novelAbuy Chapter 256 Offering Sacrifices to Heaven and Ascending to the Throne
Chapter 256 Offering Sacrifices to Heaven and Ascending to the Throne
On the fourth day of the third month of the first year of Qiming, at the third quarter of the Yin hour.
As night fell, the newly built Circular Mound Altar in the southern suburbs of Chang'an was already bustling with people and brightly lit. The nine-tiered white marble altar, illuminated by countless torches and specially crafted giant palace lanterns, shone brilliantly, like a celestial palace fallen from the heavens, radiating a solemn and sacred light in the pre-dawn darkness. Beneath the altar, according to the Zhou Dynasty rites, sacrificial offerings such as the Grand Sacrifice, the Five Grains, jade and silk, and fine wine were displayed. Further out, the Imperial Guards and ceremonial processions stood in strict formation, their armor gleaming, banners fluttering, and weapons gleaming coldly, stretching to the horizon.
At the precise hour of Yin (3-5 AM), from the direction of the Imperial City, bells and drums resounded, their echoes carrying for dozens of miles. Amidst the solemn and resonant ceremonial music, the Emperor's imperial entourage slowly emerged from Chengtian Gate. Leading the procession were five-colored banners, golden maces and axes, and parasols and pennants; followed by officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, carrying various ceremonial implements and dressed in specially made ceremonial robes, along with a ceremonial music troupe; then came the carriages and retinues of civil and military officials, arranged in rank, in a grand and imposing procession; at the heart of the procession was a jade palanquin carried by thirty-six strongmen, adorned with gold and jade, its canopy majestic, surrounded by golden-armored guards and palace maids holding fans. Behind the jade palanquin came the phoenix palanquin of Empress Murong Mingyue, and the phoenix palanquins of the Noble Consort, the Virtuous Consort, and the Wise Consort.
The entire procession proceeded solemnly and slowly along the imperial road, which had been thoroughly cleaned and paved with yellow earth, heading towards the Circular Mound Altar in the southern suburbs. Along the way, although the people of Chang'an were kept at a distance by the imperial guards, they could still see the magnificent and solemn ceremonial procession stretching for miles, hear the grand ceremonial music, and feel the overwhelming, awe-inspiring imperial majesty and divine mandate. Countless people knelt on both sides of the road, devoutly bowing towards the imperial procession, murmuring prayers.
Chen Xing sat upright in the jade carriage, dressed in a black robe and crimson skirt with twelve embroidered symbols, a twelve-tasseled flat crown on his head, and a long sword at his waist. His face was calm and serene. The twelve embroidered symbols on the robe—the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, and pheasants—shone faintly under the reflection of the pearls inside the carriage, symbolizing the supreme power and responsibility he was about to possess to rule over heaven and earth. He could feel the steady and firm rhythm of the carriage's movement, hear the ceremonial music and the faint cheers of the people outside, and feel the steady and powerful beating of his heart within his chest.
Ten years of war, countless lives lost, and finally, this is the moment. From this day forward, Chen Xing will no longer be the Star Lord, no longer the King of the North, but the Enlightened Emperor, ordained by Heaven!
The procession arrived at the Altar of Heaven. Chen Xing, guided by the master of ceremonies, slowly stepped down from the jade carriage. Murong Mingyue, Su Xiaoxiao, Lin Wan'er, Lan Fenghuang, and other women of the harem, guided by female officials, waited quietly in a designated area to watch the ceremony.
As the Grand Secretary, Jia Wen, along with all the civil and military officials, had already stood solemnly in order beneath the altar. When Chen Xing appeared, everyone bowed in unison and shouted, "Welcome, Your Majesty!"
Chen Xing nodded slightly, and to the strains of the master of ceremonies' chanting, he began his ascent up the white marble steps to the top of the Circular Mound Altar. His pace was slow but exceptionally steady, the hem of his dark imperial robes gently brushing against the pristine white steps with each step. With each level he ascended, his view broadened, and the world seemed to draw closer. The morning breeze rustled, causing the jade tassels on his crown to clink crisply, adding to the solemnity of the occasion.
As he finally stepped onto the ninth level and stood atop the Circular Mound Altar, the eastern sky tore through the last veil of night, bursting forth with boundless golden light! The rising sun cast its rays, bathing the entire Circular Mound Altar, the entire ceremonial procession, and even the distant city of Chang'an in a glorious and sacred golden-red hue!
"The auspicious time has arrived—!" The master of ceremonies' voice trembled slightly with excitement.
The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices stepped forward, unfurled the sacrificial proclamation written in gold ink, and read it aloud. The proclamation, written in elegant and profound parallel prose, traced the orthodox lineage of China, recounted the pain of the previous dynasty's moral failings and the chaos that plagued the land, praised Chen Xing's great achievements in rising from the northern plains, sweeping away the warlords, unifying the north and south, and obtaining the imperial seal, and finally, earnestly pleaded with the Heavenly Emperor to grant divine mandate, protect the new dynasty, and ensure its eternal prosperity.
After the proclamation was read, Chen Xing stepped forward, took the specially made jade cup from the master of ceremonies, and slowly poured the fine wine onto the kindling in the center of the altar. At the same time, the chief priest below the altar lit the mountain of firewood, and the flames shot into the sky, vying with the rising sun! The smoke, carrying the fragrance of the offerings and the sincerity of the prayers, rose straight into the clouds.
"Kneel—boss—" the master of ceremonies chanted again.
Chen Xing stood solemnly at the center of the altar, facing the heavens, straightened his clothes, and slowly knelt down in worship. Below the altar, from the empress and imperial concubines to civil and military officials, and then to all the soldiers, musicians, and ceremonial guards who participated in the ceremony, a dark mass of people knelt down.
The grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows has been completed.
Chen Xing rose, faced the masses below the altar, and received the Imperial Seal of the State, covered with bright yellow silk, from Jia Wen. He took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and spoke in a booming voice that resounded throughout the Circular Mound Altar:
"Heaven above, earth below! I, Chen Xing, have received the mandate of Heaven and rule over the four seas! Today, in the southern suburbs of Chang'an, I offer sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, and our ancestors, and hereby ascend the throne! The name of the dynasty is 'Xing' (Star), and the reign title is 'Qiming' (Enlightenment)! From this day forth, I will reform and innovate, and begin anew with the people! May Heaven bless my Xingqi (Enlightenment), bringing favorable weather, national prosperity, peace, and an everlasting dynasty!"
"Long live! Long live! Long live!"
A thunderous roar erupted from beneath the Circular Mound Altar, soaring straight into the heavens! This sound contained the excitement of civil and military officials, the fervor of soldiers, and the expectations of the people, converging into an unparalleled force that heralded the official opening of a new era!
At the same time, the long-absent system notification sound rang clearly in Chen Xing's mind:
Main quest "Conquering the Central Plains" completed!
[Detection indicates that the host has officially established a unified empire, ascended the throne as emperor, and named the nation "Star." This matches the hidden achievement "Founding Emperor"!]
[Reward: Imperial Seal (Imitation) *1. Effect: Luck +1 (slightly improves the overall fortune of the empire), slightly increases public morale (limited to areas that recognize the host's legitimacy). Special Note: This imitation can resonate with the genuine article under certain conditions, enhancing its effects.]
A faint yet real warmth seemed to flow into Chen Xing's body from nothingness, then quickly spread out, subtly echoing the real Imperial Seal of the State in his hand. He could feel that his connection with this land, with this seal, and even with some kind of "destiny" in the dark had become even closer.
He held the genuine imperial seal high, facing the rising sun and the people!
Almost the instant he raised the imperial seal, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred!
The replica jade seal, a system reward hidden in Chen Xing's bosom, suddenly became scorching hot! Meanwhile, the genuine jade seal in his hand emitted a deep, ancient-sounding hum! Within its bluish-white jade, a radiant glow seemed to flow! Then, above the Circular Mound Altar, the clouds that had been dyed red by the rising sun somehow coalesced into a strange purple aura, swirling and lingering for a long time!
"Auspicious purple clouds are coming from the east! Heaven is bestowing good fortune!" Below the altar, it was a sharp-eyed old minister who first exclaimed in surprise.
Immediately, the exclamations turned into even more fervent shouts and prostrations: "The Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed! Auspicious omens have appeared! Long live Your Majesty! May the stars shine for ten thousand years!"
Bathed in purple light, Chen Xing, holding two seals (one visible and one hidden), appeared incredibly tall, mysterious, and majestic, leaving a deep impression on everyone present. This impression would surely spread to every corner of the empire with what they witnessed today, becoming the most legendary chapter in the founding of Xingqi.
The ceremony to worship Heaven was completed, and Heaven's mandate was revealed.
On this day, Emperor Qiming Chen Xing officially ascended the throne, ushering in the era of the Xingqi Empire.