It was almost evening when the emperor's honor guard arrived at Xingliang Mansion. The governor Liu Xiang led a group of officials to prostrate themselves by the roadside to receive him.

Emperor Kaiping stepped down from the imperial chariot, came up to him surrounded by imperial guards, personally helped Liu Xiang up, and said warmly: "Uncle, there is no need to be polite."

Liu Xiang is fifty-six years old this year. He is the younger brother of Emperor Zhongzong. He has been the governor of Xingliang Mansion since more than 20 years ago. He manages the Longxing land of the Liu family and is also responsible for looking after the imperial mausoleum.

He can be regarded as a powerful figure among the royal family members. Don't underestimate this mere imperial city. Because of the exemption of taxes and the money allocated by the court from time to time, the business here is extremely prosperous, and the oil and water are naturally quite abundant.

Therefore, Prime Minister Liu does not look old at all, he only looks older than Emperor Kaiping.

He did not dare to show off in front of the emperor's nephew, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty's kindness, I will remember it in my heart. Your Majesty, the palace in the city has been tidied up. I personally checked it inside and out, and there is nothing wrong with it."

"

Emperor Kaiping smiled and said, "Thank you, uncle."

Liu Xiang sighed: "Your Majesty is considerate of the people and has a heart for the common people. God will definitely send down rain to save the people of the three states from the drought. Compared with your Majesty's concern for the people, the fact that a humble minister has done this is not worth mentioning."

Emperor Kaiping held his wrist and said: "Uncle, there is no need to be humble. Xingliang Mansion is getting better and better under your rule. This is all your contribution. It's just that the bones and muscles are not strong in old age. How can the emperor continue to be like this?"

Are you tired? I hope your uncle can come to the palace from time to time and talk to me."

Liu Xiang was startled for a moment, then smiled unnaturally and said, "I can't get what I ask for."

Emperor Kaiping smiled softly, then boarded the imperial chariot again, and the Holy Emperor entered the city.

Pei Yue witnessed this brief exchange and glanced at Liu Xiang, who had bitterness in his eyes, and was filled with emotions.

This emperor really refused to be idle for a moment. He must have disliked this uncle for a long time, but he never had the right opportunity to remove him. If Liu Xiang had any intention, he should submit a petition to the court to resign in a few days.

Fuyin, if he refuses to go, Emperor Kaiping must have many ways to make him bow his head.

Pei Yue finally confirmed that the profession of emperor is really not something that ordinary people can do. If you just want to be a foolish king, it will be nothing more than the king not going to court early. But if you really want to leave a good name in the history of history, I am afraid that sooner or later you will be tired.

die.

The palace is located in the north of the city, which is certainly not comparable to the imperial city in Kyoto, but in Pei Yue's opinion, it is grand enough.

Wu Dingwei has fully taken over the defense of Xingliang City. There are three thousand forbidden troops stationed around the palace, and the palace guards are responsible for the interior. There are eight thousand elite cavalry hidden outside the city. Such a strict and orderly defense is not to mention a handful of unscrupulous people.

Even if a large army attacks, it will be enough to last until the arrival of the Beijing camp.

Nothing happened all night.

The next morning, the emperor's ceremonial guard left the city and went to the Yuanqiu Altar near the imperial mausoleum.

The Wuding Guards were divided into two groups. Luo Kedi led 5,000 people to stay in Xingliang Prefecture. Qin Xian personally led 7,000 people out of the city early in the morning and rushed to the surroundings of the imperial mausoleum in advance to occupy favorable locations and set up camps.

Wei Rui and Tang Linfen still led the main force of the Zangfeng Guards to accompany the Holy Driver, while Fu Hongzhi personally led the elite scouts to patrol in all directions for reconnaissance.

After more than half an hour, the emperor's honor guard arrived at the Circular Mound Altar.

This is a three-story open-air round platform, also known as the Sacrifice Tiantai, which is composed of a circular mound, an imperial vault, a side hall, a divine kitchen, three treasuries and a slaughtering pavilion.

The altar surface is made of mugwort bluestone, and the white marble railings and columns are carved. The circular stone slab in the center of the altar is named Yi Zhaojing Congshi. The center of the altar is surrounded by nine layers of stones. The first circle is nine fan-shaped slabs, and the second circle is

is eighteen dollars, and then increases in multiples of nine.

There are two walls outside the circular mound, both of which are made of blue glazed tiles with ridge tops and painted with red. The inner wall is round and the outer wall is square, symbolizing the round sky and the square place. There are Lingxing gates on each side of the outer wall.

, both have six pillars and three doors.

The function of this altar is to offer sacrifices to heaven, so it is extremely solemn and has a very ingenious structure. There is a wood stove in the southeast outside the inner wall, which can have an echo effect. The words spoken in the center of the altar are like a response to a hundred responses, which further adds to the majesty of the emperor.

In addition to Emperor Kaiping, the three princes, Duke Pingzhang of Wei, Han Gongduan who participated in the affairs of the East Palace, Tang Jian and Pei Yue, ministers of the Ministry of Rites, there were only unarmed court guards, palace people and attendants. In such a solemn occasion, weapons and weapons were used.

Obviously they are not allowed to appear, so the Forbidden Army and the Tibetan Front Guard are outside the outer wall.

The ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven was quite complicated, and Pei Yue had no interest in these long and complicated rituals.

What's more, as a normal person who was highly educated in his previous life, he really didn't believe that the so-called rain-seeking ceremony could really bring rain to arid areas thousands of miles away.

The ceremony was officiated by Emperor Kaiping, accompanied by Tang Jian, Minister of Rites.

The princes, Wang Pingzhang, Han Gongduan and Pei Yue all stood at the center of the altar to watch the ceremony, about six or seven feet away from the emperor above.

Emperor Kaiping was dressed in emperor's uniform and recited an obscure and extremely long sacrificial poem. Listening to his mellow voice echoing in the Circular Mound Altar, Pei Yue felt as if he had returned to the classroom in his previous life.

But he didn't feel sleepy at all, and instead observed the surrounding situation extremely calmly.

On the imperial carriage that day, he told Emperor Kaiping that no matter whether this matter was planned by the fourth prince or not, and regardless of whether he had help, the Holy Emperor would always be protected by tens of thousands of elite troops, and no matter how arrogant he was, he would

Thinking of relying on some rebels to attack and rebel, the most likely possibility is to use martial arts masters to assassinate.

The ritual process of praying for rain is those people's only chance.

Only in that unique position in the center of the altar did the airtight defense around Emperor Kaiping reveal a gap.

What made Pei Yue very depressed was that Emperor Kaiping refused his proposal to accompany him during the ceremony, saying that doing so would arouse the jealousy of the courtiers towards Pei Yue.

At that moment, Pei Yue wanted to spit in his face.

Isn't it just that the self-confidence of being an emperor blinds you and you want to play with your heartbeat? If you really care about my reputation so much, why have you put me on the fire countless times in the past six months?

Criticisms in his heart, Pei Yue still did not dare to be careless. After all, if something happened to the emperor, he, the chief defense officer of the holy driving camp, would definitely not end well. If he did not want to die, he could only take Ye Qi and the others around the world.

After the emperor finished reading the sacrificial inscription, the Minister of Rites began to offer sacrifices.

Pei Yue watched six directions and did not miss any disturbance around him.

However, more than half an hour passed, and the first part of the ceremony was coming to an end. The atmosphere in the Circular Mound Altar was still calm, with only the emperor's energetic voice echoing.

At the end of the first part, the emperor bowed to heaven and then turned around and walked down from the altar.

At this moment, the palace servant who was about ten feet away to the emperor's left suddenly dropped the tray in his hand and rushed toward Emperor Kaiping.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment, and the angry voices of many people rang in Pei Yue's ears, but he did not rush forward immediately, and his eyes suddenly turned to the other side under the altar.

Two figures left the waiter's area like shooting stars and headed straight towards the center of the altar!
Chapter completed!