Chapter 176 My gift of congratulations

Author: Potato Sweet Potato Pie

Chapter 176 My gift of congratulations

The so-called principle of loyalty and filial piety, in Chinese thought, the two are connected and inseparable.

In the Han Dynasty, when the imperial examination had not yet been formed, the way to become an official was to promote filial piety and integrity. In other words, as long as a person was filial enough, he could be an official.

In Chinese culture, filial piety is the most important symbol.

Filial piety is the first good deed in heaven and earth. Filial piety is the first among all good deeds. As long as a person is filial, he will be loyal to the emperor and patriotic.

This is why there is a system of promotion of officials such as filial piety and integrity. Therefore, the emperor is also called the father of the king, and he always calls himself the father and mother of all people in his edicts.

The Ming Dynasty, like other Chinese Zhengshuo dynasties, followed the idea of ​​governing the world with filial piety.

Emperor Hongzhi found it novel that Xia Yuan, the new top scholar in a new subject, begged his mother for a royal decree, and he couldn't help but appreciate him more and more.

To this, he wanted to agree, but he had some difficulties. He asked for a royal decree. The imperial decree was at least the fifth rank. Only the wives of officials of the fifth rank and above could receive such an honor.

However, Xia Yuan was only the number one scholar and did not even have an official position. Even if he was awarded an official position by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, according to the rules, he would only be a sixth-rank scholar, or a subordinate of the sixth rank.

While his thoughts were surging, Zhu Youtang seemed to have made up his mind, and said in a gentle voice: "Although the country does not have such regulations, it governs the world with filial piety. I think of you as a benevolent and filial heart, so I made an exception.

Your mother posthumously gave her a third-grade imperial edict."

"Students thank you, Your Majesty."

Xia Yuan gave a big salute to the emperor, and his lips moved twice, as if he was hesitant to speak, but he soon became calm again.

I have already asked the emperor to make an exception and grant one to his mother. Asking for more would be a bit ungrateful.

Forget it, let’s talk about it later when we have a chance.

Zhu Youtang keenly caught his hesitation in speaking just now, and couldn't help but ask: "Do you still have something else to say?"

"without"

After saying nothing, Xia Yuan stopped again, looked at the emperor's gentle face, hesitated for a moment, and asked cautiously: "If the student said that he still wants to ask for a royal decree, is this a bit too much?"

As soon as these words came out, Xiao Jing, who was standing by the side, was startled and hurriedly looked at the emperor's face. Zhu Youtang also had a look of surprise in his eyes, and immediately his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed through his heart.

Giving you one is already my exceptional grace, do you still want to ask for it?

Doesn't this kid know what gain is? He does.

"Oh?" Suppressing his emotions, Emperor Hongzhi stared at him and asked in a calm voice: "Who else do you want to beg for?"

His voice was calm, but Xia Yuan could hear the hint of displeasure, so he could only explain: "Your Majesty, this is the case. The student has a lovely wife at home."

Just hearing this beginning, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and also laughed a little. He just heard those ministers say that there is a chaff in the family, no matter how bad it is, there is a thorn or something. This guy is not modest at all, come up.

I just have a lovely wife at home.

But I also have one.

Although she is over thirty years old, she is worthy of the title of "beautiful wife".

"The student got married to her last year. At that time, the student was seriously ill. It was only after he was able to celebrate his marriage with her that he gradually got better.

She was also the one who stayed with the student and stayed with her until the hard times were over. However, the student’s wife was from an ordinary background, she was born as a concubine, and she was still married by fraud at the time.”

"Last year, when she was just a scholar, there was not much difference in status between her and me. Now she is the number one student in high school. She is afraid that someone will chew on her and say that she cheated her marriage and is not worthy of the students, etc., which will make her sad.

That’s why I want to ask Your Majesty to give her a birthright.”

Asking for a royal decree for his wife was much newer than asking for a royal decree for his mother just now. Even Emperor Hongzhi had never encountered this matter before.

But this kind of thing made all the dissatisfaction in his heart dissipate, and turned into a sigh. In this Ming Dynasty, many men only regarded women as foils and subordinates, and how many of them would think of giving them to themselves?

Is your wife asking for a royal decree?

As the emperor, Zhu Youtang did not have the three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. He only had one wife, Queen Zhang. Even the two of them got along in private on weekdays, just like ordinary people, treating each other as husband and wife.

And he has always doted on this wife. As for the reason, it is not only because of his innate devotion, but also because of the deep relationship between him and his wife.

As an emperor, it is not a good thing to be so devoted. When the ministers in the court mentioned this matter, they all unanimously concluded that the emperor's approach was deeply inappropriate and that he should continue to spread the royal bloodline.

There are also ministers who have repeatedly written letters asking Zhu Youzhang to select girls to enrich the harem; some people even criticized him for this matter as an emperor who only favored one person and caused trouble for his relatives.

But Zhu Youtang remained the same as before, suppressing all these objections and refusing to accept them.

How can these common people understand the relationship between their husband and wife?

I rely on my courtiers for external affairs, but you also have to take care of my family affairs?

In this matter, Zhu Youtang has his own persistence, and also has a sense of self-identity that everyone is drunk and I am alone, and everyone is muddy and I am alone.

People in this world are all vulgar and filthy, and they have no idea how deep the relationship between me and the queen is.

But now that Xia Yuan was asking for a birth certificate for his wife, Zhu Youtang felt an inexplicable feeling of closeness to her, a feeling of confidant, and even felt a little ashamed of herself.

Ask yourself, if the roles were changed, I am afraid that he would not do such a thing in front of the emperor.

Because this will obviously offend the emperor. You, a champion, first asked for a royal decree for your mother, but were not satisfied with the approval, and then asked for a royal decree for your own wife. Isn't this a bit ungrateful?

Zhu Youtang knew that Xia Yuan was deceived into getting married, and he also understood how much impact such things would have on a woman.

"You have asked me for two royal orders in a row. You are really a bit out of touch. However, I am not an unkind king. Please grant your wife a royal decree. We are so loving, and I cannot be stingy. I can't ask for anything less.

The beauty of adulthood.

It's just that you asked for a imperial edict for your mother out of filial piety, so I can grant her a third-grade imperial edict. This wife, husband and wife, are one and the same, sharing weal and woe. It would be inappropriate if the grade was too high, so I will grant her a fifth-grade imperial edict. You see

How is it?"

"Students thank you, Your Majesty."

"Don't thank me too much. There is one more thing I want to make clear to you. You have not been awarded an official title yet and do not have an official position. If you are granted a title at this time, it will inevitably cause criticism in the court. I have to wait until you are awarded an official position."

It will be some time before I can issue such a decree."

"Student understands." Xia Yuan nodded quickly.

Emperor Hongzhi also nodded slightly, paused, then stood up and ordered: "Study the ink with me, and then go get a roll of two-color yellow paste."

Xiao Jing came over quickly to study the ink, and then sent a young eunuch in the palace to fetch Huang Cou.

After waiting for about a stick of incense, the young eunuch who had gone out came in with a roll of Huang Nang in his hand. At this time, the ink had been grinded. Zhu Youtang took the pen, dipped it in the ink, and when he picked up the pen, he

Asked: "What is your wife's name?"

"The surname is Zhao, and the name is Zhao Yuerong."

Zhu Youtang paused while holding the pen, and said to himself: "That's the Zhao family."

After saying that, he picked up his pen and started to paint a little bit. Xia Yuan was far away and couldn't see clearly what he was writing. He guessed that he might be drafting an edict, but just now the emperor said that edicts could not be issued.

I couldn't move forward to take a look, so I could only stand there and wait.

"Everyone in the world says that filial piety is a virtue, and I deeply agree with it; but in my opinion, the mutual affection between husband and wife and the love and care for their wives are also virtues. Now that you are the number one scholar in high school, what can you think of doing for your low-born daughter?

I am actually quite happy that my wife has asked for a royal decree."

As he spoke, Zhu Youtang took a seal and stamped it on the imperial edict. Then he turned to look at Xia Yuan and said with a smile: "I just said that it is inappropriate to issue an edict at this time, and it is indeed inappropriate, so I will first

Although writing such a nondescript edict is not a formal edict, it is still written by me.

It is a gift from me to congratulate you on being the top scorer in high school, so that you can take it home to please your lovely wife."
Chapter completed!