Zhu Yunwen came to Fengtian Hall, and all the officials stood around him according to their shifts. Zhu Di, who had been waiting in the side room for a long time, had changed into the royal robe of a prince. Zhu Gaochi and the others stood beside him.
The ceremonial officer came out to welcome the King of Yan into the palace.
Zhu Di followed the usher along the imperial path and ascended the imperial steps. Zhu Gaochi and the others knelt at the side.
The ritual music began, and Zhu Gaochi and the others bowed to the North.
Zhu Di stared at the north, his expression uncertain, but he did not bow.
When the officials on both sides of the red steps saw this, they were puzzled and broke out in a cold sweat for Zhu Di. If Zhu Di did not bow, it would be a great disrespect to His Majesty. His Majesty could use this matter to make an issue of it and remove Zhu Di's title as a vassal king!
Zhu Yunwen looked outside the main hall, at Zhu Di who was standing there without bowing!
He was a famous wise ruler in history, a legend who created the Yongle Era, a war god who made Ming famous!
However, he did not seem to want to worship him!
Zhu Yunwen's lips curled into a smile. Her smile was mixed with coldness.
If he didn't.
Then let him lie down. There was nothing wrong with accompanying Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yunwen was not the Emperor Jianwen in history. Emperor Jianwen was soft-hearted towards Zhu Di, hesitant and bashful like a woman. Zhu Yunwen knew Zhu Di's ambition and future, his preparations and threats!
Zhu Yunwen had no reason to be soft-hearted!
Zhu Di hesitated.
Facing the north meant that he had recognized Zhu Yunwen as His Majesty, which would bring great difficulties to his next move. At the very least, he could no longer use Zhu Yunwen's 'false edict' as an excuse to manipulate public opinion.
Because he had submitted and agreed.
However, if he didn't worship Zhu Yunwen, once Zhu Yunwen used this as an excuse to attack, how could he get over it?
The power that his nephew relied on was no longer some rotten bookworm or civil official. Instead, it was a power that terrified him!
Bow, or not bow!
Submit or not?
Zhu Di was caught in a dilemma. He looked through the space and looked at Zhu Yunwen on the throne in the North Hall of Heaven's Tribute and the throne under Zhu Yunwen! He stood there without bowing!
Zhu Di looked proudly in the direction of the Hall of Heaven's Tribute. His straight body was like an unyielding spear that asked the heavens!
The officials outside the hall were dumbfounded. They looked at each other left and right, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The commotion of these people spread into the hall.
However, the officials of the main hall could not turn around rudely and look back. They did not know what was happening outside.
The first round of salutations ended.
Trembling, the internal advisor invited Zhu Di to come down and led him to the throne in the Hall of Heaven's Tribute. He retreated with cold sweat all over his body.
At this moment, rites and music resumed.
According to the rules of etiquette, Zhu Di had to bring his three sons to kneel and salute the Emperor.
Zhu Gaochi and the other two obediently knelt down, but Zhu Di was still standing. Not only that, but he was also looking straight at Zhu Yunwen proudly!
Previously, the officials in the hall did not see Zhu Di not bow. Now that they saw this scene, they instantly exploded. In the hall, buzzing discussions suddenly sounded.
Fang Xiaoru stood up and reprimanded sternly,"Your Majesty, the King of Yan did not bow when he entered the hall. He did not respect etiquette and did not have the courtesy of a minister. He did not respect the ruler. I request Your Majesty to punish the King of Yan for being disrespectful!”
"I agree!"
The Minister of Rites, Chen Di, stood out.
Since the head of the Ministry of Rites had come out, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites naturally had to express his stance.
When the other officials saw this situation, they all agreed.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Di. He was too far away just now and didn't see clearly. Now that he was close, he could see more clearly.
Zhu Di's eyebrows were thick and long, his nose was straight, his eyes were deep and bright, and he had a big beard. Other than his dignity, there was a sense of arrogance.
Zhu Yunwen stared at Zhu Di and suddenly laughed.
He laughed.
Zhu Di's heart trembled!
The Zhu Yunwen in front of him was not angry, not angry, but smiling?
According to Zhu Di's understanding of Zhu Yunwen, he should be standing up angrily and pointing at him, unable to say a word!
But now, he was actually smiling!
This smile was filled with confidence, power, and indescribable pressure, making Zhu Di feel a little uneasy.
The ministers were also speechless, not knowing why Zhu Yunwen was laughing.
Zhu Yunwen stopped laughing, looked at Zhu Di and said slowly,"This is the Hall of Heaven's Tribute, not the main hall. If the King of Yan is tired and has not woken up, you can go to the side hall to sleep for a few hours. I will wait for you to wake up!”Zhu Di was speechless, and his face was filled with fear.
Zhu Yunwen's meaning was very clear. This position was the place where the monarch and his subjects would meet. Whether you were the King of Yan or someone else, you must follow the etiquette of the monarch and his subjects!
If you, Zhu Di, were indignant because you were blocked from attending the funeral and wanted to cause trouble, then you would be able to do so.
It was alright!
However, you have to understand that the funeral is the Zhu family's family matter. If you want to talk about family matters, then go to the side hall.
This was the Hall of Heaven's Tribute!
Only the monarch and his subjects!
They only talked about state affairs!
Zhu Di was blocked by Zhu Yunwen's words.
In fact, Zhu Di wanted to use Zhu Yuanzhang's death as an excuse to make trouble. If Zhu Yunwen said that he had received the posthumous edict, then the problem would come again. He could ask why Zhu Yunwen allowed other vassal kings to enter the capital but not himself.
In short, Zhu Di could take the initiative. Even if he was rude, it was understandable.
But now, Zhu Di had lost this path. It was not appropriate to talk about family matters in Fengtian Hall.
If Zhu Di forcefully used this as an excuse, then Zhu Yunwen would not listen and these people in the court would not let it go!
For the first time, Zhu Di realized that his nephew seemed different from before.
The officials of the imperial court were all looking at Zhu Di. Some of them were nobles, such as Xu Huizu and Li Jiujiang. They were all looking at the disrespectful Zhu Di with angry expressions, but their eyes were moving. No one knew what they were thinking.
Xie Jin retracted one of his legs. In this kind of situation, it was more effective if no one spoke than if someone did.
As expected, the hall fell into silence.
No one said a word.
They all stood there and stared at Zhu Di.
The silent silence made the entire space become oppressive, and this pressure constantly washed away Zhu Di's persistence.
Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui were already trembling.
If their father did not pay respects to the Emperor today, the best outcome for them would be to hold hands with Zhu Di and find a place to farm.
As for the worst-case scenario, none of them dared to think about it.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Di, and Zhu Di looked at Zhu Yunwen.
They were silently competing with each other.
Zhu Di could see clearly that Zhu Yunwen's smile had been hanging on her lips, but her eyes seemed to be cold and ruthless. He recalled that not long ago, Zhu Yunwen ordered Ping An, Qu Neng, and the others to enter Beiping and its surroundings. The situation had changed, and he had no way out!
Zhu Di lowered his head and took a deep breath. He slowly bent his knees and bowed to the ground, shouting,"Zhu Di greets Your Majesty."
Unwilling!
But he had to bow!
Zhu Di endured it!
He carefully hid his desire for imperial power.
Kneeling today was so that he wouldn't kneel in the future!
Zhu Di knelt down, and the entire court heaved a sigh of relief. The atmosphere gradually eased.
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