After three rounds of urging and three rounds of refusal, Xiao Hongchen reluctantly accepted the ministers' goodwill.
Mostly, he couldn't leave his grandfather kneeling on one knee any longer.
"You've... really made things difficult for me..."
"In two weeks, we'll hold the ceremony to honor Heaven. I'll ascend the throne then..."
"Yes!"
Two weeks passed quietly.
At dawn, the atmosphere in the Ming Capital was markedly different from usual. Guards stood every three paces and sentries every five along the city's main roads. Soldiers in heavy armor lined both sides, and a killing chill seemed to blanket the entire city.
Outside the Ming Capital, a magnificent altar had already risen from the ground.
Construction on the Sun Moon Platform had begun months ago, and it was now complete. Jing Hongchen had clearly been planning this for a long time.
The left side of the Sun Moon Platform was round, while the right was crescent-shaped, symbolizing the Sun Moon Empire.
The altar stood over three hundred meters tall, making it the highest structure in the Ming Capital. It would become a landmark of the city.
Clad in a splendid yellow robe embroidered with a Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon and wearing a purple-gold crown whose nine dragons held aloft a pearl, Xiao Hongchen climbed the steps one at a time. He walked slowly but steadily, savoring the ascent to the summit.
The Sun Moon Platform had nine tiers. The higher a person's status, the higher they stood.
Only two people occupied the ninth and highest tier: the puppet emperor who was about to abdicate, and Xiao Hongchen, the true focus of the day.
Before everyone's eyes, the puppet emperor read out the edict of abdication.
With its final word, Xiao Hongchen completed the last legal formality.
He was now the rightful emperor