eurekapd Chapter 208 The Emperor Abdicates
Chapter 208 The Emperor Abdicates
After years of reviewing memorials and handling state affairs day in and day out, the emperor felt his health was failing him. Lately, he had been feeling unusually tired.
Yesterday, Nangong Yangjian came to reminisce with him. After learning about his health condition, he advised him to abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince, cultivate his mind and body, and enjoy life.
Nangong Yangjian jokingly added that after leaving family affairs behind, he had lived a carefree life for many years, and his face showed few wrinkles. He looked almost exactly the same as he did more than ten years ago.
The emperor, toiling day and night, had wrinkles etched across his face like carvings, making him look like a prematurely aged man. Standing next to him, the current emperor appeared to be at least ten years older.
Ah, apart from Nangong Yangjian, no one else dared to speak to the emperor like that. At the time, the emperor was very uncomfortable after hearing Nangong Yangjian's words.
Lying in bed that night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After much thought, he realized that Nangong Yangjian's words made a lot of sense. The Empress Dowager was his biological mother, and despite her pampered life, she looked younger than him.
The throne will eventually be handed over to one's children and grandchildren, so why not relinquish it now while one can still walk and see the world?
Having figured everything out, the emperor closed his eyes peacefully and quickly fell asleep. The next morning at court, the emperor announced to the public: "I am unwell and intend to abdicate in favor of my grandson, the Crown Prince..."
The court officials were stunned by the emperor's words. Since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, every emperor had reigned until his death. If a crown prince was appointed, he would succeed to the throne; if not, the princes would succeed based on their abilities.
When the idea of having the throne passed to someone while the emperor was still alive was first raised, everyone was at a loss for words. The first to react was Gu Yue, the Minister of Revenue.
Gu Yue hurried forward and knelt down. "Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible to abdicate now. You are unwell, and the affairs of the court can be handled by the Crown Prince..."
The emperor's face darkened upon hearing this. Gu Yue's entire explanation boiled down to one thing: he wanted to die on the throne before Xia Yichen could succeed him.
You old fool, the national treasury has been overflowing these past few years, and you've profited handsomely from it. I haven't held it against you, yet you dare to oppose my decisions.
Seeing his ministers nodding in agreement with Gu Yue's words, the emperor flew into a rage. He raised his voice and roared, "Insolence! How dare you oppose my decision! Guards, seize Gu Yue!"
Gu Yue was stunned. Only after being dragged to the imperial prison by the Imperial Guards did he realize that he had flattered the wrong person and ruined his career.
He thought the emperor's statement about passing the throne to Xia Yichen was just a gesture, so he immediately jumped out to express a different opinion. He never expected that the emperor genuinely wanted to relinquish the throne.
After conquering Guyue, none of the court officials dared to voice any objections. The emperor, satisfied, instructed the official in charge of astronomy, Li Jun, to select an auspicious day for Xia Yichen to ascend the throne.
Li Jun bowed respectfully with his hands clasped and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."
The emperor gave Zhang Gonggong a look, and Zhang Gonggong immediately understood. He stepped forward and shouted in a high-pitched voice, "If you have something to say, speak now; otherwise, the court is dismissed."
Back in the Imperial Study, the Emperor didn't wait long before Xia Yichen arrived. As soon as he entered, he eagerly asked, "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Have you summoned the imperial physician?"
On his way there, he encountered court officials returning home from the morning court session. From them, he learned that the emperor was unwell and intended to pass the throne to him. Therefore, upon entering the palace, he did not even bother to offer his greetings but instead inquired about the emperor's health.
The emperor calmly said, "I am not ill. I am old and want to rest. Yichen, your father is not fit to be emperor. The throne can only be passed to you..."
The emperor analyzed the other princes' intentions for Xia Yichen, telling him that the sixth prince was the most likely contender for the throne, and instructing Xia Yichen to find a way to obtain the military seal from the sixth prince before ascending the throne.
Xia Yichen knew in his heart that the throne would eventually pass to him, and he had long been preparing for his succession. The people were the foundation of the nation.
With Wen Yuxia's help, his monthly income was astonishingly high. After ascending to the throne, he planned to use this income for the benefit of the people.
Only by safeguarding the rights and interests of the people and working for their benefit can we gain their support and endorsement, and only then can the Great Xia Dynasty enjoy long-term stability and security.
Xia Yichen knelt down and said firmly, "Please rest assured, Grandfather, making the Great Xia Dynasty more prosperous and powerful is my lifelong goal."
The emperor, pleased, said "good" three times in a row.
Thinking back to his time in office, the flood problem was completely solved, and for more than ten years, no county town has experienced a flood. During the drought season, no crops in any county town were killed by the sun, and the national treasury's silver increased every month...
The emperor whispered, "Yichen, continue to be on good terms with Muhua. Muhua has the ability to make Great Xia stronger. Also, Nangong Wenrui has earned a lot of money for us, so we must not neglect him."
A few days later, Li Jun selected an auspicious day, and preparations for the new emperor's ascension to the throne quickly began. Time passed rapidly, and more than a month went by in the blink of an eye.
On the day of his coronation, Xia Yichen wore a dragon robe and a crown, and rode in a carriage to the Temple of Heaven to offer sacrifices to Heaven. After returning to the palace, he went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respects to his ancestors.
Back at the ceremony venue, Xia Yichen, dressed in dragon robes and wearing a crown, sat on the dragon throne, and the court officials stepped forward one by one to pay their respects to him.
……
After all the procedures were completed, Xia Yichen raised the seniority of the Empress Dowager, Imperial Concubines, Empress, and Consorts in the palace by one generation, and bestowed the titles of Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager upon his father and mother, while the abdicated emperor was given the title of Emperor Emeritus.
Sigh, the tiring day is finally over. Xia Yichen lay on the bed and said to Xie Qianlian, "Qianlian, next year I will definitely make you Empress."
To show respect for the previous emperor, the new emperor, upon ascending the throne, cannot immediately change the country's name, appoint an empress, or even implement new national policies.
Xie Qianlian calmly expressed her gratitude. Xia Yichen said helplessly, "I'm still not used to your mature and composed demeanor, Qianlian. When there are no outsiders, you don't need to put on airs. Just be yourself."
Xie Qianlian smiled wryly, "My mother repeatedly told me that I must not speak in a coquettish voice, nor act in a seductive manner to bewitch His Majesty. She also said that only by being dignified and composed can I display the grace and dignity of an empress..."
Hsieh Chien-lien subtly indicated that she wasn't used to suddenly becoming so mature and composed, and that she needed to practice more.
Xia Yichen laughed and said, "Okay, take this time to get used to it. Once you're used to it, you won't need to be so reserved when we're together."
"Your concubine obeys the decree," Xie Qianlian said solemnly, performing a curtsy on the bed.