The Ming Dynasty began in the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign.

Chongzhen 17th year

March 11

The rebel army advanced with unstoppable momentum, quickly capturing Xuanfu...

March 12th

In the Zhongcui Palace of the Ming Dynasty capital, Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, who was practicing swordsmanship, suddenly fainted...

"Young Master..."

The young eunuch Wu Zhong, who was serving as a close attendant, was terrified. He rushed forward to help Zhu Cilang up, frantically patting the young master's back and gently pinching the prince's philtrum...

After a moment, Crown Prince Zhu Cilang finally opened his eyes. He looked blankly at the young eunuch and asked:

"Where is this place? And who are you?"

The crown prince opened his eyes and asked a completely strange question, leaving the little eunuch utterly bewildered...

Wu Zhong had been by Zhu Cilang's side since he was ten years old and knew the crown prince very well.

The Crown Prince is usually gentle and refined with a clear mind, so why is he suddenly talking nonsense today?

Could it be that the Crown Prince's sudden fainting spell caused a brain problem?

Although Wu Zhong was inwardly grumbling, he dared not ask further and hurriedly answered truthfully:

"Young master, this is Zhongcui Palace, and you are the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty..."

Before the eunuch could finish speaking, Zhu Cilang suddenly felt dizzy, and a flood of memories rushed into his mind. He clutched his head and squatted on the ground...

"Young master, young master, what's wrong? Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician..."

Seeing the young master's pained expression, the little eunuch almost peed his pants in fright...

If something were to happen to the Crown Prince, as a close eunuch serving the Eastern Palace, he would be held responsible even if he died. He hurriedly sent someone to find the imperial physician...

As a mercenary who later became passionate about military affairs and history, Zhu Cilang's consciousness gradually became clearer after merging with the memories of the Crown Prince...

He ignored the bewildered eunuch's shouts, clutching his head in frustration, inwardly cursing:

"Damn it, I've actually transmigrated, and into the body of Zhu Cilang, the crown prince of a kingdom on the verge of collapse. How tragic..."

Today is the 12th day of the third month of the 17th year of the Chongzhen reign. A few days later will be the Jia Shen Rebellion.

On March 18th in history, Emperor Chongzhen wounded Princess Kunxing and killed Princess Zhaoren. His mother and aunt, among others, committed suicide one after another...

On the 19th, Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself from a crooked tree on Coal Hill...

At this time, the Ming Dynasty was in the midst of the Little Ice Age, plagued by natural disasters, man-made calamities, internal and external troubles, and financial collapse. Not to mention the young crown prince who had just transmigrated, even if Emperor Taizong and Emperor Hongwu came, they would be dumbfounded!

Pushing aside the young eunuch who was helping him, Zhu Cilang suddenly said:

"The Ming Dynasty is about to fall, we need to find a way to escape..."

Amidst the bewildered eunuchs and palace maids, Zhu Cilang quickly returned to his room, closed the door, and began calmly considering how to escape...

According to historical events, his life was not in danger, and after the fall of the capital, he was even enfeoffed as the King of Song by Li Zicheng.

In the Battle of Shanhai Pass, Wu Sangui, with the help of the Jurchens, defeated Li Zicheng's army. Zhu Cilang escaped amidst the chaos and lived to be over seventy years old before being captured and executed by the Jurchens by slow slicing...

However, in order to prevent the humiliation of Jingkang from happening again, Emperor Chongzhen personally wounded Princess Kunxing, killed Princess Zhaoren, and ordered his mother and aunt to commit suicide...

At this time, Zhu Cilang was powerless to save the Ming Dynasty. He had to do everything he could to save his mother, his sister, and others, and try to prevent history from repeating itself!

But will his stubborn, cheap father listen to him?

Zhu Cilang thought it would be difficult. Chongzhen had limited abilities but was extremely stubborn. He valued his reputation more than his life and was hard to persuade.

……

The Crown Prince had an accident and said that the Ming Dynasty was going to perish. The young eunuch dared not be careless and hurriedly went to the Qianqing Palace to report to the Emperor.

With the war going poorly and the Emperor Chongzhen in a state of utter distress, he paced back and forth in his study. Wang Chengen stood beside him, head bowed, looking at the increasingly emaciated emperor with heartache…

Upon suddenly seeing the arrival of the Crown Prince's personal eunuch, Wang Chengen hurriedly and quietly went outside the door.

Upon seeing Wang Chengen emerge, Wu Zhong hurriedly stepped forward and bowed:

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

Wang Chengen nodded and asked coldly:

"Wu Zhong, why have you come to the Qianqing Palace instead of serving the Crown Prince?"

Wu Zhong hurriedly got up and whispered in Wang Chengen's ear:

"I suddenly fainted, and after regaining consciousness, I kept talking nonsense, as if I were possessed..."

"what……"

Wang Chengen was taken aback and hurriedly asked a few more questions. Only after learning that the Crown Prince was unharmed did he feel somewhat relieved.

"Go back and take good care of the Crown Prince. I will report this to the Emperor."

Wang Chengen sent the young eunuch back, and he hurriedly told the emperor what had happened:

"Your Majesty, the young master has suddenly fainted. Would you like to go and see him?"

Wang Chengen dared not report the truth, but only told the Emperor that the Crown Prince had fainted, fearing that the Emperor, who was on the verge of madness, would suffer another blow.

"What? Come with me to see..."

Emperor Chongzhen was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and immediately took Wang Chengen to Zhongcui Palace.

At this moment, Zhongcui Palace was in complete chaos, and almost all the imperial physicians had come to visit the Crown Prince...

Zhu Cilang kept his door tightly shut and refused to see anyone. He was carefully recalling the Jia Shen Rebellion in history, trying to find a way to break the deadlock, but no matter what he did, it was a dead end.

With no other option, he could only calmly consider how to save his mother and the others, and what his best way out would be...

"Greetings, Your Majesty..."

"How is the Crown Prince?"

……

Upon suddenly hearing his father's voice, Zhu Cilang hurriedly got up, opened the door, and stepped forward to pay his respects.

"Greetings, Father Emperor!"

"Father, you are so busy with state affairs, why have you come to Zhongcui Palace?"

Emperor Chongzhen looked Zhu Cilang up and down before saying:

"Your Highness, you may rise."

Why did you suddenly faint? Are you feeling unwell?

Zhu Cilang hurriedly bowed to his father again:

"Thank you for your concern, Father. Your son is unharmed!"

After speaking, Zhu Cilang waved his hand at the eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial physicians present:

"All of you, stand back!"

"Yes, sir!"

Just as everyone was about to leave, Emperor Chongzhen said:

"The imperial physician will remain; everyone else, leave!"

"As you command!"

Several imperial physicians rushed forward to help Zhu Cilang into the palace, and Emperor Chongzhen and the old king followed him in.

Please have the Emperor take a seat, and the imperial physicians will begin to examine Zhu Cilang's body in turn...

About half an incense stick's time later, the imperial physician, covered in sweat, knelt before Emperor Chongzhen and reported:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, His Highness is in good health and perfectly fine..."

"Step down!"

"As you command!"

Emperor Chongzhen was finally relieved and waved for the imperial physicians to leave. The physicians hurriedly bowed and left the palace.

Emperor Chongzhen stood up, patted Zhu Cilang on the shoulder, and said:

"The Ming Dynasty is going through a turbulent time. My son, you must learn to take care of yourself. Remember to visit your mother in your spare time..."

After saying this, Chongzhen turned around and prepared to leave.

Seeing that his father was about to leave, Zhu Cilang hurriedly called out to him:

"Father, wait a moment! I have something to report!"

Emperor Chongzhen paused, stopped in his tracks, and turned to look at Zhu Cilang:

"What is it, my son?"

"Father..."

Zhu Cilang was momentarily at a loss for words...

Seeing Zhu Cilang's hesitant expression, Chongzhen said calmly:

"Just speak your mind!"

Zhu Cilang hurriedly cupped his hands and said:

"Father, do you know why your son suddenly fainted?"

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head speechlessly. The imperial physicians hadn't been able to find anything wrong, so how could he know?

Seeing that his father remained silent, Zhu Cilang gritted his teeth and began to spout nonsense:

"My son didn't faint; he was summoned by the Hongwu Emperor..."

"what……"

Emperor Chongzhen was stunned. Before he could react, Zhu Cilang continued:

"The Emperor told his son: On the fifteenth, Du Zhizhi surrendered, Tang Tong surrendered without a fight, and Juyong Pass fell. On the sixteenth, Li Zicheng captured Changping, where the imperial tombs are located, and on the seventeenth, the capital city fell..."

Before Zhu Cilang could finish speaking, the Chongzhen Emperor flew into a rage. He trembled violently, stood up abruptly, pointed at Zhu Cilang, and shouted angrily:

"Shut up! This is utterly absurd! Foreign invaders have repeatedly besieged the city, yet the capital has remained unscathed, and the Ming Dynasty will endure forever..."