ascended the throne
In the early morning, before dawn, the capital city had already woken up.
The solemn bell tolls echoed from the depths of the imperial city, penetrating the mist and striking at people's hearts.
The sacrificial officials wore solemn sacrificial robes, holding jade, silk, sacrificial offerings and wine, and went to the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Altar of State and Grain to offer sacrifices to the gods of heaven, earth, ancestors and the country on behalf of the new emperor: The new emperor of the Southern Dynasty ascends the throne today.
Inside the imperial palace, the Jinshen Hall was brightly lit.
Ning Yanhe, the young man who was about to become the emperor, stood quietly, allowing the eunuchs to put on the extremely heavy crown and robes for him layer by layer.
He wore a black robe and a purple skirt, woven with twelve patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountain dragons and colorful insects, symbolizing supreme authority and responsibility. A crown with twelve tassels of white jade beads pressed on his forehead. The hanging tassels swayed slightly, blocking his vision a little and making his still young face look particularly majestic.
He raised his arm slightly, feeling the coolness of the brocade, his eyes calm as he looked towards the gradually brightening sky outside the hall.
Outside the Meridian Gate, civil and military officials had already stood in line according to their ranks, waiting.
Wearing scarlet robes and jade belts, and with grand appearances, everyone holds their breath in concentration. At the beginning of a new dynasty, the world changes, and everyone's destiny will be rewritten on this day.
The auspicious time is approaching, and the rituals and music are in full swing.
Amidst the solemn sound of Shao music, Ning Yanhe, surrounded by a grand ceremonial guard, set out from the Jinshen Hall and slowly walked towards the Fengtian Hall.
On both sides of the imperial road, flags and ceremonial guards were lined up in a solemn manner, and soldiers stood like a forest.
He walked up the towering white marble steps step by step, towards the highest throne in the world. His footsteps landed on the stone steps steadily and silently, but there seemed to be a turbulent wave passing through his heart.
Sister, can you see that I have ascended to the throne?
Ascend to the throne.
All the officials entered the hall in order, with civil officials on the east and military officials on the west, lined up in an orderly manner. Then, to the loud singing of the ceremonial officer, they all knelt on the ground and performed the four bows.
"Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long live our emperor!"
The roar of the sea surged into the hall, hitting the beams and pillars, and echoed endlessly.
Ning Yanhe sat upright on the dragon throne, overlooking the ministers prostrating themselves at his feet through the twelve tassels. At this moment, the world seemed silent, with only the voices of "Long live the emperor" ringing in his ears and striking his heart.
The Prime Minister Wang Jingzhi came out of the ranks and knelt to report, holding a congratulatory letter in his hand. His voice was old but deep, expressing the loyalty and support of all the officials, and praising the new emperor for his benevolence, filial piety, wisdom, and honoring the mandate of heaven, and bringing eternal peace.
The congratulatory message was read aloud by the announcer, using gorgeous words to praise the merits of the country.
Subsequently, the accession edict was issued.
"The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I, having received the favor of Heaven, and relying on the foundation laid by my sister, Princess Mingzhu, and with the generosity of my ancestors, and the support of all officials and the people, in the first year of Shaoxi, hereby announce to Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temples, and the state, that I shall ascend the throne..."
In the edict, the reign title was set as "Shao Xi", indicating that the prosperous cause started by his elder sister Ning Lingyi would continue to prosper. At the same time, a general amnesty was issued, taxes were reduced, and officials were rewarded, in order to start anew with the people.
Next, comes the canonization.
The Empress Dowager Yu was honored as the Empress Dowager Mingde, and the Concubine Jing, his biological mother, was honored as the Empress Dowager Ningtai. The daughter of the Jing family was canonized as the Empress, and an auspicious day was chosen for the wedding. She was given the position of Empress Dowager, and Jing Puze was promoted to the position of Grand Tutor, the emperor's teacher, to assist in state affairs.
As decrees were issued one after another, those who were ennobled came out to express their gratitude in an orderly manner.
When it came time to award military merits, Wang Zhen was announced.
He was exceptionally promoted to the rank of Second-Rank Vice Governor. Filled with pride, he hurried out of his post, knelt on the ground, and said in a resounding voice: "Your Majesty, I, Wang Zhen, thank you for your great grace! Long live Your Majesty!"
Just as he was prostrating himself, there was a huge commotion outside the Fengtian Hall!
The heavy and orderly footsteps, mixed with the clanging sound of armor rubbing against each other, came from far away and quickly broke the solemn atmosphere in the hall.
Everyone looked in astonishment, and saw a group of soldiers dressed in coarse linen mourning clothes, looking exhausted, who had disregarded etiquette and rushed straight into the hall where the coronation ceremony was held!
The leader was Wang Mengzi.
Following him were Wang Dayong, Niu Zhuang, Ding Guinan and other former members of the Mingzhou Army.
They were all dressed in mourning, their armor covered in dust, and they carried a bloody and murderous aura of someone who had just returned from the battlefield, which was completely out of place with the magnificent and elegant scene in the hall.
Wang Mengzi held a square wooden box in his hand. He strode to the imperial steps, ignoring the shocked and angry looks from the people around him. He did not even salute and just stared at the new emperor on the throne.
The eunuch in charge of ceremonies was both shocked and furious. He shouted, "General Wang! This is His Majesty's coronation ceremony. What is the punishment for being disrespectful in front of the emperor? Kneel down and pay your respects to His Majesty!"
Wang Mengzi pretended not to hear and demanded, "Your Majesty? Ning Yanhe, I only have one question: do you still remember who rescued you from the coup, raised you, and built this vast empire for you?"
Ning Yanhe sat still, his gaze unreadable, his voice calm, "My Imperial Sister's kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai. I dare not forget it for even a moment."
"Okay! Just remember it!"
Wang Mengzi slammed the wooden box in his hand to the ground with a dull thud. "Her Majesty asked for the head of the King of Western Qiang, and I brought it to her! Now that Her Majesty has been forced to death by the thieves of Beishuo, will you avenge this blood feud?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar!
Immediately, a minister stepped forward to retort, "General Wang, be careful what you say! Princess Mingzhu was ambushed by the Western Qiang and suffered a tragic loss. This is a national tragedy, and we all grieve together! However, the Northern Expedition has just concluded, and our national strength is exhausted. How can we rashly start another war with Beishuo? This is not a statement of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism!"
Jing Puze's expression darkened as he stepped forward and sternly rebuked, "Wang Mengzi! How can you be so presumptuous in front of His Majesty? Roaring in the court and questioning the monarch, do you still have the integrity to be a minister?"
"The way of being a minister?" Wang Mengzi suddenly turned around and glanced at Jing Pu Ze and the officials who spoke.
"I, Old Wang, am a rough man and don't understand your twists and turns! I only know that I have only one master, Princess Mingzhu Ning Lingyi! Whoever she tells me to kill, I will kill! If she dies, I will avenge her!"
He turned toward the throne again, his voice filled with endless grief and indignation: "If you are a coward and dare not avenge His Majesty, I will tell you today that I will not recognize you as the emperor! My brothers in the Mingzhou Army and I will never kneel to an ungrateful emperor who dares not seek revenge!"
These words were like thunder, frightening everyone to death!
Don't recognize the emperor? This is rebellion!
Upon hearing this, the old ministers loyal to Ning Lingyi all burst into tears when they recalled the princess's kindness. The officials of the Jing family were shocked and angry, and began to scold.
"Rebellion! Rebellion!"
"Capture this lunatic!"
Upon hearing this, the guards in the hall immediately gripped their swords tightly and were about to step forward.
Jing Puze's face turned pale, and he said sternly, "Wang Mengzi, do you know what you are saying? Are you going to become a traitor who will be cursed by the world for eternity?"
"Traitor, so what if I become a traitor?" Wang Mengzi said this and was about to start making a scene.
Just as the situation was about to erupt, the previously silent Emperor Shaoxi suddenly spoke from the throne: "General Wang's loyalty and bravery are commendable. I am well aware of your desire to avenge my sister."
"If I cannot avenge my sister, how can I face the world?"
After saying this, Emperor Shaoxi turned his gaze to Wang Zhen, who was still kneeling on the ground. His tone was cold and he said hatefully, "My sister was trapped in a desperate situation that day. It was not her fault. She was secretly plotted against by traitors and led to her death!"
"This is the man who collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country, causing the suffering of my imperial sister!" He raised his hand and pointed at Wang Zhen, who was kneeling on the ground and shaking like a sieve.
"General Wang!"
"This beast's sins cannot be redeemed even by a thousand deaths! I command you to take his head immediately as a sacrifice to my sister's spirit in heaven!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar, and everyone was extremely frightened. What?
The new emperor actually, actually?!
"I obey your order!"
When Wang Mengzi heard this, he realized it was this bitch! He was so angry that he roared, not giving Wang Zhen any chance to beg for mercy. Before anyone around him could react, he pulled out the steel knife in his hand and slashed down!
The knife flashed by!
A head flew off the neck with an expression of disbelief, and warm blood spurted out, staining the smooth gold brick floor beside it red.
The headless corpse swayed and fell heavily.
It all happened in a flash, so fast that it was breathtaking.
When the ministers came to their senses in horror, they saw Wang Mengzi still breathing heavily with a bloody steel knife in his hand, and Wang Zhen's body with his head and body separated at his feet. The young emperor on the throne had a grim expression, as if he had just ordered the disposal of an ant.
Inside the Fengtian Hall, the deathly silence was broken by the thick, inextricable smell of blood. Some civil officials were so frightened that they almost fainted, while the military officers subconsciously held down their weapons. The guards rushed forward, but were at a loss as to what to do.
Jing Pu Ze looked at the corpse that died in an instant, and the young emperor who was terrifyingly calm on the throne, and felt an unprecedented chill rushing through him. The development of things was completely out of his control.
No, no!
This can't go on!
He suppressed his shock, his voice trembling slightly. "Your Majesty! This...what exactly is going on? How can you kill a general based on one person's testimony? Your Majesty, do you have any concrete evidence to support your claim that Wang Zhen is collaborating with the enemy? And who did you hear that from?"
Ning Yanhe slowly stood up from the throne, his twelve-tasseled crown swaying slightly. He looked down at the frightened ministers below, his gaze finally landing on Jing Puze. "Grandmaster, who did I listen to?"
"Then I will tell all of you that it was my sister who told me this herself!"
Before he finished speaking, the sound of uniform footsteps suddenly came from outside the Fengtian Hall, which was even more majestic and murderous than when the Mingzhou army broke in just now.
Everyone looked on in shock.
At the palace gate, sunlight poured in, illuminating a team of elite soldiers. They silently stood on both sides, making way for a passage.
A slender yet tall figure, against the light, slowly walked into the hall.
She was not wearing court robes, but only a dark casual dress. Her face was pale and she walked towards them step by step, like a god returning from blood, fire and rumors.
When her face appeared before everyone, the air in the entire Fengtian Hall seemed to freeze completely.
Horror, disbelief, ecstasy, fear...
All kinds of extreme emotions are intertwined on every face.
Pan Hao stood guard behind him with a sword in hand, his expression solemn.
Ning Yanhe looked at the person who came, took two steps forward, and the tassel beads shook violently.
In the dead silence, he spoke, his voice complex and difficult to understand:
"Imperial sister, you are finally back."
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