After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

In the Fengtian Hall, the Hongzhi Emperor frowned deeply, his face grave.

Grand Secretary Liu Jian and Minister of War Ma Wensheng are engaged in a heated discussion.

Ma Wensheng said, "According to the urgent report from Xuanfu, this cavalry force numbers less than a hundred men. If we attack now, we can definitely annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

Liu Jian, however, thought differently, waving his hand and saying, "We mustn't be reckless! The other party doesn't have good intentions; we should be cautious!"

"Master Liu is making a mountain out of a molehill. It's just a few dozen people; what's there to be so cautious about?"

"The Tatars aren't stupid. How could they have only sent a few dozen men? Could they be here to smuggle goods?"

Ma Wensheng muttered, "Maybe they're just here to move some goods..."

Liu Jian, no longer wanting to argue, turned around and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that these Tatar cavalrymen are merely here to gather intelligence. A large army may have already amassed on the grasslands, preparing to march south."

The Hongzhi Emperor was very cautious about this issue, and his brows furrowed even more deeply upon hearing it.

After Batu Mongke, the leader of the Northern Yuan, came to power, he began to express goodwill towards the Ming Dynasty and requested the resumption of tribute.

Although the Ming Dynasty reopened trade, it did not recognize his Khanate and referred to him only as the Little Prince in official correspondence.

Batu Mongke constantly pressured the Ming Dynasty, restoring tribute while frequently raiding the border. The Ming court gradually became dissatisfied, and in the twelfth year of the Hongzhi reign, relations between the two sides deteriorated further, with constant conflicts and the tributary system and trade ceased to exist.

From that time onward, the Tatars began to frequently invade southward, focusing their attacks on the Hetao region.

The Hongzhi Emperor was so troubled that he could only shrink his defenses and shift his strategic focus to the border towns.

As a result, the Tatars became even more unscrupulous and even began to appear in places like Xuanda.

The small group of cavalry that appeared in Xuanfu this time was likely scouts on the other side, preparing for a large-scale attack later.

He is very distressed. If he fights, the country's strength is still recovering, and the people are under heavy burden.

If we don't fight, the other side is practically right under our noses!

"Liu Qingjia!"

"Your subject is here!"

Liu Jian bowed respectfully, awaiting further instructions.

The Hongzhi Emperor slowly said, "The cabinet should take the lead, and the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue should draft a plan to calculate how many troops and how much food and fodder will be needed. I need detailed data."

Liu Jian was silent for a moment, then asked, "Has His Majesty decided to send troops?"

The Hongzhi Emperor sighed and said, "What's meant to happen will happen. Let's settle the accounts first, and I'll make a decision after I've reviewed them."

"I obey your decree!"

Liu Jian and Ma Wensheng bowed and withdrew simultaneously.

The Hongzhi Emperor reviewed several more memorials and returned to the Qianqing Palace as dusk approached.

Empress Zhang had already prepared lunch and came forward to greet him: "Your Majesty has been working hard these past few days. I ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare white fungus and lotus seed soup, which nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, and can replenish qi and blood."

"Your Majesty is very kind."

The Hongzhi Emperor took the drink, drank a couple of sips, and suddenly remembered something, asking, "Where is the Crown Prince? I haven't seen him all day!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhang smiled and said, "Zhao'er is sensible. Seeing that His Majesty is busy with official duties, she did not want to disturb him."

The Hongzhi Emperor took two more sips and asked suspiciously, "He doesn't even come to pay his respects. Is he up to something again?"

Empress Zhang quickly said, "Your Majesty is overthinking it. Zhao'er's studies have been progressing very quickly lately."

"No, you're definitely hiding something from me!"

Emperor Hongzhi sensed something was wrong and lost his appetite for the soup.

Empress Zhang said awkwardly, "Your Majesty is overthinking it. How could I dare to hide it from Your Majesty?"

"Guards, prepare the carriage for the Eastern Palace! I want to see what this rebellious son is doing!"

The more the Hongzhi Emperor pondered, the more uneasy he felt. He gave a shout, got up, and left.

Empress Zhang had no choice but to chase after him, repeatedly urging, "Your Majesty, please finish your lunch before you go!"

The Hongzhi Emperor refused to listen and went straight to the East Palace.

The Imperial Guards on duty were in a panic and knelt down to pay their respects.

The Hongzhi Emperor asked, "Where is the Crown Prince? Let him come out!"

All the guards lowered their heads, and none of them dared to answer.

Seeing this, the Hongzhi Emperor became even more furious and strode inside.

At this moment, several eunuchs from the Eastern Palace, including Gu Dayong, hurriedly came out.

"This humble servant kowtows to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

The Hongzhi Emperor asked, "Where is the Crown Prince?"

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

Gu Dayong's voice grew softer and softer, and he dared not continue.

The Hongzhi Emperor then asked, "Isn't Liu Jin always by the Crown Prince's side? Bring Liu Jin here!"

Gu Dayong was sweating profusely and stammered, "Eunuch Liu...yes,yes..."

Empress Zhang hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Did Liu Jin go out with the Crown Prince?"

Gu Dayong hurriedly said, "Yes, yes... no! They, they..."

The Hongzhi Emperor, his face cold, said, "Tell me quickly, where did you go!"

"This, this..."

"If you don't tell the truth, you'll be charged with deceiving the emperor!"

"Your Majesty, have mercy! This servant is innocent!"

Gu Dayong's back was drenched in cold sweat, but faced with the Hongzhi Emperor's questioning, he dared not hide anything and had no choice but to tell the whole story.

However, he didn't know where Zhu Houzhao had gone.

Zhu Houzhao left in a hurry without giving any instructions, so everyone just assumed he was going out to have fun.

The Hongzhi Emperor looked at Empress Zhang and questioned, "You knew all along, didn't you?"

Empress Zhang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I only learned of this this morning. Zhao'er is indeed a bit mischievous. I will certainly discipline him more strictly in the future..."

"snort!"

The Hongzhi Emperor snorted coldly and said, "Immediately send men to find the Crown Prince. If he is not found before nightfall, you..."

He pointed to Gu Dayong and the others, as well as the guards at the door.

"They should all be punished for deceiving the emperor!"

The group looked at each other, inwardly lamenting their predicament.

Earning a little money in the Eastern Palace is really too difficult; your life could be in danger at any moment!

Just then, a series of footsteps sounded outside.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

It turned out that the crowd consisted of Xiao Jing, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who came running over with small, quick steps.

The Hongzhi Emperor asked, "What is it?"

Holding a document, Xiao Jing, panting, said, "An urgent report from Juyong Pass: the Crown Prince's whereabouts may have been discovered!"

Emperor Hongzhi's face grew even more gloomy. This kid actually came out of seclusion?

Xiao Jing lowered his head and said, "Zhao Kuan, the eunuch in charge of Juyong Pass, urgently reported that a caravan carrying goods passed by at Chenshi (7-9 AM) today. The escort was Liu Jin, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace. Around noon, Li Chun, the commander of the Eastern Palace guards, and Yang Shen, his attendant, led men to pursue them. Zhao Kuan dared not delay and immediately submitted a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting Your Majesty's decision!"

After reading Zhao Kuan's urgent report, the Hongzhi Emperor angrily exclaimed, "He let them pass?"

Xiao Jing said, "Liu Jin took the Crown Prince's token, saying he was going out on official business, and then he... he..."

"This is outrageous!"

The Hongzhi Emperor threw the memorial on the ground, walked up to Gu Dayong, and coldly asked, "Where is the Crown Prince?"

With a sob in his voice, Gu Dayong said, "Your Majesty, please understand, this servant... this servant truly did not know..."

The Hongzhi Emperor turned to Empress Zhang and asked, "Where has your good son gone?"

Empress Zhang said weakly, "Your Majesty, I do not know..."

Just then, another set of footsteps came from outside.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from Xuanfu!"

It turned out to be Liu Jian and Ma Wensheng, both of whom were also holding a memorial to the throne and looked very hurried.

The Hongzhi Emperor's heart tightened, and he asked, "Is there any news of the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince?"

Liu Jian looked puzzled, then said, "An urgent report came from Xuanfu: that group of Tatars suddenly headed towards Juyong Pass. We don't know what their intentions are!"

The Hongzhi Emperor was greatly alarmed and murmured, "Juyong Pass, could it be...?"

"what!"

Empress Zhang turned deathly pale, her vision went black, and she fainted.