The new emperor succeeded to the throne and issued a proclamation to the realm, detailing the late emperor's illness and cause of death, soothing the hearts of all under Heaven.
The Son of Heaven observed mourning, with days counted as months. During those twenty-seven days, to prevent upheaval in the Capital City, the Grand Secretariat took turns on duty. When the twenty-seven days ended, the emperor removed his mourning garments and attended to state affairs; the white banners inside and outside the palace were taken down, and the national mourning was, in truth, over.
The day after the mourning period ended, edicts came down in succession: the empress was honored as Empress Dowager, Ye Buhui was invested as empress, and the procedures for posthumously conferring the title of emperor upon the former crown prince were settled.
Yet not long after ascending the throne, he had already summoned Luo Pei, the Governor-General of the Southwest, back to the Capital City. Luo Pei did not hesitate in the slightest. He set out at once, relaying through post stations all the way, and only arrived at the Capital City after half a month of urgent travel.
He had been preparing to rest for a day at the post station when a clamor rose outside. Luo Pei started, only to see a eunuch enter and stand facing south. "The Emperor has an oral decree!"
Luo Pei knelt and kowtowed. "This subject Luo Pei respectfully awaits the sacred decree!"
"Luo Pei is to enter the palace immediately. By imperial command!"
"This subject obeys the decree!"
Luo Pei kowtowed as he accepted the decree and followed the eunuch out of the post station. Someone came forward to help him into a carriage. They all appeared to be Imperial Riders, and the eunuch climbed into the same