At dawn the next day, the golden tiles of Imperial Pinnacle Hall reflected a bitter chill.
Below the vermilion steps, the entire court of civil and military officials lay prostrate in kowtow, while the gilt floor tiles reflected their pale faces.
Some ministers' necks trembled faintly. Their eyes were filled with alarm as they furtively glanced at Emperor Qian Xi upon the Dragon Throne.
Emperor Qian Xi sat slumped upon the Dragon Throne. The sovereign who had once been valiant and decisive, whose eyes shone like bright stars, had now utterly lost his spirit.
His gaze was stagnant, like ancient jade coated in dust. He sat with his head lowered, his expression wooden, like a puppet whose soul had been pulled away.
Even the Nine Dragon Crown that symbolized imperial authority sat crookedly upon his head, its beaded curtains clattering with hollow sounds.
"His Majesty's decree! All officials, kneel and receive it!" A eunuch's shrill proclamation suddenly tore through the deathly silence of the hall.
The eunuch's voice echoed continuously through the hall, reaching every person's ears with perfect clarity.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have suddenly been afflicted by a grave illness, and my mind is clouded... I fear delaying affairs of state."
"...From this day forth, I specially appoint my benefactor and teacher, Grand Tutor Lu, as Minister Overseeing the State and Governing, to assist Qianyuan Crown Prince in jointly administering Great Qian's military and political affairs."
"From Imperial Relatives and State Kin and all court lords, down to the commoners, all who see the Grand Tutor shall treat him as if seeing Us in person, and must perform the grand rite of Three Kneels and Nine Kowtows!"
The hall fell silent as an abyss, until the unfamiliar eunuch's shrill voice abruptly ceased.
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