bookcurios Chapter 1237 Special Decree of Grace to the World
Chapter 1237 Special Decree of Grace to the World
The hall was brightly lit with candles, and huge bronze candlesticks were burning with wax candles as thick as children's arms.
The flickering flames made the gilded posthumous title on the tablet flicker, adding a touch of mystery and intimidation.
In the gilded incense burner, the finest sinking water incense rises in curls, and the green smoke is straight and condensed without dispersing.
The grand sacrifice ceremony was complete and displayed in front of the hall.
The ritual music has revived, but with a more ancient and melancholy tune, as if it came from the depths of distant time, carrying the gaze of the ancestors.
Nangong Xuanyu stood solemnly at the main priest's seat with a serious expression.
Gu Jinxiao, the Minister of Rites, dressed in solemn sacrificial attire and holding a sacrificial text, stepped forward.
He unrolled the scroll, and a clear voice echoed through the silent hall, each word distinct: "...with this refined wine and common delicacies, I hereby declare before the shrines of the Taizu Chengtian Qiyun Shengwu Shengong Ruiwenrenxiaogao Emperor, the Xiaoci Zhaoxian Zhiren Wende Chengtian Shunshenggao Empress, and all our ancestors."
"I humbly wish that the Holy Ancestor, who founded the empire, expanded the territory, and achieved great military success; that the Taizong succeeded him, established the throne, pacified the people, and exercised great influence on civil governance; and that the successive sages succeeded him, diligently governed the country, and brought benefits to the people..."
"For five hundred years, the foundation will be forever solid, and the people will live in peace and prosperity..."
The sacrificial text is like an unfolding magnificent scroll, recounting the great military achievements of Taizu since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Taizong's establishment of the dynasty and pacification of the people, as well as the civil and political achievements of the previous emperors.
Every achievement was solemnly mentioned in the solemn hall, echoing the glorious era that lasted for five hundred years.
Finally, Gu Jinxiao's voice, filled with a solemnity that echoed with pride, closely linked the grand ceremony to the ancestral blessing: "...Today, on the auspicious occasion of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the nation, the whole world celebrates and the people rejoice. This is all due to the great virtue and benevolence of our ancestors, who have passed down this legacy to future generations!"
"The Successor Emperor has inherited the legacy with unwavering care, diligently and diligently. How could he not remember the difficulties of establishing a new dynasty and the challenges of maintaining it? I respectfully lead all the ministers in offering a sincere and honest sacrifice, hoping that the Holy Spirit will be pleased and bestow boundless blessings upon our Great Zhou, ensuring eternal prosperity for the nation!"
"Enjoy your meal!"
After the sacrificial text was read, it was thrown into the huge silk burning furnace in front of the hall.
After the sacrifice ceremony, Nangong Xuanyu did not stay for long and returned to the palace.
The Fengxian Hall is located deep in the inner court. It is much smaller than the Taimiao, but more private.
The ancestral tablets of Nangong Xuanyu's direct lineage are enshrined here.
The hall is exquisitely decorated and the candlelight is warm. It lacks the suffocating grandeur of the Taimiao and has more of the solemnity and warmth of home.
At this moment, the hall was filled with royal relatives standing in order.
Prince Jin, Princess Yun'an, Princess Wenshu... and the main ladies in the harem.
Everyone was dressed in formal attire and stood solemnly with their hands hanging down.
Shen Zhinian stood at the head of the concubines, wearing a Shu brocade cloak over her gorgeous palace dress, her calm gaze fixed on the back of the emperor in front of her.
Nangong Xuanyu shed the overly heavy and majestic appearance he wore when offering sacrifices at the Taimiao, and wore only casual formal attire, with a touch of warmth in his expression.
He personally picked up three sticks of incense and lit them beside the candlelight. The curling green smoke rose up, blurring his deep eyebrows and eyes.
There was no reading by the ceremonial officer and no complicated music.
The emperor's deep but clear voice echoed in the silent hall: "I, the unworthy descendant Xuan Yu, lead the entire clan to respectfully offer sacrifices before the ancestral tablets."
"Today is New Year's Eve, and it also marks the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
"Our descendants are blessed by our ancestors and enjoy peace. I only hope that the spirits of our ancestors in heaven will forever bless the Nangong family, so that our family will be peaceful and our descendants will prosper."
"I also pray for the prosperity of our Great Zhou, and for its eternal stability!"
Nangong Xuanyu's words were brief, but every word was sincere.
After saying this, he bowed deeply three times.
The royal family members and concubines behind him also bowed in unison.
The smoke is curling and the candlelight is swaying.
There was a solemn silence in the Fengxian Hall.
……
It's noon and the winter sun is high in the sky.
The biting cold wind seemed to be frightened by the mighty power of heaven after 500 years of the founding of the country and became much gentler.
In front of the majestic Hall of Supreme Harmony, the vast square paved with white marble has long been a solemn and dignified ocean.
Civil and military officials, all dressed in red and purple, stood solemnly on the cold stone slabs according to their rank.
The civil officials were in the east, wearing scarlet robes and jade belts, holding ivory tablets.
The military officers stood in line to the west, wearing bright armor and holding their swords.
Further out, there are envoys from vassal states and tributaries, wearing different costumes that show exotic styles.
The prince of the Oirat tribe was wearing a thick sable fur robe, and the feathers on the top of his hat trembled slightly in the wind.
The Goguryeo envoy wore a black gauze winged hat and a dark blue official robe embroidered with clouds and cranes.
The leader of the Hui tribe wore a brightly colored turban and had eyes as sharp as an eagle.
They represented the supreme authority of the Great Zhou Dynasty that radiated in all directions. At this moment, they all held their breath and stood respectfully with their heads bowed.
Li Changde's shrill, resounding voice resounded through the sky: "Your Majesty has arrived!!!!"
The heavy ritual music sounded, solemn and dignified, with the sound of metal and stone.
The huge door of the nine-bay Hall of Supreme Harmony, under the double-eaved hipped roof covered with bright yellow glazed tiles, slowly opened.
Nangong Xuanyu was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe with twelve emblems and a golden winged hat on his head. Surrounded by his attendants, he stepped step by step onto the white marble steps that symbolized supreme power.
The sunlight fell on his robe, and the patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountain dragons and insects were shining with dazzling golden light.
He walked steadily, his eyes as sharp as lightning, sweeping over the countless living beings beneath his feet, and finally slowly sat down on the golden throne with coiled dragons that symbolized the supreme power.
"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"
The roar was like a tsunami, resounding in every corner of the square!
Civil and military officials, as well as envoys from foreign vassal states, all knelt down in unison like waves of wheat blown down by the wind, their foreheads pressed against the cold gold bricks.
Their voices merged into a torrent, rising to the sky and reverberating repeatedly within the solemn palace, shaking people's hearts. It demonstrated the supreme majesty of imperial power and the magnificent momentum of this grand celebration!
The emperor's voice was low, and carried the composure of someone in control of everything: "All the nobles, stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
All officials and envoys stood up according to etiquette and stood solemnly with their hands hanging down.
Silence returned to the square, with only the sound of heavy breathing coming and going.
Gu Jinxiao was dressed in solemn sacrificial robes, holding the imperial edict in his hand, and walked to the foot of the steps with a solemn expression.
He unrolled the scroll, and his voice echoed over the empty square, each word falling like pearls: "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I, the Great Emperor Gaozu, have inherited the Mandate of Heaven..."
The imperial edict unfolds a glorious historical scroll in a solemn and majestic style.
Every achievement reaffirms the legitimacy of imperial power and the long history of the dynasty.
"...Today, as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the nation, the whole world celebrates. This is truly an auspicious sign brought about by the benevolent blessings of our ancestors!"
"I, in remembrance of the great legacy and grateful for the grace of Heaven and the virtues of my ancestors, hereby issue a decree of grace to the world: First, in the fourth year of the Jingtai reign, all taxes and levies will be exempted as appropriate. Prisoners whose crimes are sympathetic and whose cases are justifiable will be pardoned and released, and all will participate in the reform!"
"Secondly, all civil and military officials, both internal and external, as well as the nobles and relatives, will be granted special favors, with varying degrees of generosity!"