Brief: This article tells the Southern Palace Restoration: deposed Emperor Yingzong was restored to the throne in a 1457 coup. His allies framed and executed national hero Yu Qian on false treason charges. The coup leaders later turned on each other and were destroyed. Yingzong regretted Yu’s death, but the Ming Dynasty’s golden age was gone.
The Conspiracy of the Three
Although Empress Dowager Sun had agreed to the enthronement of the new emperor, she ensured her two-year-old grandson, Zhu Jianshen, was named Crown Prince, implicitly signaling that the throne should eventually return to the line of the captured Emperor Yingzong. However, Emperor Daizong ignored this. Once his rule stabilized, he deposed Zhu Jianshen and installed his own son, Zhu Jianji, as Crown Prince. Tragically, Zhu Jianji died the following year, leaving the position vacant. When officials petitioned to reinstate Zhu Jianshen, the Daizong Emperor, then only in his twenties, angrily refused, hoping to father another son.
By the spring of 1457, after eight years on the throne, the Daizong Emperor remained childless and fell gravely ill, unable to hold court. Desperate officials once again urged the appointment of Zhu Jianshen. The emperor dismissed them, claiming it was merely a temporary chill. However, his illness created a power vacuum that three ambitious men were eager to exploit to restore the Retired Emperor Yingzong, who was confined in the South Palace.
The ringleaders were the civil official Xu Youzhen (formerly Xu Cheng, who had been humiliated by Yu Qian and changed his name), the military general Shi Heng (who resented Yu Qian for refusing to promote his undeserving nephew), and the eunuch Cao Jixiang (a former confidant of the disgraced Wang Zhen). Sharing a mutual hatred for Yu Qian and a desire for power, they conspired at Xu’s home. Xu Youzhen, feigning astrological expertise, declared that the night was auspicious for action. Under the guise of preparing for a border threat, they smuggled troops into the city.
The Night of the Coup
At the fourth watch of the night, Shi Heng unlocked the Chang’an Gate and led soldiers into the Imperial City. They rushed to the South Palace, where the locked gates were battered down with heavy logs. Emperor Yingzong, having been tipped off, was waiting. Shi Heng invited him to reclaim the throne. Escorted by the conspirators, Yingzong was carried in a palanquin to the Donghua Gate. When stopped by guards, he shouted, “I am the Retired Emperor!” Terrified, the guards retreated. They proceeded to the Fengtian Hall, where Cao Jixiang had prepared everything. Yingzong ascended the throne, and as bells and drums rang out, he announced his restoration, changing the era name to Tianshun.
The Tragedy of Yu Qian
As dawn broke, bewildered ministers waiting for court were informed of the restoration and forced to kowtow to Yingzong. The Daizong Emperor was deposed and reverted to the Prince of Cheng. The conspirators were lavishly rewarded: Xu Youzhen and Shi Heng received high posts, and Cao Jixiang became the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
The restoration sealed the fate of Yu Qian and his colleague Wang Wen, who were arrested immediately. The ailing Daizong Emperor, upon hearing he had been deposed, died in anger days later. Yingzong went further, destroying his brother’s tomb in the Ming Tombs.
Xu Youzhen and Shi Heng, desperate to eliminate Yu Qian, fabricated charges of treason, claiming he planned to install a different prince. During the interrogation, Wang Wen argued that no imperial gold tablets (required to summon princes) were missing. Yu Qian, realizing the futility of defense against a frame-up, remained silent. Xu Youzhen infamously declared, “Even if they had no intent, they had the desire; that is enough for a crime!” When Emperor Yingzong hesitated, noting Yu Qian’s great merit in defending Beijing, Xu whispered, “If Yu Qian is not killed, your restoration is illegitimate.” Yingzong nodded, and the national hero was executed.
The Fall of the Conspirators
Yu Qian, a native of Qiantang (modern Hangzhou), was a man of immense integrity, famously depicted in his poem Song of the Lime: “I fear not being crushed to pieces, only to leave my innocence in the world.” The people buried him by the West Lake near the tomb of Yue Fei, honoring them both as martyrs betrayed by villains.
Ironically, Xu Youzhen’s victory was short-lived. Arrogant and power-hungry, he tried to oust the illiterate Shi Heng and the eunuch Cao Jixiang. They retaliated by exposing his past misdeeds. Yingzong, swayed by the eunuch, exiled Xu Youzhen to Yunnan.
Shi Heng then dominated the court, appointing relatives and selling offices until the government resembled the “Shi family enterprise.” Alarmed by Shi Heng’s opulent mansion overshadowing the palace, Yingzong began to curb his power. Fearing for his life, Shi Heng plotted a coup similar to the Chenqiao Mutiny. However, his nephew Shi Biao was arrested, and Shi Heng died in prison after being convicted of treason.
Finally, Cao Jixiang and his nephew Cao Qin plotted rebellion. Cao Qin, encouraged by sycophants comparing him to Cao Cao, gathered troops to storm the palace. However, a Mongol officer named Ma Liang betrayed the plot to generals Wu Jin and Sun Tang. The palace gates were locked, and Cao Qin’s forces were repelled at the Donghua Gate. After a day of bloody fighting, Cao Qin, finding all city gates closed, committed suicide by jumping into a well. Cao Jixiang was executed.
With the conspirators eliminated, Emperor Yingzong reflected on his reign. He lamented to his ministers that Yu Qian’s home had contained nothing but imperial gifts, unlike the corrupt officials of his court. Though he regretted killing Yu Qian, the damage to the Ming Dynasty was irreversible.
Note
Emperor Yingzong (Zhu Qizhen)
Former emperor captured at Tumu, put under house arrest in the Southern Palace. He was restored to the throne in a 1457 coup, but wrongly executed the hero Yu Qian.
Emperor Daizong (Zhu Qiyu)
Brother of Yingzong. He took power during the Beijing Defense, but later deposed Yingzong’s son and kept Yingzong imprisoned. He died soon after being deposed.
Yu Qian
National hero who saved Ming by defending Beijing. He was framed for treason and killed by the restored Yingzong. He is famous for his poem Song of the Lime about loyalty and integrity.
Xu Youzhen (formerly Xu Cheng)
Civil official who hated Yu Qian for humiliating him. He led the Southern Palace Restoration coup and fabricated charges against Yu Qian.
Shi Heng
General who joined the coup for power. He later became arrogant and was executed for plotting rebellion.
Cao Jixiang
Eunuch leader of the coup. He and his nephew later rebelled and were killed.
Zhu Jianshen
Son of Yingzong. He was made crown prince, deposed by Daizong, then later restored.
Southern Palace Restoration (1457)
A palace coup that put the deposed Emperor Yingzong back on the throne while Daizong was seriously ill.
Treason Frame-Up of Yu Qian
The coup leaders falsely accused Yu Qian of treason to justify their coup. Yingzong approved his execution.
Collapse of the Conspirators
After killing Yu Qian, Xu Youzhen, Shi Heng, and Cao Jixiang fought for power and were all destroyed one by one.
Southern Palace (Nangong)
The place where Yingzong was imprisoned under strict guard.
Song of the Lime
Yu Qian’s classic poem symbolizing integrity, loyalty, and willingness to die for righteousness.
Chenqiao Mutiny
A famous coup in Song Dynasty history; Shi Heng tried to copy it.
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