June 15th.
The Jinyiwei who conveyed the imperial edict slowly arrived in Nanjing and came to Zhu Cilang's bedroom.
Just when Zhu Cilang was hesitating whether to kneel, the Jinyiwei who was conveying the imperial edict said: "The court has ordered that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is ill, so you don't have to kneel when you receive the order."
Zhu Cilang tensed up and replied, "I obey your order!"
The Embroidered Uniform Guard read out the imperial edict in front of Zhu Cilang.
Everyone present was shocked by the news, especially Zhu Cilang himself.
He lay on the bed with his mouth open, trying to speak but no words came out.
He began to serve as regent in the 17th year of Chongzhen and continued to serve until the 26th year of Chongzhen.
He did a lot in those nine years.
He knew that he had not done some things well, but he did not expect that he would be deprived of his power as regent.
"Your Highness, please keep the imperial edict."
Zhu Cilang reached out to take the imperial edict, unfolded it and read it.
After reading the above content, Zhu Cilang's heart suddenly hung in the air.
"The order has been conveyed, and I will take my leave!" The Jinyiwei turned around and was about to leave.
"Wait a minute," Zhu Cilang reached out from under the pillow and took out a silver note. He handed it over and asked, "How is your father these days?"
Although the Jinyiwei did not have the receipt, he still answered honestly: "I don't know."
"Didn't you see the emperor before you came?"
"No," the Royal Guard shook his head, "The decree came from the Imperial Household Department and was drafted by the Cabinet."
Zhu Cilang was stunned for a moment, then he came to his senses and waved his hand: "Thank you for your hard work!"
"I'll take my leave."
After they left, Zhu Cilang immediately sent someone to invite Ni Yuanlu.
Ni Yuanlu remained silent for a long time after listening to Zhu Cilang's narration.
He was analyzing the purpose of Chongzhen's move.
In his opinion, Chongzhen must have two goals, one is short-term and the other is long-term.
Zhu Cilang's already limited patience was quickly exhausted. He asked in a low voice: "Mr. Ni, is the emperor...going to abolish me?"
Ni Yuanlu comforted him, "Don't panic, Your Highness. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there has only been one deposed crown prince, but he eventually ascended to the throne! If Your Majesty wants to depose you as the crown prince, I'm afraid you will have to make enemies with all the civil and military officials in the court!"
The deposed crown prince that Ni Yuanlu was referring to was Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen.
After his father, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Qizhen, was captured, Zhu Qiyu inherited the throne and deposed him from the position of crown prince.
After Emperor Yingzong of Ming was restored to the throne, Zhu Jianshen was again made crown prince.
Zhu Cilang was already panicking. He asked in confusion, "Why did the emperor take back my power as regent?"
Looking at Zhu Cilang's sincere gaze, Ni Yuanlu felt a little soft-hearted.
He sighed and replied, "I have two answers. Which one would you like to hear?"
"Two answers? Tell me both."
"The first answer is that Your Majesty deliberately created the illusion of deposing the Crown Prince, causing all the evildoers in the court to come out, and then destroy them one by one."
"What about the second answer?"
"The second answer is that His Majesty does intend to depose the Crown Prince, and this move is to allow Your Highness to prepare in advance."
Zhu Cilang's face immediately became dull and gloomy.
He knew Ni Yuanlu's abilities very well.
Now Ni Yuanlu has said that Chongzhen intends to depose the crown prince, so the actual situation may be...
Zhu Cilang didn't dare to think further.
After a moment, he realized that Ni Yuanlu had something to say, and asked softly, "Sir, just now you said that my father asked me to prepare something. What is it?"
“Be prepared to be deposed and given up power.”
"The power to supervise the country has been taken back. I no longer have the power to give it up."
"The power of regent has indeed been taken back, but your official seal, Your Highness, also has great power."
"What's the use of the official seal? And to whom can it be given?"
Ni Yuanlu said meaningfully: "Your Majesty should let you hand it over to the right person at the right time."
"At the right time, to the right person?"
"right."
“Students don’t understand.”
"There are some things that I cannot say directly. I hope Your Highness will understand."
Zhu Cilang still didn't understand. He reached out from under the pillow and took out his crown prince's seal. He looked at it for a while, as if asking, or talking to himself: "Am I really worthless in the eyes of my father?"
Ni Yuanlu did not dare to respond, and left in a hurry after bowing.
At this moment he had already guessed Chongzhen's thoughts.
The only thing he could do was to give Zhu Cilang advice at the critical moment and cooperate with Chongzhen to complete the plan.
If we cooperate well, we will live in peace.
If he fails to cooperate well, his fate will be miserable.
Half a day later.
The news that the prince's power as regent had been taken back spread throughout the city of Nanjing.
The people of Nanjing reacted lukewarmly to this, after all, the regent was only temporary.
But officials in Nanjing were furious.
Especially the Donglin Party.
The prince's loss of the power to regulate the country meant that they also lost the power to handle state affairs.
From now on.
Whether in the south or the north, all official documents will be sent directly to the capital.
Instead of passing it through their hands to Zhu Cilang.
Ma Shiying was the first to find Qian Qianyi. He asked, "Mr. Qian, why did Your Majesty take back the Crown Prince's power as regent?"
Qian Qianyi closed his eyes and shook his head: "I don't know."
"Your Majesty, are you going to depose the Crown Prince?"
Qian Qianyi continued to shake his head: "I don't know."
"Mr. Qian, please don't be perfunctory with me. This incident happened too suddenly. There must be some conspiracy!"
Qian Qianyi opened his eyes and said, "No matter what conspiracy it is, as long as we don't rebel, at most we will lose power, but we won't lose our lives."
"Then what's next..."
"Wait and see what happens!"
Ma Shiying said with a bitter face: "Zhu Guobi has urged us to find a way to bribe Song Quan and try to make a big deal out of a small matter! Zheng Zhilong has also sent a letter asking us to help him prove that he did not smuggle and collude with the enemy."
"Don't worry about it. Just keep waiting. No one is allowed to move unless the imperial court sends troops directly."
"This is the only way." Ma Shiying left helplessly.
Qian Qianyi still hasn't seen through Chongzhen's plan, but Chongzhen's plan has already unfolded like a net.
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