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After paying homage to heaven and earth, the young emperor, accompanied by hundreds of civil and military officials, proceeded to the Altar of Soil and Grain to worship the spirits of the land and the people.
Following the complex rituals, the crowd moved majestically to the Ancestral Temple to pay tribute to the Liu imperial ancestors.
However, this time only the princes and imperial grandsons were allowed to enter the Ancestral Temple, while the rest waited outside.
Once all the sacrificial ceremonies were completed, the civil and military officials followed the emperor's palanquin to Tai'an Hall, where the official abdication ceremony would take place.
Tai'an Hall was one of the most majestic palaces in the imperial city, reserved for significant state events such as the emperor's ascension, the appointment of the crown prince, and the coronation of the empress.
Yuan Ming, as the personal guard, followed the young emperor to Tai'an Hall. Upon entering, he saw several jujube-red armchairs placed below the emperor's throne, with several figures seated upon them.
The man sitting closest to the throne, dressed in a purple-gold Taoist robe, was tall and handsome, with a stern face, short beard, and eyes that shone with an inner light, exuding an aura of unspoken authority.
Next to him sat an elderly man, also in a purple-gold Taoist robe, with a gaunt face and an air of transcendent wisdom – none other than the national advisor, Master Yuhu.
Beside him was an old woman with white hair, holding a dragon-headed cane, her face full of kindness.
Next to the old woman was a dignified lady in a light blue silk dress, exuding a gentle and graceful demeanor, as if she hailed from the water towns of the south, naturally carrying a soft charm.
Behind these individuals were several more chairs, each occupied by various figures.
Yuan Ming knew that in addition to the civil and military officials and imperial relatives, there would be cultivators from Changchun Temple and other cultivation sects within the Great Jin Kingdom attending the ceremony.
However, they did not participate in the rituals for heaven, earth, and ancestors, merely waiting here to observe the official abdication ceremony.
After the young emperor returned, he entered the hall, and the cultivators seated within all stood up to pay their respects, to which the young emperor promptly returned a Taoist bow.
Among the civil and military officials, aside from the heads of the six ministries and the three provincial governors, as well as a few influential generals who remained inside, the rest were arranged outside according to their rank.
As the young emperor's personally appointed bodyguard, Yuan Ming was granted the exceptional honor of standing beside the emperor, alongside the eunuchs.
The officials were well aware of Yuan Ming's relationship with the young emperor and found nothing unusual about his presence. However, the cultivators seated at the front couldn't help but cast curious glances his way.
Yuan Ming felt no nervousness and calmly surveyed the crowd below, even making eye contact with the cultivators.
Among them, the middle-aged man in the purple robe with a short beard was the young emperor Liu Tianming's grandfather, who had established his foundation over fifty years ago and abdicated in favor of Liu Tianming's father, retreating to Changchun Temple for cultivation.
Since then, he had never interfered with the politics of the Great Jin Kingdom or returned to the capital.
Rumors had it that the young emperor's father was an ordinary man without spiritual roots, who ascended to the throne at a young age and ruled for over thirty years before suddenly passing away, leaving the throne to Liu Tianming.
The grandfather had not returned even at the time of Liu Tianming's father death,, but now he had come back to the Great Jin capital for Liu Tianming's abdication ceremony, showing the importance he placed on his grandson.
The old woman seated beside him was the matriarch of the Bai Luo Villa, the largest cultivation family in the Great Jin Kingdom besides the royal family. Although not the highest in cultivation within the villa, she was the one who managed the family's affairs.
The gentle lady next to her was the Elder Luo Shuixian of the Water Crystal Palace, second only to Changchun Temple in power within the Great Jin Kingdom, while those seated behind them were elders from other sects.
As Yuan Ming observed the others, he felt a probing gaze upon him, carrying the fluctuation of a spiritual sense – it was from the national advisor, Master Yuhu.
Although the gaze was fleeting, Yuan Ming caught it sharply.
Once everyone was in their place, the eunuch in charge of the inner servants stepped forward, flicked his dust whisk, and announced in a loud voice:
"The abdication ceremony shall now commence. Present the imperial edict."
Following his proclamation, the Grand Libationer of the Imperial Academy, holding a blackwood tray with a yellow silk scroll on it, slowly approached the young emperor.
As he passed by the princes and grandsons, most bowed their heads, not daring to look, while a few braved glances filled with envy.
Among them, the Eighth Prince's gaze was the most fervent.
It was no wonder, for since the young emperor Liu Tianming was young and had not yet established an empress or sired an heir, the choice of succession had to be made from among his uncles and brothers.
Among them, none could match the Eighth Prince in capability, popularity, or experience.
Moreover, the Prime Minister of the Secretariat had already communicated with him in advance, proposing his succession, with the support of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue.
Crucially, he had also received tacit approval and support from Changchun Temple.
Thus, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Eighth Prince was set to be the new emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom.
The aged Grand Libationer, holding the edict, approached the throne, and the young emperor stood up, took the imperial jade seal, and solemnly stamped it on the edict.
The Grand Libationer then held the edict and read it out loud, his voice steady and resonant:
"By the mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees: Our dynasty inherits the legacy of our ancestors, aligning with heaven and the will of the people. Since my ascension, I have revered heaven and honored our ancestors, upholding our traditions, always prioritizing the people in all matters, and basing all laws on the welfare of the people. I had hoped to pursue grand ambitions, but the call of immortality cannot be ignored. For the long-term stability of the state, I hereby abdicate in favor of my elder brother, Prince Qing, Liu Tianze. Let this be known to all under heaven."
The Eighth Prince, who had been prepared to step forward and accept the throne, stiffened upon hearing the name "Liu Tianze," as if plunged into an ice pit, and stood frozen in place.
It was not Liu Guangxuan, but Liu Tianze; not the Eighth Prince, but Prince Qing.
Not only was the Eighth Prince stunned, but everyone in the hall, including Prince Qing himself, was taken aback.
Prince Qing was the young emperor Liu Tianming's fourth brother, who had only the support of the Prime Minister of the Book of Documents. No one had expected him to be the heir to the throne.
After a moment of shock, the Eighth Prince's expression twisted, and he rushed out, disregarding protocol.
"It's wrong, it must be a mistake, how could it be Prince Qing? It should be me!" The Eighth Prince, abandoning his previous dignity, waved his arms and shouted loudly.
The crowd was shocked, and for a moment, no one dared to speak.
They all cautiously looked to the young emperor for his reaction.
However, the young emperor simply watched the Eighth Prince's outburst with a calm expression, showing no response.
"Your Majesty…" Finally, unable to restrain himself, the Prime Minister stood up.
His call to "Your Majesty" drew everyone's attention to him.
"Do you have something to say?" the young emperor asked with a light chuckle.
"Your Majesty, the succession of the throne is a matter of national importance, not to be taken lightly. Previously, we had discussed this matter with Your Majesty and decided on a suitable candidate. Why the sudden change?" The Prime Minister did not mention who the original candidate was, but simply asked.
Everyone looked to the young emperor, even the national advisor Master Yuhu and Liu Tianming's grandfather, who were usually detached from worldly affairs, cast inquiring glances.
The young emperor, as if waiting for the question, stood up and said, "Eighth Uncle, during your years in government, you have formed factions for personal gain and committed corruption. These are all known to me, but they are not the worst. However, your instruction to ambush and kill my Great Jin envoy is unforgivable."
His tone was calm, but his words thundered through the court like a clap of thunder.
Hearing this, the Eighth Prince's face changed dramatically, and he glanced at Yuan Ming.
Seeing his reaction, it was clear to the discerning that the young emperor was referring to the incident a few years ago when Yuan Ming, on a mission to the Southern Border, was ambushed and went missing.
"I would like to ask my Eighth Uncle, what has Yuan Ming done to earn your enmity, to the extent that you would instruct the deputy envoy Lin Junsheng to assassinate him on the road while I sent him on a mission?" the young emperor demanded sternly.
This long-avoided issue was finally brought to light at what seemed like the most inappropriate occasion.
"Was it the Eighth Prince's doing?" someone among the officials exclaimed.
"Why would he do that?" others were utterly perplexed.
The civil officials looked at each other with changing expressions and whispered amongst themselves, while the military officials, though silent, couldn't help but turn their gaze to General Yuan, whose face was ashen, yet he remained composed.
"Your Majesty, I am wronged," the Eighth Prince looked around and then knelt on the ground, crying out.
"Wronged? Then tell me, where have I wronged you?" the young emperor asked with a cold laugh.
"Your Majesty, I truly had no knowledge of the matter of instructing Lin Junsheng to kill Yuan Ming. Moreover, I have no reason to harm Yuan Ming. When we were envoys on the road, it was Yuan Ming himself who fell into the water while admiring the beauty of a waterfall. It was an accident, not my doing. Afterwards, I even issued a search notice along the way. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth," the Eighth Prince pleaded with his head bowed.
The young emperor paid him no heed and commanded, "Bring Lin Junsheng forward."
As soon as the words were spoken, two armored guards escorted Lin Junsheng into the hall.
Lin Junsheng appeared disheveled and seemingly panicked, but there was an undetectable composure in his eyes.
As he knelt down, the young emperor asked again, "Lin Junsheng, tell me, who instructed you to attempt to murder Yuan Ming on the way to the Southern Border?"
"Your Majesty, I truly cannot answer that. Yuan Ming and I grew up together as childhood friends, how could I possibly harm him? On the mission, it was an accident that Yuan Ming fell into the water while admiring a waterfall, not my doing. Afterwards, I even issued notices along the way to search for him. Please, Your Majesty, discern the truth," Lin Junsheng replied immediately.
His defense was well-rehearsed, and with no other witnesses at the time, he did not believe the emperor had concrete evidence to prove him the culprit.
The young emperor raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? So you're saying I've wronged you?"