[ WP ] The King is dying and decides to abdicate his throne before he dies . During the coronation ceremony , he places the crown on a servant 's head and declares him king , rather than one of his two sons .

The Emperor rose slowly from his bed, beckoning a servant to his side. The smoke from the incense burners wafted away as the boy approached, and bowed deep. The Emperor said nothing for a little while, letting only the sound of chanting monks and crackling fire echo in the hall. 
 
 He looked out into the hall, at the gathered nobles and ministers. Various other prominent men of high military rank were likely gathered in the antechamber beyond. His two sons sat at the very forefront of the gathered ministers, one the Crown Prince, the other, Chancellor of the Realm. By the Crown Prince sat the Major Counselor of the Department of Rites, and his son-in-law, the Major Counselor of the Department of Great Justice. Curiously, the Crown Prince's daughter was betrothed to the Minister of the Left's son, but the Minister of the Left was one of the Chancellor's men. Wait, was n't it the other way around? That the Minister of the... Minister... No, it was the Chancellor's son who had sought the hand of the Minister of... 
 
 The Emperor now felt the weight of his years, as he looked out at a court he no longer recognized, and sons who were no longer his loyal children. When had he grown so old? The companions of his youth had all long left him, some on the battlefields of yesteryear, and others more recently simply to old age. Traitors, all. Ungrateful bastards who would leave their Emperor and shirk their duties. 
 
 The gathered Ministers had seen the look of consternation on the Emperor's brow. The Crown Prince was the first to react, rushing forward, `` Imperial Father, what ails you so?'' 
 
 The Chancellor muttered under his breath to the Minister of the Left, `` His failure of a Crown Prince no doubt.'' A restrained chuckle rose from that corner of the hall. 
 
 A lesser minister from the Crown Prince's camp rose and shouted something indiscernible, before being restrained by his fellows. 
 
 The Court eagerly awaited the Emperor's abdication. He was in no condition to rule the Empire. He had appointed his second son Chancellor of the Realm at the pleading of his ministers, but the new Chancellor had only taken the opportunity to swell his ranks. The Crown Prince in response bestowed favors and gifts upon the generals of various frontier armies. 
 
 The Emperor looked down again at the serving boy. 
 
 `` Throw open the doors. Vent out this room, and send away those monks, I ca n't think like this.'' 
 
 The boy scurried away and announced his order. The Imperial Physician immediately protested. `` But your Imperial Majesty, the cold air will...'' 
 
 `` The cold air will help me make my decision, now have these incense burners removed, the smoke will kill me before my sickness.'' 
 
 The Imperial Physician bowed low. The Emperor looked out again at his court. He could see clearly now, with the smoke clearing and the cold air blowing into the hall. His Empire was falling apart with or without him, and he'd be damned if he would help the process by choosing one of his unfilial bastards. 
 
 Or actually... yes, it was his empire, and if it was going to burn, he'd be the one to set it alight. Why should his sons get to break what he had built? 
 
 `` I abdicate the throne.'' The hall came alive as Ministers pushed closer to hear his next words. 
 
 `` I abdicate the throne in favor of...'' The Emperor beckoned the servant boy closer. `` In favor of this child here. Let those who oppose this child's august will be henceforth known as traitors and rebels.'' 
 
 A stunned silence fell over the hall, a few Ministers chuckled nervously. 
 
 `` In other words, fuck all of you, you can go die in a fire.'' 

