Emperor Rongsheng slowly turned his eyes and looked around.
The fourth prince, Lin Mukun, the seventh prince, Lin Murui, and the eighth prince, Lin Mucong, all stood there with sorrowful expressions, while their respective birth mothers silently shed tears.
The princesses were the same; their beautiful eyes were filled with glistening tears, evoking pity in the hearts of those who saw them.
In addition, the many kneeling ministers also displayed expressions of utter grief, as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed.
Emperor Rongsheng closed his eyes slightly and sighed inwardly.
He really didn't want to speculate or ponder what these people were really thinking.
Whether it was genuine grief or feigned sadness, it no longer mattered to him at this moment.
After all, at this point in life, everything is about to come to an end.
At this moment, Emperor Rongsheng's thoughts surged like a tidal wave as he recalled his magnificent life.
Back then, the late emperor did not favor him; in fact, he could be said to have treated him coldly.
However, with his unwavering perseverance and meticulous planning, he fought his way through the many princes and carved out a bloody path for himself.
Ultimately, he successfully ascended to the supreme throne and firmly protected the vast land inherited from the previous emperor.
Although the ending was not perfect, at least under his rule, the country and its people in Daqing never suffered any mishaps.
All of this is thanks to his outstanding son, Crown Prince Lin Muheng.
"Crown Prince!" Emperor Rongsheng opened his lips with difficulty, his voice sounding particularly hoarse and low.
His eyes searched eagerly through the crowd, hoping to find the figure he was so proud of as soon as possible.
Finally, the moment his gaze met Lin Muheng's, the latter was taken aback, seemingly not quite ready to react yet, as the address was so unfamiliar.
But soon, Lin Muheng strode over to the dragon bed.
"The Crown Princess is also coming," Emperor Rongsheng added immediately.
Although her tone was weak and feeble, the majesty within it remained undiminished. Upon hearing this, everyone made way, and Jiang Chuwei approached the dragon bed, respectfully bowing to Emperor Rongsheng.
The ministers had different thoughts.
Those in Jinwang's faction, in particular, were filled with unease.
Now, the situation has changed drastically, and the sky seems to be shrouded in gloom, causing people to worry: After the new emperor ascends the throne, will he settle old scores?
Emperor Rongsheng lay on his dragon bed, his face as pale as paper. He slightly raised his weak hand and gently waved it toward Lin Muheng, signaling him to come closer.
Upon seeing this, Lin Muheng quickly stepped forward and bent down to get close to his father.
Emperor Rongsheng's lips moved slightly, and he said in an extremely weak voice, "My son, I am nearing my end. Today, I entrust this vast land of Daqing to you! Remember, you must protect the empire our ancestors conquered, and never hand it over to others..."
After saying these words, Emperor Rongsheng seemed to have used up the last bit of strength in his body, and he appeared increasingly weak and frail.
Upon hearing these words of advice, Lin Muheng's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up, but he forced himself to hold them back.
He nodded emphatically and replied firmly, "Father, rest assured, your son will certainly live up to your expectations and will not fail you!"
Just then, Emperor Rongsheng laboriously turned his eyes and cast his gaze toward Jiang Chuwei beside him.
A rare tenderness appeared in his eyes as he said slowly, "Princess Consort, you must do your best to assist the Crown Prince and help him govern the country well."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuwei hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I will obey your command and do my utmost to assist His Highness the Crown Prince."
Immediately afterwards, Emperor Rongsheng slowly swept his gaze over the ministers present.
When his gaze finally settled on the members of the Jinwang faction, they, who had been calm and composed, suddenly trembled as if struck by lightning.
Emperor Rongsheng took a deep breath, then spoke slowly in a deep but authoritative voice: "I no longer wish to dwell on the past. However, if anyone dares to attempt to disrupt the order of my Great Qing Dynasty from this day forward, I believe that my Crown Prince will not easily forgive them!"
Upon hearing this, the members of Prince Jin's faction dared not hesitate for a moment. They kowtowed repeatedly, expressing their gratitude and shouting, "Your Majesty is wise! Thank you for your great favor!"
In an instant, the court was filled with the sounds of kowtowing and expressions of gratitude.
Emperor Rongsheng's slightly cloudy yet still majestic gaze slowly moved, finally settling on Jiang He, who was standing quietly not far away.
He slightly raised his hand, making a summoning gesture.
Upon seeing this, Jiang He remained calm and composed, and approached the dragon bed with steady and powerful steps.
Jiang He didn't actually have many deep feelings for the supreme emperor before him.
Simply because he was on the throne, the object of everyone's attention.
It should be understood that the General's Mansion has always been loyal to the Emperor, not because of personal feelings, but because of its firm commitment to protecting the country and the Daqing Empire.
After all, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and the mission that the General's Mansion has shouldered for generations is to safeguard the peace and stability of this vast territory.
At this moment, Emperor Rongsheng said in a slightly trembling voice, "Minister Jiang, in the future, the General's Mansion must continue to protect our Daqing for me!" His words were full of trust and expectation.
Upon hearing this, Jiang He bowed and clasped his hands without hesitation, replying, "Yes, Your Majesty! I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's grace!" As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Rongsheng turned to look at the Crown Prince standing to the side, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
"Crown Prince!" Emperor Rongsheng called softly.
"Your subject is here!" The Crown Prince quickly stepped forward and replied respectfully.
With his last breath, Emperor Rongsheng stammered, "After I... am gone, you... must immediately ascend the throne and become emperor. You must not let this country fall into a state of leaderlessness... A country cannot be without a ruler for even a day..."
By this point, he was already panting, but he still stared intently into the prince's eyes, as if he wanted to convey all his unfulfilled wishes to him.
"Father! ...Your subject will certainly obey the imperial decree!"
The crown prince was already sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face like a burst dam.
At that very moment, Emperor Rongsheng finally succumbed to his injuries, slowly closed his eyes, and departed this world forever.
The imperial physician, Zhou, who had been waiting by his side, quickly reached out and gently touched Emperor Rongsheng's pulse. After a moment, his face turned ashen, and he knelt down with a thud, crying out in despair, "His Majesty has passed away!"
The shout rang out like a thunderbolt in the palace, instantly triggering heart-wrenching cries from those around.
Immediately afterwards, the deep and heavy tolling of the funeral bells echoed throughout the capital.
In an instant, white banners were hung up in every household along the streets and alleys to express mourning.
The entire city was immersed in immense grief, as if even heaven and earth were moved.
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