284 Dragon-Sealed Scrolls
At the end of each year, Heavenly Revelations would hold the annual Ceremony of Offering Sacrifices. On this day, all high-ranking officials and nobles will travel to the Heaven and Sea Cultivation Ground just outside of Heavenly Revelations City. On this day, the Emperor would also put on his full dragon regalia to attend, and behind him, he would be accompanied by four Grand Eunuchs:
One who held the treasured Imperial Sword, the Eunuch of Sword, which represented the military force by which Beili established its borders.
One who held the country’s Jade Seal, the Eunuch of Seal, which represented the Xiao family’s lineage.
One who held the blue jade Incense Burner, the Eunuch of Incense, which represented the virtues of Daoism and Buddhism.
One who held the vassal state’s Official Archive, the Eunuch of Records, which represented the morals by which the dynasty will rule.
This was the proper custom when the Emperor had an official appearance. This ceremonial guard was required only when he attended a large ceremony or when he had a meeting with someone very important.
Presently, the four Grand Eunuchs were ready and waiting as they took their place respectfully outside the Hall of Supreme Peace. They were waiting for Mingde Emperor to emerge from within.
"It's another year." The Eunuch of Records, Jin Yu Gonggong, said slowly.
The other three Grand Eunuchs responded faintly. Naturally, they understood what Jin Yu meant by his words. Every year, they would wait for the same thing at the annual Ceremony of Offering Sacrifices, but it’s just a pity that every year, they waited in vain.
The Dragon-Sealed Scrolls.
After the founding of Beili, two consecutive Crown Princes died of unnatural deaths, so since then, Beili established a court regulation not to name the Crown Prince. The reigning Emperor would write the name of the heir to the throne within a scroll, and on the day that the Emperor passed away, the name on the scroll would be the next Emperor. The scrolls were sealed with a dragon seal, and since hidden within them were the name of the future true dragon, they were called the Dragon-Sealed Scrolls. On the day of the Ceremony of Offering Sacrifices, one copy of the scroll was handed to the Five Grand Eunuchs for safekeeping, and was called the Emperor’s will. Another copy was concealed by the Directorate of Astronomy, and was called Heaven’s will. This had been the practice for many generations. Until an exception appeared in the previous reign. The copy handed to the Five Grand Eunuchs was torn to shreds on the spot by Langya Prince Xiao Ruofeng, while the copy concealed by the Directorate of Astronomy disappeared mysteriously.
And in the present reign, Mingde Emperor had never given the Five Grand Eunuchs nor the Directorate of Astronomy the Dragon-Sealed Scrolls. Generally speaking, the Dragon-Sealed Scrolls could be changed. During the previous reign, Tai’an Emperor had even changed it three times. However, Mingde Emperor continued to delay putting a name down, and had already incited criticism from many court officials.
Among Mingde Emperor’s sons, only two of them were bestowed titles of Prince in the court. One was the White Prince, Xiao Chong. He was talented in all areas, but unfortunately, he was blind. Throughout history, no one had ever seen a blind man become an emperor. The other was the Red Prince, Xiao Yu. He was shameless, engaged in frivolity and had a worthless reputation. But, his mother was Mingde Emperor’s most favoured consort.
However, there was another Prince who wasn’t present in court, but lived out in the country.
Yong’An Prince, Xiao Chuhe.
Although nobody dared to say it in public, there were people from the highest ranks of the court officials to the lowest who were quietly discussing that Xiao Chuhe was coming back. He was undoubtedly a choice that was more in line with Mingde Emperor's wishes than either the White Prince or the Red Prince. If he was really coming back, then would the Dragon-Sealed Scrolls this year finally have a name?
White Prince Residence.
Xiao Chong sat quietly in the courtyard, tapping his fingers lightly on the stone table and absently humming an unknown tune from his mouth. Outside the residence, the great bell had already been struck three times, and hundreds of civil and military officials had already left their own residences and gathered outside the gates to the palace. However, the White Prince Xiao Chong did not seem to be in a hurry. He had always been steady and would never do something to make himself late at the annual Ceremony of Offering Sacrifices. In previous years, he would have arrived early, but this year…
"Shaohan, will my imperial father write down that person’s name this year?" Xiao Chong turned towards a scholar dressed in black and holding a fan who was standing by the courtyard.
The scholar shook his head. "He won’t."
"Why not?" Xiao Chong whispered softly. "Many people are saying that he’s coming back. Although Lanyue Marquis has denied it, such hearsay did not arise from nowhere."
"If the Emperor really loves him that much, he won't put him in such danger," said the scholar.
"But years ago, the Emperor exiled him," Xiao Chong said. "At the time, he didn't seem to take Xiao Chuhe's safety into consideration."
"Who would know that his so-called exile wasn’t to temporarily protect him from danger? After all, Heavenly Revelations City is the most dangerous place in the world," said the scholar.
"What about a different name? Isn't it possible?"
"That’s impossible. Even though the Emperor knows that the Red Prince Xiao Yu is not as useless as he makes himself appear, Xiao Yu is still unpopular amongst the imperial court. Unless he shows some progress, he won’t be given a chance. As for you, my Prince…"
"It's hard to imagine a blind man becoming the emperor." Xiao Chong let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Even I would find it fantastical."
The scholar nodded. "You are blind now, but perhaps it’s not impossible to heal your eyes. Moreover, with the Prince’s talents, it’s possible for you to achieve what others could not."
"Hope, then." Xiao Chong muttered, facing the sky. "Why is there no news from the palace yet? This makes me uneasy."
Red Prince Residence.
Xiao Yu was already dressed in his python robe and he said loudly, "Let's go."
Long Ye hesitated. "Shouldn’t we wait a little more?"
"Even if we have confirmation, it won’t change anything. Moreover, my imperial father will definitely not be handing over the scrolls today." Xiao Yu smiled. "I know him."
"Why not?" Long Ye asked. "All the officials in the court are already spreading…"
"I'm guessing Lanyue Marquis was the one who leaked the news." Xiao Yu chuckled. "After all, his own name could also be written on the scrolls. Since the founding of Beili, there were also occasions where a younger brother succeeded his brother’s position."
Heaven and Sea Cultivation Ground.
Qi Tianchen and four celestial masters stood on the high platform, waiting for the arrival of the high-ranking officials and nobles.
"Shixiong, your injuries?"
Qi Tianchen flicked his horsetail whisk and smiled slightly. "I’m fine now." Ever since that day when the Dragon-Seeking array was broken, he had been in seclusion and today was the first time he had emerged. His complexion was still a little pale and he was much thinner than before. All the years that had been hidden by his cultivation of Daoism seemed to have found Qi Tianchen again.
"Even though shixiong said that, I don’t feel at ease at all."
Qi Tianchen raised his head to look at the sky, and murmured, "I don't know why, but today my heart also feels a little uneasy."
Hall of Supreme Peace.
The four Grand Eunuchs were standing upright.
The great bell had struck for the fifth time.
When it was struck for the ninth time, according to the usual practice in previous years, the procession would set off.
But the gates of the Hall of Supreme Peace remained closed.
"If we delay any longer, we will miss the hour," Jin Xian Gonggong spoke evenly. He was in charge of the Court of State Ceremonial, and he was naturally the most clear about the timing for the offering of sacrifices.
"Looks like His Majesty the Emperor is also making a decision," Jin Yu Gonggong spoke softly.
Jin Wei Gonggong held his sword and said nothing.
In the past few months, he had seldom spoken to anyone. Because there were too many people knocking on his residence, waiting for him to say something. But, he understood that he could not speak.
"I’m getting hungry." Jin Yan Gonggong smacked his lips.
At this time, the gates of the Hall of Supreme Peace finally opened.
Mingde Emperor, all dressed in his full dragon regalia, walked in front while dressed in a purple python robe, the head of the Five Grand Eunuchs, Jin Xuan Gonggong, followed behind him.
His hands were holding nothing. Not the scrolls. Nothing at all.
The four Grand Eunuchs knelt down at the same time.
"Our respects to Your Majesty, the Emperor."