My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 341 Hauge, the Qing Dynasty will be yours from now on!

Hauge then quickly got up, carefully climbed onto the bed over Huang Taiji, reached out and opened the hidden compartment, taking out the box inside.

He then knelt down before Huang Taiji again and respectfully handed the box to him.

Huang Taiji did not reach out to take it, but said:

"open to take a look."

Hauge was almost in tears. He was already in such a state, did Huang Taiji still want him to see with his own eyes which of his brothers would inherit the throne?

This is simply a humiliation to him!

But Hauge couldn't refuse, so he forced himself to slowly open one of the edicts of succession, suppressing his resentment and grievances.

But he didn't even dare to look at it, his eyes fixed on the edge of the edict.

"Take a closer look to see who's on it."

Huang Taiji's voice rang out again.

Upon hearing this, Haug took a deep breath before slowly shifting his gaze, but when he saw the name on it, he was immediately stunned.

Because the name on it wasn't one of his younger brothers, but himself!
Aisin-Gioro Hauge!

That's right, his name was actually written on this edict of succession!

At that moment, Hauge was so excited that he was trembling all over. Then he looked at Huang Taiji with an incredulous expression.

"Father, what's going on? Why is my name on this?"

Haug's voice was filled with surprise and disbelief, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

Seeing Hauge's somewhat flustered state, Huang Taiji smiled slightly, then patted Hauge on the shoulder and said:

"Hauge, do you really think I would choose someone else as my heir? You are my most prized son, how could I abandon you?"

"The reason I said those things just now was to test you, and you have successfully passed my test, so you will be the future emperor of the Qing Dynasty."

As soon as he said those words, Haug felt an overwhelming surge of emotion welling up inside him, an emotion that overwhelmed him like a raging tide.

The next second, he couldn't help but burst into tears, which rolled down his face like beads from a broken string.

This must be what they call crying tears of joy!
He not only gained his father's approval, but also obtained the throne he had always dreamed of. How could he not be excited?

Huang Taiji didn't say anything more. He looked at Hauge in front of him and seemed to see himself seventeen years ago.

He remembered clearly that he had knelt before his father Nurhaci that day and received the throne from him.

I just didn't expect time to pass so quickly.
Only after seeing that Hauge had calmed down a bit did Huang Taiji continue:
"I had already written these two edicts of succession in my own hand when I returned to Shenyang, and they have been sealed in a secret box ever since."

Do you know why I didn't tell you?

Haug wiped away his tears and then shook his head.

His eyes were filled with doubt and confusion, waiting for Huang Taiji's answer.

Huang Taiji first sighed, and then explained:
"As you know, our Great Qing is currently beset by internal and external troubles. The external threat is the Ming Dynasty, and the internal troubles are your uncles. They each have their own agendas, and if we rashly announce this matter, they certainly won't let it go."

"The Qing Dynasty will only fall apart then, so I dare not do that."

"I have considered taking them with me when I leave, but I still cannot do that."

"Because you only control the Plain Blue Banner of the Eight Banners now, even if I hand over the Plain Yellow Banner and Bordered Yellow Banner under my command to you, the other five banners may not necessarily submit to you, so your uncles can only continue to live."

"I also wanted to resolve all your troubles before I die, so that you could smoothly ascend the throne, but I can't. I'm so sorry!"

As he finished speaking, Huang Taiji's voice grew increasingly low, and his eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and guilt.

When he heard Huang Taiji say "I'm sorry," Hauge's eyes instantly reddened again.

He never expected his father to be so considerate of him, and before this, he had been constantly blaming Huang Taiji in his heart.

At that moment, Haug was filled with emotion and guilt.

The next second, he immediately kowtowed to Huang Taiji again, and then said:

"Father, rest assured. There's a saying among the Han people: 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' I believe there will be a solution to these problems!"

"Besides, my uncles all understand the current predicament of the Qing Dynasty, so I'm sure they won't act recklessly!"

When Huang Taiji heard what Hauge said, he could only nod.

"You're right, I was overthinking things!"

"When you leave later, take one of these edicts with you. As for the other edict, I will leave it in this secret compartment."

"After I die, take out your edict and then take out this edict that is with me. Compare the two edicts, and you will be able to succeed to the throne smoothly."

Hauge quickly kowtowed again respectfully.

"My son, I obey!"

At this moment, Hauge's voice was incredibly firm and sincere, filled with gratitude and respect for Huang Taiji.

Just then, Huang Taiji gave another instruction:

"Remember this: after you leave, hide this edict of succession well and don't let anyone find it."

"Furthermore, I require you to swear to me that you will not tell a third person about the edict of succession before I die."

Upon hearing this, Hauge felt a pang of anxiety, but seeing Huang Taiji's serious expression, he knew that he had no choice but to make the vow.

Moreover, he knew that Huang Taiji was doing this for his own good. After all, if a third person knew about this, then a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth person would find out, causing utter chaos.

Thinking of this, Hauge quickly raised his right hand and solemnly swore:
"Father, rest assured, I swear here that as long as you are alive, I will never let a third person know about this. If I break this oath, I will be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his shoulders, and he felt much more relaxed.

Now that things have come to this, he has said everything he needed to say, and there is nothing more to say.

Immediately at Huang Taiji's instruction, Hauge put one of the edicts back into the box and then hid it in a secret compartment.

As for the other edict, Hauge carefully tucked it into his waistband.

However, Hauge did not leave in a hurry. Instead, he talked to Huang Taiji about the plan that Fan Wencheng had mentioned earlier against Li Dingguo and others.

Huang Taiji originally did not want to agree. He felt that there was no need to engage in such intrigues at the moment, and that the important thing was to honestly send people to the capital to attend Chongzhen's birthday celebration.

But considering how angry she had been before, she eventually agreed to it.

"Alright, alright, you can handle this matter yourselves! But just remember not to make things worse!" Hauge quickly nodded.

"Father, rest assured, your son will personally oversee this matter. Even if it fails, I will never offend the Ming Dynasty!"

Then, the father and son chatted about other things until Huang Taiji felt a wave of weariness and then dismissed Hauge.

However, before Hauge left, Huang Taiji couldn't help but give him some instructions:

"Remember this, do not tell anyone about this, or it will only cause more trouble!"

Hauge nodded earnestly, then respectfully kowtowed to Huang Taiji before slowly retreating.

In that instant of turning around, Haug's eyes were filled with excitement, an excitement that shone like a burning flame.

Because Hauge knew that the Qing Dynasty would soon be his!
Soon after, he will become the emperor of the Qing Dynasty and begin his own glorious era!

However, just as Haug was about to reach the palace gate, he suddenly stopped abruptly as if pulled by an invisible force.

There was nothing he could do; he was just too excited, so excited that he was almost losing his mind.

But he knew he absolutely could not appear in front of everyone looking like this.

Otherwise, if others see his excited expression, they will definitely guess what happened, and trouble will inevitably arise.

But then again, how can such an excited feeling be calmed down so easily?
That was the throne he had always dreamed of, the ultimate goal he had worked so hard for all these years!

Every time he argued righteously in the court, every time he fought bravely on the battlefield, wasn't it all for the sake of one day sitting on the dragon throne and becoming the ruler of the Qing Dynasty?

The next second, Haug suddenly exhaled, a resolute glint in his eyes, and then abruptly raised his right hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

"Snapped!"

He slapped him quite hard, and a burning pain instantly shot through his face, like needles piercing his skin, making him involuntarily frown.

Fortunately, the pain acted like a wake-up call, instantly calming him down.

Hauge reached out and touched his slightly burning cheeks, feeling the stinging pain, but a faint smile appeared on his lips.

This was the only thing he could do to calm himself down!

Immediately afterwards, he subconsciously touched the edict of succession clipped to his waist, and then strode out.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere outside the palace had become increasingly tense, and Dorgon, Dayuer, and the others were growing impatient.

Whether they were standing or sitting, their eyes revealed both anxiety and anticipation.

After all, Hauge had been inside for far too long, a full fifteen minutes.

No one knows what the father and son said. This long wait was like an invisible shackle tightly binding their hearts.

Dorgon stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes glancing at the palace entrance from time to time, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of impatience on his face.

Da Yu'er stood quietly to the side, her eyes revealing a deep worry.

She was genuinely afraid that Huang Taiji would announce the successor today.

If that's the case, then all their previous efforts will have been in vain.
Jirhalang paced back and forth to the side, his steps hurried and disordered, as if venting his inner dissatisfaction.

He would occasionally look up at the palace gate, muttering to himself:

"What on earth is Hauge doing in there? Why hasn't he come out yet?"

The others present were also speculating about what Hauge and Huang Taiji were discussing inside.

Could it be that Huang Taiji really intends to pass the throne to Hauge?

But that doesn't make sense. If that's the case, why not invite them in together and explain the matter directly to them? Wouldn't that be better?

Just as everyone was lost in thought and almost losing patience, a figure finally walked slowly out of the palace.

Who else could it be but Haug?

The moment they saw Hauge, everyone present was immediately intrigued and swarmed around him.

The scene was like a pack of hungry wolves spotting prey and eagerly pouncing on it.

Dorgon was the first to ask, unable to contain himself:
"Hauge, what exactly did His Majesty say to you?"

Jirhalang quickly asked as well:
"Tell me quickly, what exactly did His Majesty say? Did His Majesty just forget about it? Tell me what he just said!"

Jirgalang originally wanted to ask Huang Taiji whether he had passed the throne to Hauge, but he felt it was inappropriate to ask that question now.

So in the end, he swallowed those words and didn't say them out loud.

At the same time, Da Yu'er wanted to rush in and see Huang Taiji immediately, but she held back in the end.

Because she also wanted to hear what Huang Taiji had just said to Hauge.

Facing the crowd gathered around him, Hauge first feigned some frustration, then spoke in a slightly disgruntled tone:
"His Majesty didn't say anything. He just told us to treat the envoys from the Ming Dynasty well and to prepare all the tribute according to their requirements. We must not make any mistakes."

"Simply put, it's about avoiding any war with the Ming Dynasty!"

Everyone was a little confused when they heard this.

No, so you two have been talking for so long just for this trivial matter?
The next second, Zirhalang couldn't help but ask again:
"Didn't His Majesty say anything else?"

Haug shook his head and said nothing more, still pretending to be indignant.

Just then, Dorgon keenly noticed the handprint on Hauge's face.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he asked:
"Hauge, what happened to your face? Did His Majesty hit you?"

Hearing this, everyone else looked at Hauge's face and saw a faint handprint on his face.

Haug was startled when he heard this. He hadn't expected that the slap he had just given was so forceful that it had left such a clear handprint on his face.

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes at first, but he quickly recovered in the next second.

Then he pretended to look grief-stricken and said:

"Don't talk nonsense, this wasn't Father who hit you!"

He raised his voice a few decibels as he said this, as if he were trying his best to defend himself.

Immediately afterwards, he pushed through the crowd and left, pretending to be furious.

(End of this chapter)