Chapter 184. Abdication.
The next day, the Emperor found Lord Yuan Li, eagerly expressing his desire to abdicate in his favor.
"...", Yuan Li was equally taken aback.
Even though Yuan Li had suspected, he didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Seeing the Emperor so eagerly excited, Yuan Li was at a loss for words.
Naturally, he continued to refuse, but the more he did, the more insistent the Emperor became, eager to abdicate to him immediately.
Abdication was inevitable, but not at that moment. It was the final step, and Lord Yuan Li had to remain calm. He needed to ensure everything was in place, prepared for the moment when he would abdicate to the Emperor.
Lord Yuan Li assigned Kong Ran to organize the Yangzhou navy, instructed He Lang to lead thirty thousand soldiers stationed in Yangzhou, and appointed Zhou Gongdan to temporarily oversee the governance of Yangzhou.
Once his ministers settled into their new positions, Yuan Li prepared to depart for Youzhou.
Before his departure, Yuan Li felt it would be a waste not to experience the coastal scenery of ancient times. With a wave of his hand, he took his lover and his men to the seaside for a clamming trip.
Everyone was ecstatic.
At the mention of clamming, they were all thrilled, some even brought nets and pots excitedly to the shoreline.
Chu Hechao found a hemp rope and tied it around his and Yuan Li's waist. Yuan Li lifted the rope and asked curiously, "What are you doing with this?"
Bending over, Chu Hechao swiftly tied a knot, "Look at how skinny you are now. I'm afraid a wave might take you away."
Yuan Li replied, "Oh," and looked at his sharp jawline, "Aren't you afraid of being swept away with me by a wave?"
Chu Hechao laughed, "What wave can sweep me away?"
Yuan Li retorted, "If a wave comes, it can sweep away buildings."
Chu Hechao's mouth twitched, and he pulled on the rope around Yuan Li's waist, ready to leave, "Fine, if you say so, we don't have to play today."
Panicked, Yuan Li grabbed the rope, "But it's calm today, there won't be any big waves!"
Chu Hechao stopped, smirking, "Are you still going to argue with your big brother?"
Yuan Li shivered, "I'm getting goosebumps."
Chu Hechao jokingly said, "Then let me press them down. If they don't go away, brother will have to kiss them away."
Yuan Li surrendered.
As they walked along the beach, no one interrupted Chu Hechao and Yuan Li. They strolled leisurely, linked by a thick rope, enjoying the sea breeze.
After a few steps, Yuan Li stopped. Chu Hechao asked, "What's wrong?"
"My shoes are soaked, and my clothes are dirty. I want to take them off," Yuan Li wrinkled his brow.
Sighing, Chu Hechao squatted down to help him remove his shoes, roll up his pants, and lift his clothes. "Yuan Li, how will you manage without me?"
Yuan Li chuckled helplessly. He had intended to do it himself, but seeing Chu Hechao's dedicated efforts, he decided to let him take charge, enjoying the service.
Walking barefoot on the sand felt pleasant, with the sea breeze flapping the clothes of the people on the shore, and white clouds drifting by.
When a wave splashed Yuan Li's legs, the sand stuck to them. Chu Hechao frowned at the sight, wanting to wipe it away.
"Do you think there are prehistoric monsters in the sea?" Yuan Li suddenly asked, scanning the ocean.
Chu Hechao glanced at Yuan Li's legs and couldn't resist bending over to brush off the sand, "What kind of monsters?"
"Like a water monster over ten meters long, resembling a dinosaur, giant python, crocodile, or massive shark," Yuan Li's excitement grew as he spoke, and he ran ahead. "The current species must be more diverse than future ones. Hechao, do you think I could find a dinosaur fossil..."
Chu Hechao was still bending down when Yuan Li ran off, forgetting about the rope around his waist. Before he could finish speaking, a big wave crashed into Yuan Li, knocking him down with the rope and the spray, causing both of them to fall into the sea.
Caught off guard, they both swallowed seawater and ended up sputtering and soaked on the sand after the wave receded.
Clearing his face of hair, Chu Hechao grabbed the rope and pulled Yuan Li close, restraining his hands, jokingly scolding, "Yuan Lejun, you're about to be an emperor. Why are you still so mischievous?"
Spitting out seawater, Yuan Li grimaced, "This water is so salty."
Chu Hechao chuckled, quickly looking around before swiftly planting a kiss on Yuan Li. His tongue swept into Yuan Li's mouth, and smacking his lips, he remarked, "Indeed, salty."
Yuan Li swallowed, feeling the saltiness, and he kicked Chu Hechao, saying, "Go rinse your mouth with water."
"No," Chu Hechao protested, playfully pinning Yuan Li down, seizing another opportunity amidst the crashing wave to steal another kiss, "Let me have a few more kisses to satisfy my cravings."
As the waves crashed and receded, Yuan Li couldn't distinguish between the taste of seawater and Chu Hechao's lips, only feeling thirstier with each kiss. Chu Hechao held the back of Yuan Li's neck, tilting his head to kiss more forcefully, stirring up emotions in Yuan Li as well.
Their wet faces, contrasted against the sea water and sand, looked as translucent as jade. Yuan Li's eyes glazed over, his lips reddened from the kisses.
The waves lapped at their legs, their clothes fluttered in the breeze. Voices from afar called out for them to come eat, muffled by the crashing waves, reaching Yuan Li's ears faintly.
Suddenly, Chu Hechao slipped something onto Yuan Li's hand.
Yuan Li raised his hand and found a bracelet made of small round stones.
These stones, each the size of a fingernail, were roughly carved, irregular in shape, clearly the work of an amateur. Unlike ordinary stones, they had a warm, smooth texture.
Despite its rough appearance, the bracelet was polished to a silky smoothness, gentle to the touch.
Running his fingers over the bracelet, Yuan Li smiled, "Did you make this?"
Chu Hechao helped Yuan Li up, wearing a handsome expression but avoiding eye contact, "I was bored on the boat to Jiao Province and made this trinket. If you like it, wear it."
Clearing his throat, Chu Hechao added in a quieter tone, "I'm sorry about the jade Guanyin you gave me. I don't know where it went during the escape... Please don't be mad."
Yuan Li couldn't help but find this amusing.
Since receiving Chu Hechao's letter, he had kept the jade Guanyin safe. Forgetting to bring it out after meeting Chu Hechao, he wondered if Chu Hechao even knew he had it now.
Planning to find an opportunity to give it back to him, Yuan Li decided to focus on the stone bracelet for now, discovering a small secret as he excitedly exclaimed, "There are inscriptions on it!"
Chu Hechao's face flushed, even his ears turning red. Hastily, he pulled Yuan Li towards the crowd, impatiently saying, "Wait until we're alone later to look, don't look now!"
Yuan Li restrained his laughter, "Okay."
Despite his words, Yuan Li discreetly flipped over the round stones to sneak a peek at the inscriptions inside. Ten stones, ten characters, gradually forming a sentence.
[Lejun, I will come running to you.]
*
On this return to Youzhou Province, Yuan Li didn't travel back via the Bohai Sea but instead took the inland river route.
In every place they visited, he would have the Emperor appear, commanding the local officials to pay homage.
Influenced by Guo Mao, the Emperor mistakenly believed that Yuan Li's actions aimed to secure his throne, leading him to boast about Yuan Li's achievements at every stop, undermining his own capabilities and subtly hinting at abdicating in favor of Yuan Li.
Yuan Li played along, shaking his head and declaring his inability to shoulder such responsibility.
While they managed, the officials in each region were shaken to varying degrees.
Some who had already discerned the changing political landscape and the inevitable shift in power remained silent. Those loyal to the Northern Zhou Dynasty saw Yuan Li as influencing the Emperor, but felt powerless in the face of it.
The tide had turned in Yuan Li's favor, with nobody daring to oppose him as he led over twenty thousand troops. Even those willing to sacrifice their lives to defend the Northern Zhou Dynasty found themselves unable to sway Yuan Li in the slightest.
The message of the Emperor's intention to abdicate in favor of Yuan Li spread like wildfire.
Among those fueling this narrative were Yuan Li's own followers.
More than anyone else, Yuan Li's followers were excited beyond measure, eagerly awaiting their lord and the Emperor's return, anticipating Yuan Li's ascension to the throne.
They were willing to go to great lengths, even risking their wealth and lives for this cause, desperate to see the birth of a new dynasty.
However, the anxiety among Yuan Li's advisors stemmed from uncertainty about his true intentions regarding ascension.
Liu Jixin, Xiang Hongyun, and others believed Yuan Li desired the throne, yet they couldn't be certain. Yuan Li had never revealed such ambitions in their presence, his character upright and compassionate, earnest in serving the Emperor.
In key matters like these, the cleverer ones, led by Liu Jixin and Wu Kai, fretted about what would happen if Yuan Li didn't wish to become Emperor.
But at this stage, the matter of ascension was no longer solely Yuan Li's concern. Everyone was pushing him forward, and even if he hesitated, they would actively cloak him in imperial robes, compelling his coronation.
Therefore, upon learning of Yuan Li's victory over the Prince of Chen, his followers spontaneously began to bolster his image.
They spread the news far and wide, utilizing the state granaries to subtly control public opinion, spinning catchy verses to circulate among the people, spotlighting Yuan Li's benevolent acts to nurture public enthusiasm and anticipation, creating a scenario where everyone seemed eager for Yuan Li to ascend the throne.
While some wealthy landowners and aristocrats disapproved of Yuan Li becoming Emperor and initially sought to resist, the overwhelming show of support left them hesitant.
Feeling isolated in their opposition, they began to doubt their decisions, falling silent and refraining from open confrontation with the masses.
Subsequently, before Yuan Li returned to Youzhou Province, signs and wonders were reported across Youzhou Province, Bingzhou Province, and Jizhou Province, all linked to Yuan Li!
Whether it was the appearance of a white serpent, a tree naturally spelling out "Emperor," or a giant turtle... the most talked-about events were Yuan Li's earlier prediction of a snow disaster in Youzhou Province, as well as the incredible scene of him foreseeing heavy rainfall.
Given the magnitude of these events, it was implausible for Yuan Li to remain unaware. However, since his goal was ascension, he chose to feign ignorance of his followers' activities.
This way, Yuan Li was spared the trouble of orchestrating such displays himself. He knew that he may not have had the audacity to create signs and portents to cultivate support.
On a particular day, the fleet passed through Jingzhou.
The Governor of Jingzhou, Jiang Liao, flushed with embarrassment, stood behind a pile of offerings, personally leading his subordinates and guardsmen to the shore.
As Yuan Li's vessel sailed by, Jiang Liao immediately signaled for everyone to kneel and pay respects, himself bowing deeply in a humble gesture of contrition towards Duke Wen, offering apologies for his complicity in the attempted harm against Yuan Li's followers Xiang Hongyun and Wang Qian, including his misguided attempts at demonstrating loyalty to the Prince of Chen.