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

Emperor Chongzhen alighted from his palanquin, glanced at the newly decorated plaza in front of the palace and the waiting crowd, and smiled at Empress Zhou beside him:

"Today is quite lively. It's a bit simpler than the past few days, but it's still quite solemn."

Empress Zhou smiled and nodded:
"After all, it is the Crown Prince taking a concubine, and she is a princess from the Zheng family and Khorchin. The proper etiquette cannot be disregarded. Your Majesty, I think this situation is very auspicious."

The emperor and empress did not linger outside. Amidst the kneeling welcome of the crowd, they went straight into the west wing and sat on the throne that had been prepared beforehand.

Crown Princess Ning Wanyao had also come from the inner palace and, according to etiquette, sat in the second seat below Empress Zhou.

Today she was wearing the Crown Princess's everyday clothes, a color slightly lighter than the Empress's formal attire. She remained dignified and composed, her expression calm, her gaze gentle as she looked out of the hall.

Following closely behind, Grand Secretaries Xue Guoguan and Hong Chengchou, along with several other cabinet ministers including Jiang Dejing, the Minister and Vice Minister of Rites, the Director of the Imperial Clan Court, and over a hundred officials of the third rank or above in Beijing, filed in and stood solemnly according to their rank on both sides of the hall and under the corridor outside the hall.

A investiture ceremony that combined state and family rituals, politics and marriage officially began.

The grand event did not come to a complete end until 10 p.m.

From this point on, Zhu Cilang had completed a major event in his life!
Ten days later.

Inside the West Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, silver-boned charcoal burned quietly in several large bronze charcoal braziers, emitting a stable and smokeless heat that completely kept out the chill.

The afternoon sunlight, filtering through the window frames covered with Korean paper, became soft and bright, casting oblique shadows on the polished gold-brick floor and reflecting the windowpanes.

On the emperor's desk, several open memorials were weighed down by paperweights, all of them reporting good news—the governor of Henan reported that "the winter wheat grew well last year, and the soil moisture is excellent this spring," and the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner reported that "the dredging of the canal from Qingjiangpu to Tongzhou was completed last year, and the canal boats can now travel freely this spring."

The military reports from Liaodong and Xuanda garrisons forwarded by the Ministry of War contained nothing more than phrases like "the border is peaceful" and "spring defenses are in place."

A pot of daffodils on the desk is in full bloom, their pale yellow flowers releasing a delicate fragrance in the warm room.

Emperor Chongzhen was clearly in a very good mood today.

He was not wearing court robes, but only an apricot-yellow casual robe with a dark-colored vest over it. He casually leaned back in the armchair behind the imperial desk, playing with a warm white jade paperweight in his hand, with a smile on his face.

Inside the cabinet, five of the most powerful civil officials of the time—Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan, Grand Secretaries Jiang Dejing, Fan Jingwen, Zhang Zhifa, and Hong Chengchou—sat on either side.

The eunuchs then presented this year's newly tribute Lu'an melon seed tea, which had a delicate and refreshing aroma.

The tea smoke curled gently, creating a tranquil atmosphere rarely seen in months.

"Let's drink tea today, without being bound by formalities."

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, stopping the few people who were about to get up and pay their respects. He smiled and spoke, his voice unusually lighthearted.

"This year has been full of good news, and I am very happy. So I wanted to invite you all over to have a chat."

He pointed to the report on the table:
"There is no more war in Liaodong, the canal and sea transport are unblocked, the transport of grain from the south to the north is no longer hindered, and I heard that the spring tax in Jiangnan is also smoother than in previous years. This is the first time I have seen such a scene in all the years I have been on the throne."

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan stroked his long, white beard, a smile similar to that of Emperor Chongzhen appearing on his face, and continued the conversation:
"Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune. After the Crown Prince's wedding, the world is indeed filled with peace and prosperity. At my age, to be able to witness such a glorious era before retiring and returning home, I feel fulfilled and have no regrets."

As he spoke, his gaze seemed to casually sweep over Hong Chengchou, who was sitting below him.

With his retirement imminent, the position of Grand Secretary will, barring any unforeseen circumstances, fall to this man.

Hong Chengchou, dressed in a scarlet everyday robe with a second-rank pheasant insignia, sat upright and merely bowed slightly upon hearing the words, responding demurely:

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's wisdom, His Highness the Crown Prince's bravery, and the soldiers' valiant efforts that we have achieved what we have today. We only wish that the world will be at peace from now on, and that Your Majesty can finally find some solace."

His tone was calm, but deep in his eyes, he could not hide a hint of anticipation and caution for the upcoming power transition.

The position of Grand Secretary is within reach.

Jiang Dejing and Fan Jingwen, two veteran officials known for their prudence and integrity, also showed expressions of satisfaction and echoed each other's sentiments.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhifa cupped his hands and said:
"Your Majesty, now that peace is gradually being restored throughout the land, it is the time to allow the people to rest and recuperate, and to build up national strength. Although taxes were reduced or exempted in various regions last year, the national treasury was still greatly depleted due to the wars in Liaodong and Korea, as well as the Crown Prince's wedding. This spring has brought good omens, so we should proceed steadily and cautiously."

“What Zhang Qing said is very true.”

Chongzhen nodded, picked up the blue-and-white porcelain teacup beside him, gently skimmed off the foam, and took a sip of the tea. The aroma of the tea spread in his mouth, and his smile deepened. As if it had been a casual remark, he continued:

"That is why I have summoned you all here today. Besides being happy, I also have an important matter I would like to discuss with you."

He put down his teacup, and the porcelain made a crisp "ding" sound as it touched the rosewood table.

His gaze then swept over the five people seated, the relaxed smile on his face slightly fading, and his tone shifted to a gentle yet undeniably solemn one:
"I intend to announce my abdication and transfer the throne to the Crown Prince on the Emperor's birthday."

The words fell.

Inside the West Warm Pavilion, time seemed to freeze.

The expressions on the faces of the five cabinet ministers froze instantly.

The warm room was cozy as spring, but an invisible chill was quietly spreading.

"Your Majesty! This...this is absolutely unacceptable! Your Majesty! The Emperor's birthday is a day of universal celebration, a day to commemorate Your Majesty's birthday. All officials and people across the land are eagerly awaiting it! If we were to announce...announce the abdication at this time, what...what kind of decorum would that be? I fear...I fear it would cause widespread criticism and unrest in the court and among the people, Your Majesty!"

Jiang Dejing became emotional, and towards the end, he almost knelt down.

Following closely behind, Grand Secretary Fan Jingwen also hurriedly rose, his voice filled with heartache and indignation:

"Grand Secretary Jiang is absolutely right! Your Majesty! The abdication of emperors throughout history is a grand ceremony of the nation, concerning the orthodoxy of rites and law, and watched by the world! It requires the right time, place, and people, choosing an auspicious day, preparing a complete ceremony, and announcing it to the world so that all under heaven know, in order to show its solemnity! How could... how could it be announced hastily on the occasion of Your Majesty's birthday? This is too... too rash! Outsiders who do not know the inside story may misunderstand and think that Your Majesty is... is disheartened, or has been... alas!"

The words "coerced" lingered on his tongue, but he ultimately didn't dare to say them aloud, though the meaning was crystal clear.

To announce one's abdication on the emperor's birthday is practically saying, "I'm done being emperor, I'm done." What would the court and the public think if this got out? How would history record it?
Zhang Zhifa also recovered from his initial shock. He considered the issue more practically and immediately raised questions from the execution level, his tone urgent but his reasoning clear:
"Your Majesty, setting aside the merits and demerits of the ceremony, let's just talk about the practicalities—the abdication ceremony is far more complex than a single edict! The Ministry of Rites needs to draft a complete set of ceremonial procedures, the Court of State Ceremonies needs to arrange the seating for officials, princes, and foreign envoys, the Imperial Clan Court needs to prepare the corresponding ceremonial instruments and materials, the Imperial Observatory needs to select an auspicious day for the formal abdication, the Ministry of Works needs to renovate the relevant palaces, and the Beijing Garrison and the Embroidered Uniform Guard need to strengthen their security... There are countless details to consider!"

Even if we work day and night, it will take at least two to three months to prepare everything! The Emperor's birthday is only half a month away, there is no way we can make it in time, Your Majesty! Acting hastily will inevitably lead to mistakes, and how will the people of the world view this abdication? The pen of history is iron!" The three ministers, from the perspectives of etiquette, public opinion, and practical matters, thoroughly analyzed the infeasibility of "announcing the abdication on the Emperor's birthday."

The atmosphere inside the warm pavilion had changed from peaceful and relaxed to tense and solemn.

Although they knew that Emperor Chongzhen was considering abdicating, they certainly couldn't do it on his birthday!

Even the abdication of an emperor is subject to timing!
Chongzhen listened silently, his face showing no anger, but the relaxed smile from before had faded. His fingers unconsciously caressed the white jade paperweight, and his gaze calmly fell upon Xue Guoguan, the Grand Secretary who had been lost in thought and had not spoken.

Xue Guoguan felt the emperor's gaze and sighed inwardly.

Then he slowly rose, bowed deeply to Emperor Chongzhen, and spoke in a steady voice, with the deliberate weight characteristic of an elderly person:

“Your Majesty, this old minister understands. In recent years, Your Majesty has been working hard on state affairs, day and night. Now that you see that His Highness the Crown Prince is wise and decisive and capable of shouldering great responsibilities, you feel that you want to retire and enjoy the pleasures of family life. This is only human nature and the heart of a loving father.”

He first affirmed the "legitimacy" of the emperor's abdication, easing the tension, and then changed the subject:
"However, what Lords Jiang, Fan, and Zhang said is all reasonable and wise. Abdication is no small matter. It is not only a family matter between His Majesty and the Crown Prince, but also a matter of national importance, concerning the stability of the country and the hearts of the people. Announcing it on the Emperor's birthday is indeed inappropriate. Firstly, the timing is too hasty and it is easy to spread rumors; secondly, I am afraid that... it will wrong His Highness the Crown Prince."

He glanced at Emperor Chongzhen and continued:

"His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent, filial, and heroic, a fact that is evident to all, and the people are devoted to him. This abdication ceremony should be held in a grand and dignified manner, so that all people will praise him and his name will be remembered in history. Your Majesty, given your love for your son, why not wait a little longer and make this matter even more perfect?"

He paused, then offered a compromise suggestion:

"In my humble opinion, it would be better to... wait until after the celebrations of the Emperor's birthday, and after the New Year, when spring arrives and all things revive, before discussing the specific date and ceremony for the abdication. At that time, the weather will be warm and clear, a perfect omen for a new emperor's accession and the renewal of all things. What does Your Majesty think?"

Finally, Hong Chengchou spoke at the opportune moment, his tone respectful and earnest:
"Your Majesty is in the prime of your life, and your prestige extends throughout the land. It is the perfect time for you to rule the world and establish an unparalleled dynasty. Although His Highness the Crown Prince is virtuous, Your Majesty's presence is like a stabilizing force, bringing peace of mind to the court and the people. I believe that what Grand Secretary Xue said is quite right, and there is no need to rush this matter. His Highness the Crown Prince is in the prime of his life, and it would be of great benefit for him to gain more experience under Your Majesty's guidance."

Emperor Chongzhen listened quietly to everyone's words, his gaze slowly sweeping across the five faces that were either excited, anxious, calm, or respectful.

The warm pavilion fell silent again, with only the faint crackling of the charcoal fire and the slightly heavy breathing of the people inside.

After a long while, a complex smile appeared on Chongzhen's face. He gently shook his head and sighed:
"Enough, enough... I originally thought that the Emperor's birthday is a joyous occasion, and that I could take advantage of this joyous occasion to hand over the throne to the Crown Prince, which would be a wonderful thing. Since all of you ministers feel it is inappropriate and have so many concerns... then let us follow Minister Xue's suggestion."

He leaned back slightly, his tone returning to calm:

"After the Emperor's birthday celebrations and the New Year, we will discuss this again in the spring. As for the specific details, I will trouble you all to carefully discuss the procedures with the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court at that time."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dejing, Fan Jingwen, Zhang Zhifa, and the others visibly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed.
"Your Majesty is wise!"

A look of relief flashed across Hong Chengchou's eyes, and he bowed his head in agreement.

Xue Guoguan bowed again:

"Your humble servant obeys the decree."

A potentially earth-shattering event that could have caused a major upheaval in the imperial court was temporarily quelled thanks to the combined advice of several important ministers.

The atmosphere inside the warm pavilion eased again as the emperor compromised.

The group chatted for a while longer, discussing preparations for the Emperor's birthday celebration and arrangements for spring plowing, and the atmosphere gradually returned to its initial relaxed state.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the five cabinet ministers, seeing that the emperor seemed tired, tactfully got up and took their leave.

Emperor Chongzhen did not linger, but offered a few words of gentle encouragement before letting them go.

The heavy palace doors closed gently behind them.

Inside the West Warm Pavilion, silence returned, leaving only Emperor Chongzhen, the quietly burning charcoal fire, and the continuous dripping sound of melting snow outside the window.

Emperor Chongzhen did not get up immediately.

He sat alone in the large armchair, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

The afternoon sun was already setting in the west, casting longer shadows on the window panes and eaves, and the light inside the warm room dimmed a bit.

The relaxed smile on his face had vanished without a trace, replaced by a complex emotion of faint melancholy.

As for what he was thinking, no one knows!

On the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month of the nineteenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), the Emperor's birthday was celebrated.

Before dawn, just past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), both sides of Beijing's central axis were already brightly lit.

From Daming Gate to Chengtian Gate, and then to Wu Gate, colorful lanterns were hung high and ribbons fluttered along the way.

Every household, regardless of whether they were officials or commoners, hung "Longevity" lanterns at their doorsteps according to custom.

A faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air—the afterglow of the "Longevity Firecrackers" set off at the city gates and bell and drum towers by order of the Five Cities Garrison starting at midnight last night.

Even more intense is the steaming heat from the early-opening breakfast stalls, the freshness after the streets have been swept clean, and a unique atmosphere before a grand festival, a blend of solemnity and jubilation.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), the bells and drums on the Meridian Gate tower rang out in unison, their sound echoing throughout the nine cities.

The heavy Meridian Gate, Duan Gate, and Chengtian Gate opened one after another amidst the resounding sound of horns.

The civil and military officials who had been waiting outside Chengtian Gate, dressed in brand-new court robes, silently proceeded in rank order. Guided by officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial, they passed through a series of heavy palace gates and onto the imperial road covered with brand-new red carpet, slowly making their way toward the heart of the empire—the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The world inside and outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony is now completely different.

The palace where the empire held its most important ceremonies is decorated today with solemnity and celebration.

Beneath the eaves of the palace hangs a huge gilded plaque inscribed with "Long Live the Emperor"; between the coiled dragon pillars inside the palace hangs a bright yellow longevity curtain embroidered with the characters "福" (fortune), "寿" (longevity), and "卍" (swastika); and the nine-dragon golden screen behind the throne shines brightly under the illumination of countless giant candles and palace lanterns.

The hall's floor was paved with gold bricks, gleaming so brightly they reflected one's image. The air was filled with the pure and calming fragrance of sandalwood incense, burned to ward off the night's chill. (End of Chapter)