"My lord prince, His Majesty's abdication is no small thing. It touches the foundations of the state. I beg my lord prince to think again."

Ji Mingchen said it anxiously.

Ning Chen nodded slightly. Ji Mingchen was right. A sudden change of emperor could throw a government into turmoil.

All the more so when the new emperor was young and not yet seasoned at handling state affairs. It would unsettle the court, and it would give enemy states an opening.

Ning Chen said, "My lords, His Majesty didn't decide to abdicate on a whim. He thought this through long ago... It's His Majesty's own decision. Even this prince probably couldn't talk him out of it.

His Majesty raised the crown prince himself, and his abilities are there for every eye to see. With the Left and Right Chancellors to help him, there won't be any problems. Relax!"

Over the next few days, ministers took turns submitting memorials, begging the Xuan Emperor to withdraw the command.

But the Xuan Emperor had his heart set on not being emperor anymore, and no one could talk him out of it.

He had even had the Ministry of Rites start preparing for the abdication and choose an auspicious day.

The date was soon fixed.

On the fifteenth of the sixth month, the Xuan Emperor would abdicate and the new emperor would take the throne!

All told, there were only ten days left!

The Ministry of Rites was run off its feet those few days.

Besides the abdication ceremony and the new emperor's enthronement, it also had to prepare the great sacrifice to heaven.

The Xuan Emperor was to sacrifice to heaven on Mount Jade Dragon, to proclaim his abdication to the realm and tell heaven that he was abdicating of his own free will, and to pray that heaven would keep the Great Xuan's country at peace and its people content.

None of it could go even the slightest bit wrong. One mistake, and heads would roll.

The tenth of the sixth month.

The Xuan Emperor held the great sacrifice to heaven on Mount…