Chapter 1645 — The Firmament Emperor Lord
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 5
" Meng Yungui barked in a low voice, glanced around, and said gravely, "Junior Sister Bai, we were once of the same sect — that is the only reason I warn you.
Otherwise you too would be finding your own road to death! What you are saying and doing now is exceedingly dangerous. Times are not what they were; any word misspoken may bring a fatal disaster upon you! In the past there were ten Heavenly Masters, so a misspoken word was nothing. Now there is only Heavenly Master Hao — even a Heavenly Master who misspeaks will die! " Bai Yuqiong sighed, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.
Meng Yungui held the flower stem, went on with his arranging, and murmured, "I have a dream.
. .
Damn it! " Yu Chenzi, his heart set at ease, shuffled slowly back to his dwelling. The lodging the Chief Minister had arranged for him was, one might say, thick with watching eyes; his every movement would be monitored in perfect clarity, with not the least secret to speak of.
He did not mind; he settled in calmly, ate when it was time to eat, slept when it was time to sleep, without the slightest pressure.
The Heaven Court, meanwhile, bustled into activity, making preparations for Heavenly Master Hao's enthronement ceremony.
When the day of the enthronement ceremony arrived, it was clamorous beyond measure and yet sacred and solemn. The lords of the myriad heavens and worlds came hurrying from every direction; all manner of divinities displayed all manner of prodigies. In the sky, goddesses in fluttering robes scattered blossoms of divinity, flower upon flower.
Petals covered the ground; the divinities who came to attend the ceremony never trod upon the earth at all, but walked upon a thick carpet of petals. The heavenly realm was hung with lanterns and streamers; every household hung up lanterns, and the divine beasts that guarded the gates all roused their spirits.
Dragons coiled upon the pillars, phoenixes flew up to the branches, qilins sat before the doors, awe-inspiring in their majesty. The ceremony began. Heaven Emperor Taichu, robed in the imperial robe and crowned with the imperial crown, received the homage of the assembled ministers.
Heavenly Master Hao knelt below as well, kowtowing to Taichu.
The herald proclaimed the rites; when the rites were done, Heaven Emperor Taichu burned incense and offered prayer, speaking the words of abdication in favor of the worthy — that his virtue was deficient and he was ashamed to occupy the throne, and so on — and then praised the talent and character of Heavenly Master Hao, and for that reason abdicated, inviting Heaven Emperor Hao to ascend the throne.
Heaven Emperor Taichu removed the imperial crown, took off the imperial robe, and laid them upon a jade tray. Heavenly Master Hao hastily declined, in trepidation and dread. Heaven Emperor Taichu was displeased, insisted on abdicating, and established him as Emperor.
Heavenly Master Hao knelt on the ground, kowtowing again and again, begging his Imperial Father to retract the command.
Taichu again demanded that Heavenly Master Hao ascend the throne; Heavenly Master Hao prostrated himself and wailed aloud, refusing without end.
Heaven Emperor Taichu flew into a rage and shouted, "Hao'er, must you watch your old father die upon this throne before you will consent to ascend it?
" With that he drew the imperial sword and made to cut his own throat.
The assembled ministers rushed forward in alarm and restrained Heaven Emperor Taichu.
Heaven Emperor Taichu, unable to struggle free, could only throw down the sword and shout, "What use is it to urge me? Go urge the new Emperor, and make him ascend the throne!
" The ministers went to urge Heavenly Master Hao; he prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly for a while, and when the crowd urged him again, he finally stopped crying and was helped up by the ministers and escorted to the imperial seat in the Lingxiao Hall.