Chapter 116 A Farce

The hazy morning light has already shone through the doors and windows.

The emperor got off the bed, walked in slippers to the south couch and sat down.

A lacquered tray with a crown and a dragon robe on it was neatly placed on the couch.

The dragon robe is a symbol of the emperor, representing supreme power and status. Whether the emperor emeritus can wear the dragon robe depends on the emperor’s attitude and whether the emperor emeritus still maintains a certain political influence.

Every year on the night before the Wanshou Festival, the emperor would order someone to deliver the dragon robe to his father to show his respect and humility to his father.

Of course, the emperor could only wear this dragon robe at the birthday ceremony.

At this time, a palace maid followed Xia Shouzhong in carrying a golden basin. After putting it down, she was about to wring out the face towel in the basin.

Xia Shouzhong waved his hand gently, and the palace maid retreated.

Xia Shouzhong squatted down and helped the emperor put on his court boots. He then combed his hair and tied it into a bun. He then took a towel from the golden basin and washed his face. He turned around and took a comb, dipped it in water from the golden basin, and combed his beard.

After decades of companionship, they were already familiar with each other, and the emperor stood up.

Xia Shouzhong held up the dragon robe, shook it open, let the retired emperor put his hand into the sleeves, and pulled it for him from behind. He then quickly went around to the front of the emperor and fastened the buttons and jade belt for him, helped the retired emperor sit down, held up the crown and put it on him, and slowly inserted a long jade hairpin through the hole on the left side of the hat and passed it through the hole on the right side of the hat.

After washing and dressing, Xia Shouzhong knelt down and said, “Congratulations to the Emperor on his birthday!”

The emperor said calmly: “Get up.”

Xia Shouzhong kowtowed, then stood up, glanced at the clock in the corner, and said softly, “Your Majesty, the auspicious time is coming, let’s go over.”

With a sneer, the emperor said: “Why go? Let the whole world laugh at me?” Then he closed his eyes.

A trace of discomfort flashed across Xia Shouzhong’s eyes and he sighed silently. They also just realized that the emperor was putting the blame on the emperor emeritus.

Even without power, the emperor still has his moral integrity, but once his reputation is ruined, it will be difficult for him to turn things around.

This year is a major celebration, and logically the birthday gifts should be more numerous and more expensive than in previous years. However, except for the provinces, the birthday gifts of all officials are quite conventional, especially those of the noble families, which are very perfunctory.

One has to admire the emperor for cutting off the source of the problem in one move.

At this time, there was a sound of footsteps outside, and the palace maid came in and reported: “Grand Emperor, the Fourth Prince and the Minister of Rites are here!”

“No.” The emperor still had his eyes closed.

The palace maid was stunned, then turned her gaze to Xia Shouzhong.

Xia Shouzhong: “Emperor Retired”

The Emperor: “Just say I’m sick.”

Xia Shouzhong had nothing else to say, so he had to answer, “Yes,” and told the palace maid to leave.

Although it was early in the morning, the weather was very hot. When the fourth prince entered the Yangxin Palace, he was already sweating profusely from running so fast, and he was startled as soon as he stepped into the palace door.

The door of the western warm room was closed tightly, and the eunuch Zhao Tong, who was in charge of Yuqing Palace, and the chief eunuch on duty were guarding there on the left and right.

The fourth prince walked over quickly and silently.

Zhao Tong and the chief eunuch on duty saluted him silently.

The fourth prince lowered his voice and asked, “Do you know what happened?”

The eunuch on duty whispered, “Reporting to Your Highness the Fourth Prince, a report of victory has been sent from Hetao.”

A complicated expression immediately appeared on the Fourth Prince’s face. Li Hu had won another victory. All the calculations between the Retired Emperor and the Second Prince were in vain. The Crown Prince had taken advantage of the situation in Hetao.

At this time, a gust of wind blew and a heat wave came. The Fourth Prince came to his senses and looked at the closed door anxiously.

The retired emperor claimed that he was ill and was unwilling to accept the worship, thus missing the auspicious time. As the prince who was also in charge of the Ministry of Rites, he would definitely be scolded by the emperor.

The most terrible thing is the elderly. They are so old and the weather is so hot. Although they have ice to cool down, they are still likely to suffer from heat stroke. If they make a fool of themselves, he really doesn’t know how it will end!

Thinking of this, the Fourth Prince lowered his voice and asked, “What did the Emperor say? Can Chief Steward Dai come out?”

The chief eunuch on duty said: “Your Highness, His Majesty has issued an oral order not to let anyone in.”

The fourth prince was startled, then he paced anxiously in front of the door, walked back and forth several times before stopping: “No! This is a serious matter, I must report it to the emperor immediately.”

The eunuch on duty immediately knelt down and said, “Fourth Prince, spare my life. At this time, except for urgent military information, I dare not report it!” The fourth prince gritted his teeth and said, “I will do it myself!” He walked quickly to the door, lifted the corner of his robe and knelt down, saying loudly, “Your son has an urgent matter to report to your father!”

So quiet!

There was no response. The Fourth Prince was sweating. Just as he was about to speak again, the door opened slightly. Dai Quan appeared behind the door and said softly, “Fourth Prince, the Emperor wants you to come in.”

“Yes.” The Fourth Prince stood up and walked in.

The door closed softly again.

Because the doors and windows were closed, the heat could not get in. In addition, white smoke rose from the bronze ice jar, making the warm room cool and comfortable.

Emperor Yongchang, dressed in casual clothes, sat on the couch over there, looking at the prince with a smile.

The prince was sitting on a chair beside the couch, reading a military newspaper.

The Fourth Prince clenched his hands hidden in his sleeves, what a loving father and filial son.

“Your son pays his respects to your father.” The fourth prince knelt before Emperor Yongchang and kowtowed.

Emperor Yongchang smiled lovingly: “Get up.”

“Yes.”

The fourth prince kowtowed again, then stood up and saluted to the crown prince: “Crown prince, big brother.”

The prince nodded with a smile, then closed the military report and looked at Emperor Yongchang: “My son’s opinion is that we should try our best to arrange it according to Li Hu’s opinion.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded. This was the military report that Li Hu had just sent. The remnants of the Ikh Ju League had escaped, and the imperial court had finally regained the land that had been lost since the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Hu not only recaptured the Hetao region, but also allowed the imperial court to gain a firm foothold there. As long as Li Hu’s strategy continued to be implemented, the remnants of the Ikh Ju League would not be able to fight back.

Once the imperial court has built garrisons and cities there, it will be able to completely control the Hetao region.

Thinking of this, Emperor Yongchang’s dissatisfaction with Li Hu because of the second prince faded a little.

Emperor Yongchang spoke: “All the meritorious soldiers recommended by Li Hu will be approved. As for Li Hu, tell him that he will not be rewarded this time. When he wins another great victory like this, I will reward him with a hereditary title.”

Prince: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang thought for a moment and said to Dai Quan, “Go! Send all those Western toys presented by the Wu family to the Li family.”

Dai Quan: “As you wish.”

Emperor Yongchang then looked at the Fourth Prince: “What’s wrong?”

The Fourth Prince did not dare to hide anything and told the whole story.

Emperor Yongchang’s face suddenly turned gloomy, and then he sneered: “You are sick, maybe it’s a mental illness?” His eyes flashed as he said that, since he didn’t want dignity, there was no need to give him face!
Thinking of this, Emperor Yongchang stood up and said, “Let’s go to the Daming Palace.” After that, he walked out.

The Fourth Prince quickly helped the Crown Prince up and followed him out.

Emperor Yongchang, surrounded by the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince and others, came to the large lawn of the Daming Palace.

Amid the shouts of “Long live the emperor”, Emperor Yongchang came to the stage. He swept his eyes over the officials and the elderly, and then said loudly: “The old concubine is not feeling well. The emperor is very filial and is chanting sutras and praying for her in the Buddhist temple. She can’t come!”

With a loud “boom”, the lawn immediately became commotion.

The prince looked at Zhao Tong.

Zhao Tong immediately shouted in a shrill voice: “Silence!”

The lawn immediately became quiet.

At this time, Emperor Yongchang lifted the corner of his robe and knelt on one knee facing the throne on the longevity platform.

The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince lined up and knelt down together.

Then, all the officials and the elders knelt down.

Zhao Tong acted as the master of ceremonies: “Your Majesty, congratulate the Emperor on his birthday!”

From afar, Xia Shouzhong, who came to inquire about the news, showed a look of panic, and then ran towards the bedroom like a flash.

The sound of drums and music came from behind, and the longevity ceremony began.
(End of this chapter)