kingnovel Chapter 128: Lighting Ceremony
Chapter 128: Lighting Ceremony
Many dignitaries and their families have arrived in the square.
Emperor Jingde was not there, and the dragon throne in the middle was empty.
Prince Heng was the eldest, so he was ranked first, followed by Prince Jing. Prince Kang was dressed like a butterfly, and was standing next to Prince Jing, saying something. Prince Jing had a sinister smile on his face, and he and Prince Kang were in a harmonious and friendly relationship.
Prince Su looked at Prince Kang, who had several layers of powder on his face and was dressed in red and green clothes, looking like a butterfly fairy, and his body trembled for no reason.
Thinking of how he had behaved in the same way a few months ago, he knocked on his strong chest uncomfortably, then ran to the guard beside him to look at himself in the bronze mirror and adjust his belt.
Seeing his face shining darkly in the sunset and looking so masculine, he felt relieved.
Sun Zhonghuai smiled silently.
Su Li followed the eldest and ninth princesses to their seats. After spending the entire afternoon together, the eldest princess had already treated her like a close friend, and she was particularly fond of Xi Jie'er, wishing she could always be by her side like a pendant.
Even grandmother Qin didn't have the chance to hug her, let alone Su Li.
But she could tell that the eldest princess truly loved Xi Jie'er. If the eldest princess had a happy marriage, her child would probably be about the same age as Xi Jie'er.
Su Li understood very well.
Glancing over, she saw that nearly all the high-ranking civil and military officials and prominent families of the Great Qi Dynasty had arrived. In the crowd, she spotted her third aunt waving at her. Her second aunt chattered on, bragging about something, but Liu Xu was nowhere to be seen.
In the distance, she saw her younger brother Su Zhe engaging in a lively exchange with a group of aristocratic family members, but her father was nowhere to be seen. Even Pei Heng hadn't appeared, and she had no idea what Emperor Jingde had been talking about with her husband all afternoon.
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard the eunuch announce:
"The Emperor has arrived!"
As the drums and music began, Emperor Jingde appeared in everyone's sight with a smile on his face in the imperial carriage, followed by several important ministers, including his father, Marquis Yong'an, and Pei Heng, who was being pushed.
"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
Suddenly, deafening cries of worship rang out in the square, and court officials and common people knelt down and kowtowed.
Emperor Jingde was in high spirits as he looked at the endless sea of people.
"Everyone is safe."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone took their seats, and soon the young eunuch pushed Pei Heng straight towards Su Li.
"Madam Pei, the general had a plate of snacks and a cup of tea this afternoon, and a servant helped him change his clothes. Madam, don't worry, the general is fine."
The young eunuch was busy taking credit.
Su Li was not stingy either. She smiled and took out a handful of golden melon seeds as a reward. The little eunuch left happily.
Pushing Pei Heng to the table, Su Li whispered:
"The Emperor is too unkind to you. He called you away for the entire afternoon. If you don't come back soon, I'll go look for you."
"What? Miss me?"
"You are beautiful!"
Su Li hugged Pei Heng's arm tightly.
The couple smiled at each other, their friendship full of affection.
All of this was seen by all the noble ladies present.
All the noble ladies looked at Pei Heng as if he were their own son-in-law, and the noble girls took the initiative to replace the people around Pei Heng with themselves, but when they thought that it was not themselves after all, they twisted their handkerchiefs in hatred.
The eldest princess was also like this, wanting to look over here but not daring to. The wine glass in her hand was almost broken.
"Aunt, do you want to drink? Sister Xi will pour some for you." Sister Xi picked up the wine pot and poured wine for the eldest princess.
"good!"
The eldest princess drank it all in one gulp.
Perhaps it was because the strong liquor burned her throat, the princess felt a strange heat rising in her chest, rushing to her eyes and making tears about to fall.
"Auntie, eat grapes, they are so sweet!"
Xi Jie'er stuffed a grape into the eldest princess' mouth at the right moment. The eldest princess was stunned, and the tears and soreness that welled up in her mouth were instantly washed away by the sweet taste in her mouth.
Looking down, he saw the pink-faced Xi Jie'er blinking her big eyes at him. He quickly suppressed his sadness and said:
"Sweet! Xijieer eats it too."
Xi Jie'er coaxed the eldest princess into a daze, and secretly turned her head and blinked at Su Liding.
Su Li twitched the corner of his mouth and raised his eyebrows to indicate that he received it.
Xie An was chattering behind him, while Huan Ge'er sat quietly, staring at all the majestic, grand and spectacular things without blinking, and looked at Emperor Jingde sitting on the shining high platform, as well as a group of concubines and princes.
This is where my father was born and raised.
He thought it was something amazing, but it turned out to be just like this.
Not as good as Qingshanyuan and the General's Mansion.
My father died in hatred because of the injustice he suffered at the hands of the old man on the stage.
He only regretted that he was too young and unable to avenge the 137 lives of his father and the royal family.
But by the time he grows up, the old man will probably be dead.
However, besides the old man, there must be many people in this group who participated in the conspiracy. He will find them one by one.
The premise is that no one in the General's Mansion will be dragged down.
Thinking of this, Huan Ge'er made a few notes in the little notebook in his heart.
He glanced at his father and mother who were cuddling together, and a rare smile appeared on his face.
Sitting in his seat, Prince Kang was bored and looked around like a butterfly. When he saw Su Li next to Pei Heng, he was almost blinded.
Su Li was up before dawn to dress up for a banquet at the palace today. Her long black hair was combed into a beautiful flying fairy bun, with a golden hairpin pinned to the end, a bright red flower on her brow, and a blooming peony pinned to her temples.
She attended the event in gorgeous attire, looking bright and charming.
Especially when she was sitting next to Pei Heng with a sweet smile on her face, she was so charming that she was full of allure.
King Kang's heart paused when he saw this.
He didn't like young girls, he only liked married women. Mature and charming, he simply couldn't stop. Seeing Su Li and Pei Heng being so affectionate, he really felt itchy.
The blessing ceremony for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is very complicated.
Everyone sat there for more than half an hour before they heard the Minister of Rites on the altar in front of them finish their prayers and blessings, then sing loudly:
"Your Majesty, please ascend the Tongtian Tower and light the lamps!"
Emperor Jingde sat still, glanced at Prince Heng and said:
"This year, Prince Heng will go upstairs to light the lamps on my behalf."
When these words were spoken, everyone on the field was stunned.
King Heng?
The emperor always went to light the lamps in Tongtian Tower in person.
Why is it King Heng this year?
Prince Heng was stunned at first, but then he reacted and knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Emperor Jingde, and said with tears of gratitude:
"Father! I will definitely live up to your expectations!"
Emperor Jingde smiled and nodded, "Go ahead. I'm too old to climb anymore. You're my oldest son, so you should take the lead!"
Upon hearing this, King Heng was delighted.
King Heng’s fans couldn’t contain their excitement and were ready to go.
Emperor Jingde has always refused to appoint a crown prince. Now he is in his twilight years and may die at any time, so the three princes are fighting for the throne.
But now Emperor Jingde appointed Prince Heng to light the lamps in Tongtian Tower on his behalf. The meaning is self-evident.
Prince Heng was nearly thirty years old, with a large belly and a very wealthy appearance. He bowed to Emperor Jingde, stood up with great dignity, and then proudly walked into Tongtian Tower with a group of guards.
Princess Heng was also a round-faced and plump woman. Seeing her husband like this, she pulled her two sons beside her, and was so nervous and excited that she couldn't suppress her joy.
On the high platform, Prince Jing's fists were clenched so hard that they were crackling.
Why! ?
While Prince Kang was frightened, he looked at Prince Jing with a gloating look.
The old man actually took a fancy to the second son?
Haha, as long as Prince Jing doesn’t take the throne, it’s fine.
My second brother is honest and kind. When he ascends the throne in the future, I can still live a good life under him.
Concubine Wen saw the sudden change in the situation on the field and looked at Prince Jing dimly.
Prince Jing nodded calmly.
When Prince Heng disappeared at the palace gate, Prince Jing looked at an inconspicuous eunuch in the distance and nodded slightly. The eunuch understood and quietly retreated.
"The Emperor personally chose Prince Heng to ascend the Tongtian Tower in place of the Emperor. Does this mean that the Emperor has finally made up his mind?"
"Prince Heng is the eldest, so it is only natural that he will inherit the throne."
Some of the ministers had already begun whispering.
"Humph, it's just lighting a lamp, what are you so happy about?"
"That's right! The emperor is too old to climb to the ninth floor, so he just randomly asked a prince to take his place! The overall situation is still uncertain, so don't speak so arrogantly."
Several people were arguing with the woman, chattering non-stop, and there was even a tendency for them to start swearing at each other and throwing things at each other.
Su Li glanced at Pei Heng uneasily.
Pei Heng patted the back of her hand to comfort her.
Su Li thought to herself that it was good for Prince Heng to ascend to the throne, as at least he wasn't that venomous snake that Prince Jing was. Although Prince Heng was mediocre, he had a good temper, and they would still have a good life in the future.
Just as I was thinking about it, there was a cheer from the crowd.
A short, fat and round figure appeared on the ninth floor of Tongtian Tower. King Heng was holding a torch in his hand, standing at the railing and waving at everyone from above.
Then he slowly lit the huge lantern.
The lanterns on the roof of Tongtian Tower lit up, and instantly, rows of palace lanterns lit up one after another from top to bottom, and the lanterns inside and outside the palace were also lit. For a moment, the lights came on, illuminating half the sky.
Lanterns were also lit in the East and West cities.
Everyone couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, and the people watching outside the venue also cheered in unison. The sound of the huge crowd echoed in the sky for a long time.
"So lovely."
Su Li looked up and praised sincerely.
"Of all the lights in the world, I only hope one will wait for me."
Pei Heng held his wife close. For some reason, despite the hustle and bustle of the world, all he could think of was holding her in his arms and loving her to the utmost.
Su Li was immersed in the peaceful festive atmosphere of heaven and earth at the moment when he heard a loud noise from the roof of Tongtian Tower.
A huge flame exploded instantly, and the ninth floor of Tongtian Tower was instantly engulfed in flames.
Before she could react, Pei Heng instinctively pressed her into his arms, while opening his arms to protect Huan Ge'er Xie An behind him.
Someone in the crowd shouted:
"The Beimang barbarians are invading!"