Chapter 888
Let's boost my brother's achievements
Zhu Qiyu's eyes widened in disbelief: "How...how could this be?"
Pan Yun looked directly into his eyes and sighed softly.
How could it not be that bad?
The practice of funerary sacrifice was advocated by Confucius in the fourth century BC, and during the Warring States period, Duke Xian of Qin took the lead in abolishing it as a national policy.
For more than a thousand years afterward, although the practice of private suicide among the common people was repeatedly prohibited, the official authorities of each dynasty always maintained a prohibitive attitude.
Who knew that two thousand years later, Zhu Yuanzhang would do something big, promoting the practice of human sacrifice in the imperial family and reviving the practice that the ancient sages had tried so hard to suppress.
Following the example set by the emperor, the common people also began to observe the custom of wives and concubines committing suicide to preserve their chastity, and the imperial court followed suit by issuing numerous memorial arches for chastity.
But whoever suffers from this will feel the pain.
Pan Yun said calmly, "If it were Consort Wu Xian and the future princess who were to be sacrificed, would Your Highness feel resentment?"
Zhu Qiyu's expression changed slightly. The future princess was naturally his daughter, and Consort Wu Xian was his biological mother.
Just thinking about it made Zhu Qiyu feel heartbroken and resentful.
Pan Yun said, "If His Highness is so angry just from this hypothetical situation, what about the officials? Their sisters and daughters have been under this threat since the Hongwu era. Don't they feel resentment in their hearts?"
“There aren’t many people in this world who can be truly heartless and exchange the lives of their loved ones for wealth,” Pan Yun said. “Moreover, as time goes by, more and more people in the common folk will secretly follow the royal family’s example of sacrificing their wives, daughters, and servants alive. All these sins will be attributed to your Zhu family.”
Zhu Qiyu was deeply moved. He was a person who was easily influenced and would put himself in others' shoes.
Once Pan Yun's example was cited, Zhu Qiyu understood.
He was getting restless and wanted to abolish the system immediately: "If the Imperial Clan Court objects, what should I say to them?"
Pan Yun: "Why bother with them, Your Highness, you are the emperor."
Zhu Qiyu's eyes brightened slightly, revealing a newfound confidence.
He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then raised them again, having made up his mind.
Zhu Qiyu left in a hurry.
Pan Yun watched him leave.
Zhu Qiyu acted swiftly; no sooner had he left Pan Yun than he summoned ministers such as Yu Qian and Chen Xun and began to weep in front of them.
Yu Qian: ...
Ministers:...
Everyone thought Zhu Qiyu was about to succumb to the pressure from the Empress Dowager, and Cao Nai and the others were on tenterhooks when Zhu Qiyu began to reminisce about the past.
The main recollections are of the late emperor's elder brother's benevolence, his voice and smile, and his correspondence with the former Zhou king.
The ministers were not fools. At first they were puzzled, but when he mentioned the former Zhou king, they immediately understood.
Is the new emperor unwilling to let Empress Qian and others be buried alive with him, and wants to grant them a pardon?
The ministers were relieved and waited for him to bring it up before agreeing.
They're not perverts, why would they even need to think about something like this?
If the royal family asks, I'll agree!
But... why are none of the members of the royal family here?
What's the point of them agreeing to this?
Just as he was wondering, Zhu Qiyu cried out his purpose: "My brother has long intended to abolish the practice of funerary sacrifice, but it involves ancestral rules and must be done slowly. However, now that my brother has passed away, he and my sister-in-law were deeply in love. How could he bear to let my sister-in-law be buried alive with him? Therefore, I want to follow my brother's last wish and abolish the practice of funerary sacrifice on his behalf. If our ancestors have any complaints, they can come to me. What do you all think?"
The ministers were astonished. This... is it a direct abolition?
Yu Qian reacted the fastest. After a moment of astonishment, he immediately knelt down and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty is wise, and the late Emperor was benevolent!" The other ministers also came to their senses and knelt down one after another, responding in unison, "Your Majesty is wise, and the late Emperor was benevolent."
Among them were daughters and sisters who were concubines in the harem and were also on the list of those to be buried alive. As soon as the list was read, tears streamed down their faces, and they kowtowed repeatedly to Zhu Qiyu.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Qiyu was filled with complex emotions. It seemed that Pan Yun was right. Officials had long suffered from the system of being buried alive with their dead. Then, was it true, as Pan Yun said, that many people had died unjustly because of the ancestral system?
Zhu Qiyu's toes dug into the ground, his face flushed, and his heart pounded. He felt ashamed before the world and before his ancestors.
Is issuing such an imperial edict a denial of the ancestors?
It should be noted that his ancestors included not only his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, but also his great-grandfather and great-grandfather. Zhu Qiyu's respect for them was as deep as the Yellow River. Even though it was for the sake of the country, he was still ashamed to overthrow the ancestral system.
Fortunately, Chen Xun quickly realized what was happening and asked, "Is the edict issued in the name of the late emperor?"
Zhu Qiyu grunted in agreement, implying, "This is my elder brother's dying wish, and it is I who have defied the world and violated ancestral rules."
It means that the credit belongs to the elder brother, while the infamy belongs to him.
At this moment, Zhu Qiyu was filled with the kindness Zhu Qizhen had shown him. The two brothers had not experienced the power struggles of another world, and he was now simply a respectful and loving younger brother.
His brother was dead, and he naturally didn't want his brother to suffer another infamy.
Actually, he didn't really like the posthumous title proposed by the officials. His brother was already dead, and he still wanted to give him a better posthumous title.
The ministers immediately understood.
During special periods, government orders are issued through special channels and at special speeds.
The court officials, fearing obstruction from the imperial family, discussed the details with Zhu Qiyu and immediately began drafting the edict.
Zhu Qiyu then went to the Empress Dowager to tell her about the matter, and said, "Your Majesty is benevolent. All the officials feel that although the personal campaign was unfavorable, Your Majesty ascended the throne at a young age and has worked diligently for ten years. Your merits outweigh your faults. They will re-determine Your Majesty's posthumous title."
Empress Dowager Sun was taken aback. The resentment that had been lingering between her brows faded, replaced by sadness: "They say the late emperor's merits outweigh his faults?"
Zhu Qiyu bowed his head and replied, "Yes."
Empress Dowager Sun's shoulders slumped slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Indeed, the practice of funerary sacrifice has been abolished, but..."
She murmured, "Isn't he lonely down there? Could we postpone the imperial edict until after the people in the palace have been sacrificed..."
Zhu Qiyu's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Mother, my brother's posthumous title will be decided in the next two days. If... if... wouldn't that be against the will of Heaven? Moreover, this is indeed my brother's last wish. He and my sister-in-law have always been very affectionate. If he knew, he would definitely want my sister-in-law to live a good life."
Empress Dowager Sun said irritably, "The Empress naturally does not need to be buried alive with the Emperor, but Consort Liu and Consort Zhou were especially favored by the Emperor when he was alive, especially Consort Liu. I think the Emperor liked her even more than the Empress, so she is also willing to be buried alive with him..."
Zhu Qiyu clenched his fists slightly. After putting himself in the shoes of the courtiers and witnessing their weeping, he realized that some things could no longer be judged by appearances.
Who knows if Consort Liu was truly willing or just pretending?
Fearing that this matter would affect the fate of the nation, he whispered his dissuasion, saying, "This matter has not been approved by the imperial clan. If we still order the young imperial sisters-in-law to commit suicide at this time, the imperial edict will be rendered meaningless. Wouldn't that undermine the rule of the court? Your Majesty's achievements will also be greatly diminished."
He said, "Since the decision has been made, the palace can no longer allow people to be buried alive with their dead. Not only can it not be done, but those who are determined to die must be stopped and must not be allowed to be buried alive with the dead."
Zhu Qiyu became more and more confident as he spoke, raising his head slightly and finally daring to look directly at the Empress Dowager: "Mother, I will sincerely pray for my elder brother's well-being, and pray for the country's future. He will live a good life, and he also has his grandmother and father to take care of him."
Empress Dowager Sun froze on the spot, staring directly at Zhu Qiyu. After a long while, she finally nodded: "Alright!"
Zhu Qiyu knew that he had succeeded in persuading the Empress Dowager. He bowed deeply and solemnly said, "I entrust this matter to Your Majesty."
This is to ensure that the Empress Dowager keeps a close watch on everyone in the harem, that none of them die, and to carry out this decree to solidify the achievements of the late Emperor.
Empress Dowager Sun agreed and immediately summoned her trusted confidants. (End of Chapter)