Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Just as the Crown Prince was immersed in joy, oblivious to all his worries, a violent earthquake suddenly struck the Former Dynasty. This sudden disaster plunged the entire country into panic and chaos. Meanwhile, Emperor Qian collapsed from a relapse of an old injury. He collapsed to the ground in the upper hall, unconscious.

This sudden incident shocked the entire court. Ministers gathered around and tried to help the Emperor, but their efforts were in vain. The Emperor's condition worsened, and he collapsed on his bed, sometimes lucid and sometimes confused.

At this critical moment, the crown prince responded quickly. He urgently summoned the imperial physician and personally supervised the treatment process. At the same time, he ordered the intensification of rescue efforts in the disaster area to ensure the safety of the people and the satisfaction of their daily needs.

However, the Emperor Qian's condition showed no signs of improvement. The Crown Prince was extremely worried and stayed by his father's side day and night, praying to God for his recovery. But fate seemed to play a cruel joke on the Emperor Qian, as the imperial physician diagnosed Qian Huang with only two years to live.

Upon hearing this news, the Crown Prince felt a surge of joy, yet also a deep sense of worry. He knew his father's sudden passing presented him with both an opportunity and a challenge. Although his father was gone, his position within the court was still unsettled. If he failed to handle the situation properly, he could lose his hard-earned position as Crown Prince. He knew he had to act swiftly to stabilize the situation and ensure a smooth ascension to the throne.

Yet, when he contemplated the prospect of becoming the sole ruler, the entire world under his control after his father's passing, an irrepressible joy welled up within him. He imagined being able to pursue the woman of his dreams as he pleased, free from any restrictions or constraints. This freedom intoxicated him, as if he were in the clouds, where everything seemed beautiful and exciting. But he also understood that achieving these aspirations would require considerable effort and wisdom.

In the days that followed, the prince began actively planning and negotiating with various factions to consolidate his position. At the same time, he paid close attention to the woman he loved, attempting to approach her and express his affection through various means. However, he remained vigilant, never revealing his true feelings, lest he arouse others' alarm.

During this difficult period, the Crown Prince demonstrated unwavering resilience and exceptional leadership. He worked diligently to stabilize the situation, reassure the people, and lead the country out of its difficulties. Although the road ahead was filled with challenges, he remained confident that he could overcome them and achieve national prosperity.

The old ministers in the court saw the efforts and contributions of the prince and felt that he was capable of taking on the important responsibility of being the ruler of a country. More old ministers and forces in the court surrendered to the prince. Among them, the qualifications of Wang Yuyan's family and his two concubines, Qi Zhenzhu and Meng Wanjun's family should not be underestimated. They actively supported the prince. He lobbied every minister to make efforts and lay the groundwork for the prince's smooth ascension to the throne.

This is the time to appoint ministers and consolidate power in the court. Emperor Qian woke up with a clear mind and took Empress Kun's hand. Su Yao, it's not that I don't love our prince, I just think he is not mature enough in doing things. If I don't suppress him, I'm afraid he will do something irrational.

The rest of your life will be particularly aggrieved. From now on, although Su Yao held the hand of Emperor Qian with tears in her eyes, her heart was filled with the King of Boxing's evaluation of her son. The mother saw that everything about her son was good. Although she thought so in her heart, she still said painfully, "Then you can look after your son for two more years. You have to take care of yourself. What can I do without you? Huang'er and I can't live without you."

Emperor Qian shook his head helplessly and said, "I also want to accompany you and Huang Er, but my body does not allow it. I still have many things to achieve. Alas, I asked the imperial physician, and the imperial physician said that I can live for at most two years. I will use my body and time in these two years to pave the way for the prince."

Emperor Qian and Empress Kun were mourning the passing of time in their bedroom, but undercurrents were surging in various cities throughout China. Take, for example, Concubine Qian Huang's virtuous concubine. Her power as a boxing champion made her the most powerful competitor after the Crown Prince. Concubine Chen's family was also the Chen family that helped Emperor Qian conquer the world.

The Chen family is a traditional military family, and their power in the military is crucial. If the Crown Prince wants to ascend the throne smoothly, he must take back the Chen family's military power. But military power can be taken back at will. Empress Chen, His Majesty the Emperor, has secretly allowed her family to accumulate power to help the Third Prince successfully usurp the throne. But is this all done in secret?

Although the Third Prince was born to Concubine Chen, his military and literary skills are not inferior to the Crown Prince, and he is even better than the Crown Prince. It's just that he does not have the title of legitimate heir, and his mother is not Empress Kun. He has no advantage in terms of time, place and people, so he can only be inferior to the Crown Prince. But the Third Prince is unwilling to accept this. Why should he give up the world just because he is the legitimate son? If he refuses to surrender to his father this time, perhaps this will be his chance.

Emperor Qian dragged his seriously ill body to help the crown prince clear away the obstacles for his ascension to the throne bit by bit. He knew that the third prince and Concubine Chen were unwilling to give in and wanted to take some actions in private, but he was reluctant to do so. After all, they were his own son and his beloved concubine. He could only drive the third prince out of the palace, and make him the King of Chu. Fengdi was in Chu and was not allowed to enter the capital without help.

When the Third Prince received the imperial edict, his face paled, his heart pounding with anxiety. His father truly loved the Crown Prince and had cleared all obstacles for his smooth ascension to the throne. Then what was I? I was no longer his son. The Third Prince kept asking himself why, why was this happening? If his father didn't like him, why had he given birth to him? If he gave birth to him but didn't love him, then what was he?

The crown prince's ascension to the throne was more than a simple transfer of power; it involved a comprehensive project involving national stability, political balance, and cultural inheritance. To this end, Emperor Qian had to implement a series of meticulous and far-sighted strategic deployments before the crown prince ascended the throne to ensure a seamless transition of imperial power and the continued prosperity of the country.

 Formal consecration and oath:

The Emperor would first hold a grand enthronement ceremony, formally declaring the Crown Prince's status as heir apparent through solemn rituals, placing him in the spotlight. He would then require all court officials to perform the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows, a symbolic expression of loyalty and obedience. Furthermore, the Emperor would issue an edict detailing the Crown Prince's merits and qualifications, as well as his aspirations for the nation's future. This edict would be widely disseminated, ensuring its deepest influence on the people.

 Improvement of laws and systems:

To ensure the Crown Prince's unquestionable succession rights, Emperor Qian ordered a revision of the "Great Code," clearly defining the Crown Prince's legal status, including his automatic succession upon Emperor Qian's death or abdication, and his role as regent during the Emperor's critical illness. Simultaneously, a dedicated Crown Prince's Office was established, outfitted with a comprehensive bureaucratic system, laying a solid organizational foundation for the Crown Prince's future rule.

 Promote confidants and build a team for the crown prince:

The emperor would carefully select a group of talented, loyal, and reliable young men and place them in key positions to serve as the crown prince's right-hand men. These individuals would become the core of the future government, providing strong support in policy formulation and implementation while also effectively balancing the old bureaucracy and ensuring a smooth transition of power.

 Clear obstacles and eliminate unstable factors:

For those old ministers and royal nobles whose positions were ambiguous and might become obstacles to the crown prince's rule, the emperor would adopt a gentle but firm attitude, rewarding them with land, gold, silver and treasures to encourage them to voluntarily request retirement or move to their fiefdoms. This move could both appease the people and prevent potential palace coups, ensuring that the crown prince's authority was not challenged.

 Comprehensive knowledge infusion and skills training:

The Qianhuang Association invited renowned Confucian scholars, military strategists, economists, and others from across the country to form an elite team of teachers to comprehensively enhance the Crown Prince's cultural attainments, statecraft, and military strategy. The Crown Prince was expected to master not only the Four Books and Five Classics but also the martial arts such as horseback archery, swordsmanship, and the art of war to prepare him for the challenges of the future.

 Practical training and government participation:

Emperor Qian would regularly allow the crown prince to attend court meetings and observe the making of major decisions, and even authorize him to exercise decision-making power in specific areas, such as agricultural development and border defense. In this way, the crown prince could quickly accumulate political capital, establish his own prestige, and lay the foundation for his future independence.

 Civilian image projects:

The Qian Emperor would organize a series of public welfare activities, such as building schools, hospitals, and temples, and reducing taxes in disaster-stricken areas. The Crown Prince would personally participate, showcasing his benevolent and generous image. At the same time, the Crown Prince's good deeds and virtues would be vigorously publicized through official media, portraying him as a people-friendly and wise leader, and winning the people's heartfelt support.

 Culture and Arts Sponsorship:

Encouraging the prince to devote himself to culture and art, holding poetry gatherings, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, and sponsoring opera performances can not only enrich the spiritual life of the people, but also demonstrate the prince's elegant sentiments and outstanding artistic appreciation, and further narrow the distance between him and the people.

 Strengthening security and intelligence gathering:

The emperor would dispatch elite soldiers to garrison the Eastern Palace to ensure the personal safety of the crown prince and his family. At the same time, he would establish a special secret police department to monitor suspicious individuals, detect possible rebellious plots, and maintain harmony and order within the palace.

 Psychological intervention and emotion regulation:

In view of the heavy responsibilities and pressures that the Crown Prince shoulders, Emperor Qian will specially hire psychologists and Zen masters to provide the Crown Prince with regular psychological counseling and meditation training to help him learn to self-regulate, maintain a calm and clear mind, and calmly deal with all emergencies.

In summary, the emperor's strategies prior to the crown prince's accession to the throne encompassed multiple dimensions. Their goal was to ensure the crown prince's safety while creating a favorable political environment for him, ensuring a smooth transition from the old to the new and avoiding potential chaos and turmoil. The successful execution of these strategies not only tested the emperor's political wisdom but also reflected his profound consideration for the long-term development of the nation.