Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the ministers whispered among themselves.
Yin Chu remained calm, as if Kangxi's abdication today had nothing to do with him.
The second prince, Yinti, and the fifth prince, Yinsi, each had their own thoughts, wondering how to prevent the fourth prince (his fourth brother) from becoming the new emperor. As long as their father, the emperor, was on the throne, they still had hope.
Fifteen minutes later
Prince Xun laughed loudly, lifted his robe, and knelt down before Yin Chu.
"Your Majesty, I congratulate you, Fourth Brother! Long live the Emperor!"
The Second Prince Yinti and the Fifth Prince Yinsi were stunned, looking at Prince Xun Yinzhen in disbelief, and said in a deep voice, "Fourteenth Brother, you..."
Yinzhen looked up and glanced at Yinti and Yinsi.
"Second Brother, Fifth Brother, Father is the Emperor, and the imperial decree has been issued; there is no room for negotiation. Fourth Brother is the Crown Prince chosen by Father, the legitimate son of Mother, and is skilled in both civil and military affairs."
Prince Xun hesitated, as if he wanted to speak but then stopped.
At this moment, the princes, including the eldest prince and the sixth prince, who had been stunned, finally came to their senses and hurriedly knelt down, saying respectfully, "Congratulations to the new emperor! Long live the emperor!"
The ministers glanced up at Kangxi on the dragon throne and, seeing his resolute attitude, knew that the outcome was already decided.
"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations to the new Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Retired Emperor!"
Yin Chu glanced at Kangxi out of the corner of his eye.
Was I simply thrust onto the throne like this?
Despite all the planning, I never expected that my ascension to the throne would be caused by my father, the Emperor, suddenly issuing an edict to abdicate in my stead.
The Emperor was in the prime of his life, in good health, and thought he would be able to sit on the throne of Crown Prince for another ten or twenty years.
Unexpectedly...
In a daze, Yin Chu was supported and became the new emperor.
Under the auspices of Emperor Kangxi and through the meticulous calculations of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, a month later, was chosen as an auspicious day for him to ascend the throne as the new emperor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and to proclaim this to the world.
The reason it was scheduled for a month later was because, as the new emperor, Yinchu was to ascend the throne, and the Mongol princes and princesses who had married out of the country were all required to come to the capital to participate in the new emperor's enthronement ceremony.
The journey was arduous, and it would take at least a month to get back.
………
News from the previous dynasty reached the inner palace.
Xu Lejin nearly dropped her jaw in astonishment, exclaiming incredulously, "Why did His Majesty suddenly issue an edict to abdicate in favor of Yin Chu? I remember His Majesty is not yet sixty years old; he is in the prime of his life!"
"Although Yinchu is the crown prince, he is only just over thirty years old and lacks experience. How can he govern the Qing Dynasty well?"
Ruhua and Nongying lowered their heads, lost in thought.
After a moment, Nongying smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's literary and martial arts skills are both among the best of the princes, and he is the successor personally taught and trained by the Emperor."
"Now that the Emperor has abdicated and His Highness the Crown Prince has ascended the throne as the new ruler, it is a well-deserved honor."
Turning her head to glance at Nongying, Xu Lejin gave a soft reply.
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "That being said, the Emperor's sudden abdication is still hard to believe."
"Not only me, but also the concubines in the harem and the ministers of the court."
"、、"
Yanxi Palace
Consort Hui learned of the abdication of Emperor Kangxi in the previous dynasty.
His face contorted as if he were insane, and he muttered to himself, "How could this be? How could this be? How could the Emperor suddenly abdicate in favor of the Fourth Prince? Your Majesty..."
"His Majesty has always placed high hopes on Yinti and Yinsi, and relied on and favored the Fourteenth Prince. Why did he suddenly pass the throne to the Fourth Prince?"
With a sorrowful expression, Consort Hui gave a bitter smile.
"It's only the fifty-first year of Kangxi's reign, and there are still ten years until the Emperor's death. How could the Emperor abdicate in favor of the Fourth Prince? What virtue or ability does the Fourth Prince possess to deserve such favor from the Emperor?"
"Now that the Fourth Prince has ascended the throne, what should be done with my sons, Yinti and Yinsi?"
Cunxin and Peixin lowered their heads, wishing they hadn't heard anything and wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Consort Hui then said:
"Your Majesty, you already made me suffer in my past life, do you want to make me suffer again?"
Cunxin and Peixin looked terrified, their eyes wide with shock.
"、、"
Yonghe Palace
Consort De's face was so gloomy it seemed like it could drip water, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.
With a 'smash,' she overturned the teacup on the table and said coldly, 'The Emperor actually abdicated in favor of the Fourth Prince? What about me and my Fourteenth Prince?'
"My poor Fourteenth Prince, so talented, whose literary and martial skills are no less than those of the Fourth Prince, will have to serve under him as a subject. I..."
"I refuse to accept this!"
——————
A month has passed in a flash.
On the 24th day of the twelfth month of the 51st year of the Kangxi reign, Yinchu ascended the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The day of his coronation
The music of bells and drums rang out, and the sound of eunuchs cracking their whips filled the air. Court officials and princes knelt respectfully on the ground.
Wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, Yin Chu walked solemnly and steadily toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Wherever he went, the eyes of the court officials, princes, and members of the royal family converged on him.
Upon entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Yin Chu sat on the dragon throne, while several important officials stood in order.
The eunuch announcing the ceremony raised his voice:
"kneel!"
The high-ranking officials in the court knelt down one after another, and the sound of drums being beaten by the guards outside the palace rang out.
"One kowtow,"
The ministers knelt down respectfully.
"Two kowtows."
The ministers knelt again.
"Three kowtows,"
The ministers knelt again.
The ceremonial eunuch announced: "Rise!"
"kneel,"
"One kowtow"
"Two kowtows."
"Three kowtows."
...
After the courtiers finished their salutations...
Yin Chu sat upright on the dragon throne and said loudly, "Today I ascend the throne, and I shall follow the way of filial piety and benevolence. I shall honor the order of the retired emperor and set the reign title as Yonghe. Next year shall be the first year of Yonghe. My primary consort, Ulanara, shall be the empress. The Ministry of Rites shall handle the matter of her investiture with utmost seriousness."
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