EBE Chapter 233 Kangxi Wants to Abdicate
Chapter 233 Kangxi Wants to Abdicate
Chapter 233 Kangxi Wants to Abdicate
Yinzhen was also worried about this, so after leaving the court, he found Yinreng and asked him this question directly.
Yinreng smiled slightly, feeling very touched by his fourth brother's concern at the moment. He casually revealed something: "Oh, do they think I would do this when I am not confident? I am not a petty person who has achieved success. The matters those people are responsible for are already handled by others. I only need to promote all the deputies. So, does it matter whether these people are there or not?"
Yinzhen stared at Yinreng in front of him in amazement. For the first time, he saw clearly how powerful his second brother was. He had already been impressed by the methods his second brother had demonstrated during his trip to the south of the Yangtze River. The fact that he was able to predict what was happening in the capital while in Guangdong and Guangxi made him even more in awe of him. Who knew that the power behind his second brother was more extensive and deeper than he knew.
This time, Yinzhen was completely convinced and convinced. He knelt down devoutly before Yinreng and said, "Brother, may the Prince Regent live a thousand years."
Yinreng reached out and helped Yinzhen up, looking at the younger brother in front of him who had followed and supported him for many years. The resentment he had for eliminating his lineage after seizing power in his previous life was completely eliminated at this moment. At this moment, he patted his younger brother's shoulder, his heart full of gratitude and closeness.
Yinreng: "My second brother only gave you the status of a prince. Like the other brothers, do you feel uncomfortable?"
Hearing his second brother still referring to himself as "Second Brother" instead of "This Prince", Yinzhen was moved: "Second Brother, I understand. Although you have become the Regent, as long as that day has not arrived, there are some things that cannot be done, especially when the other brothers have made great contributions."
Yinreng knew that his younger brother was very smart and understood things immediately. When their eyes met, they both knew what he was talking about without having to say it out loud.
Yinreng: "Yinzhen, you came at the right time. Second brother has some things that really need you to do. Hongye was sent to the old man by second brother early this morning. This is not only the old man's request, but also what I want in my heart. At this critical moment, I am not afraid of you knowing. In fact, I still have to be on guard against the old man's hand. After being an emperor for decades, no one would believe that he has no backup plan.
This prince has taken the throne ahead of schedule today. Although the old man agrees, he is still unhappy in his heart. He may agree that this prince takes the throne, but if there is a chance to trip this prince up, he will definitely not refuse.
This is what I want your help with. I hope you can stay in Changshun Garden and help me keep an eye on the old man. I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm afraid the old man might do something weird and cause embarrassment."
Yinzhen looked slightly embarrassed. He acknowledged his royal father's ability to stir up trouble, especially someone as greedy for power as his royal father. He must be unhappy that his second brother suddenly seized power, and it was inevitable that he would look for trouble after being unhappy.
When Yinzhen thought about what the emperor would do after his brothers came back soon, he felt a little nervous. The task entrusted to him by his second brother was a long and arduous task. If he was not careful, he would be in trouble.
Looking at the sincere and earnest eyes of his second brother, and thinking of the care his second brother and sister-in-law had given their family over the years, Yinzhen gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement. So be it, the Qing Dynasty had long been his, and he would work under him in the future. Although his second brother would not abuse the Emperor, with him guarding Changshun Garden, he would think that whatever the Emperor needed or wanted to do, as long as it was within his ability, he would satisfy it as soon as possible.
Just like that, on the second day of Yinreng's regency, the newly appointed Prince Yong moved into Changshun Garden. On the one hand, it ensured that outsiders would not disturb the emperor, and on the other hand, it also protected the emperor's safety.
News traveled quickly in the capital, especially with Yinreng's indulgence. The news reached the princes returning from Korea and Japan, and they all sped up their journey back to the capital. A journey that would normally take at least a month was abruptly reduced to just half a month. The two groups met in the outskirts of Beijing and, without entering the Forbidden City, headed directly to Changshun Garden.
When they arrived, the ministers and the remaining princes in the capital also rushed over. Kangxi, who had not been seen for a long time, also appeared in front of everyone for the first time after several months.
The princes who were originally furious and wanted to come back to purge the court were stunned when they saw the true appearance of Kangxi, because everyone could see that although Kangxi in front of them did not look well, he was definitely not imprisoned as they imagined. Not only that, his attitude towards the regent in front of so many people was also very frightening, and he completely agreed with the heir.
What else is there to say now? Apart from the lack of an abdication edict, what is the difference between this and having already abdicated?
Not to mention the princes, even the ministers present at the scene did not understand. You have to know what kind of person the Emperor is. He has been holding all the power and being self-centered for decades, and now he suddenly changed his attitude. If they didn't know that the person in front of them was Kangxi, they would really think that the Regent had hired someone to disguise himself as the current emperor.
How could they understand the pain Kangxi felt? Did they think he wanted to give up power? Honestly, if he had the chance, he would have strangled his once-favorite son to death. But now, he couldn't. Under someone's roof, he had to bow his head. His life was now in the hands of the other person. Did he know why he had given up power so easily? Wasn't it because his own life was no longer in his control?
When he first learned that Yinreng had been plotting against him for a long time, whether it was by bribing his confidants and secret guards in advance, secretly cultivating his power, or guiding him to take the magic pill, he was furious and wanted to kill his son in front of him. But in the end, after learning the truth, he couldn't really do it.
The opportunity that really changed his attitude was after Yinreng explained all the truth. He had nightmares for several nights in a row. In the dreams, he witnessed with his own eyes the dethronement and reinstatement of the crown prince twice in his later years, saw Yinzhen ascend the throne, saw Hongli's so-called Kangxi and Qianlong prosperous eras, and saw that his descendants not only completely destroyed the Qing Dynasty in less than two hundred years, but also signed many humiliating treaties. Finally, he personally experienced the harm of closing the country to the outside world and the fact that backwardness would lead to beatings.
The initial trigger and opportunity for all this was himself, the self-proclaimed "Eternal Emperor." The moment he learned the truth, he lost all his energy and spirit. His suspicion, his doubt, and his selfishness were the primary reasons for the Qing Dynasty's rapid decline. It was also because of his "Gu-raising" inheritance method that no emperor after Yinzhen inherited his great talent and ambition. Even Hongli, later known as Emperor Gaozong, was less than one-tenth of his uncle's.
At that moment he regretted that he was a sinner of the Qing Dynasty. This made Kangxi, who compared himself to the Qin Emperor, Han Emperor Wu, Tang Emperor Taizong and Song Emperor Taizu, lose the desire to resist at that moment.
Perhaps what Yinreng said was right. When people get old, they should accept their age. If we think carefully about the impact of his so-called benevolent policies in recent years, we can find that these are not the "benevolence" he wanted, but more of a compromise. How is these different from those of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, whom he once hated the most?
It was also because he had figured it out that he no longer longed to return to the Forbidden City, nor did he think about his own glorious era. He only wanted to spend his remaining years in Changchun Garden. If he had not known today that his sons were going to come back and cause trouble, to be honest, he would not have been willing to show up again, because that would mean that he had bowed to his sons in public, which made Kangxi, who had been strong all his life, feel more uncomfortable than death.
But he had no choice but to come, because when he just had this idea, he had a nightmare again last night. This time, not only did he relive the previous nightmare, but he also saw his dead ancestors. Faced with their condemning eyes and threatening words, Kangxi's original idea of escaping was completely dispelled.
After seeing everyone gathered, Kangxi spoke directly: "I asked you to come here today to make a news. I am old and unable to do many things. Since I ascended the throne for more than 40 years, I have fought against Oboi, pacified the Three Feudatories, recovered Taiwan and Outer Mongolia, and now I have expanded the territory to add Korea and Japan. I have made great contributions to our Qing Dynasty. Although I cannot compare myself to the Qin Emperor, Han Wudi, Tang Zong and Song Zu, I am satisfied with what I have.
Yinreng is my legitimate son, appointed Crown Prince upon turning one year old. He is increasingly distinguished and gifted. Over the past few months, he has handled state affairs with unwavering satisfaction. Therefore, I have decided to appoint him as Prince Regent and to hold the coronation ceremony on the first day of next month. The Imperial Household Department will be fully authorized to handle the ceremony, with Yinzhen supervising and Liang Jiugong assisting. I hope you will be fully informed of this."
Everyone knelt on the ground, with only one sentence echoing in their minds, "The Emperor has abdicated!"