Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

To ensure that all officials knew the heir apparent, a will was necessary.

Of course, this also symbolizes the legitimacy and orthodoxy of the new monarch.

"Your humble servants will take it." Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang, the two Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, stepped forward, seemingly having been instructed beforehand.

Obtaining the imperial edict was not a difficult task.

However, the significance of imperial edicts meant that the vast majority of officials were not qualified to receive them.

The two walked out together, and imperial guards brought ladders for them to climb.

A short while later, the two removed the plaque inscribed with the three characters "Wende Hall".

All the civil and military officials looked over.

When the secret succession law was first established, in order to facilitate the placement of imperial edicts, the emperor specially ordered people to carve out about a foot of space from the plaque in full view of everyone to place the wooden box.

The imperial edict was stored in a wooden box.

It's very simple and straightforward, without even a few clever tricks!

The fact is, this does not affect the status of the secretly designated heir.

After all, storing the imperial edict in a "public place" frequented by officials was enough to prevent anyone from tampering with it.

"Take it out," Han Zhang instructed.

The two Grand Secretaries nodded, opened the wooden box, and took out an imperial edict about three feet long and about one foot wide.

This imperial edict was made from a dragon robe and soaked in phellodendron bark juice until it turned white, which has a very good insect-repellent and sterilization effect.

It has been ten years since the Secret Succession Act was established.

The civil and military officials had only seen this kind of imperial edict once.

It was during the ancestral worship ceremony when a member of the imperial family was adopted as a prince.

Originally, the adoption of the imperial grandson should have been announced to all officials, but the late emperor suffered a stroke, and the matter was dropped.

Fortunately, the late emperor had said something about "establishing an heir in secret," which allowed people to know the general situation.

Looking around, apart from some template-like content, the will deliberately left some blank space for writing the name of the crown prince.

The vast majority of the content was written in the official style, drafted by court officials.

Only the name of the Crown Prince, written in bold and elegant calligraphy, was personally penned by the Emperor.

[I have adopted Zhao's son, Ce Ying, as the son of the King of Wei, who will become my imperial grandson and be established as the crown prince!]

……

Chapter 167 From a humble peasant in the morning to a high-ranking official in the evening!

Zhao Ceying!

really!

All the officials turned their attention to the past.

During the last rites to commemorate the adopted grandson of the emperor, the emperor specifically mentioned things like "legacy" and "martial virtue," almost suggesting that a new emperor who would expand the territory should be chosen.

Of all the members of the imperial clan, Zhao Ceying was indeed the most martial and virtuous.

As for the bloodline of the founding emperor?

The selection of the crown prince will ultimately depend on the late emperor's will.

If the late emperor did not care about the issue of bloodline, then there would be no difference between the bloodline of the founding emperor and the bloodline of the founding emperor!

"The imperial edict that the emperor possessed has been handed over to Han."

As he spoke, Han Zhang took out an imperial edict from his sleeve, the same type as the one stored in the wooden box.

All officials watched with bated breath, and there was no objection.

Han Zhang nodded, held up the two imperial edicts, and solemnly announced: "The late Emperor's edict is here, establishing the Imperial Grandson Zhao Ceying as the Crown Prince!"

Once the words were spoken, Han Zhang decisively took the lead in bowing: "Your humble servant Han Zhang pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Your humble servants pay their respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Your humble servants pay their respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Your humble servants pay their respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Apart from Empress Dowager Cao, all the civil and military officials, imperial guards, eunuchs, and palace maids bowed down.

With the crown prince newly established, this ceremony is destined to have a different meaning.

"You are all pillars of the nation, there is no need for such formalities. I have been entrusted with this important task by my grandfather, the Emperor, and I will work together with you to govern the country and safeguard its peace." Zhao Ceying blushed and quickly waved his hand, signaling the officials to rise.

The civil and military officials rose one after another.

At that moment, Han Zhang bowed deeply and said, "As the saying goes, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Now, Your Highness has carried on the late Emperor's legacy and has been established as the Crown Prince. We, your subjects, respectfully request Your Highness to ascend the throne to secure the nation and comfort the people!"

For ordinary people, if an elder passes away, their primary responsibility is to announce the death and observe mourning and filial piety.

However, the royal family is different; they usually announce the national mourning only after a new emperor ascends the throne.

The primary purpose, of course, is to ensure the stability of the country and society, and to prevent a power vacuum from causing turmoil.

In feudal times, the absence of a monarch could truly lead to chaos.

"Your Highness, we respectfully request that you ascend the throne!"

All the civil and military officials immediately bowed and urged him to ascend the throne.

"No, my grandfather has only been dead for one day. How can I ascend the throne?"

Zhao Ceying stopped repeatedly and burst into tears.

As she cried, she became so unsteady on her feet that she crouched down and sobbed.

The phrase "so grief-stricken that he collapsed and could not rise" describes this situation.

"Your Highness, the world has just suffered a loss, and the people are filled with anxiety. Only by quickly assuming the throne can we pacify the world and calm the people's hearts."

The second person to be persuaded was the Duke of Ying, the foremost military general.

“No, my grandfather has just passed away. If I were to ascend the throne now, wouldn’t that be unfilial?” Zhao Ceying refused.

As a result, all the officials looked towards Empress Dowager Cao.

The three refusals and three concessions were essentially ministers urging the new emperor to accept the throne, while the new emperor feigned refusal.

It was both an opportunity for the officials to show their loyalty to the new emperor and for the new emperor to demonstrate his humility and benevolence.

At this point, he had already declined twice.

One of them was Han Zhang, the head of the civil officials, who urged him to ascend the throne.

Secondly, Zhang Fu, the foremost military general, urged him to ascend the throne.

The three attempts to persuade him to ascend the throne were either made by the late emperor's widow or by members of the imperial clan.

Of the two options, the Empress Dowager's suggestion to ascend the throne is the best choice, as it can demonstrate the legitimacy of the new emperor.

However, in the main hall, Empress Dowager Cao looked at the officials but did not rush to urge them to ascend the throne.

An unspeakable silence filled the hall.

The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were startled and exchanged glances.

What is Cao Shi trying to do?

Han Zhang's expression changed slightly, and he gave a wink to several members of the imperial clan.

Several members of the imperial clan understood the implication and were about to urge the emperor to ascend the throne, but the Empress Dowager spoke up instead:

"The late emperor, who ruled the empire day and night with great concern, entrusted the imperial regalia to his grandson on his deathbed. This was a testament to the deep affection between grandfather and grandson, and also a matter of paramount importance to the foundation of the nation."

The Crown Prince is benevolent, filial, respectful, and upright; he will surely follow the late Emperor's instructions and carry on the ancestral legacy. We hope the Crown Prince will ascend the throne soon to fulfill the late Emperor's will!

Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless of Cao's thoughts, nothing unexpected happened during his ascension to the throne.

After three attempts and two refusals, Han Zhang declared, "Your Highness, we respectfully request that you ascend the throne!"

"Your Highness, we respectfully request that you ascend the throne!" the officials shouted in unison.

As the crying subsided, Zhao Ceying rose and bowed to the Empress Dowager and the officials.

Immediately, he slowly walked towards the steps of the imperial palace.

Ascend the throne and you will be on the throne!

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Led by Han Zhang, all the officials bowed in unison.

"Gentlemen, there is no need for such formalities."

Zhao Ceying raised his hand and then bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager, performing the respect due to a close relative.

After about three breaths, the Empress Dowager did not react, and Zhao Ceying's expression changed slightly.

Logically speaking, when a new emperor ascends the throne, there is usually a process where the Empress Dowager bestows blessings upon him as an "elder".

With a silent sigh, Zhao Ceying wiped away her tears and straightened her body.

On his deathbed, the late emperor worried about the Grand Chancellor's autocracy and instructed him to rely on the Empress Dowager, allowing her to rule from behind the curtain and thus check the power of the Grand Chancellor.

Unexpectedly, instead of the Grand Chancellor showing any signs of separatist rule, the Empress Dowager suddenly appeared.

Difficult to handle!

I fear that she might become another Empress Dowager Zhangxian!

Empress Dowager Zhangxian, the wife of Emperor Zhenzong, once ruled as regent.

During her regency, Empress Dowager Zhangxian even summoned Zhao Yunchu, a member of the imperial clan, to the capital and established him as the "successor to the throne."

It's not hard to guess what they intend to do.

The late emperor ascended the throne at the age of twelve, but did not truly take power until he was twenty-four. He fought for twelve long years, finally gaining power when Empress Dowager Zhangxian fell seriously ill.

It should be noted that the late emperor was raised by Empress Dowager Zhangxian, yet he still struggled to seize power.

he?

He is a descendant of the founding emperor!

"The news of the late Emperor's passing can now be announced to the world! All funeral rites shall be conducted in accordance with ancestral customs."

Zhao Ceying surveyed the assembled officials and issued his first edict since ascending the throne: "Grand Chancellor Han Zhang is appointed Commissioner of the Imperial Mausoleum, and Minister of Rites Sun She is appointed Commissioner of the Imperial Mausoleum. All officials in charge of the mausoleum are hereby appointed."

When an emperor was buried, a "funeral commissioner" was required to handle all related matters.

There were more than ten people, of all ages.

Zhao Ceying only arranged a few key candidates.

The Commissioner of the Imperial Mausoleum was in charge of all funeral affairs and had always been the head of all officials.

The Minister of Rites was in charge of funeral rites and determined posthumous titles and temple names. He was either the Minister of Rites or the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

The chief official in charge of the funeral procession was either the Minister of War or the head of a military general.

The person in charge of repairs and maintenance of bridges and roads was responsible for ensuring the smooth passage of the burial procession by repairing the roads and bridges along the route. This was often the position of Minister of Works.

Besides the main funeral attendants, there are still many positions that have not yet been filled.

There was no other way; the new emperor had ascended the throne without any foundation, and Zhao Ceying had no one else he could rely on.

Therefore, the only option was to leave the remaining positions to Grand Chancellor Han Zhang.

"The construction of the imperial mausoleum and the specifications for burial goods were discussed jointly by the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Revenue," Zhao Ceying added.

"I will receive the order."

Several high-ranking officials whose names were called stepped forward and bowed.

"I have inherited the late emperor's will and have now ascended the throne. Therefore, I hereby grant a general amnesty to the world."

Zhao Ceying continued, "Proclaim to the world that from top to bottom, the whole country should mourn and wear mourning clothes. To show compassion for the people, the days will be replaced by months, and music, sacrifices, weddings, and other religious activities will be prohibited for twenty-seven days."