The father-in-law screamed in shock.
"Your Majesty, please think twice. You are now in your prime, why would you do this?"
Zhao Zhengxiong raised his hand to stop his father-in-law from speaking: "You are becoming more and more unruly. Why are you shouting so loudly?
I am an immoral king who will only make the world criticize me and will not benefit the future of Beiyue in any way.
The prince is kind-hearted, young and promising, and has high prestige among the people. I believe he will do better than I do, and the world will eventually belong to them, the young people.
The most important thing is that I feel guilty towards my brothers in the Northern Evil Alliance. Taking the blame and abdicating may help calm their anger and stop them from taking their anger out on innocent people.
I don't want to see any more innocent people die because of this. Otherwise, I will be ashamed to face my ancestors.
Inform everyone that the morning court session will resume tomorrow morning and summon the Crown Prince to see me in the Imperial Study!"
The eunuch hesitated: "Your Majesty..."
"What? I haven't even abdicated yet, and you dare disobey my orders?"
Zhao Zhengxiong's dominance was so intense that the eunuch prostrated himself on the ground: "I dare not, I dare not!"
"Why don't you go now? Do you want to die?"
A loud shout.
The father-in-law was so scared that he got up and ran out quickly, only to see the hem of his clothes and two wide sleeves fluttering in the wind.
Zhao Zhengxiong shook his head and laughed: "This old guy, he ran pretty fast this time."
He picked up the brush he used every day, looked at it, and put it down. He touched the stone inkstone on the jade table and fiddled with the paperweight...
Looking at everything that happened in the imperial study room where they spent every day together, Zhao Zhengxiong felt a little reluctant to leave.
He shook his head, shaking off the reluctance in his heart: "Forget it, I have no choice but to accept my old age. Now that I have made the decision, I should just make it a done deal!"
Soon, Crown Prince Zhao Chenyu and Prince Zhao Zhenghai hurried to the imperial study one after another.
"Father, you are still so young, why are you abdicating? I don't agree!"
Zhao Chenyu stepped into the room anxiously and started yelling.
Zhao Zhengxiong scowled, "Why can't I abdicate? What right do you have to disagree? This is my will!"
"Father, I'm not ready to be a king yet. What if I can't do it? No, you must be the emperor for another twenty years!"
"As the crown prince of a country, what is your responsibility?"
Yue Chenyu quickly straightened his clothes, straightened his chest, and said seriously, "Father, you are only fifty years old and in the prime of your life. Why is this happening?"
"Why? Don't you see that Beiyue is at a critical moment of life and death?"
"Father, I know you've been under a lot of pressure these days. Everything will pass. Isn't everyone's illness healed?"
At this time, Zhao Zhenghai also hurried into the imperial study.
"Brother Emperor, I heard from Eunuch Shun that you want to abdicate. Why is that?"
Zhao Zhengxiong frowned.
"The reason I decided to abdicate is because this disaster was most likely caused by the Northern Evil Alliance.
And I, in the hearts of the people, have already lost the support of the people..."
The two stayed in the imperial study for more than an hour before coming out, both with solemn expressions.
Morning next day.
In front of all the civil and military officials, Zhao Zhengxiong asked Eunuch Quan to read out the edict of repentance and the edict of abdication.
This sudden action completely stunned the ministers who had not yet recovered from the plague.
The court fell into silence for a moment.
After a long time, the princes looked at each other and bowed to give advice.
"Father, Beiyue is currently in an extraordinary period. It's not appropriate to change the monarch at this point. Please reconsider!"
Zhao Zhengxiong glared at his sons coldly.
Humph, how could I not know what you are thinking?
"Since when have you guys ever been able to interfere with my decisions?
Although changing generals at the last minute is a taboo, everything should be done according to the circumstances. A new emperor brings new luck. Maybe the new emperor can lead Beiyue out of the plague?
After this plague, the Beiyue Kingdom is on the brink of life and death and can no longer withstand any disturbance.
If anyone dares to do anything to me at this critical moment, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Several princes argued, "Father, the plague has been cured now. The most important thing is to help the people return to normal life as soon as possible. There is no need..."
"It's only been temporarily controlled. The source of the plague hasn't been found yet, and you're just saying it's been cured? Even the gods haven't said so yet.
Besides, the purpose of changing the emperor is to better help the people and restore their normal lives."
Several princes wanted to say something, but Zhao Zhengxiong glared at them and they had to shut up.
"The Imperial Astronomical Observatory will select a nearby auspicious day, and the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue will prepare for the new emperor's enthronement. During this extraordinary period, all civil and military officials will participate, and the imperial edict will be announced to the world."
Several ministers bowed and accepted the gesture.
The other side.
Nangong Jiu and his companions had no idea that the situation in Beiyue had changed overnight.
According to yesterday's plan, I got up early, filled my stomach, and disappeared into the inn in a flash.
At lunchtime, several people returned home with full loads.
Taoist Qingchen hurried forward and said, "Jiujun, thank you for your hard work!
Something happened in the palace. When Qingchen got the news, he thought you would be back soon, so he didn't contact you."
Nangong Jiu frowned.
"What's Zhao Zhengxiong up to again? It's already this late, can't he just calm down?"
Qingchen brought the meal to Nangong Jiu.
"Eat first, then I'll tell you slowly after I finish eating."
Nangong Jiu glanced at Taoist Qingchen's complicated expression and said, "Then let's eat. We still have to distribute the food in the afternoon."
They finished their meal quickly.
Taoist Qingchen then said, "Jiu Jun, Zhao Zhengxiong read out the imperial edict of repentance and the abdication of the crown prince in front of all the civil and military officials at the morning court this morning."
"Huh? Why is he suddenly like this?"
"In his confession of guilt, he explained the whole story of the Northern Evil Alliance incident.
It is said that this plague was most likely caused by this incident. He felt guilty towards the people who died and towards his brothers in the Northern Evil Alliance. In order to quell the plague as soon as possible, he took the blame and abdicated..."
Nangong Jiu was stunned for a moment before nodding and saying, "He wants to admit his mistakes and abdicate in exchange for the man in the dark to stop, so as to prevent the plague from coming back.
The idea is good. I hope it will go as he wishes, so that the people can suffer less.
But I don't think it will work. The purpose of the person in the dark is to make Zhao Zhengxiong pay with his life, and it is unlikely that he will stop easily.
It doesn't matter how they fight, but I will never allow innocent people to be harmed!"
Taoist Qingchen nodded and asked Nangong Jiu, "Now that we have bought the food, what can Qingchen do?"
Nangong Jiu pointed at Xiao Wang and the others and said, "Give all the contents of their storage rings to the people of the capital, and the contents of my bags will be distributed to other cities."
"Then do we have to go to the palace to receive the grain and distribute it to the people?"
"Well, let's go into the palace now."
Imperial study.
Zhao Zhengxiong looked at Nangong Jiu and the others in surprise.
"How much food do you say?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
