At the end of April in the third year of Chong'an in the Great Xia Dynasty, Chu Tianling, who was attending the morning court, looked sallow and aged, as if he had aged several years overnight.
"I have something to report..."
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Yan's rebels have reached outside the capital. We beseech Your Majesty to make a decision..."
"Ahem... Anshun, announce the imperial decree..."
Chu Tianling coughed twice, and before the minister could finish speaking, he waved to the chief eunuch.
Anshun nodded in agreement, took out a bright yellow scroll, and began to read.
"I, the second emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty, the sixth son of the late emperor, the Prince of Qi born to Consort Wei, conspired with my uncle to frame the former crown prince and force the late emperor to abdicate. I then targeted the late emperor's first empress's legitimate son, the Prince of Yan, and his wife, treating external enemies as nothing."
Since my ascension to the throne, I have misjudged the officials, leading to a decline in the court and incurring the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people. The people are in turmoil, and the land of Great Xia is insecure. All this is my fault. Therefore, I hereby issue this edict of self-reproach to Heaven and Earth, to clarify my conscience…
The court officials were shocked; Chu Tianling had actually issued an edict of self-reproach...
"I should not have inherited the throne... The loss of this land is a disgrace to my ancestors. From this day forward, I will no longer refer to myself as 'I,' and I return the Great Xia empire to the late Emperor's only legitimate son, the Prince of Yan..."
Upon hearing this, some court officials were filled with fear, while others remained calm...
Chu Tianling said no more, calmly removed the crown from his head, and strode away. In the past two years, there have been quite a few court officials who have supported him. He knew that it was not because of his ability, but simply because, compared to the Prince of Yan, he, the emperor, was easier to talk to.
His former ambitions had been almost completely worn away over the past three years. He lacked his father's decisiveness, the former crown prince's composure, and Chu Tianze's fearless courage to conquer.
He was not a qualified emperor, neither in times of chaos nor in times of peace.
In less than half a day, the emperor's edict of self-reproach and abdication had spread throughout the entire imperial city.
The families that had once firmly supported Chu Tianling had gathered together to figure out what to do, while others were eagerly awaiting the Prince of Yan's entry into the capital.
Outside the imperial city, Chu Tianze and Bai Chuxiao rode their steeds ahead, gazing at the majestic city walls. From this day forward, their fates would be in their own hands.
The city gates were opened, and Marquis Fan led the court officials who already supported the King of Yan to come and greet him.
"Greetings, Prince Yan and Princess!"
"No need for such formalities!"
Marquis Fan bowed and said, "Please, Your Highness and Your Highness, enter the capital city!"
Chu Tianze nodded. "Song Fei will leave a pair of men to take over the defense of the imperial city, and the rest of you will come to the palace with me."
"yes!"
After Chu Tianling issued the edict, the entire palace was filled with desolation. The few imperial guards had no power to resist and were captured by the Changning Army.
As for Prince An, Chu Wenzheng, and the royal guards, they had long since disappeared without a trace. Cui Hao took over the palace defenses, and Chu Tianze and Bai Chuxiao went straight to Empress Dowager Wei's palace.
Chu Tianling's concubines and children are all here, and Chu Tianling himself returned here directly after his last morning court session.
"You've come!" Chu Tianling said in a hoarse voice.
"I will not go back on my promise."
“Let’s confine them in what used to be the Prince Qi’s residence…”
Bai Chuxiao looked at the people in the hall and gave instructions to Xia Fan.
"yes."
After the two men and their men cleared out all the people who originally belonged to Chu Tianling in the palace, the vast palace appeared even more desolate.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, shall we enter the palace?"
Chu Tianze shook his head. "I'll go back to the Prince of Yan's residence for now. Let's clean up the palace properly first."
The two wandered around the palace, inspected it, and then left the palace gate hand in hand. Marquis Fan and some court officials were still waiting at the palace gate. When they saw them come out, they hurriedly came to greet them.
"Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness! Matters of state cannot be delayed any longer. Why doesn't Your Highness choose a date to ascend the throne?"
"The morning court sessions will be suspended for now. Send any memorials to the Prince of Yan's residence first. There's no rush for the enthronement; we'll discuss it a month from now."
"yes!"
Since the Prince of Yan entered the capital, people have been constantly being executed. Chu Tianze has been decisive in his actions regarding the confiscation of property. There have been too many corrupt officials in the court in recent years. He will not be able to ascend the throne in peace if he does not kill them. Sometimes, being an emperor does not necessarily mean being more free than being a prince. So, those who should be killed should be killed now, so as to avoid any nagging after he ascends the throne.
Since January, the major families in the capital have been living in extreme caution, fearing that the Changning Army might arrive at their homes at any moment.
The Prince of Yan's mansion didn't care whether the court could function normally without them. In fact, after the homes of officials of all ranks were confiscated, their efficiency in handling affairs actually increased.
Inside the study of the Prince of Yan's residence.
"Your Highness, only the Yu family and the Bai family are left. Since the heads of the two families were arrested, Chu Tianling has not made any moves against them for some reason."
"The Bai family members have all been exiled. Whether they live or die is up to fate. As for Bai Linan, tell him the good news here, and then kill him..." Bai Chuxiao strode closer and said.
Xia Fan hesitated, "Your Highness, are you really going to kill him..."
"What, you think I shouldn't have been killed?" Bai Chuxiao asked with a half-smile.
"Your subordinate wouldn't dare, but he is, after all, your father, Princess... what if..."
Bai Chuxiao waved her hand, "We've tolerated him long enough, kill him."
She knew Xia Fan was concerned about her reputation. The Princess Consort of Yan had even killed her own father, which would be against etiquette if word got out. But Bai Linan wasn't her father, so she felt no guilt whatsoever when she killed him. As for what others wanted to say, let them say it.
"Kill Xiao Xiao if you want. I don't need to teach you how Xia Fan will communicate with the outside world..." Chu Tianze said calmly.
"Understood!"
"As for the Yu family, the other two powerful families didn't escape, so the Yu family, those parasites, can't be spared either. Out of respect for Yu Fengyang, except for Old Master Yu, the others will be treated the same as the Bai family—exiled. Whether they live or die is up to fate..."
"Yes, I'll take care of it right away!"
After closing the last document, Chu Tianze pulled Bai Chuxiao into his arms. "Xiaoxiao, what do you think about the ascension to the throne?"
"What, does His Highness the Prince of Yan not want to be emperor?"
"I feel like Xiaoxiao seems a bit uninterested..."
Bai Chuxiao shrugged, "It's not like I'm the emperor..."
In fact, she felt that her current life was much better than when she was an emperor. It was so great to be a local tyrant now. No one dared to listen to them, and they didn't have to follow so many rules like when they were emperors or empresses.
"Congratulations, Your Highness Prince Yan! From now on, you'll be living a life where you have to get up before dawn to listen to people chanting sutras!" Bai Chuxiao added.
Chu Tianze shook his head helplessly, "We've come this far, it's unrealistic for us not to become emperor."
"So, it's unrealistic to not have a harem?"
Chu Tianze said irritably, "What are you saying? Do you think I'm Chu Tianling...?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "It's not the best, otherwise..." Then she pinched his waist hard.
"Madam, it hurts so much!" Chu Tianze said, his brows furrowed.
"If my husband's words and actions are inconsistent, I will make sure you never feel pain again!"
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