Chapter 144: Empress Shuoyue’s Enthronement Day

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Empress Shuoyue’s Enthronement Day

The night was dark and the wind howled.

For the National Capital of the Shuoyue Kingdom, it was a turbulent night.

The Dark Night Envoys truly lived up to their name.

A total of more than one hundred and seventy assassins fanned out across every corner of the Capital City. Following the information provided by Ji Bufan’s intelligence network, they hunted down anyone deemed a potential threat to the next day’s enthronement ceremony, either killing or capturing them.

The intelligence network itself played a significant role, organizing to eliminate numerous foreign spies hiding within the Shuoyue Kingdom.

At dawn, Ji Bufan and Ying Xiao arrived at Xuanzheng Hall.

They weren’t the only ones. Aside from Liu Yicai, who was overseeing Mr. Hong’s Auction House, the other five—Lan Bing, Che Dagui, and Liu Yisheng included—were disguised as Jin Chuhong’s Close Guards, standing watch outside Xuanzheng Hall.

"Sir, there is one thing I forgot to report to you," Ji Bufan said, hesitating slightly.

"What is it?"

"The representatives from the Lingyun Sect who came to the Shuoyue Kingdom are your wife’s parents: Fifth Elder Yun Keji and his wife from the Chen Clan. Moreover, Yun Keji has been meeting with the other Sects these past few days, also in opposition to the enthronement ceremony."

"So you didn’t move against them last night?" Chu Fan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sir, I..." Ji Bufan looked troubled, stammering and unable to continue.

Chu Fan waved his hand. "If you didn’t, you didn’t. The Lingyun Sect can’t make any significant waves right now. If I’m not mistaken, anyone willing to meet with Yun Keji is probably just placating him. Let them be. No matter what, they are still Yun Xi’s parents. Even if they’ve severed their father-daughter relationship, the blood tie remains. I’ll deal with the Lingyun Sect personally at the Tengxing Grand Assembly."

"Sir, what if they cause trouble today?" Ji Bufan asked.

"Them?" Chu Fan scoffed. "If they truly had the guts, Yun Xi and I would never have been treated that way back then. To put it bluntly, they’re just a couple of spineless cowards who’ve lost their backbone."

Chu Fan knew that while the Shuoyue Kingdom was going to great lengths for this enthronement ceremony, and a few kingdoms were paying attention, most of the Six Sects and Eight Gates, as well as the Red Blood Mansion, were treating it as a joke.

Although there had been plenty of incidents recently—assassinations, troublemaking—the ones sent were all just small fry.

The three Divine Separation Realm level experts sent by the Celestial Sect, Dark Moon Sect, and Fiery Fire Sect last night were the strongest opponents they had faced.

What they were truly concerned about was the exact relationship between the Shuoyue Kingdom and Mr. Hong’s Auction House, and what role the true power behind the auction house was playing in all this.

「At 7 a.m.」

The plaques on all nine gates of the Palace City were replaced. Their original names were changed in order to: Chengtian Gate, Duan Gate, Meridian Gate, Zhenghua Gate, the Divine Martial Sect, the Cyan Dragon Sect, the Vermilion Bird Sect, the Black Tortoise Sect, and the White Tiger Sect.

The Earth and Grain Altar was established to the left of the Palace City, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple to the right.

The enthronement ceremony would first involve paying respects at the Earth and Grain Altar, then worshiping at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, before culminating in the coronation at the Imperial Hall (formerly Xuanzheng Hall).

In fact, since 5 a.m., long before the sky had brightened, Yizheng Avenue outside the main gate of the Palace City was already packed with commoners.

Regardless of what other nations thought, or whether the Cultivation Sects were treating this enthronement ceremony as a joke, for the original citizens of the Shuoyue Kingdom, today was a momentous day that would surely be recorded in the annals of history.

Ever since the Shuoyue Monarch issued three decrees two and a half years ago, the people of the Shuoyue Kingdom had personally experienced the benefits of the new policies.

The children of commoners not only had access to education but also received free meals. Even for those who weren’t cut out for scholarly pursuits, learning to read could help them secure an officer’s position in the army.

After those three decrees were issued, the Shuoyue Kingdom purged corruption from top to bottom. Regardless of an official’s rank, if they had committed past misdeeds that went undiscovered, a thorough investigation would be launched as soon as a victim came forward to press charges.

Therefore, it was the common people at the very bottom of society who felt the changes throughout the Shuoyue Kingdom most profoundly.

Their Sovereign was ascending the throne as Empress and planned to unify the Eastern Domain. The common folk didn’t understand grand strategies, but they knew their Sovereign was wise and brilliant.

Such a Sovereign deserved good fortune. They had heard people call their Sovereign’s ambitions delusional, but would such a wise ruler do something impulsive?

If their Sovereign truly managed to unify the Eastern Domain, wouldn’t they, the original citizens of the Shuoyue Kingdom, be a cut above the people of other kingdoms?

After last night’s sweep, it was unlikely that any troublemakers remained among the spectators on Yizheng Avenue. However, just in case, some experts from the Profound Wind Mercenary Corps and the Yellow Storm Mercenary Corps were disguised in commoners’ clothing, mingling with the crowd.

「At 6:10 a.m.」

Civil and Military Officials, along with students from the Imperial College, entered the Palace City through Chengtian Gate, all dressed in formal robes.

They were followed by representatives from the Sects that had submitted congratulatory memorials, as well as the Sovereigns of the three kingdoms that had pledged allegiance—Upper Wu, Huaiyang, and Bei Chen—who entered the Palace City with a few of their officials.

「At 6:30 a.m.」

Chu Fan, disguised as "Jin Chuhong," arrived at the Earth and Grain Altar wearing the Crimson Four-Clawed Python Dragon Robe and accompanied by a retinue of Guards.

On the Earth and Grain Altar, sacrificial offerings and incense candles had already been arranged.

The crowd of spectators stood arranged on the left and right.

The Ceremonial Officer was an old man with white hair and a white beard, a veteran official who had served four successive monarchs of the Shuoyue Kingdom.

"Let the rites begin—"

As the Ceremonial Officer’s voice rang out, bells and ceremonial music sounded in unison, and the Heaven-Listening Drum began to be struck three hundred and sixty-five times.

"Jin Chuhong" held tall incense sticks and bowed to Heaven and Earth.

The Ceremonial Officer read aloud the sacrificial ode to Heaven.

The assembly then moved to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay homage to the ancestors.

After the long and tedious set of rituals, Chu Fan couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

’This ordeal should have been Jin Chuhong’s to bear. The title of Emperor will be hers, not mine,’ he grumbled to himself.

Outside the Imperial Hall, "Jin Chuhong" changed into a black ceremonial robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon and put on the Crown with Tassels.

Behind her stood a golden Coiling Dragon Throne.

Before her was the Imperial Desk, upon which rested the Jade Seal.

Lining the sides of the steps were the ceremonial musical instruments, honor guard, regalia, and imperial carriage.

The Ceremonial Officer publicly read the enthronement edict. The sovereigns of the three kingdoms then presented their petitions, swearing to recognize Jin Chuhong as Emperor.

Afterward, the three Elders from the Celestial Sect, Dark Moon Sect, and Fiery Fire Sect dragged their broken bodies forward and publicly read a plea, representing their three Sects and vowing to obey the Empress’s edicts.

The appearance of these three men gave the other Sect representatives a real shock, filling them with confusion.

They even began whispering amongst themselves.

These Sects had submitted memorials and attended the ceremony purely to obtain tickets for the auction. They never expected the members of three Sects who had been so full of righteous indignation just days ago would put on such a performance today.

Seeing the three of them with their broken bodies, it wasn’t hard to tell they had been coerced.

’But to make these three Sects submit at the same time... what kind of power does the Shuoyue Monarch have behind her?’

’After the ceremony, we’ll have to find those three and have a chat,’ they thought.

After another round of ceremonies, "Jin Chuhong" publicly announced the founding of a new dynasty with the name "Xia" and declared the new era name to be "Datong."

The Court would be structured according to the Three Provinces and Six Ministries System. A list of officials for each department would be reviewed, and letters of appointment would be issued.

Furthermore, she immediately enfeoffed the Sovereign of the Upper Wu Kingdom as King Wu, the Sovereign of the Dongchen Kingdom as King Chen, and the Sovereign of the Huaiyang Kingdom as Prince Huai. Their titles would be hereditary and perpetual.

With the ceremony complete, the crowd erupted in cheers, bowing in homage...