When Li Mingke saw Wu Xiyu again, it was already evening. The man was covered in dust as he walked on the embers of the setting sun.
Upon seeing each other again after many years, both of them were taken aback.
Wu Xi walked a few steps faster, stopping just a meter away from Li Mingke, her eyes fixed on him.
"Mingke, you are even more beautiful than I imagined." Her voice was gentle yet filled with admiration.
Hearing Wu Xiyu's somewhat exaggerated praise, Li Mingke laughed, "Ayu, you're not what I imagined either."
"Really?" Wu Xiyu smoothed out the wrinkles in his sleeves. For the first time since becoming emperor, he felt nervous. "Then, compared to the me you imagine, has the real me become better or worse?"
Li Mingke shook her head. "There's no good or bad in it. The Wu Xiyu I imagined was His Majesty the Emperor of Daye, powerful and unparalleled, full of vigor and ambition." She gave a wry smile. "But, after meeting him today, it seems that's not the case at all!"
“Yes…” Wu Xi sighed, “The emperor is the most honorable person in the world, but it is much harder to hold onto that position than I imagined.” He flicked his hair, “Look, I’ve even grown some gray hair.”
In the lingering glow of the setting sun, Li Mingke noticed that Wu Xiyu's white hair at the temples was tinged with orange.
He stood with his back to the setting sun, his whole being shrouded in a somber aura, as if he were about to sink into the sun along with it.
A silent stillness flowed between the two, a kind of piecing together of time after it had been broken.
“But A-Yu did a great job.” Li Mingke took a few steps forward, placed his hand on Wu Xiyu’s shoulder, and patted it gently. “Although I have been in seclusion all these years, even in Pengzhou, I can still hear the people praising the Emperor of Daye, not to mention in other places.”
"Ayu, you are a good emperor."
Wu Xiyu took her hand off his shoulder and held it in his own. "You're wrong, Mingke. I'm not a good emperor."
A few tiny glints of light appeared in his eyes. "If I were a good emperor, Heaven would not have punished Da Ye, and my people would not have suffered. If I were a good emperor... I would not be so helpless as I am now."
Li Mingke took his hand and stroked his face, feeling the hard stubble under her palm.
How long has it been since he's had a rest!
"Don't cry, A-Yu. You have done your best. It is an honor for Da Ye to have an emperor like you, and an honor for its people."
"I didn't cry," Wu Xiyu muttered softly, but her eyes remained fixed on her.
“I can hear you crying in your heart.” Li Mingke gently rubbed his face.
As dusk faded, a slightly chilly evening breeze arrived.
Li Mingke took off one of her earrings and placed it in Wu Xiyu's hand.
"This is……?"
Wu Xiyu looked at the blue beads with tassels in his palm.
"This is Eryu. Didn't the First Emperor unify the world because of Suihou Zhu? Although I don't have the intelligence and talent of Empress Longyin, Eryu is from the same lineage as Suihou Zhu. I'm borrowing their past practices to bring good luck."
Wu Xiyu clenched his fists tightly.
Li Mingke was suddenly pulled into a broad embrace.
"Mingke..." Wu Xi had a thousand words to say, but when they came to her lips, they all condensed into her name.
Li Mingke patted his back reassuringly, "Don't be afraid, A-Yu,"
"I am coming."
...
This sacrificial ceremony was exceptionally grand in scale.
He Xun was dressed in a gorgeous Yao woman costume, with Li Mingke and Zuo Xiao following behind him.
Li Mingke checked He Xun's outfit again from head to toe.
"Don't be nervous, He Xun. I'm right here watching over you. Nothing will happen."
He Xun swallowed hard. "It's not that I'm afraid of that. The key is that the whole world is watching this sacrifice. Not only Da Ye, but people from both the immortal and demon realms have come. And it's said that 'they' are coming back too. I don't care about myself, it's mainly you..."
Li Mingke took out a hideous mask from behind his back and put it on his head. "It's okay, I'll cover my face, they won't notice."
He Xun was still extremely nervous.
Wu Xiyu kept looking at the people behind the stage. When he saw Li Mingke and He Xun saying these words, he took out a mask and put it on.
Xiao Fuzi bent down and walked to his side, whispering, "Your Majesty, after the three drumbeats, it will be your turn to ascend the sacrificial altar."
Wu Xiyu nodded to indicate that he understood, and Xiao Fuzi stepped aside again.
A moment later, three drumbeats sounded, and Wu Xiyu, dragging his heavy and gorgeous clothes, walked step by step to the front of the stage.
All eyes were on Wu Xiyu.
"I have been ordained by Heaven to rule over all people, yet natural disasters have struck, and the people have suffered. This has caused me great distress."
The frequent disasters are due to my own lack of virtue, my failure to harmonize Yin and Yang, and the resulting disorder in the universe. I should reflect on my past mistakes, cultivate my character and virtue, and pray for Heaven's forgiveness.
...
I am keenly aware of the suffering of the people, and will reduce taxes and levies to aid disaster victims, open granaries to distribute grain, and alleviate their plight. I will also establish numerous soup kitchens to save lives and heal the wounded, so that the people may find peace.
To prevent future problems, I will undertake water conservancy projects, rectify official corruption, and severely punish corrupt officials to protect the people's livelihood. I will also broaden channels for public opinion, readily accept advice, and ensure smooth governance and harmonious society.
...
I beseech the people to forgive my transgressions and to stand with me through these difficult times. I will strive to strengthen the nation, revitalize the court, and thus appease Heaven and bring blessings to the country!
Wu Xiyu's words were truly inspiring, as he both acknowledged his own mistakes and offered solutions for governance.
He continued:
"At the very beginning of the founding of Da Ye, a goddess descended from the heavens, named Yao. She possessed the spirit of heaven and earth and received the essence of the sun and moon. Her appearance was so beautiful that it could topple kingdoms, and her virtue was so noble and pure."
"On this auspicious occasion of the national sacrificial ceremony, the Yao deity will bestow blessings, extending grace to all living beings."
After saying this, Wu Xiyu bowed to the heavens, raised his hands, and welcomed the goddess.
Li Mingke had He Xun stand on the broken jade, concealed the sword shape of the broken jade, and also hid many flower petals in He Xun's sleeves, so when He Xun appeared, she truly looked like a goddess descending to earth.
As the sacrificial ceremony began, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense and auspicious clouds swirled around. The assembled officials stood solemnly, offering sincere prayers.
Yao arrived gracefully.
Her robes fluttered in the breeze, her bearing graceful and elegant. Her piercing gaze swept over the crowd, a smile appearing on her face in approval.
Yao parted her lips slightly, her voice like a nightingale's, and said, "I have come here by the Emperor's decree to bestow blessings. May the nation prosper and flourish, and the people live in peace and happiness. May the weather be favorable, and the harvests plentiful; may the mountains and rivers be beautiful, and the country peaceful and prosperous."
With that, Yao waved her long sleeves, her clothes fluttering, surrounded by swirling clouds, her eyes sparkling, her gaze radiant.
The people cheered and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
The emperor led his entourage in bowing to express his gratitude for Yao's kindness and generosity.
Everyone knows that Yao's blessing is a blessing for the nation.
...
Li Mingke stood in the shadows, arms crossed, watching the crowd.
She was afraid that some troublemakers might cause some problems at a crucial moment.
Just as the ritual was about to end and her nerves were gradually relaxing, she suddenly felt an extremely aggressive gaze.
She suddenly woke up.
who?
She saw a pair of familiar eyes.
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