Chapter 806 The Buddha's throne in Xunyang shook the earth, shattering the grandeur of Luoyang.
Luoyang, afternoon.
On the square of Ziwei Palace.
Wei Sixing suddenly realized that standing too high wasn't a good thing either.
The sun was too bright in my eyes, and it would be rather unseemly to shield them with my hands, especially since all the nobles of Luoyang were watching from below the stage; I had to be mindful of my appearance.
Wei Sixing glanced at his older brother, Wei Jisi, who was standing next to him.
At this moment, in the square of Ziwei Palace, near the Heavenly Pivot of the Great Zhou Dynasty, civil and military officials, imperial relatives and nobles gathered.
Everyone stood below the Tian Shu Platform, looking up at the three people ascending the platform.
Wei Jisi and Wei Sixing walked side by side, with Wei Jisi slightly ahead. Both of them followed behind the old lady in the dragon robe at the front.
Under the afternoon sun, Wei Sixing noticed that Wei Jisi beside him was squinting slightly, looking at the black nine-tassel crown worn by the old lady in the dragon robe in front of him, and he didn't know what she was thinking.
Perhaps they think wearing this will block out the sun?
This is the emperor's crown.
Wei Sixing thought to himself.
He was fully aware of his brother's ambitions.
Or rather, everyone knows what Wei Jisi is thinking.
The conflict between the Wei and Li states in the Great Zhou Dynasty was a dispute over the imperial succession, which was crucial to the foundation of the state, and the people of Luoyang were well aware of it.
The instability of the court also made the political infighting among the top echelons of the Great Zhou Dynasty particularly severe.
Such struggles are like this; everyone knows they are of no benefit to the country and may even harm virtuous and capable people.
But we have no choice but to fight for it.
In this kind of political game, taking a step back doesn't bring respect; taking a step back means utter ruin.
Perhaps in the idle chatter of scholars and merchants in Luoyang restaurants, it is believed that as long as the sage does this or that, the country will be peaceful and prosperous.
But once you're in it, you realize that you're not in control of your own destiny.
Those high-ranking officials who are privately criticized by righteous people for holding positions without doing their jobs are precisely those who have remained in their positions for so long. It would be terrible if they suddenly stopped holding positions without doing their jobs.
Any national affair that appears foolish and botched to outsiders has an absolutely impeccable and reasonable logic behind it: it must be messed up and foolish in order to conform to the natural order.
In the conflicts between Wei and Liang over the years, whether it was the chaos in Yingzhou or the rebellion of Li Zhengyan's Kuangfu Army, many of the things done by the Prince of Wei's and Prince of Liang's mansions were like this.
However, Wei Sixing knew that it was time for all of this to come to an end, and that was to settle things under one supreme authority.
Feeling the admiring gazes from all directions, and returning to this spotlight, Wei Sixing was in high spirits.
He looked up at the tall and majestic Tian Shu Bronze Pillar in front of him, a smile appearing on his lips.
This artwork was the turning point in all of this, and the key to reversing the decline of the Wei family.
Being chosen by the sage today to be a sacrificial attendant, accompanying the sage in offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth before the Heavenly Pivot, is a manifestation of the sage's certain inclinations.
Not to mention the hidden functions of the entire Tian Shu Grand Array. It can be said that if the Wei clan were willing and the sage nodded, all the nobles present could be wiped out in one fell swoop. Of course, this is just a metaphor and it would not be so violent and crude, but it would be enough to deter any petty people who have objections to the Wei clan and the Holy Zhou.
Not only this Ziwei Imperial City, but the entire Luoyang is within the range of the Great Zhou Songde Tian Shu's deterrent power.
From this day forward, this power of life and death, which was held in the divine capital, was now shared by the two of them, in addition to the saint.
What else could this be but a legitimate heir to the throne?
This move is of great significance.
Remembering that Master Di had taken leave today due to a leg ailment and hadn't come, Wei Sixing couldn't help but smile.
The conflict between the Wei and Li clans has now been officially declared resolved, with the Wei clan gaining the upper hand.
Like the slaughter of a large dragon on a Go board, the next step is to count the pieces and finish the game. Everything the weaker side does afterward is a futile struggle, a waste of time in political struggle. The weaker side is just delaying its demise. Little does it know that the more a drowning person struggles, the deeper they sink to the bottom.
Worried about losing his composure, Wei Sixing took several deep breaths to calm his excited emotions and followed along with his brother, accompanying the old lady in the dragon robe to preside over the sacrificial ceremony.
While Wei Sixing was lost in thought, Wei Jisi was also trying to suppress the smile in his eyes.
He glanced at the political enemies and allies below the central platform who were looking up at him, and after a moment, shook his head with some disinterest.
This was not the first time Wei Jisi had received such treatment and risen to such a high position, second only to the emperor. The last time was when the emperor had just ascended the throne and changed the dynasty from Gan to Zhou.
That was when the emperor needed his maternal family, the Wei clan, the most. He used his two nephews to eliminate political enemies and remove obstacles.
That was also the period when the Wei clan held the greatest power. Unfortunately, later on, these princes of the Li clan were all frightened into spineless cowards. Once the die was cast, they were willing to be good sons of the sage and obediently follow orders, which increased the number of candidates for the position of heir apparent of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The sacrificial ceremony held beneath the newly built Songde Tianzhu (a sacred structure) lasted for most of the afternoon.
Everyone actually arrived early, and the sacrificial ceremony was quite quick. The main problem was the series of complicated rituals before the ceremony, which took up a lot of time.
Many of the sacrificial utensils, which had been stored in the Temple of Heaven's ancestral hall for many years without being used, were only recently cleaned of dust and put back up.
As the sacrificial ceremony was drawing to a close, Wei Sixing stood behind the old woman in the dragon robe and his brother Wei Jisi, getting a little tired of waiting, and lazily supported himself on one leg.
Since the grand gowns she was wearing covered her lower body and were floor-length, no one noticed this "frivolous" act.
After the initial excitement of returning to the pinnacle of glory, Wei Sixing became somewhat uninterested, thinking, "That's all there is to it."
Wei Sixing turned his head and glanced at Wei Jisi again.
I noticed that my brother stood upright the whole time, with a stern face, respectfully accompanying me in the ceremony, as if he wasn't tired at all.
Although I sometimes feel that Brother Wang is a bit pretentious, people who do great things need to put on an act; it's an essential skill.
Wei Sixing somewhat envied his elder brother, whose desire for power, or rather, his relentless and even ruthless pursuit of his goals, was something Wei Sixing could not match.
In recent years, Wei Sixing has become somewhat complacent and has begun to enjoy the benefits and wealth of the Wei family.
This is also the root cause of the ideological conflicts that arose between the Liang Prince's Mansion, represented by Wei Sixing, and the Wei Prince's Mansion, represented by Wei Jisi, on issues such as the Xunyang Prince's Mansion when the rebellion of Zhu Lingxu and his son occurred and the Wei family fell into a trough in the struggle for imperial succession.
However, as it turns out, this older brother was right.
Wei Sixing suddenly remembered that the servants in Xunyang had sent word that the heir of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion seemed to be harassing his daughter.
At the time, Wei Sixing's idea was to hold off on expressing his opinion for the time being and wait and see. If things really came to the worst and the Wei family failed, he could go with the flow and do a favor to save their lives.
But now it seems that it's no longer necessary.
So he didn't stop his brother from sending the white cloth strip to Xunyang City.
Just as Wei Si was walking in a trance.
Directly in front, the phoenix patterns covering the surface of Tian Shu shone with dazzling golden light, appearing golden from afar.
However, amidst the golden light, the massive celestial pivot, weighing a ton, trembled slightly, immediately drawing the attention of the female officials from the Imperial Observatory who were guarding it.
This is the second incident today.
One by one, the people kneeling and bowing in worship noticed the abnormality.
At the highest point, the figure of the old woman in the dragon robe, with her back to the assembled officials, slightly raised her head, as if she too was gazing at Tian Shu.
Wei Sixing immediately perked up and prepared to respond, but Wei Jisi was one step ahead of him.
Wei Jisi, who knew the Songde Tianshu and the Four Directions Buddhas like the back of his hand, ignored the somewhat silent nobles and officials below the stage and addressed the emperor in a loud voice:
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. It's the Donglin Buddha in Xunyang, Jiangzhou. Some ignorant rebels are attacking the Buddha. It seems they've already clashed. Some reactions here are normal; they're just minor disturbances. I've made arrangements. Princess Zhenxian, Deputy Supervisor Song, and General Yi are all there overseeing the situation. Your Majesty can await the good news."
Some people on the field looked at each other blankly, while others remained calm.
The old woman in the dragon robe nodded slightly, and a chorus of respectful voices immediately rose from the crowd:
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
After one stick of incense has burned, the sacrificial ceremony comes to an end.
The old woman in the dragon robe stepped down from the high platform and walked towards the Ziwei Palace.
They were the first to leave.
Under the setting sun, this octogenarian woman walked slowly but steadily, as if proclaiming her good health to her subjects.
Everyone in the square, regardless of their appearance or background, bowed their heads, staring at their toes, and waited patiently for the old woman's figure to leave.
She didn't leave, and no one dared to move.
Wei Sixing and Wei Jisi also followed behind Empress Wei Zhao.
The last rays of the setting sun were about to fall on the upturned eaves of the Weiyang Palace, located to the west of the Wanshang Divine Palace.
"Crunch... crunch..."
A faint sound came from the square.
The waiting crowd was initially a little puzzled.
Then a loud bang suddenly appeared on the field.
The powerful officials and ministers all looked astonished, their surprised gazes all fixed on a certain spot.
Boom! ...
Beneath the setting sun, a majestic bronze pillar praising the virtues of the Great Zhou Dynasty slowly tilted southward and crashed to the ground.
The celestial pivot collapsed with a roar, turning into a pile of scrap metal.
The entire room was completely silent.
Wei Sixing remained turned around, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"How...how is that possible?"
The King of Liang muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes repeatedly, but no matter how many times he rubbed them, the scene before him still filled him with dread and growing terror.
At the first sound of the loud noise, Wei Jisi turned around abruptly and ran forward a couple of steps, somewhat disregarding his composure. But when he saw clearly the scene of Tian Shu shattered beyond recognition, he slowed down, his mouth agape, his face flushed red, and he froze on the spot.
At this moment, an elderly man with white hair, dressed in the robes of an astrologer from the Imperial Observatory, rushed over in a panic. Pushing aside several disciples who were trying to help him, he knelt at the feet of the old woman in the dragon robe, crying out in terror and grief:
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Observations from the Wangnan Tower indicate that the Giant Buddhas of Jiangzhou, Yangzhou, Bingzhou, and Yizhou have all lost contact, and it is suspected that they were all destroyed at the same time."
The old man's fearful voice echoed throughout the room.
The entire Ziwei Palace Square was completely silent.
A short while later, the eyes of the nobles and dignitaries from all over the Great Zhou Dynasty, including the heads of the five surnames and seven clans and the heads of the eight great families of Jingzhao, all fell on Wei Jisi, the Prince of Wei, and Liang Sixing, the Prince of Liang.
Some eyes showed surprise and astonishment, some showed panic and trembling, and some showed quiet amusement and amusement.
These varied gazes were like iron nails, freezing Wei Jisi and Wei Sixing in place, piercing their hearts and making them unable to move.
This scene, which has attracted everyone's attention, is just like when they accompanied the sage in the sacrifice to heaven and earth. At this moment, they seem to have become the focus of the entire audience once again.
However, for Wei Sixing, it was like heaven and earth.
"impossible!"
Wei Sixing suddenly roared, as if he had gone hysterical.
All eyes turned to him, and the King of Liang shivered. Coming to his senses, he looked around the room blankly and helplessly.
They saw that he and the members of the Cui clan of Qinghe, whom his brother had previously been paying attention to, including the noble lady with the interesting name, were quietly watching them.
Wei Jisi's bloodshot eyes looked away from the Tian Shu, which he had repeatedly confirmed had undoubtedly collapsed, and he swallowed hard.
As the last rays of the setting sun faded, he felt as if the entire world had darkened.
In the dead silence and darkness.
An elderly woman in a dragon robe stopped and slowly turned around.
She looked over.
...
After checking the surge in merit points, Ouyang Rong silently left the Merit Tower.
He opened his eyes to find the sun already setting in the west, and he was leaning against a tree.
From the moment they encountered the white sturgeon and Rongzhen following them until now, they have been traveling for two days and one night, under the stars and moon.
Ouyang Rong never expected that destroying the Buddha statue would bring him merit.
From this perspective, the collapse of these massive Buddha statues that caused such damage to local areas can be seen as fulfilling the simple wishes of the people.
Ouyang Rong looked down at the eighteen seeds.
According to Cui Hao, after the Four Great Buddhas and the Songde Tian Shu collapsed, this string of eighteen seeds is now the only counterfeit Ding Sword of the [Emperor Wen], with power similar to that of a bronze scroll.
The latter is the counterfeit Ding Sword of the [Humble Scholar].
It would be difficult for the Wei family or the Imperial Observatory to construct a "Peach Blossom Sword Formation" of such scale again.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.
At this moment, sensing the gaze of the palace-dressed girl who had also stopped her horse behind him, he turned and walked towards the woods by the river.
Go collect tree branches to make a fire.
He glanced at the sunset sky. Compared to the waterway, the land route was rather slow, and he was only halfway to Dragon City.
I traveled without rest last night and was hoping to find a village or something, but the road was deserted and deserted. Even a Qi cultivator would need to meditate or take a nap to relieve physical exhaustion and mental tension.
Tonight we'll be spending the night in this desolate wilderness.
As Ouyang Rong was picking up tree branches.
The white sturgeon swam carefree, wagging its tail and circling in front of Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong frowned slightly, then suddenly took out the Peach Blossom Spring Map, drew a Kui Xing talisman, and pulled out a bronze longsword from it.
The appearance of the bronze sword made the white sturgeon jump for joy.
It's like being drawn to it.
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment.
It turns out this little thing had also been looking for an embroiderer.
Following him wasn't just about getting close to him; it was also because I was following the sword that possessed the aura of an embroiderer.
After a short while, Ouyang Rong shook his head, sheathed his bronze sword, and gently brushed aside the silly white sturgeon with his fingers.
The intention was to use the release of the animal to find the location of Yunmeng Sword Marsh, but it turned out to be a terrible navigator.
It is said that a fish's memory is only a few breaths long, and even if it is struck by lightning and sheds its mortal form, it is still subject to the same fate.
As Ouyang Rong turned around, he suddenly heard a voice behind him:
"Is this her sword?"
Rongzhen came out, her long, loose hair temporarily tied up with a ribbon into a neat ponytail.
She held a few branches she had gathered for firewood, imitating Ouyang Rong.
Her temples were slightly damp, falling onto her forehead, as if her face had just been washed clean by river water, revealing a delicate, doll-like face as beautiful as a lotus emerging from clear water...
"Snap—!"
The girl in palace attire crushed several tree branches in her hand, her dark eyes fixed on Ouyang Rong, who walked past her seemingly oblivious. Her voice was chilling as she asked:
"So, Ouyang Lianghan, are you leaving? Abandoning Xunyang, abandoning your business, to wander the world alone with her?"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
