Emperor Ming: Your Majesty, you have caused me so much suffering.

After the cheers subsided, a clueless censor hurriedly stepped forward, ready to impeach Gu Xingzu.

"Your Majesty, I impeach..."

"Hmm?" Zhu Qiyu glared coldly at the censor. Such a happy time, don't force me to kill you!

Then their gaze fell on Wang Wentong and Chen Yi, the two chief inspectors.

Wang Wen felt he had been wronged for all time. "I just got back and I don't know anything!"

Seeing this, Chen Yi stopped the censor and glared at him fiercely. The censor came to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat, and forgot that the agreed-upon ceremony was flawed, and Wu Xun had become the initiator.

Seeing Zhu Qiyu's demeanor, Zhang Ni, Zhu Yi, and the others were overjoyed, realizing that His Majesty was indeed reliable and kept his word.

At this moment, he felt extremely proud of his preemptive move.

After announcing the end of the court session, Zhang Ni seemed unfazed by the murderous glares of the civil officials, and left with Zhu Yi and others with his heads held high. It's all because civil officials don't practice kneeling properly; even kneeling is a skill.

After the court session, Zhu Qiyu summoned Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, to inquire about confidential matters.

Hu Ying had served in the Ministry of Rites for decades, and he was truly diligent and incredibly efficient. Long before the urging of Zhu Qizhen to ascend the throne, preparations were almost complete, and the enthronement ceremony was scheduled for the sixth day of the ninth month, with Zhu Qizhen honored as the Retired Emperor.

"Is there a draft edict to send someone to the Prince of Min?"

Hu Ying came prepared and handed it directly to Zhu Qiyu.

Zhu Qiyu unfolded it and examined it closely. At first, he didn't think anything was amiss, but by the end, his brows furrowed.

"By imperial decree to my great-uncle, Prince Pian of Min: Recently, my elder brother, the Emperor, personally led an expedition against the barbarians and ordered his grand-nephew to guard the capital. Unfortunately, His Majesty was misled by treacherous officials and was trapped in the barbarian court... We petitioned the Empress Dowager, but the Crown Prince is too young and incapable of managing all affairs of state. Therefore, the Empress Dowager has transferred the throne to his grand-nephew. Furthermore, Yang Shan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, returned from the barbarians and conveyed the Emperor's decree: The rites of the ancestral temple cannot be neglected for long. My younger brother, Prince Cheng, is older and more virtuous. He should succeed to the throne and perform the sacrificial rites."

Despite repeated attempts to decline, he dared not refuse, fearing he would fail the trust placed in him by the Empress Dowager and his elder brother, the Emperor. So, on the sixth day of the ninth month, he ascended the throne.

Zhu Qiyu was quite critical of "successor to the throne," which indicates that he did not inherit the lineage of Emperor Xuanzong, but rather that of Zhu Qizhen. In name, he was inferior to Zhu Qizhen.

"Minister Hu, is it possible to change the succession? What if I wish to inherit the throne from the late emperor?"

Hu Ying waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "It's almost impossible!"

"Why? Emperor Taizong inherited the legitimacy of Emperor Taizu!"

Hu Ying glanced at Zhu Qiyu speechlessly and said, "Emperor Taizong was the legitimate son and ascended the throne during the Jingnan Rebellion. Your Majesty is born of a concubine and is inherently weak in terms of legal standing. If Your Majesty wants to inherit the legitimacy of the late emperor, you must depose the retired emperor. This is absolutely impossible. If you depose the retired emperor because of the defeat at Tumu Crisis, then all the civil and military officials who fought alongside you will be implicated. Your Majesty may lose the hearts of the people and your position will be unstable."

Zhu Qiyu was speechless. Zhu Di had conquered the country, while he had acquired it by chance, and he was not even the first in line to the throne.

It must be admitted that Hu Ying's words make sense. Zhu Qizhen could bear the responsibility for the defeat, but abdication and relinquishing power were the limits. If the emperor were deposed directly because of the Tumu Crisis, it would mean that Zhu Qizhen's crimes were greater than the heavens, and those civil and military officials would certainly be implicated.

The promises he made to Xun Gui are unlikely to be fulfilled. He estimates that after the Battle of the Capital, it will be his turn to abdicate.

Zhu Qiyu, still unwilling to give up, asked, "Did the Emperor's act of knocking on the gates imply an intention to betray the country?"

Hu Ying shook his head again, saying, "Xuanfu and Datong are safe and sound; the country has not yet fallen. We cannot punish them!"

Zhu Qiyu nearly vomited blood. It turned out that guarding the border and protecting the country was an excuse for Zhu Qizhen.

Wanting to kill someone and actually killing someone are two completely different things. Zhu Qiyu suddenly realized that Zhu Qizhen was really difficult to kill if he used etiquette and law to deal with him!

"Unless the future Emperor..." Hu Ying uttered a treasonous statement.

Zhu Qiyu glanced at Hu Ying suspiciously. What was this old fox up to? These words were unnecessary.

He instantly understood Hu Ying's meaning: unless Zhu Qizhen did something else reckless, unrelated to the Tumu Crisis, and simply considered Zhu Qizhen's crimes, there would be a chance. But with less than ten days until his ascension to the throne, what opportunity would Zhu Qizhen have to court disaster?

This imperial edict cannot be delayed. Without an edict to ascend the throne, what's the difference between him and a citizen of later generations without an ID card? He'd just be a complete illegal immigrant.

Zhu Qiyu then thought of another method and asked, "Would abdication be feasible?"

Hu Ying did not answer immediately, but pondered for a moment before giving an answer: "There is only a one in ten thousand chance."

"But why is that?"

Hu Ying gave Zhu Qiyu a meaningful look and said, "Unless the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager are both willing, the position of Crown Prince will be precarious after the abdication. Does Your Majesty intend to change the heir?"

Abdication signifies a transfer of imperial lineage, allowing him to rightfully depose Zhu Jianshen after ascending the throne.

Zhu Qiyu, being a man of principle, promptly denied it, saying, "I had absolutely no such intention!"

"If Your Majesty has no such intention, why go to such lengths?" Hu Ying smiled, seemingly seeing through Zhu Qiyu's hypocrisy, and explained, "If we were to abdicate, there would be the following difficulties. First, the Empress Dowager would certainly not agree. If there is no imperial edict from the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager does not approve, then relying solely on a verbal order would be illegitimate and improper."

Hu Ying's meaning was very clear: even if the edict was forged, it still had to be reviewed by Empress Dowager Sun and endorsed by her personally. Therefore, even if the edict was forged, it would still be genuine.

If one were to directly ask Zhu Qizhen for an imperial edict, it would be as if Esen had gone mad and allowed Zhu Qizhen to personally write it and have it taken back to the capital, turning this golden child into a worthless iron child.

"Secondly, if we bypass the Empress Dowager and forcibly issue an edict of abdication, then Your Majesty must personally welcome back the Retired Emperor. The abdication ceremony cannot be missed by either of the two emperors, otherwise it would lack legal basis. The abdication ceremony requires both emperors to jointly offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth. If the Retired Emperor reneges on the edict and claims that there was no such edict, Your Majesty will only have two paths to take: abdicate and return the throne, or..." Hu Ying made a gesture.

Zhu Qiyu was startled; the latter was the regicide. Given Zhu Qizhen's character, Zhu Qiyu would rather believe that a sow could fly.

Historically, he had the audacity to launch the coup, so wouldn't it be easy for him to back out?

If it is a succession, the Empress Dowager and the court officials will witness and approve it, and the legal basis will be established.

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu understood instantly, Hu Ying slowly said, "No matter which path you choose, it's a path of no return. Your Majesty should not act rashly. I have a suggestion: the throne has already been decided; there is no room for another. Your Majesty's most urgent task is to ascend the throne as soon as possible, lead your people to repel the Oirats, and protect our Great Ming Dynasty. Just as Your Majesty said, if you restore a prosperous era to the people of the Ming Dynasty, the people of the world will surely support you."

Hu Ying paused for a moment, then said, "I have said something taboo; please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

"Speak your mind!"

"Emperor Taizong has been condemned for decades because of the Jingnan Rebellion, but despite the condemnation, the people still respect him as the legitimate ruler. Your Majesty, I firmly believe that you will also be a wise ruler in the future. There is a long road ahead, and we should not focus solely on the present. As long as your achievements are great enough to bestow blessings upon the people, the world will judge for itself."

Will there be great Confucian scholars to explain the classics for me?

Zhu Qiyu felt that Hu Ying had taken the wrong medicine today. Could it be that his domineering aura had truly subdued this man?

"If that's the case, will the Emperor Emeritus remain the ruler, and I the subject?"

"Legally speaking, that's true," Hu Ying said, slightly embarrassed, before explaining, "However, even Liu Taigong paid homage to Emperor Gaozu of Han in the past. Even if the Emperor Emeritus were to return, he probably wouldn't dare to refer to himself as 'Your Majesty' before you. The world still reveres the Emperor; I've never heard of anyone revering the Emperor Emeritus!"

It must be said that Zhu Yuanzhang's establishment of this set of ancestral rules was quite remarkable. Unless one could be like Zhu Di, who could kill anyone who was dissatisfied until they were convinced, that would be a different story. But for now, without the title of emperor, one can do nothing.

Zhu Qiyu could only accept this explanation. He could not escape his disadvantage by simply relying on etiquette and law. He could only create the conditions himself or have that person not come back.

With the position of power in hand and military authority in hand, what is there for a great man to fear?

Zhu Qiyu immediately calmed down and bowed to Hu Ying, saying, "Minister Hu, it is rare that you have been so dedicated to answering my questions."

Hu Ying, that old fox, immediately realized that this was not a declarative sentence, but an interrogative one.

"Your Majesty is the sovereign, and I am merely fulfilling my duty as a subject, sharing your burdens," Hu Ying said, then, without concealing his ulterior motives, bowed deeply with utmost sincerity, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your leniency towards the Duke of Cheng's mansion!"

Zhu Qiyu was stunned. Good heavens!

So that's why Hu Ying was so open about this matter. No wonder he didn't hold back his answer. This reminder was also a way of implying that he shouldn't go back on his word.

Hu Ying has thoroughly offended his colleagues. Although it was a misunderstanding, it is true that he instructed Zhu Yi, and now he has no way to defend himself.

However, Hu Ying did not expect Zhu Qiyu to be so resourceful, quickly gaining the support of nobles at the cost of protecting the Duke's mansion. It was truly a stroke of genius!

Such a wise ruler deserves to burn out the last bit of his life!