Chương 491: Ascending the Throne and Conferring the Empress

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Han Dynasty!"

"His Majesty has ascended the throne! Peace has returned to the land!"

"Look, look! His Majesty is in the carriage! How majestic!"

Sitting in the carriage, Liu Ce looked out through the gauze curtain at the smiling faces and tearful eyes of the people, which warmed his heart.

He couldn't help but reach out and lift a corner of the gauze curtain, waving outside.

With this wave of his hand, the people became even more excited, and their cheers were deafening.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Han Dynasty!"

Cheers rose and fell, so loud they made people's ears ring.

Some people cried with excitement, some laughed with joy, some threw the flowers they were holding onto the car, and some tossed their hats into the air.

An elderly man with white hair, leaning on a cane, knelt shakily by the roadside, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Heaven has opened its eyes... Finally, there is a wise ruler... I have lived for more than sixty years, and I have finally seen peaceful days..."

The young man beside him helped him up: "Grandpa, don't cry. His Majesty said that from now on, every day will be a good day!"

The old man wiped away his tears and nodded vigorously.

This is the meaning behind Liu Ce's desperate struggle to conquer the world: to enable these people to live a peaceful life.

...

At 3: 45 AM, the imperial carriage arrived at the Southern Palace in Luoyang.

The Eastern Han imperial palace was divided into the Southern Palace and the Northern Palace. The Northern Palace was where the emperor handled state affairs and held grand ceremonies. Deyang Hall was the main hall of the Northern Palace and also the venue for the enthronement ceremony.

The Deyang Palace, with its capacity to accommodate 10, 000 people and its steps two zhang high, was the most magnificent palace in the land at that time.

In front of the palace is a wide square, with offices for officials on both sides. The palace can accommodate tens of thousands of people. The steps of the palace are two zhang high, and the dragon throne is placed on the highest platform, overlooking the officials.

Liu Ce changed into a bright yellow twelve-symbol dragon robe in a side hall of Deyang Palace and put on a Tongtian crown.

The dragon robe was made six months in advance, using the finest Shu brocade. A five-clawed golden dragon, embroidered with gold thread, coiled on the chest, baring its fangs and claws, lifelike.

With a jade belt around her waist and black leather boots on her feet, she looked completely refreshed.

The Tongtian crown was a crown exclusively for the emperor. It was lighter than the Mian crown and suitable for wearing inside the palace.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of incense. The music master had already ordered people to arrange the chime bells and stone chimes neatly in the southeast corner. The musicians stood holding their breath, even breathing very softly.

The chime bells are arranged in three rows, with a total of 64 pieces of varying sizes. The smallest is the size of a fist, and the largest is taller than a person.

Officials, dressed in crimson court robes, stood solemnly in the palace courtyard according to their rank.

Everyone bowed their heads and lowered their eyes, their hands folded on their knees. In the vast palace, only the faint sound of incense smoke rising from the incense burner could be heard.

"Foreign Affairs Office!"

The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the silence, echoing through the empty palace.

A moment later, the soft sound of wheels rolling over bluestone came from the east room.

Liu Ce, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe with twelve imperial symbols and wearing a crown that reaches the heavens, slowly rode out in a palanquin.

His face was calm as he glanced at the officials below and walked step by step toward the dragon throne, which symbolized the highest power in the world, and sat down on it.

The dragon throne is carved from rosewood, with a coiled golden dragon on the backrest and two outstretched dragon claws on the armrests.

The chair was covered with a bright yellow brocade cushion, and it was just the right firmness to sit on.

"The emperor's rise is for the sake of his ruler!"

The attendant and the assistant minister announced the greeting loudly, their voices as clear and resonant as a bell.

All the officials rose in unison, the rustling of their robes creating a continuous sound.

Everyone turned north and bowed towards the throne.

"bye!"

Hundreds of people simultaneously knelt down, cupped their hands in front of their bodies, and slowly touched their foreheads to the ground, holding the position for three breaths.

After the kowtow ceremony was completed, a unified shout erupted from the hall:

"Long live!"

The sound waves shook the dust off the palace beams, and the lingering echoes of the chime bells reverberated slightly in the air.

"prosper!"

The officials rose, bowed their heads, and returned to their seats, restoring the previous silence to the hall.

"The Imperial Seal of the State—!"

Xu Da, carrying the Imperial Seal of the State wrapped in bright yellow brocade, strode up the steps of the palace.

His steps were steady and powerful, each step carrying the dignity of a soldier, his boots making a dull sound on the bluestone slabs.

He knelt down before Liu Ce, raised his hands above his head, and presented the heavy jade seal to Liu Ce.

"Your subject Xu Da, acting as Grand Commandant, respectfully presents the Emperor's seal and ribbon!"

Liu Ce extended his hands and accepted the imperial seal.

The cool, jade-like touch traveled from my fingertips, flowing through my veins and throughout my body.

The He Shi Bi jade, inscribed with the eight characters "Received the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Life Be Long and Prosperous," shimmered with a warm glow in the sunlight.

Liu Ce stared intently at the Imperial Seal of the State, muttering to himself:

"By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous."

Then, Liu Ce raised it high.

"Long live!"

All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison, performed the kowtow, and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

The sound resounded throughout the Southern Palace, spread throughout Luoyang City, and reached every inch of the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty.

The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat stepped forward, unfolded the edict of accession written on silk, and read it aloud: The Emperor decreed:... In the past, Dong Zhuo's chaotic rule led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the rise of numerous warlords, and widespread suffering...

As a member of the Han imperial family, I raised an army in Zhuojun. With the blessings of Heaven and Earth and the protection of our ancestors, our soldiers fought bravely, and the people were loyal to us. After two years, we swept away the warlords and unified the world.

I now ascend the throne as Emperor, retaining the name of the dynasty as Han, and changing the era name to Shenwu. I hereby grant a general amnesty to the people. I will allow them to rest and recuperate, reduce taxes and levies, develop water conservancy projects, and encourage agriculture and sericulture.

I wish to work with all my subjects to create a peaceful and prosperous world!

This proclamation is hereby issued to the world, so that all may know.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, a deafening roar of "Long live the Emperor!" erupted once more.

Liu Ce looked at the civil and military officials kneeling before His Highness, and at the cheering people outside the palace, and slowly tightened his grip on the jade seal.

He had waited many years for this moment.

The moment has finally arrived.

Thus, the Divine Martial Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty officially ascended the throne.

...

The ceremony for bestowing the title of Empress was also held in Deyang Hall.

"Bring in the Empress!"

As the master of ceremonies finished speaking, the vermilion gate of the west side of the hall slowly opened.

Cai Yan wore a dark blue robe embroidered with colorful pheasant patterns. The twelve hems of the robe reached the ground, like a blooming blue peony, swaying gently with her steps.

She wore a crown with swaying ornaments, its golden branches and jade leaves shimmering in the morning light, yet she showed no sign of arrogance, walking with composure and ease with every step.

She was poised and elegant, with a faint smile on her face. Her makeup was exquisite but not heavy, and her features exuded a dignified and sophisticated air.

Led by a senior eunuch, four female ministers followed closely behind, carrying trays of official seals and documents, and walked calmly into the palace courtyard.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they had rehearsed countless times.

Cai Yan walked to the altar that had been prepared in the center of the hall and stood facing north.

His posture was as upright as a pine tree, his hands were folded in front of his abdomen, and his gaze was calm as he looked at the emperor on the throne.

All eyes in the hall were on her, but no one dared to make a sound.

"Grand Commandant, read the strategy!"

Xu Da, holding the imperial edict, slowly walked up the eastern steps to the palace.

With a solemn expression, he walked to the throne and stood facing north.

"On the day of Renshen in the first month of the first year of Shenwu, the Emperor said:" A loud voice rang out in the hall, each word clearly audible.

"You, Lady Cai, are from Yu County, Chenliu. You are the daughter of Yong, the Left General of the Palace Guard. You were well-versed in the ways of a woman from a young age and have cultivated all the virtues of a wife as you have grown up. You are respectful, frugal, thrifty, kind, and loving... You are worthy to marry the Emperor and serve the ancestral temple."

Now, Grand Commandant Xu Da, with the imperial insignia and Minister of Works Fang Xuanling as his deputy, is to establish Lady Cai as Empress.

"Go and obey! Respectfully cultivate the virtues of a woman, maintain order and harmony in the inner palace, and do not disobey my orders."