Tianshun Emperor's Restoration and the Gate-Seizing Coup

Timeline

1. 1457Southern Palace · BeijingShi Heng and Cao Jixiang led troops out of the Southern Palace, Xu Youzhen opened the East Flower Gate, and they escorted the retired emperor Zhu Qizhen into the city. Taking advantage of the Jingtai Emperor's grave illness and court disorder, the coup group swiftly seized key points in the capital.
2. 1457Hall of Heavenly Affairs · BeijingZhu Qizhen entered the Hall of Heavenly Affairs and resumed the throne, abolishing the Jingtai era name and adopting Tianshun, hence known as the Tianshun Emperor. The Jingtai Emperor Zhu Qiyu was deposed as Prince of Cheng and died days later. The Tianshun reign thus began, with coup merit-holder Shi Heng and others wielding great power.
3. 1457Beijing · North ChinaAfter the restoration, the court executed Yu Qian, Wang Wen, and other core Jingtai-era ministers on charges of 'delayed enthronement' and 'treason'. Yu Qian's death shocked the court and country, and later generations largely regarded it as an unjust case; Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang, meanwhile, were rewarded for their merits and grew ever more powerful.