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

Zhu Qiyu was talking with his mother and Wang Lingshu in Cining Palace when he heard a palace servant report that Empress Dowager Sun had invited him to move to Renshou Palace.

After a moment's thought, Zhu Qiyu guessed the purpose of Empress Dowager Sun's summons and said, "It must be about reducing the number of palace servants. Mother, please have your daughter sit for a while. I'll be right back."

"Your Majesty!" A hint of worry flashed across Wang Lingshu's face.

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said, "There's no need to worry. When I was regent, she couldn't do anything to me, and now, I'll be careful."

Empress Dowager Wu chimed in, "Ling Shu, let Yu Ge'er go!"

Wang Lingshu could only nod.

In Renshou Palace, Empress Dowager Sun had long lost the joy of being granted an honorific title. Now that someone wanted to clip her wings in the palace, how could she not be indignant?

She just couldn't understand where Zhu Qiyu got so many ideas. Did all the court officials wholeheartedly submit to and assist him?

Zhu Qiyu did not keep Empress Dowager Sun waiting for long before appearing at Renshou Palace.

Zhu Qiyu was the first to greet her, saying, "Your Majesty, why have you summoned me so urgently (Note 1)?"

When Empress Dowager Sun saw Zhu Qiyu arrive, she asked in a curt tone, "Your Majesty, I've heard you intend to reduce the number of palace servants. Is this true?"

Zhu Qiyu thought to himself, "Just as I thought," but he had already prepared his explanation.

"Your Majesty, it is true that court officials have advised against this matter, and many ministers agree with this action. They say that even a wise and virtuous ruler like Emperor Taizong of Tang has done this. I am of meager virtue to have ascended the throne and have no good policies to benefit the people. I think this is a good policy, so I want to follow the example of the wise emperor and release the palace women."

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu and sneered inwardly. "You think you can emulate Emperor Taizong of Tang? That's just wishful thinking."

"Why didn't you inform me beforehand before hastily agreeing to this?"

Zhu Qiyu feigned surprise and said, "I am now the emperor. Do I still need to consult the Empress Dowager when handling state affairs? It seems there was no such rule in the past?"

Empress Dowager Sun was speechless for a moment. Handling matters of the inner court was naturally within the emperor's power and did not need to go through her, the empress dowager. However, over the years, it had become a habit for her to interfere in matters of the inner palace.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Sun remained silent, Zhu Qiyu simply added, "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. I am only reducing the number of other palace servants; not a single servant in Renshou Palace will be reduced. I dare not neglect Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Sun flew into a rage. What was the point of keeping palace servants in Renshou Palace? They were wasting rice. She was concerned about the reduction of palace servants in other areas, which could potentially leave her blind and deaf in the palace, completely cut off from information.

"You have just ascended the throne, and such haste is inappropriate," Empress Dowager Sun said, her words carrying a hint of threat.

Zhu Qiyu completely ignored the challenge and frantically shifted the blame, saying, "I had no choice but to do this. The imperial treasury is already severely depleted. I don't know why this year's expenses have been so huge, almost completely depleted. With the great war approaching, money is needed everywhere. It is really difficult to support such a large group of palace servants."

"I think we should first drastically reduce the number of palace servants to get through the current difficulties. Later, when the imperial treasury is full, we can recruit more palace servants to replenish them. This is only a temporary measure. Otherwise, the imperial treasury simply cannot afford such a huge expenditure. If the palace servants cannot even feed themselves, they will surely cause chaos and bring turmoil to the palace. This would be a great disaster."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Sun's face nearly turned as black as a pig's liver.

Because of the northern expedition, Zhu Qizhen took away a lot of the imperial treasury's money. Some of it was used for her own expenses in the palace, and the rest was used as ransom for Zhu Qizhen.

Because of the excessive spending, when news of Zhu Qizhen's return to the capital, she once considered having the national treasury pay out money to ransom him.

The imperial treasury left for Zhu Qiyu has been almost completely emptied by the mother and son, and it is indeed no longer enough to support so many palace servants.

In the past, the imperial treasury would be replenished the following year, but given the current situation, no one could guarantee that money would be sent to the capital or into Esen's pocket.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Sun was both furious and helpless, and asked, "Can't you just ask the national treasury to transfer some money over?"

Zhu Qiyu chuckled. "Dream on! He almost ran out of money for his own coronation ceremony. Now that the country is in crisis, money is of utmost importance. How could Empress Dowager Sun come up with such a ridiculous idea as to ask the national treasury to spend some of it?"

If he were to personally divert funds from the national treasury, he would have to engage in hundreds of battles with officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Censorate, and the Six Ministries. He wasn't out of his mind to act like that so soon after ascending the throne. Even the ruthless Jiajing Emperor of later generations wouldn't dare to operate in this way. Instead, he promoted Yan Song to the throne, creating a scapegoat, before reaching into the national treasury.

Zhu Qiyu tentatively suggested, "Perhaps the Holy Mother should go and persuade the court officials?"

Empress Dowager Sun froze, thoroughly stung by these words. She had gone to her own wits' end and was now being accused of interfering in politics. She herself had ill intentions, and so had Zhu Qiyu; they were two of a kind.

"So, you're saying you absolutely have to reduce the number of palace servants?"

Zhu Qiyu remained unfazed and calmly replied, "Your Majesty is wise; it is indeed so. This is due to the circumstances, and I had no choice but to act in this way, otherwise I would truly be a burden to the nation."

Empress Dowager Sun was at a loss. She couldn't conjure up money to support these palace servants. Even if she could, Zhu Qiyu would probably have a whole host of reasons to reduce the number of palace servants, such as the "excessive yin energy" which would be difficult to justify.

She glared at Zhu Qiyu and said angrily, "Fine, fine! Brother Yu, I underestimated you!"

"If Your Majesty has no other important matters, I shall take my leave!" Zhu Qiyu said, seeing that Empress Dowager Sun was on the verge of exploding with rage.

Empress Dowager Sun waved her hand impatiently, and Zhu Qiyu turned and left.

Outside Renshou Palace, Cheng Jing and Xing An had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhu Qiyu instructed Cheng Jing: "Cheng, arrange all the palace servants who are useful in the Prince's Mansion to work in the palace. For the palaces where the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine reside, only former servants of the Prince's Mansion or former servants of Chang Le Palace should be used. For some important positions, you can select reliable palace servants from elsewhere. Send all the remaining unimportant palace servants out of the palace."

"Here you go!"

Zhu Qiyu turned to Xing'an and said, "Xing'an, summon all officials of rank to the Qianqing Palace before the Emperor. Anyone who is absent without cause will be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane and expelled from the palace!"

"Here you go!"

In front of the Qianqing Palace, hundreds of eunuchs stood trembling and bowed, not daring to look directly at Zhu Qiyu.

Now that the palace has a new master, according to the rules, a large number of palace officials must be replaced.

Some people worried that this misfortune would befall them. The inner court officials were the emperor's servants, their lives and deaths were in the emperor's hands, and their power was also in the emperor's hands. Today they might be doing menial tasks, but tomorrow they might be in great power, all depending on the emperor's favor.

Those who had served in the Prince of Cheng's former residence were in high spirits at the moment, especially Wang Cheng and others, who had already been appointed as eunuchs and held high positions of power in the inner palace.

Zhu Qiyu glanced at Xing'an and asked, "Is everyone here?"

"Your Majesty, Li Yongchang has not arrived!"

Zhu Qiyu was just worried about not having a chance to kick Li Yongchang out of the Imperial Horse Stables, and now the opportunity has come.

He asked directly, "Is Hao Yi here?"

Upon hearing Zhu Qiyu's summons, Hao Yi rushed forward in a few strides, prostrating himself on the ground at just the right moment, and said, "This servant Hao Yi greets Your Majesty."

"From this day forward, you are the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Horse Stables!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hao Yi hurriedly kowtowed and said, "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace and swears to serve you to the death."

The courtiers below were secretly astonished, yet also filled with anticipation, upon hearing that Hao Yi had obtained an important position so easily.

"Next, from east to west, you will all step forward one by one to report, clearly stating your name and position. If you feel you have the ability or a department you prefer, you may also inform us."

……

This "interview" lasted until dark before it finally came to an end.

Zhu Qiyu simply replaced all the key personnel in the twenty-four departments in one go. In addition to replacing some of the chief eunuchs in the twelve directorates, he also replaced the wine, vinegar and noodles bureau, weapons bureau, garden bureau, firewood bureau and paper money bureau in the eight bureaus with his own people.

For the remaining duties, we can only wait and see how things develop, and then slowly promote some trusted confidants. Right now, we really don't have enough manpower, and we can't replace them all.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with these retired eunuchs and those previously on the list?"

"I don't need to teach you this, do I?"

"This servant understands!"

Xing'an was startled, but immediately understood. What kind of retired eunuchs were these? They were clearly some of Wang Zhen's traitorous followers who had been lying in wait. No wonder Li Xian said that the yin energy was too strong. It was indeed true!

"I'll give you three days to clean the palace thoroughly."

"Here you go!"

At Renshou Palace, Li Yongchang hurried back, his face extremely grim. He said, "Empress Dowager, this servant has already had His Majesty reclaim the seal of the Imperial Horse Stables!"

Empress Dowager Sun had anticipated this moment. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. Now that her son had not returned, all her actions were hesitant, and she dared not engage in a fight to the death with Zhu Qiyu.

"Go and tell my brother to send someone north to gather information. Do it quickly!"

"Here you go!"

Empress Dowager Sun gazed longingly outside the palace and sighed deeply: My child, my child, when will you return?