Chapter Twenty-Two: Ascension to the Throne

On the first day of the ninth lunar month in the forty-eighth year of the Wanli reign, Zhu Changluo achieved immortality after consuming two elixirs. That morning, the assembled ministers entered the Hall of Heavenly Purity to mourn the late emperor, then proposed bringing Zhu Xiaoqi to the Hall of Literary Glory, where all would bow before the future sovereign. Lady Li, the Imperial Consort, was uneasy and insisted they pay their respects in the Hall of Heavenly Purity instead. Yang Lian, Left Censor in the Ministry of War, summoned Wang An, now Principal Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies, instructing him to bring forth the Crown Prince.

Wang An entered and said to Lady Li, “There are two imperial coffins in the Hall of Heavenly Purity; it is not suitable to meet the prince here. The ministers wish to bow to him in the Hall of Literary Glory and return him at once.” Lady Li then ordered Li Jinzhong, along with Xiao Li and Xiao Deng, to accompany the prince and take great care of him.

When Zhu Xiaoqi emerged, Grand Academicians Fang Congzhe, Liu Yiqing, Han Kuang, Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo, Minister of Finance Li Ruhua, Left Censor Yang Lian, Acting Minister of Rites Bao Qian, Censor-in-chief Zuo Guangdou, and others surged forward, startling the young prince. Li Jinzhong hurried to shield him, but Yang Lian shoved him aside and slapped him, cursing, “You eunuch, get out of the way.” Li Jinzhong dared not retort or resist and could only follow silently, holding his reddened cheek. Yang Lian threatened, “If you follow, I’ll break your legs.” Thus, Li Jinzhong and his companions could only watch helplessly as the prince was led away, returning to report to Lady Li.

In truth, Zhu Xiaoqi was not so much led as half-carried, his feet barely touching the ground as he was swept into the Hall of Literary Glory. There, the ministers had him take his seat, performed their bows, and Yang Lian begged the prince to ascend the throne swiftly to reassure the realm. Zhu Xiaoqi replied, “The late emperor has departed; my heart is heavy with grief. I wish only to mourn him, not to claim the throne.”

The ascension of an emperor required the customary three refusals and three invitations. Thus, the prince’s initial demurral was expected. The ministers then discussed the arrangements for the mourning period, and, their duties done, prepared to take their leave. At this, Yang Lian spoke: “The Crown Prince must not return to the Hall of Heavenly Purity. A new residence should be found for him.” Fang Congzhe, the chief minister, protested, “Since the late emperor ascended, the prince has always resided in the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Why now should he not return?”

Yang Lian replied, “Lady Li still dwells there. The prince is young and easily swayed. Should she seek to rule from behind a curtain, what recourse would we have? Lady Li must be separated from the prince to give all peace of mind.”

Fang Congzhe knew that, given Lady Li’s status, she could never hope to rule from behind the scenes, but chose not to argue. He asked, “If not the Hall of Heavenly Purity, where should the prince reside?”

Wang An suggested, “The Palace of Compassionate Celebration, formerly the Crown Prince’s residence, might suffice as a temporary abode.”

Yang Lian agreed, “The Palace of Compassionate Celebration, then.” With but a few words, the matter was settled, no input sought from the chief minister. Fang Congzhe’s face betrayed nothing, though he said not a word.

Throughout, no one asked Zhu Xiaoqi where he wished to reside; they did not even look at him as they debated. The ministers escorted him to the Palace of Compassionate Celebration, performed their bows, and departed. Wang An summoned several eunuchs, instructing them to attend the prince closely, and left as well.

Ignored and handled like a puppet, Zhu Xiaoqi’s inner anger was easy to imagine. Once Wang An had gone, he left the Palace of Compassionate Celebration and returned to the Hall of Heavenly Purity. The eunuchs tried to dissuade him, but, met with his indifference and unable to stop him, trailed behind until he entered the hall, then turned back in defeat.

Within, Lady Li and Madame Ke greeted him. Lady Li asked, “Did they trouble you, my son?”

Zhu Xiaoqi replied, “Of course not. Where’s Titi? I’m hungry; let’s eat together.” He did not mention their wish to keep him from returning, sparing Lady Li and Madame Ke unnecessary worry.

After the meal, he kept vigil as was customary, sitting before the ancestral tablets, deep in thought. By rights, a young prince should be cared for, yet now the ministers insisted he live alone in the unfamiliar Palace of Compassionate Celebration, far from those he knew. This struck him as decidedly odd.

According to what the Parallel Timeline Administration’s Number One had told him, he was meant to become emperor this very year—likely within days. Yet as a mere sixteen-year-old, he saw little genuine respect in the ministers’ bows; their true aim in isolating him was plain: to make him a puppet.

By the principle that those who leap the highest profit most, it was clear that Fang Congzhe was not behind this scheme. The clique responsible must be Yang Lian and his associates. New to the court and unfamiliar with its ways, he resolved not to fall into their trap. Fang Congzhe might be drawn to his side as an ally; as for Xu Guangqi, he was destined to be more than an ally—a confidant. But who else? Zhu Xiaoqi found, to his dismay, that he had no one in the outer court to rely on.

If the outer court was unpromising, how about within the palace? The first trustworthy figure was, of course, Li Jinzhong. Wang Tiqian and Li Chaoqin were also reliable. As for Wang An, his closeness to Yang Lian suggested caution.

The next day the ministers came to the Palace of Compassionate Celebration, only to find it empty. Yang Lian promptly summoned Wang An, who, upon hearing the eunuchs’ explanation, ordered them beaten and berated them for not reporting sooner. The ministers, unconcerned with the punishment, proceeded to the Hall of Literary Glory. Wang An followed to the Hall of Heavenly Purity to retrieve the prince.

Zhu Xiaoqi said, “Whatever needs saying can be said here.” He had no wish to be stranded again as the day before. Wang An argued, “Today the ministers have urgent matters to present. There are two imperial coffins in the Hall of Heavenly Purity; it is unsuitable. Please come to the Hall of Literary Glory, then return.”

Zhu Xiaoqi insisted, “No need. We can speak here. What cannot be discussed in this hall?”

Lady Li grew suspicious, “Why not go today? Did you not go yesterday? Why refuse now?”

Unwilling to explain the previous day’s events, Zhu Xiaoqi thought, At worst, I’ll return tonight. He took his leave of Lady Li and went with Wang An to the Hall of Literary Glory.

After the ministers bowed, Li Ruogui, Left Censor in the Ministry of Rites, memorialized that the investiture ceremonies must follow proper sequence. Honorific posthumous titles for Empress Xiaoduan and Empress Xiaojing had not yet been conferred; the titles for Consort Guo and Lady Wang, mother of Zhu Youxiao, were also undecided. The matter of elevating Lady Li to Imperial Noble Consort should be postponed, as Minister of Rites Sun Ruyou agreed.

Zhu Xiaoqi, understanding this outcome was inevitable, agreed. Though his late father had explained the importance of making Lady Li Imperial Noble Consort, Zhu Xiaoqi himself was disinclined to have another authority above him. Yet Lady Li had always treated him well, and for Titi’s sake, he felt it proper to support her elevation. But since even the Minister of Rites objected, and their reasoning was sound, resistance was futile; he consented to the delay.

Next came the formal entreaties to ascend the throne, presented by princes, nobles, imperial sons-in-law, ministers, civil and military officials, and elders, led by Zhang Weixian, Duke of England and Grand Tutor. This was the first entreaty, and as custom dictated, he refused.

Yang Lian brought up the prince’s return to the Hall of Heavenly Purity the previous day, calling it improper. He requested that the prince reside in the Palace of Compassionate Celebration that night and pressed for Lady Li’s immediate removal from the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

Zhu Xiaoqi glared at Wang An and declared, “I am young and require Lady Li’s care. She need not move from the Hall of Heavenly Purity.”

His feelings for Lady Li—bolstered by Titi’s presence—remained strong. Her care was, in truth, the best arrangement, just as the late emperor had intended by naming her Imperial Noble Consort. His proposal that she remain to look after him, however, stirred a hornet’s nest.

First, Yang Lian memorialized that Lady Li was acting as though she were the emperor’s mother—nominally protecting the ruler, but truly seeking power for herself—thus engendering distrust among officials. For this reason, the prince was to stay in the Palace of Compassionate Celebration, and Lady Li should move out before his return.

He then accused Lady Li of instructing eunuchs to steal palace treasures, claiming she presumed upon her status and disregarded the emperor.

Finally, he asserted that Lady Li, being neither principal consort nor birth mother, had no right to remain in the Hall of Heavenly Purity and should be removed without delay, not awaiting an auspicious date. He concluded that the removal must occur that very day.

Zhu Xiaoqi seethed. The late emperor wished Lady Li to care for him—what were they insinuating? As for the accusations of theft, he knew they were baseless; the treasures had been gifts from the late emperor. The veiled comparison to Empress Wu was particularly malicious.

Zuo Guangdou, Censor-in-chief for Zhejiang, supported Yang Lian, stating, “Let not the deeds of Empress Wu be witnessed in our dynasty,” openly suggesting Lady Li intended to depose the prince.

Furious, Zhu Xiaoqi was about to retort when Fang Congzhe, Liu Yiqing, and Han Kuang spoke, couching their words more gently. They maintained that after the enthronement, the emperor should reside in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, and Lady Li, limited by her status, was unfit to remain there. She should move, not to the Palace of Compassionate Celebration—once the prince’s father’s residence—but to the Hall of Benevolent Longevity.

In short, however politely or venomously expressed, all agreed: Lady Li must be removed, and could not care for him. Zhu Xiaoqi now understood the earlier delay in her elevation—they had been preparing for this moment. He realized he was still too naïve to counter them with reason. Their true motive was simply to eliminate any check on their power.

Knowing argument was futile, he reluctantly agreed: Lady Li would vacate the Hall of Heavenly Purity before his enthronement and move to the Hall of Benevolent Longevity, while he would reside in the Palace of Compassionate Celebration and promise not to return. Only then were the ministers satisfied.

After they left, Zhu Xiaoqi asked Wang An, “What office does Yang Lian hold, that he speaks so harshly and presses so fiercely?”

Wang An replied gravely, “Though only a minor censor, Yang Lian is said to be the most devoted and perceptive official at court. It was he who, upon the late emperor’s illness, instructed me to bring both the late emperor and the prince to the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Your Highness is young, playing daily with Li Jinzhong and others, unfamiliar with the loyalty or treachery of the ministers. This is for Your Highness alone, but if such words were spoken openly, it would chill the hearts of the loyal and embolden the wicked—contrary to the late emperor’s hopes.”

The words left Zhu Xiaoqi speechless. This old dog! He and Li Jinzhong had been engaged in proper business; if Wang An did not understand, he should not presume. Did they think him a child? He was, in truth, over thirty if one counted both lives—well able to judge loyalty and treachery. He knew exactly whom to trust and saw through their schemes—they would not sideline him so easily.

“Your Highness,” Wang An continued, “I am to oversee the relocation. Are there further instructions?”

“Relocation is not my wish. Do not press too harshly—so long as it is done before the enthronement. As for Li Jinzhong, I know the facts. He is innocent; do not punish him.”

“I shall obey,” Wang An said, and hurried away.

That night Zhu Xiaoqi stayed in the Palace of Compassionate Celebration. On the third day of the ninth month, the ministers made their second entreaty to ascend the throne, which he again declined. On the fourth day, the third entreaty was made, and as custom dictated, he accepted. The enthronement was set for the sixth day. The ministers presented a list of potential reign titles. Among them, he noticed “Tianqi”—Heaven’s Enlightenment. His elder brother was named Zhu Xiaotian, he himself Zhu Xiaoqi; the title resonated with him. “This one,” he said, “let it be this.”

On the sixth day of the ninth month, Zhu Xiaoqi ascended the throne in the Hall of Literary Glory, adopting the reign title Tianqi and proclaiming a general amnesty. From this day forth, he was no longer the imperial grandson, nor the crown prince, but truly the emperor—Tianqi Emperor Zhu Youxiao.