Chapter 351 Preparing for the Sacrifice
"My son, what are you doing? I told you, I'm fine." Hongjun knew his own condition. Even if he wasn't, those methods would be ineffective against him.
"Today I went to Chaoge City for an inspection, and a fortune teller said some unpleasant things. I still feel resentful about it. Father, please put my mind at ease." Chang Hao awkwardly but carefully fed the whole bowl of soup into Hongjun's mouth.
It wasn't until then that Chang Hao belatedly realized that although his father was usually silly and his administration was a mess, he was truly good to him, and he had long since accepted his adorably foolish father.
Even though he knew Jiang Ziya was very important, Chang Hao still couldn't help but feel angry when he heard Jiang Ziya's divination, unable to accept the fact that his father would die.
"Didn't Father say long ago that he would live to be ninety-nine? When I have achieved my goal, we will travel together hand in hand. How could I bear to die?"
Hongjun couldn't help but chuckle. Fine, let Chang Hao do what he wants. He couldn't bear to tell Chang Hao that if Di Yi wasn't the current Emperor, he could have ascended to heaven in broad daylight just from this bowl of soup.
“Since Father says so, I will believe him for now.” Chang Hao placed the jade bowl aside.
“If you believe, then believe. What’s the explanation for ‘temporarily’?” Hongjun was puzzled.
“Because Father hasn’t lived to ninety-nine yet, this promise is just empty words. I can’t know what the future holds, and neither can you. We can only watch Father’s behavior. Meditating until late at night like before is absolutely not allowed.” Chang Hao decided to closely monitor his father’s schedule and not let his father do anything reckless again.
While the father and son chatted, Wen Zhong arrived outside the palace. Listening to the tender conversation between the father and son inside, he smiled knowingly. There were always unexpected events during the change of the throne, but this time, everything was settled.
"Your Highness, the Grand Tutor is waiting outside the palace," Quan Sheng announced in a low voice, unsurprisingly receiving a cold glare from the King.
Quan Sheng smiled bitterly to himself. "Your Majesty, even if you glare at me through the skin, I still have to come and announce your arrival. I can't afford to offend either His Highness or the Grand Tutor."
"Hurry up and let the Grand Tutor in. Didn't I already say that if the Grand Tutor arrives, we should welcome him in directly? How can we keep the Grand Tutor waiting?" Chang Hao said, getting up to personally greet Wen Zhong.
"Your Highness is too kind. I should naturally abide by the duties of a subject and not be arrogant about my achievements." Although Grand Tutor Wen said this, the Crown Prince's respect and closeness to him still made Wen Zhong very gratified.
The Shang Dynasty finally welcomed a wise and virtuous ruler who extended its life. In retrospect, this was not just empty talk.
Chang Hao smiled and said no more. Respect is hidden in every word and deed over time, rather than in deliberate gestures to win someone over in a day or two.
Chang Hao has always been adept at this, able to win people's hearts without making a fuss.
"I wonder if Your Highness has summoned me to Qiankun Palace because of some urgent matter?" Wen Zhong stroked his long beard, thinking that the surrounding area had become much more stable recently, and he had not heard of any rebellions anywhere.
The feudal lords in all directions have been behaving themselves recently, thanks to the Crown Prince's diligent governance.
"I heard that the Grand Tutor comes from a great sect?" Chang Hao frowned slightly, looking worried.
"Your Highness may not know, but I am from the Jie Sect. The Jie Sect is a great sect of the Heaven and Earth, known as the one where ten thousand immortals come to pay homage. Many disciples of the Jie Sect also hold positions in the court." Wen Zhong was clearly very proud of his sect, and his admiration was hard to hide.
"Very well, Grand Tutor, could you please come and see my father? Today in Chaoge City, a Qi cultivator said that my father's lifespan is nearing its end. As his son, how can I be at ease?" Chang Hao was at a loss.
He has many things to do, and has been cultivating step by step for less than ten years. The little bit of cultivation he has is completely concealed by the spiritual treasure he carries. Hongjun always thought that the leaked spiritual energy was due to the things he fed him.
The highest-level immortal Chang Hao can currently contact is Wen Zhong, and Wen Zhong is loyal and will definitely speak his mind.
Wen Zhong frowned upon hearing this. This was impossible. If the Emperor Star were to change, he would surely have noticed.
A change of throne would cause dynastic turmoil. Wen Zhong disregarded the impoliteness and hurriedly stepped forward to look at Emperor Yi. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, this is nonsense. Your Majesty is in the prime of life and in good health."
Upon hearing this, Chang Hao breathed a sigh of relief; it was a false alarm!
"Now do you believe me?" Although Hongjun's words were a reprimand, his affection and doting were obvious.
Of course, Chang Hao trusted Wen Zhong, just like Jiang Ziya.
"Why must you make fun of me, Father? I am just confused because I am concerned," Chang Hao said with a slight reproach.
"The Crown Prince's filial piety is commendable." Wen Zhong recalled the previous emperor and the Crown Prince, feeling a mix of emotions. Fortunately, Emperor Yi was unreliable, but he was quite clear-headed when it came to the matter of the Crown Prince. From the moment the Crown Prince was born, he used various methods to make the eldest and second princes give up on the idea of becoming the Crown Prince.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Grand Tutor, to make this trip." Chang Hao said, feeling quite embarrassed.
“Even if the Crown Prince does not summon me, I will still come to Qiankun Palace today,” Wen Zhong said, looking at his unreliable king. “Your Majesty, the birthday of Goddess Nuwa is approaching. This year is a special birthday. As the ruler of the country, Your Majesty must personally go to the temple of Goddess Nuwa to worship her.”
This is something His Highness the Crown Prince cannot do; doing so would be seen as disrespectful to the Goddess Nuwa.
Hongjun's face turned completely black. What?
He, the Dao Ancestor, personally went to worship Nuwa?
"I won't go. That's outrageous! What's there to worship? Don't worship her anymore." Hongjun silently turned his face away. Would Nuwa dare accept his offerings? Besides, if he went, wouldn't he expose his secret?
"Your Majesty, do not be willful. How can you be disrespectful to the Goddess Nuwa?" Wen Zhong looked at him like a child who did not understand, his eyes full of disapproval.
“I said I wouldn’t go. What’s so great about worshipping Nuwa? What good would it do? Could she bring good weather and peace to the Shang Dynasty?” Hongjun’s eyes darted around. “I’ll go worship the Heavenly Emperor. The Heavenly Emperor is in charge of bringing good weather and peace to the Shang Dynasty.”
Chang Hao was stunned again, his mind almost unable to process what he was seeing. "Di Yi, you're so powerful?"
Wen Zhong almost collapsed in fear. “Your Majesty, this matter will be discussed in the court tomorrow. All the formalities require Your Majesty’s personal approval. You cannot be absent.” As he spoke, Wen Zhong looked at Chang Hao. “The Crown Prince is just the Crown Prince, not Your Majesty. If you wish to perform the sacrificial ceremony on your behalf, we can wait until the Crown Prince ascends the throne.”
Hongjun silently felt frustrated. "My son, if you don't want to worship Nuwa, we don't need to force yourself."
“Father, Nuwa is the Holy Mother of the human race. If it weren’t for her, how could we exist? It is only right that we worship Nuwa.” Chang Hao tried to persuade Di Yi to preside over the worship of Nuwa.
"I understand." Hongjun gritted his teeth. He would announce his abdication to the prince tomorrow morning, so that the prince could take the throne as soon as possible and there would be fewer obstacles in the prince's actions. This would save him from having people coming to see him every day or trying to sow discord in his ear.
Chang Hao and Wen Zhong thought they had persuaded Di Yi, but little did they know they were too hasty.
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