Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

The Heavenly Dou Empire: The New Emperor's Coronation Ceremony.

As dawn broke, the golden rays of day poured down, illuminating the nine-tiered palace like a celestial palace. On either side of the steps, the Royal Knights stood solemnly, halberds in hand, their cold steel gleaming in the morning light, casting a chilling array on the white marble steps. The master of ceremonies held aloft dragon-draped banners, while twelve pairs of Imperial Guards, wielding golden spears and ceremonial weapons, stretched from the front of the main hall to the palace's main gate, their imposing presence like a divine procession.

"The auspicious time has arrived—"

The official's deep voice pierced the sky, and ninety-nine bells echoed powerfully, reverberating throughout the entire imperial city. On Tiandou Street, the masses knelt in a sea of ​​people, while solemn music, grand and awe-inspiring, emanated from the depths of the imperial palace.

Qian Renxue, dressed in a black dragon-patterned imperial robe, was covered by a magnificent cloak embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars, stretching three zhang in length, and was respectfully carried by eight purple-robed eunuchs. Her steps were steady, each step landing on the white jade dragon-carved imperial path. The mountain and river pendant adorning her jade belt trembled slightly with each step, resonating with the tolling of the bells in the main hall, producing a clear and melodious echo.

Civil and military officials lined both sides of the steps, with Marshal Ge Long standing at the head of the military ranks, the gold patterns on his armor gleaming in the morning light. When he looked up, he met the gaze of the "new emperor"—a sharp, sword-like glint flashing within those seemingly calm eyes. He was well aware of the earth-shattering events that had transpired in the palace the previous night, but for this iron-willed marshal, only the ultimate victor deserved his loyalty.

"kneel--"

As the chief eunuch's shrill shouts rang out, the assembled officials bowed their heads like a tidal wave, their foreheads touching the ground, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Qian Renxue's slender fingers traced the ferocious dragon-head relief on the armrest of the dragon throne, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in her calm eyes.

"Finally... it's all coming to an end." She murmured to herself, as if the burden of nearly twenty years of pretense had finally been lifted at this moment.

Feng Yao, hidden in the shadow of the palace pillars, lightly stroked the strings of the Fuxi Qin with his fingertips, and the silent sound waves rippled through the air. He saw her turn around, and the jade ornaments hanging from her crown swayed slightly, concealing the relieved smile on her lips.

When the Imperial Seal of the State landed heavily on the bright yellow imperial edict, Qian Renxue's heart sank as well—at this moment, she was no longer a lurking imposter, but the true emperor who held the reins of power in the Heavenly Battle.

"All of you, rise."

Her clear and authoritative voice resounded throughout the hall, ushering in a new era for the Heavenly Dou Empire.

The solemn enthronement ceremony lasted the entire morning, the shadow of the gilded sundial having moved from dawn to noon. Qian Renxue sat regally on the dragon throne, the twelve strings of jade ornaments hanging from her crown swaying gently before her forehead, perfectly concealing her expression. In the court, the officials read the imperial edict in a deep and resonant voice, each procedure adhering to the strictest royal etiquette.

Those nobles and high-ranking officials who usually concealed their ambitions were now bowing their heads respectfully; even the royal relatives who might raise objections were performing grand salutes. Even Xue Xing, who had always been at odds with the Crown Prince, was unusually submissive today.

Over the years, through her identity as Xue Qinghe, she had cultivated an impeccable network of influence within the court. Those who might voice dissent were either appeased beforehand or were forever silenced.

As the final ceremony concluded, the master of ceremonies announced loudly, "The new emperor ascends the throne, and the era name is changed to Tian Dou!" Immediately, a deafening roar of cannons erupted outside the hall, with ninety-nine cannons firing in succession, symbolizing the official start of a new era for the Tian Dou Empire.

Qian Renxue slowly rose, the gold thread embroidery on her black dragon robe shimmering with a majestic radiance in the sunlight. Looking at the kneeling officials, she suddenly felt a pang of irony—the ruled didn't even know who their ruler was. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that from this moment on, the Heavenly Dou Empire would operate according to her will.

"Rise, my beloved subjects." Her clear, cool voice echoed in the hall. "From this day forward, I shall dedicate myself to governing with diligence and perseverance, and together with you all, forge a glorious and prosperous era."

Qian Renxue sat high on the dragon throne, the jade ornaments hanging from her crown swaying slightly, concealing the deep meaning in her eyes. Outside the hall, the master of ceremonies announced loudly, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School welcomes you to the palace for an audience—"

Ning Fengzhi, dressed in a moon-white sect leader's robe and holding the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, stepped calmly into the main hall. Behind him, Bone Douluo Gu Rong and Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood on either side. Although they did not release their soul power, the majesty of the titled Douluo still made the atmosphere in the hall solemn.

"Your subject, Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, congratulates Your Majesty on your ascension to the throne." Ning Fengzhi bowed slightly, his voice gentle and refined, "and presents a pair of nine-colored glazed cups, wishing Your Majesty's rule to be as clear and bright as glazed glass, and that the empire to be forever secure."

The attendant presented a brocade box, inside which a shimmering glass cup emanated a faint, radiant energy—clearly no ordinary object, but a soul-guided artifact crafted by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School.

Qian Renxue raised the corners of her lips slightly, her gaze lingering on Ning Fengzhi's face for a moment, a half-smile on her face: "Sect Leader Ning is very thoughtful."

"Emissary of the Spirit Hall, please enter the hall for an audience—"

The temple doors opened again, and a cardinal, holding a papal decree, entered with his head held high. Behind him, two Templar Knights carried a gilded statue; the statue's face was blurred, yet it exuded a sacred and inviolable aura.

"His Holiness the Pope hereby presents an 'Angel Statue,' wishing for an eternal alliance between the Heavenly Dou and the Spirit Hall." The cardinal's voice was loud and clear, but his gaze swept meaningfully over the people in the hall.

The courtiers were in an uproar. Everyone knew what the statue symbolized—it was both a congratulatory gift and a reminder.

Qian Renxue remained expressionless, lightly tapping the armrest with her fingertips: "Please convey my gratitude to His Holiness the Pope."

"The envoy of the Star Luo Empire has entered the palace for an audience—"

The Star Luo envoy, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, had a somewhat cold and stern expression. He knelt on one knee and presented a scroll of gold-inlaid national documents with both hands.

"The Emperor of Xingluo congratulates the new Emperor of Tiandou on his ascension to the throne. May the two nations forever cease hostilities and jointly safeguard peace."

These words, seemingly congratulatory, were actually a test. Star Luo and Heavenly Dou had been locked in a standoff for years, and now that a new emperor had ascended the throne, they naturally wanted to gauge the prevailing sentiment.

Qian Renxue accepted the letter of state, her eyes slightly cold: "The envoy has come from afar, you must be tired."

"The Tang Clan envoy has entered the palace to pay his respects—"

As the announcer's call faded, steady footsteps echoed from the palace gates. Tang San, clad in blue robes, his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night jewel gleaming faintly at his waist, was followed by Titan. He walked with composure, but upon stopping in the center of the hall, he merely gave a slight nod. "Tang San, Sect Leader of the Tang Clan, congratulates Your Majesty on your ascension to the throne," his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable sharpness, "and presents a set of one hundred solutions to hidden weapons, hoping Your Majesty will accept it."

A servant presented a sandalwood box. The moment the lid was opened, a collective gasp filled the hall—the box contained neatly arranged hidden weapons that gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light. Each one was a perfect blend of art and slaughter, except for the extremely rare and deadly hidden weapons.

Qian Renxue's gaze lingered on Tang San's face for a moment, a meaningful smile curving her lips beneath her crown: "Sect Leader Tang is too kind. I've heard that the Tang Clan's hidden weapons are unparalleled in the world; seeing them today, I can confirm their reputation is well-deserved."

Tang San replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Your Majesty flatters me. These are merely small trinkets, utterly insignificant compared to Your Majesty's great talent and ambition."

The atmosphere inside the hall was subtle, with various forces subtly swirling within.

After an unknown amount of time, the bell tolled to signal the end of the court session, and Qian Renxue, surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, slowly left the main hall. Outside, the midday sun shone brightly, casting a long, long shadow of hers. Feng Yao watched her departing figure, a slight smile playing on his lips—this game of chess, which had lasted for nearly twenty years, was nearing its end.

The intense afternoon sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows inside the palace. When Feng Yao followed Qian Renxue into the East Palace, no candles were lit; only fine dust motes floated in the beams of light, casting long, lonely shadows of the two figures.

The old emperor's coffin was still kept in the imperial bedchamber. According to the Tian Dou ritual system, the new emperor had to observe a 27-day mourning period before he could move into the imperial bedchamber. But for Qian Renxue, this was just a play that had to be performed—whether it was the Crown Prince's study in the Eastern Palace or the magnificent imperial bedchamber, they were just temporary stops in her 20-year career of disguise.

"The final stages of the Tian Dou project need to be expedited." Qian Renxue's slender fingers traced the mountain of memorials piled on the desk, leaving a faint fingerprint on the still-wet red-inked annotations. "Ning Fengzhi's demeanor today was too calm; that old fox must be plotting something." A cold glint flashed in her eyes, like undercurrents surging beneath a frozen lake.

Feng Yao leaned against the rosewood screen, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Since he has already accepted the fact that the new emperor has ascended the throne, he must have weighed the pros and cons." His fingertips lightly touched the strings of the Fuxi Qin, producing a barely audible melody. "Now we just need to negotiate the terms with him, and once we find a suitable 'substitute' to take over the Heavenly Battle..."

Before she could finish speaking, a gust of wind blew past the window, scattering a blank imperial edict on the desk. Qian Renxue raised her hand to hold down the fluttering pages, then chuckled softly, "Go back? Yes, it's time to go back." Her gaze pierced through the window frame, looking towards the direction of Martial Soul City, a complex light flickering in her eyes.

Qian Renxue sighed slightly, and a dazzling golden light emanated from her. When the light faded, she had regained her true appearance—her brilliant golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her exquisite face, accentuated by the imperial crown, possessed an even more majestic and alluring beauty. Feng Yao's eyes suddenly darkened, and a burning flame ignited in their depths.

"My Empress." His low, husky voice carried a dangerous undertone as he appeared behind Qian Renxue like a ghost, his strong arms encircling her slender waist with an irresistible force. His fingertips lightly caressed the exquisite embroidery on her dragon robe, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

Qian Renxue felt the warmth from behind her, and the tips of her ears flushed slightly. She turned her head and glared at Feng Yao reproachfully, then slapped his restless hand away forcefully: "Stop fooling around! This court dress is too cumbersome to wear, especially for the banquet later."

Before she could finish speaking, Feng Yao had already forcefully scooped her up in his arms. Qian Renxue gasped in surprise, the jade beads on her crown clinking crisply. "A banquet?" Feng Yao chuckled, striding briskly towards the rear hall. "Let them wait."

"How dare you!" Qian Renxue feigned anger, but her fingertips involuntarily climbed onto his shoulder. The wide sleeves of his dragon robe slipped down, revealing half of his jade-like wrist.

Feng Yao lowered his eyes to look at the flushed cheeks of the person in his arms, his Adam's apple bobbing: "Your Majesty, I will now beg for forgiveness." With that, he kicked open the carved wooden door of the bedchamber, completely shutting out the spring scenery from the outside world. Only the imperial crown remained, casually placed on the table, the twelve strings of jade algae still swaying gently, reflecting the deepening twilight outside the window.

As dusk settled, thousands of palace lanterns were lit one after another within the imperial palace. The gilded lanterns reflected off the vermilion walls, casting winding streaks of light along the bluestone imperial path. A master of ceremonies, holding a jade-handled whisk, stood before the three palace gates and loudly proclaimed:
"His Majesty has arrived!"

The sound pierced the twilight, startling the copper bells on the eaves into a slight tremor. Qian Renxue, dressed in a black robe with gold patterns, had a mountain and river pendant at her waist sway gently with her steps, its light shimmering in varying shades of darkness in the lamplight. Feng Yao lagged three steps behind, a corner of his plain white robe fluttering in the night wind, his seemingly respectful posture concealing a gaze that only she could understand.

As they passed through the final palace gate, the magnificent lights of the banquet hall came into view. Thirty-six glazed palace lanterns hung high inside, illuminating the gilded beams and pillars as if it were daytime. The various dignitaries who had been waiting there immediately bowed their heads—

On the left, Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School gently stroked his teacup; on the right, Marshal Ge Long's black iron wrist guard gleamed coldly in the candlelight; the dark blue brocade robes of the Star Luo Envoy Delegation surged like an undercurrent; even Tang Yuehua, who usually kept to herself, was sitting upright at the table.

As Qian Renxue stepped onto the main seat on the jade steps, Feng Yao casually walked into his own seat.

"Rise, my lords." Qian Renxue waved her wide sleeves lightly, and the banquet officially began.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, Feng Yao sat in his usual spot, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the wooden body of the Fuxi Qin. The hall resonated with the pleasant sounds of string and wind instruments, and the laughter and chatter of the nobles filled the air.

A slight smile played on his lips, and an invisible wisp of soul power quietly spread out. The "Heavenly Sound Domain" expanded within a very small area, taking in all the whispers around him—

"I heard that before the new emperor ascended the throne, the people of Haotian Sect wanted to support the fourth..." A certain earl lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming behind his wine glass.

"This time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's power has likely increased to a higher level."

In another direction, a marquis, fanning herself with a feather fan, whispered to the noblewoman beside her, "Why don't we find an opportunity to send your daughter into the harem?"

A hint of amusement flashed in Feng Yao's eyes, and he expanded his domain slightly. In a corner where no one noticed, he overheard more interesting secrets—a border lord's private dealings with the Xingluo merchant caravan, a minister's secret chamber in his mansion, and even a little secret about an affair with a noblewoman.

"Listening to gossip is quite interesting." He smiled and took a sip of wine, his gaze sweeping over the people in the hall. These nobles would never know that their supposedly private conversation was now laid bare before him like an open book.

What interested him most was the telepathic communication between Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong. He could hear it, but he would also be detected. His mental strength was not strong enough that even Gu Rong could not detect his domain. However, Feng Yao could roughly guess that the two were discussing the bottom line of the negotiation.

Then Feng Yao raised her eyes and looked at Qian Renxue on the main seat, meeting her gaze directly—Feng Yao smiled and winked.

A hint of unease flashed across Qian Renxue's face.
(End of this chapter)