With the new emperor's accession to the throne, another universal amnesty was declared across the land, mirroring the policies Yang Xingyuan had enacted upon his initial return to Wu. Taxes were reduced, and royal officials served as a model, promoting simplicity from the top down and strictly eradicating extravagance and waste.
Furthermore, due to Yang Xingyuan's sudden passing, the entire nation observed a three-year state mourning. Amidst such profound grief, the new emperor's enthronement ceremony was kept remarkably low-key.
Yet, no matter how understated, the ascension of a new monarch was bound to trigger political upheaval in the court—making this the prime opportunity for unrest at the borders.
Chapter 93