Chapter 1360 - 1287: Offering Sacrifice to Heaven
Zhao Hanzhang sat on the dragon throne, accepting the three bows and nine kowtows from the ministers, but the coronation ceremony was not yet over; the most important step remained—sacrificing to heaven!
This part, Prince An could not attend. He bowed and retreated to the rear hall, where Eunuch Dong was already waiting. Seeing him retreat with a relaxed face and bright eyes, he couldn’t help but smile and said softly, "Rest in the rear hall for a while, Prince, until the new emperor finishes the heavenly sacrifice before leaving the Imperial Palace."
Prince An wished he could leave the palace immediately and asked, "Can’t I go out now?"
Eunuch Dong shook his head, "Inside and outside the Imperial Palace is on lockdown; you can’t roam freely."
Prince An quietly peeked out from behind the screen and saw Zhao Hanzhang standing up as the hundred officials knelt, respectfully sending her out of the hall.
Kneeling among the officials, Tuoba Yilu couldn’t help but raise his head, only catching a glimpse of the embroidered designs made with gold and colored threads on Zhao Hanzhang’s royal attire fluttering in front of his eyes as she walked past him...
As Zhao Hanzhang passed by, Fu Tinghan got up and followed with Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and other ministers, walking three rows before it was Tuoba Yilu’s turn.
But he was tall and could see Zhao Hanzhang walking ahead of everyone; the constellations embroidered on her royal attire seemed subdued, yet Tuoba Yilu found them dazzling, almost hurting his eyes.
Three years ago, when they became sworn brothers, she was still seeking his help; now, he was a prisoner, and she had become the emperor.
Behind Tuoba Yilu, Liu Kun raised his eyes slightly and saw Tuoba Yilu’s high head, feeling anxious but unable to remind him to avoid drawing the attention of others.
Directly looking at the emperor, especially during such a grand ceremony, was considered a great disrespect.
Liu Kun wanted to remind Tuoba Yilu, but they weren’t in the same line, as the opposite side was mostly princely heirs and envoys from various vassal states.
Except for the historian standing aside with sharp eyes observing them, no one noticed Tuoba Yilu’s misconduct.
Zhao Ming and Ming Yu stood side by side behind Fu Tinghan, following Zhao Hanzhang step by step down Taiji Palace, then assisting her onto the palanquin.
The Imperial Secretariat, Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Chief of Staff, and other important ministers stood divided on both sides of the palanquin, respectfully accompanying.
Other civil and military officials and envoys followed behind.
Typically, an emperor ascends the throne first by performing the heavenly sacrifice, receiving acknowledgment from the heavens before accepting the kowtows from the ministers.
Zhao Hanzhang did it in reverse because Guo Pu had endorsed her with celestial signs, and she was accepting abdication, so she ascended first and then performed the heavenly sacrifice.
At the sacrificial altar, Taoists were already chanting sutras and performing rituals, with the ceremony band playing a symphonic welcoming tune. As Zhao Hanzhang arrived, it was an auspicious moment.
She descended from the palanquin and, under Guo Pu’s guidance, ascended the sacrificial altar, where He Xun awaited above with jade silk, ready to present it to her as she stood.
Zhao Hanzhang received it and, under the guidance of Guo Pu and He Xun, offered the jade silk to the primary position, then respectfully knelt before the cushion.
Once she finished her homage, Zhao Cheng led officials from the Ministry of Rites to present a ceremonial vessel filled with beef and lamb, which Zhao Hanzhang stood up to accept and offer to the primary position, then knelt again at Guo Pu’s signal, kowtowing...
Once she finished, the ceremonial music played on, but it wasn’t over.
Fu Tinghan approached with a tray, on which was wine in ceremonial jugs.
Zhao Hanzhang offered the wine to the major deities.
Only then did Guo Pu step forward to recite the blessing, which roughly conveyed that Zhao Hanzhang was granted by heaven, supported by popular sentiment, and today she would inherit the great office and manage earthly affairs on behalf of the heavenly deities.
He hoped the deities would bless her with health and longevity, protect the nation, bring peace and harmony, wish for favorable weather, national prosperity, and civilian tranquility...
If she fell short in any way, he beseeched the heavens to signal it, thus warning humankind.
After reciting the prayer, Zhao Hanzhang knelt respectfully, performing three kneels and nine kowtows.
When she finally stood up from the ground, slightly panting, sweat trickling from her forehead, to be honest, if the emperor’s health was even a bit weaker, a single heavenly sacrifice could take half his life.
No wonder emperors rarely sacrifice to heaven; even when they do occasionally, they prefer having a prince perform it instead, as it’s costly and potentially life-threatening.
After Zhao Hanzhang performed three kneels and nine kowtows, it was still not finished; Fu Tinghan poured more wine, once again offering it in the ceremonial jugs.
Zhao Hanzhang took the jug, offered wine to all the deities, knelt, and slightly raised her head, gazing at the serene and graceful clouds above her. She wondered if there were truly gods in this world but believed there were heavenly paths.
If there were no mysterious interventions, how did she and Fu Tinghan come to this world and accomplish so much successfully? Was it because HE couldn’t bear for the beings in this world to suffer further?
From the Eastern Han’s late years to the Sui Dynasty’s establishment, historical records marked three centuries of war and natural disasters, with nearly seventy percent population loss, of which sixty percent occurred pre-Eastern Jin establishment.
After Yongjia’s chaos, the Han people almost faced extinction.
Holding the wine jug, Zhao Hanzhang closed her eyes, sincerely praying: "It’s my first time being emperor; I don’t know if I can do it well, but I will do my utmost to live with a clear conscience, to be worthy of my people, my world, and heavens."
Zhao Hanzhang poured the wine and once again performed the kneel and kowtow ritual.
As she got up, Fu Tinghan filled her cup again, offering it for the last time and then performing the ceremony of three kneels and nine kowtows.
The music neared its end, while He Xun, Zhao Cheng, and others went forward to remove all the meals and drinks from the primary position.
Zhao Hanzhang knelt once more, performing the three kneels and nine kowtows.
Fu Tinghan reached out for the sacrificial text, ready to hand it over as she finished bowing, but was interrupted by the exclamations from below the altar.
Feeling something, Fu Tinghan raised his head to look at the sky.
Only to see the previously white cloud-blanketed sky seemingly tinted with colors, vibrant hues swirling as the breeze danced, revealing shapes akin to dragon scales and claws...
A white cloud shifted slightly, releasing a golden light from high above, illuminating the cloud dragon within, making its scales even more distinct. Amid its surge, the dragon’s head poked from the clouds as a purple-hued colored cloud drifted above, ultimately landing atop Zhao Hanzhang.
The array of ministers trembled with excitement, kneeling and shouting, "Praise Your Majesty, Your Majesty is granted by heaven, Your Majesty is truly heaven-granted."
Zhao Hanzhang looked in shock; she... was truly divinely destined?
Equally dumbfounded, Fu Tinghan quickly stuffed the sacrificial text into her hands, whispering urgently, "Burn it quickly."
Such good wishes should be quickly conveyed to heaven.
Zhao Hanzhang immediately tossed the sacrificial text into the fire, respectfully performing the three kneels and nine kowtows once more.
Below, Zhao Ming was overly excited, grabbing the dazed Zhao Cheng, exclaiming, "Did you see it? The destiny is in the Zhao Family, the destiny is in the Zhao Family. Her ascension is rightful, recognized truly by both the former emperor and the heavens, as well as embraced by the people!"
Zhao Cheng looked up at the clouds, his hand slightly clenched beneath his sleeves, his eyes filled with radiant light.
Among the hundred officials, a few initially questioned whether this was a trick, but after glancing around, seeing the area empty, they knew it was real, thus sincerely kowtowed several times.
Guo Pu was the most ecstatic, as this was his first time presiding over a heavenly sacrifice for an emperor, unexpectedly summoning such divine signs, fulfilling him with a sense of immense accomplishment.
He immediately had the band play clear and peaceful tunes, then gestured to the newly risen Zhao Hanzhang, saying, "Quick, the deities are departing, swiftly escort the deities."
Zhao Hanzhang knelt again amidst the music, performing three kneels and nine kowtows once more.
The eunuchs and palace maids brought up the sacrificial items, burning them one by one.
After the sacrificial items were burned, the clouds above gradually dispersed, leaving only an orange and a purple streak mixed among the white clouds.
The spectacle was seen by the citizens throughout the Capital City, just as excited as the ministers within the palace, if not more so.
Zhao Hu and Zhao Song, too old to attend the entire coronation, watched the celestial phenomenon in awe, regretting deeply, "We should have gone, we should have gone..."
Zhao Hu beat his chest and stamped his feet in remorse, "Living half a lifetime, it’s the first time seeing a divine dragon appear within the clouds; I may not witness such a sight again. How could I not go; how could I not go?"
Zhao Song immediately curbed the regret on his face, appeasing him, "There’s a long future ahead, Third Lady; the new emperor is heaven’s chosen. In the future, when she achieves greatness and sacrifices to heaven again, surely we’ll witness it; at that time we’ll go."
Zhao Hu replied, "How long would that take? Will I still be alive then?"
Zhao Song thought, what else can be done; you fell ill recently, making me unwell as well.
Reflecting on his own regret, Zhao Song only uttered mild consolations, avoiding a greater discussion.
He looked up at the sky, mutely contemplating: With these celestial signs, Hanzhang has truly solidified her legitimacy, and managing the nation henceforth should be even more efficient.