荔枝影院

Edited by: Michyrr

When Wang Chong used the Soul Fire ability to collect the Sage Emperor’s soul, allowing that star to weakly reemerge in the night sky, ‘Heaven’ and many of the men in black became somewhat wary and frightened.

Until they found out the truth, not even the likes of Genesis Supreme dared to act recklessly. Unwittingly, Wang Chong had made the capital after the Sage Emperor’s death even more of a forbidden zone.

But regardless of the shift in the heavens, as per the Sage Emperor’s final decree, it was set in stone that Li Heng was to ascend to the throne of the Nine and Five and become the new Emperor of the Great Tang.

The country could not be without a sovereign for a day. Now that the Sage Emperor had been interred in the imperial mausoleum, to calm the people and stabilize the morale of the army, all the officials agreed that Li Heng would be coronated in Taiji Palace in several days.

Once this was announced, various letters of state began to be sent in all directions. All of the foreign countries were invited to participate in the coronation.

The Sage Emperor had passed, and the two renowned ministers of the Great Tang, Duke Jiu and Yao Chong, had passed shortly afterward. The three core individuals who had forged an era and suppressed the surrounding countries for thirty-some years had all died.

For the surrounding countries, it was as if three massive mountains had been moved off their heads, and these countries thus lost some of their respect and fear for the Great Tang.

But while the undercurrent flowed, the borders of the Great Tang remained calm and peaceful.

Though the Sage Emperor had passed, the intimidating War God Wang Chong still existed, and the Great Tang remained a powerful country.

No one would dare to move until they were fully prepared.

In fact, after receiving the invitations, seventy percent of the countries dispatched delegations to attend Li Heng’s coronation in the capital.

Bong!

On the day of Li Heng’s coronation, almost the entire capital turned out. Banners snapped in the wind and large lanterns festooned the streets. The streets were lively and bustling, forming a stark contrast with the gloom that had come with the passing of the Sage Emperor.

“Hail the new Emperor!”

“Hail the new Emperor!”

“Hail the new Emperor!”

The people of the capital cheered as they gathered around the Imperial Palace, excitedly looking toward Taiji Palace.

Even though they were far away and separated by many walls, they could still see the majestic Taiji Palace by raising their heads.

They could not personally attend the coronation, but at the time of the ceremony, they could still serve as distant spectators.

The Imperial Palace was pervaded by a solemn air, the one hundred thousand soldiers of the Imperial Army standing guard, the newly-produced dragon banners placed on the walls dancing in the wind.

Within the inner court, countless palace maids with bamboo baskets showered fresh flowers from above. The coronation ceremony involved ninety-nine thousand feet of Sassanid carpet that extended all the way from the Eastern Palace and up the jade stairway to Taiji Palace.

“Silence!”

As the eunuch Director of Ceremonies spoke, the officials solemnly stood on the two sides of the white jade stairway.

The high officials, nobles, members of the imperial households, the various Great Generals, the Grand Preceptor, the Grand Tutor, and the Ministers of the Six Bureaus had all assembled.

Wang Chong himself was wearing his imperial robes, standing prominently in the crowd with his crown of violet gold.

Wang Chong was no longer the sixteen-year-old youth of yesteryear. He had been honed and baptized through wars and tribulations, and had long ago become an influential official of the empire who struck fear into all the surrounding countries.

Simply by standing there, Wang Chong exuded boundless majesty and dignity that inspired awe in everyone who looked upon him.

But most importantly, everyone knew that Wang Chong had an extremely close relationship with Li Heng. One could say that Wang Chong had pushed Li Heng onto the throne.

Amongst the many Princes the Sage Emperor had left behind, Li Heng had been the most timid and unremarkable.

The patient and shrewd First Prince, the Second Prince who appeared to collude with the First Prince but had his own plans, the threatening and unbridled Third Prince, and also the Fourth Prince who had the support of the Hu generals and was very accepting of Turkic practices...

None of these Princes who were clearly more exceptional than Li Heng had taken the throne, which truly surprised everyone.

“The new Emperor has arrived!”

“Set off the fireworks!”

“Play the Shao Music!”

The presiding eunuch loudly issued order after order.

Fireworks shot into the air, as they fiercely exploded, cheers rose up from around the Imperial Palace.

From atop the white jade stairway, Wang Chong could see a golden canopy approaching from the distance, followed by the ceremonial guard holding dragon banners, escorted by numerous soldiers belonging to the Golden Guards and Imperial Army.

Beneath the golden canopy, surrounded by dragon banners and guards, was a Nine Dragon imperial carriage.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine feet away from the stairway, the carriage stopped, and a majestic and noble figure stepped out, his eyes shining with the domineering light of an Emperor.

When Wang Chong saw Li Heng, somewhat more mature and with a beard and mustache beginning to form on his face, he couldn’t help but emotionally sigh.

The coronation was presided over by the Directorate of Ceremonies and the Bureau of Rites. There was a strict ritual and process for the new Emperor to take the throne, and Wang Chong had not interfered in any way.

This was the first time Wang Chong had acted as a spectator to a matter involving Li Heng.

Li Heng was no longer that panicked, timid, and unaware Fifth Prince he had run into in the forest. The various palace struggles had honed and tempered him, and after the Sage Emperor’s passing, Li Heng had finally matured into that Lord of Resurgence from Wang Chong’s memories who understood his duties.

To Wang Chong’s relief, even after all that had happened, he had still managed to change Li Heng’s fate.

In his last life, Li Heng had only answered the call and ascended the throne when the situation was incredibly unstable. The throne at that time had been no honor, only an immense burden. In the end, the Great Tang’s Lord of Resurgence, doing his utmost for the empire, died full of regrets amidst the country’s troubles. This was one of Wang Chong’s regrets, a regret shared with many other people in that apocalyptic era.

But now, everything had changed. Li Heng had taken the throne, but the Great Tang was still prosperous and peaceful. This was not an era where enemies were on all sides.

Gao Xianzhi, An Sishun, and Zhangchou Jianqiong still stood tall, and not only had the Great Tang not grown weaker, it was even stronger than before.

The new takes the place of the old! The Great Tang has finally managed to get through this trial, Wang Chong quietly said to himself.

Everything he had done bore fruit at this moment. In the end, it had all been worth it. With this thought in mind, Wang Chong quickly calmed down.

In the distance, Li Heng wore the imperial crown and his imperial robes. His expression was somber as he was escorted up the steps by the officials from the Bureau of Rites toward that building which represented the absolute authority in the Great Tang, Taiji Palace.

The main eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies held the imperial decree drafted jointly by the cabinet, Six Bureaus, and Directorate of Ceremonies, and loudly read its contents.

“Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares: the previous Emperor suddenly passed, returning to the cycle of the Five Elements. Crown Prince Li Heng, acceding to the last wishes of the Sage Emperor and in accordance with the will of the heavens, entered the ancestral hall to offer respects. The officials and members of the imperial household attempted to persuade the Crown Prince three times before he finally accepted, so that it may be solemnly announced today that he takes the throne as Emperor. He fully understands the heavy responsibilities and feels great apprehension. It is his desire to properly govern and to reform the government with new practices, at the same time respecting the will of his predecessor. Knowing that he lacks in virtue, he will trust his virtuous subjects so that they may rule together. Thus, the next year will be known as the first year of the Zhongxing (Resurgence) Era.”

Once he was done, the eunuch rolled up the decree, upon which a eunuch at his side came forward with the jade seal and offered it to Li Heng.

Li Heng took the jade seal, upon which cheers rose up from inside and outside the Imperial Palace.

“May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”

“May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”

“May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”

The nearly one million inhabitants of the capital exploded with cheers, and fireworks soared into the skies. The entire capital immediately became a sea of jubilation.

The officials flanking the stairway all bowed.

The jade seal was a symbol of imperial authority, and the words inscribed upon it, ‘Accepting the Mandate of Heaven, Let the People Live Long and the Country Forever Prosper’, were a representation of the imperial household’s duty.

When Li Heng took the jade seal, he completed the ceremony for the transfer of imperial power. At that moment, Li Heng formally became the new Emperor of the Great Tang.

Bang!

At the same time, Dragon Qi, invisible to all eyes, soared into the heavens, and the world trembled. The stars above the Great Tang also began to change.

In the depths of the starry sky, a new Ziwei Emperor Star representing Li Heng exploded into brilliance.

As Wang Chong watched this all, he emotionally sighed.

He understood that Li Heng was now a true sovereign. He was no longer Crown Prince Li Heng, but His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Tang!

He and Wang Chong could no longer be friends. They were sovereign and subject, and their relationship would no longer be the same.

But when he thought about it, wasn’t this exactly what he wanted when he supported Li Heng?

“The ceremony is over!

“Let the new Emperor proceed to Taihe Palace to preside over his first court session! At the same time, he will issue the first decree of the Zhongxing Era!”

As Wang Chong heard the eunuch’s loud proclamation, he blinked and came back to his senses.