The day after Chenghuan returned to her parents' home, when he attended the morning court, looking at the court officials around him and then at Yinreng standing at the front arguing with them, Kangxi felt a little melancholy, but mostly relieved.
"My dear ministers, if there is nothing else, I have something to inform you of," Kangxi said, looking at the now quiet atmosphere below.
The ministers looked at each other, but remained silent.
Seeing this, Kangxi gave Liang Jiugong a wink, and Liang Jiugong quickly stepped forward, holding the imperial edict in both hands and slowly opening it beside him.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have reigned for thirty-six years, and the land is at peace. The people are content, and all nations submit. The government is efficient and the relationship between ruler and ministers is harmonious. My virtue is comparable to that of the ancient sages, and my achievements are beyond the reach of future generations. Crown Prince Aisin-Gioro Yinreng is of noble character, much like myself, and his will is unyielding, unmoved by any great temptation. I wish to abdicate the throne to Crown Prince Aisin-Gioro Yinreng. All princes should unite as one to support the new emperor. Senior ministers should diligently assist him, working together to uphold the state. This decree shall be proclaimed throughout the land, so that all may know. This is the imperial decree!" After reading the decree, Liang Jiugong quickly retreated to the side.
The court was filled with surprised murmurs, some of whom didn't even realize that the morning court session was still in progress.
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed! Your Majesty is still in the prime of your life, how can you abdicate so early? Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince is still young, I'm afraid he is not up to the task." The censor bluntly pressed his point.
Even Emperor Kangxi, sitting above, frowned upon hearing this, not to mention Suo'etu, who had been hoping for Yinreng to ascend the throne.
When Suo'etu heard the censor say this, he glared at him, but he couldn't say anything in the current situation.
Yinreng looked at Kangxi not with shock, but with anger, staring at Kangxi and saying, "Father, how could you do this? I have already said that we should wait a few more years. Can't we wait a few more years?"
Kangxi was looking at the censor when he felt a burning gaze on him. He turned his head and saw Yinreng staring at him.
Kangxi turned away leisurely. When did he agree to that? Besides, he had been emperor for over thirty years and was no longer young. He needed to go out and see the world. His children had grown up, so of course they should share the burdens of their old father.
When Yinreng saw Kangxi turn his gaze away, he panicked. No, was he really going to be left alone?
While Suo'etu was still pondering who should speak, he heard Yinreng speak.
"Your Majesty, I believe that what Imperial Censor Huang said is correct. I am still young and I am afraid that I am not capable of shouldering such a great responsibility. I beg Your Majesty to withdraw the imperial decree."
Soetu turned to look at Yinreng with a puzzled expression. Seeing Yinreng's serious face, and then secretly glancing at Kangxi, his mind raced: 'What does the Crown Prince mean by this? Why doesn't he want to be emperor? The Crown Prince's expression seems off. Could it be that the Emperor is testing His Highness's interest in the throne?'
Soetu's mind raced, and he quickly won himself over.
Yinreng: No, I didn't. I just don't want to be the emperor. Being the emperor is so tiring. I have to get up earlier than the chickens and go to bed later than the dogs. It's so much better now. There are people above me to support me and people below to do the work. Life couldn't be better.
“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is right. He is still young and may not be able to shoulder such a heavy responsibility. I hope Your Majesty will withdraw the imperial decree.”
? ? ?
Has Suo San lost his mind?!
This was the sentiment of the entire court. Everyone looked at Suo'etu in shock. Even Emperor Kangxi was not surprised. If you were to ask who most wanted Bao Cheng to become emperor, it would probably be Suo'etu!
Nalan Mingzhu looked at Suo'etu suspiciously. If anyone in the court knew him best, it was Nalan Mingzhu. This old scoundrel Suo'etu had been associating with His Highness the Crown Prince all along, wasn't he just trying to get the Crown Prince to the throne? What was wrong with him today?
Could there be a trap here?! Nalan Mingzhu looked at Kangxi above in a panic, her mind racing, wondering what she had overlooked!
The entire court was shocked, but Yinreng looked at Suoertu with tears in his eyes. "Third Master is indeed my third maternal grandfather. At this moment, only Third Master understands my thoughts."
Kangxi twitched his lips, looking at the two people gazing at each other affectionately below. It was such an eyesore that no one wanted to look at them any longer.
"Alright, my mind is made up and I will not change it. Everyone, go about your business. The Ministry of Rites will choose a date and begin preparing for Yinreng's succession ceremony." Kangxi waved his hand and settled the matter.
"Your subject obeys the decree," an official from the Ministry of Rites quickly replied.
In fact, for most ministers, it made no difference whether the emperor was Kangxi or the crown prince Yinreng. After all, the crown prince had been handling affairs in the court for many years, and everyone was already very familiar with this outstanding crown prince. What shocked them was why the emperor had abdicated so early.
Logically speaking, the emperor is in his prime, but since he is going to abdicate, they should just do their jobs.
Therefore, only a very small number of people were unhappy about the emperor's abdication.
When the morning court session ended, Yinreng stood there with a long face, watching everyone leave one by one. Although this dynastic change was very harmonious, there were still many things to prepare.
One by one, everyone left, but Yinreng held on tightly to his brothers Yinzhi, Yinzhen, and Yinzhi.
Yinzhi tried for a long time but couldn't pull his hand out of Yinreng's. After a while, he could only say helplessly, "This decision was made by Father. What's the use of you pulling me? Besides, you are the Crown Prince. It doesn't matter whether you ascend the throne sooner or later."
Yinreng complained, "How can that be the same? If I ascend the throne, there will be no one to clean up my messes. No, elder brother, come with me to talk to Father Emperor. I don't want to ascend the throne so soon." Yinreng thought about the life his father had lived all these years and felt that his future would be bleak, so he was even more unwilling.
Yinzhi wouldn't let him have his way. Taking advantage of Yinzhi's inattention, he pulled his hand away and said, "Give up on that idea. No one can change Father's decision. You should just wait patiently for your ascension to the throne. I'm leaving now." Yinzhi left as soon as he finished speaking, not giving Yinreng a chance to speak at all.
Yinreng watched helplessly as Yinzhi's back receded, while Yinzhen, standing nearby, tugged at the sleeves of several princes, including Yinzhi, signaling them to leave quickly.
If even the eldest brother couldn't handle it, then they certainly couldn't handle it either. What if the second brother, the Crown Prince, dragged them to find Father Emperor?
Yinzhi, who was still in shock, was pulled back to his senses by Yinzhen. He nodded, and the group moved back slightly.
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