Chapter 421: The Dragon Robe
Helian Feng rode his horse into the city gate and looked at the soldiers and officials kneeling on both sides to welcome the surrender, without any joy in his eyes.
On the contrary, Su Qinyao and Helian Shu were surrounded by a group of soldiers and were very arrogant.
After more than a year's absence, when Helian Feng stepped into the Yandu Palace again, he suddenly stopped.
The vermilion palace walls glowed gloomily in the setting sun, and the mythical beasts on the eaves looked down at him silently. The air seemed to still linger with the scent of his father's ambergris.
He looked at the familiar palace road with mixed feelings.
The wandering and planning over the past year now seem like a bizarre dream.
In particular, when he reached the front of Taining Palace, he stopped and looked up.
This palace, which carries the destiny of the Tianqi nation for a hundred years, was once the place where my father directed the country's affairs.
He still remembered that when he was young, his father sat on the dragon throne, holding his little hand and teaching him to recognize the cinnabar annotations on memorials. Now, the dragon throne is still there, but his old friend has long been buried in the earth.
"Feng'er, what are you still standing there for?" Su Qinyao's voice woke him from his trance.
Looking at his mother, whose face was filled with uncontrollable excitement and pride, he took a deep breath and climbed the stairs.
Beneath the nine golden steps, all the civil and military officials had already knelt down according to their ranks, forming a black mass like weeds in a wheat field.
These people were still shouting "Defend Yandu to the death" under Fu Yunqing's command yesterday. Today, when they heard that Fu Yunqing had abandoned the city and fled, they were all like frightened birds. Whoever entered the imperial city would be their king, and they dared not utter a word of objection.
Su Qinyao stepped forward, raised the bright yellow scroll in her hand, and spoke in a clear voice like a bell:
"Ministers, listen carefully! Your Majesty Helian Ji knows that his virtue is not worthy of his position and that he cannot shoulder the heavy responsibility of the country. Therefore, he abdicates the throne to the former Crown Prince Helian Feng!"
As she spoke, she handed the abdication edict to the eunuch who read it out:
In the second year of Jingping, the year of Guimao, Emperor Helian Ji issued a decree to the world:
I have inherited the Mandate of Heaven and have been protecting the state for a year now. Having just ascended the throne, I am still a young man, and I have relied on the spirits of the ancestral temples and the help of the nobles for my survival.
However, I have been frail since childhood, my intellect limited. Since ascending the throne, despite my tireless efforts, I have ultimately failed to live up to the people's expectations and shoulder the trust placed in me by the world. Internally, the myriad affairs of state are complex, and I constantly feel my strength is insufficient; externally, the borders remain turbulent, and I deeply fear that I have failed the people. Whenever I think of this, I cannot sleep or eat.
My elder brother, Helian Feng, is a man of great intelligence and wisdom, with great virtue and generosity. He works day and night to assist me in governing the country, and his reputation for benevolence spreads throughout the court and the country. When he guards the borders, he leads by example, maintains peace in all four directions, and his prestige and virtue are known far and wide.
His filial piety to his parents, his loyalty to his country, and his benevolence to his people are praised by all, and he is a man of extraordinary talent bestowed by Heaven, destined to inherit the throne.
I now observe public opinion and the will of heaven, and respectfully pass on the sacred artifact to Helian Feng.
He should ascend the throne, continue the holy legacy, uphold the ancestral temple, comfort the people, and bring peace to the four seas. All officials should lead the people to return to their loyalty and assist the new emperor in achieving the cause of national rejuvenation.
Announce it to the whole world, and let everyone know."
The eunuch's voice was still falling as Su Qinyao slowly swept over the ministers, her eyes as sharp as a knife.
"Helian Feng is the eldest son of the late emperor and should have inherited the throne. This is destiny! On the other hand, Xiao Nanyan, a mere outsider, dared to use the emperor to control the princes. He is truly a traitor and a traitor, and everyone has the right to kill him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two eunuchs "invited" Helian Ji to the front of the stage.
The little emperor's face turned pale. Under Su Qinyao's fierce gaze, his lips trembled as he spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito:
"Yes... I voluntarily abdicated the throne to my eldest brother. When my father was alive, he had already appointed my eldest brother as the Crown Prince. It was Xiao Nanyan... who forced me to sit on the throne. I... I never wanted to be this emperor..."
As he spoke, tears rolled down his face, but he didn't dare cry out loud. He just clutched the corner of his clothes tightly, as if this would give him a sense of security.
At this time, several old ministers from the previous dynasty, who were once Xiao Nanyan's trusted ministers, looked at each other and knelt down one after another:
"Your Highness, Your Majesty, the Empress, when a new emperor ascends the throne, he must choose an auspicious day and offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and other rituals. To ascend the throne so hastily, I'm afraid, I'm afraid..."
Su Qinyao sneered:
"My Lords, the situation is dire. The traitor Xiao Nanyan is leading a vast army, racing day and night, and is less than seven days' journey from Yandu. The elaborate rituals of selecting an auspicious day and offering sacrifices to heaven and earth now seem a luxury. The safety of the country is at stake, so why bother with such trivial rituals?"
She glanced at the ministers below, her eyes fell on the hesitant old ministers, and emphasized her tone:
"The most urgent matter is to have the Crown Prince ascend the throne immediately. He should command the world in the name of the new emperor and rally the people to resist the foreign enemies. As for the full set of rituals for the coronation ceremony, we can hold it later after Xiao Nanyan is executed and the country is stable. If we delay now, by the time Xiao Nanyan's army arrives at the gates of the city, not to mention offering sacrifices to heaven, I'm afraid even this golden palace will have a new owner. Who will be able to save their lives and property by then?"
Seeing Su Qinyao's stern voice, several old ministers fell silent immediately.
After all, their family, including their wives, children and the elderly, are still in Yandu City. If they continue to disobey, not only their own lives will be in danger, but the entire family may be in danger.
"A country cannot be without a ruler for a day!"
Several more old ministers suddenly stepped forward, fell to the ground and shouted loudly:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please accept the order in this critical moment and ascend the throne immediately to ensure the safety of the country and comfort the people!" These people were all old ministers of Helian Feng's residence. When they spoke at this moment, they immediately attracted a lot of support.
"Your Highness, please ascend the throne!"
"Your Highness, please ascend the throne!"
A thunderous roar echoed in front of the Golden Palace. Helian Feng stood on the steps, looking at the ministers kneeling at his feet, his trembling younger brother, Su Qinyao and Helian Shu standing with smiles on their faces, and even Xiao Beicheng, with a dark look in his eyes...
He suddenly felt cold sweat on his palms.
"Present the dragon robe!" Su Qinyao ordered loudly.
The eunuch who had been waiting by the side came forward with a tray. On the tray was a bright yellow dragon robe. The twelve-chapter pattern gleamed brightly in the candlelight. The dragon pattern embroidered with gold thread was baring its fangs and claws, as if trying to break free from the brocade.
Helian Feng knew that his mother had prepared this dragon robe a month ago, just waiting for this day to come in handy.
At this moment, he suppressed the mixed feelings in his heart, slowly stretched out his hand, and allowed the eunuch to take off his outer robe and put on the dragon robe.
The cool silk thread touched my skin, bringing with it a heavy burning sensation.
When the last jade belt was tied, Su Qinyao came forward holding a nine-tassel crown and gently placed it on his head.
The hanging beads swayed, blurring his vision, but also blocking out those gazes of awe, flattery, or fear.
He raised his hand to press the crown, turned and walked into the depths of the golden palace.
The dragon throne was right in front of him, the position he had always dreamed of, but now it was like a dormant beast, waiting to devour his last bit of hesitation.
"Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long live our emperor!"
There was a thunderous roar of worship behind him. Helian Feng did not look back, but stepped onto the steps and sat down on the dragon throne.
The setting sun outside the hall shone through the window lattice, casting mottled light and shadow on him, half bright and half dark.
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