The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

"My son, we, mother and son, are unlucky. In the end, we didn't make it to the end of our lives. Now that things have come to this, we won't fight against fate anymore. Let's abdicate!" The Queen Mother murmured softly.

The young emperor Shen Ke had not recovered yet and was still very weak. At this time, he could only raise his hand with difficulty to wipe away his mother's tears.

He comforted her, "Mother, don't cry! Ahem! Help your son get up and sit down!"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother placed a soft pillow behind her son, helped him up and leaned against the pillow. She then fed him a glass of warm water and helped him calm down. "Are you feeling better?"

"My body is already in this condition, it's hard to say whether it's good or bad, cough cough cough," the little emperor said with low energy.

He coughed twice before continuing, "Actually, I had a premonition of this day a long time ago. If I had been born twenty years earlier, our Great Xia Empire wouldn't have been lost so easily. Alas, just like my mother said, it's all fate!"

The tone is helpless and sad!

"Son, I've thought about it. That Zhou guy's rise to power was not legitimate, nor was it justifiable. He said it was the Black Snake choosing its master. Who knows if it's some kind of trick? I've seen it all before in the palace.

Since they sent someone to tell you to abdicate, it means that in the end, at most they will confine us mother and son to another courtyard. We won't lose our lives, so don't worry," the Queen Mother wiped her tears and comforted her son.

"Maybe, cough cough cough, but what's the point of living like this?" Upon hearing this, the little emperor just sighed deeply, as if he no longer cared about life or death.

"Mother, although I have only lived in this world for a little over ten years, I have studied the Book of Rites. I remember when the Grand Tutor was teaching me, there was a sentence that still leaves a deep impression on me: 'A monarch dies for the country, an official dies for the people, and a scholar dies for the system.' Even if I am incompetent, I am still the ruler of a country. There is no reason for me to live in disgrace and hand over the country to others!

But you are still young, mother. I know you want to live. I have nothing to repay you in this life. I can only apologize to our ancestors and write this abdication edict. Ahem, ahem, I hope that in the next life we ​​will not be mother and son, nor will we join the royal family! Ahem, ahem!

After saying that, he covered his chest and burst into another earth-shaking coughing fit.

Looking at her son's heavy expression and haggard face, the Queen Mother could no longer hold back her tears as she lay on the bed.

"Eunuch Wu, come in!" The little emperor stopped comforting his mother and waved and called out.

"Hey, Your Majesty, I'm here," Wu Yougui had been waiting at the door and immediately bowed in response when he heard this.

It’s not that I still have much respect for the little emperor, it’s just that the habit of so many years cannot be changed.

As he walked in, he put his hands behind his back and winked at the eunuch beside him, asking him to bring him writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone.

After the young emperor finished writing the abdication edict, he ordered, "Send the palace maids in and help me change my clothes. I'm going to the Taimiao to pay my respects. Ahem, ahem, I've become the ruler of a fallen nation. I'm afraid I won't have the face to pay my respects to my ancestors anymore! Ahem, ahem!"

Seeing the little emperor coughing violently, the queen mother wiped her tears with a handkerchief and advised: "Son, your body cannot withstand the wind. Go next time!"

"Mother, I am still the current emperor. As long as the imperial edict is not issued, I am still the ruler of the world. Ahem, ahem, I have listened to you all my life. This time, let me be the master." The tone changed from tough at the beginning to pleading at the end, which made people feel sad.

This is probably the most cowardly emperor ever. Although Wu Yougui is a eunuch, a lowly and rootless person, he couldn't help but feel emotional at this moment.

The Queen Mother was extremely sad after hearing this. At this last moment, she also wanted to fight for something for her son.

I couldn't help but look up at Eunuch Wu Yougui with a cold face.

After weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Eunuch Wu finally waved his hand and asked someone to come in to help with the wash and grooming. He said slowly, "My two masters, according to the rules, you two can't walk around freely. Now I am taking the initiative, which can be regarded as fulfilling the master-servant relationship we have had for so many years. Take care of yourselves from now on!"

After saying this, he took the abdication edict and left.

Before leaving, he did not forget to instruct people to keep a close watch on the two of them.

With the abdication edict, things became much easier.

At this time, the story of the black snake choosing its master had spread widely in Lin'an, and even three-year-old children knew about it.

Zhou Ziming's rule was harsh. After the army entered the city, they did not touch the people's clothes or anything else, so the people could only sigh a few times.

They have seen a lot of turmoil in recent years and have become accustomed to it.

Occasionally, some scholars came out to say that Zhou Ziming was a traitor who stole the throne, but they were also dealt with secretly.

Seeing that the Great Xia Dynasty was doomed and with the abdication edict, half of the Lin'an families chose to surrender.

After all, he who knows the times is a hero!

The most special ones are the four regent ministers, who are in high positions and have great power, and are the ones who are most embarrassed to step down.

Zhou Ziming was also aware of this, so he chose other members of the aristocratic families who had already surrendered to act as lobbyists.

With the opportunity to step down, three of the four people chose to submit a petition to retire and return home.

This can be regarded as tacit approval of the coup.

Among them is the one from the Qian family.

Only one regent could not accept this result and chose to die by hitting his head against a pillar, sacrificing his life for his country.

Zhou Ziming showed no mercy to these stubborn court officials and dragged them all outside the city and beheaded them.

At that time, the big families often had hundreds of people. After days of chopping off the bodies, the land on the execution ground was dyed red.

Under this shock, other small families also quickly surrendered.

Two days later was an auspicious day. Zhou Ziming set out from Zhou Mansion early with his men, riding on tall horses, and slowly headed towards the palace surrounded by the people and officials in the city.

The abdication ceremony will be held in the Taihe Hall Square in the palace later.

The journey was actually not long and they arrived soon. Listening to all the praises and cheers around him, Zhou Ziming felt a little unreal for a moment and didn't know where he was.

At this moment, he thought of his father, an honest craftsman.

He probably never imagined that one day his son would become emperor!