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

Cheng Jing wouldn't do the same thing twice.

The news of Zhu Qiyu's succession to the throne reached the Prince's Palace almost immediately.

Wang Cheng and Shu Liang, eunuchs of the Prince of Cheng's mansion, had been waiting at the gate for a long time.

These days, the palace servants are all restless and uneasy.

After the emperor knocked on the gate, calls for his own prince to ascend the throne were incessant. This greatly excited the eunuchs, who worked extra hard to gain the favor of the prince and princess. A kind of magic called power lingered in their hearts.

The palace had twelve directorates, four offices, and eight bureaus. The head of each department was highly sought after, especially the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Directorate of Imperial Horses, and the Directorate of Palace Attendants, which were particularly coveted by these eunuchs.

In the past, I wouldn't have dared to dream of these positions, but now they've been blessed with good fortune.

Once our prince ascends the throne, there's no doubt that the eunuchs from his former residence will also rise in rank and be placed in important positions. Ability is secondary at this point; loyalty is the most crucial factor. The more loyal one is, the greater their chances.

This is exactly what happened. The other two eunuchs of the Prince's Palace, Zhang Yong and Wang Qin, had been waiting for news outside the palace. As soon as they heard the confirmed news, they rushed back.

Wang Cheng and Shu Liang saw the two men running back from afar, and their faces immediately lit up with joy. They waved and asked, "Any news?"

Zhang Yong and Wang Qin, lacking experience, blurted out, "It's done! It's done! His Highness has ascended the throne."

Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng and Shu Liang abandoned Zhang Yong and his companion, who were still running back, and hurriedly turned around and rushed towards the inner palace of the Prince's Mansion.

Zhang Yong and his companion nearly burst into a tirade of curses, relentlessly chasing after them.

Wang Lingshu and Hang Qingyi sat in the hall, protecting Zhu Jianji, their tense expressions hard to hide.

Hang Qingyi, unable to contain herself, asked, "Sister, why haven't we heard anything yet?"

"According to custom, one should decline and yield three times. Perhaps things will not be accomplished today, and we may only decline and yield once."

Compared to Hang Qingyi, Wang Lingshu was much calmer, after all, she had psychologically adapted to the tense atmosphere these past few days.

A moment later, a commotion came from outside the hall. Wang Cheng and Shu Liang bumped into each other and, by sheer coincidence, fell face-first into the hall.

Zhu Jianji couldn't help but chuckle when he saw his eldest son acting so ridiculously.

Wang Lingshu frowned slightly as she looked at the two of them, preparing to ask them a question.

The two reacted very quickly, saying in unison, "Your Highness, His Highness has ascended to the throne."

Zhang Yong and his companion were a step too late, but they couldn't miss this opportunity to claim credit, so they scrambled in recklessly.

Zhang Yong and his companion prostrated themselves on the ground. Zhang Yong said directly, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Cheng ordered us to convey a message that His Majesty is still handling affairs in the palace and will return later!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng and Shu Liang both gasped. "Your Majesty, you're so cheeky!" they thought. "Why didn't you think to address me as 'Your Majesty'?"

The hard-won lead was wiped out.

After confirming the news, Wang Lingshu was overjoyed and could hardly contain her smile.

After a brief moment of calm, he deliberately put on a stern face and said, "Such a flustered state is unbecoming. If you behave like this when you enter the palace in the future, you will be assigned to a leisurely official post."

"This servant knows her crime!"

The four of them could easily understand the hidden meaning in her words; the princess was promising to give her an important position, making this trip truly worthwhile.

Seeing that the servants were fairly loyal, Wang Lingshu knew that her husband needed capable people, so her expression softened slightly and she said, "This is a one-time exception. Keep the palace servants in check. If anyone causes trouble for His Majesty, I will not let them off easily."

"This servant obeys the decree!"

Wang Lingshu waved her hand and said, "Go and collect your reward!"

"This servant thanks Your Highness!"

The four hurriedly retreated, their mouths practically smirking. Once outside the front gate, seemingly still resentful, they gave a cold snort and parted ways.

Hang Qingyi's face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly asked, "Sister, what should we do?"

After a moment's thought, Wang Lingshu said, "We can wait. The time of the coronation ceremony will only be known after my husband returns. We can't rush it now. After my husband officially ascends the throne, there will be an investiture ceremony, and then we can enter the palace."

Hang Qingyi could only nod.

In the palace, the court officials were also quite sensible.

After the court session, everyone went about their duties. Apart from Hu Ying, whom Zhu Qiyu had specially summoned, almost no one came to bother Zhu Qiyu.

The current affairs within the palace urgently require Zhu Qiyu's attention; a new emperor brings a new slave.

"Cheng Banban, you will be appointed as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Palace Attendants. Send someone to summon Wang Cheng, Shu Liang, Zhang Yong, and Wang Qin from the Prince's Palace! Shu Liang will be appointed as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Household Department, Zhang Yong as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Cuisine, and Wang Qin as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Clothing."

Zhu Qiyu currently needs to replace the eunuchs in charge of clothing, food, and other necessities with reliable people. Shang Yi, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, has a reputation for virtue, and Zhu Qiyu does not intend to replace him. This person is only loyal to the emperor, and since the Yongle era, none of the subsequent emperors have replaced him, which shows that he has real abilities.

"Yes!" Cheng Jing replied hastily.

Of the eunuchs Zhu Qiyu could use in his former residence before he became a prince, these four were probably the most reliable.

Historically, after the Tumu Crisis, these four men, along with Yu Qian and Wang Wen, were executed on Zhu Qizhen's orders. If they hadn't been Zhu Qiyu's confidants, they wouldn't have been separated from their families.

"As for Wang Cheng," Zhu Qiyu paused, looked at Xing'an who was standing to the side, and said, "Xing Banban, Wang Cheng has entered the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. You teach him. From today onwards, Xing Banban will serve as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, and will still be in charge of the Eastern Depot."

"Your Majesty, I fear that if I were to take charge of the Eastern Depot again, it would invite criticism." Although Xing'an was extremely excited, Wang Zhen was a cautionary tale. Sometimes, excessive power is not necessarily a blessing.

Zhu Qiyu was well aware of Xing'an's concerns, but he simply didn't have the right manpower at the moment, and he would have to finish this battle before making a decision.

"We must act expediently, and even if the burden is heavy, we must take it on."

"This servant swears to never hinder Your Majesty's important affairs." Upon hearing Zhu Qiyu's words, Xing'an dared not refuse any longer. Then, remembering something, she asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with Jin Ying?"

Zhu Qiyu pondered for a moment. Although this man was Zhu Qizhen's lackey, he had not done anything out of line so far. For these eunuchs, leaving the capital would basically render them useless.

"Let him retire in Fengyang and never return to the capital!"

"Here you go!"

Xing'an nodded, then hesitated for a moment before stopping.

Seeing this, Zhu Qiyu said, "Xingbanban, speak frankly."

Xing'an hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Horse Administration is still in Li Yongchang's hands."

The Imperial Horse Administration controls the Tengxiang Left and Right Guards and the Wuxiang Left and Right Guards, collectively known as the "Four Guards." According to the military system, this force numbers as many as 20,000 soldiers. Although there are currently vacancies, it is still a force to be reckoned with. Without the emperor's trusted confidants, the palace would be unstable.

"Tell Hao Yi, the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, to keep a close eye on Li Yongchang these next few days and to report any suspicious activity immediately."

Hao Yi was recommended by Xing'an, and Zhu Qiyu had some impression of him upon hearing his name.

This person was killed by Zhu Qizhen first in history for preparing to stop the coup of 1899. He can be said to be the earliest confidant of Zhu Qiyu to die.

Zhu Qiyu did not want to replace Li Yongchang at this moment, after all, he had not yet received the imperial edict, and it would be unwise to provoke Empress Dowager Sun at this time. Secondly, the "Four Guards" troops were involved in the defense of the capital and could not escape Hao Yi's surveillance, not to mention that Yu Qian was present and now had the power to take command.

"Here you go!"

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu had his own plans, Xing'an dared not say anything more.