The fourth year of the Jingtai reign, the fourth year after the Tumu Crisis,
And the third year since the retired emperor Zhu Qizhen returned south from his stay in Wala,
The only son of the reigning Jingtai Emperor Zhu Qiyu, the nine-year-old Crown Prince Zhu Jianji, died.
The succession dispute, quiet for a year, flared up again.
The Jingtai Emperor was only twenty-six, still in the prime of his life,
Yet the court officials who had once pushed him onto the throne, along with the empress dowager,
Now all insisted that Zhu Qizhen's son be named heir, claiming that Heaven's mandate belonged to his branch!
The Jingtai Emperor had a daughter with his first empress, the Princess of Gu'an.
When the princess was five, she asked to see her father and said, "I want to ease your troubles, Father."
The Jingtai Emperor said, "You? What could you possibly do?"
The princess replied, "Because I am your blood."
The emperor pondered for a long while. "I am surnamed Zhu, and the Great Ming is surnamed Zhu."
The princess said, "I am surnamed Zhu too. My children and descendants will be surnamed Zhu, and the Great Ming will remain in the Zhu family's hands for generations."
Reading Guide:
1. The princess ascends the throne. Don't get hung up on the history.
2. May the Tumu Crisis war god and Wala exchange student Zhu Qizhen meet his ancestors as soon as possible.
Theme: A strong nation and prosperous people
