Several powerful ministers, eager to create chaos, took advantage of Emperor Jing’s serious illness and launched a coup in one night. They rescued the retired Emperor Zhengtong from his comfortable confinement in the Southern Palace and restored him to the throne he had been away from for eight years.
This palace coup was historically known as the “Southern Palace Restoration” or the “Coup of Seizing the Gate”.
Emperor Jing was the architect of his own destruction.
Shortly after removing his imperial robes, he died. There were different accounts of his death. Some said he died of shock and fear; others said he was forced to commit suicide with a white silk cord given by his elder brother, Emperor Zhengtong. In any case, Emperor Jing died and went to heaven to reunite with his son Zhu Jianjin, Empress Hang, and his numerous concubines.
This was called accompanying burial.
Because it was fashionable, one had to follow the trend.
The only concubine who escaped this fate was Lady Wang. Lady Wang was rewarded for her goodness. Years ago, she had sacrificed her position as empress to prevent the deposition of the crown prince. Now, the crown prince repaid her kindness, requesting his father to spare her life and allow her to live in her old residence for her remaining years.
Yi Wang’s difficult days were finally over. After weathering storms, he saw the rainbow and was also reinstated as crown prince, moving back to the future emperor’s residence – the magnificent Eastern Palace.
As the crown prince’s longtime companion, Wan Zhen’er naturally returned to the Eastern Palace with him.
Today’s Eastern Palace was different from the past. This time, as crown prince, he was like a piece of meat already in his mouth, almost certain to become the future emperor.
The ten-year-old crown prince tasted what it meant to hold his head high and be the center of attention for the first time. Wan Zhen’er benefited from this as well.
Now, Wan Zhen’er was no longer a young palace maid, but an old palace maid.
