Yefutidaolu

Chapter 453 Court Ceremonies
The next day, as dawn broke and the darkness of night had not yet been completely dispelled from the capital, the entire city was already awakening—no, it was boiling over!
With the Purple Palace Enclosure suspended in the central sky as its core, a magnificent spectacle unseen for centuries is slowly unfolding.

The bell tolled nine times, its sound resounding throughout the world!
The deep, resonant bell tolled not from ordinary iron, but from the spontaneous hum of the nine colossal bronze cauldrons suspended around the Purple Palace Enclosure. The sound waves, like tangible ripples, spread outwards in concentric circles, sweeping across countless floating celestial islands, palaces, and pavilions, reaching every corner of the divine capital.

This is the Daoist sound of the Nine Tripods, which is only sounded when the emperor holds court or conducts a grand court assembly. Its sound not only announces the ceremony, but also contains the Daoist rhyme that cleanses the mind and purifies the universe.

A multitude of immortals came to pay homage, their light and colors dazzling!
As the bells tolled, countless streaks of light rose from all directions of the capital.

There were sword immortals riding flying swords, their sword energy tearing through the sky and leaving behind lingering cloud trails; there were representatives of noble families riding magnificent flying boats, their hulls inlaid with precious jade, gleaming with spiritual light, their ceremonial guards solemn; there were elders of sects riding auspicious mounts such as cranes and spirit deer, their immortal bearing and flowing robes; and there were even high-level cultivators flying directly through the air, their bodies surrounded by various spiritual lights, some like blazing flames, some like freezing ice, and some manifesting as azure dragons and white tigers, their aura magnificent.

These rarely seen figures, like rivers flowing into the sea, flew out from their respective floating islands, caves, and official residences, transforming into dazzling shooting stars, and converging towards the central Purple Palace Enclosure.

The sky was instantly filled with countless streaks of light and color, like a reverse meteor shower, magnificent and extraordinary, rendering the pre-dawn sky as dreamlike as the aurora borealis.

The Purple Palace Enclosure opens, and the Heavenly Gate is pierced!
The Purple Palace Enclosure, the heart of this empire and the symbol of imperial power, is usually shrouded in layers of restrictions and spiritual mist, appearing and disappearing intermittently. At this moment, with the tolling of the bell, the outer restrictions shimmered and unfolded like lotus petals, revealing the magnificent palace complex within. The glazed tiles shimmered with golden light under the morning sun, the white jade steps seemed to lead to the heavens, the massive dragon pillars supported the vast dome, and countless banners fluttered in the morning breeze, the star patterns embroidered on them seemingly echoing the real stars in the celestial sphere.

A vast, unparalleled "Imperial Path to Heaven," formed from pure clouds, extends from the main hall of the Purple Palace, spanning the void to welcome those who come to pay homage.

The order is perfect, and the majesty is natural!
The arriving immortal cultivators, upon approaching a certain distance from the Purple Palace Enclosure, all activated their escape techniques and landed on the Ascension Path. They automatically formed neat rows according to rank, official position, and power. Civil officials, their robes flowing, exuded profound auras; military generals, clad in imposing armor, radiated a chilling aura; representatives of aristocratic families were elegant and refined, their inherent strength evident; and sect cultivators, though seemingly detached from worldly affairs, were compelled to abide by this highest secular order.

The procession, like a dragon, moved silently and solemnly along the imperial road toward the main hall, whose doors were open and whose interior seemed to contain an endless starry sky.

Only the rustling of clothes, the soft sound of footsteps, and the increasingly intense spiritual energy and oppressive aura permeating the air spoke of the extraordinary nature of this court assembly.

The divine capital is in operation, and all things are renewed!
From a high altitude, the entire floating island group of the capital city, with the Purple Palace Enclosure at its core, seemed to adjust its operation as the court assembly began.

The golden-armored warriors, riding dragon horses, patrolled the fixed routes to maintain order, their divine light shining brightly. Celestial officials and maids in charge of etiquette stood guard at various points, holding palace lanterns and incense burners, to ensure that nothing went wrong. One could even see runes lighting up on the edges of some huge floating islands, adjusting their positions as if the stars were returning to their places to protect the central Purple Star Emperor.

The sun finally leaped fully above the horizon, casting countless golden rays that perfectly gilded the entire Purple Palace and the magnificent scene of ten thousand immortals paying homage. A sea of ​​clouds surged beneath their feet, palaces rose majestically from the clouds, and immortals and deities thronged the landscape in perfect order.

This scene was solemn, sacred, and awe-inspiring!

It proclaimed to the whole world:

The imperial power, dormant for many years, will return to the world's view today in a powerful manner!
And at this moment, at the deep end of the Taiji Hall, on the dragon throne, that once blurry figure is gradually becoming clear...

The imperial palaces of the capital city rise high above the heavens, their green tiles gleaming against the crimson hues.

I pay homage to the Purple Cloud Guest from the Golden Terrace; supernatural powers are seen everywhere in the human world.

The sounds of phoenixes singing, tigers roaring, and the long, winding road through the clouds are shared with immortals.

The jade pillar of Jianmen is fifty thousand feet tall, and the Holy Lord reigns supreme amidst the sun and moon!
As the Director of Ceremonial announced in a long, high-pitched voice, "His Majesty has arrived—", the entire hall, and even the thousands of celestial officials, representatives of noble families, and cultivators standing solemnly in the square outside the hall, instantly held their breath.

All eyes turned to the supreme throne, with nine dragons coiled around it, atop the imperial steps.

The next moment, the light converged.

A figure, surrounded by dazzling dragon energy and the spiritual power of "Living Heaven," slowly stepped out from behind the hall and calmly sat on the dragon throne that symbolized the power over the world.

It's him! It really is the emperor!

When everyone saw the person on the dragon throne, almost everyone was shocked and stared in disbelief!
It was not the frail, dying figure of the rumors, nor the blurry, seemingly vanishing phantom they remembered from the later stages of their lives.

The emperor was dressed in a dark black imperial robe embroidered with the twelve symbols of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, and pheasants. He wore a white jade crown with twelve tassels. His face was ruddy and full, and his eyes shone brightly, as if they contained thunder and stars.

He sat upright on the dragon throne, his back straight, exuding a long-lost, vast and boundless majesty and boundless vitality! That powerful presence was almost tangible, making some of those with slightly lower cultivation levels almost unable to breathe.

Health! Unprecedented health! Even more so than in its heyday, it seems to possess an unfathomable depth of health!

The representatives of the powerful families exchanged bewildered glances, unable to conceal their alarm. Especially the representatives of the top clans, led by the Jiang family; their composure and reserve vanished instantly, replaced by deep apprehension and unease. The emperor's return to health signified a powerful resurgence of imperial power, and the influence and profits they had accumulated over the years during the emperor's "illness" would now face the most direct challenge and reckoning!

The sect cultivators and local officials displayed a variety of expressions, some delighted, some worried, but most solemn in the face of an unknown future. Within the Taiji Hall, undercurrents surged, everyone's attention captivated by the unexpectedly healthy figure on the dragon throne.

Just then, some sharp-eyed people finally noticed that next to the dragon throne, on the side of the originally empty imperial steps, a brocade stool had appeared.

A person sat peacefully on the brocade stool.

The man was not dressed in official robes, but in a simple blue shirt, and his demeanor was even somewhat casual. He had a young face and calm eyes, as if the thousands of gods and immortals and the countless shocked and inquisitive gazes of His Highness were nothing more than a gentle breeze to him.

Absolutely brilliant!
He was right there, right beside the emperor, only a few steps away from the dragon throne! That position was reserved for a trusted confidant and someone who had made extraordinary contributions!

At that moment, everyone understood. The emperor's sudden "recovery" was definitely related to this person!

Li Zoufang's gaze was extremely complex; the eyes of the aristocratic family representatives were filled with scrutiny, vigilance, and even a hint of deeply hidden killing intent; while the numerous immortal officials and cultivators were filled with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

The existence of Gao Jian, and his position, is like a huge stone thrown into a lake that is already turbulent; the ripples it creates will completely change the landscape of the capital.

He stood there, calmly accepting all the gazes, as if it were all perfectly natural.

Once the thunderous shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" subsided, the Emperor's sharp eyes swept across the entire hall.

The overwhelming pressure made the hall instantly fall silent. Without any pleasantries, he cut straight to the point, his voice booming and carrying an undeniable determination:
"I have been afflicted with illness for many years, and have neglected state affairs, which has led to a possible slackening of discipline and the rise of petty villains." He set the tone from the outset, attributing past problems to his own "illness," but then immediately displayed a strong stance of return, "However, I am bound by the Mandate of Heaven and dare not remain idle for long. From this day forward, I will personally manage all affairs of state and revitalize the court!"

Before the words had even finished, a censor belonging to Li Zoufang's faction eagerly stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials, holding a jade tablet, and loudly proclaimed:

"Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty's recovery is a blessing to the nation and a boon to all the people! However, I must impeach! I impeach Wang Wen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, for forming cliques, engaging in corruption, selling official positions, and his family's embezzlement of spiritual mines in Cangzhou, and the exploitation of the people. The evidence is irrefutable!" This clearly shows that the Li Zoufang faction launched a purge against opposing factions, especially officials with deep ties to certain powerful families, immediately after the emperor's return. They intended to take advantage of the return of imperial power to seize the initiative and rectify official corruption.

Wang Wen, whose name was called, turned pale and hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down: "Your Majesty, please see the truth! I am innocent! This is a frame-up by Minister Li! Minister Li has controlled the government for many years, eliminating dissidents, his intentions are..."

"enough!"

On the dragon throne, the emperor's cold shout, like a thunderclap, interrupted the argument between the two. He looked at Wang Wen with icy eyes: "Whether Minister Li has framed me or not, I will make my own judgment. But Wang Wen, do you really think I don't know about your Cangzhou Wang family's encroachment on spirit mines and private forging of weapons and armor?"

Wang Wen was struck dumb and immediately looked around at the others.

The emperor's words were tantamount to a direct conviction! He hadn't expected the emperor to dare to act so directly! He was the only remaining high-ranking official of the Wang family… If he were to be harmed, it would inevitably cause the powerful clans to feel a sense of shared vulnerability and fear!

"Remove Wang Wen from his official post and imprison him in the imperial jail. The relevant authorities are to thoroughly investigate his crimes, and those implicated shall be punished according to the law!" The emperor's words were swift and decisive. Immediately, golden-armored guards stepped forward and dragged the pale-faced Wang Wen away.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became extremely tense.

Li Zou's side showed a smug expression, while the officials from aristocratic families felt insecure and were gripped by a chilling atmosphere.

In the first round, the combined forces of the imperial power and the "pillars of the state" swiftly defeated a general from a powerful family, shocking the entire audience.

However, these powerful families have been operating for hundreds of years and are deeply rooted in the society. How could they sit idly by and wait for their demise?
An elderly man, dressed in a purple robe embroidered with crane motifs and exuding a profound aura, slowly stepped forward. He was Jiang Huai-ren, the younger brother of the current head of the Jiang family and the Minister of Rites. He did not directly plead for Wang Wen, but instead directed the criticism elsewhere:

"Your Majesty's benevolent will has brought about a thorough cleansing of officialdom, and this old minister is deeply impressed." He began with a perfunctory compliment, then abruptly changed the subject, "However, matters of state are not to be taken lightly. Your Majesty has been absent from court for some time and may not be aware that there seem to be some unknown forces stirring up trouble both inside and outside the capital, including some who possess extraordinary treasures and act erratically, disrupting the law and undermining the foundation of the nation. For example, in Cangzhou and Liangzhou, law-abiding citizens and local officials have been exterminated, a sight that fills us with dread. If such lawless acts are not curbed, they could lead to great chaos and damage Your Majesty's divine authority!"

His words were subtle, yet every word was veiled, and he accused the person of "disrupting the law and undermining the foundation of the nation."

It also subtly targeted Gao Jian, who was close to the emperor. This was a test of the emperor's attitude towards Gao Jian, and also a warning to the emperor that over-reliance on others would disrupt the existing order.

Jiang Huai-ren, representing the powerful families, took action under the guise of "maintaining stability" and "order," to challenge Gao Jian and test the emperor's bottom line.

In an instant, everyone's attention was once again focused on the young man in the blue robe beside the steps.

Gao Jian remained calmly seated on the brocade stool, as if Jiang Huai Ren was not criticizing him.

The emperor's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Jiang Huai Ren, his tone calm yet carrying a profound meaning:

"Oh? Minister Jiang's information network is indeed impressive. However, I already know all this. Those powerful families have committed numerous evils and their evil practices are excessive. As for the people who carried out these actions..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Gao Jian with a deliberate act of protection and flattery, "...they were acting on my secret orders. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are necessary; what's wrong with that?"

Acting on secret orders!
The emperor directly attributed Gao Jian's actions to his own will! This was not only a protection, but also a way of completely binding Gao Jian to the chariot of imperial power, giving his actions legitimacy, and silencing public opinion.

A suppressed gasp filled the hall.

All eyes, whether openly or secretly, were once again focused on Gao Jian. The power grab in Liangzhou and the destruction of the powerful families in Cangzhou—these two earth-shattering events both had the shadow of this young man in blue robes behind them.

Jiang Huai Ren's expression changed slightly, and he wanted to say something more: "Your Majesty, even so, it should be handed over to the relevant authorities..."

"Minister Jiang is absolutely right!" An official from a powerful family immediately chimed in, "Liangzhou and Cangzhou are important cities of the imperial court. Now that the laws have collapsed and order has been lost, if this continues, the country will cease to exist! We must thoroughly investigate those who are stirring up trouble behind the scenes to set things right!"

"Indeed! Such acts of disregarding the laws and regulations of the court and arbitrarily resorting to force are no different from treason. If they are not severely punished, how can we deter the villains of the world?"

Taking advantage of the situation, powerful families launched a coordinated attack, labeling Gao Jian as a traitor who was disrupting the court and undermining the foundation of the nation. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became extremely tense, with every gaze like a sharp sword, intent on piercing Gao Jian.

Li Zoufang frowned. Although he had a past relationship with Gao Jian and had used Gao Jian to attack powerful families, Jiang Huai Ren had now brought the matter to the forefront and suppressed it under the pretext of "shaking the foundation of the country." Even he could not directly defend Gao Jian for the time being.

(End of this chapter)