This is just the beginning.
There are more truths, whether she wishes to or not, willing or unwilling, that will await her on her life’s journey, hiding behind thorns and obstacles, just like fierce tigers and wolves, one by one, pouncing towards her.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.
Around her, similar deep breaths echoed, clearly indicating that she wasn’t the only one suffocating during the reading of the abdication decree.
Even Ji Hong himself, after slowly closing the decree, took a deep breath.
Then he said, "Please, Grand Chancellor!"
This phrase was like a genuine thunderbolt, completely exploding in the Taiji Palace. Everyone seed slightly shaken, but in the next mont, various complex emotions of joy, reassurance, and greed pulled them back to consciousness. Imdiately, so turned towards the opened Taiji Palace doors.
"Please, Grand Chancellor!"
Instantly, a team of people ran past the Taiji Palace’s doors.
It was the soldiers of the Left Brave Guard Army, and Shang Ruyi imdiately noticed that the leader was none other than Yu Dingxing, whose face was filled with excitent, his eyes even slightly bloodshot.
He must have been waiting for this sentence, and this mont, for a long ti.
And their direction was not elsewhere but the side hall outside the Taiji Palace, where Yu Wenquan had just been alone with the Empress Dowager. Because they were not far, the people inside the hall could clearly hear those heavy yet excited footsteps trotting to the side hall doorway, then stopping.
At this point, the civil and military officials also walked out of the Taiji Palace, following to the outside of the side hall.
The main door was still tightly closed as before.
Everyone exchanged glances, feeling eager, and finally, Ji Hong slowly walked to the side hall door, and said inside, "Duke Sheng, Your Majesty has issued the abdication decree. The nation cannot be without a ruler for a single day, nor can the state be without a sovereign for a single day. Please, Duke Sheng, with heaven’s mandate, ascend the throne."
After speaking, the civil and military officials behind him also knelt down successively, saying in unison, "Please, Duke Sheng, with heaven’s mandate, ascend the throne."
The side hall’s main door remained tightly closed.
After a while, they heard Yu Wenquan’s low voice inside, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the misplaced favor."
"..."
"But, my moral character is thin and my talents are insufficient, how can I take on such a responsibility?"
"..."
"Please, Your Majesty, seek out wise individuals to inherit the throne, and I am willing to protect the new emperor with my life and family, ensuring that the nation remains stable and the state endures."
Upon hearing this, a commotion arose among the crowd.
So people looked up uneasily, glancing at each other in confusion—after all, at the last court eting, the emperor’s abdication was a certainty, and the Yuwen Family agreed to such a promise, hence they managed to control the plague in Daxing City within half a month.
At this mont, it was indeed appropriate to say "with heaven’s mandate."
Why is Yu Wenquan hesitating now?
If he refuses to beco emperor, then in this court, who else can surpass him to inherit the throne? Regardless of who it is, they cannot convince the masses, and it would spark greater panic!
Thinking of this, so officials began to discuss fervently, unable to help rising to walk to the side hall door to persuade him.
At this ti, Ji Hong turned around.
Despite being the oldest, his cloudy eyes seed to have lost their brightness, but at this very mont, his gaze was clearer than at any other ti. He slowly walked to Yu Wenqian and Yu Wenye, and said to them, "Princely Heir, Second Young Master."
The two imdiately bowed to him in salute.
Ji Hong sighed and said, "The Duke is modestly declining, unwilling to take the throne, which showcases his humility as a subject; however, the nation’s stability and the state’s importance far exceed his personal honor and disgrace."
"..."
"Both of you are the beloved sons of the Duke and are also pillars of the court. Over these days, you have rendered great service to the Da Ye Dynasty, so please persuade your father, and do not seek only personal honor and self-preservation, forgetting the common people."
The two looked at each other.
Those two pairs of eyes—one clear, one stern, one gentle, one firm—one effortlessly takes Daxing City, expelling the plague without trace, the other valiant and fearless, confronting tens of thousands of troops in Longxi, and letting the officials of the entire world understand that only the Yuwen Family, only Yu Wenquan, who has such outstanding sons, has the qualification to ascend the throne.
Even more strength to establish rits in such a chaotic world.
User Comments
0 comments from readers