By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Empress Dowager, having received Heaven’s favor, continues to uphold the grand plan, working diligently day and night, fearing to lose virtue. The founding of the Crown Prince was intended to entrust a great talent to carry on the ancestral legacy and to perpetuate the nation’s stability. His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, has been established since childhood, blessed with deep grace, and has received years of education. He should emulate the heart of the mother ruler, temper his virtues and conduct, and inherit the great tradition. Who would have thought that Heaven would take away his heart, gradually deviating from the proper path? At first, he indulged in arrogance, extravagance, and licentiousness; then he became stubborn and self-willed, oppressing officials; later, he harbored unpredictable thoughts, and his words and actions became erratic. Sometimes he approached the imperial tent to spy on treacherous intentions; other times he associated with villains, secretly plotting rebellion. All kinds of unlawful acts are too numerous to count. Despite repeated admonitions, he has not repented, causing Heaven’s wrath and public resentment, endangering the ancestral temple and the realm’s stability.
The Empress Dowager is heartbroken and grief-stricken, shedding tears of blood. Considering the heavy trust placed by our ancestors, how can we let a single mistake by His Highness bring worry to the four seas? Therefore, I have decided to sever my own heart, dismiss him as a commoner, confine him behind high walls, and impose strict discipline. He is still allowed to reflect on his faults and consider his mistakes, hoping he may reform himself. Alas!
Although the bond between mother and son is deep, the duty between ruler and subject is even more solemn. Empress Dowager, I do not lack love for my son, but I have no choice but to do this. All officials and subjects should understand and sympathize with Empress Dowager’s feelings, and not harbor dissent. Announce this to the world so that all may hear and know. Respectfully submitted.