The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

"Your Highness, please take care." Huang Jin bowed and said, "This servant has ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send someone to escort you. They are waiting at Xihua Gate. Please be careful after you leave the palace and do not leave your guard."

Zhu Zaizhen didn't turn his head, but raised his hand and waved.

"understood."

The walls on both sides of the palace road were very high, cutting the sky into a narrow strip. Zhu Zaizhen walked in that narrow strip of light, his clothes swaying at his ankles, his steps as light as a breeze.

The real turning point has begun; now we'll see how this game unfolds and how to survive.

Zhu Zaizhen left the area of ​​the West Garden first, and Ma Dezhao and Zhang Xing waited by the roadside. When they saw that their prince was well and looking happy, Ma Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief.

He tried to dissuade His Highness from coming this morning, but to no avail.

As His Highness becomes more and more opinionated, Ma Dezhao no longer interferes too much with his decisions, but he still worries about them.

"Let's go, Father has granted my permission. My attendant will accompany me out of the palace."

Ma Dezhao's first thought was that this matter could not be kept secret, and how the court and the public would react.

However, this incident also demonstrates that His Highness is more favored than Prince Yu and even the former Crown Prince, which may not be a bad thing in the eyes of others.

The group returned to the inner palace through the West Upper Gate, then headed south along the West Long Street, passing through the Wuying Hall alley to the West Flower Gate, where a team of Imperial Guards was already waiting.

Ma Dezhao glanced at him from afar and immediately reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, this is Lu Bing. He is highly trusted by His Majesty and should be treated with the utmost courtesy."

Zhu Zaizhen hadn't expected Lu Bing to be so accommodating. Although the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard held great power, he was still only a third-rank official, so it was understandable that he would personally wait for a prince like himself.

However, Lu Bing was promoted to Right Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army Commandery last year, a first-rank military officer of the imperial court. It was perfectly reasonable for him to send his subordinates to greet him if he had important military or political business to attend to.

As the two sides approached, Lu Bing wore a black gauze hat with seven beams, a bright red round-necked casual robe, a gold lion patch on his chest and back, a jade belt with thirteen plaques around his waist, and black boots with cloud patterns on his feet.

He wore no ostentatious bestowed robes, only the standard attire of a first-rank military officer, yet he possessed a composed aura that commanded his personal guard and commanded the court.

As the Prince Jing's entourage approached, Lu Bing immediately raised his hand to signal the officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard behind him to bow their heads and stand at attention. He then quickly stepped forward, stopping before he was three steps away, bowing and concealing all his sharpness, fully adhering to the etiquette of a subject.

As Zhu Zaizhen approached, he deftly lifted his robe and bent his knees, performing a deep bow in the manner of a courtier paying homage to a prince, his eyes lowered and head bowed, not daring to look directly at him, his manners impeccable.

"Your subject, Lu Bing, Right Commander of the Rear Army Commandery and in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, respectfully welcomes His Highness Prince Jing to the Xihua Gate. I will also lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard to escort His Highness out of the palace safely."

Before Zhu Zaizhen could finish accepting the greeting, he stepped forward, reached out, and supported Lu Bing's arm.

"Thank you for your presence, Commander Lu."

The officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guards behind Lu Bing bowed in unison: "Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Highness Prince Jing."

"No need for formalities."

"promise."

After bowing, they stood up, bowed their heads and lowered their eyes. Their black boots clasped together silently. Zhu Zaizhen's gaze swept over them. Dozens of officers and commanders of the Imperial Guards, all wearing blue robes and black horn belts, were present.

The commanders of a thousand men had bears on their chests, and the commanders of a hundred men had tigers on their chests. They were all strong and capable, tall and long-armed, like two rows of blue stone pillars standing there, giving people a sense of security just by looking at them.

Of course, he feels safe with it, but others might not.

After all, any one of them could be a master at destroying families and wiping out entire clans.

Zhu Zaizhen did not deliberately try to get close to Lu Bing, and said in a slightly polite manner: "There is no need to make a big fuss about the guards when leaving the palace. I just want to take a short trip and then return. The governor can send some plainclothes guards to accompany me."

Lu Bing first agreed, then said in a consultative tone, "Your Highness, a prince's entourage may be unnecessary, but the guards must not be lacking. I can order them to accompany and protect you at a slightly distance. What does Your Highness think?"

"As the governor says."

Zhu Zaizhen immediately agreed. He wanted to go out, but he absolutely did not want to encounter any petty things like being a white dragon fish disguised as a fish or shrimp.

What time is it now? The sons of the founding heroes and those who fought in the Jingnan Campaign, the纨绔 (spoiled brats) of the imperial relatives, the sons and grandsons of military officers and local gentry families, are filling the capital. These people who don't have to work and whose salaries are inherited all day long are idle and do nothing but run rampant in the streets and bully others.

In addition, there were the sons of civil officials who received imperial favors; although they were more restrained than the group mentioned above, how much better were they?

With his status, he can bully others, but if he gets bullied, he'll be a laughing stock.

As for whether he would be monitored, he had no secrets when it came to safety. He had nothing to hide about where he went or who he met.

Could he possibly be secretly colluding with the Japanese?

Seeing that Prince Jing agreed readily, Lu Bing's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible hint of relaxation. He raised his hand to signal, and the two commanders behind him silently took half a step back and turned to give instructions to the plainclothes officers.

"Please, Your Highness."

Lu Bing stepped aside to make way, and Zhu Zaizhen walked towards the guardhouse at Xihua Gate. It was a bit shabby and smelly, but neither of them complained. They just sat down and chatted for a few minutes.

A moment later, someone came to inform them. When they went outside, they saw that the people from before had changed into plain clothes, but anyone with a discerning eye could tell who they were.

After all, the aura of the Embroidered Uniform Guards is quite unique.

Looking around, dozens of agents from the Eastern Depot appeared out of nowhere. They were dressed in various colors, with narrow sleeves, small hats, and short blades hanging from their waists.

This group of people were quiet and reserved, and they were good at spreading out and standing at the base of walls and street corners. Unlike the conspicuous and grand Jinyiwei, they were like shadows, and they infiltrated every dark corner without anyone noticing.

A eunuch emerged from the shadows. He was not tall, had a fair complexion, and looked to be in his thirties or forties. He walked very lightly and knelt down neatly five steps away from Zhu Zaizhen.

"This servant, Teng Xiang, greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be well."

Ma Dezhao, who had been following behind Zhu Zaizhen, stepped forward half a step and whispered a reminder: "The Director of the Imperial Household Department shall be in charge of the seal."

Zhu Zaizhen nodded slightly, his tone tinged with curiosity: "No need for formalities, Teng Ban. What brings you here?"

Leading so many people from the Eastern Depot, they must be here to provide protection, but someone has to say who they are on orders to do so.

"Reporting to Your Highness," Teng Xiang stood up, hands at her sides, her posture respectful, "This servant was ordered by the Grand Eunuch to lead a group of guards to accompany you."

There is only one person in the entire world who can be respectfully addressed as "Grand Eunuch Grand Eunuch" by a Grand Eunuch: Mai Fu, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and concurrently the Director of the Eastern Depot.

It's just unclear whether this is the Emperor's intention or a result of open and covert struggles between the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot.

"Very well, thank the seal bearer on my behalf."

"No, I wouldn't dare. This is what we servants should do."

Lu Bing stood beside Zhu Zaizhen, his gaze also falling on the Eastern Depot agents. His expression remained unchanged, still that of a composed and respectful man.

"It seems the Grand Chancellor doesn't trust my Embroidered Uniform Guard."

His tone was indifferent, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

………………