Chapter 312: Chapter 312: The Grand Ceremony of Heaven Worship

At the palace gate, a group of Civil and Military Officials had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing the two of them, who looked like celestial beings, approaching, everyone immediately made way.

On the wide main road, three thousand cavalry soldiers holding yellow flags led the way, while commoners on both sides knelt in kowtow. Soldiers wielding red-tasseled lances maintained order along the procession.

Six Han-blooded horses pulled a giant emperor’s carriage with a canopy, and four other Han-blooded horses drew a luxurious carriage. Liu Desheng immediately helped Xiao Yunjing onto the emperor’s carriage, while Wuqing helped Gu Qingli onto the luxurious carriage. Xiao Yunjing held two of the little ones, and Gu Qingli held one.

Afterward, the carriages slowly set off for Xiangguo Temple.

The Civil and Military Officials followed behind.

Three thousand cavalry soldiers formed two lines to protect the carriages, while another one hundred from the Secret Sect, dressed as Golden Armor Guards, stayed close to the two carriages, providing close protection.

At the entrance of Xiangguo Temple, Master Jueliao led a group of monks to welcome them. Seeing the carriages arriving, they immediately ushered them to the foot of Divine Altar Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, Xiao Yunjing and Gu Qingli alighted from the carriages, handing the three little ones to Wuyou and his companions.

The two gazed at a white jade staircase that led straight up the mountain. At the summit, a circular building was visible from a distance, its outline barely discernible.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, please ascend from here,” said Minister of Rites Lord Fang, bowing respectfully.

“Alright,” Xiao Yunjing responded faintly, holding Gu Qingli’s hand, and the two began to ascend the white jade steps.

The officials followed behind them.

Three thousand cavalry soldiers remained at the foot of the mountain to guard, while lance-bearing soldiers formed two lines on either side of the stairway for protection.

One hundred Golden Armor Guards still followed closely.

As they slowly climbed the white jade steps, they saw the nine hundred ninety-nine steps leading up. From the foot of the mountain, looking up, the white jade staircase resembled a white ribbon, as if it were a ladder to ascend to the heavens, reaching directly to the Nine Heavens above.

Indeed, for Xiao Yunjing and Gu Qingli, this heavenly stairway was truly their ladder to ascend to the heavens; they would soar to a height of ninety thousand li!

Step by step, they climbed the nine hundred ninety-nine steps, and after a little over an hour, they arrived at the summit.

At the top was a large square that could accommodate five thousand people. The entire surface was paved with white jade, smooth and gleaming, as if washed clean by water.

The round building was also constructed of white jade. In its center was the divine altar. Upon the huge, flat, circular platform, a square incense burner stood prominently. Its four handles were formed by four divine beasts representing the four cardinal directions, their vivid appearances making it seem as if the four divine beasts had descended to protect this land.

This altar, built at the founding of Daqian, was generally used for praying for blessings, rain, or when a new Emperor ascended the throne for the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony. During ordinary times, it was guarded and protected by the monks of Xiangguo Temple.

Xiao Yunjing, his lips tightly pursed, gazed at the divine altar for a moment, then turned to look at the Civil and Military Officials behind him, who were already in their designated positions.

Fearing any unforeseen circumstances, Xiao Yunjing had only brought the Civil and Military Officials, Empress Gu Qingli, and the three little ones, leaving everyone else behind.

In truth, there weren’t many others he could have brought. His harem consisted only of Gu Qingli. The others belonged to either the former Emperor or Chu Xiong; Chu Xiong and his concubines had already moved to Changle Palace.

Though still within the Imperial Palace, they were now people of two separate worlds.

At this point, soldiers moved to surround the square, forming a perimeter. Each one was on high alert, ensuring not even a fly could pass through.

This was another precaution arranged by Xiao Yunjing. He had handpicked these elite soldiers and would not allow anything to go wrong today.

The Civil and Military Officials dared not even breathe loudly as they stared at the majestic Emperor. The Emperor, dressed in a five-clawed dragon robe and a golden crown, exuded an intimidating aura that made it impossible for people to look directly at him. Beside him, Gu Qingli wore a bright red phoenix robe and a phoenix crown, its gemstone tassels swaying gently, enhancing her already exquisite beauty with an imposing noble aura.

They hadn’t dared to look closely before. Now, seeing the new Emperor and Empress at close range, the Civil and Military Officials were awestruck by their extraordinary demeanor and celestial appearance.

They made Chu Xiong and the King of Qing seem like dust by comparison.

The sky was clear and bright, a vast expanse of blue. Xiao Yunjing squinted, lifting his head to gaze into the distance.

“Li’er, the weather is quite fine today,” Xiao Yunjing said, his hand, holding Gu Qingli’s, sweating slightly.

“Yes, it’s quite fine,” Gu Qingli smiled and squeezed his hand in return. She knew what he was nervous about; she was even more anxious than Xiao Yunjing. She felt the Original Host stirring within her.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the auspicious time has arrived!” Minister of Rites Lord Fang and Master Jueliao stepped forward together.

Xiao Yunjing nodded. He led Gu Qingli to stand before the incense burner.

Minister of Rites Lord Fang lit three incense sticks, stood next to Xiao Yunjing, bowed, and respectfully offered them to him. Next to Gu Qingli, Master Jueliao bowed and offered her three incense sticks.

“The Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony begins!” Lord Fang announced loudly.

Xiao Yunjing composed himself, stepped forward slowly, and proclaimed in a clear voice, “Heaven and Earth above, I below. Today, I, in accordance with the legacy of my ancestors… First bow to Heaven!” With that, he raised the incense and bowed towards the distant sky.

Gu Qingli followed suit and bowed. Suddenly, her body swayed, and dizziness washed over her. She bit her lip hard.

“Return my body to me! This honor today is mine!” the Original Host’s enraged voice echoed in Gu Qingli’s mind.

Never! Gu Qingli gritted her teeth, biting the tip of her tongue to keep herself from fainting. If she fainted now, she would lose.

Beside her, Jueliao noticed her distress and immediately began to whisper, “Amitabha, Amitabha…”

As Jueliao’s “Amitabha” chant transitioned from slow to fast, Gu Qingli heard it, and the dizziness in her head lessened.

Nearby, Xiao Yunjing heard Jueliao’s “Amitabha” and understood Gu Qingli’s current condition.

His eyes turned icy as he watched the Civil and Military Officials below, wishing for the ceremony to conclude quickly.

At that moment, the Civil and Military Officials below followed suit and bowed.

“Second bow to Earth!”

When they had finished bowing, Xiao Yunjing called out once more, leading everyone in another bow.

“Third bow to our Ancestors above!”

The officials slowly bowed in succession. They felt the Emperor’s pace was somewhat rushed, but since no rules were broken, the Civil and Military Officials could only follow.

After the three bows were completed, Xiao Yunjing and Gu Qingli turned around. He declared, “As the new Emperor, I am resolved to seek the welfare of all people under Heaven, ensuring everyone has food to eat and clothes to wear. In Daqian, no one shall ever again suffer from hunger or cold…”

Xiao Yunjing spoke rapidly, rattling off his words, while Gu Qingli gritted her teeth, fighting against the Original Host.

Seeing Gu Qingli’s ashen face and her swaying, unsteady posture, Xiao Yunjing quickly concluded his speech. He then supported her as they approached the incense burner, and she hastily inserted the three incense sticks into the censer. Newest update provided by novel~fire~net

“Li’er, hold on!” Xiao Yunjing muttered. He wished he could slap the Original Host’s soul into oblivion. He shot a fierce glare at Jueliao, whose mouth hadn’t stopped moving.

Jueliao was also helpless. He wasn’t a Daoist priest and couldn’t expel souls; he could only desperately chant the scriptures he knew.

Gu Qingli, her face deathly pale, leaned on Xiao Yunjing’s arm and struggled to insert the three incense sticks into the burner.

“The ceremony is complete!” Minister of Rites Lord Fang shouted. He had noticed Gu Qingli’s unusual state but merely thought Her Majesty the Empress was physically weak, so he followed Xiao Yunjing’s lead and quickly made the announcement.

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