Chapter 277 Ascension
"When Songnian was just born, I thought more than once about letting him follow his father."
Lay Buddhist Qinglian paused, his gaze fixed on the distant bamboo forest. "During those years when I lived in this nunnery, I hated the whole world. I thought that since Pei Xuan considered him his child, I would always fulfill my fatherly duties. Who knew... that he would suffer for so many years in vain?"
Pei Xuan is the name of Emperor Zhaowen. It was a taboo name that could not be touched before, but now it can finally be said openly.
"He didn't blame you." Jiang Fei said, "He felt sorry for you for a while after he knew the truth."
Lay Buddhist Qinglian looked at her and said, "Thank you. With you by his side, he feels like a real person."
She walked slowly for a while, and when she turned back, she found Jiang Fei still standing there, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Fei said: "I advise you not to do anything stupid."
A hint of surprise appeared on Qinglian Lay Buddhist's face, and then he smiled knowingly: "You are quite perceptive."
"When the layman mentioned the past just now, there was still a death wish in his eyes." Jiang Fei stepped forward and said earnestly: "Songnian, in fact, needs you very much."
"You are enough for me."
Jiang Fei shook her head. "No one can replace you. If you are gone, he will be completely alone."
"What about you?" asked Mr. Qinglian.
Jiang Fei didn't answer. After a long while, Qinglian Jushi asked, "Are you leaving?"
Jiang Fei turned her head and said, "If possible, I hope I can always stay by his side, but I don't know how long I can stay with him. He should always have something to care about in this world."
Mr. Qinglian moved his lips but could not speak.
Jiang Fei continued, "I've always been curious. When I first met the nun, that is, when I came to ask for the lotus, why did the nun say that I was too obsessed and that I was the one who needed salvation the most?"
"Your eyes told me."
"My eyes?" Jiang Fei subconsciously touched the corner of his eyes.
"Hmm." Lay Buddhist Qinglian looked at her, smiled and said, "What if this isn't the first time we've met?"
Jiang Fei was startled, then she heard Master Qinglian continue, "We meet every year."
"This child goes up the mountain with the Jiang family every year. Unfavored children are left unattended. She likes to sneak into my yard, saying she can have a full meal every time she comes."
"Although it's the same person, the look in your eyes is completely different. The first time I saw you, I knew that maybe that child was no longer there."
Jiang Fei pursed her lips and said, "I want to offer a perpetual lamp to Jiang Rufei in the nunnery."
Ms. Qinglian nodded and said, "I have already provided for her. She is also a pitiful person."
They chatted for a while and then walked back. Pei Jing was already waiting for her at the end of the path.
Jiang Fei stopped and looked at Master Qinglian. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Master, can you attend the coronation ceremony in two days?"
Ms. Qinglian shook her head gently and said, "I'm used to living here. Just stay with him."
…
On the day of the ceremony, before dawn, the lights inside the palace walls were already as bright as day.
Just as the fifth watch was struck, three crisp whip sounds resounded throughout the palace. All officials stood in silence, holding their breath.
Pei Jing stretched out his hand towards Jiang Fei.
The moment our palms touched, all the past events flashed through our minds like a kaleidoscope. Those days and nights of running in dark alleys, hugging each other in the cold nights, and sharing life and death, all turned into this moment of standing side by side.
The two of them stepped onto the Danbi step side by side, one step at a time, stepping over the frost on the bluestone slabs and the ravines worn out by time.
When they stood at the highest point, they turned around hand in hand.
In the eastern sky, a red sun broke through the clouds, and the rays of light spread out.
The golden light spread over the towering palace walls, over the solemn officials, and over the gold embroidered patterns on the imperial robes. The swirling dragon patterns seemed to come alive.
"Long live our emperor."
The cheers from Baiguan Mountain came like a tide.
Immediately afterwards, bells and drums rang out together, and the bells of the Taimiao came at dawn, solemn and deep, ringing for a full eighty-one times, announcing the succession and inheritance of imperial power.
It seemed as if there were only these two figures left in the world.
The sufferings of the past melt away in the morning light, and the long road ahead unfolds beneath our feet.
No need for words, the warmth of each other's palms is the most solemn oath.
After the ceremony, the emperor and empress would go up to the tower together to receive congratulations from the people.
Emperor Zhaowen issued a self-criticism edict, personally admitting that Prince Ping did not die of illness, but was murdered because of a conflict of interest.
It was this edict of confession that completely cleared Pei Jing of the label of "usurper", and instead made him "the one who inherited his father's aspirations and was supported by the people", allowing the people of the world to see that he should have had the orthodox position.
Before stepping onto the Zichen Tower, Pei Jing thought he would see the people rushing to scold him.
However, when he and Jiang Fei climbed up the city wall hand in hand and leaned over to look, the scene before him made him stunned.
In the dim morning light, the crowd below was filled with people.
There was no expected cursing and commotion, only countless pairs of eyes looking up at the emperor and empress on the city wall, and a solemn silence.
Suddenly, a white-haired old woman trembled and raised a bamboo basket filled with wild flowers and new vegetables: "Your Majesty - Your Majesty - Peace is upon you -"
The sound was like a stone thrown into a lake, instantly causing thousands of waves.
"It's peaceful—"
"Long live--"
The crowd bowed down like a tide, their shouts growing louder and louder, eventually merging into a torrent that shook the earth.
Pei Jing's hands trembled slightly in his sleeves.
The stigma that he had thought would take ten or twenty years to wash away was actually pardoned by the people in the simplest way at this moment.
Jiang Fei quietly held his hand tightly and gently squeezed his palm.
At this moment, a childish nursery rhyme suddenly rang out from the crowd:
"The Vermillion Bird sings, the new emperor rises, no taxes, no conscription—"
This is a new policy promulgated by Pei Jing a few days ago, and it has been made into a ballad and sung.
Jiang Fei looked at the crowd surging below and keenly felt Pei Jing's breathing stagnate.
She followed his gaze and saw a figure dressed in plain blue and black standing in the crowd.
Ms. Qinglian did not stay in the nunnery as she said, but quietly came into the noisy place.
She wore no crown or finery, only a plain gauze veil covering her face. However, when she met their gaze, she gently raised her hand and lifted the veil.
Across the high-rise building and the sea of people, she nodded slightly towards the city wall, with a faint but clear arc at the corner of her lips.
That smile contained relief, blessings, and a tranquility that had been borne through half a lifetime of hardships.
Pei Jing's Adam's apple rolled, and his tense jawline relaxed quietly.
Jiang Fei felt that his slightly trembling hand had completely calmed down, and he held her fingers even tighter, and his warm body temperature continued to transmit through their skin.
Jiang Fei also waved vigorously in that direction.
There was no need for words; the perfection of this moment surpassed all else. His concerns in this world had, after all, never been absent from his most important moments.
——————
If nothing unexpected happens, it will be finished tomorrow, with an open ending. The rest will be in the extra chapter, which is two if lines.
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