in2ebook Chapter 269 A Bizarre Morning Court Ceremony
Chapter 269 A Bizarre Morning Court Ceremony
Chapter 269 A Bizarre Morning Court Ceremony
After Wang Wenzhou showed his ivory token to the guards, he walked towards Fengtian Gate with the civil and military officials.
Wang Wenzhou now realized that what was shown on television was all a lie. The so-called "morning court" should actually be called "regular court." All officials in Beijing, regardless of rank, were obligated to attend court, as were officials from other provinces who came to Beijing to report on their work.
Wang Wenzhou arrived relatively late, and when he did, the scene was extremely magnificent. There were over a thousand officials of all ranks attending court that day. Civil officials stood on the left, and military officials on the right, the two lines facing each other on both sides of the imperial road, awaiting the emperor's arrival.
Wang Wenzhou was quite curious as it was his first time attending court, and he looked around. The emperor's dragon throne was located in the very center of the corridor of the Fengtian Hall, and was called the Golden Platform.
After the whip cracked, the music began, and Zhu Youjian slowly walked onto the golden platform.
The civil and military officials bowed and kowtowed three times, saying, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"All of you, rise!" Zhu Youjian glanced at Wang Wenzhou and nodded slightly to him.
Wang Wenzhou understood immediately; Chongzhen meant to proceed according to plan.
Zhu Youjian asked, "Is Wang Wenzhou, the prefect of Hanshan, here?"
Wang Wenzhou immediately stepped out of the ranks and knelt down: "Your humble servant is here."
Zhu Youjian praised, "Wang Wenzhou is a man of great talent at a young age. He led the people of Hanshan to repel the rebel army and beheaded more than 30,000. I am very pleased. Someone, read out the imperial edict."
The eunuch Cao Huachun, holding the imperial edict, read aloud: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Wang Wenzhou has rendered meritorious service in defending the territory, served as a loyal and upright guard, spread the Emperor's benevolence and grace, upheld integrity and righteousness, and secured the stability of the nation. I greatly commend him. He is hereby appointed as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and awarded three hundred taels of silver."
Wang Wenzhou quickly kowtowed in gratitude: "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live the Emperor!"
"Flat body."
Wang Wenzhou stood up and walked back to the line.
"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn," Cao Huachun said.
"Ahem!" Wen Tiren coughed and said, "I have something to report..."
Wang Wenzhou had received etiquette training beforehand, which included coughing a few times before speaking, just like a student raising their hand before speaking.
The order in which officials present their reports is generally determined by their official rank, starting with the Grand Secretary and ending with those of lower rank. Although there is no explicit rule, this is an unspoken rule for officials when attending court.
Just after Wen Tiren's matter was dealt with, Wang Wenzhou coughed a few times, walked to the emperor's side, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Many veteran officials shook their heads with wry smiles. Wang Wenzhou, this newcomer, was utterly ignorant of the proper etiquette. The Grand Secretary had just finished his report; next should be the Second Grand Secretary, and if the Second Grand Secretary had nothing to do, it should be the Ministers of the Six Ministries. No matter what, it shouldn't be Wang Wenzhou's turn.
"Granted," Zhu Youjian said.
Wang Wenzhou began, "I just arrived in the capital a few days ago and had some free time. I went shopping and visited Hanshan Supermarket. I found some drinks that are quite delicious. I bought some and would like to invite Your Majesty and my colleagues to try them."
"Pfft..." The civil and military officials present were completely dumbfounded. What did Wang Wenzhou take the morning court for? A street food stall? Or a brothel? The morning court was for discussing important military and national affairs. What kind of treasure was he offering up with drinks? They all thought that Wang Wenzhou would definitely be reprimanded by His Majesty, because His Majesty was always self-disciplined and devoted to public service and disliked people like Wang Wenzhou who tried to curry favor.
"A beverage? I'd like to try it," Zhu Youjian said with a smile.
"Huh?" The civil and military officials were stunned. What was wrong with His Majesty today?
Wen Tiren frowned deeply. He had heard that Wang Wenzhou had been having secret talks with His Majesty in the palace for the past two days. The fact that the two were so in sync today suggested something was amiss.
There must be something fishy going on when things are not going well. Qian Qianyi and the other old foxes knew very well that His Majesty's behavior must have a reason.
"As you command, Your Majesty, I have already ordered preparations to be made," Wang Wenzhou replied.
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "I will then share a taste with my beloved ministers."
Wang Chengen immediately gave the order.
In no time, a group of eunuchs brought drinks and distributed them to the civil and military officials.
All the civil and military officials looked surprised, because each of them was given five large cups of drinks. It was early February, the coldest time of the year, and the cups were cool to the touch.
Zhu Youjian picked up a cup and asked, "Wang Wenzhou, what kind of drink is this?"
Wang Wenzhou replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, this is fresh watermelon juice."
"Oh?" Zhu Youjian asked in confusion, "Watermelons in winter?"
"It's produced in greenhouses, but the yield is very small," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
Zhu Youjian took a sip and said with a smile, "It tastes delicious. All my beloved ministers, let's drink this watermelon juice together."
After Zhu Youjian finished speaking, he drank it all in one gulp.
Zhu Youjian's cup was specially made. Although it looked the same size as the cups of civil and military officials, it actually contained very little beverage.
The officials' cups were each filled to the brim with a pound of watermelon juice. Normally, drinking such fresh watermelon juice in winter would be a treat, but now it was pure torture for the civil and military officials. The icy juice, once tasted and swallowed, chilled them from head to toe.
The eunuch who delivered the drinks to Wang Wenzhou was actually Chen Yuanyuan in disguise.
Although Wang Wenzhou had slept with Chen Yuanyuan, he always felt that Chen Yuanyuan disliked him, which made him very uncomfortable. Now, so many of his children look at him with admiration, but Chen Yuanyuan, instead of admiration, shows genuine disgust.
Wang Wenzhou then deliberately teased Chen Yuanyuan by making her wear only a cotton coat on the outside and nothing underneath.
Wang Wenzhou's cup, like Chongzhen's, contained very little drink. After finishing his drink, he smiled and said, "Yuanyuan, my hands are cold. Can you warm them up for me?"
Chen Yuanyuan smiled bitterly to herself. Wang Wenzhou, how could you do this in front of His Majesty and all the civil and military officials? You are truly a madman!
After Wang Wenzhou finished speaking, he reached his hand inside.
Chen Yuanyuan frowned, and could only let Wang Wenzhou take liberties with her.
Wen Tiren was nearly seventy years old. On such a cold day, he drank a large cup of cold drink, which made him shiver all over. He looked back and saw that Wang Wenzhou, the mastermind behind this matter, was behaving intimately with a little eunuch.
Wen Tiren frowned deeply, for he discovered that the young eunuch was actually a woman in disguise. What was going on? What conspiracy did His Majesty and Wang Wenzhou have?
Not only did Wen Tiren find this abnormal, but all the civil and military officials were convinced that His Majesty and Wang Wenzhou were definitely planning something big.
Zhu Youjian picked up a glass of green juice and asked, "Wang Wenzhou, what kind of drink is this?"
Wang Wenzhou replied, “This is bitter melon juice. Bitter melon nourishes the blood and liver, moistens the spleen and kidneys, and can remove pathogenic heat, relieve fatigue, and clear the mind and improve eyesight. Your Majesty works hard for the country all day long and should drink it often.”
Zhu Youjian said with a smile, "My dear ministers, you have all worked hard and made great contributions. Let's all work together and then nourish our bodies."
Wen Tiren glanced at his political rival Qian Qianyi, his gaze full of meaning, "What are you up to now?"
Qian Qianyi shook his head with a wry smile. He truly knew nothing about what had happened today. Approaching seventy, Qian Qianyi forced himself to drink it, enduring the chill that gripped him.