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

Empress Dowager Sun could no longer pretend to be dead.

Taking advantage of the silence in the hall, he suddenly asked, "Yue Qian, Ji Duo, were you present when the Emperor Emeritus was writing this edict?"

Yue Qian replied, "We inform the Empress Dowager that we will remain by her side at all times!"

Empress Dowager Sun still clung to her last hope; this was Esen's scheme to sow discord.

He continued, "But did Esen force the retired emperor to do this?"

Yue Qian and Ji Duo exchanged a glance, unsure of where to begin. It didn't seem like they were being forced, since the Emperor Emeritus himself didn't approve of abdication, and their use of the title "Emperor Emeritus" had almost cost them their lives.

Seeing the troubled expressions on their faces, Zhu Qiyu instantly concluded that it was definitely Zhu Qizhen's idea. He coldly snorted and said, "Report the truth. Anyone who dares to conceal even the slightest detail or fabricate even the smallest lie will be dragged out of the Meridian Gate and beaten to death!"

The two men were startled and replied, "Your Majesty, we obey!"

Yue Qian was going all out at this moment, and reported everything that had happened since he first met Zhu Qizhen, down to the smallest detail.

Zhu Qiyu was immediately impressed and began to admire his elder brother for the first time.

However, the court officials looked extremely grim. Whenever they thought Zhu Qizhen's absurdity had reached its limit, he would always give some refreshing response, which made these well-read officials feel that they had wasted their lives studying.

Empress Dowager Sun was humiliated. She had imagined countless times how her son was being abused and how miserable his life was, but this had completely overturned her understanding.

A sharp shout rang out: "Shut up!"

Empress Dowager Sun couldn't bear to listen any longer and told Yue Qian to shut up. If she continued to listen, she would have no face to appear in front of the officials again.

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said, "Go down!"

Yue Qian and Ji Duo felt as if they had been granted a pardon. After bowing, they fled in a panic, trying to leave this place of trouble.

The door to the Wenhua Hall was opened halfway, and the two slipped out, then quickly closed it again. Looking at the sky outside the hall, they felt it was exceptionally blue.

Silence fell over the hall once more. Zhu Qiyu slowly said, "Gentlemen, what do you all think should be done with this imperial edict?"

Just when the officials were at a loss, Zhang Gu, the supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe the Emperor Emeritus's edict is flawed. The Six Ministries should be returned to their former status. I am willing to take this edict to the Oirat Mongols and directly refute the Emperor Emeritus's errors!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers' eyes finally brightened, and they looked at Zhang Gu with a hint of gratitude. This was an excellent way to handle the situation.

The Six Ministries had the power to reject edicts, making them the perfect tool to block this imperial decree. What was even more remarkable was that Zhang Gu was prepared to reject it in person, even at the cost of his life, to return the edict intact to Zhu Qizhen.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Zhang Gu. He remembered this man. He was almost forty years old when he passed the imperial examination. He first became an imperial censor, and later transferred to the Six Ministries. For more than ten years, he basically did not change his position. Now he has become the "head" of the Six Ministries.

Although his official position was not high, he was a figure who dared to "criticize the emperor." He impeached Wang Zhen, Wang Ji, Chen Mao, and others several times, but he remained steadfast!

"Your Majesty, I think this proposal is very appropriate!" Wang Zhi quickly expressed his opinion upon seeing this.

"We second that proposal!"

When the ministers saw that someone had stepped forward to take responsibility for this matter, they naturally agreed.

Zhu Qiyu glanced behind the curtain and, seeing that Empress Dowager Sun remained silent, clearly acquiesced to the move.

Zhu Qiyu did not immediately agree to the matter; he realized a very serious problem.

The fact that an imperial edict from a retired emperor could cause such a flustered response from the assembled court officials shows that their thinking is flawed and their awareness is insufficient.

Perhaps the court officials are only concerned about their reputation and are unwilling to bear the infamy of being "traitors and villains," which is why they are so nervous. But the emperor's power is already in my hands. Who does Zhu Qizhen think he is?

As the ministers were puzzled by Zhu Qiyu's hesitation in making a decision, one of them, who had already seen through Zhu Qiyu's thoughts, revealed a conflicted expression.

After a short while, Li Xian gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, all imperial edicts and decrees are issued after major matters have been reported to the emperor, and minor matters have been signed and promulgated. If any are not properly sealed, they should be returned to the emperor for review. I believe that the imperial edicts here should originate from Your Majesty, and only the Six Ministries have the power to reject them. The edicts of the Retired Emperor are not included in this category. This edict can simply be returned to the Retired Emperor by an envoy."

Li Xian decided to follow Zhu Qiyu to the bitter end. Zhu Qizhen gave him no hope whatsoever, making him practically a "tyrant" with the words "tyrant" written on his forehead.

These words shocked all the officials in the hall.

In the subconscious perception of the officials, Zhu Qizhen was still the emperor. When they received this edict, they did not consider it from a legal perspective at all. As an emperor emeritus without real power, this edict was just a piece of waste paper.

If we were to go to great lengths to refute the retired emperor's edict, what would be the point of establishing a new emperor? The retired emperor's edict would still have effect, wouldn't it allow us to open the gates again?

Zhang Gu was sweating profusely and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, saying, "Your Majesty, I failed to consider the matter thoroughly. Please punish me!"

"We, your humble servants, have failed to consider this matter thoroughly; we beg Your Majesty's punishment!"

The ministers glanced at Li Xian, finally remembering him.

"Rise!"

Zhu Qiyu looked at the group of ministers who were pleading guilty. In fact, he couldn't blame them. Zhu Qizhen had been the emperor for fourteen years. This time, he had morally blackmailed them, and it was hard for them to bear it. This kind of thinking could only be changed slowly through step-by-step persuasion and indoctrination.

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Sun, who was behind the curtain, had an uncertain expression on her face. Now her son had squandered the last bit of power he had left.

"Since all the ministers have no objections, Yue Qian and Ji Duo will remain the chief and deputy envoys, respectively. Tomorrow, they will depart with the imperial edict to the north to meet the Emperor Emeritus!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Yue Qian and Ji Duo, the two unlucky fellows, were still unaware that Zhu Qiyu had arranged for them to be involved again.

"Wait!" Before the ministers could finish speaking, Li Xian hardened his heart and spoke up again to stop them!

"Li Qing, please speak frankly!"

Li Xian stepped forward and pleaded again, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that the Empress Dowager write a letter and have two envoys deliver it to the Emperor Emeritus. Only in this way can everything be handled properly!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers suddenly understood. Now they understood why His Majesty had protected this person and imprisoned him in the imperial prison. This person was indeed very clever.

Yu Qian was the first to chime in, "Your Majesty, I second that!"

"We second that proposal!"

A murderous glint flashed in Empress Dowager Sun's eyes as she looked at Li Xian through the curtain. First, she stripped her son of his last bit of power, and now she was making him bear the responsibility of leading the "usurpation".

If it were simply a matter of sending officials, and the officials followed the established procedure, the imperial edict would be invalid and not be carried out, which would have little to do with Empress Dowager Sun. In the future, Empress Dowager Sun would still have room to maneuver.

Li Xian's words implied that Empress Dowager Sun should bear the main responsibility. The contents of the letter didn't need much thought; it was simply telling Zhu Qizhen that pragmatism was the way to go. It was Empress Dowager Sun who wanted to depose Zhu Qizhen, not the court officials. Zhu Qizhen had chosen the wrong person!

This could be considered an attempt to sow discord between the mother and son, so it would be strange if Empress Dowager Sun were in a good mood at this moment.

Historically, after Zhu Qizhen's restoration, he also disliked Empress Dowager Sun. He even restored the title of Empress Hu, the "sworn enemy" of Emperor Xuanzong, in front of Empress Dowager Sun. Despite Empress Dowager Sun's opposition, he intended to depose Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen. Presumably, the feud was already formed when Zhu Qizhen was first deposed from the throne.

Zhu Qiyu was very satisfied with Li Xian's performance. This was more like his subject. Overly cautious and self-protective people were not suitable for being given important positions. At the very least, those who would stick with him to the end were the most reliable.

Zhu Qiyu remained silent, believing that Empress Dowager Sun had heard him clearly, and simply waited quietly to the side.

A moment later, Empress Dowager Sun's slightly angry voice came from behind the curtain: "I know. I'm tired, so I'll return to the palace first!"

Zhu Qiyu did not try to persuade her to stay, and allowed Empress Dowager Sun to leave amidst the respectful farewell of the officials.