Chapter 159 Part 1

The day of the ceremony arrived as scheduled.

At dawn, as the rumbling sound of street drums echoed throughout the entire city of Chang’an, thousands of doors opened one after another.

At the auspicious time, triumphal music sounded in the city. Along the wide street from Kaiyuan Gate to the Imperial Palace, which could accommodate dozens of horse side by side, crowds of people gathered spontaneously from all directions.

The soldiers who returned to participate in today’s captive offering ceremony were all meritorious. They were dressed in bright armor, riding tall war horses, and marched in neat rows, passing through the Kaiyuan Gate that was opened specially for them, passing in front of the Zhenguo Tower next to it, and heading towards the palace amid cheers of people.

The emperor was dressed in a twelve-ornaments ceremonial robe, clad in dark upper garments and ochre lower robes, with a twelve-tasseled imperial crown on his head. Beneath a grand canopy and flanked by the imperial guard, he sat with solemn dignity atop the towering palace gate at the center of the Outer Court, exuding heavenly aura. In the square in front of him, hundreds of civil and military officials lined up solemnly, flanked by various guard divisions and yellow-plumed ceremonial escort.

The procession arrived at the main gate of the palace, behind which was a straight and wide imperial road leading directly to the city tower. The Jinwu Guards, halberds in hand, lined both sides. The thousand marching at the front continued to walk on the imperial road. The horses and men were majestic, and the steady pounding of hooves upon the ground echoed like thunder.

Upon reaching the dismounting bridge, Linghu Gong, the commander-in-chief of the campaign, dismounted from his horse. He led twelve main commanders from various factions behind him, including Pei Xiaoyuan, Xue Mian, He Du, Yuwen Zhi, and others—all strode forward to the base of the imperial tower. There, they knelt and paid formal respects to the emperor seated on the throne, and in a resounding voice, reported the full victory of the campaign.

He Jin, Chen Shao, Liu Bo, Gu Twelve and others had also been granted places at the front ranks of today’s procession due to their bravery in battle and outstanding military merit. For men like He Jin, Chen Shao, and Liu Bo, who each had prior experience, this was not entirely unfamiliar. But for soldiers like Gu Twelve, whose roots lay in the common streets, to appear in such a grand occasion was utterly unprecedented. At this moment, although everyone looked solemn and majestic, one could easily imagine how overwhelmed with emotion they truly were inside.

“…This minister, Linghu Gong, acting under Your Majesty’s command, marched to suppress the traitors and rebels. By the grace of Heaven and with the unified might of the army, we fought valiantly and struck fear into the hearts of our enemies. Now, by good fortune, we have not failed in our duty—victory was swift and decisive. The rebel chieftain has been captured and is hereby presented in full before the Heavenly Capital…”

Linghu Gong’s powerful voice echoed through the square and carried all the way into a duty chamber behind the imperial gate tower.

Xuyu accompanied Li Hui, and the two sat together quietly, listening to the sounds coming from outside.

Li Hui also wore a crown and ceremonial robes today. The crown on his head was adorned with nine tassels, and the ceremonial robes also had nine ornaments. Except for the number nine, the rest was the same as the emperor’s.

Once Linghu Gong had completed the presentation of the captured rebels, the Minister of Justice stepped forward to read out the imperial decree of condemnation on the emperor’s behalf. It ordered the beheading of the prisoners offered that day—along with the previously defeated rebel leader Wang Zhang and his cohort—for their crimes of treason, and that a report be made to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Then, came another extremely important content of the day: to confer the title of Crown Prince to Li Hui, to be proclaimed to the world so that all under heaven would be informed.

As each step of the planned ceremony proceeded in turn, the boy—who had been doing his utmost to remain composed—could no longer suppress the growing tension on his face.

“The Emperor’s edicts: Zhen, by the mandate of Heaven, reign over the eight corners of the world. All within the realm are Zhen’s beloved subjects. Save for the ten evil crimes, all are to be given the chance to reform. Yet there are rebels and traitors who collude and conspire, vile and shameless villains, madly overreaching and violently usurping order—daring to plunge the northern frontiers into chaos and to bring suffering to Zhen’s people…”

The voice of the Minister of Justice reading the imperial edict in a rhythmic manner was transmitted along.

“Our country and our noble dynasty, with boundless benevolence and virtue, bring peace to all under Heaven. To all who forsake evil and turn toward righteousness, none are denied the grace of imperial pardon. But those who defy edict and harbor malicious intent shall surely be met with righteous force, to be cut down and purged like the vile weeds they are…”

As the condemned traitors and rebel chieftains were dragged out for execution, deafening shouts of killing rang out in the square.

“Aunt, can I…really do this…”

As the minister announced the decree, Li Hui suddenly turned around and looked at Xuyu who was sitting next to him.

His hands were clasped tightly together and placed straight on his knees, his body rigid.

“I… I’m still worried that I won’t be able to do it well…”

He spoke in a low voice, tinged with a trace of shame. As he had turned his head so sharply just now, several strands of the beaded tassels hanging from the front of his crown had twisted together and caught on the rim of the imperial headdress.

Since the spring of last year, while the court was engaged in warfare, he had been quietly sent to the Eastern Capital—not only to study the classics and law, but also to accompany Pei Ji in touring remote villages and humble alleys, witnessing firsthand the lives of common folk through the changing seasons of farming and sericulture.

“You surely know much more about the teachings of saints than Aunt ever could,” Xuyu said, “Aunt wouldn’t even know how to begin teaching you.

“Can you tell Aunt what your biggest insight was last year?”

Li Hui was silent for a moment, then whispered, “Aunt, can I say it?”

“You can tell me.”

“I used to yearn for the prosperity of the Jingsheng Dynasty. I thought that before that turmoil, the world was peaceful, everyone lived and worked in peace, and there was no hunger in the world. Last year, I traveled all over the countryside with the Grand Tutor, and I realized how difficult it was for people to live! What shocked me even more was that more than once, I personally heard white-haired old farmers say that their lives now are already far better than they were twenty years ago. In the final years of the Jingsheng reign, the corvée and taxes were relentless, and the burdens of conscription were heavy. They toiled through all four seasons without rest. Even in years of modest harvest, they survived on nothing more than thin porridge and sparse vegetables. In times of famine, selling land and even children were commonplace—many were forced to leave their homes, with no place to return to. And the places I visited were still near the Eastern Capital. Just think—how vast is our country? In those remote places…”

His voice trailed off, halted by emotion.

Xuyu nodded.

“Yes, Aunt also experienced these things when I was outside in the early years. So, did Grand Tutor Pei have any advice on how a monarch should deal with them?”

“The country’s territory spans for thousands of miles, and it is where the people live. Virtue lies in good governance, and governance lies in nourishing the people.” Li Hui said slowly.

“Princess!”

At this time, Guo Guo’er’ respectful voice came from outside the duty room.

“The Crown Prince should be coming out soon. Grand Tutor Pei will personally welcome him.”

Xuyu stood up, raised her hand, and arranged the tassels on Li Hui’s crown, making them hang neatly. Then she smiled and said, “Go ahead. As long as you do not forget your feelings at this moment, the sacrifices of all the soldiers of our Holy Dynasty—whether still among us today, or already gone—will not have been in vain.”

Li Hui gritted his teeth and slowly, yet firmly, nodded his head.

Pei Ji was waiting outside with the ceremonial officers.

Xuyu escorted Li Hui to the door. He took a few steps, then suddenly turned around again and bowed respectfully to her. Only after completing the gesture did he rise, and finally, walk toward Pei Ji and the others.

“…In ancient times, the sagely kings received the Mandate and set divine examples. When worthiness determined succession, King Ji brought rise to the Zhou; when noble blood was honored, Emperor Ming secured the Han. Now there is Prince Xin’an, Hui—graceful as orchids, blessed with virtue, innately benevolent and filial—standing before an empty place of glory, with all under Heaven looking to him with hope… It is fitting to establish Hui as Crown Prince, to safeguard the legacy and inherit the ancestral line, that the empire may stand firm for a hundred generations, and all nations find constancy therein…”

After the Minister of Rites finished reading the imperial edict establishing the Crown Prince, the decree was handed down from the tower. Li Hui knelt down, raised his hands high to receive it, and kowtowed to the emperor.

Then, all the civil and military officials, the imperial guards, and all the triumphant soldiers who participated in the captive offering ceremony—beginning with Linghu Gong and Pei Xiaoyuan—performed the formal salute together with Li Hui, facing the emperor.

The cheers started from the square and spread beyond the walls of the imperial palace. The soldiers outside the Danfeng Gate knelt down and cheered in respond. The wave of sound spread out again and again, with the people on the street followed suit and joined the cheers.

The emperor slowly stood up from the throne on the tower, and Xuyu, who was standing in a corner behind him, came up quietly and supported him. When they were about to leave, she suddenly turned her head and looked down.

On the vast square, thousands of people bowed together—like countless ants gathered in solemn submission. And yet, amid the dense crowd, she still spotted that figure at first sight, bright and clear, with a demeanor as steadfast as a pine tree.

Like all those around him, he was bent forward in reverent salute. But as she turned her head, as if drawn by a silent summons, he slowly lifted his gaze—and looked directly toward her.

Across the multitude, their eyes found each other.

“What are you looking at?” The emperor, walking beside her, paused as well. After a moment, he suddenly asked.

“Looking at my husband Pei.” She responded in a low voice.

The corners of the emperor’s lips, which had been tightly pursed, moved slightly.

Amid the shouts of “Long live the emperor” that rose into the sky behind her, she supported the emperor and went down the imperial tower.

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