Chương 775: Three Resignations and Three Concessions

The Minister of Rites held the imperial edict, his hands trembling.

Inner Zen!

This is not as simple as changing the crown prince; it is the living emperor voluntarily relinquishing power!

This process cannot be made even slightly wrong; if it is, it is a serious breach of etiquette and will be condemned in history books for a lifetime!

Throughout history, the number of times the emperor abdicated was extremely limited, and each time it was a momentous event.

I never expected that this would happen to me.

That afternoon, officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Hanlin Academy all rushed into the Hall of Rites.

They rummaged through boxes and cabinets, unearthing all the old precedents of abdication from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the present dynasty, piling them up all over the room.

A group of old scholars surrounded the classic texts, arguing heatedly.

"According to ancient custom, the abdication of the emperor should be performed with the Nine Bestowments ceremony!"

"No, the Nine Bestowments were used by powerful ministers who usurped the throne! His Majesty abdicated voluntarily, so that cannot be used!"

"How should the ceremonial guard be arranged for the enthronement ceremony? Should the retired emperor attend?"

"How should an imperial edict be written? Should it be '制曰' or '诏曰'?"

"How many times should the process of 'resigning three times' be repeated? Who should write the resignation letter?"

The drafts alone were half a person high, and the discarded drafts were scattered all over the floor.

The head scholar of the Hanlin Academy was a sixty-year-old scholar named Zhou, who had spent his life studying etiquette and was most particular about "elegant writing".

He wrote for three days, biting the pen, his eyes bloodshot, and finally produced the edict he was most satisfied with.

The writing was so flowery and obscure, with phrases like "I, with my meager virtue, have been granted the mandate of Heaven," "Weary of my myriad affairs, I wish to avoid the path of the virtuous," and "The imperial regalia is of utmost importance, how can it be lightly bestowed?" It was all just nonsensical and didn't speak like a human being.

He read it twice and was extremely satisfied, feeling that the writing was so elegant it could be passed down through the ages.

He happily delivered it to Ganlu Hall for Liu Ce to see.

Liu Ce took it, glanced at it, and frowned.

After reading a few more lines, I threw it back with a "smack".

"What the hell is this?" Liu Ce scoffed.

"Speak like a human."

Just say that I'm tired of sitting and want to rest. The Crown Prince is capable, so let him do it.

Why bother with all this fancy language? Ordinary people can't understand it.

Scholar Zhou almost knelt down on the spot, his face turning pale:

"Your Majesty! The rites and regulations cannot be abolished! Imperial edicts are of paramount importance to the state; how can they be so blunt?"

If this gets out, it will be disrespectful! How will future historians record it?

The old man was so excited that his beard trembled, as if Liu Ce had done something utterly rebellious.

Liu Ce found his expression both amusing and exasperating.

Well, well, it's impossible to argue with an old scholar.

"Alright, alright, let's each take a step back." Liu Ce waved his hand.

"Don't make it too complicated, and don't be too straightforward either."

The meaning is conveyed; there's no need for those sentimental articles.

Go back and rewrite it, make it more accessible so that ordinary people can understand it.

If you continue to punish those "immoral" and "muddle-headed" individuals, I'll really spank you.

Scholar Zhou, with a bitter face, took the manuscript and went back.

After two more days of revisions, and three more versions, a version that both sides could finally agree on was finally produced.

After reading it, Liu Ce nodded: "Okay, this one will do. It's still a bit cheesy, but at least I can understand it."

The final imperial edict, which was released to the public, read as follows: Imperial edict issued to the entire realm: I, having received the Mandate of Heaven and inherited the imperial lineage, have toiled day and night for forty years now.

Thanks to the blessings of the ancestral temples and the strength of the ministers, the four directions were roughly stabilized, the people were at peace, the country was free of trouble, and the harvests were plentiful year after year.

Now I am over sixty years old, my will is waning and my energy is waning, making it difficult for me to attend to all affairs of state every day.

The eldest son of the emperor, Chen, is wise, honest, sincere, kind, and popular. He has long served as the governor of the country, and the people have high hopes for him.

I hereby pass the throne to Chen, who shall ascend the throne. I shall retire to a separate palace, becoming the Retired Emperor, to enjoy my remaining years in peace.

A new ruler should appoint virtuous officials and dismiss treacherous ones, cherish the people and practice frugality, preserve the foundation laid by the ancestors, and continue the legacy of peace and prosperity.

All officials and ministers should exert their utmost efforts to assist and correct any shortcomings.

The proclamation was made known far and wide.

After Zhou Xueshi finished writing it, he read it three times and always felt that it lacked a bit of "inner Zen flavor".

As long as His Majesty is satisfied, that's fine...

It's much better than "I'm tired of sitting."

With the imperial edict finalized, the next step was to choose a date.

The Grand Astrologer of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices carried a compass and wandered around the palace for three days, calculating the feng shui of every brick in Luoyang. He observed the stars at night, did some calculations, and finally decided on the fifteenth of March.

"March 15th is an auspicious day, suitable for enthronement, abdication, handing over of duties, and moving."

The Grand Astrologer stroked his beard, his face full of certainty, "This is the best day, extremely auspicious, with no taboos."

After reading the reply, Liu Ce wrote two words: hurry up.

The Grand Historian's lips twitched as he looked at those two words.

Your Majesty is truly... impatient.

......

With preparations nearly complete, it was time for the most classic traditional event in history: the three refusals and three concessions.

To put it simply...

The crown prince had to decline three times, and the courtiers had to urge him to accept the offer three times. Finally, the crown prince "reluctantly" agreed.

This would make it seem as if he wasn't greedy for the throne, but rather that he accepted it because he had no other choice.

Everyone knows it's all an act, but everyone has to act with genuine emotion and can't burst out laughing.

This is the rule, the etiquette, and the political correctness.

When Liu Chen received the notification, he was enjoying a braised pork knuckle in the Eastern Palace.

After hearing the eunuch's words, he paused for a moment, then sighed:

"Alright, let's act."

It's just acting, anyone can do that.

His father has been emperor for forty years, so a few more days won't make a difference.

The first resignation.

The next morning, Crown Prince Liu Chen knelt respectfully at the entrance of the Imperial Study, holding his completed resignation letter.

The letter of resignation was written with heartfelt sincerity, saying that the son was young and inexperienced, lacked virtue and ability, and could not bear such a heavy responsibility as the country and the people. He asked the emperor to work hard for a few more years, and the son was willing to continue to assist the emperor.

He knelt on the ground, his back ramrod straight, looking exceptionally sincere.

Liu Ce, munching on melon seeds inside, listened to the eunuch's account, picked up a pen, and wrote four characters on the resignation letter: Don't give me that.

The eunuch brought out the letter of resignation and handed it to Liu Chen.

Liu Chen almost burst out laughing when he saw it.

Dad is so uncooperative.

What kind of resignation letter is this!

He coughed, his face stern, and continued his act: "Your Majesty does not permit it, Your Majesty... Your Majesty submits another resignation."

Second resignation.

Another day passed, and Liu Chen submitted another resignation letter, which was longer and more sincere than the previous one.

He said that he lacked experience in governing and was afraid that he would not do a good job and would disappoint his father's expectations, so he asked his father to reconsider.

Liu Ce's critique was even more direct, consisting of four words: Keep pretending.

When Liu Chen received the approval, he could barely contain his smile.

Dad's deliberately sabotaging us!

Okay, one last time, hang in there.

Third resignation.

This time, not only the Crown Prince resigned, but all the civil and military officials also joined in the fun.

Led by Zhuge Liang, hundreds of officials knelt outside the Meridian Gate, presenting petitions urging him to ascend the throne.

They say the Crown Prince is benevolent, filial, intelligent, and exceptionally talented, and that the people have his heart. If you do not ascend the throne, we will not rise again.

Hundreds of people knelt down in a huge crowd, creating a truly spectacular scene.

The common people all gathered around to watch the spectacle, pointing and whispering:

"Oh dear, is this what they call persuading someone to take the throne?"

"Your Highness is too modest!"

"Yes, what a fine prince he is, yet he still refuses!"

Liu Ce was delighted when he heard the news in the palace.

Okay, so they've even started using extras.

He issued an imperial edict, the contents of which were very simple: If he resigns again, he will be punished by copying the Book of Rites one hundred times, with a three-day deadline.

The imperial edict was delivered to the Meridian Gate.

Zhuge Liang's lips twitched after hearing this.

He turned to look at the officials behind him, cleared his throat, and said loudly:

"His Majesty's decree... His Majesty's mind is made up."

"Your Highness, for the sake of the nation and its people, please... agree!"

Liu Chen stood to the side, took the imperial edict, glanced at it, and his lips curled into a wild smile.

Punishment: Copy the Book of Rites one hundred times?

That won't do; we could never finish copying it all.