Chapter 103: The Boundless Favor of the Emperor

The next day, Zhu Qiyu convened a grand court assembly for the first time in his new capacity as emperor.

At the assembly, besides reiterating the crimes of Wang Zhen and his faction, a series of imminent policies were established.

These included strategies for defending against the Oirat invasions, maintaining stability in the capital, suppressing the rekindled rebellions in Guangdong and Fujian, and addressing the vacancies in various governmental departments.

These pressing matters were enough to overwhelm the newly crowned Zhu Qiyu.

The grand assembly required the attendance of all five chief officers of the Astronomical Bureau. Without the presence of senior officials, the astronomers had become somewhat lax.

In the archives room, Xue Rui was equally distracted.

According to the officials present, after the morning court session, the emperor would formally appoint officials to fill the vacancies in the Six Ministries and the Nine Ministers. Lower-ranking officials would also be replenished according to prior rosters.

This meant that if the appointments proceeded smoothly, the Astronomical Bureau would undergo a significant reshuffle.

As noon approached, Xu Dun and other officials left court and returned to the Astronomical Bureau together.

Among them, Xu Dun strode ahead confidently, his face radiant with pride, unknowingly adopting a purposeful gait.

Behind him was Gao Mian, smiling gently—an expression at odds with his usual stern demeanor.

Finally came Wei Bin, Chief of the Spring Office, and Gu Bin, Chief of the Winter Office, who entered side by side with calm, unreadable expressions.

Once inside the bureau, Xu Dun summoned Zhang Shuban and instructed, “Inform all officials and scholars in the bureau that the imperial envoy is about to arrive. Gather everyone to receive the decree.”

“An imperial edict?” Zhang Shuban paused, then realized that the appointments must have been finalized for the emperor to personally issue the decree and send an eunuch to publicly announce it as a mark of honor.

Officials of the Astronomical Bureau were appointed directly by the emperor, unlike other civil servants. Previously, Xu Dun had submitted a list of candidates to the Ministry of Rites for vacancies, but the Minister, Hu Ying, had blocked it.

At the time, no one understood why until news came that Yu Qian and others had persuaded the Prince of Cheng to support the new emperor, and everyone realized the appointments were being reserved as favors from Zhu Qiyu.

With the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers’ appointments completed, the bureau’s officials were naturally to be confirmed. Judging from Xu Dun and Gao Mian’s expressions, good news was certainly coming their way.

After receiving the order, Zhang Shuban hurried to notify the various departments.

Upon hearing that the emperor’s decree was imminent, Xue Rui jumped up and told the junior scholars, “Quickly! Class leader, lead everyone to assemble before the main hall. Form ranks immediately. No noise. I’ll be back soon.”

He then ran to the room where Chief Bao Zhang was working. Hu Zhong was organizing manuscripts.

Xue Rui entered and said, “Master, His Majesty’s decree is about to arrive. It must be to announce the appointments. Let me assist you.”

Hu Zhong set down his things and sighed, “I don’t know if His Majesty will approve my retirement. No news has been given, and my heart is uneasy.”

Handing him an official’s hat, Xue Rui reasoned, “Officials may retire at sixty. Given your age, still worrying and working, it’s heartless to deny your retirement. If the emperor does not want to be seen as harsh in his early reign, he will surely allow you to go home and enjoy your years. Perhaps there will even be a reward.”

“Rewards are for high-ranking officials. I’m just a minor official. To retire as I wish would already be an immense favor,” Hu Zhong replied humbly.

Donning his hat, he was assisted by Xue Rui to the main hall.

The astronomers lined up neatly, while the officials took their places according to rank.

After waiting nearly half an hour without the envoy’s arrival, impatience grew, and everyone’s thoughts wandered.

Just as Xu Dun was about to send someone to investigate outside, Zhang Shuban burst in, exclaiming, “Sir, the imperial envoy’s carriage has arrived!”

“Quickly, all of you accompany me to receive the decree.”

Xu Dun straightened his robes and led the officials to the incense table prepared in advance.

“The imperial edict has arrived!”

Moments later, a sharp voice was heard outside the bureau’s gate.

Several eunuchs followed, lining up on both sides.

Then, a eunuch in bright red robes entered—Cheng Jing, a trusted eunuch close to the new emperor Zhu Qiyu.

Seeing the officials gathered and the incense table set, Cheng Jing knew the bureau had been informed ahead of time.

Without delay, he approached the incense table and unfurled the edict, saying, “His Majesty commands, please receive the decree.”

“We humbly receive the decree!”

Xu Dun lifted his robe and knelt; the others followed suit in unison.

Cheng Jing read aloud in a clear voice: “By decree of the Emperor, Defender of Heaven’s Mandate: The officials of the Astronomical Bureau are hereby appointed… We hope you will be diligent and frugal, and not fail our trust. By imperial command.”

The edict, over three hundred characters long, was the eagerly awaited announcement of all official posts within the bureau.

Xu Dun was appointed Chief Official of the Astronomical Bureau, as expected.

Gao Mian was promoted to Deputy Chief.

The other five chief officers—Wei Bin of Spring and Gu Bin of Winter—retained their positions.

Additionally, Lang Bu Ci was appointed Chief of the Summer Office; Ni Zhong was promoted to Chief of the Autumn Office; and Guo Gui, a Lang from the Spiritual Terrace in the Southern Bureau, was transferred to the Northern Bureau.

Xue Rui was especially pleased that his father had secured the position of Chief Bao Zhang among the five officers, marking a successful leap in rank.

Many lower officials, including three astronomer students, were also promoted.

However, the edict made no mention of Hu Zhong’s status, leaving Xue Rui uneasy.

He silently wondered if, by omitting the appointment of the Chief Official, the court might be forcing Hu Zhong to bear the burden alone.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!” the officials bowed again after the reading.

Cheng Jing handed the edict to Xu Dun and said, “Please rise.”

As the officials stood, Cheng Jing produced another edict wrapped in yellow silk.

After scanning the room, he approached Hu Zhong with a smile, “Master Hu, His Majesty has a separate decree for you. Please receive it.”

“A separate decree for me?”

Hu Zhong looked stunned, and the other officials were equally incredulous.

“Yes, the emperor, knowing of your wish to retire and appreciating your decades of service, has bestowed special grace.”

“What merit do I possess to merit His Majesty’s concern? I, Hu Zhong, humbly await Your Majesty’s command,” Hu Zhong said, trembling with emotion, and knelt slowly with Xue Rui’s help.

The others who had been rising knelt again upon hearing the decree was to be read.

Cheng Jing untied the yellow silk and read: “By decree of the Emperor, Defender of Heaven’s Mandate: Now, Master Hu Zhong of the Astronomical Bureau, diligent and faithful in office…”

This edict was even longer than the first, leaving the officials increasingly astonished.

Emperor Zhu Qiyu lavished great honor upon Hu Zhong.

First, though Hu Zhong held the modest rank of eighth grade official as Chief Bao Zhang, the usual custom was to grant one rank higher upon retirement. Zhu Qiyu, however, granted him a two-grade promotion, allowing him to retire as a seventh-grade official—a rare favor.

Second, Hu Zhong was granted a pension while retired.

This meant he would continue to receive salary, half pay, equivalent to fifty shi of grain annually—a remarkable generosity given the court’s ongoing reductions in retirement benefits.

Furthermore, Zhu Qiyu, noting Hu Zhong’s advanced age and lack of offspring to care for him, ordered the officials to assign two servants annually to tend to him and provide for his end-of-life care.

Not only was Hu Zhong exempted from miscellaneous duties, but his grandson Hu Cheng’an was also relieved of lifelong service obligations.

Providing such care to retired officials had precedent during the Yongle era.

In the nineteenth year of Yongle, the emperor decreed that civil and military officials over seventy unable to serve could retire with a pension, and if childless and alone, be provided two shi of rice monthly for life.

Zhu Qiyu’s treatment exceeded even that, arranging official care and unprecedentedly granting servants, while relieving both Hu Zhong and his grandson of duties.

This indicated the emperor had taken special care to understand Hu Zhong’s family situation before issuing the decree.

Xu Dun and the other officials were stunned, unable to fathom why Hu Zhong received such exceptional treatment, far surpassing that of even the former Chief Huangfu Zhong.

Xue Rui guessed that besides Hu Zhong’s meritorious service, perhaps the emperor’s sympathy for his childless state and his intellectually challenged grandson inspired the generosity.

Moreover, the support of Hu Zhong and his two grandsons in Zhu Qiyu’s rise to power warranted this reward.

As the reading neared its end, the decree stated, “… and he shall be permitted to advise the court from time to time, as a sign of imperial grace. By imperial command.”

“To advise the court from time to time?”

Upon hearing this, the officials understood.

This right was typically reserved for elder officials with outstanding contributions, allowing them to continue offering counsel after retirement.

By granting Hu Zhong this right, Zhu Qiyu not only honored his service but intended for him to continue contributing to the court’s affairs.

Though a modest eighth-grade official, Hu Zhong’s decades of impeccable service and expertise in astronomical observation and divination were invaluable.

Had misfortunes not dimmed his ambition, Hu Zhong might have attained the chief post.

His long tenure equipped him with deep knowledge still useful post-retirement.

Thus, unable to refuse his retirement request, Zhu Qiyu granted him advisory rights as both a favor and a means to benefit from his wisdom.

Xue Rui sighed, realizing that his master’s hope of peaceful retirement might not be so simple.

“I, Hu Zhong, humbly thank His Majesty for his heavenly grace!” Hu Zhong wept openly, feeling that after decades of toil, this decree was a worthy culmination.

After receiving the decree, Cheng Jing personally helped Hu Zhong to his feet and said with a smile, “Congratulations, Master Hu. Such favor makes even my household envious. Please take care and pass on your skills, so the emperor’s concern will not be in vain.”

“Rest assured, Eunuch Cheng, I shall not disappoint His Majesty,” Hu Zhong replied emotionally, bowing repeatedly toward the palace.

“That concludes the reading. I must return to the palace with the report. Gentlemen, please attend to your duties. Farewell!”

Having spoken, Cheng Jing bowed to the assembly and left with his attendants.

Once they departed, Xu Dun and others immediately gathered around to congratulate Hu Zhong.

For officials, reputation in life and after death is paramount.

Now that Hu Zhong had retired as he wished, with such honorable rewards, everyone was envious.

Even Xu Dun, newly appointed Chief Official, felt his own position paled in comparison.

“Master Hu, possessing the right to advise the court is like still holding office. If nothing urgent arises, please visit the bureau often and offer guidance, so we do not stray in our duties,” Xu Dun said with a respectful smile, mindful not to offend.

“Chief Xu, I am now a commoner. Though granted the right to advise, my energy is limited. I fear I cannot share the bureau’s burdens as before. You must manage well,” Hu Zhong replied modestly.

Xu Dun glanced around and smiled wryly, “Talents are scarce here now. As Chief Official, I tread carefully and rely heavily on your and the scholars’ support.”

With that, he swept back his sleeve and bowed deeply.

His humility was a deliberate attempt to win hearts and secure his position.

After years under the harsh previous chief Peng Deqing, Xu Dun’s relatively pleasant temperament was welcomed.

“Chief, you flatter us!” the officials responded warmly.

After some polite exchange, Xu Dun dismissed them.

Back in the duty room, Hu Zhong explained procedures to Xue Rui, asking him to inform the incoming official, Xue Yuanhao, so he could familiarize himself quickly.

Before ending his shift, Xu Dun had Zhang Shuban deliver official robes and seals for Xue Yuanhao and inquired when he would assume office.

After several days of recuperation, Xue Yuanhao’s illness had nearly healed, but without an official appointment, he had not yet reported to the bureau.

After consulting Hu Zhong, Xue Rui decided his father would take office the day after tomorrow.

Now that their family of three had been driven from their home and temporarily lodged with Hu Zhong, Xue Yuanhao needed to settle family affairs before assuming duties, lest they become a source of ridicule.

He planned to return home with his father the next day to confront their grandmother Li Shi, formally requesting a family division so that the first and second branches could live separately, free from humiliation.

Time passed swiftly until the end of the shift.

After decades of service, Hu Zhong felt reluctant to leave.

His gaze slowly swept the duty room’s every corner, imprinting the place where he had worked for so many years.

Finally, with Xue Rui’s support, he stepped out.

The courtyard and corridors were already filled with people, Xu Dun and others waiting for some time.

Having taught and aided countless officials, Hu Zhong was well respected, and many felt sorrow at his departure.

As he reached the courtyard center, Hu Zhong looked over the assembly, then bowed deeply, his voice choked, “Gentlemen… take care. This old man departs.”

“Master Hu, please take care!” Xu Dun led the group in a respectful farewell.

Watching the respectful assembly, Xue Rui mused that were his master always so revered, holding office might have meaning after all.

Boarding his carriage, Xue Rui’s heart raced homeward.

His master’s retirement wish had been granted, and his father had successfully filled a vacancy—a double blessing.

If only his parents and Hu Ying’er knew, their joy would be immeasurable.