Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 16: The Nationwide Selection Officially Begins!

After a hearty venting, Empress Dowager Wang finally retracted her smile and fell into deep thought.

Empress Wu was honored by His Majesty as Empress Dowager, with a title identical to hers.

This created a situation in the harem where two empress dowagers were honored equally.

Moreover, His Majesty had Empress Wu act on behalf of the Empress, managing the Six Palaces and Three Courts.

In other words, Empress Wu, the previously deposed Empress, now wielded even greater power than she, the original Empress.

Wang, who had been a puppet empress for over twenty years, was no longer willing to continue as a powerless puppet empress dowager.

She would fight!

The events of last night had shown that the current Emperor had successfully regained imperial power.

Therefore, the key to wielding power lay with Zhu Youtang.

And Zhu Youtang greatly trusted Empress Dowager Wu…

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Wang felt deep regret.

Back then, she was not favored by Emperor Xianzong, and the power of the harem was in the hands of the Zhou family. She was only concerned with self-pity and did not interfere in harem affairs.

She never expected that the太子 (tàizǐ) who was not favored back then would actually become an emperor with great power.

Now, to gain Zhu Youtang's favor, she could only start with his concubines.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Wang ordered: "Wrap up that golden hair clasp and send it to Empress Dowager Wu…"

"Forget it, I will personally go to Renshou Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

…

Renshou Palace.

Empress Dowager Wu was discussing the matter of selecting concubines for Zhu Youtang with the Gongzheng of Chuxiu Palace and the eunuch in charge of the selection from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The selection of concubines for the Emperor of the Great Ming was a top priority for the Great Ming Dynasty.

This required the joint cooperation of multiple departments, including the harem, the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Ministry of Rites, and local governors.

At this moment, the eunuch's announcement rang out outside the door.

"Empress Dowager Wang has arrived!"

Empress Dowager Wu frowned, showing displeasure, but quickly composed herself.

Empress Dowager Wang walked into Renshou Palace, and the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly knelt to pay their respects: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Wang walked forward with a smile, taking Empress Dowager Wu's hand.

"Sister, I haven't seen you in a long time. Today, I heard that His Majesty has honored you as Empress Dowager, and I have come to congratulate you."

Empress Dowager Wang waved her hand, and the palace maid behind her carried a tray and walked respectfully to Empress Dowager Wu.

After taking a glance at the golden hair clasp on the tray, Empress Dowager Wu waved her hand, and a palace maid took the tray.

"This is a small matter, you could have sent someone over. Why did you have to come to my Renshou Palace in person?"

Empress Dowager Wang sat down without waiting to be invited.

"This is no small matter. His Majesty has ordered you to act on behalf of the Empress, managing the Six Palaces and Three Courts of the harem."

Empress Dowager Wu sat next to Empress Dowager Wang, smiling without saying a word.

"The biggest thing in this harem is the selection of concubines for His Majesty. Do you have any ideas, Sister?"

Empress Dowager Wu: "I am already discussing this matter with the Directorate of Ceremonial and Chuxiu Palace, and I will strive to start the nationwide selection today."

"That would be the best. I will also come to share your worries and assist you in handling this selection well."

Empress Dowager Wu wanted to refuse: "This is a small matter, so I won't bother you, Sister."

"What are you saying, Sister?"

Empress Dowager Wang said sincerely: "When I was the Empress before, I was never able to share the late Emperor's worries, and I am extremely ashamed."

"Now that I have become the Empress Dowager, I also want to make up for the regrets of the past, share His Majesty's worries, and select satisfactory beauties for His Majesty."

Having said that, Empress Wu could only nod helplessly and agree.

That afternoon, an imperial decree from the harem was delivered by the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial to Liu Jian, the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet.

Of course, because Zhu Youtang had previously ordered that the harem was not allowed to contact the Inner Cabinet privately.

Therefore, this imperial decree first went to Zhu Youtang.

After Zhu Youtang read the imperial decree, he ordered Huai En: "For all matters related to the selection of concubines, the harem can communicate with the Ministry of Rites on its own."

"However, each letter must first be reviewed by the Directorate of Ceremonial, and a copy must be kept before it can be delivered."

"Yes."

Liu Jian, the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, also served as the Minister of Rites.

It was reasonable and legal for this imperial decree to reach his hands.

After receiving the imperial decree from the harem to select concubines for Zhu Youtang, Liu Jian did not dare to delay and immediately ordered the officials of the Ministry of Rites to handle the matter.

At the same time, Liu Jian also began to draft an imperial edict regarding the selection of concubines and submitted it to the Directorate of Ceremonial for review.

This kind of imperial edict was a formal imperial edict written on yellow silk, not the verbal order that Zhu Youtang had given before.

After the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial received the imperial edict, he immediately submitted it to Zhu Youtang for his perusal.

After Zhu Youtang read it, he approved the imperial edict.

So Huai En returned to the Directorate of Ceremonial, took out the seal, stamped it, and rushed to the Inner Cabinet.

The Inner Cabinet then signed the imperial edict before handing it over to the Censorate.

When the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial who was announcing the decree arrived at the Censorate and took out the imperial edict.

All the officials of the Censorate immediately knelt on the ground, respectfully listening to the decree.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: His Majesty has been enthroned for several months, but the harem is not abundant, and the foundation of the country is not rich…"

"…"

"…Now, the nationwide selection of concubines is opened. If the governors of various places find suitable beauties, send them to the palace quickly!"

"By imperial decree!"

After hundreds of words, the main point was finally reached.

The officials of the Censorate kowtowed and accepted the order in unison.

"We, your subjects, respectfully obey the imperial decree!"

As for why the decree was announced at the Censorate first, this has to do with the system of governors, the highest local officials in the Ming Dynasty.

The governor was originally a temporary official, responsible for inspecting a certain province.

According to the official system of the Ming Dynasty, supervisory officials were not subject to the control of other officials.

Therefore, in order to facilitate inspection, each governor would be given the official title of Censor of the Censorate.

Later, the governors gradually became localized, and the governors became the highest local officials.

However, the tradition of governors holding the official title of Censor of the Censorate has been passed down.

At this time, Zhu Youtang wanted to open a nationwide selection of concubines, so he needed the assistance of the governors of the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

And the Censorate was the upper-level agency of the governors, so the tasks generally issued to the local governors would be passed down by the Censorate.

After the imperial decree went around the Censorate, it went to the Ministry of Rites, and finally returned to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

That afternoon, hundreds of eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, dozens of officials from the Ministry of Rites, and more than a dozen people from the Censorate left the capital in a mighty manner.

…

A few days later.

Southern Zhili.

Yingtian Prefecture.

In a low-key residence, a tall young man was lying on a chair in the courtyard, watching the sunset in the distance.

The man had a fair face and no beard, enchanting and handsome, with a calm expression.

Although he was just sitting there, the terrifying aura surrounding him made it difficult for people to have the courage to look directly at him.

The servants responsible for taking care of him were all trembling with fear, and were very careful.

They were afraid that they would not do something well and bring about their own deaths.

The courtyard was so quiet that a pin could be heard falling, and the solidified air made people feel uncomfortable breathing, with a danger of suffocating to death.

Suddenly!

A Jinyi Guard wearing the uniform of the Eastern Depot rushed into the courtyard, holding aloft a bright yellow imperial decree.

"Wang Zhi, listen to the decree!"

"His Majesty has ordered you to return to the capital immediately and reopen the Western Depot!"