Imperial warlords: Cannons are the only truth

The capital city—the imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, I have prepared the edict of self-reproach and the edict of abdication for you."

"However, I still hope that Your Majesty can make a passionate public statement on the radio in front of the whole world."

Xie Kangnian looked at the imperial edict laid out on the imperial desk, then personally picked up the imperial seal and stamped it heavily.

Standing beneath the imperial desk was Emperor Yongsheng, the 49th emperor of the Qianlong Emperor, who had just celebrated his 30th birthday.

"Everything is up to the Chief Minister's arrangement..." The pale-faced Emperor Yongsheng did not even dare to look directly at Xie Kangnian in front of his desk.

In fact, Emperor Yongsheng lived in constant fear after ascending the throne.

Because Jiang Youtang knew even before he ascended the throne that Xie Kangnian's ambitions were definitely not limited to being the chief minister of the Great Qian Empire.

This emperor is definitely not going to have an easy time!

Emperor Yongsheng even envied his father—the previous emperor, Emperor Yude—at every moment.

Although Emperor Yude was also a "mascot" during his reign, he could at least indulge in sensual pleasures in the palace to pass the time as a mascot.

However, when Emperor Yongsheng ascended the throne, the situation was completely different.

Under Xie Kangnian's arrangement, Emperor Yongsheng, who lived in the palace, was placed under strict supervision.

Even the opportunity to indulge in sensual pleasures was taken away.

Emperor Yongsheng's activities were even strictly confined to his bedroom.

Moreover, Xie Kangnian replaced all the servants around him with eunuchs.

In other words, Emperor Yongsheng, after ascending the throne, could not even see his empress, and did not even have a maidservant by his side!

The reason for this arrangement was simply that Xie Kangnian did not want to see Emperor Yongsheng have any offspring.

Before ascending the throne, Jiang Youtang's principal wife and concubines had given him seven children, but none of them were male offspring.

This is precisely the fundamental reason why Xie Kangnian put Jiang Youtang on the throne.

Furthermore, the year after Xie Kangnian helped Jiang Youtang ascend the throne, he held a royal family banquet in the palace in the name of the emperor.

All members of the royal family residing in the capital were invited to a banquet at the Qingde Hall of the Imperial Palace.

That evening, Qingde Hall "accidentally" caught fire.

Hundreds of royal family members, including Emperor Yongsheng's brothers and nephews, perished in the fire.

In the end, only Emperor Yongsheng and a few royal women were rescued.....................

The subsequent investigation revealed that a palace eunuch had maliciously set the fire, ultimately causing the tragedy.

Xie Kangnian, who happened to be inspecting military affairs in Jinzhou, rushed back to the capital overnight after hearing about the incident. After investigating the cause of the fire, he executed the eunuch who set the fire on the spot.

However, the fire in the palace did not attract much attention.

After all, when the warlord wars were raging, no one had the time or inclination to pay attention to the Great Qian imperial family, which had been largely invisible for decades.

As long as the emperor remains peacefully in power, no one cares what happens in the palace....................

From then on, the already terrified Emperor Yongsheng found it even harder to sleep.

Originally, Emperor Yongsheng thought it would be quite nice if he could stay in the palace and lie down, oblivious to the affairs of the outside world, just like his father.

But unfortunately, they ended up with Xie Kangnian, a man who does absolutely nothing.

Confining him to his palace was one thing, but to not even leave him a maidservant was another!

Forget about lying down and indulging; even getting a good night's sleep has become a luxury.

Because Emperor Yongsheng also frequently had nightmares, dreaming that he too was set on fire by Xie Kangnian......................

So many years have passed in a flash.

Emperor Yongsheng had truly had enough of this kind of life.

The constant fear and anxiety, without any outlet for his emotions, were driving Emperor Yongsheng nearly insane...

During this time, Emperor Yongsheng repeatedly tried to comfort himself by deceiving himself: things have already come to this, so don't put so much pressure on yourself.

Relax! At least for now, I don't have to do anything and I still get food...

Emperor Yongsheng also wanted to enter a state of self-forgetfulness where he had no desire for anything except rice and felt that everything outside his bed was a foreign land!

But in the end, it still failed...................

The great fire at Qingde Palace left an indelible shadow on Emperor Yongsheng.

Even the Emperor Yongsheng is now terrified at the sight of a burning candle!

Fortunately, electric lights are now in use in the palace.

Otherwise, even this one aftereffect could have ruined Emperor Yongsheng..........................

-------------------------------------

"Your Majesty once made a grand vow when you ascended the throne."

"If we can ensure that the Great Qian Dynasty lasts for a thousand years, it will be a way to comfort our ancestors!"

"Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, His Majesty has been on the throne for almost ten years."

"Nine hundred and ninety-eight, two years to go..."

Xie Kangnian sat down on the throne without any hesitation, and gently patted his face on the cushion, revealing a hint of contentment.

"Your Excellency! These were just my unintentional words back then... They must not be taken seriously! They must not be taken seriously at all..." Emperor Yongsheng was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly.

"What are you saying, Your Majesty!" Xie Kangnian shook his head and said solemnly, "A ruler's words are not to be taken lightly."

"Moreover, this was His Majesty's beautiful aspiration for our Great Qian Empire when he ascended the throne!"

"As your subject, I believe it is necessary to fulfill this grand ambition for Your Majesty."

"Ah? No! No! No!" Emperor Yongsheng, panicked, immediately cried out in terror, "Your Excellency! I abdicate immediately. From now on, I only want to be an ordinary person."

"Whether the Great Qian Dynasty can last for as long as it is no longer my concern! I don't want to get involved in these matters anymore!"

"I only beg Your Excellency to spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, you're really going too far with your words..."

Xie Kangnian smiled and shook his head, then feigned surprise and said, "Your Majesty, as the ruler of a country, even if you abdicate, you should have a respectable title to be befitting your status."

"Besides, after His Majesty abdicates, he can enjoy the rest of his life in peace. Anyone who dares to touch His Majesty must first ask me, Xie Kangnian, whether I agree!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, once all this is over, as long as I live, I will risk my old life to prevent anyone from harming Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Chief Minister! Thank you, Chief Minister!" Emperor Yongsheng was so excited he almost knelt down before Xie Kangnian: "Please rest assured, Chief Minister, I will cooperate fully!"

"I will do whatever the Prime Minister arranges."

Emperor Yongsheng is now only thinking about ending all of this as soon as possible.

He would do anything to escape the palace, this great prison, alive...