Wandering the Heavens

The trend of establishing a crown prince became more and more intense as Zhu Qiyu's illness worsened. Zhu Qiyu secretly complained, wishing that it would be great if the Earl of Xuanwu was in the capital. Although he stood on Zhu Jianshen's side, the court officials would not be so presumptuous. Instead of thinking about his recovery, they were busy arranging his funeral affairs. Is this the price he paid for ruling the world for eight years?

In the first month of the eighth year of the Jingtai reign, Zhu Qiyu was seriously ill and unable to travel, and could not preside over the suburban sacrifice. He could only appoint the newly promoted noble Shi Heng to do it on his behalf.

After the Battle of Beijing, Shi Heng was granted the title of marquis, but that was all, because he felt deeply disappointed because he and other veteran nobles were excluded from the real power of the army. He also tried to get close to Yu Qian by recommending his son as an official, but was rejected. The two sides no longer had the mutual respect they had when they fought side by side, and Shi Heng was even more resentful of Yu Qian.

The event of presiding over the suburban sacrifice on behalf of Zhu Qiyu was undoubtedly an opportunity to overthrow Yu Qian's control of the government. Shi Heng found the eunuch Cao Jixiang and Zhang Fu, the younger brother of Dingxing County Prince Zhang Fu, that night and said that he wanted to do something big. Then he met Xu Youzhen through Xu Bin, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. At Xu Youzhen's suggestion, they immediately contacted Zhu Qizhen and got his support.

Zhu Qizhen had lived in Nangong for a long time. The harsh treatment he received made him extremely angry and aggrieved. When someone contacted him, he agreed to their plan without hesitation. As long as he could get power back, he didn't care what the method was.

On the morning of the 14th day of the first lunar month, Zhu Qiyu sat listlessly on the dragon throne and watched the court officials who were arguing with each other. One group, led by Grand Secretaries Wang Wen and Chen Xun, advocated the enthronement of the vassal king, while another group of ministers advocated the reinstatement of Zhu Jianshen.

Zhu Qiyu seemed to have returned to that horrific day a few years ago when three people were beaten to death in front of him by a group of beasts in human clothing, and he was also so at a loss at that time.

"I am not feeling well today. I will review the matter at the morning court on the 17th. I do not approve the reinstatement of Prince Yi!"

After Zhu Qiyu finished speaking, he left the hall with the help of Xing'an.

He would never have thought that this would be the last time he sat on the dragon throne in this hall, leaving his ministers looking at each other in bewilderment.

Compared with the ministers who had their own concerns, Yu Qian was not in an easy situation either. He was in favor of reinstating Zhu Jianshen, but Yu Xian had always told him not to raise this issue with the emperor. So every time Zhu Qiyu tested him, he would evade the question and get away with it. But the current situation did not allow him to do nothing any longer. However, there was no news from the Earl of Xuanwu, who had absolute say in this matter.

It was another clueless day. When Yu Qian returned home with a frown, he found the house terribly quiet. His wife and children were gone. Only several people in black cloaks appeared in the house. The figure sitting on the main seat was Prince Yi Zhu Jianshen, who had been taken to fight outside by the Earl of Xuanwu.

"I pay my respects to His Majesty Prince Yi!"

"Minister Yu, there's no need to be so polite!" Zhu Jianshen said in a low voice.

"Your Highness Prince Yi, Earl Xuanwu, why are you dressed like this to enter the city?" Yu Qian finally felt relieved, but he still wanted to confirm it.

"Minister Yu, if I were to rule the world, what would you do?" Zhu Jianshen asked straight to the point.

"If Your Majesty can inherit the throne, it will be a blessing for the whole world and for me as well!" Yu Qian finally waited for these words.

"Uncle supported the Ming Dynasty when the country was in danger. This king will not allow him to suffer any harm when he is at his most vulnerable. No one can deprive him of the glory he deserves."

"Please give me your instructions, Your Majesty."

"Master Yu, you speak!" Zhu Jianshen looked at Yu Xian who was standing aside.

"From now on, the defense of the capital city will be tightened inside and loosened outside. During this period, no matter what you notice, you are not allowed to respond or mention it to anyone. In addition, how is the investigation into Prince Xiang going?" Yu Xian was directly handling official matters at this time.

"At the end of last year, when the emperor was seriously ill, Grand Secretary Chen Xun had secretly arranged for Prince Xiang to come to the capital. A total of 15 court officials secretly contacted him and swore allegiance to him." Yu Qian was still frightened when he talked about this incident.

"What is the attitude of King Xiang himself?" This is what Yu Xian is most concerned about.

"Jia Se refused to accept and scolded these people." Although Yu Qian was not at the scene, he knew that this was just acting.

At this point, Fengyang might have to add another clan member behind the high walls. Zhu Zhanji's dazzling brilliance overshadowed the existence of his younger brothers. Many people thought that the only heir of Renzong was Zhu Zhanji, and that was it. But this does not mean that they were mediocre, such as Prince Xiang Zhu Zhanji.

He is also the biological son of Empress Xiaocheng and has a good reputation for being virtuous. Rumors about him and the throne have been around for a long time. Apart from the instigation of people with ulterior motives, it also shows that he himself is not without a desire for this position.

In the 14th year of the Zhengtong reign, Zhu Qizhen was captured during his personal expedition, and Beijing was in chaos. The first choice of the court officials to establish a new emperor was not the regent Zhu Qiuyu, but Prince Xiang Zhu Zhanji. This was the closest he had ever been to the throne, but he firmly refused.

It was not because he was a man of high moral character, but because the situation was difficult at the time and the Oirat army was at the gates of the city. He refused because he was worried that he would follow in the footsteps of Wanyan Chenglin after he ascended the throne.

But now the situation has changed drastically. Not only does he have the support of the cabinet ministers, but his brother Zhu Zhanji's two sons, one is imprisoned and the other is terminally ill. There is no heir who can surpass him in qualifications.

Out of respect for Empress Xiaocheng, Yu Xian really couldn't bear to take action against this vassal king.

After discussion, it was finally decided that Yu Xian would secretly control Zhu Zhanji and cover up the news in the same way. After the situation stabilized, he would be sent to Fengyang to live next to his two uncles, the King of Han and the King of Zhao. These two princes were really good at surviving.

Yu Qian handed the list of court officials who needed to be arrested to Yu Xian, who would deal with them. This might be the last major arrest.

After all the details were checked, Yu Xian took Zhu Jianshen to leave Yu Qian's residence at night and came to the secret base of Beidouwei to wait for the moment when Xu Youzhen and others launched the coup.

"Master Yu, can I really manage this family well?"

After returning to the stronghold, Zhu Jianshen couldn't wait to take off his thick cloak and gave it to Wan Zhen'er to keep. He was having a great time with his aunt, but suddenly she said that he could not play as he pleased in the future because he had to become the emperor.

Is it fun to be an emperor?

Master Yu, who had always been able to answer all his questions, did not speak. He took him secretly away from the fleet, boarded a civilian ship provided by the Tianxuan Department of Beidouwei, secretly sailed into the Yangtze River, and then went north along the canal, watching how the people along the Yangtze River and the canal lived along the way.

It turns out that not all children have someone as gentle as Aunt Wan to take care of them from birth. Not only that, most of them are not well fed or clothed, and they don’t even have a place to shelter from the wind and rain, let alone learn to read, write, and learn martial arts.

Master Yu said that in the future, whether the people he saw could have food to eat, whether they could live in houses that didn't leak, whether their children of the same age as himself could read and write, and whether those evildoers who caused harm to the people could get fair punishment, all depended on him, the emperor.

Seeing the joys and sorrows of the people along the canal, he recalled the map of the Ming Dynasty he saw in Yujiazhuang. Only then did he realize that being an emperor was not only boring, but also very tiring.

I am still a child! How can I be responsible for the food and clothing of tens of millions of people?

As for his biological father in Nangong, Zhu Jianshen really did not have a good impression of him. Sometimes he even wished that he was not his biological father, who dragged the Ming Dynasty to its current situation and still had the nerve to covet the throne.

“Your Highness, you must have confidence in the people of the Ming Dynasty, and also have confidence in the brothers who support you.” Thinking of that group of traitors, Yu Xian’s defenses were somewhat broken.

"Alas, if I had known that this situation would have happened, I would have stayed at sea and never returned." Zhu Jianshen sat down on the chair helplessly and sighed.

Why is this naughty kid pretending to be mature? Don’t think Yu Xian doesn’t know that he sticks to Wan Zhen’er and acts coquettishly behind people’s backs.

……

On the evening of the 16th, Zhang Wei led only a thousand soldiers to trick open the outer gate of Beijing, and then entered the inner city through the Chang'an Gate controlled by Shi Heng. After that, the group rushed straight to the Nangong Palace, broke open the palace gate to welcome out the imprisoned Emperor Zhu Qizhen. After the meeting and coordination, they headed straight for the Donghua Gate of the palace city.

Zhu Qizhen watched as he got closer and closer to the palace and unconsciously tightened the sword in his hand. He was finally going to return to his former high position!

And are those who have abandoned, betrayed, and even hurt you ready to bear the wrath of thunder?