Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Chapter 850: Chapter 855, Chapter 856: Abdication and Proclamation as Emperor (Part 2)

...

Just after 7 a.m.

In taverns, teahouses, and various other "public places" in counties great and small across the land, a certain rumor began to circulate.

It said that the reason a solar eclipse occurred today, with the Heavenly Hound devouring the sun, was that Heaven was casting down punishment, seeking to chastise the Emperor.

That this was a warning that the Emperor had ruled poorly and was unworthy to be Monarch.

As this rumor spread, the common folk blamed all the droughts, wars, and every misfortune of the past few years on the current Emperor.

They said it was precisely because so many ill omens had appeared that, today, Heaven had finally come to mete out punishment.

Just past noon, voices calling for Emperor Yong’an to abdicate and for King Wei to take the throne rose up everywhere, growing ever louder.

Once local authorities received the people’s reactions, memorials like flurries of snow were dispatched by fast couriers toward the Capital.

But before these even arrived—

The Capital was already "thrown into chaos."

Some ministers even sought audience with Emperor Yong’an, committing the offense of speaking upward, and urged Emperor Yong’an to issue a self-accusatory edict to soothe the people’s hearts.

...

By the afternoon, Emperor Yong’an had been forced to issue the self-accusatory edict.

At the same time, news of the abdication edict and of tomorrow’s ceremony passing the throne to King Wei spread together, setting off an uproar throughout Tianchuan City.

In every street and alley, discussion buzzed without end.

Prince Wei’s Mansion, study.

Chen Mo took the slip of paper Xia Zhiqing handed over; a thoughtful look appeared on his handsome face. His bright eyes turned to Xia Zhiqing as he asked, "Zhiqing, what is this?"

Xia Zhiqing said, "This is information the Inspector has gathered in the city after the news spread that Your Majesty is abdicating and passing the throne to you, my lord husband. The Great Song has stood for nearly four hundred years; some scholars have a deep sense of identification with the Great Song, and especially with a change of dynasty, there will inevitably be a large-scale reshuffling. Certain resources will be redistributed, and naturally that will encroach upon the interests of some vested groups.

They curse you, my lord husband, saying you are monstrously unfilial and unfaithful, usurping power and seizing the throne, voicing fierce opposition. Some are even planning to organize the people to riot tomorrow in an attempt to disrupt the abdication ceremony."

The Inspector’s network had now grown to a rather terrifying scale, already woven into the populace, allowing Chen Mo to sit within his mansion and still know what was happening outside.

Hearing this, Chen Mo remained very calm. He had already anticipated such matters in his heart—after all, in a great affair like a change of dynasty, how could there possibly be no turbulence at all?

Chen Mo said, "Who is fanning the flames behind the scenes?"

"Based on what we’ve grasped so far, there are..." Xia Zhiqing listed several names one by one.

"As expected." Chen Mo raised his brows slightly. With the situation already so clear, only those of the Royalist Faction, the Imperial Family, and clans deeply entangled with the Imperial Family would still be playing such petty tricks.

Xia Zhiqing hesitated for a moment, then said, "My lord husband, should we have General Sun lead men to arrest them?"

Chen Mo weighed it for a while, his expression solemn as he said, "No need. With small fry like them, they can’t stir up any great waves. If we arrest them now, it will only make people think I cannot tolerate men of the former dynasty. Just tighten security, and send people to properly guide public opinion so the common folk aren’t deceived by them."

Xia Zhiqing nodded, then asked curiously, "My lord husband, has the state name been decided?"

Chen Mo inclined his head, stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Xia Zhiqing’s waist, saying, "We’ll call it Great Wei."

...

In the blink of an eye, a day passed, and the day of the abdication ceremony arrived.

The great tide of events surged forward; all the ministers had been paving the way for this day. It was not something a few small fry could possibly obstruct.

And on this day, at first light, a new rumor began resounding through the streets and alleys.

It said that once the Emperor issued his self-accusatory edict and ceded the throne to King Wei, the ill omen of the Heavenly Hound devouring the sun had vanished.

It proved that Heaven approved the Emperor’s attitude in admitting his guilt, and furthermore showed that Heaven also approved of the Emperor’s passing the throne to King Wei.

Spread along with this rumor was the prophecy that had recently come from Qingzhou.

This made the people of Tianchuan think again of that yellow dragon-shaped stone that had been transported from Qingzhou.

At the same time, on Mingyang Mountain, less than ten li outside Tianchuan City, a Throne of Ascension had been built.

A month ago, this Throne of Ascension had not existed, but within this short month it had risen abruptly from the ground.

The Throne of Ascension stood with Mingyang Mountain at its back, flanked by mountain and water.

At this moment on the Throne of Ascension, Emperor Yong’an wore a red-and-black Emperor’s Robe and a crown with hanging strings of jade; two Palace Maids holding fans stood behind him.

No trace of expression could be seen on Emperor Yong’an’s face. His eyes, somewhat vacant, gazed at the long staircase beneath the Throne of Ascension, dozens of feet in length and covered in a red carpet.

Just then, solemn and sonorous bell and chime music rose up on either side of Emperor Yong’an.

Xu Zheng, standing less than one zhang below Emperor Yong’an, craned his neck and cried in a loud voice, "The auspicious hour has arrived."

As his words fell, the Civil and Military Officials standing on either side of the staircase below, as well as the witnesses held back at a distance by the Imperial Guard, all turned their gazes to the very foot of the Throne of Ascension—that is, to the end of the staircase below.

A young man wearing black robes embroidered with golden dragon patterns and a crown with hanging strings of jade appeared within everyone’s field of vision.

With the youth’s appearance, the bell and chime music swelled ever higher and more majestic.

The Civil and Military Officials and the Armored Warriors maintaining order around them all felt excitement and fervor surge onto their faces with the rising music.

They were about to witness history and become ministers who "followed the Dragon."

A eunuch brought over an edict and handed it to Emperor Yong’an.

Emperor Yong’an opened it, and, looking at the youth below, read aloud in a voice devoid of emotion: "We inform you, King Wei: In ancient times... the Mandate of Heaven was never constant, but always returned to the worthy. The Way of Song has withered by slow slicing, great chaos has bred darkness, heroes everywhere have run wild in rebellion, the realm has tottered on the brink of ruin. All has relied upon King Wei’s Divine Martial prowess to rescue the axis of Heaven, quell the disasters of rebellion, save the altars of state and pacify the ancestral temples..."

As Emperor Yong’an read to this point, the youth below lifted his foot and stepped onto the red carpet, ascending step by step toward the Throne of Ascension above.

Every gaze in the assembly focused on Chen Mo. The excitement and fervor on their faces gradually subsided, replaced by solemn, reverent gravity.

"Proclaiming the illustrious virtues of the forefathers, Heaven’s Spirits send down auspicious signs, men and gods together attest the omen... You shall respectfully follow the great rites, and cause all nations to revere as you solemnly bear Heaven’s Mandate."

When Emperor Yong’an finished speaking, he seemed as if his very soul had been drawn out of him, becoming somewhat dazed. Seeing Chen Mo, who had already walked up before him and bowed with hands clasped, he thought to himself, "This must be the first time he has ever shown such respect to Us."

With a bitter smile in his heart, Emperor Yong’an put away the edict in his hand, stepped forward, and with both hands presented the edict to the Chen Mo before him.

Chen Mo received it, gave a formal bow, and continued walking forward, while Emperor Yong’an walked downward. After descending one step, he turned around; at that moment Chen Mo also turned around.

Emperor Yong’an bowed to Chen Mo.

And Chen Mo’s spine straightened.

Chen Mo first swept a glance over Emperor Yong’an, then let his gaze range over the assembled ministers. At last he looked toward the violet sun slowly rising over the distant mountaintops; violet radiance surged around him, and a purple halo appeared behind his head, sacred and exalted.

This was the manifestation produced when the Purple Sun Transformation Skill absorbed the Solar Purple Qi.

He proclaimed in a ringing voice, "I, in accordance with Heaven’s will, inherit the great mandate. From this day forth, the state shall be named Great Wei. My late father, the King, is posthumously titled Emperor Xiao Yuan. The Abdicated Emperor Chu Yi is enfeoffed as Duke Menghe."

"I thank Your Majesty." No longer the Emperor, Duke Menghe bowed to Chen Mo.

A eunuch stepped forward carrying a tray.

On the tray lay a Holy Decree that had long been prepared.

Chen Mo picked up the Holy Decree and handed it to Duke Menghe.

Menghe was a county in Fengzhou, and also the fief Chen Mo granted Chu Yi.

He allowed Chu Yi to continue enjoying imperial courtesies in Menghe, and all the tax revenue of that county would belong to Chu Yi alone.

However, the title of Duke Menghe could only be inherited by Chu Yi’s Eldest Legitimate Son, and with each succession it would be reduced by one rank.

And as Duke Menghe’s words fell, the Civil and Military Officials all clasped their hands and cried out in unison, "We pay homage to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long, long live!"