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

The first day of the first month of the tenth year of the Xuande reign.

At 3:45 AM, Chen Yuan woke up in the East Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

Outside the window, darkness still lingered, but inside the palace, lights had already been lit, and the busy footsteps of eunuchs and palace maids echoed in the corridors, like silkworms munching on mulberry leaves, fine and continuous.

He stood up, the wound on his left shoulder still throbbing slightly.

The military doctor said he needed at least a month of rest, but he only rested for three days—the new emperor's coronation ceremony was imminent, the Grand Princess needed him, and the dynasty that had just survived the bloodshed needed him even more.

"Young master, it's time to change your clothes."

Chen Jin brought in a copper basin; the water was at the perfect temperature, and a towel was draped over the rim of the basin.

After washing up, Chen Yuan walked to the clothes rack.

There were two sets of clothes hanging there—the flying fish robe of a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard on the left, and the coiled dragon robe of a prince on the right.

He reached out and took off the flying fish robe.

"Brother Yuan..." Chen Jin hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"I know what you're trying to say," Chen Yuan said, tying his belt. "But today, I can only be Chen Mingyuan, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Other identities... we'll talk about them later."

Chen Jin nodded and helped him put the embroidered spring knife on his waist.

The scabbard was still the same, but the blade had been replaced—the original goose-feather blade had become dull during the night raid on Juyong Pass, and this was a new one that the Grand Princess had ordered the Imperial Treasury to forge, made of refined steel, with four small characters engraved on the blade: Protect the Country and Safeguard the People.

At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), bells and drums sounded in unison.

As Chen Yuan stepped out of the warm pavilion, the palace path was already filled with officials. Dressed in scarlet and blue robes, they were arranged according to rank, each holding a tablet, facing the direction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Upon seeing him emerge, many officials cast complex glances—a mixture of awe, curiosity, and barely concealed resentment.

This young man rose from a lowly border soldier to a national hero in just six months, and is now rumored to be the son of the Grand Princess.

A meteoric rise to power is nothing more than this.

Chen Yuan ignored these stares.

He walked to the front of the military officers' ranks and stood in his proper place according to his rank—a fifth-rank commander of a thousand men, who should have been standing in the back row, but by special decree of the Grand Princess, he was allowed to stand after the Vice Commander-in-Chief and before the Deputy Commander.

This is a signal.

Everyone understands.

At the beginning of the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the whip cracked three times.

"The new emperor ascends the throne, and all officials enter the court!"

The gates of Fengtian Hall slowly opened.

Beneath the dome supported by seventy-two golden nanmu pillars, the throne sits high above, covered with a bright yellow cushion.

But today, the one sitting there is not the majestic emperor, but a nine-year-old child.

Zhu Qizhen wore a specially made dragon robe and a twelve-tassel crown, his small face tense, trying hard to make a serious expression.

But his slightly trembling hands betrayed his nervousness.

To the left of the throne, there was a slightly smaller chair.

Grand Princess Zhu Mingyue sat there, dressed in court attire, her nine-phoenix crown gleaming in the morning light.

She did not look at the throne, but at the courtiers below, her gaze calm yet exuding an unquestionable majesty.

"kneel!"

All the officials knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

The coronation ceremony was complicated and lengthy.

Offering sacrifices to Heaven and informing the temple, reading the imperial edict, issuing a general amnesty, changing the era name and calendar... After all these ceremonies were carried out, it was already past noon.

Chen Yuan's legs went numb from standing, and his shoulder injury throbbed with pain, but he stood as still as a mountain.

Finally, the last item came up—rewarding meritorious officials.

Jin Ying, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial—the newcomer who succeeded Cao Jixiang after his downfall—unfurled the imperial edict, his shrill voice echoing through the hall:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: In the winter of the ninth year of the Xuande reign, the Tatars invaded the borders, and internal traitors caused chaos, threatening the very existence of the nation. Fortunately, thanks to the unity of the civil and military officials and the valiant efforts of the soldiers, the crisis was ultimately overcome. Therefore, special rewards and honors are hereby bestowed to recognize their merits..."

The first name mentioned was Chen Yuan.

"Chen Mingyuan, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is commendable for his loyalty and bravery, and possesses exceptional wisdom and strategy. He rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion in Nanjing and in repelling the enemy at Juyong Pass. He is hereby promoted to Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, granted the title of General Zhaoyong, and bestowed with a python robe, jade belt, and a thousand taels of gold..."

Commander, fourth rank.

General Zhaoyong, a military officer of the third rank.

A python robe and jade belt—this was a privilege reserved for officials of the highest rank.

A suppressed gasp filled the hall.

To be promoted from a fifth-rank official to a fourth-rank official in one step, and even bestowed with a python robe... this favor is too great.

Chen Yuan stepped forward, knelt down, and expressed his gratitude.

He could feel the burning gazes behind him—envy, jealousy, and...murderous intent.

The rewards continue.

Wang Ji was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Tutor and given the posthumous name of Zhonglie; Guo Dengjin was appointed as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief and garrisoned Juyong Pass; Han Chengsheng was promoted to Admiral of the Nanjing Navy... Each of these names represents someone who made contributions during this crisis.

Finally, Jin Ying put away the imperial edict and took out another one: "Empress Dowager's Edict—"

Empress Dowager.

After Empress Sun's death, the Grand Princess was promoted to Empress Dowager and served as regent.

"The Emperor is young, and state affairs are numerous and complex. Therefore, we hereby appoint Grand Secretary Yang Rong, Minister of Rites Hu Ying, Minister of War Kuang Ye, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Liu Mian, Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial Jin Ying, and the Empress Dowager, a total of six people, to assist in governing. All major military and state affairs must be discussed jointly by these six people..."

Six people served as regents.

There's one less person than the previous seven, but power is more concentrated.

Chen Yuan noticed that neither the Duke of Wei nor the Duke of Cheng's former subordinates were on the list.

The Grand Princess is cleaning, thoroughly cleaning.

The ceremony ended close to 3 PM.

Chen Yuan walked out of Fengtian Hall, the sunlight dazzling.

He stood in the square in front of the palace for a while, watching the officials disperse in twos and threes, whispering among themselves.

"Commander Chen." A voice sounded from behind.

Chen Yuan turned around and saw Yang Rong.

The Grand Secretary was dressed exceptionally formally today, wearing a first-rank crane insignia, a jade belt, and a black gauze hat, but his complexion was not good.

"Grand Secretary Yang," Chen Yuan said, bowing respectfully.

"Commander Chen is young and promising, with a bright future ahead of him," Yang Rong said with a forced smile. "However, I have a word of advice: the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Commander Chen is currently in the eye of the storm, so he should be careful."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency," Chen Yuan said calmly. "I only know how to fulfill my duties; as for the rest... I leave it to fate."

Yang Rong stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Good, very well done. I'll be watching closely."

He turned and left.

Chen Yuan watched his departing figure and understood.

Yang Rong was the head of the civil officials. He was promoted to a high-ranking position in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and was also favored by the Empress Dowager, so he naturally became a thorn in the side of the civil official group.

"Commander Chen." Another voice called out.

This time it's Qin Xiang.

She also changed into her official robes today—the Grand Princess had granted her special permission to enter the palace and appointed her as a female official in the Shanggong Bureau, a fifth-rank official.

"Qin Shanggong." Chen Yuan nodded.

"The Empress Dowager requests Commander Chen to come to Cining Palace," Qin Xiang said in a low voice, "She has important matters to discuss."

Cining Palace is the Empress Dowager's residence, originally the residence of Empress Sun, but now it has changed hands.

When Chen Yuan arrived, the Grand Princess—who should now be called the Empress Dowager—was having tea and snacks.

"Sit down." The Empress Dowager gestured to the chair opposite her. "Haven't you eaten yet? Let's have some together."

Several exquisite pastries were laid out on the table: pea flour cake, donkey roll, jujube paste cake, and a bowl of rock sugar bird's nest.

Chen Yuan was indeed hungry, so he didn't stand on ceremony and sat down to eat.

The Empress Dowager looked at him wolfing down his food, her eyes full of affection: "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you."