When the whole country was in mourning, Fang Zhiyi quickly let the prince ascend the throne in front of the coffin, and the prince was stunned.
"Fang, Uncle Fang." This was what his father had asked him to say. "Father said that he would have you assist me for a while before discussing the succession to the throne."
Fang Zhiyi knew very well that Emperor Shunying had mentioned to him once before his death that if the crown prince was unwilling to resign, he should be made regent to complete his great cause. This way, Emperor Shunying would be able to report to his ancestors when he passed away.
"Zhiyi, if my crown prince is not happy... you can depose him, but don't kill him. If he wants to kill you in the future, cough cough." A hint of realization flashed across Emperor Shunying's already haggard face. "I have a secret decree to keep you safe."
Thinking of this, Fang Zhiyi sighed. This emperor was indeed incompetent, but he really didn't say anything about him.
"Come on, I've been cleaning up your father's mess for so many years, I'm almost exhausted, and you two, father and son, are picking on me alone? Huh?" Fang Zhiyi spoke bluntly.
The prince was a little bit stunned. Yes, his father had been having fun all his life. It seemed that since he could remember, all the affairs were handled by Uncle Fang. Sometimes he even felt that he was more like the emperor. He even suspected that he wanted to seize power and usurp the throne.
Although he was also his teacher, as an emperor, how could he allow power to fall into someone else's hands? But today, Fang Zhiyi seemed very happy, like... relieved?
"I'm telling you, you have to give me a big house, more servants, and a higher annual salary. Do you understand? I'm going to retire!" Fang Zhiyi kept nagging.
The prince, no, he who was already the emperor was speechless for a moment, watching Fang Zhiyi hand over the military talisman, the deployment and training plans of various forces, and the jade talisman of the commander of the Xuan Jing Division. The new emperor was sure that his uncle Fang just didn't want to do it anymore!
"Is he afraid I'll kill him?" The new emperor pondered as he watched Fang Zhiyi leave. "That's impossible. With Fang Zhiyi's current reputation and influence, even if my own father came, he'd be a useless servant, let alone me."
Looking at Fang Zhiyi's dancing and gesticulating appearance, he finally shook his head and threw those speculations out of his head. To what extent has his father exploited Uncle Fang?
Fang Zhiyi retired.
The entire court was in shock, with speculation swirling about whether the new emperor had ousted Fang Zhiyi, the powerful official, and driven him from power. But no one was thrilled. During the years Fang Zhiyi had governed, the country had been peaceful, officials hadn't engaged in corrupt practices, and he had even invented better vacation and pension systems. Even veteran officials who had previously resented him had long since grown to admire him.
However, everyone would still look at the empty chair from time to time during court. The new emperor didn't seem to be planning to remove the chair, so he would sometimes glance at it.
At this time, Fang Zhiyi was with a few family members, holding a birdcage in his left hand and a dog in his right hand, walking around the market in a domineering and domineering manner, looking like a loafer.
"Duke Fang! Your dog killed my duck yesterday!" A woman wearing a turban angrily blocked his way.
"Uh... Sister, I accept the loss." The temperament that Fang Zhiyi had finally gathered up disappeared in an instant.
There was laughter all around.
"Duke, come to my house for dinner today?"
"Get lost! Are you trying to trick me into giving your son extra lessons?"
"Duke, my daughter is getting married tomorrow, and I would like to invite you..."
"Hmm! There needs to be some meat!"
The spy who was watching all this in secret recorded everything he saw and sent it back to the new emperor.
The new emperor looked at the report in disbelief. Then he turned around and looked at the pile of memorials before him. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and cursed in the tone of his teacher: "Damn it, who is so sick that he likes to be the emperor?"
When he left this world, Fang Zhiyi had already collapsed on the bed and could not move. Upon hearing the news of his death, the whole country mourned. The historians recorded that he was a treacherous minister in the first half of his life, a powerful official in the second half of his life, and also an executioner. It was he who killed so many people in the capital, and it was also he who founded the prosperous Wei Wu Dynasty. Later generations found it difficult to evaluate this man.
The record contains only one sentence: "I will repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace and die for you, supporting the Jade Dragon."
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