.

The lecturers on duty today were very agitated and immediately wrote a memorial stating that their lectures had been inadequate and requesting the emperor to dismiss them from their positions as lecturers.

Only in this way can the young Wanli Emperor be awakened.

Upon learning of this, Shen Nian couldn't help but sigh and murmur, "It's true what they say, the wildflowers always smell sweeter than the garden flowers!"

Shen Nian guessed that it was highly likely that the young Wanli had been too strictly controlled over the years, which was why he was addicted to the feeling of cheating.

As one of the lecturers, he should also teach the young Wanli Emperor a lesson.

Otherwise, countless palace maids would try to climb into the young Wanli Emperor's bed in order to gain a higher position, and the inner court would be in chaos.

"Ah!"

At that moment, Shen Nian suddenly sneezed.

His eyes lit up, and he murmured, "Lady Wang of Cining Palace, this...this...could she be the birth mother of that short-lived emperor who caused the succession crisis and reigned for only a month? Am I...am I really without any influence on history?"

After Chen Jingbang and the other three wrote their memorial requesting the removal of their positions from the daily lectures, they did not submit it to the Office of Transmission.

Instead, he planned to report the matter directly to the emperor during the morning court session, so that all officials could hear it, and that the young Wanli Emperor would admit his mistake and promise not to do such absurd things again.

……

On the first day of the eleventh month, in the early morning, the usual morning court assembly was held.

Civil and military officials lined up on both sides.

Emperor Wanli thought it was just an ordinary court assembly. After the routine procedures were completed, he was about to adjourn the court.

Chen Jingbang, Zhao Zhigao, Wang Jiaping, and Shen Li, the four daily lecturers, suddenly stood up at the same time.

Chen Jingbang, representing the four, declared loudly: "Yesterday, His Majesty was suddenly absent from his daily lecture. We discovered that it was because His Majesty had a private affair with a palace maid in Cining Palace. After the affair, he forbade the recording of it in the Inner Daily Records and prohibited eunuchs from discussing the matter with the palace maid. We believe this action is highly inappropriate, violates ancestral rules and etiquette, and may even shake the foundation of the nation. We implore Your Majesty to give us an explanation. If our daily lectures are inadequate and have caused Your Majesty to misunderstand ancestral rules and etiquette, we are willing to resign from our positions as daily lecturers and accept punishment!"

Swish!
The four Japanese lecturers knelt on the ground at the same time, and Chen Jingbang held up his memorial requesting to resign from his position as a Japanese lecturer.

They weren't really resigning; they just needed the young Wanli Emperor to give an explanation and admit his mistake.

Upon hearing this, the entire court was in an uproar, as most officials were completely unaware of the matter.

The five cabinet ministers were also astonished and stared wide-eyed.

They initially thought that Chen Jingbang and the other three were being considerate of the young Wanli Emperor's feelings by not submitting a memorial, as if they were offering private advice. However, they did not expect that Chen Jingbang and the other three would launch a direct attack on the young Wanli Emperor in court.

If this matter were to escalate to the level of regular court proceedings, it would become a major issue.

Having an affair with a palace maid in Cining Palace requires an apology; prohibiting the recording of this in the "Daily Records of the Inner Palace" requires an apology; prohibiting eunuchs from discussing this matter with palace maids requires an even greater apology.

Prohibiting the recording of the emperor's daily life in the imperial palace was a violation of ancestral etiquette and law, and the most serious offense. Secondly, it was a matter of concealing the affair with a palace maid.

It should be understood that if this palace maid leaves the palace and gives birth to a prince among commoners, then when the prince comes of age, whether he wants to return to his ancestral lineage or raise a separate banner, it will shake the Ming Dynasty's rule.

The smallest mistake was having an affair with a palace maid in Cining Palace.

The five cabinet ministers stood in the front row, none of them intending to speak.

In the past, it was they who educated young Wanli, but today the lecturers have found concrete evidence, and they are happy to see young Wanli admit his mistakes in court.

These are mistakes that even a monarch should not make, and the young Wanli Emperor should indeed admit his errors.

Emperor Wanli's face flushed; he hadn't expected the four to be so reckless, completely disregarding his dignity.

After pausing for a moment, he gave Fang Ping a look, signaling him to take the memorial.

After reading the memorial, the young Wanli Emperor said, "This time, I was indeed somewhat rash. Let this not be a repeat of the same mistake!"

Hearing Wanli's perfunctory apology.

Before the four lecturers could speak, Chen Kai, the Left Censor-in-Chief, strode out and walked to the center of the Imperial Gate.

When Chen Kai heard Wanli's evasive answer, he knew that what the four lecturers said was true. Since it was true, it was the duty of the lecturers to advise the emperor.

"Your Majesty, this matter concerns ancestral rites and laws, as well as the heir to the throne. Your Majesty's perfunctory apology is inappropriate. I implore Your Majesty to elaborate on the faults and make a guarantee that you will never do such an absurd thing again!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

As soon as Chen Zi finished speaking, a group of officials from the Censorate stepped forward to second his opinion.

Last time, the censors were severely reprimanded by the young Wanli Emperor for falsely accusing Shen Nian of abusing his power for personal gain, which greatly damaged the image of the censors in the court. Today, having found a loophole in the young Wanli Emperor's record, they are clearly trying to regain the right to speak out for justice.

Censors have always considered it an honor to criticize the emperor.

At present, criticizing the young Wanli Emperor, who has not yet assumed power, is not too costly. However, once he takes power, the cost of criticizing him may be much greater.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at the five Grand Secretaries, who all chose to lower their heads and remain silent.

This matter was indeed wrong for the young Wanli Emperor and clearly violated ancestral rules.

Shen Nian hoped that the young Wanli would sincerely admit his mistake.

A wise and virtuous ruler must be able to be flexible and adaptable, rather than running a one-man show or confusing right and wrong.

The young Wanli Emperor, his face grim, slowly rose from his throne, then put his hands behind his back and said, "Are you forcing me?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not!" The officials who stepped forward all knelt on the ground.

At this moment, the situation reached a stalemate.

Officials, bound by ancestral rules and regulations, believed that the young Wanli Emperor would surely compromise.

If the young Wanli Emperor does not compromise, then it is because the lecturers have not taught well, and the censors have not advised the emperor properly.

They did not want future officials to speak of them in that way.

After hesitating for a moment, the young Wanli Emperor lowered his voice and said, "Let me think about where I went wrong. Let's adjourn the court for today!"

The young Wanli Emperor was trying to save face for himself!

If Chang Chaoshang had admitted his mistake, it would have been recorded in history. He chose to take a roundabout approach, writing an imperial edict in private to explain the matter and admit his mistake, thus ending the affair.

Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard, quite satisfied with this approach taken towards the young Wanli Emperor.

It's already quite good that the young Wanli Emperor bowed his head.

When Chen Kai and the four lecturers below heard the young Wanli say, "Think about where you went wrong," they knew that the young Wanli was willing to compromise, so they stopped pursuing the matter relentlessly.

We still have to give the emperor face.

Just as the young Wanli Emperor was about to leave, a clerk who was kneeling on the ground suddenly stood up and rushed to the front of the officials.

It was only about five steps away from the young Wanli Emperor.

Bang!
He knelt heavily on the ground and then said loudly, "Your Majesty, the court must not be adjourned! I believe that if Your Majesty admits your mistakes in private, your sincerity will be insufficient."

"Your Majesty's actions this time are suspected of defiling your mother's maid, which is a great breach of etiquette. I believe that Your Majesty should swear an oath during the grand sacrifice to Heaven on the seventeenth day of the winter solstice that you will never again do such a thing that shakes the foundation of the country in the Forbidden City!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials were astonished.

Shen Nian couldn't help but widen her eyes and look at the person speaking in front of her, feeling that the latter was crazy.

Absolutely humiliating your mother and maidservant?

How dare they utter such words in the imperial court?

At that moment, everyone recognized him as Wang Zhu, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and immediately felt that it was perfectly normal for him to say such a thing.

Wang Zhu was a typical defender of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.

Stubborn and dogmatic, always taking it upon themselves to inherit the ways of sages and always liking to criticize others from an ethical and moral standpoint.

He is very knowledgeable and has excellent debating skills.

Just now, he used a word that none of the officials had expected: "sexually humiliating a mother's maid."

This crime is far more serious than violating ancestral rules and etiquette.

The term "sexual abuse of a mother's maid" refers to the act of violating the rights of a maidservant who is the mother.

In wealthy families, a mother's maidservants were her private property, and violating a maidservant was an infringement on the mother's authority.

Furthermore, in this patriarchal era, a mother's maidservants were under the father's control, and a son's violation of his mother's maidservants was a transgression against the father's authority and a manifestation of the disordered family hierarchy.

To sexually assault one's mother's maidservant is an act of great filial impiety, violating ethics and disgracing one's elders.

The palace maid surnamed Wang was from the Cining Palace. If Wang Zhu were to associate himself with this crime, it would be plausible that the charge would be close to being established.

Upon hearing this charge, some officials looked at Wang Zhu with reverence.

Censors love to pin a major crime on the emperor and force him to compromise. In this way, they can gain a reputation for "supporting the country and being a king's advisor," and the people will think that "it is not that the emperor is wise enough, but that a certain official is excellent enough."

Zhang Juzheng frowned deeply.

In his eyes, Wang Zhu, who said these words, was a troublemaker who was desperate to make a name for himself in history.

Shen Nian looked at the young Wanli with great interest.

The criticism of a monarch's private morality by censors is a hurdle that every monarch must overcome.

Shen Nian once taught the young Wanli Emperor how to handle these issues.

Currently, refuting Wang Zhu is not difficult.

Whether this matter constituted sexual assault against a maid was up to Empress Dowager Li to decide. The late emperor had passed away, and the entire Forbidden City belonged to the young Wanli Emperor.

Wang Zhu viewed the royal family as an ordinary wealthy household.

Wang Zhu puffed out his chest.

Perhaps it was because the young Wanli Emperor was in the wrong on this matter, and because he had not yet assumed personal rule, that he dared to speak in this way.

Shen Nian hoped that the young Wanli Emperor could refute Wang Zhu, so that he could grow.

Just as Shen Nian was anticipating how the young Wanli would refute her, the young Wanli suddenly shouted, "You wicked minister, how dare you treat the emperor like a child, you deserve to die!"

Say it.

Suddenly, the young Wanli Emperor stepped aside, snatched the golden halberd (a gilded long weapon similar to a halberd) from the General of the Palace Guard, stepped down from the platform, and thrust it directly at Wang Zhu.

Eighteen years old is the time when one is full of energy.

Wang Zhu clearly sensed the murderous intent of the young Wanli Emperor, and immediately stopped kneeling on the ground, stood up and ran towards the back.

Meanwhile, the young Wanli Emperor, wielding a golden halberd, gave chase.

Swish!Swish!Swish!
The young Wanli Emperor brandished his golden halberd, his face filled with murderous intent, showing no regard for the possibility of accidentally injuring the officials beside him.

The officials retreated to the side, and the Imperial Guards behind them dared not seize the young Wanli Emperor's weapon.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!
As the young Wanli Emperor ran, he stabbed Wang Zhu, who retreated in a sorry state, darting among the officials.

His Highness Huangji was immediately thrown into chaos.

The front.

The five cabinet ministers and the group of lecturers all turned pale upon seeing this.

A ruler must avoid letting emotions cloud his judgment.

The Japanese lecturers all felt they had failed, that they had not taught the young Wanli Emperor well, while the five Grand Secretaries felt that, given the young Wanli Emperor's current state, he was still a long way from assuming personal rule.

That's so emotional!
Shen Nian looked helpless, wondering if the matter of the young Wanli Emperor having an affair with a palace maid would be remembered by future generations. However, today's drama of the emperor assassinating his minister would definitely become a laughing stock that future generations would remember.

This is too childish!
This is too childish!

This is such a shoddy production!

"What are you all standing there for? Quickly remove the weapon from His Majesty's hand, capture Wang Zhu immediately, and drive him outside!" Zhang Juzheng shouted.

Immediately, the Imperial Guards and eunuchs dared to rush forward, first stopping the young Wanli Emperor, and then taking the weapons from his hands.

not far away.

Wang Zhu, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was covered in sweat and slumped in the back, panting heavily.

Just now, the young Wanli Emperor truly intended to kill him.

If he hadn't run faster, that golden halberd might have already pierced his chest.

After being persuaded to stop, the young Wanli Emperor paused for a moment, then suddenly sat back on his throne and loudly proclaimed: "A traitorous minister who insults his emperor deserves to die ten thousand times over. The late emperor was given fifty strokes of the cane. Anyone who dares to oppose this will be punished the same way!"

After saying that, the young Wanli walked angrily toward the side hall. He felt guilty about his conduct today and did not want to sit down any longer.

Seeing the chaotic posture of the civil and military officials, Zhang Juzheng said, "Disperse! Disperse!"

Zhang Juzheng was very angry.

I never imagined that the usually orderly court could turn into this in the blink of an eye.

Immediately, Zhang Juzheng strode outside.

When he reached Wang Zhu, he was being dragged to court by two Imperial Guards.

"Your Excellency, save me! Your Excellency, save me!" Wang Zhu shouted.

Zhang Juzheng glared at him, then looked at the two Imperial Guards and said, "Beat them hard, as long as they don't die!"

After saying this, Zhang Juzheng left the chaotic area.

Wang Jiaping, who was in charge of writing the daily records today, muttered, "There's something to write in today's daily records, but it's a mess, and in the end, there's still no conclusion!"

……

A moment later, all the officials dispersed.

After the five cabinet ministers returned to the cabinet, they gathered in the council chamber on the second floor of the cabinet office.

"Disgraceful! Disgraceful! Never before has the court been so chaotic, with His Majesty even about to assassinate his own ministers!" Yin Zhengmao said in extreme anger.

The pedantic scholar Wang Zhu was detestable, but the young Wanli Emperor disappointed the five Grand Secretaries.

Given his current state, if he were to assume personal rule next year, court assemblies would likely turn into brawls.

"So, how should we resolve this matter?" Shen Shixing asked.

Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and said, "The accusation of sexually assaulting a maid is pure nonsense, but the other crimes are established. After today's commotion, I feel that Your Majesty has gone too far and there is a real need to make him swear an oath to Heaven at the Winter Solstice Grand Sacrifice on the seventeenth day!"

After saying that, Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Nian.

“Ziheng, you must persuade His Majesty. There is no room for negotiation this time!” Zhang Juzheng said solemnly.

Zhang Juzheng loved order and valued Confucianism on the outside and Legalism on the inside. He was extremely disappointed by the chaotic state of the court today.

He disliked officials who sought fame and sold their honesty.

He disliked even more the emperor, whom he had taught for over ten years, for being so willful and unreliable.

Shen Nian nodded and said, "Okay, I'll do my best!"

Zhang Juzheng looked at everyone and said, "As the year draws to a close, we must ensure the orderly operation of all government offices in the capital. I do not want a fight like today to happen again in the officialdom. Otherwise, how will we face the late Emperor and Emperor Shizong in the future!"

"Yes!" Yin Zhengmao, Shen Nian, Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue bowed in unison.

……

Wang Zhu, a censor of the Ministry of Rites under the Huangji Gate, was beaten half to death after being flogged fifty times.

Four imperial guards lifted him onto a stretcher, preparing to take him to the clinic.

They knew that the current rule of the court was that officials who spoke out could not be beaten to death, no matter what they said.

If they were beaten to death, it would make it seem like the censors were in the right!

at this time.

Wang Zhu awoke from his coma and murmured, "I've done it! I've done it! I'm going to be remembered in history!"

At that moment, two eunuchs suddenly walked up quickly from behind.

A eunuch shouted, "By order of the Empress Dowager, give this man ten slaps!"

Immediately, another eunuch grabbed Wang Zhu by the collar and began slapping him.

It made a crackling sound, very crisp.

The way the young Wanli Emperor dismissed his ministers and Empress Dowager Li with slaps reveals that the Ming Dynasty, encompassing two capitals, thirteen provinces, and millions of people, was referred to by the young Wanli Emperor and Empress Dowager Li as the "Zhu Family."

The Zhu family has always been willful and disregards the law.

Zhang Juzheng knew he couldn't change anything, but Shen Nian wanted to.

After this incident, Zhang Juzheng no longer dared to expect the young Wanli Emperor to be like Yao and Shun; he only hoped that he could listen to the advice of virtuous ministers and, if not become a wise ruler, at least be a benevolent ruler who listened to advice. (End of Chapter)