16th Year of Zhengyong.
January 15th.
At the annual New Year’s celebration, Emperor Zhengyong personally appeared, rejoicing with the people.
That night, the entire Capital City left their doors unlocked, lights shining as bright as day, celebrating throughout the night.
The whole Capital City and its people were imrsed in a sea of joy.
Yet the next day, a Holy Decree was issued by the Cabinet.
By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I, blessed by the heavens, rule over the world, diligently and tirelessly striving to expand the ancestral legacy. Prince Chengji, with his natural intelligence and virtuous conduct, known for his integrity and filial piety, is established as Crown Prince and shall reside in the Eastern Palace.
With the establishnt of the Crown Prince, state affairs take precedence. I hereby appoint the Crown Prince to oversee state matters, managing military and governntal affairs, ensuring harmony and peace throughout the realm. The Crown Prince shall respect the heavens and emulate his ancestors, show benevolence to the people, humbly accept advice, and diligently govern.
However, national affairs cannot lack wise and virtuous assistance. Xu Mujun, Zheng Zongbing, Zheng Zongxian, Zheng Xuanyue, Li Changfeng, Kong Xiangsi, Wang Anshi, and others are loyal and righteous individuals, possessing both talent and virtue, whom I have entrusted with the duty of Ministers of Imperial Decree. You are to assist the Crown Prince with all your heart, fulfilling your duties, correcting wrongs, and ensuring the empire’s stability and prosperity.
Respect this.
16th Year of Zhengyong, January 16th.
This Holy Decree not only established Zheng Chengji as Crown Prince but also appointed him to oversee the state.
Most importantly, the Decree appointed seven Ministers of Imperial Decree.
Such an order and arrangent are decrees typically issued by the previous Emperor at his deathbed.
Nurous ministers and citizens were utterly baffled.
Just last night, he was celebrating with the people, reportedly summoning more than ten Noble Ladies throughout the night.
How could, in just one night, he be delegating his last will?
Clearly, the current Emperor Zhengyong is not yet forty years old, full of vigor and vitality.
Since his ascension, he quelled the rebellion of King Tang and the treason of Pri Minister Yang, later subduing the Northern Lands’ chaos, various royal disturbances, noble family rebellions, expelled Wu Country, and expanded territories achieving great feats.
His reputation and prestige among the over twenty emperors of Great Yu rank among the top three.
How... could he be delegating his last will like this?!
This Decree, once issued, stirred countless discussions within the Imperial Court and among the people.
Many loyal and righteous individuals within the court even speculated that it was the Lu Family conspiring with the Xu Family to imprison the Emperor and seize control, causing nurous rumors to spread.
Nevertheless, following the decree’s issuance, the entire court, under the Cabinet’s guidance, began gradually transferring power to Zheng Chengji.
Taihe Hall.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I, blessed by the heavens, rule over the world, diligently and tirelessly striving to expand the ancestral legacy. Prince Chengji, with his natural intelligence and virtuous conduct, known for his integrity and filial piety, is established as Crown Prince and shall reside in the Eastern Palace."
A fair-skinned little eunuch, appearing under twenty, held the Holy Decree and read aloud.
Perhaps due to nerves, his tone carried a slight tremble.
Nonetheless, being a eunuch trained by the Lu Family and having grown up alongside Zheng Chengji, they shared a deep bond.
Zheng Chengji, dressed in a bright yellow Python Robe, adorned with a golden crown, exuding majesty and solemnity, proceeded towards the Dragon Throne.
At present, he was still only the Crown Prince.
Though he could wear bright yellow robes, he could only don a Python Robe, not a Dragon Robe.
His gaze held a hint of determination and composure as he seated himself, under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites official, on a small chair to the left of the Dragon Throne.
This chair bore a resemblance to the Dragon Throne, similarly adorned with dragon and phoenix carvings.
But compared to the Dragon Throne, it was undoubtedly much smaller.
His eyes instinctively glanced at the Dragon Throne, and for so reason, he found that grand chair more appealing than this small seat.
Yet he quickly recalled his mother’s and uncles’ reminders and dared not look again.
Under the Ministry of Rites official’s guidance, he turned and sat upon the chair.
Beneath the grand hall, civil and military officials, led by Xu Mujun and Zheng Xuanyue, bowed towards Zheng Chengji.
"We humbly greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"
"Everyone... rise!"
Zheng Chengji’s voice was sowhat crisp and slightly soft-spoken, yet he was forrly a prince, and now a Crown Prince.
With the support of the Lu Family, his heart gradually steadied.
The palace atmosphere was solemn and respectful, the music lingering gracefully, as palace maids and eunuchs stood with lowered heads, not daring to show the slightest laxity.
Seated below the Dragon Throne, but still able to look over the crowd below, a surge of unprecedented ambition and responsibility swelled within him.
He knew very well that from this mont onward, he would bear the nation’s future and the people’s well-being.
Simultaneously, he received the greatest power of the Great Yu Dynasty from his father’s hands.
Imperial power...!
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The ministers, respectful, rose and saluted.
At this mont, it was precisely 5:00 AM, with the sun hanging high, its rays shining through the lattice windows, casting a golden halo over Zheng Chengji.
He instinctively gazed into the distance.
Outside Taihe Hall, nurous eunuchs, palace maids, guards, etc., stood in ranks, their expressions increasingly respectful.
At this juncture, he recalled the words his mother and others had shared before.
"Ji’er, once you beco Crown Prince, you’ll understand why your father commands such respect."
"And you will beco the person of greatest power in our Great Yu Dynasty, the future Crown Prince..."
Even his uncles, upon learning he would beco Crown Prince, displayed increasing deference.
At this point, the Ministry of Rites official gestured to the left.
The little eunuch Lu Xin, who had served Zheng Chengji since childhood, hurried a step forward, once again bringing out a eunuch and announced aloud:
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
"I, in harmony with the Immortal Dao, having established the Crown Prince, appoint him to oversee the nation. Yet, national matters cannot lack wise and virtuous assistance."
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