Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"My humerus should be as old as the crown."

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhang Shikang with satisfaction, and then he suddenly remembered something and turned to Zhang Zhiji and said:

"Duke Ying, I wonder if I can be the guest of honor at Shi Kang's coming-of-age ceremony?"

After the Tartars destroyed the Song Dynasty, rituals and music collapsed. After Zhu Yuanzhang expelled the Tartars, he restored the Zhou ritual system, which revived many rituals that were gradually disappearing.

The ceremony of coming of age was particularly popular in the Ming Dynasty.

The Guanli, which is the coming-of-age ceremony for Chinese Han men, indicates that a man has reached adulthood. After the Guanli, he can marry, have children, and participate in various activities as an adult in the family.

According to Zhou Li, the ceremony of capping requires two hosts, usually elders from the clan, and only men are allowed.

Duke of England Zhang Zhiji himself is the patriarch of the Zhang family.

The "main guest" mentioned by Emperor Chongzhen is the person who puts the cap on the person being crowned, usually a person of noble status and high prestige.

Normally, the main guest should be invited by the host, but Emperor Chongzhen knew that Zhang Zhiji would never dare to invite him if he didn't say so.

Sure enough, when Emperor Chongzhen said this, Zhang Zhiji was startled, and then he bowed his hands in fear and trepidation and said:

"Your Majesty, you are the emperor! How can this be allowed?"

It had never happened in the 270 years of the Ming Dynasty that an emperor served as the main guest. For someone who was performing the ceremony of coming of age, this was the supreme honor.

But it was precisely because the emperor’s status was so noble that Zhang Zhiji felt extremely nervous.

"Why? The emperor cannot perform the ceremony of coming of age for his subjects? Is there such a rule in the Book of Rites?" Emperor Chongzhen asked calmly without getting angry.

"Your Majesty, of course there is no such thing, but..."

"There is no but, Duke of England, you have a good son!" Emperor Chongzhen said to Zhang Zhiji with a smile.

Seeing that Chongzhen and his father had finalized the matter in a few words without even asking for his opinion, Zhang Shikang interrupted and said:

"Your Majesty, Dad, this coming-of-age ceremony... is it troublesome?"

Zhang Shikang still vividly remembered the last prisoner surrender ceremony. It was such a hassle.

Emperor Chongzhen glanced at Zhang Shikang, then looked at Zhang Zhiji, and both of them saw helplessness in each other's eyes.

They both knew that Zhang Shikang was lazy by nature, and they said in unison:

"No trouble."

After saying this, the British Duke Zhang Zhiji added:

"I think the ceremony for children to wear the cap can be simplified. Half an hour is enough."

What a joke! The emperor himself will be the guest of honor. What if this kid finds it troublesome and quits halfway?

He didn't care about embarrassing other people, but if he embarrassed the emperor, then there was no doubt that he would be the only one embarrassed in the end.

Zhang Zhiji didn't dare to bet that his son would cooperate well at that time. After all, no one knew his son's character better than him, and he even dared to ridicule the emperor.

Therefore, he could only take the initiative to simplify the process. If the ceremony of coming of age was performed according to the complete Zhou system, the entire process would take at least half a day.

When Zhang Shikang heard that it would take an hour, he complained:

"Dad, isn't it just about wearing a hat?"

"Shut up." Zhang Zhiji was worried that the emperor might be upset, so he quickly scolded him.

Zhang Shikang curled his lips, turned his head and saw that one of Chongzhen's little girls was too small and her view of the fireworks was blocked by the railings. He was secretly distressed, so he ignored Chongzhen and his father and walked towards the girl.

"Hey, little princess, what's your name?

Call me uncle, and I will hold you up high to watch the fireworks!" Zhang Shikang made a face at the girl.

Although the girl was young, she was of noble status. If anyone else dared to speak like that, they would have been dragged out and beaten to death.

But the palace maids and eunuchs serving on the side all lowered their heads, and no one dared to speak to stop them.

How could they afford to offend someone who was invited by the emperor to attend the emperor's family dinner on New Year's Eve? Even Wang Chengen could only stand by and smile.

"My name is Zhaoren. Are you a new eunuch? I have never seen you before." Princess Zhaoren asked innocently.

The little girl is only six years old this year, but she looks like a porcelain doll, with a fair face and eyes that are curved like crescent moons.

Thanks to Zhang Shikang's previous reminder, the dinner was particularly sumptuous. Princess Zhaoren was only focused on eating and didn't pay any attention to anyone else.

Zhang Shikang's face darkened when he heard this.

This was probably because, apart from her father and several brothers, there were only palace maids and eunuchs in the palace.

"I'm not a eunuch, I'm a macho man! A super macho kind!" Zhang Shikang flexed and stretched his arms, performing standard macho moves.

"My sister said that men and women should not touch each other. Shush, keep your voice down. If they hear you, they will spank you."

Princess Zhaoren placed her slender jade fingers on her little mouth and said.

"Don't be afraid. Your father won't bear to spank me. The fireworks are about to end!" As he said that, Zhang Shikang picked up Zhaoren.

Just at this moment, a huge bunch of fireworks bloomed in the night sky, colorful and spectacular.

Princess Zhaoren didn't bother to struggle, she just looked at the fireworks with a happy face.

"Wow! So beautiful!"

"Isn't she beautiful? Call me uncle." Zhang Shikang took the opportunity to say.

"Uncle." Zhaoren called out obediently.

At this time, the nine-year-old Princess Kunyi saw Zhang Shikang holding her sister and immediately ran over.

"Zhang Shikang, you must not be rude!"

Girls at that time were sensible at an early age and some were married at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Although Princess Kunyi was only nine years old, she was born in the royal family and had an excellent education. She already knew the principle that men and women should not touch each other.

Princess Kunyi was tall, almost as tall as Zhu Cilang, who was one year older than her. When she was angry, she looked like a little adult.

Zhang Shikang turned around while holding Zhaoren, and when he saw that it was Zhaoren's sister, he smiled and said:

"Your Highness, men and women should not touch each other. This refers to adult men and women, right? How old are you two?"

Emperor Chongzhen is his elder brother. As an uncle, is it reasonable for him to hug his little niece?

"No! Absolutely not!" Princess Kunyi's face turned red with annoyance.

This made Zhang Shikang confused. He could see that the little girl was not really angry because of the inappropriateness of sex, but this...

Just as the stalemate was going on, Empress Zhou and Empress Yi'an also came over. Zhang Shikang quickly put little Zhaoren down and saluted to Empress Zhou and Empress Yi'an.

"My concubine, you must not be rude." Empress Zhou reprimanded Princess Kunyi, and then smiled and said to Zhang Shikang:

"Kunyi has some complaints against you because of her grandfather, please don't be offended, Marquis Guanjun."

Zhou Kui was stripped of his title and property, and died a few days later after suffering a stroke.

Emperor Chongzhen was extremely disappointed with his father-in-law. Not only did he not allow Zhou Kui's son to hold a funeral according to the rites for a father-in-law of the emperor, he also ignored the entire funeral.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't care, but as a daughter, Empress Zhou couldn't just ignore it, so she took Princess Kunyi to attend her father's funeral.

It might be that her disappointing brother said something inappropriate to Kunyi, which caused Kunyi to be so angry with Guanjun Hou.

"Your Highness, I'm really sorry about the matter of the Earl of Jiading." Zhang Shikang solemnly saluted and apologized to Queen Zhou again.

Empress Zhou had a gentle personality. Although she was not well-known in the history of the Ming Dynasty, she was the person who supported, encouraged and accompanied Emperor Chongzhen for the longest time.

Although Zhou Kui's death was his own fault, he still felt apologetic for forcing someone's father to death.

“Marquis Guanjun, there is no need to do this. Although I am a woman, I also understand the situation.

This matter is not your fault. "

……