I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

During a regular court session, the young Wanli Emperor brandished a weapon and stabbed a censor.

This matter was like the raging northwest wind in the winter months of the capital, which swept across the entire capital overnight.

The discussion was heated both in official circles and among the general public.

Some believe that the young Wanli Emperor was immoral and disrespectful, and that his use of weapons and force was not the behavior of a wise ruler.

Some people believe that the claim that "officials who speak out treat the monarch like children and sexually assault his mother's maid" is indeed infuriating.

Some people believe that the discord between the emperor and his ministers in the imperial court is a sign of the gradual decline of the world.

Some people even had ulterior motives: the monarch's lack of virtue was actually the fault of the lecturers, and a large number of lecturers should be replaced, while they themselves were capable of taking on the role.

Of course, there are also some people who treat this as just a spectacle.

They felt that if Wang Zhu, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, were assassinated by the young Wanli Emperor during the regular court session, the farce in the court would be even more dramatic.

The monarch is the role model for all people, and everything he does is scrutinized and discussed by officials and the people.

Not to mention such a momentous event that has shaken the imperial court!
……

November 2nd, early morning.

All the lecturers and the young Wanli Emperor requested leave from each other, citing "minor health issues."

The real reason might be that the Japanese lecturers were worried that the emotionally unstable young Wanli would stab them, and the young Wanli was worried that the Japanese lecturers would bring up yesterday's events again, so he couldn't help but stab them.

……

Around noon, the cabinet was on duty.

Shen Nian flipped through the small newspapers compiled by Wang Jia, the Imperial Secretary, and a helpless smile appeared on her face.

Those scholars in the countryside who make a living by writing tabloids know how to attract attention and how to sell their articles for money.

Their focus was not on serious issues such as "the young Wanli Emperor interfering with the contents of the 'Daily Records of the Emperor' and violating ancestral rules and etiquette," nor did they think there was anything wrong with "the emperor having private relations with palace women," and they did not discuss the rationality of "sexually abusing his mother's maid."

They were analyzing the root cause of the "emperor frequently assassinating his ministers" incident, and they were speaking from the perspective of the young Wanli Emperor.

They believed that the root cause of this incident was the weakening of imperial power and the greater power of ministers, which was due to the fact that the young Wanli Emperor had never personally ruled.

If the young Wanli Emperor had taken personal control of the government, the lecturers and censors would never have dared to force him to admit his mistakes in court, and no radical censor would have dared to utter words like "sexually assaulting his mother's maid."

Such tabloid content is the easiest to pass the censorship of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Some of these tabloids might even have been written by people hired by the Embroidered Uniform Guard under the young Wanli Emperor.

Of course, there were also defenders of Neo-Confucianism who defended Wang Zhu, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, saying that he dared to remonstrate with the emperor, and that his words shocked the court, making him a true remonstrating minister of the time.

At the same time, Shen Nian also saw a message.

Yesterday at dusk, Wang Zhu, suffering from both a festering sore backside and a foul mouth, declared at his doorstep that even if he were beaten to death at the Huangji Gate, he would still speak frankly to the emperor and would still utter those words.

When someone asked him why he ran away if he wasn't afraid of death, he replied...

With his neck stiffened and his mouth agape from being punched, he said, "If I am stabbed to death by His Majesty, my name will be recorded in history, but His Majesty's reputation will be ruined. A subject cannot harm his sovereign."

These words drew a wave of support.

Even if someone is criticized, they're still considered popular, and there are quite a few people who fawn over such people.

……

While Shen Nian was paying attention to public opinion in official circles and among the people, the young Wanli Emperor and the other Grand Secretaries were naturally also paying attention to this public opinion.

Even if we take a small view of what happened yesterday, it was still a breach of etiquette by the monarch in court.

The young Wanli Emperor refused to compromise and remained silent.

He waited for the officials to approach him, while Zhang Juzheng handed the matter over to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian's task was to make the young Wanli Emperor swear an oath to admit his mistakes during the grand sacrifice to Heaven on the winter solstice, the seventeenth day of the lunar calendar.

Shen Nian agreed to Zhang Juzheng's request on the spot because he felt that the matter had escalated to this point and only this way could bring it to a close.

Unlike the edict of self-reproach, which was an apology on behalf of Heaven, the apology given at the winter sacrifice was a very serious apology.

Getting the young Wanli Emperor to agree was no easy task.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Nian decided to give Xiao Wanli another serious lesson.

……

Afternoon, outside the Wenhua Hall.

The winter sun shines brightly.

The young Wanli Emperor and Shen Nian walked one after the other on the cobblestone path.

This was a private, frequent time for teacher-student chats, reserved only for the two of them.

After walking for about 15 minutes, Shen Nian broke the silence first.

"Your Majesty, what is your opinion of people like Wang Zhu, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites?"

Upon hearing the name Wang Zhu, the young Wanli Emperor's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "A nitpicker, a self-serving and arrogant pedant, a pedantic and nauseating scholar!"

In this situation, in front of Shen Nian, the young Wanli Emperor reveals his true self.

“Your Majesty is right. Why didn’t Your Majesty say that in the regular court session yesterday?” Shen Nian asked, stopping in his tracks with a puzzled expression.

"what?"

Emperor Wanli was taken aback, not expecting Shen Nian to support his rebuke of the officials in court.

He thought Shen Nian had come to force him to admit his mistake.

Shen Nian continued, "Wang Zhu's claim of 'sexually abusing his mother's maid' is utter nonsense. Everything in the Forbidden City is subordinate to His Majesty. His Majesty only needs to summon the Empress Dowager to resolve this charge. Afterward, His Majesty can rebuke Wang Zhu, and he will surely have no rebuttal. After court, His Majesty can write a document accusing Wang Zhu of interfering with the 'Daily Records of the Inner Court' and inform the officials. As long as the attitude is good, this matter will be over!"

"However, Your Majesty chose to pursue and kill the official with weapons. This was not only reckless and impolite, but it also enhanced Wang Zhu's reputation for outspokenness. I believe Your Majesty's performance yesterday was abnormal, and you were too careless in protecting yourself!"

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor felt a warmth in his heart.

He admitted that he had lost his composure yesterday, but he never expected that Shen Nian would only see it as: underperforming and not knowing how to protect himself.

All the officials wanted to blame him, but only Shen Nian cared about him.

"Yes...it was my recklessness. I acted impulsively and forgot that I should have refuted him in this way!" The young Wanli Emperor slightly pursed his lips, feeling that he had not performed well in court yesterday, as there were clearly better ways to resolve the issue.

By brandishing a weapon and stabbing the official who dared to speak out, he appeared to be in a fit of rage, and in doing so, he also gave the despicable Wang Zhu a reputation for speaking frankly and remonstrating with the emperor.

"When Your Majesty assumes personal rule in the future, you will inevitably encounter all sorts of aggressive officials who may say or do anything. Your Majesty should think carefully before acting and learn how to protect yourself, rather than turning a right mistake into a wrong one, or a small mistake into a big one."

“Actions such as flogging officials, personally taking action, or refusing to attend court in anger are not ways to solve problems but will only exacerbate them and ruin Your Majesty’s reputation.”

"Your Majesty's recent public apology to the officials who dared to speak out has had a huge negative impact! Grand Secretary Zhang and all the lecturers feel very guilty for not teaching Your Majesty well over the years, and I also feel very guilty... In addition, Your Majesty's actions yesterday will probably make all the civil and military officials fearful. In that case, which official will dare to speak the truth, and which official will dare to get close to Your Majesty!"

“When Your Majesty assumes full power, it will be impossible for you to do everything personally. You will need the support of the entire court. If Your Majesty wants to be more relaxed and at ease after assuming power, you must make the officials feel that Your Majesty is reliable and that Your Majesty is a wise and magnanimous ruler who knows how to appoint people.”

……

Shen Nian used a non-preachy approach to advise and, from the perspective of the young Wanli Emperor, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages.

After hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor pondered for a moment, and then said, "It was my fault, it was my fault!"

Hearing this, Shen Nian felt relieved.

This was what he was waiting for.

He was relieved that the young Wanli Emperor was still a ruler who listened to advice.

To make the young Wanli Emperor admit his mistakes, you must make him truly realize his errors, rather than forcing him to admit them.

After the young Wanli Emperor had calmed down, Shen Nian asked, "Your Majesty, what are your plans for resolving this matter?"

The young Wanli Emperor hesitated for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"At this point, it is probably impossible for me to resolve this matter privately and downplay the seriousness of the situation. I must give the people an explanation, otherwise some people will really think that my actions were an act of defiling my mother's maid!"

The young Wanli Emperor cared deeply about his reputation, but clearly did not want to admit his mistakes and back down in court.

"Shen Qing, what suggestions do you have? I will listen to you!" The young Wanli Emperor looked at Shen Nian.

Shen Nian said, "The most precious quality of an emperor is the willingness to admit and correct his mistakes. I suggest that Your Majesty admit to making small mistakes but admitting to big ones."

"Admitting a big mistake after making a small one? What does that mean?"

Shen Nian said, “Your Majesty’s mistakes are only twofold. First, interfering with the writing of the ‘Daily Records of the Inner Court’ is suspected of violating ancestral rules and etiquette. Second, holding weapons and stabbing officials who speak out during court sessions is a breach of etiquette during court sessions.”

The young Wanli Emperor nodded in approval.

He believed that he had made only these two kinds of mistakes, and as for having an affair with a palace maid, it was a mistake that he did not need to admit to at all.

Compared to the late emperor, his private life was much cleaner.

"If Your Majesty admits these two mistakes in court, officials and the people will only feel that Your Majesty is truly wrong, and that Your Majesty was forced to admit the mistake by a group of virtuous and upright ministers."

"However, if Your Majesty chooses to swear an oath to admit your mistakes during the grand sacrifice to Heaven on the winter solstice of this month, the impact will be completely different. The officials will definitely submit memorials praising Your Majesty, and the people will also praise Your Majesty for having the demeanor of a sage ruler. In addition, most importantly... it will make everyone in the world feel that Your Majesty has matured!"

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor was first taken aback, then his eyes lit up.

The two mistakes he made did not harm the people's hearts or the country; they were merely caused by momentary impulses.

If one makes a minor mistake but admits it during the grand winter solstice sacrifice, demonstrating respect for the occasion, one can definitely win over the hearts of ministers and the people, and prove one's magnanimity.

More importantly, his frequent visits to court to criticize officials have led many officials to believe that he is too naive and impulsive, which may delay the time when he takes personal control of the government.

If he can admit his mistake during the Winter Solstice Grand Sacrifice, he will definitely change his image in the eyes of the officials.

After all, it's obvious to everyone that his mistake wasn't significant and didn't warrant such a profound apology.

Admitting mistakes doesn't necessarily ruin one's image or undermine imperial authority; sometimes it can even have a positive effect.

Once he admits his mistake, the lecturer will be deemed to have no fault, the censors will stop being so aggressive, and he will not be seen as so naive by the scholars and literati.

The young Wanli Emperor suddenly understood.

"Shen Qing, I have made my decision. I will apologize at the Winter Solstice Grand Sacrifice and announce it at the morning court tomorrow. At the same time, I will also have the Empress Dowager explain for me that although my actions were wrong, they were absolutely not an act of sexually assaulting my mother's maid!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Shen Nian bowed deeply.

Shen Nian paused for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, after the crime of sexually assaulting your mother's maid is cleared tomorrow, the ministers will surely support Your Majesty. Then, Wang Zhu, the supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, will definitely submit a memorial admitting his mistake. What will Your Majesty do next?"

A smile appeared on the face of the young Wanli Emperor.

“Even if an official speaks frankly and is wrong, he should not be punished. Besides, the Empress Dowager and I have already punished him, so I will not punish him again. I will also order someone to send him some wound medicine!”

When the young Wanli Emperor uttered the second half of the sentence, a look of disgust appeared on his face.

An hour ago, he had been looking for a reason to expel Wang Zhu from the capital, but after Shen Nian's intervention, in order to be a wise ruler, he chose not to make a fuss with him. However, he would certainly not give Wang Zhu a good face in the future.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Shen Nian exclaimed.

……

A moment later, Shen Nian bid farewell to the young Wanli Emperor and headed towards the Cabinet Office.

At this moment, he felt completely relaxed, both physically and mentally.

Fortunately, the young Wanli Emperor listened to advice, and fortunately, he understood the young Wanli Emperor's feelings. Otherwise, if he had rashly proposed to admit his mistake during the winter sacrifice, the young Wanli Emperor might have refused to attend court or perform the suburban sacrifice in anger.

……

Shen Nian returned to the cabinet office and had just sat down in a chair.

Yin Zhengmao, Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue then walked in.

"Ziheng, how is it?"

All three knew that it would be very difficult to get the stubborn young Wanli to apologize during the winter solstice sacrifice.

Among the officials in the court, only Zhang Juzheng could pressure them, and Shen Nian could persuade them.

"Ugh!"

Shen Nian sighed and picked up her teacup to take a sip of tea.

Just when Yin Zhengmao and the other two thought they had failed, Shen Nian smiled and said, "It's done!"

The three were overjoyed.

"Ziheng, you are truly a pillar of the court!" Shen Shixing said excitedly.

With the young Wanli Emperor making such a statement, the rift between the emperor and his ministers will be quickly healed. If the lecturers and remonstrators still don't know how to back down when they see this opportunity, they would be complete fools!
At this time.

Zhang Juzheng took a long detour and "just happened" to pass by Shen Nian's duty room. Upon hearing laughter inside, he couldn't help but puff out his chest, stroke his beard, and quickly pass by the door.

The reason he ordered Shen Nian to do this was...

It wasn't that he thought Shen Nian was confident, but rather that he felt Shen Nian was at least more confident than him.

The relationship between the young Wanli Emperor and the two men was different.

Aside from the relationship between the emperor and his subject, the young Wanli Emperor's relationship with Zhang Juzheng was like that of a teacher and father, and his relationship with Shen Nian was like that of a teacher and a friend.

As an adult, the young Wanli Emperor preferred to listen to the advice of his friends rather than the teachings of his teachers.

……

On the third day of the eleventh month, in the early morning, Chang Chao followed the usual routine.

The young Wanli Emperor first had officials from the Office of Transmission read aloud the imperial edicts of the two empress dowagers, clearing him of the charge of "sexually assaulting his mother's maid."

The five Grand Secretaries stepped forward to argue that while the young Wanli Emperor had made mistakes, they were absolutely not guilty of "sexually assaulting his mother's maid," and they cited classical texts to explain their position.

after that.

Last night, officials from the three judicial departments, who had been instructed by the cabinet, also spoke out to explain that the charge of "sexually assaulting a mother's maid" was pure nonsense.

Immediately afterwards, the young Wanli Emperor spoke, first saying that he had indeed acted impulsively in court the day before, and then saying that although Wang Zhu, the supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, had made mistakes in his remonstrance, he was fulfilling his duty and would not be punished. He also ordered an eunuch to send him wound medicine while he was recuperating in bed.

Just when many officials thought that the young Wanli Emperor would apologize a few more times for interfering with the contents of the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Reign" and violating ancestral rules and etiquette, and that the matter would be over.

Emperor Wanli declared loudly: "My interference in the contents of the 'Daily Records of the Emperor' is especially wrong, as it involves concealing the matter of the heir to the throne, which violates ancestral rules and rites. Apologizing in court is insufficient to awaken me, let alone satisfy the officials and the people. I have decided to swear an apology on the day of the Winter Solstice Grand Sacrifice on the 17th, and guarantee that such violations of ancestral rules and rites will not happen again."

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingbang and other lecturers, along with a group of censors, were all incredulous.

Admitting his mistakes at court was a compromise by the young Wanli Emperor, but to swear an oath to apologize for those mistakes at the Winter Solstice Grand Sacrifice, showing sincerity, was the behavior of a wise ruler.

At that moment, they felt that the young Wanli Emperor had become a great figure, an emperor with a broad mind, a grand vision, and great wisdom.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

With Zhang Juzheng's shout, all the officials in the court began to shout as well. They not only had to shout, but they also had to write memorials later to praise the young Wanli Emperor's actions.

Looking at the sincere praise from the court officials, the young Wanli Emperor felt that his choice was correct.

In conflicts between ruler and subject, sometimes a simple act of humility from the ruler can lead to a win-win situation.

In the afternoon, officials' memorials of praise drifted into the Wenhua Hall like snowflakes.

Soon, news of the young Wanli Emperor's decision reached the common people.

The scholars and intellectuals found it incredible, but faced with this, they could only praise it.

Only a wise and virtuous ruler could do such a thing.

Upon hearing the decision of the young Wanli Emperor and receiving the wound medicine sent by the young emperor's eunuch, Wang Zhu, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, excitedly got out of bed.

Despite the pain, he ran to the courtyard, knelt down facing the direction of the Wenhua Hall, and kowtowed to express his gratitude for the emperor's grace.

Although this type of remonstrating official is pedantic and stubborn, always thinking about leaving a mark on history, if the emperor can use him in the right place, he is capable of putting in the effort to sacrifice himself for the country.

For the next few days, the morning court sessions and daily lectures continued as usual.

Duke Dingguo, Xu Wenbi, and the Ministry of Rites began preparations for the grand winter solstice sacrifice.

Last year, Emperor Wanli had a meritorious official represent him at this event, and then exempted all officials from celebrating the completion of the ceremony. However, this year, Emperor Wanli had to swear an oath to admit his mistakes, so he went in person.

……

November 17th, the winter solstice, at dawn.

The weather is getting colder.

The young Wanli Emperor, dressed in imperial robes and riding in a jade carriage, arrived at the Circular Mound Altar south of Zhengyang Gate, protected by a host of officials, meritorious ministers, and guards.

Soon, the ritual music began, and the grand sacrifice officially commenced.

The young Wanli Emperor burned incense and performed four bows before the altar to welcome the gods, followed by various elaborate rituals.

Before the final step of sending off the gods, the young Wanli knelt before the altar and began to make an oath.

The five Grand Secretaries, a host of meritorious officials, and censors all stood by to witness the event.

"I, Zhu Yijun, with a trembling heart, bow my head and prostrate myself before the Heavenly Emperor, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the ancestors and the state."

"Heaven establishes a ruler to govern all people, and bestows upon history the pen to reflect the rise and fall of dynasties. The records of daily life, both inside and outside the court, are the pivot of the true record of heaven and earth, and the mirror of the good and evil of the ruler and his ministers... May Heaven show mercy, and may our ancestors have compassion, and grant me the courage to correct my mistakes..."

After making his vow, the young Wanli Emperor burned incense and bowed again, displaying a very devout attitude.

After the sacrificial ceremony ended, it was nearly noon. After the young Wanli Emperor returned to the palace, the court officials once again submitted a memorial praising him.

Subsequently, to celebrate the completion of the grand sacrificial ceremony, Emperor Wanli presented Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng with a nine-grade meal and seven bottles of bamboo leaf wine; he also presented Yin Zhengmao, Shen Shixing, Shen Nian, and Wang Xijue with a seven-grade meal and five bottles of bamboo leaf wine, and other meritorious officials, censors, and lecturers with various meals and wines.

Thus, this farcical court session came to a complete end, and the relationship between the emperor and his ministers remained as stable as ever.

……

November 21st.

The Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial stating that Zhang Juzheng, who served as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and Grand Secretary of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, had completed his twelve-year term as a first-rank official.

Upon seeing this news, Emperor Wanli immediately dispatched a clerk to bestow upon Zhang Juzheng the following gifts: 100 taels of silver, four layers of silk fabric (including one inner layer of a large red python robe), one inner layer of a python robe, 10,000 strings of cash, five tables of tea and rice, ten sheep, and fifty bottles of wine.

In addition, the eunuch Fang Ping from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was dispatched to read out an imperial edict thanking Zhang Juzheng for his contributions to the court and, on the grounds that Zhang Juzheng had served in the cabinet for fifteen years, to reward him with an additional 200 shi of rice per year.

Such a great favor was truly generous, and Zhang Juzheng immediately submitted a memorial to express his gratitude.

However, this is not over yet.

After Zhang Juzheng expressed his gratitude, the young Wanli Emperor issued another decree to the Ministry of Rites, stating that Zhang Juzheng had worked day and night for the public good and had served in the cabinet for fifteen years, with merits far exceeding those of ordinary officials, and ordered the Ministry of Personnel to continue to bestow honors upon him in accordance with the established rites.

After some consideration, Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Personnel, decided to proceed.

Please grant Zhang Juzheng the title of Grand Pillar of State, and also grant him the title of Grand Tutor, which he declined last year. All his concurrent official positions shall remain unchanged, and one of his sons shall be appointed as the Vice Director of the Imperial Seal Office.

Emperor Wanli immediately agreed and, after issuing the edict, specifically informed Zhang Juzheng that he could not refuse.

Zhang Juzheng was greatly surprised when he received the imperial decree.

Grand Tutor, one of the Three Dukes, is a first-rank official and the highest position an official can hold during their lifetime.

The title of "Shangzhuguo" (上柱国), a first-rank official honorary title, was the highest honor bestowed upon top meritorious officials by the Ming Dynasty.

To obtain even one of these is to reach the highest position in the court.

Zhang Juzheng immediately submitted a memorial, accepting the position of "Grand Tutor" that he had previously declined, but resigning from the position of "Shangzhuguo".

If he held both positions, he would truly be the top Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty.

He dares not accept this honorary title at the moment.

Furthermore, if one acquires both honorary titles during one's lifetime, there is no room for posthumous conferment, leaving only a posthumous title. Therefore, a subject should leave himself some room for advancement.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng submitted three memorials in succession, requesting to resign as Grand Pillar of State, and the young Wanli Emperor had no choice but to agree.

When many officials learned that Zhang Juzheng had accepted the position of "Grand Tutor," they knew that Zhang Juzheng was not far from retiring.

……

In the blink of an eye, it was December.

The weather is getting colder.

A few light snowflakes fell sporadically in the capital, melting as soon as they touched the ground.

More and more merchants are coming to the capital for the Lunar New Year or using the capital as a transit point to shop before returning home.

December 4th, afternoon.

In the cabinet duty room.

Apart from Shen Nian, the four cabinet ministers sat at their respective desks, glancing outside from time to time, their minds completely unable to focus on the memorials.

Even Zhang Juzheng was not in the mood to review the memorials at this moment, and kept pacing back and forth, looking towards the inner court.

Not only the four Grand Secretaries, but also officials from various government offices in the capital were out of sorts this afternoon, constantly glancing towards the inner court.

The officials all had one thing in common: Empress Wang was about to give birth!
If Empress Wang were to give birth to a son, he would be the eldest legitimate son of the Ming Dynasty, who would most likely become the crown prince. If the Ming Dynasty had such an eldest legitimate son, it would mean that the Ming Dynasty would be more secure, and the young Wanli Emperor would inevitably become more stable after becoming a father.

Everyone is looking forward to it.

Shen Nian wasn't nervous at all because he knew the outcome of today's events, but he also hoped that his appearance would create a butterfly effect on the Ming Dynasty, and maybe he would even be born a boy!

Some officials who were eager to submit memorials had prepared two congratulatory memorials, one for the birth of the prince and the other for the birth of the princess.

……

The inner court, Empress Wang's bedroom, namely Kunning Palace.

The two empress dowagers and the young Wanli Emperor waited anxiously in their bedchamber.

The two empress dowagers had experienced this many times. They also hoped it would be a prince, but if it was a princess, they would celebrate according to the rites for a princess.

After all, the young Wanli Emperor was only eighteen years old, and this was Empress Wang's first child; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

They only hoped that the fetus would be safe and that the Empress would be safe.

These days, childbirth is a very dangerous thing for women.

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor was extremely excited.

It paces back and forth from time to time.

Influenced by Shen Nianchong's daughter and Shen's wife's frequent visits to banquets in the inner palace, the young Wanli Emperor did not have much attachment to his son.

I'm happy whether it's a son or a daughter.

He was excited because he was about to become a father.

It was approaching Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Amidst everyone's anxious waiting, a clear, crisp cry rang out from inside the bedchamber.

The two empress dowagers and the young Wanli Emperor hurriedly went inside.

The midwife announced the good news: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress has given birth to a princess! Mother and daughter are safe and sound!"

Empress Dowager Li glanced at the baby first, then went over to look at the pale-faced Empress Wang, grasped her hand, and said, "You've worked hard!"

The young Wanli Emperor excitedly picked up the baby, then looked at Empress Wang and said, "Reward! Reward the Empress handsomely!"

Emperor Wanli was completely incapable of making women happy, and he probably didn't need to.

Soon, the news of the birth of the eldest daughter to the young Wanli Emperor spread throughout the various government offices in the capital. Although the officials were somewhat disappointed, they still submitted memorials to congratulate him.

Whether one has a son or a daughter depends entirely on fate; perhaps the next child will be a prince.

……

On the fifth day of the twelfth month, the young Wanli Emperor bestowed gifts upon the five Grand Secretaries and a group of lecturers on the occasion of the birth of his imperial daughter.

On the seventh day of the twelfth month, Emperor Wanli, on the grounds that the princess had been born for three days, bestowed gifts upon Empress Wang's father's family. The two empress dowagers also bestowed gifts upon the eunuchs of Kunning Palace.

The birth of a son in the royal family during the New Year is a joyous occasion for the entire Ming Dynasty.

……

On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, in the afternoon, a heavy snow covered the entire capital city.

The snow was exceptionally heavy, with snowflakes the size of copper coins falling from the afternoon until dawn the next day.

As dawn approached, snow continued to fall sporadically, covering everything in a pristine white.

on the road.

Soldiers from the Five Cities Garrison, yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture, and shop assistants from shops along the street began shoveling snow as the snowfall subsided.

Because of the heavy snowfall, the officials did not need to go to the government office in the morning.

Shen Nian then joined her son Shen Yanche and daughter Shen Zhiyi in building a snowman in the yard.

After lunch, they took a carriage to the cabinet.

By this time, the snow on the main streets of the capital had been cleared.

Shen Nian sat inside the carriage, holding a hand warmer in her hands and stepping on a bronze foot warmer.

He felt a bit stuffy, so he immediately opened the car window.

call!
A gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes blew into the window, making Shen Nian feel a chill on her neck, but it also made her feel much more alert.

He looked out the window and suddenly saw many horse-drawn carriages on the road, all heading west.

"Erhu, the heavy snow has just stopped, why are there so many carriages on the road heading west?" Shen Nian asked.

Erhu was the one who drove the carriage. He had driven the carriage for Shen's father before. After Shen's father returned to Qiantang, he drove the carriage for Shen Nian. Behind the carriage, there were several guards on horseback following behind.

When cabinet ministers travel, bodyguards must accompany them.

Erhu turned his head and said, "Reporting to the master, they are all going to see the snow in the Western Hills. The snow in the Western Hills is a famous sight in the capital. In the twelfth lunar month, when it is a quiet time, rich people are willing to see something new!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian wore an envious expression.

Although he was a high-ranking official and had the leisure and refined taste, he simply did not have the time.

In recent years, people's lifestyle has gradually shifted from daily labor to enjoyment. Things like listening to music, traveling, collecting, and appreciating flowers, insects, fish, and birds are all things that people love.

Xishan is not a single mountain.

It is a general term for a continuous mountain range in the western suburbs of the capital, including Fragrant Hills, Jade Spring Hill, and Longevity Hill.

The Xishan area has hundreds of temples and monasteries. The mountains are beautiful, and one can enjoy spring outings, summer retreats, autumn hikes, and winter snow viewing.

Now, heavy snow covers the western mountains, pressing down on the rocks and branches.

After the rain clears, the world is covered in a blanket of snow. Brewing tea, admiring the snow, and chatting around the fire at night is a truly delightful experience.

In addition, it only takes half a day by carriage to get from the city to the Western Hills, so wealthy people in the capital who appreciate elegance like to travel to the Western Hills.

Some people even stay for two or three months at a time.

Shen Nian murmured, "I hope it snows heavily during the New Year, so I can take my whole family to see the snow-covered Western Hills and brew tea around the stove."

……

At dusk that day.

As Shen Nian was leaving the office and returning home, the heavy snow began to fall again.

The teahouses and restaurants in the streets and alleys of Beijing, including some small eateries, were all steaming with plenty of customers.

December is the peak season for consumption for all people in the Ming Dynasty. In some famous restaurants in the capital, you need to make a reservation at least half a month in advance, plus you need to be rich and have connections to reserve a private room.

Shen Nian disliked eating out and socializing, so he always went home as soon as he finished his work at the yamen.

He was quite pleased to see the bustling scene along the streets of the capital.

A bustling atmosphere indicates a prosperous city and wealthy people; this is a sign of a golden age.

……

The following day, the winter sun shone brightly, bringing a clear and sunny day.

However, as the snow melts, the weather becomes increasingly cold.

Shen Nian arrived at the warm inner chambers and thought that this kind of weather was perfect for going to the West Mountain to see the snow, brewing tea around the stove in the afternoon, reading a leisurely book or playing chess with friends, and then warming a pot of good wine in the evening, drinking it and going to sleep comfortably. It was simply the greatest pleasure in the world.

Shen Nian made herself happy all day by relying on this imagination.

As dusk approached, just as Shen Nian was preparing to go home for a steaming hot pot meal, Wang Jia, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, strode in.

"Your Excellency, at noon today, a young male corpse was found beside a stream in the Xishan area of ​​Shuntian Prefecture. Upon investigation, it was determined that he was killed by a firearm. Experts from the Imperial Household Department's Armory, the Ministry of Works' Ordnance Bureau, and the Beijing Garrison's Shenji Battalion, all familiar with firearms, went to confirm the case. They all stated that the person was likely killed by a lightning bolt gun, but this is only a possibility at present... We cannot rule out the possibility that it was a privately manufactured firearm. Wang Youtang of the Ministry of War has already led Zhao Shizhen, the instructor of the Firearms Battalion, to Shuntian Prefecture for identification!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian frowned.

The Ming Dynasty strictly controlled firearms, imposing strict regulations on civilians regarding everything from materials (copper, iron, saltpeter) to technology (alloy ratios, mold manufacturing).

Very few people could actually make them in secret, and those who did would be prosecuted for treason.

Today, there are only four places in the entire Shuntian Prefecture that manufacture and use firearms: the Inner Court Weapon Bureau, the Ministry of Works Ordnance Bureau, the Beijing Garrison Shenji Battalion, and the Ministry of War Firearms Battalion, and all the firearms are marked.

If the first three government departments all mentioned that the weapon used to kill might be the "lightning bolt gun," then only the Ministry of War's Firearms Battalion possessed the lightning bolt gun.

Currently, the electric musket has not yet been mass-produced, and each one is marked so that no one can take it out of the firearms battalion.

If it is taken away for personal use or if someone makes a stun gun without authorization, then this is a serious matter.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and said, "Prepare a carriage immediately and go to Shuntian Prefecture!"

As the Minister of War, all matters concerning firearms were within Shen Nian's responsibilities. (End of Chapter)