The Empress Ascends the Throne, the Immortal Departs
July 28th.
The coffin of the deceased emperor was placed in the underground palace of the imperial mausoleum, covered with soil and sealed, and the grand funeral was completed.
July 29th.
Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang personally led the officials to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to burn incense and kowtow. Facing the ancestral tablets, she explained the changes in the state and told the ancestral temple that the country was without a virtuous ruler and the world was in turmoil. She had no choice but to inherit the throne and protect the people.
After the ancestral worship ceremony was completed, the imperial carriage proceeded to Fengtian Gate. The Directorate of Heavenly Observations stepped forward to report the auspicious time.
Xiao Zhaohuang slowly ascended the throne, with civil officials to the east and military officials to the west. All the officials prostrated themselves and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
On the 29th of July,
She ascended the throne and established the reign title: Xuanqi.
The Azure Profound Immortal Venerable is worshipped as the Guardian of the Nation, and his supreme title is: Haotian Xuanji Kaidao Xianhua Zhenshi Humin Dasheng Zhizhen Guangde Zhaoling Tianzun.
Immortal Shrine dedicated to the immortals were erected throughout the country, where offerings were made in all four seasons and sacrifices were offered annually, to forever proclaim the immortals' blessings and manifest their grace.
He then appointed Gao Yi, the Heir of Prince of Qin, as the Crown Prince and issued an edict to the court and the public.
After the grand ceremony, Xiao Zhaohuang moved to the Chengtian Gate tower.
He issued an edict granting amnesty to the entire nation, reducing taxes, establishing a new imperial examination to select talented individuals, and working together to ensure the stability of the country. This was proclaimed throughout the land so that all might know.
After all the grand ceremony and related matters have been settled,
Xiao Zhaohuang did not return to the inner palace, but instead rode in the imperial carriage back to the State-Guarding Eldest Princess's Residence.
She wanted to personally tell the Immortals about her ascension to the throne today and the worship of Him as the guardian deity of the nation.
The chubby boy, who had already been designated as the Crown Prince, followed closely behind.
These days I've been busy rehearsing the grand ceremony, and I haven't seen my elder brother in a long time. I miss him terribly.
But when the two of them pushed open the gate to the small courtyard,
But they found the courtyard completely empty.
The rocking chair was still there, but the Immortal's lazy figure was no longer on it.
Xiao Zhaohuang suddenly had a bad feeling.
My steps became heavy.
She dared not go into the house.
She was afraid that her premonition would come true.
"Big brother, I've come to see you, big brother."
The chubby boy didn't care about anything else and walked straight into the yard, calling out softly.
But the room was unusually quiet.
No response came.
Xiao Zhaohuang's breathing seemed to stop; it felt like a mountain was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
The Immortal has left.
They just left so suddenly, without saying goodbye.
They left so decisively, so resolutely.
It was as if there was no one in the entire Capital worth his lingering, and nothing worth his staying for.
Yes!
This is Immortal.
Come and go as you please, free and unrestrained.
For Him, the Capital was merely a temporary resting place during His playful journey through the mortal world.
The seven emotions and six desires of mortals are nothing but dust in the world to Him, not worth worrying about.
No one can keep Him, and no one has the right to make Him stay.
But Xiao Zhaohuang knew in his heart that this cold indifference was not malicious; it was just that there was an insurmountable chasm between immortals and mortals.
Xiao Zhaohuang leaned Jingjing against the doorframe.
He felt completely drained of energy.
Her heart was breaking, a sharp, agonizing pain coursing through her, but she dared not show it.
Because she is already the supreme ruler, the sovereign of the world, she cannot afford to lose her composure in any way.
"Auntie, my eldest brother is inside."
Upon hearing his nephew's voice, Xiao Zhaohuang trembled instantly, as if the strength he had lost had returned. He then strode into the courtyard.
The chubby boy pointed to the window of the right-hand wing with a broad smile. Just now, he had clearly heard the noise coming from that wing.
A smile also appeared on Xiao Zhaohuang's face.
He took a deep breath.
Then he stepped into the house.
The chubby boy immediately followed, afraid that his aunt would kick him out again like last time.
Although I don't know what happened between my aunt and my older brother last time, my aunt has been acting strangely ever since that day, always smiling foolishly at her own hands.
The living room was empty.
However, the door to the side room on the right was tightly closed.
At this moment, Xiao Zhaohuang also heard the commotion coming from inside, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
It turns out that even Immortals are not heartless and ungrateful.
Could it be after the last time?
Did the Immortal change his mind then?
Xiao Zhaohuang's mind was in turmoil, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
But soon,
She immediately sensed that something was wrong.
The noise coming from the room sounded so much like sobbing and choking.
Can Immortals cry?
That's a huge joke.
There is absolutely nothing in this world that can move Immortal, and there is no one who would make Immortal grieve and weep.
Therefore, the person in the room could not possibly be Immortal.
But who would dare to be so presumptuous as to act recklessly in an Immortal's room?
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Zhaohuang's eyes, and then he stepped forward and pushed open the door.
Then,
He was completely stunned.
Beneath the Immortal's bed sat a Pacification Investigation Guard dressed in Flying Fish Uniform, clutching a silver mask and sobbing uncontrollably, heartbroken.
Tears streamed down her face; she cried until her heart was breaking.
It was none other than Zhang Qingyan, the number one lackey of the Liang Kingdom under the tutelage of the Immortal.
After hearing the sound of the door being pushed open,
Distracted from crying, Zhang Qingyan thought it was her older brother returning and immediately looked up.
But when he saw that the visitors were the new emperor Xiao Zhaohuang and the crown prince Xiao Gaoyi, the expression on his face instantly dimmed again.
"Your His Majesty, my elder brother... he's gone."
After saying that,
Zhang Qingyan hugged the exquisite silver mask again and lowered her head to sob.
Xiao Zhaohuang didn't speak, but stood Jingjing at the door. However, the trembling in her body and the uncontrollable sorrow in her eyes had already betrayed her true feelings.
The chubby boy behind her turned deathly pale, as if the pillar of his heart had suddenly collapsed, leaving him bewildered and standing there in a daze.
The three of them stayed in the room, and none of them spoke again.
It was as if even the air itself had become oppressive and filled with sadness.
The chubby boy turned and left.
His small hoe was found in the corner of the wall near the door.
Then he ran outside to the vegetable garden to turn over the soil and hoe the ground.
He promised his older brother that he would plant a whole field of chives for him and then cook them all for him.
But he hasn't succeeded in growing chives yet.
Why did my older brother leave?
Could it be that his older brother disliked him because he was useless and couldn't even grow a single leek?
The chubby boy cried his eyes out while continuing to squat in the vegetable garden, turning over the soil, oblivious to getting his Crown Prince's court robes covered in mud.
At this time,
Xiao Zhaohuang also came out.
Seeing his nephew's current state, he didn't say a word.
She walked out of the courtyard.
She arrived at her own private boudoir.
Inside the pavilion was an embroidery she had finished long ago, but had never given to the Immortal.
She thought that with this little bit of cleverness,
This allows the Immortals to stay for a while longer.
But unexpectedly,
The Immortal has left.
Xiao Zhaohuang entered the attic.
But once again, he stood there, stunned.
That embroidered painting of Immortal
They've disappeared.
Xiao Zhaohuang could no longer hold back his tears.
It landed instantly.