freenovelworld Chapter 535 Disaster Leads to Jing Song
Chapter 535 Disaster Leads to Jing Song
On the third day of the third lunar month, the Shangsi Festival, the riverside outside the capital of the Western Moon Kingdom was full of spring scenery and the water was shimmering. On the river, a few small boats were drifting leisurely. The men and women on the boats were dressed in bright clothes, drinking and laughing, reciting poems and painting, or just leaning their heads and not saying a word and leisurely enjoying the scenery.
Willows drooped on the bank, their green silks swaying in the wind. The riverbank was bustling with tourists of all ages, men and women. The girls were wearing fluttering clothes and smiling sweetly. They gently waved their colorful fans, with orchid sachets hanging from their waists, strolling together and whispering. Not far away, young men were also dressed neatly and elegantly. They gathered together to talk, but were attracted by the laughter of the girls from time to time. There were also families taking advantage of the festival to go out for a spring outing. The children flew kites with the help of their fathers, and the young women sat beside the old man, smiling.
A burst of joyful sounds also rang out from the bamboo forest in the valley opposite the river. Men of letters and scholars were sitting on the ground around a winding stream. Each of them looked relaxed, some stroking their long beards, some chatting and smiling, showing their elegance.
Upstream, a boy in white slowly put a cup of fine wine into the water, and the cup floated along the gurgling water like a boat. Everyone followed it with anticipation. Soon, the cup suddenly turned around and stopped in front of a young scholar. The scholar was startled at first, then he picked up the cup on the water and stood up calmly, bowed to everyone, and sang a fresh and appropriate poem. After finishing the poem, he drank the fine wine in his hand. Then praise and laughter rang out in the bamboo forest.
The boy beside the scholar put the cup filled with wine into the water again and let it float down the river...
At the foot of Anxiang Temple, beside the river, a high sacrificial platform rises from the ground. On the platform, the Gaomei God is solemn and majestic, and on the incense table in front of the God are placed offerings such as grains, three kinds of animals, fine wine, jade and silk, and fragrant herbs. Colorful flags and banners are hung around it, showing solemnity.
Emperor Yan Qiao of Xiyue, accompanied by Empress Rong, royal family members, and civil and military officials, came out of the palace in a grand procession and came to the altar to offer sacrifices and pray for the Xiyue Kingdom.
The ceremonial officers, monks and priests of Anxiang Temple who had been waiting in front of the altar all knelt down and kowtowed when they saw the royal banners. The imperial guards, armed with spears and swords, majestically guarded the entire team. The officials, dressed in court robes, surrounded the emperor's sedan chair and slowly moved forward. The sedan chair was majestic and solemn, with exquisite and elegant carvings. The queen's phoenix sedan chair followed closely behind, which was also dignified and elegant.
When the procession reached the foot of the high platform, the imperial carriage stopped steadily. Yan Qiao, wearing a black sacrificial robe and a crown on his head, stepped down from the carriage with the help of the eunuch chief Qin Gonggong. In his early thirties, he was still elegant and graceful, and his handsome face was more solemn, showing the demeanor of an emperor. His phoenix eyes moved and glanced at the altar on the high platform.
Empress Rong was dressed in a dark blue robe and wore a phoenix crown on her head. She was gentle, virtuous, and a model for the country. She also walked out of the phoenix carriage with grace, supported by her palace maids, and walked lightly to the side of the emperor.
"Greetings to His Majesty and His Majesty. Long live the Emperor, and live the Empress a thousand years!" The ceremonial officers and others were still kneeling on the ground, and kowtowed respectfully to the Emperor and Empress in front of them again.
"Stand up!" Yan Qiao nodded slightly and waved to the people below.
Afterwards, Yan Qiao took Empress Rong's hand and walked slowly up the platform under the guidance of the ceremonial officer, and stood in front of the shrine. The welcoming song was played, and the priests wearing masks danced gracefully. The emperor led everyone to kneel three times and kowtow nine times to the shrine to show their piety and respect and welcome the arrival of the gods. After worshiping the gods, the ceremonial officer brought a basin of clear river water. Yan Qiao washed her hands and went to the incense table, lit incense in the furnace, and then took a piece of exquisite jade from the ceremonial officer and slowly walked to the riverside, praying devoutly: "May the gods bless my country of Xiyue with peace and prosperity, good weather, and many children and happiness for the people, and a prosperous population!" After that, he threw the jade in his hand into the river.
Empress Rong also held the silk on the incense table and kowtowed to the shrine again, followed by the royal family members who came forward one by one to offer jade and silk. Then, the emperor took the wine cup, stood in front of the altar and slowly poured the wine on the ground, and kowtowed again. At the same time, music and eulogies intertwined, and the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.
"Read the prayer!"
After the first, second and final offerings, the ceremonial officer sang loudly.
The official in charge of congratulations took up the prayer from the incense table, faced all the officials, and read aloud:
In the past, people would purify themselves and pray for blessings during the Shangsi Festival, an ancient ritual that is well known. Today, we follow the old custom, wash our hands, burn incense, respectfully offer sacrifices to the gods, and pray…”
"Coveting other countries and slaughtering lives, the gods will never bless such an ambitious country!" The prayer was not yet finished when it was suddenly interrupted by a cold voice. A man jumped out from the group of priests who were still dancing. He quickly pulled out a dagger from his boots and stabbed Yan Qiao in front of the altar.
"Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor!" Everyone exclaimed when they saw this. Queen Rong beside Yan Qiao was the first to stand in front of him and shouted.
In a flash, the ceremonial officer thought quickly and poured out all the grains on the incense table to temporarily distract the assassin. The young marquis Dongmen Junhong and several generals strode towards the altar. At the same time, the leader of the imperial guards, Fan Chong, also appeared with his troops to protect the emperor and empress. The archers who followed immediately climbed onto the platform and surrounded the assassin.
"Fan Chong, capture him alive!" Yan Qiao pulled Queen Rong into his arms and then ordered in a cold voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Fan Chong took the order and drew the knife from his waist, looking angry, and walked towards the assassin.
“Hahahaha!” The assassin was not afraid at all. The eyes under the priest’s mask were as firm as torches. He suddenly laughed loudly a few times, glared at Yan Qiao again and cursed: “The West Moon Country violates human ethics and goes against the will of heaven. It destroys the homes of other people and disturbs the peace of the world. It is hated by both humans and gods and will be punished by heaven!”
"You are still stubborn even when you are about to die!" Fan Chong's expression darkened and he swung his knife at the opponent. The assassin seemed to have no intention of competing with him. After quickly dodging his knife, he turned around and tried to escape to the river.
However, Fan Chong, the leader of the Royal Guards, was no ordinary man. Seeing that the other party was about to escape, he raised his knife and jumped up again to stop him. The assassin had to fight with him for a few moves. The two were evenly matched and it was difficult to tell who was better. The onlookers were also fascinated. After more than ten moves, the assassin gradually fell into a disadvantage. He suddenly kicked Fan Chong in the air, then retreated a few steps and stabbed the dagger into his chest with his backhand. The opponent's quick and decisive action caught Fan Chong off guard. He cursed inwardly and found that the dagger was coated with poison when he stepped forward to check. This person was already dead.
Just when Fan Chong was trembling with fear and didn't know how to explain to the emperor, he caught a glimpse of a token dropped by the assassin. He couldn't help but feel secretly happy. He quickly picked up the token and turned to Yan Qiao, kneeling and saying:
"I was incompetent and failed to capture the assassin alive. However, I found a token next to the assassin."
"Your Majesty, this is the token of the Xining camp of Jingsong Kingdom!" Without waiting for Yan Qiao to react, the minister Yang Xi said in horror.
"Your Majesty, the assassin is the spy from Jingsong State whom I was trying to capture in Gugui City!" After being shocked to see the assassin's true face under the mask, the young Marquis Dongmen Junhong came to Yan Qiao in shock and anger and reported.
"Jingsong Kingdom!" Yan Qiao's face was gloomy, and a rare burst of rage appeared in his pair of beautiful long phoenix eyes.