Novel Full Chapter 1232: Chapter 193: The Reign Title Tianyou (3)
Chapter 1232: Chapter 193: The Reign Title Tianyou (3)
The Supreme Emperor was already waiting for Zhao Yao at the gates of Zhonghua Palace.
When Zhao Yao saw him, he was slightly taken aback, then a look of delighted surprise appeared on his face.
He hurriedly knelt down and solemnly knocked his head three times to the Supreme Emperor. After that, he was led by the Supreme Emperor into Zhonghua Palace to offer sacrifices to the ancestors.
The Supreme Emperor had recovered, but the Empress Dowager hadn’t told Zhao Yao, precisely in order to surprise him.
After the ancestral rites, Zhao Yao saw the Supreme Emperor’s face streaming with tears, and couldn’t help teasing him: “I’m not crying, what are you crying for?”
The Supreme Emperor glared at Zhao Yao’s playful face. “I’m happy, that’s what. Brat, you’ve finally become the emperor.”
At the mention of this, Zhao Yao got angry. He glared at the Supreme Emperor and said in a mocking tone, “All thanks to your scheming.”
The Supreme Emperor laughed in great satisfaction. “Brat, the older ginger is still spicier.”
“Just you wait, we’ll settle this score slowly.”
This was not the time to quarrel. The Supreme Emperor waved his hand at Zhao Yao, urging him, “Enough, hurry out and receive the ministers’ kowtows.”
Zhao Yao very much wanted to throw the job aside and quit, just to anger the Supreme Emperor to death, but he had already offered sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors, so he could no longer act willfully.
“Old man, you just wait.” Tossing down this harsh line, Zhao Yao walked out of Zhonghua Palace and went to Zichen Hall to receive the kneeling obeisance of all the civil and military officials.
The Supreme Emperor did not go along.
Prince Chu pushed Prince Wei’s wheelchair to Zichen Hall. The two of them, as princes of the blood, naturally stood at the front of everyone.
Zhao Yao, dressed in the dragon robe, sat upon the dragon throne, ruling over the realm, accepting the kneeling obeisance of all the officials.
The ministers performed three prostrations and nine kowtows. Outside the Imperial Palace, the common folk knelt in the streets, or knelt in their own homes to offer congratulations.
Zhao Yao ascended the throne at twenty-six. He became the fourth King of Great Zhou, with the reign title Tianyou.
With the new emperor’s enthronement, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm, and the whole country rejoiced.
Having personally witnessed Zhao Yao’s accession, Prince Wei had no regrets left in his heart, and his body weakened by the day.
In Prince Wei’s last few days, Zhao Yao and Prince Chu stayed by his side the whole time.
Neither Prince Chu nor Prince Wei had ever expected that, after a lifetime of rivalry, the one to keep the other company at the end would be each other.
On the day of Prince Wei’s death, he suddenly became lucid. He got up early, put on his court robes, and went with Prince Chu to attend the morning audience.
When Prince Chu saw the way Prince Wei looked, he was first startled, then understood what was happening, and his mood grew heavy.
The ministers were all greatly shocked to see Prince Wei appear at court. Many thought he had recovered, but many others could see that this was his final lucidity before death.
As soon as Tong Xi learned that Prince Wei had appeared in Zichen Hall to attend the morning audience, he immediately went to report it to Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao, who had been drinking tea, froze, then the tea cup in his hand slipped and shattered into pieces on the floor.
Seeing Zhao Yao’s hand scalded by the tea, Tong Xi was so frightened that he hastily pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hand.
Seeing Zhao Yao’s eyes turn red and fill with tears, Sun Doudou knew that Prince Wei was not truly recovered, but was having a final flare of clarity.
Forcing down the ache in his heart, Zhao Yao pretended nothing was wrong and went to court as usual. When he walked into Zichen Hall and saw Prince Wei standing in the very first position among the ministers on the right, he almost lost control.
Prince Wei was the first to kneel and led the shout: “Long live Your Majesty, long live, long, long live!”
Zhao Yao clenched his fists tightly, struggling to steady himself, and said “Rise,” his voice somewhat choked.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Prince Wei rose steadily to his feet.
The great hall was utterly silent; no one opened their mouth to speak.
Zhao Yao forced himself to act as he usually did. He turned his gaze to Prime Minister He, who immediately understood and stepped forward to memorialize, just as on ordinary days.
The ministers were all shrewd men; they instantly understood Zhao Yao’s meaning. They proceeded as always—those with matters to report stepped forward, those without remained quietly in place.
The civil and military officials also knew their limits. Knowing that Prince Wei’s body could not hold out for long, they did not submit too many petitions.
An hour later, the morning audience ended. This was the shortest morning audience since Zhao Yao’s enthronement. Usually the morning court lasted two hours, or even longer.
Once Sun Doudou announced the end of court, Zhao Yao hurriedly ran to Prince Wei, then took him by the hand and led him out of Zichen Hall. Prince Chu followed after them.
“Tenth Brother, take me to Cining Palace, I want to see Mother.” Prince Wei felt no father-son affection toward the Supreme Emperor; what he wanted, before he went, was to see the Empress Dowager.
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Wei collapsed, but Zhao Yao and Prince Chu managed to catch him in time. Prince Wei could no longer hold on; he had no strength left to walk, so Zhao Yao carried him on his back and ran all the way to Cining Palace.
Tong Xi ran ahead to Cining Palace to tell the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager about Prince Wei’s condition.
By the time Zhao Yao carried Prince Wei into Cining Palace, the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager had just been about to go out to look for them.
Inside Cining Palace, Prince Wei, trembling, performed a final bow to the Empress Dowager, then collapsed into Zhao Yao’s arms.
“Eighth Brother…” Zhao Yao cried.
“Tenth Brother, I believe you can be a good emperor. I also believe you can bring Great Zhou an age of peace and prosperity. I’ll be watching from below.”
“Eighth Brother, then you must watch us carefully.”
Prince Wei held Zhao Yao’s hand with one of his, and with the other he clasped the Empress Dowager’s, his tone weak: “Mother, Tenth Brother… thank you both…”
The Empress Dowager gently stroked Prince Wei’s pale face, her voice tender: “In the next life, I will be your birth mother.”
Prince Wei lifted the corners of his mouth and called out happily, “Mother…”
The Empress Dowager answered through her sobs, “Yes!”
Prince Wei looked toward Zhao Yao, wanting to say something more, but no words would come.
“Eighth Brother!!!”
After Prince Wei’s death, Zhao Yao resumed his imperial demeanor and buried him with the honors due an emperor.