A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

When the official in charge of ceremonies presented the jade tablet for the coronation to Wei Zhao, his hands trembled so much that he almost dropped it.

"Your Majesty, please promote me to a higher rank."

Wei Zhao glanced at him.

The official in charge of ceremonies turned pale instantly and lowered his head even further.

Wei Zhao did not make things difficult for him.

These people may be spineless, but the coronation ceremony really couldn't do without them.

Ritual, imperial edicts, and sacrifices to Heaven and Earth—each of these required someone to handle it.

On his very first day as emperor, he felt that this job was even more tiring than charging into the Imperial Guard.

Can the imperial desk be cut down?

No.

Can the official in charge of rites be killed?

Not for the time being.

Wei Zhao pressed the white wax spear at his waist, which calmed his irritation slightly.

I still prefer the gun.

Liu Jingshuang stood to his left, holding the hem of the dragon robe in her hands.

She was usually as cold as a stone, but now she lowered her eyes and moved very slowly, as if afraid of wrinkling the bright yellow fabric.

"Don't be so tense."

Wei Zhao whispered:

"You're making me even more panicked."

Liu Jingshuang looked up at him.

"Will His Majesty panic?"

Wei Zhao's lips twitched slightly.

"Yes. Especially when all nine of you are staring at me."

Su Qingyun smiled gently and fastened the last buckle on his jade belt.

"Your Majesty will get used to it."

Here we go again.

Wei Zhao glanced at her.

"Qingyun, you called her name so smoothly."

Su Qingyun pressed her fingers against the jade belt, her voice very gentle.

"Even if things aren't going well, we have to shout it out. The whole world is watching; we can't let people think that our Wei family doesn't take the new dynasty seriously."

That hits the nail on the head.

Wei Zhao had no way to refute it.

It's one thing if he doesn't like the clothes, but since he's already put them on, he can't let others see that he's unsteady.

Today is not just his coronation.

It was the Wei family that overturned their case.

It was a reckoning of old scores after Lu Song usurped the throne.

It also serves as a message to the world that the old Wei dynasty is gone, and so is Lu Song's short-lived Zhou dynasty.

The new military headquarters has been established.

Hua Jieyu walked behind him, smoothed out the patterns on his shoulders, and smiled gently.

"Your Majesty, don't move. If your dragon robe gets wrinkled, those ministers outside will have to write a bunch of nonsense again."

Wei Zhao felt a pang of sympathy upon hearing this.

"If they dare to raise objections because of this, I'll make them sweep snow at the city gate."

There's no snow now.

Shang Wanqing squatted to the side, inspecting the copper clasps on the crown's tassels, without raising her head.

"You can use it to sweep away dust."

When Zhou Laodao heard this, he almost burst out laughing.

Han Dashan quickly covered his mouth.

"Don't laugh! You'll have to kneel down too later!"

Old Zhou shoved his hand away and muttered a curse.

"My legs are already lame, why should I kneel? This emperor's ascension must be really hard on my knees."

Wei Zhao heard it.

He wanted to laugh.

But when he looked up and saw the dark mass of people kneeling outside the Taiji Hall, his smile slowly faded.

The Wei family army, the righteous army, the surrendered soldiers, the people of the capital, and all the former officials of the court were outside the palace.

Too many people.

So much so that for the first time, Wei Zhao clearly felt that what was weighing on his shoulders was not just a piece of clothing, but an entire world that had been rotten for a long time.

Huo Qingluan stood before him, holding up the crown.

Her hands were still wrapped in bandages, and the bloodstains hadn't been washed off. Those were wounds from the Xuanwu Formation.

Wei Zhao glanced at it and frowned.

"Does your hand still hurt?"

Huo Qingluan paused for a moment.

"It doesn't hurt."

"That's a lie."

"Treat him after he ascends the throne."

Wei Zhao almost laughed out of anger.

"You guys really know how to arrange things for me."

Huo Qingluan looked at him with a calm expression.

"We need to play it safe today."

Four words.

Wei Zhao understood.

It's not that she isn't in pain.

Today, no one can afford to show any signs of disorder.

Wei Zhao nodded.

"Wear it."

Huo Qingluan raised her hand and placed the crown on his head.

The twelve tassels hung down, their pearl threads obscuring his eyes.

Wei Zhao's vision suddenly became less clear.

it is good.

This thing is not only heavy, but it's also in the way.

No wonder emperors were prone to going blind.

I can't see people clearly, nor can I see the road clearly.

He had just finished complaining in his mind when Tuoba Yue came over, supporting Xiao Guanyin's hand.

Her belly was protruding, and her face was a little pale, yet she still insisted on getting closer to look.

"I told you you looked good in this."

Wei Zhao looked at her.

"You should sit down."

Tuoba Yue pouted.

"I've been sitting here for ages. If I keep sitting like this, the kids will think their mother is made of wood."

Xie Daoning immediately frowned.

"Say no more. After the ceremony, you must go back to bed."

Tuoba Yue muttered.

"I know, I know, he's even fiercer than the imperial physician."

Xie Daoning's eyes were still red, but she was so angry that she wanted to laugh.

As Wei Zhao watched this scene, the heaviness in his chest eased a little.

Fortunately.

They are all there.

If this world consisted only of a cold, impersonal dragon throne, he would truly want to turn around and leave.

But this world has them, the Wei family army, the people who guard their mother's grave, and the people who dared to follow him out even after eating only half a hard pancake in Dongfeng Valley.

Therefore, we cannot leave.

No refunds.

Nie Yinniang stepped forward last.

She didn't say anything, but simply hung a small black jade pendant on Wei Zhao's waist.

Wei Zhao lowered his head.

"What is this?"

Nie Yinniang said:

"An old item from the Seven Killings Tower. Used to evade hidden weapons."

"Give me?"

"Um."

She retreated after she finished speaking, as if saying even one more word would be too much trouble.

Wei Zhao looked at the black jade and felt a pang of sadness.

Nie Yinniang is still the same.

She wasn't good with sweet words, but everything she gave me was something I was destined to use.

The master of ceremonies was sweating profusely from waiting on the side.

"Your Majesty, the auspicious time has arrived."

Wei Zhao raised his eyes.

The palace gates were wide open.

Before the shouts even began in front of the Taiji Hall, everyone had already lowered their heads.

Liu Jingshuang held a gun at her side.

Su Qingyun, Huo Qingluan, Shang Wanqing, Hua Jieyu, Nie Yinniang, Xiao Guanyin, Tuoba Yue, and Xie Daoning stood on either side.

All nine sisters-in-law were present.

Wei Zhao took the first step.

The twelve tassels swayed slightly.

Below the steps, the leaders of the eighteen rebel armies knelt in two rows.

Old Zhou knelt crookedly, the wooden planks on his legs still in place, but a grin spread across his face.

Han Dashan knelt the most firmly, his forehead almost hitting the floor tiles.

Zhao Qiniang looked up at him, her eyes shining as if she had just won a battle.

Li Huai knelt behind, clutching the account books, his face full of tension, probably already calculating how to distribute the military rations for the first year of the new dynasty.

Several rebel leaders didn't look so clean-faced.

Some people were excited.

Some people are in awe of him.

Some people's eyes dart around too fast.

Some people are laughing too hard.

Wei Zhao saw it clearly.

it is good.

Everything is exposed.

It's okay.

Today, let's first bestow rewards, reassure the army, and establish the new dynasty.

We'll investigate who's truly committed to him and who's just trying to profit from his misfortune.

He has no shortage of patience.

They also don't lack knives.

As for those former officials, there's not much to see.

They knelt more perfectly than anyone else and shouted more in unison, but their bones had long been worn away by Emperor Yuanxi and Lu Song.

Few are usable.

Too many are unusable.

Wei Zhao already knew what was going on.

Let the people left over from the old dynasty keep up with the government for now.

When the new military examination is held, we will recruit scholars from humble backgrounds, meritorious officials from the border armies, and capable officials from various prefectures, gradually replacing them with new talent.

He cannot empty the court as soon as he ascends the throne.

But we will never allow these opportunists to continue treating the world as their own.

The master of ceremonies shouted in a high-pitched voice.

"The new Martial Emperor has advanced!"

Wei Zhao ascended the imperial steps one by one.

The dragon throne is right in front of us.

Emperor Yuanxi sat there.

Lu Song sat there.

Now it's his turn.

Wei Zhao paused for a moment in front of the dragon throne.

This chair looks wide, but it might not be comfortable to sit in.

If you don't sit properly, you'll be eaten.

But he's already here.

retreat?

Behind him were the Wei family ancestral tablets, the coffin of the matriarch, 200,000 troops, and the eyes of countless people.

Refund my ass.

Wei Zhao turned around and sat down.

The master of ceremonies knelt down and shouted.

"bye!"

boom!

In front of the Taiji Hall, the sounds of armor plates being opened, robes being rustled, and heads being kowtowed blended together.

"Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live!"

"Long live!"

The shouts rolled from the Taiji Hall to the palace gate, and then from the palace gate to the long street.

The people of the capital knelt on both sides of the street and shouted in unison.

"Long live the new Emperor Wu!"

Wei Zhao sat on the dragon throne, his fingers pressing on the armrests, without smiling.

This is not the time to enjoy yourself.

He wanted everyone to understand that the new dynasty was not as simple as just changing a dragon robe.

"Rise."