Chapter 888: A Heavy Atmosphere – Finding an Alternative Path

Learning that the emperor was in this Qiongfang Tower, Du Wan thought it over carefully and decided not to go there with Zhang Yue. As for Qiuhen and Hupo, they certainly wouldn’t join in the commotion. Xiao Wu shook his head vigorously and reluctantly refused, saying that since it wasn’t the Wanshi Festival, he couldn’t put on a good face even if he met the emperor. So when Zhang Yue returned, he only brought Jingguan and Sannan. After all, the two younger children were just a few months old and over a year old respectively; he wouldn’t dare take them outside in such cold weather.

It was the first time Zhu Zhanji had truly seen Zhang Yue’s children up close. When he saw Jingguan lead Sannan to kneel and bow solemnly, he initially waved his hand to refuse, but Zhang Yue smiled and said, “Even if we can forget about ranks, there’s still a difference in age, and it’s only proper to show respect.” To Zhang Yue’s astonishment, after Jingguan finished bowing, she pulled Sannan up and then stepped forward to politely bow to Zhu Ning, calling her “Aunt Ning.”

By seniority, Zhu Ning was Zhu Zhanji’s aunt. By calling her that, wasn’t Jingguan equating herself with the emperor? Had she become his elder? Seeing that Jingguan was unaware of this, Zhu Zhanji couldn’t help but smile. Zhang Yue shook his head, thinking that since the children were still young, they should continue to use the same titles as before. Yet the sight of the two children bowing so earnestly was quite amusing.

Fortunately, Zhu Zhanji didn’t mind Jingguan’s habitual address. He called her over and asked a few questions. Seeing that Jingguan answered them neatly, he then tested her knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics. After she answered all of them, even more interested, Zhu Zhanji asked about how many years of schooling she had. Learning that Du Wan had taught her personally and that she was now studying under Liang Jin, he nodded at Zhang Yue.

“He has a solid foundation. When I was his age, I was also raised by my grandfather—starting with classics, history, and poetry. Though it seems hard now when I think back, I must say that one should build a solid foundation at such a young age.” As he spoke, he reached for something at his waist. It wasn’t until Zhu Ning coughed softly beside him that he remembered it might not be appropriate to bestow gifts like that. He then smiled and said, “Well, let’s see if there’s anything suitable for him when we go back. By the way, is his full name Zhang Ye?”

Zhang Yue nodded. “Yes. My father thought ‘Ye’ meant ‘brilliant,’ so he gave him that name. The child is still young and hasn’t been given a courtesy name yet.”

“How do you know I wanted to give him a courtesy name?” Zhu Zhanji glanced at Zhang Yue irritably, but ultimately felt reluctant to part with the pleasingly named Jingguan. After some thought, he said, “Never mind. I actually had the same idea. Although ‘Guanghua Canlan’ sounds good, it’s a bit excessive. Just as Yang Shiqi and the others gave you the courtesy name Yuanshe, he too needs a name that’s equally impressive. ‘Guanghua Canlan’ means ‘brilliant light,’ but when the moon wanes, darkness follows. Since he’s your eldest son, let’s call him Bohui.”

As soon as he finished speaking, without waiting for Zhang Yue to give him a signal, Jingguan quickly thanked him. After standing up, he smiled happily. After all, Liang Jin had previously told him that Zhang Yue had chosen his courtesy name too early; it should have been decided after he was fifteen or sixteen. Today, upon meeting the emperor, he even received a new courtesy name—a tremendous blessing. Upon returning home, his mother would surely praise him. Since he had done well, he couldn’t help but include his sister as well. She was only five years old. Not knowing what the emperor expected, she spoke in a clear voice, saying something childish, which amused the emperor.

The food on the table hadn’t been touched much yet. Zhu Zhanji asked Zhang Yue and his sons to sit below, then instructed Ruan Lang to go outside and order more dishes. Soon, the table was filled with a variety of hot and cold delicacies. Seeing mostly fish prepared in different ways, not only was Zhu Zhanji intrigued, but Zhang Yue was also surprised.

It was not yet the era when river and sea delicacies dominated. Whether it was the Imperial Kitchen or the Guanglu Temple, they mostly used meats like mutton, deer meat, rabbit meat, as well as poultry such as chicken, duck, and goose. Fish was rarely used. So, Zhu Zhanji pointed at the dishes and said with a smile, “I heard there’s an Eight Delicacies Feast outside, with things like dragon liver, phoenix marrow, and bear paws. It was Aunt Ning who found this place, claiming it to be the freshest in the world. But when I went, it turned out to be a inscription for the Wanshi Festival. Your brother-in-law, just like you, would never make empty promises. He’ll definitely taste everything carefully.”

To the emperor’s comments, Zhang Yue nodded outwardly, but inwardly thought that with Wanshi Festival’s character, as long as the owner offered enough benefits, he wouldn’t hesitate to write any inscription—just finding an excuse to back out later. So, when he saw the emperor pick up his chopsticks, he followed suit and took a bite of the braised fish in the middle. As he tasted each dish, he finally admitted that the fish was truly delicious and well-seasoned. He thought about finding a way to have the kitchen staff at his residence learn from it.

Although the meal was expensive, it was nothing compared to the expenses in the palace. Zhu Ning ordered her attendants to pay the bill before saying to Zhang Yue, “It’s still early. Have someone send Wan’er and the others back first. Come and sit with me.” Though he said this, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but glance at Zhu Zhanji. Seeing that the emperor no longer had his earlier relaxed smile, he knew it was likely the emperor’s wish, so he agreed without further thought. He personally sent Jingguan and Sannan back, whispering a few words to Du Wan as well. It was rare to get out for the Lantern Festival. Though he couldn’t fully enjoy himself, at least he had enjoyed the lanterns, eaten yuanxiao, and solved riddles with his family, so leaving now spared him the frustration of having to work overtime. However, as he moved from the bustling lantern market alley to the vicinity of the Prince of Shiyi’s mansion facing Donghua Gate, he felt a stark contrast between the heat and cold. The noise and bustle from over there still reached him faintly through the night sky, but the calmness and solitude here were overwhelming, shutting out all the festive cheer. When he entered Princess Chenliu’s mansion through the back door, a large number of Jinyiwei guards were stationed outside. Seeing the colorful lanterns all over the courtyard, Zhang Yue finally felt a bit of the spirit of the Lantern Festival. “My place can’t compare to yours. I’ve only returned and settled here for a few days. But when you’re tired from discussing matters, a bowl of yuanxiao is a must.” Standing at the door of the study, Zhu Ning personally pushed it open and gestured invitingly with a smile. Zhu Zhanji thanked her with a smile before entering first, followed closely by Zhang Yue. Ruan Lang closed the door and stood by with the curtain drawn. Zhu Ning glanced at him and instructed the eunuch accompanying her to fetch a thick coat and a hand warmer. Seeing Ruan Lang’s fearful gratitude, she gave him one last instruction before leaving. “I don’t know how long I’ll have to guard here. If there’s anyone outside the courtyard, just send them to report to me. If anything is needed, just give orders from outside. Loyalty is good, but don’t stubbornly hold your ground. After all, you’ve only been by the emperor’s side for a short time.” “Yes, I will keep Princess’s words firmly in mind.”

Zhu Ning’s study was neatly tidy, with a plum blossom painting at the center. Scattered red plum blossoms adorned the trunk sketched in a few strokes, adding a vibrant and delicate touch. The furnishings were simple: two armchairs flanked the large desk in the main room, with two more chairs on each side beneath it on a low table. The east room served as the proper study, equipped with tall bookshelves against the wall, though curtains covered them. Zhu Zhanji walked over, pulled back the curtains, flipped through a few books, only to find that they contained nothing by sages—only works like “Collected Works of Liu Hedong,” “Poems of Shuyu,” “Clear Conversations from the Jade Pot,” “Records of Western Xia,” and so on. After reading a bit more, he pulled the curtains back and smiled at Zhang Yue.
“I knew my aunt liked such miscellaneous books, but I didn’t expect it to still be the case after all these years.”
Hearing Zhu Zhanji mention miscellaneous books, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but think of his own wife. His private study was called Zixingzhai, and Du Wan had also set aside the western part of the five main rooms in the courtyard as a place for reading and working. Only on such cold days would he go to the warm pavilion. He remembered flipping through books there before—works like “Essentials of Zhenguan Governance,” “Stories of the Sui and Tang Dynasties,” “Records of Fengtian,” “The Classic of Tea,” and many other miscellaneous books. Given their close friendship with Zhu Ning, it was likely that, aside from both being learned, shared interests were the most important factor.
Of course, Zhu Zhanji was merely expressing his thoughts at the moment, and Zhang Yue wouldn’t bring it up. As expected, the emperor sat down in the chair behind the desk, gestured for Zhang Yue to sit as well, then said directly, “I feel that the current court has become too stagnant.”
Seeing Zhang Yue pause briefly before pondering with his chin in hand, Zhu Zhanji stood up, walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, then suddenly turned back at the window. “In the early years of the Yongle era, Emperor Taizong summoned scholars like Yang Shiqi to the cabinet. At that time, the oldest of them was just in his early forties, and the youngest was thirty. Back then, qualifications weren’t followed at all.”
When the emperor mentioned the late Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, Zhang Yue naturally stood up. Since Zhu Di had ascended to the throne as a prince from the Yan clan, many civil officials still favored the old regime. Naturally, they didn’t follow qualifications when selecting talents back then. But as peace lasted for a long time, those in high positions naturally disliked any changes, so promotions and other matters were handled based on seniority—which was quite natural.

With the empress dowager inside and veteran ministers outside, although Zhu Zhanji was a peaceful emperor, once he ascended the throne, countless people openly and secretly reminded him to follow the governance methods of Renzong Zhu Gaochi—to fight less, be more lenient, and restore the country’s strength through rest and recuperation. The advice made sense, but aside from a few cases, such proposals often faced heavy resistance from the start, and even when implemented reluctantly, progress was slow. No wonder he felt frustrated. At that moment, seeing Zhu Zhanji’s furrowed brows, Zhang Yue suddenly remembered that this emperor, who had been named the crown prince during the Yongle era, had only ruled as a peaceful emperor for ten years as recorded in history, and his heart tightened.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, so he stepped forward and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, why not reopen the Hongwen Pavilion?”

The Hongwen Pavilion had been established during Renzong Emperor Zhu Gaochi’s reign. Initially, it was said that only scholars would serve as attendants, but with Yang Pu in charge of its seal, there was clearly a deeper purpose. Yet Zhu Gaochi died before fulfilling his ambitions, and the Hongwen Pavilion was eventually abandoned. Shortly after Zhu Zhanji ascended the throne, he summoned Yang Pu to the Wenyuan Pavilion and dissolved the Hongwen Pavilion. Thus, that place, which once could have shone brightly, quickly became a forgotten corner.

“You mean…”

“Your Majesty, I’m not trying to take away the power of the cabinet. Instead, I suggest creating a platform outside the cabinet where those with less experience can voice their opinions. Currently, after court meetings, Your Majesty meets with key ministers in a side hall to discuss matters. But if the Hongwen Pavilion is reopened, there’s no need to go there frequently—just once or twice a month—to listen to the proposals of those ambitious officials beyond poetry and essays. Perhaps something valuable can be gained. Or… even without reopening it entirely, we could use it as a place to discuss state affairs.”

Decisions on major national issues often arise from debates. If it weren’t for seeing scenes of fierce arguments in some modern democratic countries’ parliaments, Zhang Yue wouldn’t have thought of this. Of course, he wouldn’t dare to impose some absurd form of democracy in such an era, but being able to hear opinions not heard before during debates was what mattered most. Young officials full of vigor might not necessarily come up with the perfect governance strategies, but wouldn’t they still serve as a reference? After all, issuing edicts to seek honest opinions was an exception, not the norm.

Suddenly reinstating younger officials wouldn’t benefit the court and might even provoke backlash. It would be better to establish a communication channel first. Otherwise, by the time young people lost their edge in officialdom, many of their ideas would have vanished.

“You make a good point!”

After all, Zhu Zhanji had been trained as the crown prince since childhood. Rather than seeing the current high-ranking officials as obstacles, he actually needed to rely on them, yet he was not used to letting them make all the decisions. To get things done, he would remove those who got in the way and replace them with his own people, thus taking absolute control—this was certainly not a tactic he would have learned from Zhu Di. So, after nodding in great delight, he looked at Zhang Yue and said with a smile, “You’re growing more mature by the day, but your ingenious ideas are becoming fewer and fewer. Little do you know, what I like most are your sudden insights. Indeed, reestablishing the Hongwen Pavilion may arouse unfavorable associations, but using its location is perfect.”

Zhang Yue was taken aback by such praise and felt somewhat embarrassed. “Was there really no other way? Entering the government at less than thirty, if I wasn’t mature, there would be even more accusations from the censors. Last time, the Duke of Yingguo and Grand Secretary Yang suggested holding regular lectures. How about holding these lectures in the Hongwen Pavilion? Besides discussing Confucian classics, we could also debate some state affairs. In addition to the scholars from the Hanlin Academy, we could invite newly promoted Hanlin scholars and officials from the six departments to attend, and depending on the topic each time, summon relevant officials from various ministries.”

After outlining the general principles, the emperor and his minister discussed the details in the study until knocks and calls came from outside, prompting them to look up. Zhang Yue glanced outside and suddenly said in a low voice, “With all due respect, for this first time, we already have a topic ready. The petition submitted by my father-in-law and I, along with Yu Qian’s letter, can be used for discussion.”

Zhu Zhanji already knew Zhang Yue never acted without reason. Realizing this, he felt both annoyed and amused. Without saying either yes or no, he simply hummed softly and headed outside. Sure enough, as soon as he opened the door, he saw not only Ruan Lang waiting there but also Zhu Ning, who was already there. Though wearing a warm hat and fur coat, she was rubbing her hands and tapping her feet lightly.

“It’s already the fourth watch. Even though it’s the Lantern Festival, you’ve been talking too late. The palace has sent people to urge us several times already, and Eunuch Wang has come to urge me as well. Could it be the emperor really intends to stay here and sleep alongside his wise ministers?”