Chapter 262

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Protagonists:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

In the sixth year of Tianhe, the Emperor performed the Fengshan sacrifice for the first time, building the Fenggao Palace at the foot of Mount Tai.

Twelve years later, the Emperor was helped down from his carriage and once again set foot in this former traveling palace; the people and events at his side, and his own aging, shrinking shadow in the dim light — all appeared utterly transformed.

The various kings and marquises arriving from all parts had long been waiting here respectfully; the Fengshan was a grand affair, the kings and marquises could not be absent, they rushed to Mount Tai from their fiefs ahead of time, their retinues not exceeding a hundred; upon entering Taishan Commandery, they were guided and inspected by court troops, all their accompanying guards and escorts stationed outside Fengshui City.

As the sun was about to set, Mount Tai's massive shadow inch by inch covered the entire Fenggao Palace City; within the shadows, the various kings and marquises could be seen encamped in orderly rows outside the palace city according to rank and closeness, banner after banner fluttering in the evening breeze facing each other, court troops patrolling the surroundings, guarding the brightly lit imperial traveling palace in their midst.

The next day, the Emperor, having rested for a night, received the feudal lords; after the court session, a banquet was held in the evening.

At the start of the banquet, the Emperor sat in the chief seat above; Liu Ci, ruler of Liu Guo, knelt weeping beside the Emperor's food table, his sobs sometimes trembling, sometimes choked, sometimes harmonizing with the court music in the hall.

"Enough, what are you crying for, under everyone's gaze, not afraid of making a fool of yourself, hurry back to your seat..." the Emperor spoke to drive him away.

The King of Liu Guo raised tear-filled eyes, his weeping voice sincere and heartfelt: "Your minister-brother... your minister-brother suddenly seeing Your Majesty's temples turned gray-white, at once feels both pain and regret; pain at not being able to serve before the Son of Heaven's carriage for many years, regret at not having shared Your Majesty's worries... truly a crime deserving ten thousand deaths!"

The Emperor found it amusing and countered: "How have you not shared Our worries? Pacifying the Liang Guo rebellion, you rendered great merit."

"It was but my duty, not worth mentioning..." the King of Liu Guo dared not look at the Son of Heaven's countenance, kowtowing and weeping once more.

The Heir of Liu Guo below, how could he not know his father was guilty-conscience like a thief, unable to admit fault before the crowd, so he could only weep bitterly to express shame and gratitude to the Son of Heaven.

The Heir of Liu Guo, seated behind the Heir Apparent, at this moment sneakily shuffled forward on his knees, attentively drawing up to Liu Qi's table, snatching the eunuch's task, smiling as he poured wine, while flattering: "Since Qi-di's leg ailment healed, seeing you again this time, you are truly even more handsome and magnificent, a heaven-given bearing indeed... this cup of wine, let it celebrate Your Highness receiving Heaven's Mandate blessing and the great joy of your ailment vanishing!"

The father wept tears flowing like a stream; the son poured wine flowing like a stream; the father-son pair strove to wash their future prospects anew.

The King of Gaomi, seated at the Heir Apparent's lower seat, hearing the Heir of Liu Guo's excessive attentiveness, stroked his dense beard, recalling the events in Shanglin Park that night, his words revealing an intimacy of life-and-death with his nephew the Heir Apparent, and the honor of personally witnessing his nephew receiving Heaven's Mandate recognition.

Recalling that day's perilous events, and the escort merit he picked up by being unlucky enough, the King of Gaomi to this day still feels it was like a bizarre dream.

And mentioning Heaven's Mandate recognition, the King of Gaomi couldn't help but secretly glance at that young girl seated opposite on the upper right.

The Son of Heaven sat above; the first seat on the lower left was the Heir Apparent; the first seat on the lower right was this Lingzhu Marquis; if going by rank, an external Guanzhong Marquis was by no means sufficient to occupy this seat, but this person was the auspicious celestial mechanism driving this Fengshan, the Son of Heaven specially bestowed this seat, showing her importance was unshakable.

Below the celestial mechanism, seated right next to her was the King of Wu.

The King of Wu Liu Sui, younger than the Emperor by seven or eight years, was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, sitting there like a small mountain.

Liu Sui's father was the Former Emperor's own brother, deeply bonded with the Former Emperor; in the matter of conquering the realm, among the Former Emperor's ten-odd brothers, whether paternal or maternal cousins, he was the one with the most illustrious merit; soon after raising troops he married the adopted sister of Consort Qu, the couple always intimate and loyal to the Former Emperor and Empress; thus at the founding of the dynasty, he immediately received the Wu Guo fief, sitting on abundant copper mines, enjoying wealth and honor.

The old King and Queen of Wu had only this one son Liu Sui, so naturally he inherited the King of Wu title as a matter of course.

Liu Sui, who had suffered through war and chaos from childhood through youth, possessed many vulgar tastes, greatly loving fine food, wine, and women; in everyone's eyes, he was a rich, straightforward old lecher — when the Emperor was still Crown Prince, one of those who spoke up demanding the beautiful Rui Ji from the Crown Prince's mansion was him.

Although this man's temperament was overly blunt, he had always complied with court orders; overall, he was a man who, despite having a temper, was also willing to be a fat pig in the Son of Heaven's household that knew its home and master.

At this moment he spoke up to scold the King of Liu Guo: "Cry cry cry, a perfectly auspicious sacrificial ceremony, about to be cried into ill omen by you!"

The King of Liu Guo's weeping stopped at once, the others followed in dissuading him, and someone whispered a reminder to the King of Wu: "Your Highness the King of Wu, watch your words..."

"This King saw him whimpering endlessly, just giving him a scare." The King of Wu also knew he had misspoken; taking advantage of the wine worms raging in his belly, he simply said: "Fine fine, this King spoke wrongly, I'll punish myself with three cups!"

Speaking, he raised his cup, first apologizing toward the Emperor's direction; the wine cup made a full circle, all poured happily into his own mouth.

Three cups of rapid drinking down the hatch, the King of Wu's face flushed red and hot; his gaze passed the young lord sitting upright above, and he paused with attention; when she seemed to sense it and looked over, their eyes met; the King of Wu, seeing clearly her youthful, spirited face, let out a click of admiration.

Shaowei turned her face back expressionlessly; from the table behind the King of Wu came the voice of the Marquis of Lu: "Many years since seeing Your Highness the King of Wu, let this old man test whether Your Highness's wine capacity has advanced or declined — someone, hurry and fill the King of Wu's wine to the brim!"

The King of Wu hurriedly raised his cup to respond; the King of Liu Guo also finally stopped his sobbing and was helped back to his seat; at this moment a eunuch entered the hall to announce: The King of Zhao and the Commandery Princess of Zhao Guo have arrived.

The King of Zhao had been ill for a long time, and last year also lost his only son; this time he insisted on coming to participate in the Fengshan; due to his health the journey was slow; at this moment, supported by his daughter Liu Ming, he entered the hall to plead guilt, asking the Sovereign to forgive his tardiness.

"What pleading guilt..." the Emperor sighed: "We long said you need not force your sick body to come; if it worsens your condition, would that not make Us uneasy? Liu Ming, quickly help your father-king to his seat."

Liu Ming answered "Yes" and kowtowed in thanks, helping her father rise.

During the Liang Guo rebellion, Liu Ming who volunteered to lead Zhao Guo troops to suppress the rebellion was also rewarded after the war; she personally went to the battlefield, inspiring morale, praised by the Emperor as extraordinary in bearing, surpassing in courage and insight, a model for the daughters of the Liu clan.

At this moment as Liu Ming rose, her gaze immediately found Shaowei's location; eyes met; on Liu Ming's solemn face a light, joyful color suddenly appeared; Shaowei's eyes also brightened, silently nodding in response.

Amid the banquet's exchanging of cups, all the kings and marquises had endless toasting words; the Emperor drank only one opening-banquet cup, the rest all replaced with tea.

Shaowei also received the same treatment; kneeling beside her to serve and add tea was Quan Wa.

During the Shanglin Park incident, Quan Wa had warned Shaowei; afterward, because he publicly received the celestial mechanism's praise of "keen, loyal, adept at adaptation," not long after he was promoted to Yellow Gate Attendant, managing many inner attendants, along with carriages, horses, dogs.

Yellow Gate Attendant Quan Wa was no longer that little eunuch anyone could bully; daily he had many affairs to busy with, and broadened his horizons, worked hard at literacy, but before Shaowei he was still meticulously proper and respectful; this was not only awe of the celestial mechanism, but also the reliance, gratitude, and desire to repay from knowing each other from humble beginnings.

Seeing the myriad states of people after wine at the banquet, Shaowei focused on eating while her pair of ears never stopped patrolling, noting every person repeatedly — Shaowei still brooded over that arrow shot at Ming Dan back then, trying to trace its origin.

Even if the other party might not dare act again, if she could dig them out for revenge, it would naturally better suit Shaowei's operational aesthetic.

However, even drunk, the culprit would not carve the answer on their drunken forehead wrinkles, or hide it in drunken talk like an acrostic poem; among the gazes cast her way, no suspicious abnormality was ever seen.

Shaowei ate the banquet but failed to find the culprit, yet it was not entirely without gain; at least she had firmly memorized the appearances and styles of everyone present.

Thus until the banquet ended, Shaowei had eaten her fill of rice, drunk her fill of tea, her ears had done their fill of work, her mind had memorized her fill of people.

Even though she was full, thinking of the seven-day fast and plain diet to come for the purification rites, Shaowei still picked up the last piece of beef rib roast from the food table, seriously putting it into her mouth.

Liu Qi opposite saw this, and also picked up a piece of meat to eat; tonight because Shaowei was there, Liu Qi also rarely ate his fill at such a grand banquet.

When Shaowei put down her chopsticks, the King of Wu across from her was already drunk to slurred speech: "... Old General, still vigorous in old age, don't tell me you want to drink this King to death?"

The King of Wu, drunk into a puddle of mud, due to his stout build, took four eunuchs to support him out.

The Marquis of Lu injured the enemy a thousand but also lost eight hundred himself; Shaowei entrusted Quan Wa to personally bring people to properly send her grandfather back.

Outside the corridor, watching Quan Wa and the others walk some distance away, Shaowei saw Ji Jin passing by; he held a stack of official business, just preparing to deliver it to where Yan Xiang was staying.

Tonight's banquet was all ministers and kings; Ji Jin was naturally not among them; Shaowei hurriedly asked if he had eaten.

Ji Jin couldn't help but smile, only feeling that no matter how grand the occasion, it couldn't stop Jiang Sister's most practical greeting; he smiled and answered he had eaten, turning his head to look at Shan Gu striding over: "But Shan Gu, ought not to have been able to eat yet."

Shan Gu, responsible for leading patrols, had just changed shifts and immediately came seeking his A Jie.

As the three spoke, a figure approached quickly, calling out: "Tai Puzhe!"

Seeing the person approaching, Ji Jin's face flashed with a hint of surprise, and he hurriedly offered a salute, but Liu Ming, who arrived quickly, supported his elbow with one hand and held Shan Gu with the other, saying to the two: "You two were old acquaintances of Tai Puzhe; when in Liang Guo, we did not know this—"

Liu Ming spoke frankly: "Tai Puzhe is my benefactor. If I had known earlier that Historian Ji and Cavalry Commander were old friends of Tai Puzhe, I would have certainly done my best to take better care of you both."

"Commandery Princess is too courteous," Ji Jin said, recovering himself and lowering his head: "Commandery Princess is open-minded and decisive, never causing us the slightest difficulty; that is already the greatest care."

During wartime, cooperation among various forces inevitably requires discussion and persuasion on tactics; as a strategist, Ji Jin, and Shan Gu, who often accompanied Lu Ding on his left and right, naturally had many dealings with Liu Ming.

Previously it was only official business, but now with Shaowei as a shared connection, there inevitably had to be some new pleasantries; Liu Ming praised Shan Gu and Ji Jin's excellence to Shaowei, Shan Gu took it calmly, feeling it brought honor to his elder sister, while Ji Jin was always thin-skinned and showed a hint of embarrassment.

Shaowei, now in the position of head of the household, naturally shared in the honor; besides, Shaowei felt Liu Ming's spirit and complexion were much better than when he left the capital last year.

Shaowei could empathize with this—many times, only drawing a blade to take revenge and vent was the best medicine.

And on the path of revenge, Liu Ming might awaken other aspirations; she was originally generous and heroic, once daring to lead visits to the disfavored Liu Qi, and once daring to shield Shaowei on Lingxing Terrace; now tempered by a war of hatred, her whole being was further imbued with courage, truly dazzling.

Shaowei then thought of Rui Ji, who was living quite well now, and then thought of Liu Ming, who died early in the previous life, inevitably feeling again that the chaotic world in the dream was a great evil beyond measure, burying unknown numbers of flourishing flowers and shining stars, cutting off their possibilities of blooming fragrance and radiance.

Liu Ming could not suppress the emotions in his heart and could not help but take Shaowei's hand; this was rather sudden and rash for Shaowei, but it was still better than the sudden embrace outside Xiuyi Yu last time.

Also sensing Liu Ming's heart of sharing and gratitude, everything was left unspoken, so Shaowei did not pull away that hand, and allowed Liu Ming to hold it for the time being.

Ji Jin had already taken his leave and departed, and Shan Gu was called away by colleagues to eat; only then did Liu Ming speak in a low voice: "Father King originally intended to thank Tai Puzhe in person, but the long journey was exhausting and his strength could not bear it... today there are too many people around; Tai Puzhe is a Tianji Incarnation, and Father King is a feudal lord; if he were too warm toward Tai Puzhe in public, it might cause unnecessary trouble and criticism."

Shaowei naturally understood, but then heard Liu Ming speak almost like a promise: "But Father King has me convey from the middle that Zhao Guo's gratitude toward Tai Puzhe will not retreat by a hair's breadth because of outside eyes."

"Tai Puzhe first saved my life, and then made the true culprit who harmed my younger brother be exposed and brought to justice... such grace is a heaven-ordained opportunity, truly the fortune of my Zhao Guo."

Liu Ming lowered his voice, under the gaze and witness of the immense shadow of Taishan, with a solemn and sincere expression: "From now on, I am willing to follow the mandate of heaven and be driven by Tianji; this is Zhao Guo's vow."

Within this there was a sincere promise, and also a stance taken regarding interests.

The Son of Heaven this time brought the heir to perform the Fengshan Ceremony, intending to proclaim where the mandate of heaven points, to thereby stabilize hearts, and also to prepare for some kind of conclusion.

And on that day at Lingxing Terrace, witnessing Liu Qi risk his life to block an arrow, Liu Ming caught a glimpse of an insight ahead of others.

At this moment, Liu Ming's eyes held a trace of loyalty equal to that between ruler and subject, as well as eager anticipation for a brand new Heaven and Earth to open.

Shaowei met her eyes, only feeling that through that clasped hand, there flowed a hot-blooded intent to soar high, to rush to the sky, to make a stunning cry, drilling into her shoulders, and sprouting a bright, colorful party feather.

Shaowei and her party feather walked side by side slowly; upon learning that Shaowei would prepare to ascend the mountain tomorrow to fast and welcome the gods, Liu Ming, who needed to fast at the foot of the mountain, felt great regret.

Before the formal Fengshan Ceremony, at least seven days of fasting and purification are required by ritual law; from tomorrow, the Emperor will lead the princes, ministers, and officials in the Xing Palace at the foot of the mountain to abstain from meat and pungent foods, purify body and mind, to manifest sincerity, and to prepare to become qualified worshippers who communicate with heaven and revere the gods.

At the same time, another group will be ordered to enter the mountain, enter the Immortal Shrine to perform the ritual of fasting and welcoming the gods, to draw upon the spirits of ghosts and spirits, and to observe the celestial phenomena and cloud qi between the mountains.

The Immortal Shrine is built in the Half Mountain at the Northeast Direction of the Back Mountain of Taishan; the Emperor once ordered high masters and alchemists to await gods, gather qi, and cultivate here, to refine Longevity Elixirs—but when the Emperor decided to perform the Fengshan Ceremony this time, those alchemists had all been dispersed and sent away; this Immortal Shrine had been cleared out, yet was still used as a place for the Fengshan Ceremony to welcome the gods.

Thus on this day, led by Tianji Incarnation, half of the shamans, Taoists, and children entered Taishan at dawn.

?? Coming soon, one more chapter~