Chapter 494: I'm going up now

"Seventh Prince!" everyone exclaimed.

Xiao Ningyuan staggered back several steps from that punch, covering his face, unable to speak for a moment.

Xiao Ze was furious, raising his fist to strike again, but Lu Qi firmly grabbed him: "Seventh Prince! It's not the eldest son's fault; the young lady herself wanted to do this! The eldest son couldn't stop her!"

Chu Yuan sighed: "Seventh Prince, this really isn't the eldest son's fault."

"It's too late; Chief Eunuch Cheng and the Twelfth Prince should already have arrived at Fragrant Blossom Pavilion by now."

"Hurry up and set out; we'll discuss the details on the way."

Xiao Ningyuan hid behind Lu Qi, far from Xiao Ze: "Right, hurry up and go, Tuan, everyone's waiting."

Lu Qi sighed, released Xiao Ze, several people changed clothes, made slight disguises, taking the two remaining guards, and rushed toward Fragrant Blossom Pavilion.

Chu Yuan gazed at the storeroom, which had been full of people these past days but now stood empty, feeling a sense of loss: "Tuan Tuan, they've all left; you must stay safe."

In the grand tent, Noble Consort De ordered: "All of you, withdraw; His Majesty is weary."

"Yes."

Seeing the tent empty, Noble Consort De embraced Tuan Tuan and sat down, unfurled the scroll, and softly recited to her: "Qi originated from chaos, the vast heavens loom. I, day and night, hold reverence..."

"Noble Consort De," Tuan Tuan said, bewildered: "I don't understand!"

"It's fine if you don't understand; just memorize it. Come, I'll teach you line by line."

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "I can't memorize it."

"Ugh." Noble Consort De was utterly helpless: "How can this be? This prayer text must be recited by you personally; if you go up on the platform, won't it be exposed right away?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes shifted: "Then why not just not go up on the platform?"

"Not ascend the platform? How can the Heavenly Sacrifice be performed without mounting the altar?"

From outside the door came the eunuch's report: "Please invite His Majesty to proceed! Welcome the divine emperor!"

Tuan Tuan frowned: "What now?"

Noble Consort De whispered: "Just watch them burn some offerings to welcome the gods; afterward comes ascending the altar for the Heavenly Sacrifice."

"But this prayer text..."

The eunuch's voice from outside the tent sounded again: "Please invite His Majesty to proceed!"

Tuan Tuan stood up: "Don't worry! There will be a way; let's go out."

Noble Consort De felt anxious, but had no alternative, so she nodded: "Tuan Tuan, you must be careful; if you get a chance, go on your own, don't worry about me."

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "You promised you'd see the Twelfth Prince soon; why should I go alone?"

"If we return together to Xibei, wouldn't the Twelfth Prince be able to reunite with his Imperial Uncle and you?"

Noble Consort De felt a sour ache, tears glimmering: "All right, let's return together to Xibei."

This set of ceremonial robes was even heavier; Tuan Tuan stepped out of the grand tent, feeling awkward.

Eunuch Gao, already changed into clean clothes, waited outside the tent: "Your Majesty, please."

Tuan Tuan followed him to the base of the altar; the sacrificial pyre was already stacked with firewood and offerings.

The ritual official sang loudly: "Welcome the divine emperor——"

The firewood was lit, flames rose, thick smoke billowed upward; officials below the altar bowed their heads, while the yellow canopy above stood silent.

Seeing the flame rise straight like a pillar, riding the wind and lingering, the ritual official cried: "Smoke reaches the heavenly gate—— ascend the platform!"

Tuan Tuan strained to lift her little head to gaze at the lofty altar: "How many steps there are!"

Seeing her delay, the ritual official hurriedly sang again: "Please invite His Majesty to ascend the platform!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her leg; before her foot even touched down, the ritual official already waved the banner.

"Clang——"

A hammer fell, its sound heavy and lingering, spreading across the entire Circular Mound Altar.

Tuan Tuan jumped in fright, turning her head toward the musicians playing the ritual music nearby.

"Huh, it's him!"

On the east side below the platform, hung bells and arranged stone chimes; several musicians knelt seated like clay statues.

The leader, dressed in a crimson robe ritual attire, with a gaunt visage, a jade belt tied at his waist, appearing ethereal, held a mallet, standing before a row of bronze bells.

This was the Master of Music from the Hall of Pure Sounds, Zhong Ziya.

Everyone lowered their heads to look at their instruments; only he gazed at the Son of Heaven, awaiting her footsteps to fall, so as to merge the bell sounds with her steps.

Tuan Tuan glanced back at the civil and military officials kneeling with bowed heads on the ground, swiftly lifted the crown pendants before her face, and blinked her big eyes to meet Zhong Ziya's gaze.

Zhong Ziya startled.

Tuan Tuan gestured the shape of a moon lute, then made a motion of plucking its strings.

"A moon lute? That posture of five fingers like claws wildly strumming..."

Zhong Ziya suddenly realized, "Little Princess? When did you become the Son of Heaven?"

Tuan Tuan lowered the crown pendants and stepped onto the platform one step at a time.

Zhong Ziya's left-hand mallet fell, perfectly coinciding with her steps, while his right-hand mallet lingered, not yet falling.

After a moment, "Clang——"

His right hand slowly descended, like a lone crane breaking through clouds, a clear, flowing tone emerged.

Immediately afterward, he turned his wrist, the melody winding like ice cracking on a stream, spring branches sprouting buds.

The musicians were all startled: "Master, what's happened to you?"

"The left hand plays the 'Shao Music' proper for the Heavenly Sacrifice rite; what is the right hand playing? I've never heard it before."

"But Zhong Ziya is the world-renowned Master of Music; having played it, who would dare to stop him?"

Tuan Tuan's steps did not cease, yet the corner of her mouth quietly rose.

Zhong Ziya gazed at that tiny figure, step by step climbing to the altar's summit, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

Little Princess, I may not know what you're doing, but since today you are performing the Heavenly Sacrifice in place of the Son of Heaven, I will give you a great gift.

In the next moment, a large gray magpie flew out from the pine forest east of the Circular Mound Altar and landed on the highest point of the bell frame.

The musicians widened their eyes, the ritual officials' throats moved, yet none dared to speak.

Immediately after, two orioles chirped and landed not far from the magpie.

Afterwards, sparrows, bulbuls, doves… countless birds flew from nowhere, landing in droves on the marble railings around the Sacrificial Altar.

Each tilted its little head, sang loudly, and merged with the melody played by Master Ziya.

The officials all lifted their heads.

"Birds... they're birds!"

"A hundred birds paying homage! I've never seen anything like it!"

"His Majesty's Heavenly Sacrifice, and a hundred birds paying homage! This is a tremendous auspicious omen!"

Chen Wang and Qing Wang knelt before the officials, both raising their heads to look at the birds swarming all around.

They exchanged a glance, both filled with wild joy.

Since the twelfth prince ascended the throne, he has rarely attended court, causing complaints throughout the court and populace to boil over.

Today's Heavenly Sacrifice and prayer for blessings is their painstaking scheme to hoist the Emperor onto the Sacrificial Altar, just to silence the mouths of those purist civil officials.

And yet, at this moment, it actually lets everyone personally witness the marvelous sight of a hundred birds paying homage.

What could possibly be more convincing than this auspicious sign, making the whole world believe that the young emperor's ascension truly follows the Mandate of Heaven?

Both saw four words in each other's eyes: "Heaven helps me too!"

Chen Wang pondered briefly, then prostrated himself and shouted, "Long live His Majesty!"

Qing Wang instantly understood his intention, immediately kowtowed and shouted, "Long live His Majesty, long live, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

The officials followed suit, shouting "long live" as their cheers surged like waves over the Circular Mound Altar.

Noble Consort De gazed at the scene before her, bewildered and doubtful, wondering what was happening.

She lifted her head to look at Tuan Tuan, her heart nearly leaping into her throat.

Tuan Tuan was still shifting its little feet, climbing up step by step.

She peeked through the gaps in the Crown Pendants at the masses of black birds.

Uncle Zhong, how wonderful you are—you knew I like birds and summoned so many for me!

She raised her head, and after just a few more steps she would be ascending the Sacrificial Altar; on it stood a person, bowing to hold the yellow scroll inscribed with the prayer text.

Tuan Tuan frowned, "Wasn't I supposed to ascend the altar? I'll go up now!"

But that prayer text…

She rolled her eyes, feigning fear, trembling all over, her body swaying, her footing unsteady.

At the instant she stepped onto the Sacrificial Altar, she lunged forward and fell, landing squarely on the thick carpet.

She wasn't hurt at all by the fall.