Southern suburbs, Circular Mound Altar.
Use it once a year, or sometimes not at all.
But it is still an extremely important place, and preparations are now complete.
Not far from the Circular Mound Altar is the Ximing Camp, where General Li Chong commands 100,000 troops and is on high alert!
At first glance, it seems there are more than 100,000 people, but the Circular Mound Altar is not only occupied by the Ximing Camp at this time; General Gao Ji is also there!
With the momentum of a great victory, Gao Ji was already very sharp, even though Huan Ting had not yet been pacified!
He Zhong, the former general of the Ximing Camp, has been replaced.
But military power is not always determined by the tiger tally. As long as He Zhong stands there, you don't know how many people will listen to him.
He Chong has no soldiers or armor, so he cannot reveal them unless there is an open rebellion.
He stood on the mountaintop, looking down at the Circular Mound Altar, his face extremely gloomy!
Although He Deng was not as good as He Yuzhi, they were all killed one by one, and the He family was driven to the brink of despair!
This mountaintop isn't a place to stand randomly. He Chong glanced at it and walked away. Did they think soldiers or the mountaintop could stop him?
The Emperor's arrival at the Altar of Heaven caused quite a stir!
Huan Yue is probably the only woman, so she's being quite well-behaved and not causing any trouble.
The central part of the Circular Mound Altar is a large circular platform with four layers.
There were steps on all eight sides, with the emperor standing at the very top, and the chief officiant at the top. The rest of the people were arranged from top to bottom.
This place is so big that it can hold even more people than the Winter Solstice Grand Assembly.
However, there were more flags and more soldiers around, and there were also some rituals for worshipping the heavens.
Around the Circular Mound Altar were rows of tents.
The saint's tent was the most conspicuous. He rested there and would go up when the time came.
The Crown Prince's tent is now next to the Crown Princess's, which is not allowed in principle, but it is for the Crown Princess's sake.
Xie Zhou had been emperor for over a decade, performed the Heaven-worshiping ceremony multiple times, and was quite the veteran. He left his own tent and crawled into his wife's tent.
The ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs greeted His Highness, while the Empress remained calm as she enjoyed her meal.
Xie Zhou looked at his wife, thinking how imposing she was!
Even if there are rules, she can do whatever she wants. Honestly, it's not about sacrificing to the heavens.
Huan Yue is really honest; she eats for energy. The aroma didn't waft out.
Xie Zhou sat down next to his wife and also had a beef patty.
The tent was large, with two smaller compartments inside. In the middle was a thick tatami mat and a brazier, so it was warm.
The palace maid muttered to herself as she worked.
Xie Zhou listened for a while before he could understand what she was saying, which ranged from cursing the He family to their ancestors for eighteen generations.
Xie Zhou didn't reprimand her. It was said that the He family's ancestors had rendered meritorious service, but the young palace maid was allowed to read it.
Huan Yue scolded, "Don't talk nonsense, there are people everywhere."
There are too many people outside! And it's windy.
The little palace maid's voice was gone, but her lips were still moving.
Huiqing thought she might really become a spirit.
Xie Zhou reassured his wife, "Don't be nervous."
Huan Yue glanced at him. What was there for her to be nervous about? The He family hadn't stolen her empire.
Xie Zhou saw that her eyes were bright, so he was relieved that she wasn't nervous. He knew that future battles against the Wunu Kingdom would be far more dangerous.
The He family thinks he was forced into this? Let's not even mention how shameless they are.
Why is the He family getting involved with Shi Tong?
The eunuch came over and whispered, "Someone pleaded with the Emperor for mercy, and the Emperor wants to execute him."
Xie Zhou and his wife exchanged a glance, too lazy to plead for them. Did they even know what they were busy with right now? What was a mere Shi Tong compared to that?
Huan Yue didn't think the emperor was a scoundrel; it was just that the man surnamed Shi was courting death.
Xie Zhou thought of Pei Huanzhao again. To favor a woman and thus employ incompetent people is truly digging one's own grave. It will not only harm oneself but also one's descendants.
Prince Huayuan suddenly arrived.
Xie Zhou didn't see clearly, but he saw Xie Su being knocked over by his wife. He could forget about participating in the sacrificial ceremony today.
Of course, Xie Su ran to the Crown Princess's tent, and even if he was beaten, he had nowhere to complain.
Xie Zhou came out and saw a few others who wanted to go in, but hesitated.
Fu Ji greeted the Crown Prince. His ceremonial robes looked similar to those of the heir apparent, but his appearance was considerably less striking.
An official came to invite His Highness.
Xie Zhou left cleanly and decisively. He didn't protect his wife; whoever went in, his wife would take them down.
Fu Ji hesitated, realizing it was really inappropriate to go in. And here comes a woman! Really!
When offering sacrifices to Heaven, it's not appropriate for other families to invite their elderly grandmothers or young girls.
Several people outside were discussing: "It was very inappropriate to order Shi Tong to commit suicide today."
A young and impulsive man shouted, "What did Shi Tong do wrong?"
Huan Yue came out and kicked him to death.
Fu Ji was so frightened that he trembled.
Huan Yue was also a little confused. Had her strength increased again? Or was it because she was carrying the Dragon and Phoenix Iron Mace?
Several men were staring at her! And the more they stared, the weaker she felt.
The Crown Princess's attire was somewhat feminine and resembled that of a man, especially her bright eyes!
The little palace maid stood beside the empress. Actually, the empress was quite beautiful, but of course, the sacrificial ceremony had to be solemn!
Why keep him around gossiping?
Huiqing didn't originally have a crown and robes, but we went with black because black is also cool and sexy.
There were people watching her, but the sacrificial ceremony was about to begin, and she dared not delay.
It will take quite a while for so many people to stand in the round altar.
Fortunately, the weather is fine today, with not a cloud in the sky!
The sun is shining, so it's not cold.
A large fire was lit above the altar for the Heaven-worshiping ceremony. (Smoke rises from the wood-burning stove)
(In the Tang Dynasty, in addition to the winter solstice sacrifice to Heaven, the prayer for a good harvest on the first Xin day of the first lunar month and the rain-making ceremony in early summer were both held at the Circular Mound Altar.)
The first offering of the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was performed by the emperor. When the emperor was lazy, he could let someone else do it, since rules are made by people.
The second-in-command was a high-ranking official. (When the emperor was about to personally offer sacrifices at the southern suburbs, the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy, Zhu Qinming, said, "The Empress should also assist in the sacrifice." The emperor accepted his suggestion, and she became the second-in-command. Qinming also wanted to invite Princess Anle to be the final officiant, but was forced to stop due to public opinion.)
(People do things! But Empress Wu Zetian had done it before. "The old rituals of Fengshan, the sacrifice to the imperial land, the Empress Dowager's consort, and the order for the dukes and ministers to perform, are not entirely proper. On the appointed day, I request to lead the ladies of the court and the inner court to offer sacrifices." It sounds like it makes some sense.)
Huan Yue is now the Crown Princess, so she's too lazy to cause trouble.
She was just making up the numbers; as for the future, well, that'll be another day.
It's definitely easier to just make up the numbers.
Xie Zhou had no intention of offering a second or final sacrifice; there were many people who wanted to do it.
The King of Song also served for many years.
So even if he doesn't manage things much, every little bit he accumulates is a form of prestige.
Today, standing atop the round altar, I look around.
Although this is not high enough to see the entire Zhao Kingdom, half of the Zhao Kingdom is here!
People's hearts are restless.
Some of the military generals were so stupid they were about to charge out.
The King of Song stood to one side, speechless.
King Shen stood beside his grandfather, determined to protect him at all costs. The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven could not be delayed, and King Song's grandfather could not be harmed.
Duke Zheng stood there, though old, but not frightened!
The mighty power of Heaven!
Standing here also means standing on the emperor's rightful side!
The Han family cannot possibly side with another team.
The King of Wu looked quite well.
Although Xie Su can't come, it's not a big deal.
This is just a job, and he doesn't get to be the chief priest, so it's quite boring and frustrating.
But the King of Wu was holding back; today he would see what the He family could do.
The He family's ambition to become emperor is still a long way off; who will be their candidate then?
He Shouyi has arrived!
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