Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Emperor Zhaoming’s Achilles’ heel may not necessarily be Lin Daiyu.

Instead, he showed his importance to Lin Daiyu, but some people still dared to set their sights on her.

This is contempt for him and indifference to Long Wei!

If you come to him in person and kneel down to ask for his hand in marriage, he might actually consider it.

But he could not tolerate the fact that while he was acting like a naive young boy imitating a young girl, he was secretly doing the impudent act of stroking the tiger's whiskers.

Even a son cannot challenge the authority of an emperor!

"Go and tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the emperor's death was caused by grief over the death of the crown prince.

"I feel guilty for not having any children in the past seven years, which has reduced the joy of the Emperor enjoying his grandchildren. I want to hold a beauty pageant after a year of mourning.

"Order the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make all necessary preparations. All daughters of officials above the seventh rank, aged thirteen to eighteen, must come to the capital to be selected unless I personally issue a special decree!"

Emperor Zhaoming sneered, "I used to be too lazy to have too many children in this palace, so as to prevent siblings from killing each other in the future.

"Since some people are relying on me to make a choice, I will let them see how many choices I have!"

Tao Xingjian said bitterly: "Your Majesty, please don't be impulsive! We still have to fight...

"Where did Curry get the money to hold such a big draft?

"Just scare them in Beijing, don't bother the officials from other places..."

Emperor Zhaoming sneered: "Aren't the Kou family and the Dou family both out of town?!"

Tao Xingjian opened his mouth, sighed, and then closed it again.

Well, I'm really annoyed this time.

A month passed.

The two intertwined cases of treason were finally tried and finally resolved, and the punishments were ranked according to the severity of the crimes, with neither collective punishment nor leniency.

Because several of the main culprits had committed suicide, they were only allowed to "return their bodies to their hometowns and be buried as common people."

As for the other surviving accomplices, their punishments varied from exile to military service.

There was only one person, Jia Hua, Jia Yucun. Emperor Zhaoming was disgusted by his fence-sitting and fawning on everyone. He also hated him for repaying kindness with enmity and secretly harming the Lin family. He rejected Master Zhitong's suggestion of "exile three thousand miles away" and instead wrote with his own hand a line of words in red ink: "There is no one who corrupts the morals of the world more than this beast. He shall be cut into pieces with a thousand knives!"

At this point, a tortuous drama of light and darkness that lasted for decades has finally come to an end.

Zhai Daogong also gave Emperor Zhaoming two days of rest before he compiled a general charter of various systems for the relocation and burial of the Supreme Emperor and submitted it to him.

Emperor Zhaoming felt dizzy when he looked at the thick stack of documents. He unhappily called Zhai Daogong into the imperial study and asked him to "summarize" it.

Zhai Daogong scratched the back of his head, then scratched his chin, then said, "We must follow the emperor's example.

"As for the matter of presiding over the ceremony, the emperor's uncle should be the chief priest according to the rules.

“That’s because the previous emperor passed away, and the new emperor has not yet held the succession ceremony, so the emperor’s uncle took over.

"Your Majesty has been on the throne for many years now, so I will let Your Majesty preside over this ceremony."

Emperor Zhaoming nodded: "This is as it should be."

"Thank you for your hard work, Chief Priest. Your Majesty's filial piety moves heaven and earth, so you don't complain about the hard work." Zhai Daogong was obviously flattering, and then changed his serious look to get down to business.

"Originally, all the princes should have been included in the sacrifice, but the Seventh Prince is young and may not be able to bear the burden.

"So after repeated discussions with my colleagues in the Ministry of Rites, we decided to invite two or three princes to represent you and stand on your Majesty's left and right sides."

Emperor Zhaoming narrowed his eyes, looked him over, and suddenly asked, "You also went to the temporary palace and met the second prince. What do you think of his ability?"

Zhai Daogong lowered his head, not daring to let the emperor see his face: "Although the Second Prince is not very clever, he is loyal, honest and humble, and is highly praised by everyone."

Not very clever - stupid.

Honest and modest - simple-minded and easily influenced by others.

Everyone praised that the officials did it very smoothly and happily.

Emperor Zhaoming rolled his eyes in disdain and asked again, "I heard that you explained the six rituals to him and left him homework?"

"I dare not!" Zhai Daogong was so scared that his legs went limp. "I just talked about the funeral rites. Because time was tight and it was the second prince's first time, I roughly wrote a small booklet for Your Highness to check."

"It's good to have homework." Emperor Zhaoming paused and asked, "Did you also leave a booklet for the third brother?"

Zhai Daogong felt embarrassed and said, "After the Lantern Festival, the Third Prince did seek help from me, but I had too many things to do, so I wrote a booklet to explain the auspicious ceremony to His Majesty the Third Prince.

"Your Highness finished reading it in two or three days, and wanted something else. I had no choice but to 'lend' Your Highness my own notes from studying the Book of Rites."

Seeing the gloomy expression on Emperor Zhaoming's face, he hurriedly tried to make up for it, "Your Highness is not a corrupt minister. I already returned it to me the day before yesterday!

“Your Highness the Third Prince is very hardworking!

"I have only briefly examined your questioning, and Your Highness has answered it fluently!"

Emperor Zhaoming felt more comfortable, nodded, and returned the book-like memorial to him: "Approved."

Zhai Daogong breathed a sigh of relief, bowed and left.

Emperor Zhaoming did not wait for him to leave the gate, and complained to Tao Xingjian: "This man is too afraid of me. This is not good. The Ministry of Rites should find another minister who is bolder, more well-read, and more eloquent."

Tao Xingjian saw Zhai Daogong's back stiffen, smiled knowingly, and said: "You have this and that, it will be difficult to find it!

"Can I ask the Ministry of Personnel Cao Tianguan to come over?"

"Well, bring his official register of treasures, and I will select people with him."

A series of court affairs.

Another seven or eight days of busy work.

Finally, preparations for Tai Shang's soul transfer have begun.

In accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Rites, Emperor Zhaoming rushed to the palace seven days before the selected auspicious day.

Daiyu and Tanchun took good care of the empress dowager. Although all three of them had lost some weight, they looked even more energetic than when they were in Yanjia Palace.

Emperor Zhaoming heaved a sigh of relief when he saw this, and couldn't help but bow to Daiyu and Tanchun: "This is a critical moment, I have to thank you for being filial to my mother on my behalf."

The two hurriedly moved away, knelt down and said they dared not do it: "It's our job."

Tanchun choked up and said, "Besides, we should atone for our sins. I only hope that the Emperor in heaven will see our filial piety and grant us the blessing of serving the Empress Dowager for a long time."

The Queen Mother comforted her helplessly: "I won't chase you away! Don't worry!"

Emperor Zhaoming also said gently: "You and your sister are both the queen mother's confidants and close friends. I am also filial, so how could I let you leave the queen mother?

"You stay with the Queen Mother at ease. I will never forget this promise."

Tanchun shed tears and expressed her gratitude profusely.

Emperor Zhaoming waited for her to calm down, and seeing that Daiyu was calm in front of so many people, he did not say much. Then he looked at the second prince:

"You've lost weight, but you seem to have grown a little taller?"

The second prince saluted respectfully and said, "General Zang is teaching me riding, archery, boxing and kicking every day."

"Well, that's good." Emperor Zhaoming nodded, looking pleased, "Your grandfather and uncle are both good at martial arts, so it will be easier for you to learn than your brothers.

“We need to use troops in the northwest.

"That's great, you can go with us later and learn how to fight!

"During my reign, all nine borders must be stabilized!

"Come, announce the decree."

Look at Tao Xingjian.

Tao Xingjian took a step forward and pulled out a scroll from his sleeve: "Second Prince Situ Xu receives the decree."

The second prince looked confused: "Your son is here."

"The Second Prince is loyal, filial, chaste and righteous, which comforts my heart. He is conferred the title of Duke of Yong and granted marriage to Zhang, the daughter of the Anqing governor. I decree this."

After Tao Xingjian finished reading the decree, he rolled up the imperial edict with a smile, walked down the stairs and handed it to the pale and dumbfounded Second Prince with both hands:

“Your Majesty has already chosen a residence for the Second Prince, and also picked an auspicious date.

"Next year, when you get married, you will be an adult, and you will be able to open a government office and a mansion, and be able to take charge of your own affairs.

"Congratulations, Duke Yong. Please accept my order?"