The Fourth Prince had grown accustomed to his leisurely life and didn't want to return to the palace early. Returning now would inevitably lead to a lot of trouble. With the New Year finally approaching, the Fourth Prince and Lanqin returned to the palace.
After returning to the Forbidden City, the Fourth Prince went directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and Lanqin also returned to the Changchun Palace.
The news of the Fourth Prince and Lanqin's return to the palace spread throughout the Forbidden City, and those who had been speculating whether the Fourth Prince and Lanqin would return were now relieved. After arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Fourth Prince immediately summoned several senior officials, including Zhang Tingyu, Ortai, and the Seventeenth Prince.
The news of the Emperor's return to the palace naturally reached their ears. Just as they were about to enter the palace to meet the Emperor, they received an imperial edict from the Fourth Prince, ordering them to enter the palace immediately to discuss important matters. So they dared not delay for a moment and quickly boarded the carriage waiting in front of their residence and went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The group met again in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. They exchanged glances and saw confusion in each other's eyes. They didn't know why the Fourth Prince had summoned them to the palace in such a hurry. "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."
The Fourth Prince waved for them to rise and ordered someone to offer them seats. Once they were seated, he eagerly asked, "May I ask what brings His Majesty here to summon us?"
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince said calmly, "I am prepared to abdicate and let Hongli succeed me."
Several high-ranking officials were shocked to hear the Fourth Prince's words. No one expected that the first thing the Fourth Prince would do upon returning to the palace was to abdicate.
Zhang Tingyu and the others hurriedly stood up and asked the Fourth Prince in disbelief, "Why would you think of abdicating? The Emperor is in his prime!"
The Fourth Prince had anticipated their reaction, and naturally, he couldn't tell them that he was accompanying Lanqin on a sightseeing trip. So he simply said, "I am not in good health and need to recuperate."
"But..." Although the Fourth Prince said so, they were still somewhat unable to accept it, after all, the Fourth Prince's abdication was no trivial matter. The Qing Dynasty had never had an emperor who abdicated, not only the Qing Dynasty, but almost no previous dynasty had either.
The Fourth Prince naturally understood their concerns. Although Hongli was young, he was the most composed and regal among the children, displaying the most kingly aura. Furthermore, even though the Fourth Prince wasn't in the capital these past few days, Hongli had managed the affairs there impeccably, all of which the Fourth Prince had observed.
Before they could finish, he interrupted them, saying, "Hongli is now an adult and quite mature in his actions. My mind is made up. The reason I summoned you all here today is to appoint you as Hongli's regents."
Seeing that Fourth Master's mind was made up, and knowing that this matter would not change, the three sighed softly and said nothing more.
So the three of them bowed deeply to the Fourth Prince and said in unison, "Your Majesty, we will certainly not fail to live up to His Majesty's expectations."
Fourth Master told them to get up quickly.
The group pondered for a long time, the vast Hall of Mental Cultivation remaining silent. After a long while, they gradually accepted the reality of the situation.
Zhang Tingyu glanced at the Fourth Prince sitting in the head seat and said with some concern, "The Emperor needs a justification for abdicating, otherwise it may cause turmoil in the country."
Upon hearing Zhang Tingyu's words, both the Seventeenth Prince and Qin Mo nodded in agreement. They shared the same concern, as this was a matter of great importance concerning the fate of the nation and could not be resolved so hastily.
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