Yingtian Prefecture, Ming capital.
Hall of Careful Governance.
All officials had gathered to offer birthday congratulations.
Yet the star of the celebration had already been absent for over an hour.
Every time Vice Minister Li Mian looked up and saw the imperial throne sitting empty above them, he felt another bead of sweat form on his forehead.
It had only been a month since he had taken charge of the Ministry of Rites in an acting capacity.
And ever since last September, when Wang Guangyang was ordered to die, the aftershocks had not stopped.
The case dragged in Hu Weiyong, then spread further into the Six Ministries and their subordinate officials. The purge had been massive, and the political atmosphere had never fully recovered.
Then the emperor abolished the office of chancellor altogether and split authority among the ministries.
On the surface, it looked like imperial favor.
In truth, everyone who survived the purge lived in constant fear.
Take the Ministry of Personnel. In half a year alone, the post of minister had passed through four men in succession.
The Ministry of Revenue had fared no better. Xu Duo had barely taken office before being dismissed for association with conspirators.
The Ministry of Rites was worse still.
In the first month of the year, the emperor had appointed Zheng Jiucheng. By the second month, the man retired on grounds of age.
He was replaced by Xie Si, who had only just left the Ministry of Personnel. Xie Si lasted until the sixth month before retiring for the same reason.
After that, no one dared take the post.
Finally, with the imperial birthday approaching in the eighth month and ceremonies needing a responsible official, Li Mian, then merely a vice minister, had been pushed forward to fill the role.
And now the emperor had left the banquet midway through.
Yes, everyone had seen the palace maid from Kunning Palace arrive. It was probably related to the empress's recent illness.
Still…
Li Mian made up his mind again.
After the birthday celebrations ended, he would request reassignment to a provincial post.
Anyone could be minister. He, Li Mian, did not want to remain in the capital and live like this.
Perhaps his sweating was too obvious, because the man beside him spoke up to reassure him.
"No need to worry, Junior Minister. The Crown Prince is presiding smoothly. Next time we meet, you may well be addressed as Senior Minister."
Because the Ming emperor prided himself on restoring Han rule after driving out the Yuan, he sometimes revived titles from the Classic of Documents when addressing officials.
When Xie Si resigned as Minister of Personnel, the emperor had called him Grand Steward instead.
Li Mian suppressed his thoughts of resignation and turned seriously to reply.
"My thanks, Duke of Han. Yet everyone knows the Crown Prince is generous and reluctant to speak of his ministers' faults."
The Duke of Han, Li Shanchang, shook his head, setting down the fruit in his hand.
"Why would His Majesty vent his displeasure over family matters upon his officials?"
Li Mian felt his anxiety ease slightly.
If Li Shanchang, now serving as Chief Censor and still the foremost among the founding ministers, said he would be fine, then today he was probably safe.
He changed his form of address in gratitude.
"Then I thank you, Chief Censor, for your guidance."
He picked up a pair of fruits and ate them slowly, while glancing sideways toward the Crown Prince seated to the left of the throne. The prince was receiving the officials, and bursts of laughter drifted across the hall. The atmosphere there was warm and relaxed.
The Crown Prince had handled administration for more than two years now. None of the officials were unfamiliar with him.
Everyone knew his style.
He treated people generously, governed with benevolence, issued calm directives, and preferred straightforward administration.
And most importantly, his temperament clashed with the emperor's.
As Li Mian chewed, a stray thought suddenly crossed his mind.
If the Crown Prince were the one sitting on the throne now, would he ever have considered requesting reassignment?
He immediately felt foolish.
If the Crown Prince ruled, men like Zheng Jiucheng and Xie Si would probably remain in office until they physically could not serve. Someone like him would never have risen this far.
As his thoughts wandered, Li Mian suddenly felt the hall grow colder.
The murmuring among officials died down.
"Ten thousand years of life to Your Majesty."
"May Your Majesty enjoy eternal spring and longevity."
"May the Sage live for countless ages."
The chaotic chorus made it clear the emperor had returned.
Li Mian tried to speak as well, but in his haste he choked on the food he had just swallowed.
His coughing echoed embarrassingly through the hall that had just fallen silent.
He almost wished he could cough himself to death.
Unexpectedly, the emperor did not scold him.
"Minister Li, eat more slowly. Our Ming still needs you to contribute."
As he passed, Zhu Yuanzhang even patted his back and spoke kindly.
The officials exchanged puzzled looks.
Why did His Majesty seem… different today?
The thought vanished quickly.
"Since everyone is full, disperse."
"Do not delay state business. Tomorrow's court session is not to be late."
Yes. That was definitely their familiar emperor.
Li Mian exhaled in relief and felt even more determined to seek reassignment. Better to leave this nerve-wracking life behind.
The birthday celebration in the Hall of Careful Governance had begun grandly and ended abruptly. Many officials had hoped today's work might be postponed, but the emperor had ordered otherwise. They left the palace quickly.
No one thought much of the emperor keeping the Crown Prince and the Duke of Han behind.
One was his son.
The other was the foremost of the ministers, often called "our Xiao He" by the emperor himself.
Favoring them was only natural.
---
Servants began clearing the banquet.
What puzzled Zhu Biao was that his father led him and the Duke of Han not back inside, but out through the north gate of the hall and into the Hall of Huagai.
Once there, the emperor simply stood in the center with his back to them, sighing heavily.
"Shanchang, do you remember there used to be a screen in this hall?"
"I recall it vaguely," Li Shanchang replied.
The Hall of Huagai was where the emperor paused before court sessions or rituals. Eunuchs passed through often, but ministers rarely came here. Li Shanchang had only visited a few times to discuss state matters.
He did not understand what the emperor was getting at.
Zhu Biao, however, immediately thought of his mother.
He had visited her that morning and knew she had caught a mild chill and felt unwell. Otherwise she would have attended the birthday celebration.
His father had been gone a long time and now stood here sighing…
"Father… is Mother's health worsening?"
Zhu Yuanzhang waved dismissively, half amused.
"When I left Kunning Palace I summoned the imperial physicians. Nothing serious. The empress has taken medicine and is resting. A light meal tonight and she should recover."
Zhu Biao relaxed.
But he also sensed the hesitation in his father's manner.
Father and son were informal with each other, and the attendants had all been dismissed. So he asked directly.
"Then what troubles you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed again. In truth, the moment he cleared the hall, he had already made up his mind.
"What do you two think…"
He paused.
"How long will our Ming endure?"