Chapter 136 Ceremony of Sacrifice to Heaven
He Yuan slapped Concubine Lan in the face, his eyes filled with uncontrollable anger.
If this bitch hadn't spread false news to me, how could I have brought everyone to meet the emperor.
Now the prince has not been caught with any evidence and has been fined half a year's salary.
The emperor was also dissatisfied with himself because of this incident. Who knows what he will do to him in the future. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
"Brother Yuan, please believe me! The news is not fake!" Concubine Lan covered her red and swollen cheeks and looked at He Yuan aggrievedly.
Tears fell down her face in strings. She firmly believed that the news could not be false.
"What do you think about what happened today?" He Yuan still glared at Concubine Lan.
Because he was too angry, his chest was still heaving violently. What happened today made him lose face.
It also caused dissatisfaction among my colleagues, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
"Brother Yuan, please believe me, the news must be correct!" Concubine Lan cried with tears in her eyes.
But her tone and eyes were still firm, and she believed that the news she received would not be wrong.
And she believed this firmly in her heart. Seeing the woman's firm tone, He Yuan hesitated.
"……………………"
Seeing how confident the woman was, could it be true? But today's incident had not been leaked, so why did she end up with nothing?
As if she remembered something, Concubine Lan's eyes lit up.
"The news must have leaked out, so that brat replaced the fake prince." Concubine Lan said with certainty.
Her information could definitely not be wrong, since she was unable to catch the brat today.
The only possible explanation is that the news leaked out, and the brat replaced the body with a substitute, thus avoiding any evidence against him.
“……………………”He Yuan said nothing.
He twirled his beard with narrowed eyes, this was not impossible, today was not a full moon night.
It’s normal that the prince didn’t notice anything unusual. No wonder they didn’t find any evidence against him.
Seeing that Brother Yuan believed her words, Concubine Lan started to cry out of grievance.
"My information is definitely correct. The news must have leaked somewhere, wuwuwuwu......"
Looking at Concubine Lan who was crying with tears in her eyes, He Yuan walked over patiently and held her in his arms.
He changed his previous ruthlessness and spoke in a gentle and comforting voice.
"I was too angry just now and let Lan'er suffer." He pecked Concubine Lan on the face again, and Concubine Lan cried even harder.
"I've never seen someone so cruel as you. People worked so hard to raise your son, and yet you treated them so harshly. Wuwuwu......"
Looking at Concubine Lan's tearful and delicate appearance, the last bit of unhappiness in He Yuan's heart completely disappeared.
He directly held her in his arms and put her on the bed, followed by a series of rough actions.
The next morning, when the emperor, wearing a yellow robe with five-clawed nine dragons, and Shang Zhanchen, wearing a robe with four-clawed pythons, appeared in front of everyone, everyone's eyes lit up.
Everyone knew that the prince had been ill during this period, and they had been talking about it in private. This time he was seriously ill, and there were even rumors that he would not live long.
But now, only the prince stood beside the emperor. Not only did he look rosy, he also seemed a lot stronger than before.
Against the backdrop of the yellow dragon robe, he looks even more heroic, and his brows are very similar to those of the emperor.
It only gave those old ministers an illusion that the person standing in front of them was the emperor of that year, so heroic.
It always makes people want to surrender, and they firmly believe that it will be a blessing for the people if the prince takes charge of the Shang Kingdom in the future.
Even the emperor was in a particularly good mood today. Seeing Chen'er looking energetic and majestic, he felt very comforted.
After everything was ready, everyone got on the sedan chairs. The Imperial Guards led the way, with the emperor's sedan chair at the front.
Shang Zhanchen followed closely behind, and then the other court officials arranged themselves in order according to their official ranks. The huge team rushed to the altar on Longshou Mountain.
Longshou Mountain is about fifty miles away from the capital. Because everyone set out early, they arrived at Longshou Mountain at noon, which is around eight o'clock in modern times.
This is the place where emperors of all dynasties offered sacrifices to the gods and prayed for the people. Everyone got off the sedan chair and came to the large sacrificial square.
Looking at the sacrificial altar in front of him that was more than ten meters high, Shang Zhanchen felt filled with emotion.
"……………………"
A few days ago, I was still suffering from the ravages of poison and had already lost hope for the future.
I really didn't expect that I would have the opportunity to stand here and participate in the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven openly.
"Please invite the emperor and the prince to come on stage!" The eunuch's shout brought Shang Zhanchen back to his senses.
"Father, please be careful where you step." Shang Zhanchen withdrew his thoughts and helped the emperor to the altar.
With every step he took, his heart was filled with turmoil. Those who have not experienced escaping death several times would have no way of understanding how he felt at that moment.
The emperor was supported and walked slowly to the altar, where various sacrificial offerings were placed.
After taking the incense and candles from the eunuch, the emperor and Shang Zhanchen stepped forward and placed the incense and candles on their heads.
He worshipped devoutly.
"I pray that the heavens will protect our Great Shang Kingdom, that the people will have enough food and clothing, live and work in peace, and that the royal family will prosper."
After saying this, he bowed devoutly three times, then knelt on the ground and performed the ceremony again.
Shang Zhanchen also followed beside, and all the ministers in the square also knelt down with the emperor, speaking with confidence.
“I pray to God to protect our Great Shang…”
After three kowtows, everyone stood up, and Shang Zhanchen was about to help the emperor up.
But as soon as his hand touched the arm, a quick shout was heard.
"Protect the emperor!" Shang Zhanchen's eyes were stern.
He quickly protected the emperor behind him, staring at the dozen or so men in black in front of him with hawk-like eyes, and his voice was as cold as frost.
"Who are you? How dare you commit murder against the emperor!"
“……………………”Everyone was shocked.
Seeing the emperor and the prince surrounded by those blacks, they all looked terrified.
The civil officials shouted at the top of their lungs to protect the emperor, while the military officers rushed forward with all their might. For a moment, the scene was in chaos.
Only He Yuan's eyes flashed with calculation, but on the surface he pretended to be panicked like everyone else.
But his eyes were fixed on Shang Zhanchen on the altar.
"……………………"
As soon as he activates his internal energy, the poison will inevitably take effect and he will not live long.
By then everyone will know that the prince has been poisoned, and his goal will be achieved.
The altar is a holy place, so there are not many guards there, and the other side has more people.
In just a few breaths, more than a dozen guards were knocked down. Looking at the men in black who surrounded him, a hint of fear flashed in the emperor's eyes.
But the monarch's aura was still there, and he looked at the man in black in front of him with cold eyes.
"How dare you! Who are you? How dare you assassinate me!"