I slaughtered my way through the border at the start, I am the Great Ming's Night Raider!

Kunning Palace, the Crown Prince's sleeping quarters.

Nine-year-old Zhu Qizhen sat on the bed, dressed in mourning clothes, his face pale and his eyes red and swollen, clearly having just cried.

Sitting next to her was Empress Sun, in her early thirties, with a beautiful face and sharp eyes.

Upon seeing the Grand Princess enter, she rose and bowed, her attitude cold.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities." The Grand Princess walked to the bedside, looked at the Crown Prince, and said, "Zhen'er, your father... has passed away."

Zhu Qizhen burst into tears again: "Grandma... Father really... really doesn't want me anymore...?"

The Grand Princess's eyes reddened, and she hugged him: "Zhen'er, don't cry. You still have your great-aunt, your mother, and all the officials... they will all help you."

Empress Sun, standing to the side, coldly remarked, "Your Highness, you speak so lightly. With the Emperor's sudden passing and the Crown Prince's young age, who will uphold the Ming Dynasty?"

"Rely on the established laws of our ancestors, and on the unity of mind between the ruler and his subjects."

The Grand Princess turned to look at her. "What's wrong? Does the Empress feel she can't hold on any longer?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not."

Empress Sun said she dared not, but her tone was firm: "It's just that the ancestral laws do not say that a woman can oversee the country. It was fine when the Emperor was alive, but now that the Emperor has passed away, if my aunt were to oversee the country again, I'm afraid... it would be illegitimate and improper."

This is quite a blunt statement—the emperor is dead, it's time for you to relinquish power.

The Grand Princess stared at her and slowly said, "The Empress is right. With the Emperor's passing, I naturally can no longer oversee the country. However, the Crown Prince is young and needs someone to assist him in governing. Who does the Empress think is suitable?"

"Naturally, it's the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial," Empress Sun said. "This is the rule established by our ancestors."

The Grand Princess laughed, "Does the Empress know that Cao Jixiang just came out of the Directorate of Ceremonial? The Three Yangs of the Cabinet are not necessarily clean either."

Empress Sun's expression changed: "What do you mean by this, Your Highness? Do you suspect me...?"

"I don't suspect anyone," the Grand Princess interrupted her. "I'm just reminding the Empress that in these extraordinary times, you need to keep your eyes open and not be used as a pawn without even realizing it."

The two stared at each other, sparks flying in the air.

Chen Yuan watched from the side, sighing inwardly.

This is the court, this is power.

Before her husband's body was even cold, his wife and aunt had already begun vying for power.

Finally, the Crown Prince broke the deadlock: "Grandma... I'm scared..."

The Grand Princess's heart softened, and she knelt down: "Zhen'er, don't be afraid, your aunt is here. How about this, you stay with your aunt in Yongshou Palace for the next few days, and come back after Father's funeral is over, okay?"

Zhu Qizhen looked at Empress Sun.

Empress Sun wanted to say something, but seeing the Grand Princess's eyes, she finally nodded: "Then... I'll trouble you, Your Highness."

"We're all family, no need to trouble yourself." The Grand Princess took the Crown Prince's hand. "Zhen'er, come with your aunt."

It was already dark when I left Kunning Palace.

The snow was still falling, and the palace lanterns swayed in the wind, casting long shadows of the three people.

Zhu Qizhen suddenly asked, "Grandma, who is that person wearing the flying fish robe?"

The Grand Princess glanced at Chen Yuan: "His name is Chen Mingyuan, he is a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and also... my distant nephew. From now on, he will protect you."

Zhu Qizhen looked at Chen Yuan curiously, "Are you very capable?"

Chen Yuan bowed and said, "Your subject will do his utmost."

"Can you teach me martial arts?" The prince's eyes lit up. "I've heard that powerful generals all know martial arts."

"If the Crown Prince wishes to learn, I can teach him," Chen Yuan said. "But what is most important for the Crown Prince now is to study, to learn the way of governing the country."

Zhu Qizhen seemed to understand but not quite, "Like Father Emperor?"

His eyes reddened again when his father was mentioned.

The Grand Princess picked him up: "Zhen'er, don't cry. Your father is watching over you from heaven. You must grow up well and become a good emperor."

"Um!"

Zhu Qizhen nodded vigorously.

Back at Yongshou Palace, after arranging for the Crown Prince to sleep, the Grand Princess finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She walked to the side hall, where Chen Yuan and Qin Xiang were waiting.

"Your Highness, the Cabinet just sent a note," Qin Xiang said, handing over a document. "They request that Your Highness... not attend tomorrow's funeral arrangements meeting."

The Grand Princess took the document, tore it up without even glancing at it, and said, "They're dreaming."

"But..."

The Grand Princess gently waved her hand, interrupting the speaker, "I am the Regent, an Imperial Aunt, and a regent appointed by the late Emperor. What would be the proper conduct if I were not present at His Majesty's passing?"

Chen Yuan said, "Your Highness is right. But since the Cabinet dared to submit such a note, it means they have already colluded. Tomorrow's meeting will likely be a tough battle."

The Grand Princess sneered, "Haven't I fought enough tough battles? Cao Jixiang has fallen, what am I afraid of?"

She looked at Chen Yuan: "Mingyuan, you go tomorrow too. As a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you will protect the safety of the venue."

"Yes."

"And another thing," the Grand Princess said, taking a list from her bosom. "This is the list of regents I have drafted. Take a look."

Chen Yuan took the list, which contained seven people: Grand Princess Zhu Mingyue, Grand Secretary Yang Rong, Minister of War Wang Ji, Minister of Rites Hu Ying, Duke of Yingguo Zhang Fu (Zhang's father, who, although retired, still held considerable prestige), Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Liu Mian, and the newly appointed Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Jin Ying.

Seven people served as regents; this was the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

"This list..." Chen Yuan pondered, "The cabinet only has Yang Rong, but there are representatives from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Directorate of Ceremonial each have a seat... Is Your Highness trying to balance the various forces?"

"right."

The Grand Princess calmly said, "Although Yang Rong is not clean, he is the Grand Secretary and we cannot ignore him. Wang Ji is in charge of the Ministry of War, and Hu Ying is in charge of the Ministry of Rites; they are both powerful figures. Although the Duke of Yingguo has retired, he has high prestige in the military, and with him there, we can stabilize the military. The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Directorate of Ceremonial... Now that Cao Jixiang has fallen, these two positions must be held by our people."

Chen Yuan nodded.

This list is very well-considered, including powerful figures, influential figures, and even their own people.

"But what about the cabinet..."

"They will agree," said the Grand Princess, "because I will concede."

"concession?"

"right."

The Grand Princess walked to the window, looking at the heavy snow outside. "I can promise that during my regency, all decrees must be approved by all seven members of the council before they can be implemented. In other words, if any one person objects, the decree cannot be passed."

Chen Yuan understood.

This is a strategic retreat.

On the surface, it limited the power of the regent, but in reality, it also limited the power of others.

With seven people checking and balancing each other, no one can become the sole dominant force.

"clever."

Chen Yuan praised sincerely.

Whether it's clever or not, we'll see tomorrow.

The Grand Princess turned around and said, "Qin Xiang, go and inform the people on the list to stay after the meeting tomorrow. I want to see them alone."

"Yes."

After Qin Xiang left, only Chen Yuan and the Grand Princess remained in the hall.

The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the wall.

"Mingyuan," the Grand Princess suddenly said, "Do you know, I'm... very tired right now."

Chen Yuan looked at her.

This powerful princess, now removing her armor, revealed her weary face.

The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, the gray hair at her temples, and the deep worry hidden in her eyes...

"Your Highness..."

"I know that many people hate me, saying that I am a hen crowing at dawn, and that I am greedy for power."

The Grand Princess smiled bitterly, "But they don't know that this power... is a shackle, a poison. How I long to be like an ordinary woman, a wife and mother, and to live out my days in peace! But..."