Lightning struck frequently, with overwhelming force and deafening deafening force, creating the illusion that it would not give up until it achieved its goal.
The loud bangs startled not only the monks nearby, but also the imperial guards and ministers standing by, who all retreated in surprise. The common people watching below instinctively covered their ears, staring at the unexpected scene with astonishment.
Ning Yuan, the young man protected by Xiao Wu within the barrier, frowned slightly as he stared intently at the scene before him.
Bang--
After a series of lightning strikes, a crack appeared in the cauldron in front of them.
The final lightning bolt flashed white light and struck the cauldron, causing it to shatter into pieces, like a broken vase.
The fragments rolled down the steps, some flying towards the ministers due to the impact, startling them so much that they screamed and turned pale.
As the last bolt of lightning disappeared, the surroundings gradually returned to calm.
The originally gloomy sky suddenly cleared, and a ray of sunlight shone down from the clouds.
It was as if they had just imagined what had happened.
But the shattered cauldron before them proved to them that what they had just witnessed was not an illusion.
"Divine retribution... Divine retribution, it must be divine retribution!"
"The late emperors and Heaven do not recognize Emperor Yuan! It must be so, it must be so!"
A commoner shouted loudly from the crowd.
He went completely mad, laughing loudly as he exclaimed, "Divine retribution! It's divine retribution!"
"The country is about to suffer a great calamity, the country is doomed."
"Emperor Yuan committed too many sins. The previous emperors did not acknowledge him, and even Heaven did not accept him, so it sent down divine retribution as a warning."
"Haha, hahaha, leaving the country is doomed."
The people stumbled and staggered through the crowd, repeating the words that they were leaving the country and would perish.
Upon hearing this, the other common people looked at Emperor Yuan above with a mixture of fear and suspicion.
The lightning strike just now was terrifying.
Not only were their ears almost deafened, but their hearts almost jumped out of their chests.
"I think it must be divine retribution! Otherwise, why would the lightning strike at the exact moment Emperor Yuan was about to offer incense?"
Another commoner spoke up, pointing fearfully at the young man Ning Yuan on the stage and shouting loudly.
"Emperor Yuan has committed countless sins; Heaven and the previous emperors are blaming him!" the commoner exclaimed excitedly, pointing at Emperor Yuan on the platform and listing his crimes.
If only one person speaks, the people will only waver.
But so many people say, maybe...
This is truly divine retribution!
If it was just an accident, why did the clouds and mist dissipate and the sun suddenly appear after the cauldron broke?
The ministers looked at Emperor Yuan in surprise, but dared not utter a word, even their breathing was cautious.
after all--
Emperor Yuan's expression was very unpleasant at this moment.
It was even more unsightly than when he lashed out at them in court.
"Men, seize them and kill them!" Young Ning Yuan coldly stared at the few civilians below who had spoken, and said in a cold voice.
The moment he opened his mouth, it felt as if the surroundings had stepped into the dead of winter, making people shiver.
“Your Majesty…May Buddha have mercy. This is during a sacrificial ceremony. Is this perhaps…” the abbot said, looking at the few civilians captured by the guards with a sympathetic expression.
This was during a sacrificial ceremony, and with the incident of the lightning striking the cauldron, the situation was already very unfavorable for Emperor Yuan. If they were killed in public, the rumors would likely spread even more wildly tomorrow.
Letting them go now is the wisest thing to do.
"They say this mysterious lightning strike is divine retribution, and that the heavens and the late emperors disapprove of my behavior."
"But Heaven is in the heavens, and the late emperors are no longer alive. If I kill them, I will be helping them, letting them ask Heaven and the late emperors themselves if they disapprove of me."
"If they find out the answer, they can tell me in a dream."
"At that time, I will believe that what they say is true, and I will personally apologize to the late emperors and to Heaven."
The young Ning Yuan looked coldly at the host beside him and said in a cold voice.
“The abbot is highly respected, and everyone believes what he says. Why don’t we… the abbot go with them to ask him?” Young Ning Yuan suddenly changed the subject.
Upon hearing this, the host trembled, took a step back, and dared not speak further.
It's not worth risking your life to plead for them.
He tried to persuade Emperor Yuan with kind words, but the emperor wouldn't listen, and whatever happened afterward was none of his concern.
However, why didn't the imperial advisor, who was standing to the side, offer some advice?
If she were to offer advice, Emperor Yuan would likely listen to some of it.
Hmph, how can such a wicked woman who aids and abets evil be the national advisor? He'd be a better candidate.
Her advantage lay in being a disciple of Xingchen Mountain.
Otherwise, she would never have been chosen as the Imperial Advisor.
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