Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1139: Chapter 151: Standing in for the Emperor to Offer Sacrifices to Heaven and Earth

The Emperor suddenly fell ill, stirring up great waves in the previous dynasty and the harem.

Since ascending the throne, the Emperor had seldom fallen ill or taken to bed. This sudden illness worried both the ministers of the previous dynasty and the concubines in the harem. However, the Emperor was in his prime, always in good health, so the civil and military officials were not concerned about his survival. Of course, there were some who hoped the Emperor would remain bedridden this time.

Fortunately, the Emperor fell ill after the court session was concluded, so he didn’t need to attend court or handle state affairs for the time being, allowing him some proper rest. But, with the New Year approaching, the Emperor’s illness at this time made it likely that this year’s festivities would not go smoothly.

After the Emperor’s illness, the ministers were most concerned about who would preside over this year’s grand sacrificial ceremony, and who would replace the Emperor in offering sacrifices to heaven and the ancestors.

In previous years’ grand sacrificial ceremonies, several Princes were in charge of the arrangements. However, during their sacrifices, they did so as Princes, not as Crown Princes, let alone as the rulers of the country.

The New Year’s Eve ancestral sacrifices and the New Year’s Day sacrifices to heaven were major events, requiring the Emperor to lead them personally. This meant that the Emperor was the most crucial person in these ceremonies.

Now that the Emperor was ill, he could not recover in a short time, making it impossible for him to attend the ancestral sacrifices or offer sacrifices to heaven. A son could substitute for the ancestral sacrifices. However, if a son replaced him in offering sacrifices to heaven, it would imply that this son was to be the next Emperor. Historically, only the Emperor could offer sacrifices to heaven, praying for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

The Emperor’s illness no longer concerned the ministers. What they cared about most now was who would replace the Emperor in offering sacrifices to heaven.

Because of this matter, Prince Dai, Prince Jing, Prince Chu, and Prince Wei Mansion have been bustling these days. Every day, ministers came to visit. Of course, Prince Han Mansion remained quiet, with not a single minister stopping by.

Today it was Zhao Yao’s turn to attend to the Emperor’s illness in the palace. While the Emperor was bedridden, the Princes took turns serving him.

In the Emperor’s bedchamber, Lady Liang was massaging the Emperor’s shoulders, while Zhao Yao was pounding his legs.

After a while, Zhao Yao got tired of serving and sat directly on the couch beside him.

"You brat, why did you stop pounding?"

"I’m tired, I’m not serving anymore." Since Father Emperor "fell ill," he had become increasingly fussy and difficult.

The Emperor pointed at Zhao Yao and scolded, "Unfilial son."

"You’re not really sick." Zhao Yao poured himself a cup of tea. "If you were truly sick, I would serve you properly."

The Emperor replied in exasperation, "If I were truly sick, waiting for you to serve me would surely anger me to death." As he spoke, he grasped Lady Liang’s hands, signaling her to stop pounding.

"If I could anger you to death, then that’s a talent of mine." Zhao Yao raised an eyebrow at the Emperor. "If you really got angered to death by me, then you’re quite useless."

Hearing this, the Emperor angrily threw a pillow at Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao caught the pillow steadily, then placed it behind his back and leaned back.

"Xiao Xiao, look at him," the Emperor complained to Lady Liang with an aggrieved expression.

"Old man, I must say your acting skills are pretty good, you fooled everyone." Zhao Yao picked up the snacks on the small table on the couch and started eating. "Now your ministers are all guessing who will replace you to perform the sacrifices to heaven on New Year’s morning. The entrance thresholds of my elder brothers have been flattened by the ministers."

The Emperor looked proud, "My acting skills are exquisite."

Zhao Yao, disinterested in the narcissistic Emperor, directly asked, "Have you chosen who will replace you to perform the sacrifices to heaven?"

The Emperor looked at Zhao Yao and said half-jokingly, half-seriously, "You will replace me in performing the sacrifices to heaven."

Zhao Yao refused without a second thought, "I’m not going."

The Emperor was not surprised by the youngest son’s refusal.

"Since no one picked you, then I’ll send you, so others won’t have much to say."

Despite the Emperor’s casual tone, Zhao Yao knew his intention.

"I’m unfit; I’m not going."

"You brat, how are you unfit? Aren’t you my son?" The Emperor glared at Zhao Yao, "I tell you to go, so you go."

"I’m not going."

"You brat, only if you go, there won’t be unnecessary trouble."

"I don’t believe a word you say," Zhao Yao didn’t believe a single word the Emperor said. "No matter what you say, I won’t go."

"You brat, are you trying to anger me to death?" The Emperor dove into Lady Liang’s arms, complaining pitifully, "Xiao Xiao, our son is unfilial, he’s trying to anger me to death, you have to stand up for me."