Chapter 99

As Zhao Junchen arrived, the numerous carriages filled with gifts caused the officials waiting outside the Meridian Gate to marvel, point, and discuss. Many officials from the court gathered around Zhao Junchen, deliberately trying to curry favor.

While Zhao Junchen was responding to the greetings of the officials, he was amazed by Emperor Deqing's grand gesture.

On the way, Zhao Junchen had already noticed that the capital had undergone a significant transformation for Emperor Deqing's birthday. From the western part of the capital to the Forbidden City, the celebrations were continuous, with colorful pavilions, lanterns, and dragon pavilions lining the route. The common people and various shops were adorned with colorful decorations and incense altars, burning incense and praying for blessings. Temples and observatories along the way set up grand celebration altars. The various departments, temples, and supervisory offices in the capital also built altars and set up colorful pavilions, making the scene lively and bustling.

However, after arriving at the Meridian Gate, Zhao Junchen realized that the grand celebrations in the capital were nothing compared to the changes in the palace.

At this time, the Meridian Gate was already open, and the officials entered one after another. The luxury of the palace left Zhao Junchen speechless. He saw that in the Forbidden City, craftsmen had used colorful paintings, fabrics, and silks to create colorful walls and corridors, adorning the palace passages with vibrant and diverse decorations. Large characters such as "Longevity Without End" and "Emperor's Ten Thousand Years" were prominently displayed on the colorful walls. The trees in the palace were adorned with red and green silks, creating a dazzling and colorful scene. There were high pavilions everywhere, with performers from the imperial music and dance troupe continuously performing. Near the palace, musicians played celebratory songs like "Thousand Years of Joy" and "Thousand Years of Sons," with one group replacing another without interruption.

Emperor Deqing had spent nearly 400,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury for his birthday. Zhao Junchen originally thought that the eunuchs in the palace might have tampered with the funds, but just a glimpse outside the Meridian Gate made him realize that the 400,000 taels were likely well spent. Even if the eunuchs had tampered with the funds, the amount they embezzled would be minimal.

Without mentioning other things, just the colorful walls and corridors made of silk and brocade, if truly spread throughout the palace, would cost tens of thousands of taels of silver, not to mention the renovation inside the palace and the purchases outside.

"Is this a time of peace and prosperity? Or is it just a facade of peace? Or perhaps it is sheer extravagance?"

Thinking of the impoverished lives of the people he had seen in Luan Prefecture, Zhao Junchen shook his head in secret.

While Zhao Junchen was deep in thought, the palace guards had already inspected the gifts he brought, and they were also amazed. However, since there were no prohibited items, they quickly allowed him to proceed.

... After entering the palace, the various gifts were arranged for transportation by palace staff, and Zhao Junchen went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to wait. Looking around, he found that the Hall of Supreme Harmony was very different from the usual morning court sessions. The nobles and meritorious officials, who were rarely seen, were now everywhere, while the number of court officials was much smaller. Only the high-ranking officials had the privilege to wait inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In fact, due to the large number of people coming to celebrate Emperor Deqing's birthday, all officials below the third rank had to wait and pay their respects outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Perhaps because of his poor reputation, although there were many unfamiliar nobles and meritorious officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, few were interested in befriending Zhao Junchen. Most were gathered around the Crown Prince Zhu Heyu, the Chief Cabinet Minister Zhou Shangjing, the Grand Secretary Huang Yourong, and Shen Changmao. The only person accompanying Zhao Junchen was the Minister of Works, Zuo Lanshan, who was chatting with him intermittently.

Just as Zhao Junchen was feeling bored, the sound of bells and drums announced the arrival of Emperor Deqing, accompanied by the Empress, concubines, and princes.

"Rise, all of you, my loyal ministers."

After the officials shouted "Long live the Emperor," Emperor Deqing let them rise, his voice loud and clear.

Zhao Junchen, standing at the back of the line, secretly looked up as he rose and saw that Emperor Deqing was in high spirits, his face radiant and his complexion glowing. His neatly trimmed beard made him look much younger.

After the officials rose, Emperor Deqing continued, "I am very happy today, not because it is my 55th birthday, but because of everything you, my loyal ministers, have done for this grand celebration. It has shown me the strength of our Great Ming Empire, the loyalty and filial piety of the people, and the harmony between the court and the ministers! With this, how can our Great Ming Empire not last for thousands of years?"

As Emperor Deqing's words fell, the officials and nobles in the hall shouted, "Your Majesty is wise."

Emperor Deqing then said, "To celebrate this grand occasion, I hereby decree a general amnesty. All officials of the second rank and above will be granted pearls and gold, officials of the fourth rank and above will be given gold mirrors and silk, and officials of the fifth rank and below will be given pearl bags and silk. All the states in the empire will have banquets and holidays for three days!"

As Zhao Junchen joined the others in shouting, "Your Majesty is wise," a eunuch announced, "The grand celebration begins, music starts!"

In the Ming Dynasty, the emperor's birthday was also known as the "Wanshou Festival," ranking alongside the "New Year" and "Heaven Worship" festivals, adding a solemn atmosphere and a higher significance. As a result, the rituals and etiquette were extremely complex.

First, the officials, nobles, and members of the imperial family paid their respects to Emperor Deqing, not just a regular bow but a 33-bow ceremony. Zhao Junchen just followed the others. After the ceremony, many older officials and nobles were already trembling and pale, while Emperor Deqing remained oblivious, smiling at them.

Next, the officials, nobles, scholars, and princes who were renowned in the court and the country took turns to present their congratulatory poems to Emperor Deqing. Although Zhao Junchen was the top scholar of the 29th year of Emperor Deqing's reign, he lacked the prestige and experience to participate in such a ceremony. He just had to listen to the scholars recite their long, flowery poems.

To be honest, Zhao Junchen did not understand most of the words and phrases used in these poems, but he still maintained a look of deep appreciation and agreement.

During this time, various elegant music and dances were performed.

When the ceremony was finally over, it was time for the officials and nobles to present their gifts and congratulatory poems to Emperor Deqing, and it was also time for Zhao Junchen to shine.

As expected, the gifts presented by the officials and nobles in the hall were relatively ordinary, mostly calligraphy, paintings, and antiques, which seemed valuable but were just a small fraction of their wealth. The Chief Cabinet Minister Zhou Shangjing even presented only a poem he had written.

Emperor Deqing thanked and comforted the gift-givers, but there was a lack of surprise, making the process somewhat dull. Emperor Deqing was initially enthusiastic but gradually became less interested.

Just as everyone was getting bored, a eunuch announced, "Minister of Revenue and Chief of the Inner Transport Bureau, Zhao Junchen, presents his gift and congratulatory poem!"

As the eunuch's voice fell, all eyes in the hall turned to Zhao Junchen, and even Emperor Deqing became more alert.

Clearly, without realizing it, everyone had come to see Zhao Junchen's gift as the highlight of the Wanshou Festival.

"Oh? It's Zhao Junchen's turn to present his gift?" Emperor Deqing, unusually, spoke before the gift was presented, his face full of anticipation: "I heard before coming to the Hall of Supreme Harmony that Zhao Junchen used 37 carriages to transport his gift this year. His gifts in previous years were always unique, and I am sure this year's gift will not disappoint. Bring it in quickly."

As Emperor Deqing's words fell, there was a stir in the hall. Some had arrived early and did not know that Zhao Junchen's gift this year required dozens of carriages to transport.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhao Junchen quickly stepped forward, smiling and bowing to Emperor Deqing: "Your Majesty, my gift this year is different from previous years. There are three items, one of which is presented on behalf of someone else."

Hearing this, everyone in the hall was surprised. In all the years of the Wanshou Festival, it was the first time someone had presented a gift on behalf of another person.

Emperor Deqing became even more interested and urged, "Oh? Three gifts? Zhao Junchen has truly put a lot of effort into this. Bring them in quickly for me to see."

As Emperor Deqing urged, the palace eunuchs quickly brought the gifts in.

With the help of four eunuchs, Zhao Junchen's first gift finally appeared before everyone's eyes.

It was a floor-standing pendulum clock, as tall as a person, exquisitely and luxuriously decorated with dragon and phoenix carvings, a golden base, and intricate gold thread.

"Oh? A pendulum clock? It is much larger and more luxurious than ordinary clocks, looking grand and fitting the imperial atmosphere. Zhao Junchen has truly put a lot of thought into it."

Seeing the pendulum clock brought in by the eunuchs, Emperor Deqing was quite pleased, nodding repeatedly.

During the Wanli period, foreign envoys had presented mechanical clocks, which Emperor Wanli greatly appreciated, often admiring them day and night. He then issued an edict to establish a specialized workshop to make mechanical clocks for his use and that of his royal family and trusted ministers.

However, although the workshop made mechanical clocks, they were mostly imitations with no innovation and were small table clocks.

The mechanical clock presented by Zhao Junchen, while not difficult to manufacture and could be made by the court workshop, was seven feet tall, decorated with gold and jade, and had dragon and phoenix carvings, making it much grander and more luxurious. Emperor Deqing naturally liked it.

Zhao Junchen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have made 55 such large pendulum clocks to celebrate your 55th birthday. They will be given not only to you but also to the ladies in the palace. This way, they will be widespread in the palace, and you will see them wherever you go."

Emperor Deqing's face was full of surprise, and he laughed, "Oh? 55 clocks? Zhao Junchen has truly put a lot of effort into this. I am very pleased. However, this is just the first gift. Given Zhao Junchen's nature, the next two gifts must be even more novel and precious. Bring them in quickly."

Zhao Junchen nodded and smiled, saying to Emperor Deqing, "Your Majesty, the second gift is a borrowed flower. It is not something I prepared intentionally but was entrusted to me by someone else. There are too many of them to bring just one for your viewing. Please step outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony to see them with the other officials."

Hearing this, Emperor Deqing became even more curious. Although Zhao Junchen's request was somewhat unconventional, Emperor Deqing was very interested and said, "Oh? What kind of gift requires me to go outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony to see? Very well, I will follow Zhao Junchen's suggestion. All of you, would you like to join me in viewing Zhao Junchen's gift?"

Naturally, no one in the hall refused Emperor Deqing's invitation. Led by Emperor Deqing, they all went outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Then, both Emperor Deqing and the officials and nobles were stunned by the scene outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.