"What I fear most is that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has too much power. It's time to put them under some restraint." Zhu Xiong Ying laughed and said to Old Zhu, "Whether it's the Eastern Depot's checks and balances or their authority is reduced, it has to be done. Let's streamline them first, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be released in a few years."

Both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang agreed that the Embroidered Uniform Guard needed to be reformed. They believed it was indeed necessary; the guards had killed many people and helped Zhu Yuanzhang stabilize the court, and their role had been fulfilled.

Given this situation, it's necessary to rein in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for the time being. At the very least, they cannot be allowed to continue to grow too powerful, especially since the Embroidered Uniform Guard is already showing signs of spiraling out of control, and has begun to be used as a tool by some civil and military officials to eliminate dissidents.

While weakening the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it was natural to slightly strengthen the Eastern Depot. Such a secret service agency was still very necessary, as Zhu Xiong Ying did not believe in any kind of 'civil administration'.

It's impossible to expect him to become a benevolent ruler. Zhu Xiong Ying will certainly still use some institutions and strategies that Confucian scholars look down on.

Song Zhong was quite nervous because he was now considered the second-in-command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He also knew that Mao Xiang was dead and that the Embroidered Uniform Guard's influence was not what it used to be, as evidenced by the growing calls for impeachment against the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the court.

As the emperor's personal guard, His Majesty's ambiguous attitude indicates that he is somewhat dissatisfied with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Having lost their master's trust, these henchmen naturally lose their purpose.

While Song Zhong felt nervous, Jiang Huan was even more nervous. This was because he was the second most important figure in the Embroidered Uniform Guard after Mao Xiang, and had previously served under the former Crown Prince.

Now that the former crown prince is gone, Jiang Huan is essentially leaderless. His past involvement in prison trials, his access to numerous secrets of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his involvement in many cases—these are no longer qualifications; they have become his death knell.

Song Zhong may have been sidelined, but Jiang Huan is very likely to be forced to offer his head to appease public anger.

If even commanders like Jiang Huan and Song Zhong were tense, the rest of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were naturally even more nervous. The Embroidered Uniform Guard of today was no longer the terrifying force that once struck fear into the hearts of civil and military officials; they were no longer the menace that caused sleepless nights with the mere mention of their names.

Back in the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Xiong Ying was deep in thought. He did not summon any civil or military officials, nor did he review any memorials; he simply pondered some matters quietly.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is indeed a force to be reckoned with. If used properly, such a secret service can be extremely beneficial both internally and externally. However, if it gets out of control, it will become an incredibly terrifying monster, and there's even a high risk of it backfiring.

Wang Chengen was still somewhat unable to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Eastern Depot. Zhu Xiong Ying believed that he knew this close eunuch who had been by his side for more than ten years quite well.

Wang Chengen's loyalty was beyond doubt, and he was also a rather shrewd person. He could handle ordinary matters perfectly well without Zhu Xiong Ying needing to worry about them. However, he was somewhat ill-suited for departments like the Eastern Depot.

Fortunately, there shouldn't be too many major events in the court these next few years, and for the time being, there's no need for the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot to show their fangs. This gives them some room to rest and grow, which can be considered good news.

This matter cannot be delayed any longer; after all, the entire court and the public are watching closely. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has caused widespread resentment and anger over the years, and many people are probably hoping for its downfall, waiting for this opportunity to kick it while it's down and completely bring it down.

This could be seen as an opportunity for Zhu Xiong Ying to "build up his reputation," since the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been a source of much discontent over the years. If Zhu Xiong Ying were to abolish or punish the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he could certainly boost his prestige.

Upon careful consideration, this matter still needs to be kept within certain limits. We need to give an explanation to the civil and military officials and the people of the world, but we absolutely cannot allow the Embroidered Uniform Guard to suffer serious damage.

Zhu Xiong Ying needs to be careful about the situation; the Embroidered Uniform Guard is only temporarily lying low!