Chapter 92

The day chosen for Li Er's ascension to the throne was well selected, the ninth day of the ninth month in the ninth year of Wude (no nitpicking). This day is the Double Ninth Festival, and it was chosen for this reason. The Double Ninth Festival signifies that there can be two suns in the sky. Although Li Yuan had stepped down, he still held supreme power, just not using it as freely as before. As long as he spoke, the entire empire would still listen.

Early in the morning, countless guards began checking if everything needed was in place. These preparations were all carried out by the guards. For such an important occasion, eunuchs, who are physically incomplete, were not allowed to participate, let alone women.

In front of the Taiji Hall, a tall altar was constructed, adorned with red silk. The altar was ninety-five feet high, symbolizing the supreme power of the emperor. The altar had ninety-nine steps, and on each step, two armored soldiers stood, holding ceremonial weapons such as halberds, drums, and large sabers, all raised straight to the sky.

The auspicious time soon arrived, and the officials and military officers had already lined up below the altar. The ministers of the Tiancefu were notably standing closest to the altar, a supreme honor. Qin Qiong also appeared, standing in a special position. As the only Shangzhuo General appointed by Li Yuan in the early Tang Dynasty, his position was very prominent, even more so than the current three-army commander, the revered Li Jing, standing at the forefront of the military officers.

"The Emperor has arrived!" A powerful shout marked the beginning of the ceremony. Li Yuan, surrounded by a large group of guards, rose from the Nine-Dragon Throne in the Taiji Hall and walked towards the altar.

During this period, Sun Simiao had been treating his health, and all state affairs had been handed over to Li Er. Now, his health had improved significantly, at least appearing normal. Li Yuan walked with the dignity and authority of someone who had long been at the pinnacle of power, and as he approached the altar, all the officials bowed in reverence, kneeling and shouting, "We pay homage to our Emperor, may the Emperor live ten thousand years!"

Li Yuan did not stop but began to ascend the altar, quickly passing the ninety-nine steps. Upon reaching the top, he found the prepared abdication document. He extended his hands, holding the yellow silk document with both hands. Unfolding it, he read aloud, "Hereby, the earthly emperor Li Yuan, abdicates the throne to his second son, Li Shimin, praying for the heavens to bless our Tang Dynasty, ensuring national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and abundant livestock. The former Sui Dynasty was cruel, and I raised the banner of righteousness, waging war for nine years to bring peace to the land, with the heavens showing mercy..."

The officials below listened with rapt attention. Li Kuan, kneeling below, was completely baffled. This was all about deceiving the so-called heavens! The reason Li Yuan raised the banner of rebellion was not because of the suffering of the people. He was sent by Yang Guang to suppress peasant uprisings in Taiyuan, but his affair with Yang Guang's woman was exposed, and under Li Er's encouragement, he decided to rebel. It seems that even the ancients were not entirely fearful of the heavens. At least the nobility did not believe in karma or retribution. They had done many unspeakable deeds, deserving the wrath of the heavens, yet they still enjoyed their high positions, leading them to doubt the heavens and karma, thus deceiving the heavens.

Li Yuan's elaborate abdication document took several minutes to read. Finally, the next part of the ceremony began. The officials stood up, paying respects to the heavens. Three sacrificial animals were brought forward: a horse with black mane and tail, chestnut-red coat, and no more than three years old; a strong yellow bull, a male with well-built muscles, suitable for farming; and a black sheep, which looked like a sheep but was not quite, and Li Kuan could not tell.

"The sacrifice begins!" The Minister of Rites, Zheng Qiao, shouted loudly. As the younger brother of the current head of the Zheng family of Yingyang, he was not out of place as the master of ceremonies, so he shouted with great effort, as it concerned the interests of the five surnames and seven noble families in the future. After all, giving the new emperor enough face, one could not be too harsh!

The executioners standing beside the three animals raised their large knives, the blades reflecting the sunlight, creating a dazzling light. The executioners' swift movements decapitated the three animals, and their blood spurted out like fountains, staining the red carpet on the ground.

"Please welcome the new emperor!" Zheng Qiao shouted again.

"We welcome the Emperor!" The officials bowed towards the main entrance of the Taiji Hall.

Li Er, wearing a nine-dragon robe, looked very dignified. Unlike what Li Kuan had imagined, it did not look gaudy. His tall and slender figure filled the robe, with the muscles on his shoulders supporting the sun and moon, and the stars embroidered in gold. Besides these, there were other patterns that Li Kuan did not recognize, as they were the twelve chapters of the imperial robe.

Li Er wore a purple-gold crown, which did not match his imperial robes, symbolizing that he had transformed from a dragon, and only the crown on his head remained, indicating the final step of the ceremony, transforming the dragon's head into a dragon's head.

Li Er walked through the central aisle between the officials, stepping on the carpet stained with the blood of the sacrificial animals. His white deer-skin boots were stained with fresh blood, leaving a straight trail of wet footprints on the carpet ahead.

On the square, besides the altar, there was another high platform with only three seats. This was the position of the Tang Dynasty's national masters. Currently, three national masters were seated there, including Yuan Shoucheng, whom Li Kuan had met before, sitting on the left, indicating his status. Next to him was a monk with long white eyebrows, reciting the Sutra of the Past and Present, and a Taoist priest with a long beard, holding a duster in his left hand and a mysterious seal in his right.

The three remained silent until Li Er left the blood-stained carpet, leaving footprints. Then they spoke: "Old Taoist Zhang, do you see if these are the footprints of a true dragon?" Yuan Shoucheng, the most senior, asked first.

"Dragons emerge from the depths, scales and claws spread, and clouds follow. This person is shrouded in mysterious energy, making it hard to see through. However, the purple aura surrounding him signifies supreme power. This new emperor is indeed a true dragon!" The old Taoist priest responded with mystical terms, appearing very 'professional'.

"Enough, let's not beat around the bush! I believe this person is the true Son of Heaven. The current emperor is already in poor health, barely holding on. I wonder what kind of elixir he has taken to still be alive! This successor, the Prince of Qin, is the only surviving one among the emperor's three eldest sons. Who else could inherit the throne?" Yuan Shoucheng said straightforwardly.

"Amitabha! With this emperor, full of blood, it may not be a good omen for our Buddhist and Taoist communities!" The monk, Daoxing, from the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, one of the two most revered figures in Buddhism, said. His junior, Daoyan, had not accepted Li Yuan's appointment, so there were only three seats here.

"One step at a time! I hope this emperor does not eliminate all his opponents!" Zhang Daoqin stroked his beard and sighed.

"Speaking of this emperor, we must also mention his second son, a formidable young man who knows our methods well." Yuan Shoucheng glanced at Li Kuan, who was kneeling below, and said.

"You mean the young man kneeling second in the row of princes? Impossible!" Zhang Daoqin also glanced at him.

"Amitabha, this young man has great Buddhist affinity!" Daoxing recited a Buddhist chant and said this cryptic sentence.

"Master, you have high hopes, but I doubt you can convert him! He is a natural White Tiger of the Metal element, and has already shed blood. Even if the founder of the Chan School, Bodhidharma, were to come back, he would frown!" Yuan Shoucheng glanced at the monk disdainfully, thinking if it were that easy, he would have already lured the young man into the Daoist path.

The three national masters continued their whispered conversation, while the ceremony below proceeded. Li Er began to ascend the altar, and the soldiers on both sides crossed their weapons, forming a corridor. As Li Er moved forward, the weapons were retracted, allowing him to pass.

Soon, Li Er reached the top, where Li Yuan was waiting. Seeing Li Er approach, Li Yuan nodded meaningfully.

Li Er walked to Li Yuan, and the master of ceremonies, Zheng Qiao, shouted, "Kneel!"

Li Er knelt as instructed.

"Grant you the green sword to slay the rebels, grant you the imperial seal to wield supreme power, grant you the imperial crown to rule the land and ensure peace and prosperity!" Following the master of ceremonies, Li Yuan picked up the sword from the prepared stand and handed it to Li Er, who received it with both hands and placed it at his waist.

There was also an imperial seal, not the legendary Heirloom Seal, which was still in the hands of Empress Xiao. It was either with Jiali or hidden by Empress Xiao. This seal was a replica made by Li Yuan. Li Yuan handed it to Li Er, who received it with both hands, holding it above his head.

Finally, Li Yuan extended his hand, removed the purple-gold crown from Li Er's head, and then, with both hands, removed his own flat-topped crown and placed it on Li Er's head. This completed the ceremony. The remaining details were tedious, making Li Kuan yawn.

Finally, the ceremony was complete. Li Er supported Li Yuan down the altar. Li Kuan rubbed his eyes and saw a scene that made him want to comment: as Li Er supported Li Yuan down the steps, the pearl curtains on the flat-topped crown did not sway. This meant Li Er walked very steadily, without any wobbling, which was not something an ordinary person could do. Li Kuan thought to himself that his stepfather must have practiced walking with this awkward hat many times to achieve this. It seemed he had long planned to be the emperor, not just out of necessity.

Of course, no one knew about Li Kuan's thoughts. After Li Er supported Li Yuan down the altar, the officials paid their respects, all kneeling and shouting, "Long live the Emperor, long live the Retired Emperor! We wish the Emperor and the Retired Emperor well, and we wish the Tang Dynasty well!" The flattery was loud and clear, and such things never go out of style in any era!

PS: Thank you to Zhi Feng for the two monthly votes, to Devil King Chen Haotian for the monthly vote, to Longxingzhihu for the donation, and to 13554888546 for the donation! I bow in gratitude!

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