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

Just then, Eunuch Li rushed in: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has woken up and is demanding to see you."

The Grand Princess's expression immediately softened: "I will go right away."

She took a few steps, then suddenly turned back: "Mingyuan, you're here too. Zhen'er... seems to like you quite a bit."

Chen Yuan was taken aback, then bowed and said, "Yes."

In the side hall, Zhu Qizhen was already dressed and was drawing on the table.

Upon seeing the Grand Princess enter, he immediately ran over: "Grandma! Look at my drawing!"

The painting depicts a small figure wearing a dragon robe, with another small figure standing next to him wearing a flying fish robe.

"This is my father, and this is Commander Chen," Zhu Qizhen said, pointing to the painting. "My father protects me from heaven, and Commander Chen protects me from earth."

The eldest princess's eyes reddened, and she hugged him tightly: "Zhen'er is such a good boy."

Looking at the painting, Chen Yuan felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

This child is unaware of the burden he carries on his shoulders.

He thought his father had simply gone to heaven, and that being an emperor meant wearing a dragon robe and sitting on a dragon throne...

But he will soon learn that the dragon throne is hot and the dragon robe is heavy.

"Commander Chen," Zhu Qizhen looked up at him, "can you teach me martial arts? Martial arts as powerful as yours."

Chen Yuan squatted down: "If the Crown Prince wants to learn martial arts, I can teach him. But the Crown Prince must promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"First, study hard and learn the ways of governing a country."

Chen Yuan squatted down and said slowly, "Martial arts can only protect one person, but the way to govern a country can protect all people under heaven."

Zhu Qizhen seemed to understand, but nodded vigorously: "Yes! I'll listen to Commander Chen!"

The Grand Princess watched this scene, tears welling up in her eyes.

Perhaps... this is hope.

This child, and young people like Chen Yuan...

There is still hope for the Ming Dynasty.

Outside the window, the snow has stopped.

A sliver of sunlight peeks out from the horizon.

Though faint, it is still light.

The 19th day of the twelfth lunar month, at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).

Jin Ying knelt on the cold gold bricks of the rear hall of Yongshou Palace, her forehead pressed against the ground, her clothes soaked with cold sweat.

He held a report in his hands; it was only a few thin pages, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"explain."

The Grand Princess's voice came from above, calm but chilling.

"Your Highness... Your Highness," Jin Ying's voice trembled, "I investigated Li Fu's residence and found... I found this."

He presented the report with both hands.

Qin Xiang took it and presented it to the Grand Princess.

A jade pendant was tucked inside the report.

It wasn't the white jade dragon like the one worn by the Prince of Zhao, but a green jade phoenix, with a corner missing from the phoenix's tail—this was a gift from Emperor Renzong when Empress Sun was still the Crown Princess, and it was later accidentally dropped, which is why I recognize it.

"It was found inside Li Fu's pillow stuffing," Jin Ying continued. "Furthermore, I investigated Li Fu's whereabouts in the days before his death. On the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, he went to the imperial prison. The guards there said that he had Empress Sun's edict, saying that he was ordered by the Empress to deliver some food to Cao Jixiang."

The Grand Princess picked up the chipped jade pendant and slowly rubbed it in her hand: "Is it necessary to bring a jade pendant when delivering food?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty does not know."

"Anything else?"

"And..." Jin Ying swallowed hard. "I checked the accounts of Kunning Palace and found that since the twelfth lunar month, the palace's expenses have increased by 30% compared to usual. The extra money was used to buy... medicinal herbs."

"Medicinal herbs?"

"Yes. Ginseng, deer antler, Ganoderma lucidum... are all precious medicinal materials. But I have asked the imperial physicians, and neither Empress Sun nor the Crown Prince have any records of taking any medicine recently."

The hall was quiet for a moment.

The Grand Princess put down the jade pendant: "Jin Ying, what do you think is going on?"

Jin Ying bowed even lower: "Your Majesty, I dare not make a hasty judgment. But...but before Cao Jixiang died, Li Fu visited him; before Li Fu died, Kunning Palace purchased a large quantity of medicinal herbs; now, Empress Sun's jade pendant has been found at Li Fu's residence...These things are connected..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.

The Grand Princess remained silent for a long time before finally waving her hand: "You may leave now. This matter must not be mentioned to anyone."

"I obey your decree."

Jin Ying felt as if he had been granted a pardon and bowed as he withdrew.

After he left, the Grand Princess threw the jade pendant on the table, making a crisp sound.

"Qin Xiang, what do you think?"

Qin Xiang pondered, "If Empress Sun wanted to silence them, why leave such obvious evidence? Shouldn't something like a jade pendant be kept close to one's body?"

"so what?"

"So it might be a frame-up," Qin Xiang said. "Someone wants to use Empress Sun to get rid of Cao Jixiang. After that, they'll drag Empress Sun down with them."

"Who has such great ability?"

Qin Xiang did not answer, but her eyes turned to Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan understood what she meant.

There aren't many people who can simultaneously orchestrate events both inside and outside the palace, and who can mobilize the Eastern Depot, Kunning Palace, and possibly even the Embroidered Uniform Guard...

"The Duke of England?" Chen Yuan asked tentatively.

"Zhang Fu isn't that capable," the Grand Princess shook her head. "He may have high prestige in the army, but in the palace... his influence can't extend that far."

"That..."

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it." The Grand Princess suddenly laughed, a bitter laugh. "Perhaps Empress Sun is just stupid, and has left herself vulnerable. Perhaps... it's not that complicated at all."

But Chen Yuan knew she was lying.

She already had the answer in her heart, but she didn't want to say it, or couldn't say it.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside.

Eunuch Li practically rushed in: "Your Highness! Urgent report from the border!"

The Grand Princess's expression changed: "Speak!"

"The Tatar Khan Arughtai personally led 50,000 cavalry, bypassing Xuanfu, and marched straight towards Juyong Pass!" Eunuch Li's voice trembled. "General Yang Hong of Datong has already led his troops to reinforce, but... but he said that the disparity in troop strength is too great, and he requests the court to send reinforcements immediately!"

Fifty thousand cavalry.

Juyong Pass is the northern gate of the capital. If it falls, the Tatar cavalry could reach the gates of Beijing in a single day.

The Grand Princess abruptly stood up: "Is the Cabinet aware of this?"

"It has already been reported. Grand Secretary Yang and the others are waiting for His Highness in the Wenhua Hall."

"Prepare the sedan chair!" The Grand Princess said as she walked out, but suddenly turned back at the door. "Mingyuan, you're here too."

The atmosphere in Wenhua Hall was even more somber than in Yongshou Palace.

Yang Rong, Wang Ji, and Hu Ying were all present, their faces ashen.

Upon seeing the Grand Princess enter, the three of them stood up simultaneously.

"Your Highness, the military situation is urgent..." Yang Rong was about to speak.

"I understand." The Grand Princess interrupted him, walking directly to the map. "What's the situation now?"

Wang Ji pointed to the map: "Arughtai's main force is here, thirty li north of Juyong Pass. Yang Hong led 20,000 men to block them, but the Tatars have 50,000, and they are all cavalry. If it's a head-on fight..."

He shook his head.

The Grand Princess stared at the map: "How many troops can be mobilized from the three major military camps in the capital?"

"The Beijing garrison should be at full strength of 120,000, but in reality..." Wang Ji paused, "...the actual number capable of fighting is no more than 50,000."

Why?

"Those who draw salaries without working, the elderly and weak, the sick and disabled... I'm currently investigating them, and it's not over yet." Wang Ji smiled bitterly, "Cao Jixiang has caused quite a bit of trouble for the Beijing Garrison over the years."

The Grand Princess closed her eyes briefly: "Then allocate 50,000 troops and send them north immediately. Minister Wang, you will personally lead the expedition."

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree." Wang Ji bowed, but did not leave. "Your Highness, 50,000 against 50,000 is more than enough to defend the city, but insufficient for open battle. If the Tatars besiege us without attacking, and we run out of supplies..."

"How long will the supplies last?"

"At most three months."

Three months.

It's the twelfth lunar month now, and spring will arrive in three months.

Springtime is when the grass grows tall and the horses are fat, making it the peak season for Tatar cavalry.

The Grand Princess took a deep breath: "Then we'll hold out for three months. At the same time, we'll transfer troops from Shandong and Henan, and supplies from the south. Reinforcements will surely arrive within three months."

"But..." Hu Ying hesitated, "Mobilizing troops takes time, and procuring provisions requires money. The national treasury is currently..."

"What's wrong with the national treasury?"

"Cao Jixiang has embezzled funds over the years, and the national treasury is... is empty." Hu Ying's voice grew softer and softer. "I checked the accounts yesterday, and the treasury now has less than 500,000 taels of silver. 500,000 taels is not even enough to cover three months' pay for the Beijing garrison."

The hall was deathly silent.

Five hundred thousand taels.

The vast Ming Dynasty had only 500,000 taels of silver left in its national treasury.