Emperor

The first year of the Xuande reign, the twelfth day of the sixth month, the year being Guimao.

Jiankang, Circular Mound Altar).

Before dawn, the Circular Mound was already brightly lit. Crown Prince Zhu Ji, dressed in imperial robes and holding a jade tablet, stood on the second level of the Circular Mound. Behind him, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, Prince of Liao Xiang, led the imperial clan and officials, who lined up below the seven steps, stretching into the depths of the pine forest.

The Minister of Ceremonies led Zhu Ji to the shrine of Taizu Emperor Gao.

Zhu Ji knelt, offered incense three times, and presented wine three times.

Then the officiant unfurled the ochre-yellow prayer text, his voice resounding through the heavens:

"It was ordained by Heaven, by my Taizu."

Yu Hao and Yu Jing, continued the lineage of women and horses.

The eldest son, Weixing, was the son of Emperor Taizong.

Protect your right-hand man, and quell the rebellion.

The journey to Jingnan was filled with numerous gatherings.

I have laid my arrow at Beiping, and now I, Hou Xing, am here.

God is with you; do not waver in your heart.

The capital city of Beiping is magnificent, its carriages gleaming, and its horses galloping.

The Way of the Master Daoyan, and the times are like the soaring eagle.

Emperor Taizong of Liang, after his relentless campaign against the Jianyan, brought about a peaceful and enlightened court.

After Taizong retired, Renzong continued his work.

Renzong ruled with an open mind, and the people relied on him.

The crown prince succeeded him, and people from all directions came to submit.

God is with you; do not waver in your heart.

With peace restored throughout the land, all under heaven rejoice.

May the Qingming Festival bring peace and prosperity to all generations.

As soon as he finished speaking, the prayer text was burned in the incense burner, and the blue smoke rose straight up to the heavens.

At that moment, the twelve imperial symbols on Zhu Ji's robes lit up one by one.

The sun, moon, and stars rise from his shoulders, shining brightly and illuminating the entire city. Mountain shadows emerge from his chest, layer upon layer, as steady as Mount Tai. A golden dragon leaps from his sleeves, circling the Circular Mound Altar once, its roar like thunder. The pheasant flaps its wings, the ancestral vessels stand guard, algae and firelight reflect each other, rice grains fall, and embroidered patterns appear one after another.

The twelve emblems lit up one after another, then returned to the robes. Finally, all twelve emblems shone brightly at the same time, and a golden light shot into the sky, piercing straight through the heavens.

The people of the entire city looked up at the sky and prostrated themselves on the ground.

On the Circular Mound, all the officials prostrated themselves on the ground, none daring to raise their heads and look directly at each other.

Zhu Ji stood atop the Circular Mound Altar, his imperial robes adorned with jewels, his expression serene.

He looked up at the sky, his gaze sweeping over the twelve symbols before finally settling on the east.

In an instant, an overwhelming and irresistible aura of Human Dao poured down from the sky and into the top of Zhu Ji's head.

He was originally Heavenly Immortal, and the only thing missing between him and True Lord was the status of a celestial being. At this moment, the twelve symbols on the Circular Mound were in place, the people prostrated themselves, and the officials shouted their congratulations. The shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" were like countless invisible threads converging from all directions of heaven and earth.

The Emperor Position is the key.

The Immortal Kingdom Method are based on the nation, with the ruler as the foundation and the people as the fuel.

The moment He sat on the dragon throne, He grasped this key.

Now He is no different from the True Lord.

Then He opened His eyes, and a faint golden light flashed and disappeared deep within His pupils.

At this moment, the twelve symbols in the sky had dissipated, leaving only a single, radiant sun shining brightly above the heavens.

The prayer text was burned to ashes, and the blue smoke dissipated into the heavens.

The crown prince bowed twice, and all the officials followed suit.

After the ceremony, Zhu Ji ascended the throne as Emperor Position the Fengtian Hall and received the congratulations of all the officials.

A general amnesty was declared, and the reign title was changed to Xuande.

The day after his ascension to the throne, Zhu Ji led all the officials to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility to pay homage to his mother, the Empress Dowager.

Empress Lady Zhang sat upright in the hall, dressed in plain clothes, her white hair as white as snow.

Zhu Ji performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, and all the officials in the hall prostrated themselves on the ground.

After the ceremony, Zhu Ji personally presented the jade seal and gold seal, and bestowed upon the Empress Dowager the title of "Empress Dowager".

The document reads:

"On the thirteenth day of the sixth month of the first year of the Xuande reign (1428), the year being Gui Mao, your subject, the succeeding emperor, respectfully bows and submits this memorial:"

Your subject has heard that among the duties of a ruler and a state, filial piety is of paramount importance; and among the principles of filial piety, respecting one's parents comes first. For those of great virtue are sure to be honored with a grand name, and those who have received great kindness are sure to be provided for with the finest care. These are the principles that are valued in ancient and modern times.

We humbly acknowledge that our Empress Dowager, with her profound virtue matching the earth, and her utmost obedience to Heaven, assisted the previous dynasty, brought prosperity and peace to the land, and was loyal, gentle, and virtuous, in accordance with the enlightened virtues of the Han dynasty; and upright and dignified, she was a model of the Tai Ren. Moreover, we, being of humble birth, have been deeply grateful for your benevolent grace and the diligent nurturing you have provided, which enabled you to establish yourselves. Now, as we begin our succession, we humbly acknowledge the appropriateness of governing the country.

Following established customs and performing grand rites, we respectfully present the jade and gold seals to our mother, bestowing upon her the title of Empress Dowager. May Heaven bestow upon her boundless blessings and longevity, allowing her to humbly receive eternal joy and forever serve under Your Majesty's benevolent teachings.

Your subject is truly delighted and joyful, and bows deeply in respect to speak.

With the imperial decree issued, Empress Dowager Lady Zhang moved to Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. She was the empress of Renzong Emperor Zhao and the birth mother of the new emperor Zhu Ji. She held two supreme positions, being Golden Core True Lord who lived as long as heaven and earth.

After the court audience concluded, Zhu Ji withdrew to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

At this time, only four people remained in the hall: Grand Secretariat Secretary Yang Dongli, Duke Xu Jingchang, Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu, and Duke Chengguo Zhu Yong.

Zhu Ji placed the jade tablet on the table, looked at the four people, and slowly spoke:

"I have just ascended the throne. The Nanzhao Proclaiming Earth are not yet pacified, and the two kings of Han and Zhao are not yet at peace. What should be the priority, both inside and outside the court?"

Yang Dongli bowed first. "Your Majesty, I believe that we should first secure internal stability before dealing with external threats. Although the two kings of Han and Zhao have disloyal intentions, Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and should prioritize appeasement, sending envoys to inquire after them and show your intention to strengthen ties. Once the two kings are won over, we can then plan against Nanzhao."

Zhu Ji nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Xu Jingchang.

Xu Jingchang stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that in the matter of Nanzhao, winning hearts and minds is the best approach, while attacking cities is the least desirable." Since the reincarnation of the True Proclaiming Earth True Lord has already gained considerable power, if the court continues to back down, it will only appear cowardly. I suggest that the True Lord, the Supreme True Person, and the elite troops of the Capital Garrison be stationed on the southern border, displaying military might without rashly advancing, demonstrating strength without readily engaging in battle. In this way, we can both deter Proclaiming Earth and prevent a hasty war.

Zhu Ji remained noncommittal and looked at Zhang Fu.

Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I second the proposal of Duke Dingguo. The troubles of Nanzhao must be resolved eventually. I am willing to Capital Garrison the elite troops of the capital garrison on a southern tour to demonstrate Your Majesty's power in the Southern Frontier."

Zhu Yong also said, "I have completed the reorganization of the five armies of the Capital Garrison and the various battalions of the Divine Machine Army, and they are ready to be transferred south at any time."

After listening, Zhu Ji remained silent for a moment before slowly saying:

"When the late Emperor was alive, he said that the matter of Nanzhao involved the Daoist sects, the imperial court, the Witch Department, and the Confucian School, and that it was not advisable to lightly resort to force. I have been in Qingzhou for sixty years and know very well that although the Prince of Han has rebellious intentions, he is not enough to shake the state. The Prince of Zhao is far away in the Central Plains, and his influence is even more limited. The matter of Nanzhao is the most urgent task."

He looked at Yang Dongli: "Grand Secretary, I order you to draft an edict, send envoys to inquire after the Kings of Han and Zhao, and bestow upon them gold and silk, to demonstrate the court's intention to show kinship."

He then looked at Xu Jingchang, Zhang Fu, and Zhu Yong: "Duke of Dingguo, Duke of Yingguo, and Duke of Chengguo, the three of you must reorganize the Capital Garrison, ensure sufficient provisions and weaponry, and await my decree to be ready for the southern tour at any time."

The three bowed in unison. "Your subjects obey the decree."

Zhu Ji stood up, walked to the palace gate, and looked towards the southern horizon.

There, in the direction of Nanzhao, the three-colored light of Proclaiming Earth still raged.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:

"The late emperor ruled the world with benevolence, and I shall continue his legacy. But benevolence does not equate to weakness."

He turned around, his gaze falling on the four faces, his voice not loud:

"I will settle the accounts with Nanzhao, one by one."

The four bowed in unison and agreed.

But the five men, the emperor and his ministers, all understood the situation perfectly.

This drama began the moment the Mysterious Gate (Daoist sect) released the reincarnation of Proclaiming Earth True Lord. Nanzhao was the chessboard, Proclaiming Earth was the chess piece, the imperial court was the player, and the Mysterious Gate was also a player. The Mysterious Gate wanted Proclaiming Earth True Lord's reincarnation to distract the imperial court, allowing the immortal sect to gain a foothold in Nanzhao, Southern Frontier, and Miao Frontier. The imperial court wanted to use this opportunity to reshuffle the old separatist forces, the Witch Department, and the Confucian School in Nanzhao, replacing them with a new order under a new emperor.

The fall of the Southern Frontier did not alarm the court; the fall of the capital city did not alarm the court; the disappearance of the royal family did not alarm the court. All of this was already part of the plan.

As for the reincarnation of Proclaiming Earth True Lord, they ultimately do not need to drive him away; this matter is a matter for the Mysterious Gate (Daoist sect), but the imperial court must eventually make its stance clear.

These are words I cannot say aloud.

Zhu Ji returned to his desk, sat down again, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

But that cup of tea had long since gone cold.

There is a word cloud:

The twelve imperial robes were adorned with the insignia of the emperor, and the smoke from the Circular Mound Altar dissipated into the heavens.

Taizu established his rule, Taizong quelled the rebellion, Renzong ruled with an iron fist, and a new emperor succeeded to the throne.

White hair in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, cool tea in the Qianqing Hall.

The flames of war in Nanzhao have all entered the game; how many truly worship, how many sit idly, and how many laugh as the clouds rise?