As Kong Qi chanted, Jin Li slowly ascended the God Sacrifice Platform.
What should have been a national sacrifice was attended by only the Minister of Rites. How tragic.
Aunt Qin and Duke Yu stood below the platform. Watching Jin Li atop it, their eyes flashed with profound helplessness.
Jin Li ascending the God Sacrifice Platform to pray for the Divine Court's army to descend was nothing but flowers in a mirror and moonlight on water, a dreamlike bubble.
They simply had no power to turn the tide.
Meanwhile, some of the civil and military officials beside Sima Ting watched Jin Li as though enjoying a show.
Especially those officials who knew the origins of the God Sacrifice Platform. Some sneered, while others secretly felt bitter. The Empress had truly reached the end of the road.
What a pity. Beauty was doomed to a short life. Empress Jin Li would ultimately be buried alongside this empire.
Under the gaze of the multitude, Empress Jin Li slowly ascended the God Sacrifice Platform.
This time, her steps were steady.
Her heart was filled with all kinds of emotions.
The strongest of them was her concern for Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan had not replied to her messages for four days.
But at this moment, the greater matter took priority. Worrying was useless. She cast aside her other emotions and carried out the sacrifice according to the steps Qi Yuan had told her.
She held the flat, elongated Jade Tablet, her expression devout.
When Empress Jin Li had climbed two-thirds of the steps, Kong Qi prostrated himself on the ground, his body curled up as tears streamed down his aged face.
This was the most humiliating ceremony he had ever presided over.
It was even more humiliating than the Empress's coronation.
And this would