Two or three days later, the emperor's condition improved somewhat, and his illness seemed to have stabilized. He could move the hands and feet on one side of his body and began to speak again, although his speech was unclear.
It was, after all, a very serious stroke. The imperial physicians knew that the disease was incurable, but they hoped that the emperor could live a few more days.
To this day, the imperial physicians have not yet figured out whether the black pill was effective for the emperor. Judging from the emperor's sudden illness at the time, the pill was definitely not something that could be taken.
In the following days, the emperor's condition improved significantly.
No one knew whether it was the effect of the pills or a final burst of energy from the emperor before his death. If it was a final burst of energy, then the emperor's end was not far off.
Just then, Li Guang arrived in the capital. When he learned that the emperor had suffered a stroke, he was immediately shocked.
Li Guang rushed to the emperor's bedroom, knelt before the emperor's bed, and wept bitterly.
Upon seeing Li Guang, the emperor was filled with mixed emotions of sorrow and joy. He had someone help him up and sit on his bed.
Everyone was astonished to see that the emperor was able to sit up in bed upon seeing Li Guang.
With great effort, the Emperor raised his only movable arm and stroked Li Guang, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Majesty is so ill, why not send an urgent message? That way, I could return to the capital more than ten days earlier to serve you."
"Qing'er, don't be sad. I didn't send you back in an emergency because I was afraid you would worry. Look, I'm perfectly fine."
The only regret is that my health is failing, and I am no longer able to govern. The reason I have brought you back is to have you serve the country, share my burdens, take charge of the government, and care for the people of the realm.”
Upon hearing this, Li Guang was greatly surprised and quickly said, "Father, please don't do this. The matter of passing on the throne is absolutely unacceptable. It won't be long before Father recovers. The Great Northern Dynasty cannot be without Father."
Li Guang's words were sincere and heartfelt, a genuine expression of his feelings, which greatly pleased the emperor.
Throughout history, princes have resorted to any means to seize the throne. Li Guang did not deliberately pursue this path. His break with the eldest prince, Li Hui, was a forced counterattack, a move he had no other choice but to make.
Li Guang was a man of both virtue and talent. Even when he was in exile and his fate was uncertain, he still cared deeply about the country and saved the Northern Dynasty from danger on several occasions.
Li Guang is currently the best candidate to succeed to the throne, a consensus that has long been reached in the court. Li Guang's ascension to the throne is what everyone hopes for.
At this moment, the emperor's mental state was at its best. He looked around and saw that several important ministers of the court were around him.
The emperor looked at the fourth prince, his eyes filled with a mixture of reluctance and satisfaction.
"Your Highness, the rest is up to you." The emperor spoke these words clearly and without any ambiguity.
The Fourth Prince nodded and said:
"As you command."
After the Fourth Prince finished speaking, he looked at the eunuch beside him, who immediately presented something to the Fourth Prince.
This is a will drafted by the emperor a few days ago; in fact, it is an imperial edict.
"Li Guang receives the imperial decree."
The Fourth Prince spoke in a serious tone.
Li Guang knew that the emperor had decreed that the throne should be passed to him. Although he did not want this, he could not disobey the decree.
"Your subject receives the decree."
Li Guang was already kneeling, so when the Fourth Prince read out the imperial edict, Li Guang only needed to change his position and face the edict.
"The throne is passed to the second prince, Li Guang. This is the imperial decree."
"Your subject obeys the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Li Guang was the second son among the princes, but people were used to calling him the youngest prince. However, in formal occasions, he was referred to as the second prince.
Seeing that Li Guang had accepted the decree, the emperor was very pleased. The next step was to hold an enthronement ceremony for Li Guang. If he could escape this calamity, he would become the retired emperor.
Next, the emperor summoned several ministers to his side and said:
"My dear ministers, you are all important officials in the court. I have suddenly fallen ill and feel that my time is near."
Qing'er suffered many hardships from a young age, which may have been God's arrangement. His ascension to the throne at this time is also in accordance with the will of Heaven.
Qing'er is still very young and has no experience in governing. I ask all my beloved subjects to assist her diligently.
Upon hearing this, the officials knelt before the emperor's bed and began to kowtow.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, we will do our utmost to serve the new emperor, even at the cost of our lives."
After completing this important task, the emperor felt completely drained, exhausted, and immediately lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
In ancient times, if the old emperor had died, the enthronement ceremony had to be held after the old emperor's funeral was completed.
The old emperor is still alive, but abdicated due to health reasons that prevent him from governing. The new emperor will ascend the throne in three days.
It seems the emperor's condition is not optimistic. Could it have been a temporary resurgence before his death? It's hard to say.
In the following days, the court and the public were busy preparing for Li Guang's ascension to the throne three days later.
At that time, the coronation ceremony of a new emperor was a solemn and sacred moment. The ceremony was not only a crowning of the new emperor, but also a declaration to the entire country, demonstrating the supreme power of the emperor.
The enthronement ceremony was held in the main hall of the palace. At noon, Li Guang, dressed in a dragon robe and holding the imperial seal, walked along a long red carpet and arrived at the main hall under the escort of a majestic guard.
The enthronement ceremony has a strict procedure, mainly consisting of three steps. First, the new emperor is crowned, then the new emperor gives a speech, which is equivalent to taking an oath of office. After completing these two tasks, he receives the homage of civil and military officials.
As the old emperor was on his deathbed, Li Guang requested that unnecessary procedures be omitted and everything be simplified, even the music was skipped.
Even so, the coronation ceremony lasted a full day before it was finally concluded.
Li Guang knew that once he ascended the throne and became emperor, he would face numerous state affairs every day, and it would be difficult for him to have time to return to Shuixian Town. Even if he did go, it would only be for inspection.
Since being taken in by Brother Zhao, I have lived in Shuixian Town and witnessed its transformation from a small mountain village into a prominent town.
Having only been in the capital for a few days, he has already become emperor. Brother Zhao is unaware of what has happened in the capital. We must inform Brother Zhao, Li Xue, and Meng Yaoyao of this matter as soon as possible.
After the enthronement ceremony, Li Guang returned to his palace to visit the old emperor. The emperor was very happy to see that Li Guang had completed the enthronement ceremony. For him, he had accomplished the most important thing in his life, and that was enough.
The old emperor was in high spirits, and Li Guang stayed with him until the old emperor fell asleep from exhaustion, at which point Li Guang left.
Since Li Guang was already the emperor, he could not leave the palace unless there were special circumstances.
Li Guang moved into another palace, and he would begin attending court and handling state affairs starting tomorrow.
After returning to his palace, Li Guang did not rest immediately. Instead, he wrote a letter and sent someone to deliver it to Shuixian Town the next morning, to be given to Marquis Zhengyang.
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