Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 52 Indistinguishable from the Emperor
The next day, at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Li Xian was already waiting outside the palace early on. Standing in front of him was Li Xian, who turned around and whispered to him, "Brother, after I returned yesterday, I ordered the servants in my residence to prepare a hot pot, intending to eat it at my residence."

"The hot pot was extremely complicated to make; even the imperial craftsmen in the palace would need two days to complete it."

Li Xian was lost in thought about Liu Jianjun's words and subconsciously replied, "Isn't it just you eating at your house? A regular pot will do, why bother with two separate pots?"

Li Xian remembered that Liu Jianjun called that pot a "Mandarin Duck Pot".

Li Xian's voice visibly faltered: "..."

Then he whispered, "On our way back yesterday, Taiping said she vaguely remembered Liu Jianjun making advances towards her with his words!"

Li Xian was startled and finally came to his senses. But after racking his brains, he couldn't remember anything about it. Thinking about Taiping's personality, he said, "This is probably just Taiping's excuse to get Liu Jianjun from me. You know how clever she is."

Li Xian nodded thoughtfully: "That's true!"

As the two spoke in hushed tones, the golden imperial carriage slowly moved out of the palace; it was Empress Wu's jade chariot.

The procession, accompanied by a retinue of ceremonial guards, slowly emerged from the imperial road. The Divine Martial Army led the way, with the Imperial Guards standing in a triangular formation. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices followed, playing the music of "Yuhe." The Imperial Guards carried lion and tiger flags, the cavalry held phoenix flags, monks protected the procession, and officials of all ranks followed closely behind.

Li Xian's gaze unconsciously drifted toward Empress Wu on the jade carriage. She had a dignified and solemn appearance.

No different from the Emperor.

Li Xian had already followed behind Empress Wu's imperial carriage, and Li Xian hurriedly followed, not daring to be negligent.

The procession for the sacrificial ceremony proceeded slowly towards the east of the city. Along the way, evil spirits retreated and ghosts and gods gave way. The music of "Yuhe" was played softly, and the people along the way all kept their distance. Even if they accidentally "bumped into" the imperial procession, they would immediately prostrate themselves on the ground, not daring to face the emperor directly.

Li Xian walked in the middle of the procession, looking at the people who were prostrating themselves, and suddenly understood why Liu Jianjun did not want to kneel.

Some of these people were working from dawn till dusk to prepare breakfast and tea, but they were forced to prostrate themselves because of the emperor's presence.

Do they want to delay their work because of these rituals?

They don't want to.

But you have to kneel.

Li Xian's thoughts drifted as he recalled what Liu Jianjun had told him: "Liu Neyan has been summoned back by your mother. Given your mother's personality, she would never do anything meaningless. Liu Neyan is very likely a pawn she has placed by your side."

"I'm not sure if this is a dangerous piece, but we can't keep an eye on it ourselves, so we need someone else to do it."

“Wang Bo is very suitable. He was banished years ago because he, you, and Xianzi were obsessed with cockfighting. If you call him back, your mother will only think that you are indulging in frivolous pursuits and will not be wary of you.”

Li Xian was curious and interjected, "Why wasn't Mother on guard?"

Liu Jianjun's expression was strange at the time. He said, "Because your mother intends to raise you and Xianzi into idle princes."

Li Xian felt that this sentence sounded familiar, as if it was also said by Liu Jianjun, only the wording seemed even more excessive.

But he couldn't remember.

He began to worry about his father's health again.

Even such an important event as the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was missed by Father Emperor. I wonder how his health is.

Lost in thought, the procession stopped. Li Xian looked up and saw a four-tiered circular platform covering twenty acres. Each tier was taller than a person, and twelve steps were evenly distributed around the platform, symbolizing the twelve two-hour periods of the day.

Empress Wu walked on the widest stepping stone, holding a jade tablet as she ascended the altar. She then stood facing west to welcome the gods, and the surrounding musicians began to play the music of the Showa era. Empress Wu then turned north, knelt, and offered jade and silk before the throne of the Supreme God of Heaven, reciting a prayer.

No different from the Emperor.

An official of etiquette offered a sacrificial liver and viscera before the god, Empress Wu offered wine, and the music and dance "Xianhe" were performed.

At this moment, Li Xian knew it was his turn to ascend the altar. He followed behind Li Xian, climbing the steps slowly and steadily. Then he knelt behind Empress Wu, offered wine, and shouted in unison, "May the gods descend and accept this sincere devotion!"

"Your subject, Xian (or Xian), who has succeeded to the throne, respectfully offers this pure wine and various delicacies as a sincere sacrifice, humbly requesting your acceptance!"

After the offerings were completed, they retreated to the west side of the steps and followed the others in bowing. Then the Grand Commandant offered wine, and the music of "Xiuhe" was played. The Minister of the Imperial Household then offered wine, and the three offerings were completed, and the music stopped.

Empress Wu held auspicious symbols in her hands, drank the sacrificial wine, and received the sacrificial meat...

No different from the Emperor.

Li Xian watched all of this in silence.

He suddenly became absolutely certain of Liu Jianjun's guess.

The Empress Dowager's plan... is for the throne.

"In the first year of the Hongdao era of the Great Tang Dynasty, the year of Guiwei..." Empress Wu's voice suddenly pulled Li Xian back to reality.

"The era name has been changed?" Li Xian was taken aback, then understood.

No other reason than that I'm used to it.

His father frequently changed the reign title during his reign, to the point that Li Xian sometimes couldn't remember which year was which reign title.

"I humbly beseech the Supreme God of Heaven, majestic and all-encompassing, who oversees all realms. Your humble servant respectfully inherits this grand plan, working tirelessly day and night, hoping to bring peace to the people through virtuous governance and to spread benevolence throughout the world..."

"Heaven's benevolence shines upon me with auspicious signs. Recently, a virtuous prince, though exiled to Bazhou, upheld his duties as a subject, remaining loyal and filial. In the mountains and rivers of Ba and Shu, he received the Emperor's favor and was granted a divine blessing..."

Li Xian was startled; they were talking about him.

"Your subject respectfully obeys the will of Heaven and follows auspicious omens. I hereby solemnly proclaim before the Supreme God of Heaven that the title of Prince Li Xianpei shall be restored, his imperial robes and crown restored, and his place among the imperial clansmen re-established. May he cleanse his mind and cultivate his virtue, uphold the ancestral lineage above and assist the state below, and forever pledge loyalty and filial piety to repay Heaven's favor."

"Heaven has bestowed auspicious omens, and the Way has ushered in a prosperous era. Respectfully receiving the favor and mandate of the Supreme Deity, and to proclaim the supreme virtue, we hereby solemnly change the era name to the first year of the Hongdao era..."

"On behalf of Empress Wu, I respectfully offer this sacrifice."

"May you enjoy this meal!"

Li Xian listened to Empress Wu's solemn and dignified voice, his heart remaining calm and undisturbed.

This was just a routine prayer to Heaven, except that it included the restoration of his title as Prince of Pei and the change of the reign title.

The offerings are removed, and the music "Yonghe" is played to send off the gods.

Empress Wu led her ministers in performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony, and Li Xian followed suit, shouting, "The gods have gone!"

Thus, the part of the sacrificial ceremony concerning Li Xian came to an end. Busy officials placed the jade, silk, prayer tablets, and sacrificial animals on a pyre and burned them. The smoke reached the sky, and Li Xian and Li Xian stood behind Empress Wu, watching the fire to show their connection with the gods.

Looking at the billowing smoke, Li Xian wondered if the gods really used such an ancient method to transmit messages.
If Liu Jianjun were here, he certainly wouldn't kneel either.

He's a man... truly fearless.

"Mingyun." A light, airy voice rang out, and Li Xian instantly snapped back to reality, hurriedly bowing and cupping his hands: "Your Majesty!"

"You are now restored to the title of king..."

Before Empress Wu could finish speaking, Li Xian suddenly remembered Liu Jianjun's instructions: "Remember, you must bring this up before your mother says she wants to bring Liu Neyan back. If you bring it up after that, the effect will be completely the opposite!"

Without thinking too much, Li Xian hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have a request!"

Perhaps because Li Xian rarely behaved so rudely, Empress Wu looked at him in surprise and remained silent for a long time.

Li Xian grew increasingly nervous; the Empress Dowager's majesty was no different from that of the Emperor.

After a long while, he heard a celestial melody playing in his ears: "Speak."

……

　This chapter might have a lot of difficult content, but that's okay, just read the beginning and the end.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)