Chapter 426

False Song, Bianjing Imperial Palace, Hall of Great Celebration.

Terms: False Song, Bianjing, imperial palace (generic), Hall of Great Celebration (specific hall name, should be translated).

The solemn, reverent sound of bells and chimes slowly faded, its lingering echoes winding among the lofty beams and pillars of the palace.

No named entities.

Officials dressed in ceremonial robes stood in orderly ranks according to their grades, so silent that not even a sparrow could be heard.

No.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the vermilion steps above, where the newly changed era-name plaque stood, and the new emperor seated upon the Dragon Throne.

Terms: Vermilion Steps (specific part of the throne hall), Era Name Plaque (generic), Dragon Throne (specific), new emperor (generic).

Zhao Heng, the third son of the late Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi, now wore the twelve-chapter robe, donned the twelve-beaded crown, his face still retaining a youthful handsomeness, but his eyes had settled into a composure and dignity befitting his station.

Terms: Zhao Heng (person name), Emperor Taizong (title), Zhao Guangyi (person name), Twelve-Chapter Robe, Twelve-Beaded Crown.

He slightly raised his hand; the Chief of the Palace Attendants stepped forward, unfurled the bright yellow silk in his hand, and proclaimed to the realm in a clear, prolonged voice.

Terms: Chief of the Palace Attendants (official title).

I merely inherit the glorious mandate and continue to guard the great foundation. Looking up, I recall the weight of the former emperor's entrustment; looking down, I consider the deep hopes of the common people.

No named.

I respectfully, on this year's New Year's Day, solemnly receive the seal and treasure, attend the main hall, and change the era name to Xianping.

Terms: New Year's Day (generic), change era name to Xianping (era name Xianping).

I proclaim the new era's name, extending benevolent grace to all pardoned; a great amnesty is granted to the world, letting the people begin anew.

No.

From before dawn on the first day of the first month of the first year of Xianping, all those in the realm who have committed crimes—except for the Ten Heinous Crimes and Five Rebellious Acts, corrupt officials, intentional murder, manufacturing poison, armed arson and robbery, and slaves or livestock fleeing their masters—shall have their sins, whether great or small, whether discovered or not, whether already judged or not, fully pardoned.

Terms: first year of Xianping; Ten Heinous Crimes and Five Rebellious Acts; corrupt officials; intentional murder; manufacturing poison; armed arson and robbery; slaves and livestock fleeing masters (all generic legal terms).

The lengthy yet elegant pardon edict, accompanied by the distinctive tone of the palace attendants, reverberated through the hall.

Terms: pardon edict (generic), palace attendants (generic).

Officials held their breath and listened silently, each lost in their own thoughts.

No.

This marked the complete end of an old era and the formal beginning of a new one.

No.

The Taizong era's hasty profiteering and constant warfare seemed destined to end with the ascension of this new emperor, known for his leniency and refinement.

Terms: Taizong Era, new emperor (generic).

The two characters 'Xianping' are taken from the 'Xian' and 'Pi' hexagrams of the Book of Changes, symbolizing responsive harmony and peace under heaven; they themselves reveal a governing direction different from that of the Zhenguan and Kaibao eras.

Terms: Book of Changes; Hexagram Xian; Hexagram Ping; responsive harmony and peace under heaven (generic); Zhenguan era; Kaibao era.

Upon the Dragon Throne, Zhao Heng's gaze slowly swept over the officials below who bowed their heads.

Terms: Dragon Throne; Zhao Heng; officials (generic).

He could see some familiar, seasoned faces—those were the trusted ministers left by his late emperor to care for the orphaned state.

Terms: late emperor (generic); trusted ministers entrusted with the orphaned state (generic).

He also saw some younger faces, eyes bright with anticipation and eagerness to prove themselves—those he had deliberately promoted, preparing to rely on them as capable aides.

Terms: new recruits (generic).

His heart held both the anxious vigor of one who has just grasped heaven and earth, and the ambition to forge a new situation.

Terms: just grasped heaven and earth (generic).

All officials, assume your positions.

No.

After the pardon edict was finished being read, Zhao Heng spoke, striving to keep his voice steady.

Terms: Zhao Heng.

I have just ascended the throne; my virtue and ability are slight, relying solely on your united support to assist and together achieve good governance.

Terms: throne (great treasure, generic); all officials (generic).

From today onward, we shall keep in mind 'tranquil governance and nurturing the people's strength,' abolish the previous dynasty's corrupt policies, broaden channels for advice, and strive with diligence to administer the realm.

No.

I hope that you will speak frankly, recommend the virtuous, so that governance harmonizes with the people and the realm enjoys peace.

Terms: all under heaven enjoys peace (phrase).

A bout of lofty rhetoric, yet it clearly conveyed the new dynasty's governing principle: rest and recuperation, internal stability, and emphasis on civil administration.

No.

We, your subjects, solemnly obey your decree, bowing ourselves to exhaustion until death!

No.

The officials responded in unison, their voices shaking the hall's tiles.

No.

Amid this orderly chorus of court congratulations, officials of various factions and motives have already begun scheming how to secure a place for themselves and their ideas within the new dynasty's structure.

Terms: new dynasty (generic).

The bell signaling the end of court rang out.

No.

Officials exited the Hall of Great Celebration in order, gathering in small groups to whisper their opinions of the new emperor and the new policies.

Terms: Hall of Great Celebration; new emperor (generic); new policies (generic).

Your Majesty's benevolence brings great fortune to the realm.

Terms: Your Majesty (generic).

An elderly official with white beard and hair stroked his whiskers and sighed.

No.

Indeed, after years of warfare, the treasury is empty and the people are exhausted; it is truly time to let the populace rest.

No.

His nearby colleague echoed his sentiment.

No.

Some others adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

No.

The new emperor is young (compared to his father), likely lacking decisiveness; if this 'tranquil governance' becomes mere adherence to the old ways, it will be undesirable.

Terms: new emperor (generic).

Let's see what happens; there may also be some competition among the officials at court.

Terms: officials at court (generic).

Meanwhile, in a dimension unnoticed by anyone, as Zhao Heng formally changed the era name to Xianping, ascended the Dragon Throne, and ruled over all under heaven, the fundamental rules that sustain the operation of the 'Script World' underwent a clear, discernible shock and reinforcement.

Terms: Zhao Heng; Xianping; Dragon Throne; all under heaven (generic); Script World (coined term).

The master of the Iron Crow Army, that cold consciousness situated in a spacetime crevice, clearly received feedback from the layer of world rules.

Terms: Iron Crow Army; master (generic); spacetime crevice (generic); world rule layer (generic).

Historical node: 'Emperor Renzong of Song Zhao Heng ascends the throne, changes era name to Xianping' has been confirmed and stabilized.

Terms: historical node (generic); Emperor Renzong of Song Zhao Heng (person name); Emperor Renzong of Song (title); change era to Xianping (Xianping).

Era marker: 'Xianping Era' has begun.

Terms: era marker (generic); Xianping Era.

Historical stability has significantly increased.

No.

Logical consistency has been completed.

No.

Authorization recovery process: greatly advanced.

Terms: permission/authorization (generic).

Invisible, tougher rule chains, centered on the Bianjing Imperial Palace, spread and reinforced throughout the Script World, anchoring this world's historical trajectory more unbreakably onto its set course.

Terms: Bianjing Imperial Palace; Script World; historical trajectory (generic).

The master of the Iron Crow Army felt the restoration of his power and the expansion of his authority.

Terms: Master of the Iron Crow Army; permission (generic).

Within its icy logical core, a flicker resembling satisfaction passed through.

No.

The new emperor's ascension and era change are precisely a pivotal node in the Historical Script, linking past and future.

Terms: new emperor (generic); era name change (generic); Historical Script (generic); critical node (generic).

The successful confirmation of this node infused it with strong energy and further enhanced its ability to quell chaos and restore order in this world.

Terms: quelling chaos and restoring order (generic idiom).

Begin scanning key events of the new timeline...

Terms: new timeline (generic); key events (generic).

Mark potential intervention points: 'Treaty of Chan-Yuan' (expected), 'Heavenly Book Enfeoffment' (expected)...

Terms: Treaty of Chan-Yuan; Heavenly Book Enfeoffment.

Adjust monitoring resource allocation, prioritizing the smooth advancement of the core node of the new timeline.

Terms: core node of the new timeline (generic).

Orders were issued silently and without sound.

No.

More 'Shades' were activated; their targets were no longer merely to eliminate abnormal data, but also included covert protection and guidance of key historical figures and key regions, ensuring everything would unfold according to the Script.

Terms: Shade (generic); abnormal data (generic); key historical figures (generic); key regions (generic); script (generic).

False Song has formally entered the era of Emperor Renzong of Song.

Terms: False Song; Era of Emperor Renzong of Song.

An era that, in the Iron Crow Army's plan, should be filled with auspicious signs, civil governance, and a particular form of peace.

Terms: Iron Crow Army; auspicious signs (generic); civil governance (generic); peace (generic).

Meanwhile, in the Chen Dynasty, a secluded chamber of the separate villa.

Terms: Chen Dynasty; secluded chamber (generic).

Chen Wen suddenly awoke from a deep state of perception.

Terms: Chen Wen.

At that very moment, through 'Situation-Yun Initial Feeling,' he clearly 'saw' the dramatic change occurring in that distant Mirror Image Realm.

Terms: Situation-Yun Initial Feeling (Shi Yong); Mirror Image Realm (generic); dramatic change (generic).

On the False Song court, the golden-yellow halo representing the dynasty's fortune, as if infused with strong vitality, suddenly expanded and solidified, its light blazed!

Its rotational speed increased, and the binding force it radiated grew severalfold, like a huge golden vortex, more powerfully pulling and regulating the flow of all Fortune Momentum within its territory.

And under the illumination of this even more dazzling Huang Guang, the cyan-blue light point he had previously locked onto, located within the civil official system, also seemed to be nourished, becoming increasingly clear and stable.

"Begun..."

Chen Wen muttered to himself, his brow furrowed.

Although he didn't know what specifically had happened in the False Song court, this suddenly strengthened and thoroughly consolidated dynasty Fortune Momentum meant only one thing——

The new era of the False Song had already arrived irreversibly.

The emperor named Zhao Heng had truly secured the realm and began to exercise his power.

And with the thorough consolidation of this historical juncture, the 'Crow' hidden behind the scenes necessarily also gained great benefit.

He could feel that the intangible pressure coming from the opposite side of the light curtain had become heavier.

"The new era... the new rules..."

Chen Wen stood up, walked to the window, and his gaze sank, focused.

False Song entered the Zhenzong era, meaning that a new historical script had already been unfolded.

For the Guardians, opportunities and challenges coexist.

The opportunity lies in that, at the dawn of the new era, the political situation is unstable, all forces are reshuffling, which is exactly a good chance to infiltrate and exert influence.

The importance of that cyan-blue light point may further increase.

The challenge lies in that the Iron Crow Army's control over history has grown stronger; wanting to 'tweak the needle' under its nose undoubtedly doubles the difficulty.

"We must be faster, more precise, more concealed."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the urgency in his heart.

The steps of growth cannot stop, and the actions of intervention cannot cease.

For a spark to become a prairie fire, it must spread silently while this new wind is just beginning.

The curtain of the Zhenzong era has already been drawn in False Song.

And the covert struggle of the Guardians will also surely be staged silently on this new stage.