Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The cold January wind, carrying fine snow, swept through the streets and alleys of the Chu capital.

The bronze bells on the corner tower of the imperial city jingled in the wind, as if playing a solemn prelude.

At three quarters past the hour of Yin, Li Dequan, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, had already started working in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony with hundreds of eunuchs and palace maids.

"Lay that golden carpet smoother over there!"

Li Dequan's shrill voice was particularly harsh in the darkness before dawn.

"And all these palace lanterns must be replaced with new ones! If even one of them goes wrong during the ceremony, you'll lose your heads!"

The young eunuchs climbed up the ladder tremblingly and replaced hundreds of gold-painted palace lanterns one by one.

Each lampshade is carefully painted with a golden dragon riding on the clouds. In the candlelight, the dragons seem to be about to break through the paper.

At the same time, Han Zhen, the centurion of the Imperial Guards, was giving a speech outside the Meridian Gate: "If there is any mistake today, I will make sure you are in great shape!"

The frost on his iron armor gleamed in the torchlight. "Archers, take your positions. Jinwu Guards, flank each flank. Halberdiers, guard the key roads!"

As the sky gradually brightened and the first ray of sunlight penetrated the clouds, Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen was already wearing the official uniform of the second rank, and the peacock on the chest patch was lifelike.

He repeatedly checked the ceremonial book in his hand, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Sir, everything is ready in the West Garden." A clerk from the Ministry of Rites came trotting over to report.

Deng Hongwen took a deep breath and looked towards the West Garden.

He knew that the moment to decide the future of Chu was coming.

At the exact time of Chen, thirty-six bell sounds shook the sky.

The gilded gate of the Western Garden slowly opened, and the Nine-Dragon Golden Chariot gleamed brightly in the morning light.

The strong men carrying the sedan chair were dressed in golden armor, and every step they took shook the earth.

The King of Chu sat upright in the chariot, and the sun, moon and star patterns on his twelve-chapter crown glowed with a strange brilliance in the sunlight.

The twelve jade beads swayed gently in front of him, obscuring his deep gaze.

"Your Majesty, please—"

As the eunuchs in charge of ceremonies shrieked in sharp voices, the guard of honor moved forward slowly.

At the front were eight guards holding golden gourds, followed by twenty-four flag bearers holding high bright yellow flags embroidered with golden dragons.

On both sides of the dragon chariot, twelve palace maids held peacock feather fans and twelve eunuchs held golden jade ruyi.

Chu Ning had been kneeling outside the Meridian Gate for a long time.

He was wearing a crimson gauze robe and a seven-tassel crown on his head. The cold bluestone ground brought a biting chill through his thin court robes.

But he did not move, his eyes remained lowered, staring at the white breath he exhaled on the ground.

When the shadow of the dragon chariot loomed over them, Chu Ning touched the ground with his forehead and said, "Your Highness, I respectfully welcome you, Father!"

"Flat body."

The voice of the Emperor of Chu came from above, three times colder than the winter wind.

Chu Ning stood up respectfully, and out of the corner of his eye he saw the jade beads hanging from his father's crown gently colliding in the wind, making a crisp sound.

In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials had already lined up waiting.

When the Chu Emperor's dragon chariot appeared at the end of the imperial road, ceremonial music suddenly sounded.

The music of "Chengyun" played by chime bells and jade chimes echoed in the palace, and three hundred musicians played sheng, xiao, guan and di at the same time.

Chu Ning was three steps behind the dragon chariot, and he could smell the scent of sandalwood in the air.

On each of the nine jade steps in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony stood two guards holding golden gourds, their iron armor reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight.

Inside the hall, the green smoke rising from the incense burner swirled between the beams and pillars.

The King of Chu slowly stepped onto the dragon throne, and when he turned around, the gold embroidery on his crown flashed a stream of light.

Chu Ning knelt at the foot of the imperial steps and could clearly hear his own violent heartbeat.

"Announce the decree." Emperor Chu said lightly.

Deng Hongwen unfolded a three-foot-long bright yellow imperial edict and said in a resounding voice, "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I have inherited the Mandate of Heaven for thirty-eight years, and am now old..."

Chu Ning rested his forehead against the cold ground as he listened to the imperial edict listing his achievements: "Now, Crown Prince Chu Ning has destroyed the State of Zhao and captured its cities."

"Take the Yan State and seize a thousand miles of its fertile land."

"Conquer the Qin State and capture the Guanzhong fortress."

"Take over Jin and unify the northern states!"

When it read "Now the throne is passed to the prince", the nine bells suddenly rang outside the hall, making the window frames buzz.

Four eunuchs walked slowly forward holding the imperial seal, dragon robes and crowns.

Chu Ning looked up and saw the jade seal carved from Hetian white jade. The dragon knob was emitting a warm luster under the candlelight.

The Emperor of Chu personally draped the dragon robe with twelve emblems on Chu Ning's shoulders.

Chu Ning could feel his father's hands trembling slightly. Those hands had once ruled the world for thirty-eight years, but were now covered with wrinkles.

"Your son...will never let down this country and this people." Chu Ning's voice was choked with sobs when he took over the imperial seal.

When he put on the twelve-tassel crown and turned to face his ministers, the hall was suddenly filled with thunderous cheers of "Long live the emperor".

The jade beads on the crown swayed in front of his eyes. Through these swaying jade beads, he saw Shen Wanying standing at the head of the ladies with tears in her eyes.

Feng Mulan was dressed in military uniform with a long sword at her waist; Prince Chu Tian stood straight with a sharp gaze.

"The enthronement ceremony begins!" Deng Hongwen announced loudly.

Chu Ning unfolded the first imperial edict: "Respect your father as the Supreme Emperor, grant him the Purple Palace to live in, and retain half of the imperial carriage."

He saw his father sitting on the newly established throne of the Supreme Emperor and nodded expressionlessly.

When the announcement was made that Shen Wanying was to be enthroned as empress, she walked slowly forward, the pearls and jade on the phoenix crown swaying gently with her steps.

"I accept your command and thank you." Her voice was gentle but firm, and her fingertips trembled slightly when she took the golden book with both hands.

Feng Mulan's enthronement caused a stir.

When Chu Ning said, "Princess Lan can retain her military position," he saw many generals in the ranks looking surprised.

Feng Mulan looked more heroic than many generals when she knelt on one knee to receive the sword bestowed by the emperor.

When Chu Tian stepped forward to be crowned the crown prince, the three-year-old child tried hard to imitate an adult, but still almost dropped the seal of the Eastern Palace when he took it.

Chu Ning raised the corner of his mouth slightly, recalling the scene when he was conferred the title of Crown Prince.

The greeting ceremony lasted until noon.

Among the envoys from various countries, the demeanor of Empress Wu Zhao of the Great Zhou was the most impressive.

She was wearing a black dragon robe and the white jade ruyi she presented was transparent and flawless.

"May the two countries of Chu and Zhou form an everlasting alliance." Her voice was not loud, but it made the entire hall quiet.

When Pei Yanzhi stepped forward to salute, Chu Ning noticed that his hand in his sleeve was clenched into a fist.

The forced smile of the Tang Dynasty envoy was uglier than crying, and he almost threw the "Atlas of All Nations" when handing over the document.

The Scorpion Clan's envoy Gongsun Yi presented the rare white wolf skin.

At noon, Chu Ning climbed onto the rooftop in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The cold wind howled, making the jade strings on the crown jingle.

Looking around, the imperial city was filled with kneeling civilians, and the black crowd stretched to the end of the sight.

"Long live Long live Long live!"

The thunderous shouts made Chu Ning's chest numb.

He raised his hand to signal, and immediately three thousand imperial guards struck their shields at the same time, and the sound of metal clashing reached the sky.

The bells rang again, and countless auspicious cranes were released from the palace walls, forming a spectacular array in the blue sky.

But at this moment, Cui Gaoxuan's mouth curled up slightly, and he suddenly stood up and laughed, "Congratulations to the new king of Chu! He finally got his wish and ascended the throne!"

After a pause, he looked at everyone and said loudly, "I've heard that the new king of Chu is known as the most talented person in the world. I'm sure you're all curious about how talented this new king of Chu is, right?"

"How about today, let's ask the new king of Chu to demonstrate it to us."