Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Chapter 18 Official Forced Abdication

"What should I do to bring down these two mountains?"

For the first time, a hint of appreciation appeared in Shen Qingci's eyes.

"Indeed, even rotten wood can be carved."

That's amazing, you really have wasted that mouth of yours.

Chen Shao finally understood why, even though she was a role model for scholars and the headmaster of Luming Academy, she held no official position.

"If you aspire to be a wise ruler, I can teach you three techniques; if you intend to live a life of idleness and complacency, I will never set foot here again."

"I aspire to be a great emperor for all time!"

clap clap!

Shen Qingci clapped his hands, "Although it's like a toad trying to eat swan meat, it's still commendable courage. Not bad."

"Let's begin..."

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

Eunuch Wei rushed in, covered in sweat, as if the sky had fallen.

"Your Majesty, all the civil and military officials, more than a hundred people in total, are kneeling outside the Qianqing Palace."

They said that if His Majesty did not retract his order and issue a decree to move south, they would kneel there forever.

"Oh, a coup d'état?" Chen Shao suddenly realized.

"Then let them kneel."

"Absolutely not."

Shen Qingci immediately spoke, saying decisively:

"The worst thing about this kind of thing is to ignore it."

"First, the kneeling of all officials signifies the shutdown of the court, and the empire will cease to function within a few days."

"Secondly, in the eyes of the people, Your Majesty will become a foolish and stubborn ruler who humiliates loyal and virtuous officials."

"Third...it's very possible that you'll be crippled before they even finish kneeling..."

"Is it that serious?" Chen Shao was a little confused.

"If you were in a position of power now, you could confront them head-on without hesitation."

"But you're just a puppet now, with no real power."

Shen Qingci smiled faintly.

It's like someone offering you a pillow when you're sleepy; isn't this a perfect example to teach a monarch?

Eunuch Wei looked worried. "What should we do now..."

"Simple: divide and conquer, compromise temporarily."

Shen Qingci paced back and forth, his hands behind his back, a picture of wisdom and composure.

"First, quickly have Eunuch Wei win over a few marginal figures, gradually turning the officials into a few leaders; second..."

She spoke at length.

In the blink of an eye, they found Chen Shao touching the dragon carving on the dragon throne and marveling at it.

"You! You're utterly hopeless!"

"The officials are forcing you to abdicate; this is a death sentence. If not handled properly, it could very well be your end!"

Chen Shao gestured for her not to be nervous.

"Wouldn't everything be fine if we just let them disperse?"

"Nonsense, but it's obvious that those two old foxes were behind the scenes. How could the officials possibly back down if they didn't give the order?"

"If you just ask them to return it, that should be fine."

......

Outside the Qianqing Palace.

Hundreds of officials knelt down in the square.

As if on cue, the heavens sent down a light rain.

The scene looked even more tragic.

In the drizzle, everyone stood even straighter, their faces filled with a tragic and resolute spirit as if they were facing certain death.

"We humbly request Your Majesty to rescind your decree and issue an order to move the capital south!"

"If Your Majesty does not move south, the three-hundred-year-old foundation of the Great Yan Dynasty will surely be destroyed in an instant!"

"If Your Majesty insists on staying behind, we...we will kneel here forever."

"We, your humble servants, will remain kneeling and not rise."

Hundreds of officials echoed in unison, their voices resounding throughout the palace.

Han Cao and Yuwen Huagu looked at each other from afar and smiled.

"The weather is really cooperating; it's actually raining."

Han Cao stroked his beard. He was usually very reserved, but at this moment, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

This tactic of remonstrating to the death to force the emperor to abdicate, while not particularly clever, was effective in its own way.

This was a major step forward in resisting monarchical power.

"Let's go home and pack our things. We'll definitely move out in a couple of days."

"I heard that the Empress of Northern Mang has already sent her vanguard. Her army is pressing in, and it won't be long before they arrive. Sigh."

"How could my Great Yan have fallen to such a state?"

The two looked at each other and sighed.

They slowly left.

......

The young eunuch had been kneeling all morning, carrying the food box with utmost care.

Steaming hot ginger soup and food were served to the adults.

"Gentlemen, have a bowl of ginger soup to warm yourselves up; this rain is too chilly."

"roll!"

Their response was a barrage of angry rebukes.

"If Your Majesty does not rescind your order, I will starve myself to death here! Take it all back!"

"I would rather die than eat it!"

Other officials followed suit, and in no time, food boxes were overturned all over the ground.

"Loyalty through hunger strike and dying to remonstrate with the king—if this scene were recorded by historians, it would surely be a legendary tale that will be remembered for generations."

Under the long corridor, Shen Qingci spoke with a cold laugh.

Several of these people were graduates of the imperial examinations in both the provincial and metropolitan examinations.

Back when he was announced in the Golden Hall, he was a spirited young man, determined to serve his country.

"It's a pity that all the talents of the court officials have been used for vying for power and profit."

"If all my Confucian disciples were like this..."

Then it's better not to read these books of sages and worthies.

Shen Qingci suddenly felt a little lost.

What kind of trash are these people teaching?

Chen Shao glanced at her. "Actually, I quite like Confucianism."

"What's the use of liking them? Putting that aside, how do you expect them to leave on their own? If this drags on any longer, you'll be seeing the edict to depose the emperor."

Chen Shao did not answer.

He just gazed at the increasingly gloomy sky in the distance.

Suddenly, a young official kneeling at the very back unconsciously scratched the back of his neck.

He had felt a ticklish sensation in his collar earlier, but at first he thought it was rainwater running down his collar and didn't pay much attention to it.

But the cool, slippery feeling didn't disappear.

Instead, it undulates softly down the back of the neck and along the spine.

He reached back and grabbed inside his collar.

The next moment—a heart-wrenching scream was heard.

"Ah! A snake!"

"Snake! Snake!"

In his haste, he threw it haphazardly outside.

It landed right in the face of the guy next to me.

This completely caused an uproar.

"Snake! There's a snake!"

"I have snakes on me, don't you dare throw them at me!"

"It's inside! It's gone inside!"