I've been bullied and humiliated for thirteen years; when I wake up, I'll be bloodthirsty.

Chapter 935 The Emperor's Curtain Falls

Zong Lin's body seemed to have completely deteriorated overnight.

After Zong Huai left, Eunuch Feng summoned the imperial physician, and Zong Lin didn't wake up until midnight.

After waking up, he did not stay in the palace, but put on his clothes and went to Fengyi Palace with a lantern.

The Phoenix Palace has been uninhabited for many years. Although palace servants occasionally come in to clean, it is still too desolate.

Zong Lin enshrines Yan Chengyue's memorial tablet in Fengyi Palace.

He offered incense to Yan Chengyue, sat on the prayer mat, and slowly burned paper money into the copper basin in front of him.

"Ah Yue, Your Majesty has returned."

"Ah Yue, I have made many mistakes. Over the years, I have tried every moment to completely forget all of this, including you."

"But now I realize that I can't forget anything."

"Ah Yue, they are forcing me to issue an edict of self-reproach. What should I do?"

"Ah Yue, you are so smart, you can definitely help me solve my problems, right? But I lost you, I personally shattered the moon."

"Ah Yue, I miss you."

Zong Lin sat in front of Yan Chengyue's memorial tablet until dawn. It wasn't until Grand Eunuch Feng reminded him that it was time for the morning court session that he staggered to his feet. His hair, which was already somewhat gray, turned almost completely white overnight.

Seeing how much Zong Lin had aged overnight, Grand Eunuch Feng's eyes reddened as well. "Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

"I know my own body well. Let's go." Zong Lin, supporting Feng Dajian's hand, slowly walked out of Fengyi Palace.

The gates of Fengyi Palace closed behind him, but the void in his heart could never be closed again.

Today is the grand court assembly, and even more so, the day when Zong Que returns in triumph after defeating the Great Yan and occupying Yanjing, welcoming back Crown Prince Chongwen, who has been a hostage for twenty-five years.

All the civil and military officials stood neatly in the court, eagerly awaiting Zong Lin's appearance.

Zong Lin helped Grand Eunuch Feng to sit on the dragon throne. The officials were surprised to see the emperor in such a state, but they still knelt down in unison, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Zong Lin stared at the kneeling court officials, remaining silent for a long time.

Until an announcement was made outside the door, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

Zong Que walked in from outside the Taiji Hall, and the officials knelt down again.

Zong Que stood in the center of the hall, not bowing, but raising his eyes to meet the gaze of the emperor sitting at the head of the table.

The emperor looked at Zong Que, recalling the words he had spoken to A Yue before her memorial tablet the night before. He closed his eyes and raised his hand to signal Grand Eunuch Feng to read the imperial edict.

"Since my ascension to the throne, I have carried on the late Emperor's legacy, striving diligently to bring peace and prosperity to the nation. However, due to my own selfish desires, I allowed Empress Dowager Dugu to instigate peace talks between the two countries, sending my elder brother as a hostage. My brother, upholding righteousness, endured twenty-five years of confinement in Yanjing, for which I am deeply ashamed. To prevent my brother's return, I sent my minister Xiao Chong to collude with the Yan rebels, leading to the defeat at Chenzhou, resulting in the deaths of over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians. My crimes are countless. Furthermore, I attempted to cover up this, using fabricated charges to have Rong Qing's entire family exterminated. These are all my transgressions, a disgrace to loyal ministers and generals, to the common people, and even to my beloved wife. I would gladly pay with my life for this. The faults of the Emperor are also unforgivable. Crown Prince Zong Que, my beloved son, has the world at heart, outstanding political achievements, and the support of the people. I now appoint Crown Prince Zong Que to inherit the throne and bring peace to the people. I will spend the rest of my life reflecting on my past mistakes."

The imperial edict of self-reproach caused an uproar throughout the court.

The crimes listed by the emperor were the subject of speculation among the officials. However, in the struggle for imperial power throughout history, the truth was always written by the victor.

The emperor's issuance of an edict of self-reproach and abdication can be seen as giving Crown Prince Chongwen an explanation.

This gave an explanation to the Rong family who died unjustly, as well as to the soldiers and civilians who died in the Battle of Chenzhou.

However, a mere edict of self-reproach cannot atone for the twenty-five years that Zong Huai was held hostage.

It is even less enough to compensate for the deaths of the entire Rong family and the 200,000 lives lost unjustly in Chenzhou.

The officials were filled with mixed feelings and could no longer discuss the edict of self-reproach or the matter of abdication.

When Grand Eunuch Feng handed the edict of self-reproach and the imperial decree of succession to Zong Que, the leading prime minister was the first to step forward, saying, "Your Highness, please choose a date to ascend the throne!"

All the officials bowed in unison, "Your Highness, please choose a date to ascend the throne!"

Zong Lin watched this scene, then slowly stood up with the help of Eunuch Feng. He squinted his eyes, but could not quite make out the familiar sight before him.

His 24-year reign as emperor Zong Lin came to an end.