Chapter 474 The Thousandth
After the matter was discussed, Yan Changkong bowed and was about to leave, but was stopped by Emperor Nansang.
"September 16th is the coronation ceremony, only three days left. I intend to announce it to the world at the ceremony, and enthrone you as Crown Prince." Emperor Nansang stood up, raised his hand and patted the young man on the shoulder. The sternness and solemnity on his face faded a lot, and his tone became gentle. "Kong'er, your grandfather and I both value you. That position is yours, and it will only be yours. Do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Changkong's face showed joy but he remained calm. He nodded solemnly, "Father, I have been loved by you and Grandfather since I was young. This is the greatest blessing in my life. Don't worry, I will never let you down."
"Okay, just keep this in mind. Once the crown prince position is decided, your marriage to Master Zhan's great-granddaughter should also be put on the agenda. The Zhan family is the most prestigious family in Nansang, and Master Zhan has assisted us for three dynasties. He holds a high position of power and has countless disciples. With the support of the Zhan family, you will have half the power in the court in your hands. No one can compete with you."
"I understand."
When I walked out of Yongshou Palace, the moon had already set in the west.
The light of the stars in the sky also dimmed a lot.
The wide white marble avenue in front of the hall reflects the bright light, like a patch of moonlight.
Yan Changkong walked among them with his hands behind his back. The midnight wind blew, bringing with it the coolness after the autumn in September, making people's minds particularly clear.
He walked steadily, neither hurried nor slow, his dark eyes deep in the night.
This was not the first time that his father had mentioned marriage to him in Yongshou Palace.
He got engaged to Zhan Yuerong at the age of seventeen. After that, his father and mother would mention the matter every year, and he would nod in agreement without any special feelings.
Ever since he was old enough to understand, he knew that one day he would sit on the throne of the crown prince and eventually ascend to the highest position of the emperor.
His life has already been planned out, and he just needs to follow the steps.
As for marriage, it doesn't matter who the partner is. The family chosen by his father and mother will definitely be the best for him and the one that can provide him with the greatest help.
The marriages of royal children are also political bargaining chips, and only interests are discussed.
He himself has always believed so.
But when his father mentioned it again today, he actually felt a rare reluctance in his heart.
The cool breeze blew again, dispelling some of the chaos in his mind. Yan Changkong stopped and found that he had reached a fork in the road.
His personal bodyguard followed him all the way.
"Let's go to the dungeon." He said, turned his heel and took the path on the left side of the fork in the road, heading towards the imperial garden.
The guards followed silently.
Passing through the imperial garden and entering the palace complex of the imperial concubines, walking along the road to the end, the splendor and wealth suddenly turned into desolation.
We arrived at the abandoned palace again.
Yan Changkong was familiar with the route and walked around to the back of the deserted palace. He stepped into a hidden entrance and walked down the long and winding stairs.
There are 690 steps, and before you reach halfway, you can hear the clanging sound coming from deep underground. It is the sound of iron chains hitting the ground and iron walls, which is endless.
After walking up the stairs, the underground suddenly became clear. There were lighting lanterns hanging everywhere on the iron walls, illuminating the entire dungeon.
Yan Changkong stood in front of the stairs and glanced at the iron cage opposite.
There are countless cages and countless people imprisoned in them.
They all had pale skin and no emotion on their faces, but they were all like crazy. When they saw someone coming, they immediately turned their heads and tried to rush over, bumping into the iron railings without changing color, as if they had no sense of pain.
Yan Changkong passed by these lunatics and went straight to the innermost room of the iron prison.
Unlike the previous iron cell that held countless people, this cell only held one person. He was wearing a black robe, with disheveled hair, and his hands and feet were locked with thick iron chains, the other ends of which were nailed firmly to the iron wall.
"They are all like crazy people, and you are the calmest one among them." Yan Changkong whispered, sitting down against the iron railing. He didn't care about the dirt on the ground and spoke to the man inside through the iron bars. "Mo Cang, we have known each other for twenty years, right? I have often come to see you since I could walk. In the blink of an eye, I have grown from a toddler to the same height as you. After all these years, I have already regarded you as an uncle in my heart, but in your eyes, I will always be a stranger."
The man did not bang his head against the iron bars like the crazy people next to him. When the young man appeared in front of the cell, he just turned his head, staring intently with his dark eyes through his messy hair, and then he dragged the iron chain step by step towards the young man.
The clanking of the iron chains sounded like cold and sad musical notes.
When he got close to the railing, the man stretched out his hands, bent his fingers like hooks, and attacked the young man's neck.
Yan Changkong ignored it and continued mumbling, "It is rumored that the Mo family buried as many as 50,000 divine weapons. The eleven countries in the world did many crazy things to fight for them. Only I, Nan Sang, know the truth. There are only 5,000 divine weapons."
He turned his head and saw that the man's fingers were stopped half a finger away from his neck and could not move any further. The iron chain that handcuffed his wrists had been stretched straight.
Yan Changkong raised his lips and smiled, "You can't kill me. You're always like this every time we meet. Why bother? Mo Cang, there are 4,999 divine soldiers imprisoned in this iron prison, one short of 5,000."
He stared into the man's deep, deep eyes and spoke casually, "I found the last one tonight. We both have divine weapons, and your strength is the strongest among the 4,999. How does it compare to that one? I'm really curious. I'll bring him here so you can have a duel."
No matter what he said or how much he said, the eyes behind the iron bars never showed a ripple.
Yan Changkong suddenly felt his interest wear thin and turned his head away from the man. "That person is in the company of her. Her name is Su Jiuni, a very beautiful woman with great skills, perhaps even as good as yours. Your companion seems to listen to her very much... Tell me, how does she control that person?"
He was lost in thought while muttering, and didn't notice that the black eyes behind the iron bars, which had always been calm, suddenly showed a glimmer of light after he turned his head, and disappeared in a flash, so fast that it was imperceptible.
…
On September 16, the new emperor of Nansang ascended the throne.
Envoys from various countries were invited to the palace to watch the ceremony.
Gan Zhenyu changed into formal clothes. As a censor, Du Lao Man could not escape, so he also put on a green official uniform embroidered with a tiger head. When the old man saw the color, his face turned unhappy all morning.
In order to avoid being fired upon by the old man, the younger ones all kept three feet away from him.
"Each envoy may bring one attendant with him to this ceremony. Tianbao, Bai Yu, you will enter the palace together." Gan Zhenyu finished his instructions, his brow furrowed and then relaxed. "This sets a precedent. When the emperor ascends the throne, foreign ministers are not allowed to bring attendants... Strange."
The poisonous old man snorted coldly with his triangular eyes drooping. "What a weird thing! I'm afraid they know our identities and are setting an ambush in the palace waiting for us to enter. Just be careful."
Gan Zhenyu, “…”
He really admired these people. How could they be so calm and composed when they knew there were dangers ahead?
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