Chapter 1800: By the Way

Just as Liu Yu was summoning all civil and military officials, he suddenly spoke: "I wish to hold a grand sacrificial ceremony and invite renowned scholars from across the land to attend. What are your thoughts, my lords?"

Liu Yu's words left the civil and military ministers present stunned. The grand sacrificial ceremony is a major ritual held once every five years. The purpose of this ritual is to console the Liezulie Sect. Whenever a new emperor ascends the throne or the national treasury is abundant, the grand sacrificial ceremony is held to commemorate the ancestors and demonstrate the prosperity of the nation's fortune. However, every grand sacrificial ceremony requires enormous financial support. Liu Yu happens to be short of money these days, so he proposed holding the grand sacrificial ceremony.

All the ministers clearly understood that this grand sacrificial ceremony came at a huge cost, so many chose to remain silent.

Seeing this scene, Liu Yu's face turned cold, and he threatened, "What? Do you have any objections?"

"Your humble servants dare not! Your humble servants are willing to brave fire and water for the Great Han!" the ministers said in unison.

"Then it is settled! I hope to conclude smoothly this year!" Liu Yu said, satisfied.

……

Inside the Great Han Empire's imperial palace, Liu Yu sat high upon the dragon throne, with civil and military officials standing below.

"My dear lords, I plan to hold the grand sacrificial ceremony in the Taihe Hall three days from now. At that time, I hope all my dear lords will lend your full support! I thank you all here." Liu Yu bowed sincerely to the civil and military ministers present.

"Your Majesty is wise!" everyone present said one after another.

"All my dear lords may withdraw." Liu Yu waved his hand to Si Shiyi the crowd to depart.

The ministers walked out of the main hall one after another. At this moment, Liu Xie came out.

Liu Xie walked up to Liu Yu and said, "Your son pays his respects to Father Emperor (Imperial Brother)!"

"Rise!" Liu Yu said with a smile.

"Thank you, Father Emperor!" Liu Xie stood up, then asked, "Your son has a question but does not know whether to speak it or not?"

"Speak. I dislike hesitation." Liu Yu said impatiently.

"Father Emperor, in recent days Your son has been unable to sleep, especially last night when nightmares came one after another. Your son's heart is always worried that bad people will break in. Your son wishes to ask Father Emperor for an answer: why exactly does Your son have nightmares?" Liu Xie voiced his confusion.

"Oh! Such a simple matter comes to ask me! My good son, this shows you have grown up and know how to think and analyze. Since you asked, I will tell you." Liu Yu stroked Liu Xie's head and said, gratified.

Liu Xie felt very comfortable being stroked and asked with a grin, "Then please Father Emperor grant instruction!"

Liu Yu said seriously, "I knew your background more than twenty years ago. You were originally a member of the Great Liao imperial family. When you were born, the Great Liao National Master had already chosen your life partner for you—the Great Liao Princess Yelu Kang. Unfortunately, the Great Liao later perished due to the betrayal of the Langtian Pavilion, and you became an orphan. I brought you back to the Great Han Empire to raise you, making you one of the imperial princes. These years, you have had nightmares because the blood of the Great Liao imperial family flows within your body."

Liu Xie was shocked by Liu Yu's words; he never expected that the dreams he had had for over twenty years were due to this reason!

He grabbed Liu Yu's robe and asked urgently, "Father Emperor, is everything you said true? You would not deceive me, would you?"

Liu Yu patted Liu Xie's hand and comforted him, "Good son, when have I ever deceived you? Besides, what benefit would there be in deceiving you?"

Liu Xie was amused by Liu Yu's words; yes, what use is deceiving back and forth? It only makes people sad and distressed.

He said with deep emotion, "Father Emperor, thank you for telling Your son these things. However, Your son truly finds it hard to believe that what you said is actually true. I always thought my nightmares were due to the Langtian Pavilion; I never expected it was because of my origin. Then, Father Emperor, why did you not send me back to the Great Liao back then? With your prestige and ability, you could have fully cultivated me into a pillar of the Great Liao."

Liu Yu smiled calmly and said, "The reason is simple: you are a prince of the Great Han. From the moment you were born, you have already been a subject of the Great Han. I raised you to adulthood so that you would become a mainstay of the Great Han. You must remember: you are a prince of the Great Han, not some imperial family member of the Great Liao."

Liu Xie said with mixed emotions, "Father Emperor, thank you for informing me of these things. I will faithfully serve the Great Han Empire!"

"That is right!" Liu Yu said, gratified.

……

Three days later, the Taihe Hall inside the Great Han imperial palace was brightly lit.

Liu Yu sat on the dragon throne, receiving the homage of civil and military ministers.

The Taihe Hall was crowded with people; all civil and military officials were present. The grand sacrificial ceremony was about to begin, and everyone stood trembling, walking as if on thin ice.

"The grand sacrificial ceremony begins!" At Liu Yu's command, the atmosphere inside the Taihe Hall became even more solemn.

The grand sacrificial ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Rites, who detailed the sacrificial rituals of the Great Han Empire to the Liezulie Sect. The entire ritual was elaborate and solemn, requiring step-by-step adherence to the procedure.

As the ritual proceeded, the atmosphere inside the Taihe Hall gradually eased. Everyone silently prayed, hoping the Liezulie Sect would bless the Great Han Empire with national peace, prosperity, and flourishing.

When the grand sacrificial ceremony neared its end, a group of people suddenly burst into the Taihe Hall! They held sharp blades, clearly having come prepared!

"Assassins!" Panic instantly erupted in the hall! Liu Yu sat on the dragon throne, his expression unchanged, watching this sudden group of assassins. He had already devised a countermeasure in his heart; this was a trap he had set long ago. These assassins were arranged by himself. He wanted to use this incident to test the loyal ministers and filial sons of the Great Han.