Chapter 214 The Time Has Come 2
The day of the festival has arrived; this day should be an auspicious day in Japan when the yang energy is just beginning to rise and all things are waiting to flourish.
However, the city of Jinling, shrouded in the shadow of the epidemic, is now filled with an eerie atmosphere.
The grand sacrificial ceremony, a major national event, was held as scheduled in the south of the city.
Despite the ongoing pandemic and repeated orders from the government to reduce gatherings, the crowds today were still immense, a sea of people, a dark, endless tide.
The people, who had been suppressed for too long and whose minds were disturbed by the rumors about the tiger tally, poured out of their homes without regard for anything else.
They need to see it with their own eyes!
The Qing Kingdom places great importance on titles and status, especially the right to inherit the imperial power. This is not just a symbol, but a symbol of the foundation of the state and the will of the people!
The Imperial Guards were on high alert, their armor gleaming and their halberds like a forest. They formed several lines of defense around the altar, their wary eyes scanning the restless crowd to prevent any possible disturbance.
The air was as taut as a fully drawn bowstring.
finally!
The solemn music rose from the highest point of the altar, silencing the clamor of the crowd.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"
All eyes turned to the entrance of the altar.
Emperor Pei Yan, accompanied by his equally splendidly dressed empress, slowly ascended the sacred path paved with white marble.
He tried his best to straighten his back, maintaining the dignity of an emperor.
Desheng followed closely behind him.
Desheng held a sandalwood tray covered with bright yellow silk high in both hands. Beneath the silk, a solid and square outline could be vaguely seen.
That is the focus of everyone's attention today, the tiger tally that can determine the fate of the dynasty!
Desheng walked steadily with his head down, his inner clothes soaked with cold sweat, and he had only one thought in his mind: he must not make a mistake!
Behind Desheng were the imperial concubines, also dressed in their finest attire.
The one in the lead was none other than Consort Ru, who was enjoying the Emperor's favor—Xie Nu'er.
She was dressed in elaborate and gorgeous palace attire, her makeup was impeccable, and her gaze was fixed on the tray in Desheng's hands.
Civil and military officials stood solemnly on either side of the altar along the sacred path, according to their rank.
At the very front were the old ministers and nobles who had served three dynasties and were now white-haired.
They may have been ill and staying at home for a long time, but today, it concerns the very foundation of the nation and the legitimacy of the dynasty they are loyal to.
General Xie Zhenting, dressed in the official robes of a first-rank duke, stood tall and straight like a pine tree beside the old minister, which was enough to show his status.
Xie Zhenting knew nothing. Desheng looked at him with pity, wondering what kind of expression this general would have when the young lady appeared with the army.
Pei Yan's gaze swept over the group of old ministers, especially Xie Zhenting, and a strong sense of disgust welled up in his heart!
These old fogies are clearly here to laugh at him!
Let's wait and see how he embarrasses himself when he can't produce the tiger tally or produces a fake one!
What a pity...
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
This time, he won't fail!
Master craftsman Zhou Mo held the lives of his entire family in his hands. He worked tirelessly for seven days and seven nights, using all his knowledge and even incorporating several rare pieces of purple gold from the palace's secret collection, to finally create this tiger tally that was indistinguishable from the real thing!
Its shape and weight have been meticulously replicated.
Let alone looking at it from a distance, even if you let these old folks touch it, they might not be able to tell the difference between real and fake immediately!
"The time has come! Your Majesty, please ascend the altar!" The Master of Ceremonies' loud voice rang out.
Pei Yan took a deep breath and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, stepped onto the nine jade steps.
The Empress followed closely behind, with Desheng carrying the tray, step by step.
Xie Nu'er, along with all the concubines, civil and military officials, stood solemnly below, looking up in awe.
Pei Yan could clearly hear his own heart pounding like a drum.
The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was being carried out solemnly and respectfully.
Incense was burned, wine was offered, and the eulogy was read…
Pei Yan performed every step meticulously, demonstrating the piety and majesty befitting an emperor.
However, everyone's hearts were hanging over that bright yellow silk cloth.
Finally, the most crucial moment arrived—offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, requesting the Tiger Tally, and proclaiming that military power was divinely ordained!
"Please, the nation's most important instrument, the military mobilization tally—!"
Tens of thousands of eyes instantly focused on the tray in Desheng's hands!
Pei Yan calmly turned around:
"I, by the mandate of Heaven, have reigned for ten years! The villains have stirred up trouble, making unfounded accusations against the divine regalia and spreading heresy! Today, I offer this sacrifice to Heaven and Earth! With this tiger tally as proof, my legitimacy is divinely ordained! With military power in my hands, the nation is forever secure!"
"Desheng! Lift the curtain—!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Desheng held his breath, stretched out his hands, pinched the two corners of the bright yellow silk, and suddenly lifted it upwards!
The silk slipped!
A tiger-shaped military tally, purple with gold stripes, was prominently displayed before everyone's eyes!
It lies quietly on a sandalwood tray, its shape simple and majestic, its lines strong and smooth. The tiger is poised to pounce, lifelike, exuding a chilling aura of war and slaughter!
The purple-gold material shimmers under the light, as if it contains boundless power.
The audience fell into a deathly silence!
Immediately afterwards, a huge uproar erupted!
"The tiger tally! It's the tiger tally!"
"I saw it! It's true! His Majesty has the Tiger Tally!"
"I knew it! How could His Majesty be a fake! It's all just rumors!"
"May Heaven bless Daqing! Long live the Emperor!"
Many people cheered excitedly, and some even wept with joy.
The panic of the past few days seemed to be released at this moment.
Pei Yan's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and a feeling of surviving a disaster welled up in his heart.
He won! He bet!
Seeing the cheers of the people below the stage and the surprised and uncertain expressions of those old ministers, the arrogance that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time grew wildly like weeds!
He couldn't help but slightly raise his chin, his gaze carrying a hint of provocation and mockery as he swept over the white-haired old ministers in the first row below the altar!
It's as if it's saying: Look! You old fools! I have the Tiger Tally! I am the Mandate of Heaven! What can you do to me?!
Amid cheers, an elderly man with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, stepped forward shakily and bowed deeply towards the altar.
"Your Majesty! This old minister dares to be so bold! This national treasure is of paramount importance, concerning the very foundation of the state! Today, rumors are rampant, and the people's hearts are unsettled! Merely observing from afar will not be enough to convince the world! We, your old ministers, humbly request Your Majesty's permission to send a person of high moral character and prestige to examine the tiger tally closely! This will set the record straight and bring peace to the realm! In this way, the villains will naturally fall silent, and Your Majesty's authority will be forever secure!"
These words immediately sparked another round of discussion among the people below the altar.
Yes, it looks real from a distance, but who can guarantee it's not a fake?
Only by letting this old minister come closer to take a good look and touch it can we truly put people's minds at ease!
Pei Yan's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
really!
Those damned old fogies! They didn't believe him at all! They were just trying to corner him!
"Lord Zongzheng...you are overthinking it. The Tiger Tally is the most precious national treasure, how can it be desecrated? However, considering your loyalty to the country and the well-being of the realm, I grant your request!"
His gaze swept over the senior officials in the front row: "Minister Chen! You are a veteran of three reigns, highly respected and virtuous. You... come forward and examine me and all the people of the land!"
The person named was an elderly, hunched-over minister named Chen Sanyuan.
He shuddered violently, his eyes filled with complex emotions: humiliation, anger, struggle, and fear!
Pei Yan! You're so ruthless!
Chen Sanyuan was filled with grief and indignation.
How could he not know the emperor's intention in naming him?
Just last night, a group of fierce imperial guards suddenly broke into his house and kidnapped his son, daughter-in-law, grandson, granddaughter, and even his infant great-grandson!
He left behind only a chilling threat: "Lord Chen, you know in your heart what you should and shouldn't say tomorrow! His Majesty is benevolent and will surely ensure the safety of your entire family!"
If he didn't have a guilty conscience, and if the tiger tally wasn't fake, why would the emperor, a man of dignity, resort to such despicable means as kidnapping to coerce others?
When people get old, they ask for nothing more than the continuation and peace of their family.
Looking at the empty mansion, Chen Sanyuan felt that the last trace of loyalty he had for Pei Yan had been crushed by this shameless coercion!
But he had no other choice!
For the sake of his children and grandchildren's lives, he had no choice but to go against his conscience and help this traitor who stole the country cover up his lies!
Chen Sanyuan, leaning shakily on his cane, staggered up the jade steps, one step at a time.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall, fearing that Pei Yan would see them and use them to hurt her family.
On the altar, Pei Yan looked down at the figure struggling to ascend like a candle in the wind, a cold smile playing on his lips.
very good.
That old man is at least sensible.
If he says "truth" in public, he'll pass this test!
As for the old man and his family…
Keeping people who know his secrets around is always a source of trouble.
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