Chapter 217: Clear Sky Day Chapter 194: Don't Be Afraid

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Guo Shi stood outside the hall, behind him the tightly shut hall doors, before him the heavy night.

The night wind lifted a few fallen leaves; the motionless Guo Shi quietly watched the drifting leaves, not moving a muscle, gazing as if entranced.

Inside the tightly shut hall doors, who knew what great matter was being deliberated, and whether it could be adopted by the sovereign.

In the warm pavilion of a side hall, the kneeling Qingwu was also lost in thought, fingers of her stacked hands clenched tight, her mind occupied with her own small matters — when she would next rise for duty, how to steam the sacrificial cakes more fragrantly, how to wipe the ritual vessels more cleanly…

Separated by a single hall, great matters and small matters, all treated with utter seriousness, fine and dense.

In the end, it was the great matter that settled first; Qingwu was still woolgathering when a palace maid lifted the curtain and entered: "This witch, Lord Lingzhu sent this servant to summon you."

Qingwu hurriedly rose, returned the salute and thanked the palace maid.

The palace lanterns under the eaves swayed gently; just as Qingwu stepped out the side hall door, Guo Shi turned and stepped into the main hall.

Guo Shi wanted to glean the outcome of the deliberation from the Emperor's reaction, but the Emperor was absent-minded and silent, just like the night blended with moonlight — silent, blurred, light and dark uncertain.

Qingwu descended the stone steps, guided by the palace maid, and immediately spotted the girl's figure waiting by a cluster of plantains in the corridor.

But Shaowei was not alone.

Also present was Liu Qi, who had chased out to see her off on the pretext of confirming plan details.

Qingwu craned her neck to discern for a moment; though she could not hear their conversation at all, she couldn't help but lighten and slow her steps, advancing like an ant.

"…When will you leave the palace?" Shaowei was speaking softly to Liu Qi: "When the time comes I have words to say to you; also, I asked my master to examine your leg injury."

Liu Qi, his tall figure cast in the corridor shadows, paused a moment, then said seriously: "Shaowei, I also have words for you… After the Zoujin Sacrifice ends, I will come find you, and at that time formally pay respects to your honored master."

Shaowei nodded, asking with slight uncertainty: "The Zoujin Sacrifice… can this matter truly be accomplished?"

She had no experience with such matters, and did not know those people.

In the dimness, Liu Qi gave her a brilliant smile: "Things depend on human effort; what you want to do has always been accomplishable. You want to control the waters, and you will certainly succeed."

"Controlling the waters isn't what I want; it's what your grandfather wants."

"Yes, precisely." Liu Qi retreated a step, clasped hands in salute: "On behalf of my family's grandfather, I thank Lord Lingzhu for not shirking toil for his netherworld wish, cleaving waves and cutting through billows."

Shaowei's shoulders relaxed slightly; with the subtle movement, moonlight danced on her shoulders.

In contrast, Liu Qi's whole person stood in pitch-black shadow; Shaowei found it displeasing, and without warning leaned forward, grabbed one of his arms, and dragged him out of the darkness.

Her strength was so great, and Liu Qi unprepared; dragged by her, he stumbled, his body lunging into the moonlight, his gaze colliding with her pitch-black bright eyes, his spirit falling into her words:

"Liu Situi, don't be afraid. Today's matter or future matters alike — you and I, strength we contribute strength, strategy we contribute strategy; regardless of winning odds, we must go do it together."

The moonlight floated quietly; Shaowei was solemn and earnest.

That sentence "I certainly won't ignore you" is naturally the more crucial promise guarantee; it must wait until the environment is safe enough to tell him carefully.

As for why she still made such a pact now — perhaps because the nature that can't hide leftover cakes in a doghole compelled her, or perhaps seeing him immersed in darkness, she felt there ought to be this one sentence "don't be afraid."

Liu Qi did not react for a moment.

His breath stopped; the night wind also stopped; the moonlight seemed as scorching as the sun, in an instant baking the earth hot, suddenly like being in a blazing summer afternoon years ago, cicadas crying, bare feet stepping on scorching earth, vividly alive, feeling.

An autumn night with winter approaching, someone with one sentence twisted seasons and years, dragging him back to that past midsummer; and she surely didn't understand what earth-shaking words she had spoken, now staring at him asking: "…Why aren't you speaking? You heard, right?"

Liu Qi: "I heard."

At this moment, eyes washed by moonlight, gloom dispersed, calculations emptied; like a child answering another child's pact, earnest and pure, determined and unobstructed: "Good, we'll do it together. Whatever we must do, we will surely accomplish."

"Mm!" Shaowei nodded satisfied, strode out, waved to Qingwu.

Shaowei could hear the footsteps; she knew long ago that A Jie was approaching slowly.

Qingwu, whose feet had nearly brushed every inch of floor tile evenly, felt a great burden lifted; her feet regained freedom, and she hurried forward.

Liu Qi stood in place, watching Shaowei's back disappear behind the palace gate; only then did he withdraw his gaze, turn his head, lower his eyes to look at the folds of the robe sleeve on the arm Shaowei had grabbed.

The moon soul transforms all things, yet she commands the moon soul, compelling this moonlight to also surely favor him.

This act rebellious and domineering, as if declaring: even if Heaven abandons him, she will not permit it.

Liu Qi revealed a hint of a smile, gazing at the moonlight under his feet for a long time, then raised his head to look at the moon, but his mouth slowly exhaled a breath of tension.

How could he repay to be worthy of such favor? And how to atone, so she would not withdraw this favor?

The moon disc underwent its waxing and waning changes under the youth's gazing upward.

Cloud gauze brushed back and forth; after the moon phase reached utmost fullness, by late the eighth month, the Great Zoujin Sacrifice arrived as scheduled.

The Great Zoujin Sacrifice occurs every year, a system established by the Former Emperor; from the twenty-odd Vassal Kings down to nearly two hundred Ennobled Marquises, all must present gold to assist the sacrifice; even if unable to attend personally, they must send their heirs or envoys.

This year differs from previous years: the one leading the vassals in the sacrifice is not the Emperor, but the Crown Prince Cheng who acts as Regent.

Inside the shrine, dark-red banners and the sounds of drums and music fluttered.

Before the altar, Empress Rui and Crown Prince Cheng led the clan vassals and hundred officials kneeling in order. Sacrificial fires encircled above the altar; witches danced to the drumbeats, conducting the Welcoming the Gods ritual.

Liu Cheng knelt straight-backed at the very front; beneath his crown, his features showed some weariness.

Liang Guo's resistance was extremely fierce; and days ago news reached the Capital: in Nan Yue several tribes rebelled, this disorder showing signs of linking up.

Military matters became even more difficult and urgent; in open court he lavishly commended an Ennobled Marquis who volunteered to lead troops to quell the rebellion, hoping to elicit response from other kings and marquises, but the only answer was silence.

At this moment, Liu Cheng felt scrutinized by the vassal kings and marquises behind him; and those scrutinizing gazes inevitably mixed with contempt.

These people do not fear him, do not respect him, and may well harbor ambitions to carve him up when the opportunity arises; they merely wait and watch for now.

Not only them; his sixth brother also knelt at the rear side, merely five steps from him, unknown with what gaze he regarded him.

Recent setbacks everywhere bred a bewildered anger within his fear; beneath his ample ceremonial robes, his hands clenched into fists.

Today the sky was overcast and would not clear; sacrificial fire and incense smoke rose, enveloping the tall altar; before the sacrificial table lay pig, ox, sheep — the three sacrificial animals — half-hidden in the mist, faintly revealing the tusks belonging to livestock.

Liu Cheng suppressed his unease, as if seeking some power, looking up.

The drumbeats gradually grew intense and dense; the Grand Wu wearing a golden-eyed mask whirled and danced, her wide robes billowing, her figure flowing amid the daytime firelight and smoke, like a god or spirit riding clouds and mist; the aura around her rose with the mist, as if connecting with the shifting wind and clouds, communicating with this heaven and earth.

Under her dance, the drumbeats quickened, the wind and clouds changed color.

She was the Grand Wu whose prophecies never erred, the heavenly secrets known to all, the God's Messenger none dared lightly question.

Countless gazes followed; Rui Huanghou watched, entranced, until the drumbeats stopped, and the mist descended and dispersed.

Led by the Grand Wu, with the Empress and the Heir Apparent at the fore, the assembly entered the Shen Dian in order, worshipped the Ancestral Spirits, and Crown Prince Cheng presented this year's New Wine to the Divine Table above.

The so-called Zhu Jin Ji — the character Zhu refers to the fine mellow wine that, starting from spring, has been brewed three times over.

With this wine they honor the ancestors; the vassal kings and marquises offer yellow gold to assist the sacrifice, to express loyalty, filial piety, and unity of hearts.

The yellow gold offered by the vassal kings and marquises is determined by the population of their fiefs: four liang of gold per thousand people; the total gold offered at this sacrifice each year amounts to just over a hundred jin — its political significance outweighs the actual substance; it is merely an assisting ritual.

The vassal kings, marquises, and envoys have long been familiar with this; the Shao Fu officials and Nei Shi Guan Wu responsible for verifying the gold kneel quietly beside the Divine Table, waiting for the proceedings to begin.

After the wine offering comes the gold offering: the Liu clan vassal kings go first, the marquises follow.

"Liu Yue of Liu Guo offers gold to assist the sacrifice, to honor the Ancestral Spirits!"

The Liu Guo Shi Zi, not yet twenty, stepped forward and knelt, holding a Jin An high with both hands.

A Shao Fu official received the box; a Nei Shi took out the horse-hoof gold ingots, placed them on the scale pan for weighing; the gold struck the pan with a clear, crisp sound that reverberated in the quiet Shen Dian.

Hearing this sound, everyone took it as routine, merely waiting for their own turn to offer gold and finish this yearly fixed, tedious process.

After the weighing, a Nei Shi was about to follow the rules and present the Gold Cakes to the Divine Platform, when suddenly a voice called: "Slow."

The voice was clear and calm; the Nei Shi looked over and met a ferocious, awe-inspiring deity mask, and instantly lowered his head in fear.

From within layered, voluminous dark-red sleeves a hand emerged; that hand picked up several Gold Cakes and, without warning, tossed them into the copper basin burning with sacrificial fire at the side of the Divine Table, scattering fine sparks.

No one understood the meaning, yet no one dared stop this Wu deity; then they saw that hand seize a wine jar and pour the wine into the fire basin — flames surged wildly, causing the crowd ahead to cry out in alarm.

Yet soon a bizarre scene appeared.

The sacrificial fire billowed thick black smoke; the wine overflowing from the copper basin turned crimson like blood in an instant!

The cries of alarm instantly grew more chaotic and confused, and with the strange black smoke spreading, they alarmed even more people behind.

The young woman standing before the rolling black smoke spoke word by word, her voice solemn and unwavering: "The gold offered by Liu Guo is impure; their hearts are insincere; they have angered the spirits, causing the Zhu Jin to weep blood — this is a great ill omen, a great disrespect."

The sudden portent and condemnation — the crime of great disrespect, foremost among the ten evils — such a severe judgment made everyone present change color.

The Liu Guo Shi Zi kowtowed in terror, shouting his innocence.

Behind the deity mask, the young woman's figure was straight as if executing a divine decree, impartial and unmoved: "According to the Zhu Jin Law, gold not up to standard — strip counties and revoke titles; insincere hearts disrupting the sacrifice is also a grave crime — by law they should be deposed."

Finishing, the eyes behind the mask pressed straight down upon the crowd below: "The sacrifice cannot be interrupted; I ask everyone to continue offering gold to assist the sacrifice."

The Liu Guo Shi Zi trembled, face ashen; the atmosphere in the hall was in shock and disorder; Liu Cheng barely regained his composure, subconsciously maintained the sacrifice, and urged everyone to continue offering gold.

The Grand Wu turned her head, fixing her gaze on the Nei Shi Guan Wu responsible for verifying the gold: "The ancestral spirits have been angered; the verification method must be devoutly followed; any who are negligent will be abandoned by heaven, earth, and spirits alike."

Looking at the blood still welling in the copper basin, and with the matter involving the deposition of royal titles, the Nei Shi were momentarily beside themselves, too frightened to speak, only trembling and prostrating.

Amid the chaos, a youth's voice rang out: "I carry Imperial Uncle's order to maintain today's Great Sacrifice order; since a portent has arisen, from now on I will verify the gold."

With this voice, Liu Qi stepped forward, walked to the front of the Sacrificial Table, faced the crowd below with their varied expressions, and seeing no one come forward to offer, Liu Qi spoke as his gaze fell: "Please, Lu King, step forward and offer gold to assist the sacrifice."

The named Lu King suppressed his unease, held his gold, and advanced.

Liu Qi personally led people to inspect and verify.

The current verification method consists of looking, pinching, weighing, and listening; the verifying officials have a set of practiced procedures, but over the years they have gradually grown accustomed to treating the Zhu Jin as a mere ceremonial formality, and also unwilling to offend those vassal nobles over trifles, so their inspections were not particularly strict.

Yet at this moment the atmosphere had completely changed; it was entirely different.

Following the Liu Guo Shi Zi, over a dozen vassal states successively came forward to offer gold.

No further incident of Gold Cakes thrown into the fire basin occurred, yet with each successive judgment from Liu Qi, the atmosphere inside the hall was like dark clouds pressing on the city — turbulent and panicked.

"Guangyang Guo gold — color incorrect, green-white mixed, not up to standard — depose!"

"Chu State gold — short six zhu, not up to standard — depose!"

"Gaomi Kingdom gold — light in weight and poor in color, not up to standard — depose!"

"..."

The gold offered by over a dozen vassal kings, under inspection, turned out to be nearly half not up to standard; and with each repeated "depose," even Liu Cheng could no longer sit still: "Sixth Brother..."

He had indeed heard Guo Shi mention in secret that Sixth Brother had presented some scheme to the Emperor; therefore he suspected this situation was a pretext to strip titles, but to abruptly seize the titles of half the vassal kings — how could that be such a child's play!

In the current situation, if these people refuse to submit, even killing them would likely plunge all under heaven into great chaos!

Such reckless disregard for consequences — would the Emperor truly let Sixth Brother run wild like this!

No, this won't do...

Liu Cheng was greatly shocked at heart, wanted to rise and dissuade, but Rui Ze quietly pressed down his arm from the rear side.

The Gaomi King, kneeling to offer gold, angrily stood up, unable to endure: "Absurd! You, this lame-legged brat, what qualification do you have to speak of removing my title... This King demands to see the Emperor!"

"The Crown Prince acts on imperial decree to supervise the state, equivalent to the Emperor's personal presence." Liu Qi glanced at Liu Cheng, then at the enraged Gaomi King before him, and said: "The Zhu Jin Law was established by the Grand Ancestor Emperor; it is the constant law of the Zong Miao — gold not up to standard, strip counties and revoke titles; this is the Grand Ancestor's system, the Emperor's bright canon, not to be questioned, and even more not to be defied."

The youth stood tall and straight, fearless, unyielding, unashamed, unangry; instead he used that humiliated lame leg to step closer, his gaze calm and deep: "Before the Grand Ancestor's spirit tablet, Uncle King openly violates this law — not only disrespectful, but unfilial; may I ask what grievance you have to appeal?"

?? Good Night Everyone~