When the words "abdication" were heard, Zhao Huan was completely stunned.
If it had been before, such a pie-in-the-sky opportunity, he wouldn't have even dared to dream of it. After all, a crown prince who could ascend the throne while the emperor was still alive, from the founding of the Great Song dynasty until now, seemed unprecedented.
As soon as he became emperor, he would no longer have to worry about the threat from his brothers.
As soon as he became emperor, he would no longer have to be cautious in everything he did, even having to carefully consider where he slept at night and whether he might talk in his sleep.
But now, the situation was completely different. Not only was Hebei in a state of emergency, but even Hedong had begun to sound the alarm. If he made a mistake, he could become a ruler of a lost dynasty!
The thought of being nailed to the history books and cursed for eternity made Zhao Huan deeply uncomfortable.
"Your humble servant pays respects to His Majesty!"
Just as Zhao Huan's mind was blank, Zhang Bangchang was the first to bow directly to Zhao Huan.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Emperor!"
Following Zhang Bangchang were Tong Guan and Liang Shicheng!
"No! No! No! Father Emperor is still alive, and how can this humble one dare to call himself Emperor?"
As Zhao Huan spoke, he directly knelt before Zhao Ji. What a joke, ascending the throne at this moment would make him a scapegoat!
"Your Majesty, what are you doing? Since the Grand Emperor has decided to abdicate to you, you are the ruler of this land!"
Seeing his extreme reaction, Liang Shicheng quickly stepped forward and helped Zhao Huan up.
"Grand Commandant Liang, this is a time of national crisis. I am without talent or virtue, how can I possibly be the Emperor? I cannot simply stand by and watch the imperial realm of our ancestors be destroyed in my hands!"
Zhao Huan spoke, and helplessly knelt before Zhao Ji again.
Looking at the awkward scene, even Zhang Bangchang, the instigator, felt a bit embarrassed at this moment.
When did the throne become such a hot potato?
"Esteemed Minister Zhang speaks correctly. Perhaps His Majesty is concerned about the Imperial City Department. You see..."
Seeing that the situation seemed to be getting out of hand, Zhang Bangchang cleared his throat and quickly approached, supporting Zhao Huan and saying loudly to Zhao Ji.
After hearing Zhang Bangchang's words, Zhao Ji also came to his senses. To be precise, his role as a father was indeed a bit unkind.
Up to this point, the Imperial City Department was still in the hands of Prince Yun. Without control of the Imperial City Department, even if he himself were to change, he wouldn't dare to sit on the imperial throne!
"As Minister Zhang says, since you are already the Emperor, I believe the post of Director of the Imperial City Department should be handed over to your maternal uncle, Wang Zongchu. What do you think?"
Zhao Ji spoke, his face grim as he stared at his son.
He had discussed this with Zhang Bangchang and Tong Guan for a long time. At this moment, the Jurchen have already reached Taiyuan and Zhending.
At this critical juncture, no one was certain whether these two cities could hold.
Although Hedong was in a perilous situation, Taiyuan was a strategically defensible city, and Hedong still had many elite Western Army soldiers.
They should be able to hold on for a while, but Hebei was truly difficult to say.
If the Jurchen were to break through Xu Churen's defenses and directly reach the gates of Bianliang, then he, the emperor, would truly be trapped like a turtle in a jar!
In his opinion, handing over the throne to Zhao Huan was merely a change of title. As long as he could smoothly retreat south, he could still be his carefree emperor.
Even at this moment, the imperial edict for the Grand Emperor to go to Bozhou Taiqing Palace to burn incense was already in his possession.
"Father Emperor, your son truly cannot bear to be Emperor!"
Even though the conditions were very generous, Zhao Huan still cried and repeatedly refused.
"I am making this clear today: you will be Emperor, whether you want to or not. You are my eldest son, and you have been Crown Prince for so many years. Should you not share the burdens of your father and ruler?"
Seeing that he was still refusing at this point, Zhao Ji finally lost his patience.
Forced by his murderous gaze, Zhao Huan finally shut his mouth.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry and help His Majesty change!"
Seeing that Zhao Huan was silent, Liang Shicheng quickly waved his hand. Several young eunuchs waiting by the side hurried forward and began helping Zhao Huan change into a dragon robe.
Zhao Huan reluctantly became Emperor, but as he was being forced to become Emperor, his good brother, Prince Yun Zhao Kai, was looking grimly at the general He Guan.
"Do you know who I am? Father Emperor is gravely ill. What is your intention in obstructing me at this moment?"
Relying on his position as Director of the Imperial City Department, how could the matter of abdication be concealed from Zhao Kai?
Although he knew that the chances of success tonight were not high, this was the closest he had ever been to the imperial throne. No matter what, Zhao Kai was unwilling to just watch his incompetent brother become Emperor.
He had mobilized dozens of his informants, whom he had painstakingly planted over the years, and finally entered the imperial palace in the dead of night. However, to his surprise, as soon as he stepped through Xuande Gate, he was blocked by He Guan, the Commander of the Imperial Guards.
"Your Highness, you are a Prince, and His Majesty's son. Without an imperial decree, entering the palace at night is a crime, are you not aware of this? I advise Your Highness not to offer further futile resistance, otherwise, I fear I will have to offend you today!"
As He Guan spoke, he waved his right hand. Immediately, the soldiers behind him drew their swords and nocked their arrows, all staring intently at Zhao Kai and his retinue.
"Who says I don't have a holy decree? I am acting on His Majesty's oral command!"
With a roll of his eyes, Zhao Kai decided to go all out. It had come to this point where it was a matter of life and death. Forget about transmitting an imperial decree, he couldn't even bother with the crime of deceiving the emperor anymore!
"Oral command? How about this, Your Highness, please wait here for me. I will immediately send someone to ask His Majesty for instructions!"
He Guan knew what was happening in the Fu Ning Hall tonight. Of course, he didn't believe Zhao Kai's lies.
He was a loyal follower of the Crown Prince faction. Now that the imperial crown was about to be placed on Zhao Huan's head, how could he allow Zhao Kai to disrupt the situation at this time?