April 9th.
The sky is clear and cloudless!
This day is an auspicious day chosen by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory for offering sacrifices to heaven.
As the sky brightened, the huge gate of the imperial palace opened, and a huge crowd of people filed out of the palace gate. Amid the blessings of countless people, the emperor's ceremonial procession left Guanyun City, stepped onto Liluoyuan, and headed straight for the Great Snow Mountain.
On this trip, in addition to the three thousand Blood-Clothed Guards who accompanied the emperor, there were also sacrificial priests led by Wu Daozhi, the director of the Imperial Observatory.
The only members of the royal family were His Majesty and Fu Xiaoguan, who was accompanying His Majesty and had not changed his name.
Because women were not allowed to participate in the sacrifice to heaven, Empress Dowager Xi, Wu Linger and Concubine Yu did not accompany them.
Following the procession of honor was a huge crowd of people.
Almost all of them are citizens of Guanyun City, who come here to enjoy a little bit of God's grace.
The students of the Three Kingdoms were also among this group of people at this moment. This was a rare ceremony to worship the heavens. Although they could not go to the temple, they also wanted to experience it from afar.
Fan Tianning and Ku Chan were also there. They were sitting in a carriage. Fan Tianning was thinking about meeting Fu Xiaoguan in Fanning City, then getting to know him, and finally knowing him.
The name of this small landlord from Linjiang will be announced to heaven today along with the sacrificial text, and he... will become the prince of this great Wu Dynasty!
Emperor Wen's methods were truly powerful. In order to pave the way for Fu Xiaoguan to ascend to the throne, he even killed his other two sons. Fan Tianning was also born in the royal family. He did not sympathize with the two princes, but deeply felt the ruthlessness of the royal family.
“What a pity.”
Kuchan raised his eyes and looked at Fan Tianning, "What's a pity?"
"There is no more Fu Xiaoguan in the world!"
“…You’re wrong!”
"As the crown prince, he will be busy with state affairs. His free and easy nature will be eroded by the mundane world. How can he still write poems and essays that move the heavens and earth and move the spirits? Where did I go wrong?"
"He said... all appearances are false. If one sees that all appearances are not appearances, then one sees the Tathagata."
Fan Tianning frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"
"Everything you see is fake. If you believe in your heart that he is Fu Xiaoguan, then he will always be Fu Xiaoguan."
"Haha!" Fan Tianning sneered and looked out the car window.
Is he really still Fu Xiaoguan?
Will he become a cold-blooded emperor?
Will he still remember the song "No Desire"?
Can he still have the carefree and unrestrained attitude of a bamboo stick and straw sandals, which are lighter than a horse, and can be carefree regardless of wind or rain?
…
…
In a huge dragon chariot pulled by eight horses.
Emperor Wen and Fu Xiaoguan sat opposite each other.
"Don't be nervous. Just follow me. When you pray to the heavens in the temple, you need to burn incense and kneel down, asking the heavens to bless the Wu Dynasty with favorable weather and abundant harvests. May the Wu Dynasty enjoy peace and prosperity, and long-lasting stability."
"I have written your name on the sacred text of the Heavenly Sacrifice. The gods will remember your name. From now on, I will let you personally preside over the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony. This is so that the gods in heaven can have a deeper impression of you and protect you so that you can safely ascend the throne and become a wise ruler."
Fu Xiaoguan nodded cautiously. This was the belief of this world and this country. He respected this belief, although he knew in his heart that it was all useless.
Emperor Wen was quite satisfied with Fu Xiaoguan's prudence.
This kid finally didn't mention the matter of giving up the burden again, which made Emperor Wen and Empress Dowager Xi breathe a sigh of relief, and also made the ministers in the court breathe a sigh of relief.
In the past two days, Emperor Wen summoned Fu Xiaoguan to court. Although he did not ask him a single question, this kid was quite well behaved standing behind the ministers. I think he will get used to such a life after a while. After he is canonized as the crown prince, he will begin to assist me in handling state affairs.
Fu Xiaoguan is not like the former crown prince Wu Gan!
This kid was originally a fourth-rank counselor in the Yu Dynasty. He understands the court rules and has the talent to govern the country, so he can get started faster. It would be best if he can grow up within one or two years, and then I can give this position to him.
Emperor Wen felt even happier after his imagination.
"Last night, the Queen Mother told me that after today's offerings to heaven, I will take you to her palace for dinner. The Queen Mother loved your birthday poem. Now that you are her only grandson, you should remember to be filial and please her and make her happy."
Fu Xiaoguan nodded, "I wonder what the Queen Mother likes?"
He had never met the Queen Mother before, and he thought that since this was their first meeting, he should give her a gift. After all, she was nominally his grandmother.
Emperor Wen smiled and said, "The Queen Mother just likes talking to you."
This is simple, Fu Xiaoguan has experience in dealing with the elderly.
The two chatted casually and began to feel the chill unknowingly.
The eunuch Li Zi, who was kneeling at the side, lit a charcoal fire. Emperor Wen took out a mink coat and handed it to Fu Xiaoguan:
"We're entering the glacier canyon. Hurry up and put on your clothes! Don't freeze! It's even colder inside."
Fu Xiaoguan didn't hesitate. He took the coat and put it on. He opened the car window and saw the huge glacier shining in the sunlight - it would be more accurate to call it a glacier.
It slants between two mountains, winding forward, and no one knows where its source is.
The horseshoes seemed to have been specially treated, and the wheels of the carriage seemed to be covered with anti-skid chains. The speed of travel became very slow, and the carriage became more bumpy.
Fu Xiaoguan looked up and carefully examined the snow-capped mountain to one side. It was steep and the top was invisible. The snow was extremely thick. He felt a little worried and asked, "Will this snow... collapse?"
Emperor Wen smiled indifferently and said, "The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven has been moved from the Star-Picking Terrace to the Great Snow Mountain Temple for over 130 years. Snowfalls usually occur in July and August, but not in April. You don't need to worry."
Fu Xiaoguan was still feeling uneasy. He opened the curtains wider, stuck half of his head out, and carefully observed the environment along the way. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but ice on the ground and snow on the mountain.
The snow-capped mountains stretch out endlessly, with each peak higher than the last.
They stand silently on this clean plateau, having existed for countless years.
There was no other sound except the sound of horse hooves and footsteps, and the occasional shout or two, as if there was no other life here except for human footprints.
Just as Fu Xiaoguan was feeling anxious, the dragon chariot made a big turn, completely isolating Li Luoyuan from sight.
When Fu Xiaoguan looked forward, he saw a towering snow-capped peak covered in clouds and mist, like a jade pillar supporting the sky.
Its momentum is magnificent, its top reaches into the clouds,
Just in front of the ceremonial procession, at the foot of the mountain, is a vast valley with a glacier spreading across it like a jade belt, and bare, hideous rocks on both sides.
The ceremonial procession stopped in this valley. Fu Xiaoguan jumped off the dragon chariot impatiently and looked around again. He suddenly found that this place was completely surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
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