Chapter 1095: Reading the Imperial Edict

The imperial edict!

Everyone who arrived at the Great Hall could not help but shrink their eyes.

Everyone knew how important the imperial edict was at this moment! This thing was directly related to the future of Longyan!

The imperial edict was in the hands of Grand Eunuch Zhou and Yuan Qingming.

People followed one after another, crying as they arrived in the Great Hall, and knelt down in sequence.

The passing of an emperor is absolutely a monumental event for an imperial dynasty.

The grand funeral of the Crown Prince some time ago had already exhausted people, and this time, a proper emperor had truly died. Longyan naturally possessed a set of cumbersome ritual procedures. The world belonged to the Xie Family. This was the ideology of all Longyan people, which, fundamentally, could not be changed.

During the forty years Xie Tianyao was on the throne, he could be considered diligent and conscientious, having made enormous contributions to the dying Longyan.

Therefore, people's feelings of mourning were still very profound.

"The Emperor's imperial edict!"

Once everyone was kneeling on the ground, the sharp, thin voice of Grand Eunuch Zhou finally rang out.

Everyone held their breath.

Whom would Xie Tianyao let inherit his position?

Xie Chan was also kneeling.

Xie Ming was also kneeling beside Dong Shuyu. There were also some other princes kneeling at this time.

"I, with meager virtue, have inherited the foundation of the ancestors. I have upheld the grand legacy of my forefathers for forty years now. Deeply reflecting on the teachings of my imperial father to emulate Yao and Shun, I have been diligent and conscientious, never daring to be negligent..."

The imperial edict was finally being read aloud.

Accompanied by the silent, bitter weeping of the people.

Generally speaking, imperial edicts are written by the emperor himself, with the content tracing back the achievements of his reign, reviewing shortcomings, announcing his critical illness and impending end, designating the successor, appointing ministers of Assistance... and so on and so forth.

Xie Tianyao had been on the throne for exactly forty years this year, with the reign title Pingyu.

During his reign, he was indeed diligent and conscientious, guarding the property of his ancestors. Especially in the final years, he even expanded the territory and achieved outstanding merits. The overall national strength rose, and these were all political achievements obtained because Xie Tianyao employed people appropriately. Naturally, they also belonged to his credit.

"Strive to cultivate noble virtue, be close to the virtuous and accept counsel, study diligently and attend to government, show leniency and care for the people's livelihood..."

"Quell disasters and chaos and cease warfare, recover the Western Regions, expand the territory, and settle the people in the fields and markets..."

Everyone was listening, and everyone was crying.

Everyone actually yearned for peace and a stable country; only in this way could they obtain greater benefits. The passing of Xie Tianyao would certainly bring Longyan the birth pangs they were unwilling to accept.

"This year I am seventy, an age of antiquity; my strength is fading, and I am fearful day and night, worrying that I may not reach the end... Now that I have attained the natural principles of all things, what sorrow or attachment is there to have?"

It's coming!

It's about to come!

Everyone continued to hold their breath; at this moment, the crying also stopped, and everyone raised their heads.

Next, it was time to designate the successor!

The scene suddenly became tense.

The Imperial Guards also sensed the change in atmosphere, and one by one, they placed their hands on their swords.

Everyone's eyes were fixed tightly on Grand Eunuch Zhou.

"There is the Eleventh Prince, Xie Ming, who is benevolent, bright, filial, and friendly, kind and virtuous, with the hearts of the world turning toward him; he may inherit the great succession!"

"What?"

"Ah!"

"This..."

Xie Ming!

Everyone had an expression of disbelief!

It was actually Xie Ming!

"Ah!"

Xie Ming was also trembling all over with excitement. If it weren't for the fact that his old man had died, he would have loved to jump up and celebrate!

He was the emperor!

He would be the emperor immediately!

Everyone's shocked gazes also simultaneously looked toward Liu Zheng over there.

Because this result was indeed too far beyond everyone's expectations! Everyone thought that since Liu Zheng had already controlled all of Jinghua and the Duqi Duwei, if he wanted to tamper with the imperial edict, it would

be no problem at all! Many people previously thought that Liu Zheng would definitely push Xie Chan to the position of Female Emperor; they didn't expect...

Although Xie Chan was also surprised, she did not have too many thoughts.

To tell the truth, she had no ambition for the throne itself.

"Xie Ming?"

Zheng Fu, however, was deathly pale.

Whoever became emperor also meant that her own mother would be the Empress Dowager! And she, the Empress... Hearing this, she almost fainted. Why? Why would Liu Zheng make such a choice!

"Civil and military officials at home and abroad, work with one heart to assist, to bring fortune to my people..."

"Proclaim this to the world, so that they may know my will..."

"Ministers of Assistance, such as Zhu Zhen, the Prince of Qin, and Vice Minister Liu, shall assist my son..."

"I have observed the celestial phenomena and pondered the constitutional monarchy of the Li Dynasty; it can strengthen Longyan. The Cabinet Council, to plead for the people, shall emerge from the left of imperial power..."

While people were still shocked that the Eleventh Prince Xie Ming was about to ascend the throne, the subsequent content made their expressions change drastically again.

What?

Constitutional monarchy?

Everyone was plunged into shock.

They naturally knew what a constitutional monarchy was. Over in the Li Dynasty, it had already become a successful model!

Therefore...

Xie Tianyao's decision still left them unable to understand. How could an emperor think of a Method to restrict his own family's imperial power?

Who doesn't love reigning over the world!

Who doesn't love being above ten thousand people!

Absolute imperial power—this had always been the guarantee of the Longyan Xie Family's rule! Yet, Xie Tianyao wanted to abandon it?

Xie Ming was also completely bewildered.

Including Dong Shuyu...

Good grief, I'm just about to become emperor, and you hit me with this? Does it mean I have to listen to the Cabinet Council from now on? Xie Ming was naturally somewhat flustered.

However...

With the Imperial Guards nearby, he still didn't say a single word.

The next part of the imperial edict was about how to conduct his own funeral.

Then.

The reading was finished.

Boom!

At this moment, the entire venue erupted in an uproar, with people discussing it in hushed tones.

"This..."

"Constitutional monarchy?"

"Why!"

"Isn't this holding imperial power in contempt? This cannot be!"

"Absolutely not!"

Dong Shuyu also stood up and pointed angrily at Grand Eunuch Zhou: "This imperial edict is fake, you have tampered with the imperial edict!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou looked over coldly: "Empress, these words cannot be spoken recklessly! This imperial edict was written by the Emperor himself, how could it be fake?"

He showed the imperial edict to everyone.

It was indeed Xie Tianyao's handwriting on it.

"Impossible, this is impossible! The Emperor would not do this!"

"He is destroying his own Changcheng!"

"Impossible!"

Dong Shuyu was practically going crazy.

"Mother Empress, this son is willing to voluntarily lower the imperial power!"

At this moment, Xie Ming spoke up calmly.

This left the others looking astonished.

Liu Zheng also glanced at Xie Ming with surprise; this kid was much smarter than his mother. Knowing the situation was already like this, it was better to secure the position of emperor first...

"Begin the funeral rites!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou shouted.

No matter what these people were thinking, at this moment, they could only start crying again.

Afterwards, Xie Ming and Dong Shuyu had already returned to their palace.

Because according to the rules, the officials would soon come to pay their respects to the new emperor, congratulate the new emperor on his ascension, and express their condolences to the Empress and the Empress Dowager.

"This is outrageous, this is outrageous! My son, this absolutely will not do!"

Having returned to her palace,

Dong Shuyu's face was already ferocious.

Xie Ming, however, said calmly: "Mother Empress, please be patient. At this moment, the entire Jinghua is in the hands of that Vice Minister Liu! It is not appropriate for us to be overly forceful for now..."

Dong Shuyu was stunned for a moment: "Are you saying we still have a chance?"

A sharp glint flashed in Xie Ming's eyes: "Once the great war starts to reach a stalemate, the common people will miss the Son of Heaven..."

Dong Shuyu's eyes lit up: "That is exactly right, my son is still the smart one—no, it is the Emperor!"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Xie Ming took a deep breath.

He would soon be the Emperor of Longyan!

The first person he wanted to get rid of was that Vice Minister Liu!