Chongzhen wrote very slowly.
After the ink dried, he folded the paper in half three times, placed it on the dragon desk and weighed it down with a paperweight.
Queen Zhou quickly asked: "Your Majesty, what is this..."
Chongzhen said slowly: "The news is all in there, but you can't read it now."
"Then when can I see it?"
"You can only watch it when I am gone."
Hearing this, Queen Zhou burst into tears again.
The affection between them is deep.
It was difficult for her to accept the reality that Chongzhen was about to leave.
But Chongzhen had no time for romance. He waved his hand and asked Wang Chengen to send Queen Zhou away, and ordered several cabinet members to enter the palace.
Before nightfall, the cabinet members, led by Prime Minister Qiu Yu, arrived at the Qianqing Palace.
Compared with the cabinet a few years ago, the current cabinet has several new faces that are not unfamiliar.
In addition to the cabinet chief and Minister of Personnel Qiu Yu, there are also the new Minister of Revenue Shi Bangyao, Minister of Works Huang Jin and Minister of War Wang Jiayan.
Shi Kefa, the former Minister of Rites, was arranged by Chongzhen to serve as the chief academic officer in the Imperial College due to his failure in command.
After the ceremony, Qiu Yu looked up at Chongzhen.
At this time, Chongzhen was pale and dazed.
Qiu Yu knew that Chongzhen wanted to entrust his son to him, so he hurried to Chongzhen and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty!"
Looking at Qiu Yu's head full of white hair, Chongzhen felt a little emotional.
As the saying goes, the cabinet is permanent, but the prime minister is transient.
When Chiu Yu first entered the cabinet, he was the youngest and had the lowest status.
More than ten years have passed, and he has become the oldest and most senior person in the cabinet.
After sighing, Chongzhen slowly said: "The cabinet has drafted an edict to pass the throne to Crown Prince Zhu Cijiong after I leave."
Qiu Yu and the others quickly knelt down, saying softly: "Your Majesty is in good health, why did you make such a hasty order..."
Chongzhen shook his head gently: "I know my own body very well, just do as I say."
Qiu Yu had no choice but to take the lead in answering: "Yes, we obey your order."
Chongzhen continued, "I am not a virtuous monarch. I did not help the people during my lifetime, and I should not disturb them after my death. I hereby order all officials and people in the country to mourn for one day for a year. After three days of mourning, they should take off their mourning clothes. They are not allowed to marry, offer sacrifices, drink alcohol and eat meat..."
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