Chapter 61 Emperor Rin's People as Home and Country
The dawn of Phoenix Dance City finally pierced through the heavy clouds, illuminating the charred palace once more.
This heart of the empire, though not completely destroyed, is already riddled with holes.
The palace walls are covered with marks from sword cuts, chiseling, and flames. On the palace tower, the phoenix banner that once symbolized indomitable spirit has now been replaced by a hastily put new banner, which flutters weakly in the wind.
Inside the palace, a relatively intact side hall had been temporarily renovated and used as the emperor's bedroom and meeting place. The smell of medicine mixed with the stench of dust filled the air, making it hard to breathe.
A ray of golden sunlight pierced through the ruined hall and fell upon Jia Fengtian. His eyes remained as deep and unfathomable as ever, but the bright yellow dragon robe had long since lost its former majesty. Only the imperial bearing still sustained him as he completed the final ceremony after this apocalypse.
At this moment, Jia Fengtian sat back on the bed. Although the wound on his chest had been treated by the military doctor, it still ached faintly, but the deeper pain came from his heart.
He was ambitious and conceited, believing he could control everything, yet he nearly lost his ancestral legacy and vast land to the iron hooves of the Northern Barbarians.
In the end, it was that "outsider" he had once feared and tried to control who, at the cost of almost burning out his life, won a final chance for his country to breathe.
A few eunuchs knelt with their heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound. The entire hall was empty and silent.
"Summon Crown Prince Jialuolin to an audience!" Jia Fengtian's voice was weak, yet it carried the unyielding authority of an imperial decree.
A moment later, Galo Lin, clad in black armor, entered the hall, his armor still bearing traces of blood. He had just finished inspecting the city's defenses, dealing with the mountain of military affairs, and arranging preliminary relief efforts; he was on his way to visit them.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Jia Fengtian raised his hand, stopping him from performing the deep bow.
“Throughout my life, I have conquered all directions, thinking I held the world in my hands… but in the end…” He slowly sat up, as if bearing the weight of a thousand years of wind and frost, “It was Bai Lian who made me understand that the root of the empire is not in power or influence, but in the people, and in… ‘family’.”
Galorin's throat moved slightly, and tears glistened in her eyes.
"I have been on the throne for nearly forty years, and I have always been diligent in my duties, never daring to slacken in the slightest. However, the calamity of the Northern Barbarians was caused by my underestimation of the enemy and my reckless advance, which led to the destruction of our land, the suffering of our capital, and the displacement of our people... All of this is my fault."
Jia Fengtian paused, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid. He looked at Jia Luolin, a long-lost look of relief appearing in his deep eyes: "Lin'er, the Feng Kingdom is no longer what it used to be. I am old, and it is time for me to retire."
He slightly raised his hand, signaling the attendant to present the golden scroll. It was the edict of succession to the throne of the Phoenix Kingdom, with golden dragon patterns faintly shining, symbolizing the continuation of the dynasty.
"Crown Prince Jialuolin is benevolent, filial, and intelligent. He protected the nation in times of crisis and is worthy to inherit the throne. It is the will of Heaven that I wish to pass the throne to Crown Prince Jialuolin to succeed to the throne and be known as Emperor Lin."
Galo Lin looked up in shock, her voice choked with emotion: "Father..."
Jia Fengtian's gaze fell on Jia Luolin, with an unprecedented gentleness and entrustment: "No need for further words." He sighed softly, "The future of Feng Kingdom needs new blood and new aspirations. You carry the belief she holds in 'the people are the foundation of the nation.' Feng Kingdom is entrusted to you, and I... have no regrets."
By this point in his voice, a hint of weariness from old age had crept in.
As if he had fulfilled his last wish, and as if he had used up all his strength, Jia Fengtian's body went completely limp.
He lay on the bed, breathing heavily. When his breathing calmed down, he looked at Galorin, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said in a low voice, "Get up... Emperor Lin." He used his new title, "Remember the pain of today, remember the scars of this city, remember... those who shed their blood for you and for the Phoenix Kingdom."
A simple ceremony was held in this dilapidated palace.
There were no resounding bells and drums, no officials paying homage; only a few rays of the setting sun witnessed the silent handover of imperial power after blood and fire.
-
Emperor Rin's coronation ceremony was also kept simple.
He took office in a time of crisis, recalled veteran officials, and implemented new policies. On the very first day after his ascension to the throne, he immediately issued his first edict, which was to repair Luoyang and rebuild Fengwu City.
On that day, Galo Lin ascended the ruined Phoenix Palace Terrace and looked down upon the entire scarred capital city.
Bloodstains were still wet, rubble was everywhere, and homeless people huddled in the cold wind on the street. The cries of children and the lamentations of the elderly intertwined to create a heart-wrenching sound of sorrow.
"I want Luoyang to be reborn."
He spoke slowly, his voice as steady as iron, "Not for imperial power, but for the peaceful life of the people."
Soon after, Galorin, as the new emperor, issued a series of decrees.
"Bai Ziyuan is promoted to General of the Vanguard, with the additional title of Vice Minister of War, and is appointed to oversee the defense of Luoyang and the surrounding area, while also being in charge of suppressing the remaining enemy forces and providing relief to the fallen soldiers. In recognition of his past merits, he is hereby granted the title of Earl of Loyalty and Bravery."
Bai Ziyuan stepped forward and knelt to express his gratitude. His injuries had not yet healed, and his face was pale, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.
He knew this was not just a reward, but a heavy responsibility. He would use the sword in his hand to rebuild a strong barrier for the homeland his sister had protected.
"I hereby order the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to immediately allocate manpower and resources to fully restore Luoyang's city walls, government offices, and residences, dredge waterways, and restore people's livelihoods. I stand with the people and will surely restore the capital to its former glory!"
This decree injected a powerful boost into the traumatized city of Luoyang. The surviving people picked up tools from the ruins and began to rebuild their homes.
"Posthumously honor all the soldiers and officials who died in the defense of the city, and provide generous compensation to their families. Reduce or exempt taxes for Luoyang and the surrounding disaster-stricken counties for three years..."
Each decree was like a gentle rain, attempting to nourish this parched and wounded land. Everyone in the court sighed: Emperor Lin was both benevolent and awe-inspiring.
However, sitting on that dragon throne, Galorin's heart was mostly empty.
After finishing his official duties each day, he would spend most of his time by Bai Lian's bedside, holding her hand, talking to her, telling her about the changes outside, recalling the little things that happened when they first met, and praying that she could hear him and give him a little response.
But each time, it was all in vain. She was like a delicate but lifeless jade sculpture, sleeping day after day.
On this day, after dealing with the mountain of memorials, Galorin came to the bedroom where Byakuren was.
The room was filled with the ever-burning candlelight and the aroma of medicine. Bai Lian was carefully placed on a warm jade couch, under the care of a physician.
She lay there quietly, her breathing faint, as if she would wake up at any moment.
Galo Lin dismissed the physicians and attendants, sat down by the bed, gently took Bai Lian's cold hand, and pressed his face against the back of her hand.
"Lian'er, I've taken care of a lot of things today. Don't worry, this city is getting better little by little every day."
"The Ministry of Works has already started cleaning up Suzaku Avenue, the street where we first met, do you remember?"
"I've already sent people to bring your maternal grandfather and parents back to Luoyang. They've come to see you several times, but they're too heartbroken, so I've asked them to rest at home for the time being..."
"Lian'er, please wake up soon. You said this is your home... Without you by my side, what joy is there in this vast land for me?"
He gently stroked her hair, his voice as deep as the night, his whispers filled with suppressed sorrow, yet choked with unspoken emotion.
He was burdened with immense responsibility, a responsibility he was willing to shoulder even if it meant dedicating himself to the country. But the fear and helplessness of losing his loved one could only be revealed in the dead of night, when he was by her side.
He was truly afraid, afraid that his hard work would only bring him the royal curse of being a "lonely ruler," and afraid that he would never be able to wake her up again.
-
At this moment, deep within Bai Lian's dormant consciousness, there was not a void of darkness.
She felt as if she were floating on a boundless sea.
The sky was black; it was night... She tried turning her head and saw a huge cruise ship not far to her right. Many helicopters were circling above the cruise ship, along with the flickering lights of police cars. She could hear the sharp sirens of police cars and the screams of the crowd.
She remembered that this was the day she jumped off the cruise ship. She had avenged her great grudge and finally brought the assassin organization that killed her biological parents, Dark Gate, to justice. So, without any regrets, she leaped into the deep sea.
The scene suddenly changed again.
She transformed into a little girl in a white dress, walking through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood in a school, surrounded by deafening shouts of killing. It was her first day as an assassin.
Just then, a huge wave crashed in, and she once again felt the suffocating sensation of being submerged in seawater.
In her struggle, she entered another time-traveling tunnel. At one end of the tunnel, she saw herself in the magnificent Eastern Palace, dressed in the auspicious robes of the Crown Princess, listening to the congratulations around her, some genuine and some feigned, and felt that the gorgeous clothes were incredibly heavy.
She realized that her life had been made into a documentary, with scenes unfolding one after another in the tunnel: herself in charge of the control terminal in the secret door; herself carrying out assassination missions; herself practicing the zither in her boudoir; herself learning martial arts and wielding a sword for the first time... She seemed to be struggling between two dreams, one side being the cold reality of the modern abyss, and the other side being the warm and illusory ancient world.
She felt herself sometimes sinking into that cold, deep sea, and sometimes being pulled towards the light by warm forces and anxious calls.
But her mind was blank. She felt a light gently caressing her face, as if sighing and asking, "Who are you? And where do you want to go?"
The voice was like a chant, yet also like a command, urging her to make a decision as soon as possible.
But she was just too tired, too tired. All she wanted to do was close her eyes again. The gentle ripples on the sea felt so comforting, like a mother's cradle...
Mother? A thought suddenly occurred to her: if this tunnel connected to the past, could she swim in the opposite direction to the present, to return to her former home…?
Mom and Dad... At that moment, their figures were projected into the tunnel, flickering back and forth. She tried to reach out and touch them, but she couldn't reach them no matter what she did.
On the other side of the tunnel, two more faces appeared: Bai Moyuan's and Changsun Rao'er's.
They all looked at her, smiling, with love and concern.
...Father, Mother, I can't bear to leave you...
She seemed like a lost child, unsure of where her home was or where she should return to.
She stood there helplessly, when suddenly, a gentle and familiar male voice rang out in the tunnel.
"Lian'er..."
"wake up……"
"I need you..."
Who is it? Who is calling her?
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