Chu Xuanzhen calmly pressed the old emperor, who had "risen from the dead," back into his coffin, replaced the lid, and secured it tightly with hemp rope and nails, giving him no chance to throw it open again.
With the old emperor dead, more ministers began urging Chu Xuanzhen to ascend the throne. In the past, he had always refused them on the grounds that the country still had a ruler.
But now that the old emperor had passed away, Chu Xuanzhen was the only person in Great Chu who could inherit the throne. If he kept putting it off, the situation would change.
Everyone was on edge.
A new emperor meant a new court. Although the ministers in the old emperor's faction had little affection for Chu Xuanzhen, they had never opposed him at every turn the way the other princes' factions did.
The Grand Tutor and the ministers proposed suitable dates for the enthronement. After having the calculations checked again and again, they settled on a day in the middle of the month, one without wind or rain.
The weather would be neither dry nor scorching.
"Your Highness!"
The Grand Tutor bristled and glared. Looking at the memorials scattered across the floor, his brows knitted into deep creases. He bowed with his hands clasped. "I have already had the calculations done. That is the most suitable day for your enthronement!"
At his age, he had not wanted to pressure Chu Xuanzhen like this. But after watching him repeatedly put it off, he could not help growing anxious. He had witnessed the Crown Prince's abilities throughout his life. No one was better suited to the position.
If anyone had been, it was the Second Prince of years past, Chu Xuanzhi. But Chu Xuanzhi had vanished so many years ago