Chapter 337: Untitled
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The army retreated as hundreds of officials marched in orderly. Neatly categorized according to the type of officials they were, they uniformly knelt down on the floor where the blood had yet to dry.
Everything was prepared, all that was left is for the na to be announced.
The Pri Minister led hundreds of officials to kneel down in front of the palace, nervously waiting for that person that would decide their fate from now on. He did not know who it would be but only knew that His Majesty had once told him that whoever walked out of the palace would be the new ruler.
The sun rose as sunrays cascade down on the majestic, long stretch of jade stairs. The reflected light rays gave the illusion of a mystical, heavenly stairway.
At the top, the tightly shut door to the palace finally slowly creaked open in the watchful eyes of the crowd. A slim black figure stepped out with the imperial degree in her hand.
She stood against the light. She resembled a god that oversaw the world as she stood there, with her back straightened and facing forward.
The hundreds of official squinted their eyes, trying to get a good look at the face of their new leader.
A shocking revelation for the Pri Minister!
‘Why is it King ng of Dahan!?’
The Pri Minister stared at that cold, emotionless lady dressed as a man in stupefaction. Her sharp gaze was sohow familiar.
He suddenly recalled a long ti ago, when His Majesty had granted him an audience and said those profound words, “Don’t worry, I will search for us a resolute and steadfast leader for this nation.”
Back then, he had bravely pointed out, “Your Majesty is wise. Indeed, our current dynasty is chaotic and requires a resolute and wise leader. But… there seem to be none amongst the prince and princess.”
His Majesty had smiled before replying. After a long ti, he had said, “Perhaps, there will be when the ti cos.”
Only today, only at this mont, did he understand!
Only today did he finally understand what His Majesty ant!
The thoughts of a visionary emperor were not sothing that a re official could understand!
With respect for the old emperor and fear of the new, he quickly straightened his back and led the crowd to prostrate themselves in front of their new leader.
“Your Majesty!”
Xuanji Tiancheng, the sixth day of the fourth month, the identity of the mysterious Empress, was finally revealed. The legendary lady who was Wuji’s General, the King of ng, as well as the Preceptor of Xuanyuan, had once again unfolded a new chapter that astonished the seven countries.
On the sixth day of the fourth month, noon, the newly appointed Empress, ng Fuyao, ascended the throne. The sun rays rcilessly hit down on the ground, ng Fuyao donned on a phoenix robe embroidered with the majestic seas and the stunning skies, adorned with accessories made of precious stones. She sat there on the throne, as her robe’s long train laid down on the jade stairs. The 19-year-old young lady was at the peak of her pri, so radiant, beautiful, and glorious.
However, the gaze of the Empress reflected none of that; it was cold and sinister. As her icy gaze swept through the place, all the aristocrats and officials lowered their heads.
As the sounds of the long, resounding bugle-horn, Shao Yue 1 and the boisterous firecrackers intertwined, the officials began their flattery. As the officials prostrated themselves once more, another imperial decree that Feng Xuan had prepared for this coronation ceremony was being read out, giving the audience a well-manicured and beautified version of ng Fuyao’s birth and life experiences – Born from royalty, she had gone out to experience the world from a young age, and gaining the approval of His Majesty with her admirable character and she had to be the next empress, so on and so forth.
The officials, as well as ambassadors from various countries, noticed that as the imperial decree was being read out, the Empress had displayed her mild annoyance as she tapped her fingers against the throne. It seed as if she was tapping to the rhythm of a certain lody yet no one knew what that lody was.
Only ng Fuyao knew. She was tapping to the rhythm of a folk tune that a professor, who was obsessed with it, and one of them was ‘Zhong Lǔ·Red Embroidered Shoes.’
“The peak of the mountain gleams ominously like precious blades. Sharpened icicles hang down from the cliff as apes and monkeys mourn, fooling around amongst the clouds. The cuckoo cries as it roars viciously in the dark cave. The dangers that lie in the steep mountain is nothing compared to the evils that lie in the human heart.”
The ruthlessness of a steep mountain was nothing compared to the ruthless human heart!
After the reading of the imperial decree, it was ti for her to receive the imperial seal. Feng Xuan handed over the ‘imperial seal’ over to ng Fuyao before retreating to the back of the palace. Naturally, the seal was no more as it had been destroyed by ng Fuyao. Yet, the ceremony could not do without it, and so, ng Fuyao had casually grabbed a stead cake, wrapped it in a yellow satin cloth, and shoved it into Feng Xuan’s hands. And so, Feng Xuan could only solemnly hand the ‘stead cake imperial seal’ over to the official and during the ceremony, hand it over to ng Fuyao after the official had delivered it to him. During that period, the corners of Feng Xuan’s mouth twitched while ng Fuyao continued as if nothing was wrong. In fact, if not for the fact that she would have to receive the seal, she would have gotten soone to dig out a pile of shit and wrapped it in yellow satin as if it was the seal.
No one dared to point out whether it resembled the seal, and none of the princesses and princes were present—they were duped into the back of the palace and were told that they were not allowed to join the coronation. They were all invited to pray in front of their ancestors for the future of the country. Once the doors were shut as an army of soldiers guarded outside, the princes and princesses began swearing and cursing, of which no one bothered, of course. That being said, ng Fuyao did give Ji Yu the right to shove a handful of rotten soil into the mouths of those who cursed. As the pungent, unbearable sll filled the room, the descendants of the previous emperor finally quietened down.
Feng Xuan had no issues with it. Honestly, for soone that had finished off all his siblings the mont he ascended the throne, a mouthful of soil was nothing.
ng Fuyao sat down on the throne, accepting the flattery and congratulations of both the ambassadors and officials alike. Suddenly, she froze.
Zong Yue and Zhangsun Wuji were both there.
The Emperor of Xuanyuan and the Crown Prince of Wuji could have sent an ambassador in their stead instead of turning up personally. Even so, the two seed unbothered by the heated discussion and the lack of etiquette in this case and sat there.
As she glanced at them, the two looked up. Zhangsun Wuji gave her a reassuring smile. He knew that to ng Fuyao, this was not a mont of glory but rather a frustrating ti where she had to sit through these formalities.
However, Zong Yue stared at her. His eyes were no longer void but straightforward, filled with pain and anxiousness. ng Fuyao welcod his gaze and gave him a small smile.
According to the traditions, Zong Yue was the Emperor of Xuanji, the one with the highest status amongst all guests. Naturally, he should be the first to offer his well-wishes. He bowed slightly and said, “Congratulations on ascending the throne. May the country under your reign be peaceful and prosperous. I would love for the two countries to extend our relationship and trade with one another to mutually benefit.”
ng Fuyao stood up to return the favor. Xuanji’s officials were pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Xuanji’s trade was renowned in the world with a huge landmass, dense population, and plentiful goods. If the two countries were to begin trading, there would be a new market for the various products that Xuanji had to be exported, ensuring an inflow of inco. Furthermore, they could import ores from Xuanyuan, which were beneficial to the research and developnt of weapons. Xuanyuan’s offer was of tily assistance in the face of Xuanji’s weakening economy.
Looking at his pained gaze, she seed to have been brought back to 14 years ago. That youth donned in white, gently holding on to her shaky, painful teeth as he murmured under his breath, “I hope you can forget this… I hope you can forget this… Don’t be like … Rembering it every day…”
What wrong did he have? The young child that had carried the pain and revenge of his family. His father was murdered in front of his eyes, forcing him to run for his life. What reasons did he have to not be cold?
Those he had relations with never bothered saving him, yet, he saved her whom he had no relations with.
He was burdened with such agony and suffering, tornted by it day and night. That’s why he hoped she could be unburdened and grow up happily.
He gave her a new beginning.
In so sense, he created her—without the ng Fuyao who had forgotten everything, there wouldn’t be a her that would face it courageously.
The sentence that Old Lu did not complete, ng Fuyao completed it for him.
He is… your savior.
Yes, savior.
Perhaps, to Xu Wan, he was heartless. But to her, he owed nothing.
She looked at Zong Yue and laughed. “Yes, Fuyao is always thankful for your good intentions.”
Zong Yue’s face lit up and wanted to say sothing. Then, Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward and interrupted the two. “Wuji would love to maintain a good relationship with Your Majesty. May Your Majesty fulfill this wish.”
ng Fuyao glanced at him. ‘This person can sure joke about in this kind of situation. Seriously, a leopard can never change its spots, huh?’ ng Fuyao thought inwardly.
“Thank you.” ng Fuyao plastered on a fake smile. “To say ‘fulfill’ would be too serious of you. It is my pleasure, too,” she replied.
Zhangsun Wuji happily went back. ‘Oh well, at least it was a smile.’ He hadn’t seen her smile in a very long ti, specifically, 232 hours.
Xuanji’s officials were all extrely elated at this point. They knew that Her Majesty had a good relationship with the two and was even the King of Han. With such a relationship with the three countries, they no longer had to worry about their country being conquered!
ng Fuyao greeted the ambassadors. Suddenly, ng Fuyao squinted her eyes.
A lady walked towards her, donned in blue with streaks of dark red. The colors on the dress complinted her smooth, honey-toned skin, giving her a unique charm. She had a longer and more slender neck than others, and as the sun shone upon her, her beautiful features were highlighted. Those eyes of hers were like the night.
‘It’s her.’
The mysterious lady she had seen at the restaurant the other day.
Because of that one amulet of hers, she had opened the heavy palace doors of her past mories, recalling her past mories.
ng Fuyao did not know what to say of this person. The actions of this person were natural and friendly but also odd.
ng Fuyao noticed Zong Yue’s frown as he stared at the lady.
‘Do they know each other?’
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