In the 25th year of Yuanzhen, at the birthday banquet of the Crown Princess, Zhao Hanzhang announced her abdication and her intention to pass the throne to Zhao Mingming.
The courtiers were momentarily silent.
Zhao Hanzhang's character was well-defined; the courtiers had long understood her temperament through years of cooperation. She preferred to engage in trivial matters to display virtues such as modesty and affection, but never used significant issues to test people's hearts.
Therefore, they all knew that since the matter of abdication had been spoken aloud by Zhao Hanzhang, she had firmly decided upon it.
For over twenty years, there hadn't been a decision by the emperor that wasn't accomplished, let alone something like abdication.
If they were to dissuade her, the new emperor might perceive them as opposing her ascension;
If they were to praise her highly, the elderly emperor might think they had long since sided with the new emperor...
