Chapter 585: Christmas Grand Ceremony

Bugles, drums, and ceremonial music.

The Christmas Day of the Longyan Dynasty.

Grand in scale, and extremely solemn.

The imperial honor guard consisted of two long processions; some were responsible for carrying various items, while others were responsible for playing ceremonial music. Today, Xie Tianyao was also dressed in his finest for the outing; on the imperial carriage, Xie Tianyao looked to be in fairly good spirits. Beside him, on the phoenix carriage, was naturally the Empress Zheng Fu, who was the model of motherhood for the world and equally imposing in her nobility.

The other concubines only had the qualification to walk on the ground.

Vast and mighty.

Consort Dong, Dong Shuyu, had an undoubtedly gloomy expression at this moment; she held her son, the Eleventh Prince Xie Ming, by the hand, staring fiercely at the back of Zheng Fu on the phoenix carriage, her heart filled with wild jealousy.

Just one step away...

She was just one step away from that distance!

Did she want to rely on the Longyang Princess to stabilize her own status?

Hmph!

Wishful thinking!

Today, if the Emperor issues an order to marry the Longyang Princess to that master of the Grassland, Tie Mucheng, then Zheng Fu's wishful thinking will all come to nothing!

As for...

Whether or not...

Dong Shuyu sneered.

Xie Chan had already reached the age of marriage many years ago; it was long past time for her to be wed. If she did not marry Tie Mucheng, could she perhaps marry that wolf-hearted Prefect Liu? That Xie Tianyao wanted to settle scores with Prefect Liu was something almost all of Longyan knew...

Besides...

What this grand ceremony would be like today, no one knew yet!

What "Winter Is Coming"!

It was spoken of as something miraculous, yet if he makes a fool of himself today, then that Prefect Liu will absolutely be in a hopeless situation!

Xie Tianyao sat on the imperial carriage, his face full of majesty.

As he traveled, he accepted the homage of the civil and military officials.

With thousands of calls and cries, it was extremely respectful.

Grand Eunuch Zhou, meanwhile, was on the side, following the established procedure to recite the life of the current Emperor, Xie Tianyao, and eulogize his political achievements. Things like stabilizing the imperial court, the country being prosperous and the people at peace, and even expanding the territory, pacifying the Western Regions, defeating the Xiongnu, conquering the Southern Barbarians, and promoting the Imperial Examination—after thousands of years, the Longyan Dynasty was once again showing signs of a golden age...

Xie Tianyao suddenly smiled.

His hands gripped the railing of the imperial carriage, his expression unchanged.

Yet in his heart, he was already thinking...

Are these his political achievements?

Do these count as his political achievements?

Why did he find it so awkward to listen to?

Was this praising him, or was it cursing him?

Every time Grand Eunuch Zhou praised him, the civil and military officials would kneel and bow again, chanting "Long live" in unison. The process was cumbersome and long, yet solemn.

"Your Majesty, you must be thirsty..."

Grand Eunuch Zhou paused for a moment and hurriedly brought over some water.

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily: "Lao Zhou, tell me, do you feel awkward shouting like that?"

"Ah?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou, being a shrewd man, naturally knew what Xie Tianyao meant, but how could he dare to say such a thing? He immediately said with a straight face: "This old servant believes that it is precisely because of Your Majesty's boundless good fortune and the grace of Longyan spreading everywhere that these things exist! Under Your Majesty's holy light..."

Xie Tianyao listened with an impatient look, took a sip of water, and waved his hand impatiently.

"Tell me..."

Xie Tianyao asked with a smile: "Today, will this Prefect Liu live, or die?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou trembled all over.

The answer to this question was what everyone was waiting for.

Yes.

Everyone was waiting for today's grand ceremony.

One could even say they were looking forward to it with bated breath.

Among them, the one who most wanted to see Prefect Liu fail today was undoubtedly the Crown Prince, Xie Fang.

As the master of the Eastern Palace, he did not need to kneel and bow with the civil and military officials; he could walk behind the imperial carriage and phoenix carriage along with the concubines.

"Have you still not figured out what he wants to do?"

Walking while wiping his sweat, Xie Fang asked his attendant in a low voice.

"Your Highness, I really don't know... I only know that the Shichang was very lively yesterday... After all, regarding the matter of the grand ceremony, Chen Qian is backing Prefect Liu, which allows him to bypass many people..."

The attendant replied.

Xie Fang's heart skipped a beat; based on his few dealings with Prefect Liu, he knew that this person could always create miracles... Therefore, the more mysterious things were, the less confident he felt. But he still snorted: "But it is so hot today, let's see how he handles 'Winter Is Coming'! Hahahaha!"

Death!

He believed that today, this Prefect Liu was in a hopeless situation!

When the imperial carriage and phoenix carriage arrived at the Zhuque Gate, it was already the fourth quarter of the Chen hour.

In other words, they had walked for a full hour on the roads of this Imperial Palace!

And then.

Amidst the respectful welcome of everyone, Xie Tianyao descended from the imperial carriage, the Empress descended from the phoenix carriage, and they ascended the high tower of Zhuque Gate in turn.

Zhuque Gate.

It is the direct south gate of Jinghua, named because the Vermilion Bird of the Four Symbols represents the south. Below the gate is Zhuque Street, the central axis of Jinghua, which is known as "Tianmen Street" in the Longyan Dynasty. For a long time, the emperors of the Longyan Dynasty have held celebratory events here.

The Zhuque Gate of the Longyan Dynasty has witnessed the glory, elegance, and vicissitudes of this dynasty since its founding, its unification, and several golden ages.

Under the repairs of successive emperors, Zhuque Gate has become increasingly tall, with eighteen archways and nine and a half stories, representing the supremacy of the Nine-Five. In Jinghua, a place with the world's most rigorous layout and one hundred and eight wards, Zhuque Gate is the main gate of the Imperial City's south wall, Mingde Gate is the main gate of the entire Jinghua City's south wall, and Zhuque Street between the two is the central axis of Jinghua City. Standing on Zhuque Gate, one can almost overlook the entire Jinghua City.

Step by step.

With the invisible support of Grand Eunuch Zhou, and amidst the collective cheers of the civil and military officials and the common people, Xie Tianyao walked step by step to the very top of Zhuque Gate.

"Long live, long live, long live our Emperor!"

"Long live, long live, long live our Emperor!"

At this moment.

Everyone in all of Jinghua, regardless of gender or age, regardless of skin color, regardless of poverty or wealth, all knelt down and shouted "long live" in unison, the sound shaking the heavens.

He.

Represents the highest power of the Longyan Dynasty.

He represents the dignity of the Longyan Dynasty.

He represents the glory of the Longyan Dynasty.

In ancient times, people liked to express faith and cohesion in very concrete ways. Hence the necessity for the existence of the royal family.

For these common people, if the emperor were suddenly gone, it would instead plunge them into extreme confusion.

"Long live, long live, long live our Emperor!"

"Long live, long live, long live our Emperor!"

Like mountains calling and seas roaring, like an overwhelming force, the sound came in wave after wave.

Xie Tianyao slowly raised his hand.

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

Grand Eunuch Zhou, with his not-so-shrill voice, roared: "The ceremony begins!"

"The ceremony begins!"

Everyone at the venue was incredibly excited.

This year's Christmas Ceremony had finally, after much anticipation, officially begun.

Only...

This year's ceremony, from the time of its preparation, had been permeated with a strange atmosphere everywhere.

Could it go smoothly?

Could this Prefect Liu completely suppress that bunch of monsters and demons, each harboring their own ulterior motives?

Everyone.

Was waiting.