Chapter 72: The Imperial Star Is Stirring—Why Is the Imperial Star in Turmoil!?

The Door Seizure Incident?
He actually has the nerve to restore himself to the throne?
The faces of all the emperors instantly darkened.
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was cold as he said in a deep voice, "Fourth, bring the paddle!"
"It's ready, Father." Zhu Fourth pulled out a pile of blank ancestral tablets from beneath Jianwen's dragon throne and placed them on the round table.
All the heirs to the throne of Ming consciously took two tablets each.
This unlucky child must be punished!
Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, having learned his lesson, thought: If the son doesn't suffer, the father will.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face was grim as he whispered, "Come on, Grandson, let's see where this scoundrel gets the nerve to restore himself!"
"Alright."
Zhu Youjian nodded, having prepared a heap of life-saving elixirs in advance as a sign of filial piety.
After all, he's still an ancestor and must be treated with filial respect.
...
The eighth year of Jingtai, first month.
The sun was setting over the Forbidden City, and the sky was dim.
In the warm chamber of Qianqing Palace, Shi Heng walked out, his expression dazed. He had seen with his own eyes the moribund state of Zhu Qiyu, and his heart was in turmoil.
Gritting his teeth, he quickly left the palace.
At his residence, former Right Capital Commander Zhang Ruo, brother of Zhang Fu, and eunuch Cao Jixiang were pacing nervously. As soon as Shi Heng entered, they hurried forward to inquire:
"How is His Majesty?"
"His illness is beyond cure!" Shi Heng whispered, "Zhang, Cao, the three of us must make plans early!"
"Indeed, indeed!" Zhang Ruo said urgently. "I heard that Grand Secretary Wang Wen has repeatedly advised His Majesty to establish the Crown Prince as the heir. If His Majesty agrees, Wang Wen will be the key figure and gain the greatest merit, while we will get nothing!
"Why don't we restore the former emperor’s eldest son, Prince Yi, as Crown Prince? What do you think?"
Cao Jixiang folded his hands and shook his head, "Even if we reestablish Prince Yi, Zhu Jiashen, as Crown Prince, it’s a matter for the civil officials—the credit will not go to us."
"Impossible!"
"Prince Yi is too young and may not recognize our contributions!"
Shi Heng suddenly stomped his foot and gritted his teeth, "His Majesty is terminally ill and has no heir. Why not seize the opportunity to welcome the Supreme Emperor’s return to the throne? That would be an unprecedented achievement!"
Immediately, Zhang Ruo and Cao Jixiang’s eyes lit up, "Shi, you are a genius!"
The three promptly divided tasks.
Cao Jixiang said, "I'll return to the palace to see the Empress Dowager and secretly inform her about the restoration. The Empress Dowager longs for this daily and will surely agree! With her support, half the matter is done!"
As the most educated among the three, the eunuch felt somewhat out of his depth with such a grand plot.
Cao Jixiang added, "We still need to recruit a civil official to strategize for us, just in case!"
"Good, Zhang and I will go recruit Xu Bin. With him on board, the matter will be accomplished!"
Shi Heng nodded repeatedly, and he and Zhang Ruo went to visit Chief Ritualist Xu Bin at the Ministry of Rites.
Xu Residence.
Xu Bin, full of confusion, immediately stopped them upon hearing their intentions, "Stop! You two have said enough, don’t go any further!"
Seeing the two generals’ unfriendly expressions, Xu Bin remembered their military status—if he couldn’t provide a satisfactory explanation, he might not get away.
Xu Bin changed his expression, holding his forehead and shaking his head, "Shi, this is indeed an unprecedented achievement, but I am old and my mind is no longer sharp. However... Xu Youzhen is full of schemes and skilled in astrology. You can consult him!"
Shi Heng and Zhang Ruo exchanged glances, thinking this made sense, and sincerely bowed, "Thank you, Xu, for pointing the way. You will be well rewarded in the future!"
"Let’s go!"
The two hurried off to the Xu Residence that very night.

Meeting Xu Youzhen, they explained their entire plot and pressed,
"What do you say, Xu, will you do it?"
Frustrated for years, Xu Youzhen was swept up by this sudden joy and immediately stood up,
"Yes, absolutely! Wait a moment, I’ll observe the stars tonight!"
With that, Xu Youzhen went to the backyard, brought a ladder, climbed onto the roof with an astrolabe, and gazed at the North Star.
"How’s it going, Xu?"
Shi Heng impatiently climbed halfway up the ladder and craned his neck.
The imperial star moved…
Wait!
Why is the imperial star starting to move erratically?
Xu Youzhen was bewildered, looking alternately at the astrolabe and the sky, his mind buzzing, but quickly responded, "Shi, the imperial star has indeed shifted. Looks like we must act quickly!"
"How quick is quickly?"
Shi Heng asked instinctively.
Xu Youzhen replied seriously, "Now!"
He felt strongly that if they waited even a little longer, the Supreme Emperor might not reclaim the throne!
The feeling was oddly intense!
"Let’s do it!"
Shi Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Zhang, you must lead the capital troops into the city, using… using…"
Xu Youzhen added, "Use the excuse of Oirat raiders disturbing the borders, and enter the capital to defend it."
"Alright, I'll take care of it!"
Zhang Ruo rushed straight to the capital garrison.
...
Midnight.
The night was thick.
Xu Youzhen changed into court dress, and as he left, thought to knock on his neighbors’ doors and wake Yang Shan and Wang Ji. After explaining the situation, both excitedly declared,
"We shall repay the Supreme Emperor with our lives!"
Satisfied, Xu Youzhen led the group to meet Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang, soon joined by Zhang Ruo and his large force of capital troops.
Thus the team for the Door Seizure was complete!
The group marched toward the Imperial City in force.
Shi Heng, holding the palace keys, allowed them free passage.
By the fourth watch, they arrived at the Southern Palace.
"Quickly, break down the door!"
Shi Heng commanded.
Dozens of soldiers took a log and rammed the palace gate.
Boom!
The gate remained unmoved, but the adjacent palace wall collapsed!
"Uh…"
Shi Heng and the others chuckled awkwardly, said nothing, and swarmed inside.
Within the South Palace, Zhu Qizhen was sound asleep. The tremors outside made him scratch his backside and roll over to continue sleeping.
Suddenly,
His breathing stopped.
He abruptly opened his eyes, his heart nearly failing!

At his bedside, a group of burly men stared silently at him, their gaze eerie and chilling!
"Whoa!"
Zhu Qizhen sprang up in alarm, shouting, "Don’t—don’t kill me…"
Could it be that his younger brother finally lost patience and sent assassins to kill him?
Terrified thoughts swirled in his mind!
But Shi Heng and the others knelt together, shouting, "We greet Your Majesty, may you be in good health!"
Zhu Qizhen was stunned, then realized his mother had sent word earlier today not to sleep tonight.
Could it be?
Zhu Qizhen asked joyfully, "Are you all here to restore me to the throne?"
"Yes…"
"Go, go, there’s no time to waste!"
Receiving confirmation, Zhu Qizhen urged them anxiously.
The group hurriedly escorted him straight to the inner palace.
On the way, Zhu Qizhen asked each for their name, muttering, "Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, Zhang Ruo, Cao Jixiang, Wang Ji, Yang Shan… Good, good, I’ve memorized them!"
Shi Heng and the others were exhilarated—this was a deed that would be remembered forever!
Xu Youzhen, however, was uneasy, glancing about, feeling something was off.
Soon,
The group arrived at Donghua Gate in grand style, where the guards stepped forward to block them, "Stop! Unauthorized persons cannot approach!"
"How dare you! The Supreme Emperor is present—how dare you be insolent?" Shi Heng rebuked.
"Hmph!"
Zhu Qizhen snorted coldly.
"Uh…"
The guards were dumbfounded, frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.
The Door Seizure group entered the palace unopposed, heading for the Hall of Supreme Harmony where the emperor held court, and quickly placed Zhu Qizhen upon the throne.
"I’m back, finally back!" Zhu Qizhen trembled with excitement, constantly caressing the dragon throne’s carvings.
Zhang Ruo, Cao Jixiang, and the others knelt in excitement, shouting, "We greet Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"
"Rise, be at ease!"
Zhu Qizhen laughed heartily and commanded, "Shi, summon the civil and military officials at once!"
Shi Heng obeyed, striking the bell and drum to call the ministers.
By now, dawn was breaking, and as Zhu Qiyu had previously ordered a court session for today, the officials were already waiting outside the Meridian Gate.
Hearing the bells and drums, they entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony in order.
Stunned!
"Did I see that right?"
The civil and military officials were dumbfounded—the emperor on the throne was not Jingtai Emperor Zhu Qiyu, but Zhu Qizhen, who had reigned eight years prior!
The ministers glanced at each other, not understanding what had happened…
"Outrageous!"
Cao Jixiang stepped forward and shouted sternly, "The Prince of Jingtai usurped the throne, but now the Supreme Emperor has returned. Why are the ministers not kneeling?"
"Bah!"
Grand Secretary Wang Wen, furious, pointed at the usurper and cursed, "The Supreme Emperor swore upon his return from the north never to rule again. If he breaks this vow, the ancestors will punish him!
"Now the Supreme Emperor sits on the throne—does he not fear the curse? How will he face the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty in the future?"
...