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

Empress Dowager Sun was missing her son, but whether her son missed her was another matter.

In the Oirat camp, after spending these days with Esen and others, Zhu Qizhen had lost the shame he initially felt as a prisoner. He gradually relaxed and embraced the idea of ​​"since I'm already here, I should enjoy myself while I can." He even started drinking and socializing with the Oirat leaders, almost to the point of becoming sworn brothers.

It must be said that although Zhu Qizhen was not good at being an emperor, if he had been put in a position at the Court of State Ceremonial, he would definitely have been rated as excellent every year.

After a few drinks, the two hit it off immediately.

They began to talk about how the two countries should get along and how to conduct trade in the future, which left Esen quite bewildered.

In terms of making friends, Zhu Qizhen had reached a point where he couldn't distinguish between friend and foe; it was simply miraculous.

Looking at Zhu Qizhen, who was full of interest, Yuan Bin felt increasingly disappointed. The fact that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty could be so humble and subservient to the enemy who had captured him made Yuan Bin feel like his worldview had been completely shattered.

At first, Yuan Bin thought that Zhu Qizhen was only taking a temporary measure and had been enduring humiliation. He was deeply moved by Zhu Qizhen's actions, but he gradually realized that he had been moved too soon. This emperor of the Ming Dynasty was truly enjoying it.

After Liang Gui and others delivered the first batch of ransom money raised by Empress Dowager Sun, Esen was overjoyed. Seeing that this trick could really extort money, he directly improved the treatment of Zhu Qizhen, the golden boy.

This gave Zhu Qizhen the illusion that Esen was greedy for money and that as long as he was paid enough, he would eventually be released.

Because the Ming Dynasty paid the ransom, Zhu Qizhen lived a more and more comfortable life. Esen even sent his sister to serve Zhu Qizhen. However, Zhu Qizhen still had some bottom line, and with Yuan Bin's persuasion, he did not engage in any sexual relations.

The reason why Rang Ye went to Datong to knock on the gate was not only because Xi Ning suggested it, but also because Zhu Qizhen willingly agreed to go to Datong.

Because he didn't know before that Zhu Qiyu had dismissed Liu An and Guo Jing. These two were Zhu Qizhen's own lackeys, and it would be easy for them to get some money to spend.

The Oirat army arrived in Datong only to find no one there. They encountered Guo Deng, a hardliner, and even pleading kinship failed to persuade him to leave the city. Fortunately, Guo Deng relayed a message that the imperial court would send another envoy, so the Oirat army simply set up camp at Yanghekou to wait.

This place is the burial place of tens of thousands of loyal souls of the Ming Dynasty, and it was also the direct reason that prompted Zhu Qizhen to personally lead the expedition. Esen chose this place, and his intention to humiliate was almost undisguised.

But Zhu Qizhen was also an oddball; he seemed to feel no shame and ate and drank as usual.

If this emperor had any conscience, he would at least have offered a toast to the fallen soldiers. Instead, he offered a toast to himself and several toasts to Esen and his brother Bayan Temur, showing no mercy whatsoever.

During the meal, Esen frowned slightly and said, "Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, several days have passed and the Ming envoy has not yet arrived. Could it be that the border general is deceiving the emperor? You would better go to Datong and find out the truth."

Emboldened by the alcohol, Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "Grand Tutor, there is no need to worry about this. If a large amount of wealth is being transported from the capital, the journey will naturally be slower. It's not like we're riding a fast horse. This matter cannot be rushed."

Zhu Qizhen was also worried that Guo Deng was deceiving him. If he really had deceived Esen, his good days would be over.

Upon hearing this, Esen's expression softened considerably, and he continued drinking and singing with Zhu Qizhen.

A short while later, perhaps due to the miraculous effect of his earlier pronouncements, the Ming Dynasty envoy arrived!

"Reporting to Grand Tutor Prince Huai, a person claiming to be an envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty has come to pay homage outside the camp."

Before Esen could even rejoice upon hearing this, Zhu Qizhen, standing beside him, was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Grand Tutor, when have I ever deceived you? The envoy has already arrived!"

Esen offered a hypocritical compliment, saying, "The Emperor of the Great Ming truly possesses the demeanor of a gentleman!"

"Of course, of course!"

Yue Qian and Ji Duo were able to enter the camp. As they approached the main tent, they heard laughter and chatter. Their faces darkened, thinking that the Oirat traitors were mocking their retired emperor. They angrily went inside.

As soon as the two stepped into the tent, their pupils dilated several sizes upon seeing the harmonious scene before them. They even saw their retired emperor with his arm around the shoulder of a burly man with a full beard from the Oirat, looking as close as family.

The two had considered that Zhu Qizhen would be like the two emperors of the Song Dynasty before him, being mocked and living a life worse than death, constantly longing to return home. Now that the emperor and his minister had met, it should have been a moving and memorable scene of heartfelt confessions and heart-wrenching tears.

But in the current situation, the emotions that have been building up along the way are like constipation, unable to be released.

This gave Yue Qian and his companion the illusion that Zhu Qizhen had joined forces with the Oirat Mongols to extort money from the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Qizhen, seated at the table, raised his wine cup, his breath reeking of alcohol, and asked, "Has anyone brought any precious treasures to bestow upon the Grand Tutor on my behalf?"

Yue Qian and Ji Duo looked as if their parents had died. The Emperor Emeritus didn't ask about the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, the state of the court, or the well-being of the country and its people. What kind of questions did he ask?

Ji Duo was the first to regain his composure and forced a smile, saying, "Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus, I have brought a cartload of valuables and a cartload of clothing on the orders of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. Regarding the clothing..."

Before Ji Duo could finish speaking, a dark shadow appeared, and a wine bottle struck him squarely in the face.

Zhu Qizhen's face was flushed red as he glared at Ji Duo and the other man, shouting, "You audacious traitors! I am the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty! When did I become the Retired Emperor?"

Ji Duo's forehead was red, but fortunately his scalp was tough and there was no bleeding.

Seeing this, Yue Qian, fearing he might be implicated, hurriedly explained, "Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus, His Highness Prince Cheng has already ascended the throne with the support of the Empress Dowager and the court officials, therefore..."

Yue Qian ultimately did not utter the words that Zhu Qizhen had been "promoted" to the position of Emperor Emeritus, and it is believed that Zhu Qizhen understood this.

Zhu Qizhen stood there, stunned. At that moment, he felt that his mother had abandoned him and that all the treacherous officials had committed treason. His hatred was beyond measure.

Esen clearly intended to let him go back, so why couldn't the court be more patient and wait? Perhaps if they had given him money a few more times, he could have returned south smoothly.

His younger brother, the Prince of Cheng, was merely a man born out of wedlock. What virtue or ability did he possess to dare to usurp the throne?

At this moment, Zhu Qizhen felt endless betrayal. He never thought that his outrageous act of knocking on the door was the reason he lost his throne.

In his view, what's wrong with simply wanting some money and one or two cities that rightfully belong to him to live in?

Now that Esen and the others understood the situation, the Ming Dynasty had established a new emperor.

Zhu Qizhen, once a golden baby, has become a faded silver baby. Although he hasn't quite fallen to the level of an iron baby, his value has been greatly reduced.

With a loud "crack," Esen slammed the wine cup in his hand to the ground, then suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with anger, and said, "We have fallen for Guo Deng's delaying tactic."

Esen was the first to realize that the Ming Dynasty had established a new emperor, and such important news had not yet reached the area beyond the Great Wall.

This can only mean one thing: martial law was declared inside the pass, and even the border guards had already received the news but kept it a secret, preventing spies inside the pass from finding out, so that they could keep waiting and delaying the southward advance.

Thinking this, Esen angrily stepped forward, grabbed the still-stunned Zhu Qizhen, and shouted, "Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I do not recognize the so-called new emperor. You are the true Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. You must give me an explanation for this matter, or you will bear the consequences!"

"Stop! You mustn't be disrespectful to the Emperor Emeritus!" Yue Qian and the other man could only bite the bullet and try to dissuade him.

Esen didn't take it seriously at all. With a glance, several soldiers stepped forward and captured Yue Qian and his companion.

Zhu Qizhen felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and instantly forgot his anger. He hurriedly replied, "The new emperor's ascension to the throne is illegitimate. I will immediately issue an edict of censure and have the two men take it back. I am still the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

"That's excellent!"