The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

"Dean, you're finally back!" Yu Lan came up to him hurriedly, her face full of anxiety, as if she had encountered some difficult problem and urgently needed her help.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Cen Jiexiao forced herself to be alert and asked, trying to look calm so as not to make Yu Lan worry.

"The emperor's palace sent someone to deliver a secret letter. Look!" Xiaozhi said, handing an envelope with a gold seal to Cen Jiexiao. The gold seal on the envelope sparkled in the dim light, appearing particularly dazzling.

Cen Jiexiao took the envelope, opened it, and her expression suddenly darkened, like a sky covered in dark clouds, poised for a downpour. The letter contained only a few sentences: "In three days, the East China Sea Sacrifice Ceremony will officially begin. Dean Cen, please be sure to prepare."

"The East China Sea sacrificial ceremony... will be officially held in three days." Cen Jiexiao murmured to herself, and suddenly an ominous premonition surged in her heart, like a cloud of fog, surrounding her tightly and making her unable to see the road ahead.

The East China Sea Sacrifice Ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies in the Zhou Dynasty. It is the highest-level sacrificial ceremony in the country, representing the supremacy of imperial power and the reverence for heaven, earth and nature.

Ever since Emperor Taizu, the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, established his rule, a grand sacrificial ceremony was held annually at the altar on the shores of the East China Sea. Presided over by the emperor himself, the ceremony honored the gods of heaven and earth, praying for favorable weather, good harvests, and peace for the nation. Civil and military officials, princes, nobles, and vassal kings would gather on the shores of the East China Sea to witness this solemn and sacred occasion. On this day, the common people would also spontaneously organize themselves, burning incense and praying for divine protection, favorable weather, and a good harvest in the coming year. The East China Sea sacrificial ceremony was not only a major manifestation of the Great Zhou's imperial power but also a symbol of spiritual faith, deeply ingrained in the hearts of every citizen of the Great Zhou.

However, this time the sacrificial ceremony was held contrary to the norm. It was not held at the altar on the coast of the East China Sea, but at the emperor's palace, Linkang Mansion. This in itself revealed a hint of unusual meaning, which made people wonder whether there was any unknown secret hidden in it?

"Dean, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong with this letter?" Yu Lan saw that Cen Jiexiao's face was not right, and asked hurriedly, her tone full of worry. Her clear eyes stared at Cen Jiexiao, afraid to miss any subtle changes in her expression.

"It's okay, just maintain your normal heightened security." Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath, trying to appear calm, but her brows were still furrowed, and she felt a surge of unease, like a dark cloud hanging over her heart, lingering. She gently placed the letter on the table, rubbed her swollen temples, and spoke slowly, "Although we've wiped out the assassin group and temporarily eliminated external threats, the internal forces of the Great Zhou are complex and complex. We must not let our guard down and be fully prepared, just in case."

"I understand, Dean." Xiaozhi's eyes widened upon hearing this, surprise written all over her round face, as if she had heard something incredible. She covered her mouth and muttered softly, "But honestly, who dares to mess with the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony? They'll be executed along with their entire clan! How daring!"

"Nothing is impossible in this world," Cen Jiexiao said in a deep voice, a hint of helplessness and worry in her tone. "People's hearts are unpredictable. Who can guarantee that no one will take risks? We have to be on guard."

"Then shall I go and inform Dean Chen now?" Seeing Cen Jiexiao's serious tone, Yu Lan did not dare to be careless anymore and asked hurriedly.

"Well, if an enemy comes, we'll fight him with our troops; if a flood comes, we'll block it with earth." Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. A glint of determination flashed in her eyes. "What we need to do now is to do our utmost to make the most thorough preparations. If someone really wants to fight us at that time, we'll be helpless."

"By the way, Yu Lan, you should investigate the backgrounds of those assassins as much as possible. If they haven't killed anyone, try to get Han Zheng to spare their lives first."

After Yu Lan and Xiao Zhi left, Cen Jiexiao paced back and forth in her study, anxiety entwined around her like a vine. She walked to the window and gazed out at the deep night, her heart filled with doubts. The change in the sacrificial location and the suspicious identity of the assassin—these two things, like two mists, shrouded her mind, lingering.

"Is there really any connection between these two things?" Cen Jiexiao murmured to herself, various possibilities kept flashing through her mind, but she could not find a reasonable explanation.

She rubbed her temples irritably, trying to calm herself down. No, she couldn't continue to let her thoughts wander like this. She had to find a way out!

An idea suddenly flashed through Cen Jiexiao's mind: Why not visit the several respected patriarchs of the Linkang Prefecture? They were all veterans of the Great Zhou Dynasty, having experienced countless hardships. Perhaps I could get some valuable information from them.

She immediately wrote a few visiting cards and had the servants in the mansion deliver them to the heads of several families. After she finished all this, she breathed a sigh of relief and waited quietly for their replies.

The next morning, Cen Jiexiao received replies from several family heads, all of whom expressed their willingness to meet with her. A glimmer of hope ignited in Cen Jiexiao's heart. She believed that as long as she could get some clues from these elders, she would be able to quickly uncover the mystery surrounding the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony.

Cen Jiexiao dressed up carefully, changed into a simple and elegant dress, and then took two maids and took a carriage to the first stop - the Wang family mansion.

The Wang family is a prominent and prestigious clan in the Great Zhou Dynasty, with generations of officials enjoying high prestige both within the government and the public. The current head, Mr. Wang, is approaching seventy, yet remains vigorous and energetic, his eyes piercing with the wisdom and wisdom of time.

Cen Jiexiao got off the carriage with the help of a maid. Looking up, she saw the towering gate of the Wang family mansion. The two large gold-plated characters "Wangfu" on the plaque sparkled in the sun, demonstrating the owner's dignity and grandeur.

Cen Jiexiao walked into the Wang family mansion and was led to the living room by the housekeeper. Old Master Wang had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Cen Jiexiao's arrival, he quickly stood up to greet her, his face full of a kind smile.

"Miss Cen, you are here. Please take a seat." Old Master Wang greeted her warmly, his tone full of the care of an elder for a younger generation.

Sister Cen Xiao paid her respects to Old Man Wang as a junior, then took a seat at the guest table. After the maid served her some fragrant tea, she tactfully stepped aside and quietly waited.

"Miss Cen, are you here today for the sacrificial ceremony?" Old Master Wang took a sip of the fragrant tea and asked with a smile, as if he had already seen through Sister Cen's thoughts.

Cen Jiexiao did not beat around the bush and told Mr. Wang all her doubts and concerns, and also told him her guess about the assassin's identity.

After hearing this, Mr. Wang pondered for a moment and slowly said, "The sacrificial ceremony has always been a top national event since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The choice of the location is extremely cautious and of great importance."

"Mr. Wang means..." Cen Jiexiao's heart skipped a beat. Could it be true as she thought, that the change in the sacrificial location foreshadowed some ominous sign?