mtlumby2d Chapter 527 Abdication to the Emperor's Younger Brother
Chapter 527 Abdication to the Emperor's Younger Brother
Fang Zhiyuan, dressed in a scarlet official robe and holding a bright yellow scroll, read out the "Imperial Code" in a booming voice.
The solemnity and reverence inside and outside the hall instantly intensified.
Next came the crucial abdication ceremony of the Great Xia Dynasty.
On the Taihe Hall square, civil and military officials, dressed in court robes, stood in neat rows, their eyes all fixed on the direction of the throne.
Empress Dowager Luo Lan, dressed in a bright red palace gown embroidered with phoenix patterns, sat upright on the phoenix chair to the left of the throne. Her silver hair was neatly combed, and her eyes were dignified yet loving.
Beside him stood Prince Zhao Haoyang, dressed in a princely robe with his hands behind his back, his tall figure accentuated by a jade belt around his waist.
Although he was over sixty years old, he was still vigorous and energetic. His two eyes swept over the assembled officials, exuding an undeniable and intimidating aura.
"Listen carefully, my lords," Luo Lan said slowly, his voice not loud but clear enough to carry throughout the square.
"Luo Zheng is actually the late emperor's biological son. Due to a palace upheaval, he was fostered in my Luo family. Now he has been recognized by his ancestors and returned to the clan."
Luo Qing is the eldest grandson of the late emperor and carries the bloodline of the royal family.
As a descendant of the Duke of Luo's family, inheriting the family's noble lineage, his status is doubly prestigious and beyond question.
As soon as she finished speaking, a few soft whispers arose from the crowd.
"This...how is this possible? Could it be that the Luo family wants to usurp the throne?"
"Impossible! His Majesty is currently on the throne, and the world is at peace. Even Consort Yin and Prince Yu have been executed. To usurp the throne now would be like throwing an egg against a rock, not the best time!"
Several senior officials hesitated, as if they wanted to say something.
But when he looked up and met Luo Lan's sharp gaze, and caught a glimpse of the old prince Zhao Haoyang's ambiguous smile, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Everyone knows that with these two highest-ranking members of the royal family backing them up, plus the current emperor's personal confirmation, this is a formidable force.
Luo Qing's status was undeniable; anyone who opposed him was essentially playing with their own career.
The music of the ceremony began again, melodious and solemn.
Zhao Haoxuan, dressed in a heavy ceremonial robe with twelve imperial symbols, descended step by step from the high throne.
That once dignified face now showed no trace of lingering affection, only a relieved calm.
The Imperial Seal of the State, wrapped in yellow silk, was held in his palm. It was heavy, bearing the weight of the Great Xia Dynasty's hundreds of years of history.
Luo Qing was dressed in the robes of the Crown Prince. Although it was only a temporary appointment, the bright yellow background and the nine-dragon pattern already exuded an aura of supreme authority.
He stood below the steps, his figure much more upright than half a year ago. His former baby fat had disappeared, and his eyes and brows showed more composure.
As Zhao Haoxuan approached step by step, he felt both nervous and excited, and his hands unconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes.
"From this day forward, I abdicate in favor of my younger brother, Luo Qing." As Zhao Haoxuan's words fell, there was an absolute silence in the square for a moment, and even the ceremonial music seemed to hold its breath for this historic moment.
The only sound was the faint whisper of the wind rustling through the officials' robes.
In the silence, he stepped forward and solemnly handed the Imperial Seal of the State to Luo Qing.
Then, turning his gaze to the assembled officials, he said, "I hope you will all serve me wholeheartedly and remain loyal, so that we may together ensure the eternal stability of the Great Xia Dynasty and the peaceful and prosperous lives of the people!"
Luo Qing accepted the jade seal with both hands, feeling that it weighed more than a thousand pounds. It was not only the weight of the jade, but also the livelihood of hundreds of millions of people and the future of the entire dynasty.
In an instant, he seemed to see the bustling streets of various prefectures and counties and the capital, the blood-soaked figures of soldiers on the frontier, and the scenes of farmers working in the fields.
The cool jade felt like a flame, branding his palm.
Wang Xinyao, dressed in empress's court attire and holding a phoenix seal, walked up to Ouyang Ping.
With her slightly protruding belly, Ouyang Ping, her face filled with shyness and anticipation, accepted the Phoenix Seal with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly.
She is now the future empress, and is pregnant with the future prince; her life can be described as perfect.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager, we obey your decree!"
The officials knelt in unison, their voices booming and echoing across the vast square.
Immediately afterwards, everyone turned and bowed to Luo Qing and Ouyang Ping.
"Greetings to the new Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!"
A deafening roar of worship swept in.
Luo Qing stood atop the high imperial steps, looking down at the kneeling officials below.
The young officials, led by Fang Zhiyuan, looked on with burning enthusiasm and high expectations.
Some elderly officials with graying temples had complex expressions in their eyes as they kowtowed, perhaps still processing this sudden change of leadership.
He was filled with mixed emotions. Just yesterday, he was thinking about how to lose weight, and then he couldn't help but plan to sneak into the palace to find some good food.
Who would have thought that he, a mere young master who only wanted to live a life of ease and comfort, would now become an emperor who controls the lives and deaths of millions of people.
He gripped the jade seal tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white; that heavy responsibility was etched into his very bones.
Wang Xinyao stood aside, looking at the scene before her, and sighed inwardly.
Time flies! In the blink of an eye, she has been in this little world for five years.
Back then, she was just an ordinary widow in the countryside, only hoping to live a peaceful life.
Who would have thought she would rise from a lady to the crown princess?
From Empress to Empress Dowager, the speed of her rise is faster than taking a train.
“Sister…” Ouyang Ping suddenly hugged Wang Xinyao tightly, her voice filled with deep reluctance.
"Are you really leaving? I can't bear to part with you. Please don't go. I can give up the Empress's position. I just want my sister to stay by my side."
Ouch, your belly!
Wang Xinyao felt the hug was a little tight, so she quickly and gently pushed her aside, her tone reproachful.
"You silly girl, you're going to be a mother soon, and you're still so clumsy. Be careful not to hurt the baby in your belly."
Ouyang Ping stuck out her tongue, touched her lower abdomen, and smiled shyly:
"I know, sister is right. But I just can't bear to part with you. Without you in the palace, I won't even have anyone to talk to."
"Silly girl, we're not leaving forever. We'll be back soon."
Wang Xinyao gently ruffled her hair, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"Please tell Sister Yue and Sister Cui for me that I won't go to say goodbye in person, so as not to make them sad and cry, which would harm their health."
Sister Yue is pregnant again, and Sister Cui still has a few days left in her postpartum confinement period; they can't afford to be upset.
“Yes, sister, don’t worry, I will definitely pass on the message!” Ouyang Ping nodded vigorously and added, “After you come back, I will return the Empress’s position to you. I am only the ‘temporary Empress’.”
Wang Xinyao was amused by her.
"You can just relax and be your empress. As for me, I'm going to be the Celestial Empress someday, haha..."
"Okay, okay, my future Cassiopeia sister!" Ouyang Ping said, reaching out to hug her again, but Wang Xinyao laughed and dodged her.