Chapter 424: The Enthronement Ceremony

The war was finally pacified.

Yang Tianhu was beheaded by Zhou Yanli with a Long Sword, dying on the spot.

The remaining troops of Donghai Prefecture were taken over by Xiao Moting.

Xiao Qiyu was captured, his tongue was cut out, and he was escorted back to Shengjing.

Li Zongguang set off with Zhou Yanli; he was returning to Wushan to take his disciple, whom he had raised since childhood, home.

Xiao Moting was uneasy, so he dispatched a troop of soldiers to escort them, and also ordered people to find a site with good feng shui to bury the remains of Zhou Yanli and his clansmen.

After Zhou Yanli died, Bai Wei cried for a long time.

She had come to Daliang and witnessed many deaths, but this one was the most painful and the most unforgettable.

Zhou Yanli could foresee the future and had saved her many times, but this time, he was the only one he could not save.

With the departure of Zhou Yanli, the curse that had plagued the Zhou family for a thousand years also vanished.

The power of the Jade Pendant was taken away along with him.

Bai Wei could no longer sense her space; she was trapped in Daliang and could not return to the modern era.

Xiao Moting comforted her, "Rest easy for a few days; the world is vast, there must be other ways to let you go back."

He wrote an imperial edict, ordering people to search the entire world to find all kinds of extraordinary people, just to help Bai Wei go home.

Several days passed.

Xiao Moting led his troops on a long trek and finally returned to Shengjing, where the enthronement ceremony was to be held immediately.

The city gates were thrown wide open, the streets were filled with kneeling civil and military officials, followed by countless commoners.

"Respectfully welcoming His Majesty back to Shengjing! Long live, long live, long live the Emperor!"

Everyone kowtowed deeply, shouting "long live" in unison to welcome the New Emperor back to the capital.

In the middle of the road stood a graceful and luxurious imperial consort.

Beside her, several palace maids knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their heads to face the imperial countenance.

Xiao Moting reined in his horse, jumped down, and looked up at the noble consort.

This noble lady was none other than Noble Consort Yun.

Now, she had become Empress Dowager Yun.

Seeing her son return, Empress Dowager Yun was exceptionally excited and opened her arms to welcome him.

Xiao Moting was also emotionally stirred and strode over.

"Mother."

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Yun bypassed Xiao Moting, brushed past him, and hurried toward the horses.

"Xiao Wei, you've finally come to Shengjing! Aunt Yun thought I would never see you again."

Bai Wei had been following behind Xiao Moting; after all, he was the new Emperor, and she could not stand on equal footing with him in front of all the civil and military officials.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Yun abandoned Xiao Moting, rushed over, and pulled her into a hug.

"Aunt, Aunt Yun?" Bai Wei was bewildered, "Shouldn't I be calling you Empress Dowager?"

What kind of scene was the Empress Dowager putting on?

Empress Dowager Yun picked up a silk handkerchief and excitedly wiped her moist eyes, "I learned it from TV dramas; calling you Empress Dowager is too formal, from now on you should call me Aunt Yun."

She paused and giggled.

"Or, you can call me Mother."

As she spoke, she even winked her left eye at her.

Bai Wei's mouth hung half-open, and she was simply speechless.

The Empress Dowager Yun before her had changed too much!

She was a completely different person from the resentful woman in the deep palace of over a year ago; she was as lively and cheerful as Granny Liu from Dream of the Red Chamber.

Lai Mama hurriedly explained, "Bai, the Empress Dowager has been watching too many TV dramas, so her words and actions are a bit... you know, please don't mind it."

Empress Dowager Yun pulled Bai Wei along, "Come, come, Xiao Wei, hurry and follow me into the palace; I have ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare a table of good food to welcome you."

At this moment, Xiao Moting, who had been left aside, could no longer hold back and stepped forward to say.

"Mother, have you forgotten something?"

Only then did Empress Dowager Yun remember him and tilted her chin toward him.

"Ting'er, you come along too. Tomorrow is the enthronement ceremony; after you finish your meal, go back to your room to rest, as I want to have a heart-to-heart with Xiao Wei."

The implication was for him not to come and disturb them.

Xiao Moting felt aggrieved.

Bai Wei was pulled along by Empress Dowager Yun as they walked forward.

Empress Dowager Yun walked while asking urgently.

"Xiao Wei, is there any sequel to that Western ancient mythology drama you downloaded for me before? The one where the Dragon Lady takes three dragons to save slaves and kills her way through with an army?"

"The Dragon Lady taking dragons and killing her way through? That ancient mythology drama? Is it called Game of Thrones?"

"Yes, yes, I only saw up to the sixth season. Is there more? I look forward to the sequel every day."

"There is, I..."

"That's great, you must help me download the full series; I just want to see the Dragon Lady become the Empress. By the way, that Kangxi Dynasty, the Emperor is so handsome and talented, I haven't seen enough of him yet."

"Aunt Yun, the actor who played the Emperor is Teacher Chen."

"Yes, yes, it seems on the cast list, this Emperor is called Chen Dao something; I like him so much."

Lai Mama sighed helplessly, "Bai, the Empress Dowager is obsessed with the Emperor in this TV drama; she watches it over and over, and even specifically found a painter to paint a portrait of this Emperor to stick on the head of her bed to look at every day. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for you to come so she can talk to you about the Emperor and wants you to find more TV dramas that this Emperor acted in for her to watch."

Bai Wei looked up at the sky.

It's over...

The Empress Dowager has become a star-chaser, and even became an ancient fan of Teacher Chen!

Bai Wei was speechless.

Teacher Chen really is a lady-killer; even an ancient lady is captivated by him.

Xiao Moting did not quite understand what they were talking about, so he just followed silently behind the two, a sense of crisis emerging in his heart.

It seems he cannot let Bai Wei watch this TV series too much; if she were to become like his mother, obsessed with the emperor in the TV series, then he, the real emperor, would be in danger.

In the palace, a sumptuous banquet had already been set.

Xiao Moting, having become the New Emperor, had to go to the great hall to dine with the civil and military officials who had come to welcome and congratulate him, and to discuss the enthronement ceremony for tomorrow.

Bai Wei stayed in the palace of Yun Taihou to eat and chat.

In front of her, Yun Taihou had no airs of an Empress Dowager at all; when the conversation reached a happy point, she even looked like a young girl chasing a star, her eyes shining.

"Xiao Wei, what does Teacher Chen, who plays Kangxi, usually like to eat and do?"

"Can you get a portrait of Teacher Chen? Can you get a few for Aunt Yun?"

"I also want Teacher Chen's autograph..."

A night passed.

Early the next morning.

Just as the sky brightened, Xiao Moting changed into his Dragon Robe and arrived at the Taihe Gate.

He looked up at the solemn and towering Taihe Hall ahead.

Once, he had knelt before this hall.

Now, he is the New Emperor, receiving the kowtows of all the people.

The civil and military officials knelt in two rows, bowing their heads deeply.

"Long live our Emperor! Your Majesty is divinely wise; your ascension to the throne today is truly the blessing of all the people!"

"May our Daliang Kingdom's reign be long and our land remain secure forever!"

The shouts soared straight into the sky.

Xiao Moting raised his head and walked step by step toward the dragon throne in front.

He finally ascended the imperial throne, with the imperial title Tianqi, representing a new era for the Daliang Dynasty.

The deep, resonant sound of bells rang out, one after another, spreading throughout all of Shengjing, announcing the New Emperor's enthronement to all the people!

Shengjing was in full bloom, and all the commoners in the streets and alleys knelt down, respectfully kowtowing toward the direction of the imperial city.

"Long live Emperor Tianqi, long live, long live."

After the enthronement ceremony.

Xiao Moting dismissed the officials and went alone to a cold and secluded small courtyard in the inner palace.

He stood outside the door for a long time before finally pushing it open and walking in.

In the room in the courtyard, an old man was lying down.

Xiao Moting walked over.

The old man was lying on the bed, unable to move, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth; an attendant was using a handkerchief to wipe it for him, and upon seeing Xiao Moting arrive, he hurriedly knelt down in fear, then lowered his head and retreated.

Xiao Moting watched quietly.

This was his imperial father, Emperor Xuanjing.

Emperor Xuanjing also recognized Xiao Moting; his cloudy eyeballs rolled a few times, a 'he-he' sound came from his throat, and he stretched his neck and struggled, as if wanting to crawl up.