Chapter 377 The Ritual Begins
After many days, Bai Wutong finally stepped into the Yangxin Palace again.
In the hall, a strong smell of medicine filled the air, wafting into the nose and giving people a slight headache.
Beneath the medicinal fragrance, there is also a faint smell of blood.
Could it be that... Zhang Chengyan really encountered an accident this time?
Otherwise, why would this scene have to be made so realistic?
"Okay, Madam, please wait here for a while." Wang Decai's voice sounded at the right time, breaking Bai Wutong's thoughts, "The ritual will be held here later."
"Okay." Bai Wutong responded, and his eyes quickly noticed a chair that had been prepared in the empty hall.
As soon as she sat down, she clasped her hands together and muttered something, as if she was praying devoutly for Zhang Chengyan.
Of course, all this is just for show.
About an incense stick of time later, officials from the Imperial Observatory and several masters who claimed to have magical powers came in one after another.
Behind them were a group of palace servants, holding in their hands a variety of strangely shaped magical instruments, which were dazzling to the eyes.
"Your Majesty, please sit here and do not walk around." A master dressed in Taoist robes and with an immortal look came forward with a respectful look. Seeing Bai Wutong nodded in agreement, the master turned around and directed everyone to quickly start setting up the scene for the ritual.
This side hall had obviously been carefully cleaned and now looked empty, with almost no unnecessary furnishings.
The masters and palace servants worked swiftly and quickly built an altar.
Around the altar, seven candles symbolizing the seven stars were placed in order.
Then, the palace servants took out white cloth and covered the doors and windows of the palace tightly, trying to make it airtight.
Everything was ready. Wang Decai, holding a bright red silk thread, walked quickly to Bai Wutong and bowed slightly. "Empress Zhao, please wrap this red thread around your wrist."
Bai Wutong subconsciously glanced towards the inner room, "Your Majesty, doesn't need to come over?"
"Your Majesty, you don't know that the Emperor is seriously injured now. Any movement may cause an accident and endanger his body. Therefore, he can only use this red thread to establish contact with your Majesty."
"Okay, I understand." Bai Wutong took the red thread without any hesitation and skillfully wrapped it around her slender wrist.
Immediately afterwards, a group of palace servants filed in, holding various offerings in their hands.
For a moment, the originally empty palace was filled with all kinds of fresh fruits, cakes, and various items used for rituals.
After this arrangement, it really seems to be the case.
Bai Wutong glanced at the silk thread wrapped around his wrist.
The red line is bright in color, winding along the ground and leading to the deepest palace.
I guess the other end of the silk thread is tied to Zhang Chengyan's wrist at this moment.
Everything was ready. Several masters dressed in Taoist robes and with immortal looks, together with officials from the Imperial Observatory, came forward and carefully inspected the scene to ensure that everything was in order.
Then, they came before Bai Wutong respectfully.
"Your Highness, the next step is the key to this ritual. When we light the seven candles that symbolize the seven stars, the candles must not be extinguished in the next day and night. At the same time, Your Highness, you must stay here and not leave for a moment. You must also ensure that the red line connecting you and the emperor is always intact. Only in this way can we successfully extend the life of the emperor. If Your Highness feels unwell during this period, it is normal. It is very likely that your life span is quietly being transferred to the emperor."
Bai Wutong looked calm, "Okay, I understand. There is no time to lose, you should start right away. I only hope that the emperor can wake up soon, and I can feel at ease soon."
Seeing that she showed no fear and her eyes were full of anticipation, several masters couldn't help but admire her deep affection.
"The deep affection that Concubine Zhao has for the Emperor is evident to all, and truly moving."
After saying this, they turned and walked towards the altar, and began to chant and dance.
First, he performed a mysterious dance with smooth and dazzling movements, and then he recited some obscure spells.
After some operations, they held torches and carefully lit the seven candles one by one.
"My lady, the long night ahead will depend entirely on you."
After the masters finished speaking, they left with a group of people and soon disappeared without a trace.
According to the rules, Bai Wutong could only sit quietly in the chair and wait patiently.
Strangely enough, not long after, she felt a wave of fatigue coming over her. Her body seemed to have lost its strength. She became drowsy and her eyelids became heavier. She just wanted to have a good sleep.
Could it be that this so-called method of borrowing life really works?
Perhaps there really were some powerful people with extraordinary abilities in ancient times, but times have changed. How could such magical powers still exist in this world today?
Otherwise, why did most emperors in history die young, passing away in their thirties or forties, and find it difficult to live to be a hundred years old!
Time passes quietly, and every minute and every second seems extremely long.
Outside the palace, the concubines' legs were already sore, and some were even exhausted and on the verge of collapse.
However, Wang Decai stood in front, staring at them closely. He dared not slack off at all. He could only endure the discomfort of his body and continue to struggle forward.
Seeing this, Wang Decai coughed lightly and ordered loudly, "Come here, bring some water to the ladies. Ladies, please hold on a little longer. The safety of the emperor depends on this, and there can be no mistakes. Concubine Zhao is in there right now, risking her life to prolong the emperor's life. How can we not do our best outside?"
When it was mentioned that Bai Wutong sacrificed her life to save the emperor's, the concubines outside instantly fell silent, and no one dared to say another word.
People are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the emperor. If they can't even kneel outside for a while, they will probably be the first to be dealt with when the emperor wakes up!
Unconsciously, the sun gradually set and the sky was dyed a brilliant red.
The concubines were still kneeling in front of the door in an orderly manner, and no one made a sound.
Bai Wutong was inside the hall, also sitting quietly on a chair, his eyes fixed on the seven flickering candles.
This ritual will last for a whole day and night. Doesn't that mean I have to sit here for a whole day and night?
Never mind. It’s not too tiring anyway. It’s better than those concubines outside kneeling and suffering.
That night, Bai Wutong forced himself to stay awake, despite his tired body.
She kept reciting Buddhist scriptures silently, and at the same time, her eyes never left the seven candles.
As soon as any candle flame showed signs of being weak and about to go out, she would immediately lean forward and blow gently twice to make the flame burn brightly again.
In this way, she persisted the whole night.
It was not until the next morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone into the palace, that Bai Wutong felt a sharp pain in his head. His vision went dark, and he could no longer hold on and collapsed into a chair.
Wang Decai had been paying attention to the movements in the palace. Seeing this, he immediately ran in with a group of palace servants, "Quick, quickly carry Concubine Zhao down!"
"Take good care of Consort Zhao and let her rest in peace in the palace. As for the other consorts outside, let them go back first."
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