Chapter 146: Sacrificing Heaven and Rewarding God
Immediately, a maidservant from Princess Yanya's side stepped forward and bowed: "Madam, please let Your Majesty go first. Madam wishes to share the joy with the people and has prepared gold foil to distribute personally."
King Yu hurriedly said, "Oh? My lady seems to be in such high spirits today, and it's her birthday, so perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old woman interrupted him: "Your Majesty, the lady means that the completion of Qifeng Terrace today is to pay homage to Heaven and God and to bring blessings to the people, so there is no need to mention birthdays."
"This..." King Yu was somewhat disappointed, but in the end he could only compromise. He turned to the Red Carp Guards behind him and instructed them, "There are many people mixed together. You must protect the lady's safety."
"Yes," the guard wearing a mask with a red carp pattern replied.
Then, King Yu stepped into Qiyuan Tower.
Taking the opportunity, Mu Xi quickly turned back and instructed Mu Xun: "We don't know if those people are really commoners, but no matter what, we must quickly send someone to invite an opera troupe and prepare a continuous feast..."
"Yes, I know. I've already sent Jiang Meng to handle it." Mu Xun said in a low voice, then gestured towards Princess Yan Ya's carriage behind them, "The princess wants to share the joy with the people and distribute gold leaf, which can be considered a help to us."
Mu Xi had not yet spotted Princess Yan Ya, and could only nod, staring at the magnificent carriage in the distance: "Yes, I know. I will thank her in person when I have the chance."
After making the arrangements, Mu Xi hurriedly followed in Yu Wang's footsteps.
Qiyuan Tower is where Mu Xi truly spent real money.
The ceiling of the first-floor hall is deep and wide, supported by dozens of gilded and painted beams that intersect to form a nine-square grid. At the center of each grid is a huge seashell-shaped "mirror" that reflects the scene below, making the hall seem even more infinitely deep.
The second floor is furnished with several low lacquered armchairs and couches, the couches covered with soft cushions made of Shu brocade with an indigo background and embroidered with gold stars, where one can listen to the waves and enjoy tea.
The third floor offers the most expansive views and banquet experience. At each of the four corners stands a towering bronze-gilded, intertwined tree of lanterns, its branches and vines winding and supporting dozens of braziers filled with oil, so that during nighttime banquets, the area is brightly lit, as if it were daytime.
The top floor is supported by four thick golden pillars, giving it a massive double-eaved roof. In the center of the platform is a fixed, enormous bronze table with a surface as smooth as a mirror. When you climb to this floor at night, in the silence of the room, you feel as if the stars are within reach, the bright moon seems to hang from the eaves, and the magnificent river view below is like being in the Milky Way.
The banquet at the Yu King's Palace was held on the third floor. After the banquet, a sacrifice to Heaven was performed. After the sacrifice, one could return to the fourth floor to enjoy the mountain and river views at night, a truly beautiful place.
The palace banquet was unremarkable, mainly because Princess Yanya avoided it, insisting on waiting for the sacrificial ceremony to begin, and King Yu also lost interest.
Fortunately, Mu Xi, as the heir of the Jin family and the chief architect of the Qifeng Terrace, received public praise.
Mu Xi never forgot Yan Shu, her "best assistant," and gave Yan Shu a chance to shine.
In addition, Qi Yingyu, who fully funded Qiyuanlou, was also invited to attend.
The officials were astonished that an unknown female merchant had the audacity to invest hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to build this building.
Unfortunately, for some reason, Qi Zhuying was unable to attend. Qi Yingyu was deeply disappointed that she could not make his acquaintance in person, but the huge bronze platform with a four-story roof, presented by the Qi family of Xiangnan as a gift to celebrate, was given by their second son, Qi Zhenyang.
Mu Xi was also very satisfied with this situation, as everything seemed to be progressing in an orderly manner.
She could never remain calm when facing Gao Quan.
When they meet Marquis Shen Lun of Yong State again, they must act eagerly.
Taking the opportunity, Shen Lun gave another lecture, and also brought Shen Pingting along.
Mu Xi watched coldly. Since Queen Gao was unable to attend today due to "illness," many noble ladies and young women in Moyang City wisely refrained from coming.
Shen Pingting, however, did the opposite, but her intention was clear: to target the three princes who were accompanying King Yu.
The eldest prince, Mu Jun, born to Lady Li, is skilled in both literature and martial arts and is deeply loved by Prince Yu, making him a popular candidate for crown prince.
The second prince, Mu Le, was born to Consort Zhou. He was mediocre, but his mother was deeply favored by the King of Yu, and the power behind his mother's family was not to be underestimated.
The third prince, Muji, was born to Lady Wu. He was intelligent and quick-witted, but his mother was of low rank and had no powerful relatives to rely on. Therefore, he had long since turned to Queen Gao, who had no children. It can be said that he also had the support of the Gao family.
The three princes are close in age, and although they all have concubines, they are all extremely cautious about the position of principal wife.
In particular, the eldest prince, Mu Jun, known as "Prince Jun," was extremely cautious in choosing his future wife. Many noble ladies in the palace were eager to curry favor with him, hoping for the title of "future crown princess" or even the future queen's crown.
The guest said that among those noble ladies, few could match Shen Pingting in terms of looks and qualities.
Shen Pingting only needs to stand in front of people, graceful and aloof, to attract the attention of all men.
Throughout the banquet, Mu Xi didn't dare drink any alcohol but did watch quite a few dramas.
At three quarters past 7 PM, the auspicious time has arrived.
On Qifeng Terrace, the wind howled fiercely, yet the lights shone brightly, with thousands of pine torches forming a sea of lights below.
At the center of the altar, a huge bronze fire cauldron spews out crimson flames that are ten feet high. The cauldron's body moves menacingly in the firelight, and the scorching flames lick the air, creating waves of heat that distort the view.
King Yu, dressed in a solemn and dignified ceremonial robe, stood like a black anvil at the northeast corner of the altar.
To his left, in the southeast corner, stood the former Princess Yan Ya, now Lady Qi Feng, dressed in a simple silver-white robe with a flame between her brows.
In the northwest corner, opposite the northeast corner of King Yu, stands Xian Jin, a disciple of the Imperial Preceptor, dressed in a red robe with a red background and a gold-patterned mask, holding a sword in one hand and a staff in the other.
Finally, there's Mu Xi in the southwest corner, who has specially changed into a crimson robe with cinnabar and silver feathers today.
The four people stood, sat, or knelt at the four corners, each lost in thought.
Mu Xi secretly stared at Princess Yan Ya for a long time, feeling that her makeup today was very different from usual. The fiery red between her eyebrows did not seem to be painted on, but rather appeared naturally.
The officials were arranged in order on the steps below.
Then, thousands of people also knelt down and worshipped devoutly.
At the fourth quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), the Imperial Preceptor Xian Ling, wearing a dark blue sacrificial robe and a white mask with gold patterns, ascended the altar barefoot to perform rituals.
Xian Ling wrapped his arms with blue silk ribbons, his movements were deep and powerful, each step he took seemed to tread on invisible ravines, causing his clothes to flutter like clouds.
First, he took the black staff from Xianjin's hand, which transformed into a dragon shadow and circled in the night sky. The copper bell hanging at the end of the staff made a soft sound, as if communicating with the consciousness above the ethereal heavens.
The firelight danced across her ancient dance steps and the runes flowing around her, emanating a solemn aura that was otherworldly and soul-stirring.
Surrounded by wind and fire, the swirling black sacrificial robes shimmered with golden light, like wild flowers.
Following the direction of the deputy priest Xianjin, the drumbeats from all four directions gradually quickened.
Xian Ling's dance moves followed suit, as swift and fierce as a storm, her body twisting and turning to its limit, blurring the line between man and fire...
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