[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations":3,"chapter-the-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations-the-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations-chapter-52":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Nation of Ten Thousand Nations",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2333020,4562,"Chapter 52: Celebration (Part One)","the-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations-chapter-52",52,"\u003Cp>“No, it’s Jaffa Gate.” Cesar, cautious, did not say that if anyone were to fulfill the identity foretold, the cost would be immense—far beyond what a slave could pay: “The king also explained to me why Jaffa Gate was built in a right-angled shape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He must have liked you quite a bit back then,” Jofroi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re still seizing every chance to sow discord, Cesar thought wearily; on the way back, he turned and gazed far off at the Golden Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalric I rejected the Byzantine demands, but to appease the princess, he generously promised that during the welcoming ceremony, every noble of Arasah, starting with himself, would don Byzantine-style finery, and the banquet that followed would also be Byzantine-style, so the princess would feel at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some nobles grumbled about this order; they often wore loose robes and turbans themselves, but to cater to the “daughter of the Eastern Emperor,” they felt reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet upon reflection, they realized that Amalric I had already secured, in negotiations, that the wedding ceremony would follow Latin Church rites, not Orthodox rites; thus, clothing and food became trivial details—none who had climbed to this position were fools, and so they fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think the princess will be satisfied,” Bohemond said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, even in early spring without blossoms, the road from Jaffa Gate to the Holy Cross Fortress was already awash in color: actors had taken their positions on wooden stages, dressed as figures from various historical eras, with all manner of props; beside the silver manger of Christ’s birth stood the Virgin and saints, while a spice chest nearby was inlaid with gems; the wooden boat carrying Antony and Cleopatra was sheathed in gold and silver at both ends, with two children dressed as oarsmen rowing; Psyche sat amid silk-flowers, arms outstretched to welcome Cupid with wings…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath these wooden stages, along both sides of the road, crowds pressed tightly together, full of anticipation; whenever such joyful occasions arose, the nobles never hesitated to toss coins to the people, and besides, for them, to witness a king marrying a princess in this lifetime was already precious enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are they here? Are they here?” they asked eagerly, tiptoeing—but these were all country bumpkins; the seasoned ones listened intently: listen, there were trumpets, flutes, and drums—faster than horses, they had already arrived on the wind—here they come, here they come!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first wave was not Arasah’s nobles nor Byzantine officials, but a group of pilgrims—the same honor once granted to Saint Land’s envoy, Count Etienne, was now bestowed upon the Byzantine princess; these pilgrims numbered nearly a thousand, stretching a long stretch of the road; people cheered and laughed as they tossed drinks at them, yet they took no offense, continually praising God, glorifying Christ, using every word they knew to extol the king and his bride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Count Etienne, these pilgrims had no courage to follow alongside the procession; they merely served as a front, immediately followed by a dozen or so minstrels dressed in striped or patchwork garments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They plucked lutes and sang songs—of Charlemagne’s daughters’ amorous exploits, of the mortal Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite whose love bore the fruit Aeneas, and of Arthur’s loyal friend Gawain, who agreed to marry the ugliest witch to rescue his lord…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After them came sixteen carts bearing the Byzantine princess’s dowry: exquisite furniture, silken fabrics, even gold and silver vessels; people were dazzled, their cheers dimming; fortunately, this symbolic procession passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately following came the ranks of monks and clerics—Latin Church and Orthodox Church alike, sharply divided, walking on either side, each holding icons and crosses; several pages carried censers and golden basins, while clerics chanted prayers, sprinkling holy water upon the crowd; all touched by this grace were filled with fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then several loud horn blasts rang out, and the crowd fell to the ground like wheat swept by a storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few light cavalrymen rode past, blowing horns at intervals; behind them came a band beating small drums and blowing trumpets, dressed in brilliant yellow velvet tunics and tight dark green breeches, with dwarves darting among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banners flew high: the Arasah cross on white with yellow, the Byzantine emperor’s double-headed eagle on purple with gold, the shield-shaped lilies of Antioch, the two-colored cross of Tripoli, and the banners of every lord and legion of the Holy Land—all fluttering in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knights followed behind the banner party, holding spears like a forest, faces solemn; their armor gleamed, their surcoats were clean, their horses robust, hooves striking the cobblestones with crisp, ringing clatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their squires and armed attendants marched behind in great numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came a large group of mounted dignitaries, dressed in silk, mink, and wool, glittering with pearls, gems, and glass; among them were lords and noblewomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalric I was flanked by his ministers and lords, walking ahead of a massive gilded palanquin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palanquin was as large as a small house, yet surrounded only by railings; the fine gauze curtains had been drawn back by golden hooks, so the people of Arasah could see their new mistress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Byzantine princess was only fifteen, wearing a Byzantine-style loose-sleeved robe of gold silk, over which she wore a sleeveless outer garment of purple; the robe’s cuffs, collar, and hem were adorned with pearls the size of fingernails; she wore a white woolen head covering that concealed both her hair and neck, topped with a golden crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two maidservants attended her; around the palanquin walked Byzantine ministers, officials, and warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd still cheered, but the noise had noticeably diminished; though the Byzantine princess’s attire was extravagantly lavish, compared to Amalric I’s first wife, the Countess of Jaffa—whose plain face had always been unremarkable, and now, against gold, pearls, and purple silk, appeared even more dull—though clearly she had dressed meticulously, it only made her already slightly childish face appear older and stiffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undoubtedly, those drawn by the Byzantine princess’s title would be disappointed; their attention was soon captured by the animals behind the gilded palanquin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christian doctrine forbade believers from entering arenas as the ancient Romans had, to watch beasts fight men or men fight men; yet the Byzantines still had theater, music, gambling, and other intriguing entertainments—such as animal training. The father of Empress Theodora, wife of Emperor Justinian I in the sixth century, had been a bear trainer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolves, tigers, leopards, and bears locked in wooden cages were all specially gathered for the Byzantine princess’s wedding; they could be considered part of the dowry; more impressive than the unattractive princess, these majestic beasts drew greater awe; children chased after them, and bold servants and squires shouted and taunted—but were swiftly driven off by the beast-keepers with fierce glares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one noticed a wooden cage that did not belong in this procession, slowly dragged by six powerful Shire horses, appearing at the very end; just over a hundred paces behind, the cage holding another bear had passed; a knight casually asked, “Is this another bear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A she-bear,” replied the Byzantine official escorting the cage; he dressed nearly identically to the previous overseers, and the attendants beside the cage wore the same patterned clothes, so the knight asked out of curiosity, not suspicion: “Is it large?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at the deep rut (the cobblestones had been crushed into the road), and the wheels that seemed ready to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine,” the official smiled. “It’s already impressive it made it this far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight thought the Byzantines meant this great bear would serve as prey for the knights during the upcoming hunt; he nearly raised his lance to pull back the coarse hemp cloth covering the cage—but held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you talk to him so much?” A servant approached the official the moment the knight left; his tone suggested he was of higher rank than the official, yet the official seemed unconcerned: “We’re already inside Arasah—what problem could still arise? But you—did you bribe the man to hide the she-bear’s cub inside the reliquary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I watched it placed inside, then carried into the palanquin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Maria suddenly heard a sudden, cut-off gasp; she continued smiling at the crowd, then slightly turned her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I accidentally knocked over a box—but Your Highness!” the maid whispered in panic, showing the princess the opened reliquary; this reliquary, containing the Virgin Mary’s hair, was to be placed by the princess herself on the altar; it should have held silk and a few strands of dark hair—but what she saw was a furry little animal wrapped in silk, dead, with no visible blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An omen of ill fortune—that was the princess’s first thought. Were these the emperor’s women? Or the ministers opposed to the marriage? Or Orthodox clergy and believers? The Latin Church hated the uncooperative Orthodox Church; and did not the Orthodox Church hate the Latin Church’s overreaching arms?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Amalric I and Manuel I, this marriage was about secular cooperation, not faith; but from the Church’s standpoint, nothing pleased them more than embarrassing two disobedient rulers; as for the Saracens—wouldn’t there still be kings willing to launch a third, fourth, or more crusades if Amalric I and Manuel I were gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But within a few breaths, the princess knew she had been wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin and Cesar followed beside Amalric I; they were not yet official squires, merely decorative attendants in this procession; David and Abigail, sons of nobles, were nearby too; but since these fellows had once effectively abandoned Prince Baldwin, they now had little face to speak or laugh with him; David kept stealing glances at them, while Abigail hung his gloomy face low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s William?” Baldwin suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David blinked. “What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just saw him go back—he went…” Baldwin had not finished when a terrified, almost tearing scream erupted from behind; he immediately wheeled his horse (thankfully, they were still riding adult horses) and charged forward ahead of everyone, Cesar closely behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The onlookers screamed: “It’s beasts! Beasts have escaped!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several wooden cages had been opened; all the beasts inside had broken free; to keep them docile, their food had been deliberately reduced these past days—they should have remained lethargic until the hunt began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment they got the chance, they unleashed wisdom and strength beyond human imagination; some sought only to pounce on a person and feast; others cared nothing else—first, escape to where fewer people were; people watched them charging toward them, baring white teeth, red tongues lolling—who could remain calm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some brave knights and squires rushed to fight the beasts—but this only enraged them further; more beasts, now blocked, began to bite and claw; brown sand and gray-white cobblestones were instantly splattered with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one noticed a black-gray she-bear walking slowly through the chaotic herd and crowd; she lifted her head, sniffing the scent of blood; suddenly, she found her cub—and smelled its death; she sprinted forward—those who had never hunted bears could not imagine how fast, how light, how agile such a massive creature could move; some knights saw her—but were too late to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a foolish maid thought to take advantage of the chaos and discard the cub from the reliquary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could let go, the she-bear arrived; unlike humans, she did not roar before attacking; she had already scented and seen her child, and instantly locked onto her target—the gilded palanquin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Byzantine princess turned ashen; she had not thought these people merely wanted to humiliate her, to leave a stain or crack in the marriage—these people had struck at the very root!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The she-bear charged the palanquin; one swipe shattered an official’s spine, another crushed the skull of a palanquin bearer; the palanquin crashed to the ground, shattered into pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1960,"2026-06-20T20:58:34.857Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6aa9907609e72f72021f5029ddd1948da27c8594a1236f05756e2131d93b845b","the-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations-chapter-53","the-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations-chapter-51",168,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-of-ten-thousand-nations-cover.jpg"]