The Heaven Dou Empire.
At that moment, the entire Heaven Dou Empire was steeped in grief and solemnity, and white mourning banners hung throughout the palace.
For the empire's emperor, Xue Ye, had passed away.
After Xue Ye's coffin lay in state in the palace for seven days, it was moved to the Imperial Mausoleum. After that came the coronation.
On the vast white jade plaza before the main hall of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, hundreds of officials in court robes of various ranks had already formed orderly rows according to their stations, awaiting the new emperor's accession.
Naturally, the one ascending the throne was the empire's crown prince, Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe appeared in a bright yellow Dragon Robe and the Twelve-Tassel Crown, immaculate from head to toe.
He had waited more than a decade for this day.
More than a decade of longing, more than a decade of lying low-yet when his wish finally came true, he found his mind utterly empty.
Perhaps it was because the plan had yet to reach its final stage?
So Xue Qinghe thought.
He offered sacrifices to heaven and his ancestors, and the neatly arrayed courtiers in the plaza knelt and bowed in unison.
The ceremonial official presiding over the coronation held the late emperor's edict and read aloud, "The late emperor Xue Ye received heaven's mandate and nurtured his myriad subjects. Now he has ridden the dragon to join the heavenly guests... Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, the late emperor's legitimate son, is benevolent, filial, and wise, accomplished in civil affairs and endowed with martial virtue. In accordance with the late emperor's final edict, he now ascends the imperial throne as the new sovereign of the Heaven Dou Empire..."
**"Long live our emperor! Long live our emperor! May he live ten