It was cloudless on July 15th, the first year of Longtai in the Chu Dynasty. It was naturally an extremely important day for the Chu Empire.
The emperor's wedding is scheduled for July 18, but before the wedding, according to royal tradition, one must go to the imperial mausoleum to worship ancestors. Compared with the emperor's wedding, worshiping the emperor's mausoleum is also an extremely important event.
The imperial mausoleum is located a hundred miles southeast of the capital city of Jianye. In order to choose the location of the imperial mausoleum, the Chu State spent a lot of effort. Onmyoji calculated the best Feng Shui direction and had people carefully calculate the distance. , finally determined the location of the imperial mausoleum. Not only did the keels of the three generations of emperors before the Chu Kingdom live here, but also the tombs of the Xiao family ancestors were moved here as early as Emperor Taizong.
The imperial mausoleum occupies an extremely large area, with a radius of twenty miles falling within the scope of the imperial mausoleum. Although the emperors of the Chu State were frugal for generations, and the empire's financial losses were huge due to the war with the Northern Han Dynasty, the imperial court still allocated funds A large sum of money was used to build the imperial mausoleum.
Over the past few decades, today's imperial mausoleum has grown to a large scale. Surrounding the imperial mausoleum is a lush forest. In the center of the imperial mausoleum, a huge sacrificial platform has been built. Near the imperial mausoleum, a team of two people has been stationed. A hundred-person mausoleum guarding military camp. These two hundred people have been stationed here for many years to guard the imperial mausoleum.
July 16 is the auspicious day chosen by Si Tiantai to offer sacrifices, so on July 15, the emperor will lead all civil and military officials to the imperial mausoleum.
Early in the morning on July 15th, hundreds of officials gathered. They lined up from the imperial city and followed the dragon chariot out of the south gate. On the broad official road, flags were fluttering, blocking out the sky and the sun. At the front was a team. The square formation of cavalry, all covered with cold light of iron armor, was extremely majestic. The soldiers held spears and marched slowly, holding flags in two rows with solemn expressions.
Following closely behind is another cavalry formation, the same armor, under the bright eyes, gleaming with cold light, which is really majestic.
The person responsible for guarding the sacrifices this time was naturally the Royal Yulin Camp. Chi Fengdian personally led 800 elite soldiers of the Yulin Camp to take on the guard duty. The imperial court was obviously also on guard against someone taking the opportunity to cause trouble in the capital after the emperor left the capital, so the Tiger God Camp was still He was stationed in the capital, and during the days when the emperor was out of the capital, the entire city was under curfew.
Groups of phalanxes marched forward in an orderly manner. The teams in front and behind were all armored and full of murderous aura. People who saw it could not help but feel awe in their hearts.
The fluttering flags were dazzling, and the officials were arranged from front to back according to their rank. The whole team looked majestic, majestic and solemn.
In the middle of the procession, the golden dragon chariot is dazzling and magnificent. It is the emperor's golden dragon chariot. Under the sunlight, the golden dragon chariot is radiant, colorful, luxurious and magnificent. It seems that the light in the world is emanating from it. .
Naturally, people could not see the emperor in the dragon chariot, but they saw that the eight horses pulling the dragon chariot were all white. White horses are hard to find, not to mention eight almost identical white horses. There is no trace of confusion on their bodies. The hair is extremely soft, like the eight divine horses descending from the heavenly palace.
In front of the dragon chariot were a group of monks dressed in light yellow robes. Under the sun, the brand-new monk robes shone brightly. All the monks had their hands clasped together and their steps were brisk. The two old monks with white beards were at the front. , wearing cassocks, which makes them even more majestic. Although the two old monks look very old, their steps are steady. When walking, the monks' robes do not move, which shows that they have high level of cultivation.
Everyone naturally knows that this group of monks are all eminent monks from Daguangming Temple. Daguangming Temple has long been granted as a royal temple by the imperial court. Whenever the royal family has sacrifices and salvation matters, the eminent monks of Daguangming Temple are indispensable.
However, only two eminent monks were present among the Thirteen Guangming Monks this time. People who didn't know the truth would not see much of it, but a very few people also saw that there was something wrong with the Great Guangming Temple.
Behind the dragon chariot, there is a group of Taoist priests in gray robes. All the Taoist priests are wearing high buns and gray robes. They have their hands dusting each other. Among the Taoist priests, four tall Taoist priests are carrying a circular pedestal. , an old Taoist with flying white hair sat cross-legged on the platform.
This group of Taoist priests is none other than the Taoist priests from Longhu Mountain.
Worshiping the imperial mausoleum is unusual. It not only requires monks to recite sutras, but also Taoist practices. The influence of Buddhism and Taoism in Chu State far exceeds that of Taoism. The declining Taoist sect is now only famous for its Longhushan branch. Because of the appearance, the imperial court summoned the leader of Longhu Mountain Lingxu to preside over the sacrificial practices.
Compared with the eminent monks of Daguangming Temple, the pomp of this Taoist Master Lingxu is obviously bigger.
Although most civil and military courtiers rode horses, a very small number went to the imperial mausoleum in sedan chairs.
When paying homage to the imperial mausoleum, most of the courtiers could only walk on foot if they were unable to ride a horse. This was the court's etiquette. Even Ma Lan, the Zhenguo Company, also rode on horseback.
However, Yuan Laoshang, the Minister of Rites, is old and a scholar, so naturally he cannot ride a horse. He has been exhausted recently. Such an old minister would not be able to walk a hundred miles on foot, even if he walked ten miles. Therefore, the young Emperor Longtai made a decree long ago that all veterans who are too old and unable to walk on foot can go there in sedan chairs. In fact, there are more than ten veterans in the court who can neither ride horses nor travel far on foot. sedan chair.
The long team was like a long dragon, slowly leaving the capital amid the sound of ritual music.
Qi Ning is among the hundreds of officials.
He was wearing court clothes and riding a horse, surrounded by dense crowds of heads in front and behind him. However, Qi Ning had already discovered that the Crown Prince of Dong Qi did not accompany him out of the capital to pay homage to the imperial mausoleum. This was something Qi Ning expected.
Although Dong Qi is a small country, Duan Shao, the crown prince of Dong Qi, is a very arrogant person. He has never knelt down to Longtai in the court of Chu State. As the crown prince of Dong Qi, it is naturally impossible for him to go to Chu State. The imperial mausoleum was used to worship the emperors of the Chu Kingdom.
And Golden Sword Hou Tantaihuang did not accompany him.
Qi Ning thought to himself that Jin Daohou's health was really getting worse day by day. Otherwise, Tantaihuang would not have been able to attend such an important event as offering sacrifices to the imperial mausoleum. After fighting for a lifetime, he could only lie on his bed all year round. Qi Ning felt quite emotional.
There are scouts at the front of the team to clear the way, and there are Yulin camp rangers cruising near the left and right wings to ensure that the team is not disturbed by anyone.
The vast and powerful sacrificial team was only more than ten miles away from the city. Qi Ning was riding a horse thoughtfully when he suddenly heard the sound of exclamation coming from the front. Then he saw some people in front of him, and Qi Ning was heartbroken. Shen tightened the horse's reins and urged the horse forward. At this time, he heard a cry from the front: "The Duke of Zhen Guo has fallen from his horse!"
Ma Lan of the Zhenguo Company is the leader of the ministers and rides at the front of the ministers. Although Qin Ning is one of the four hereditary princes, it is logical that he can follow Sima Lan, but because Yuan Lao Shangshu and other senior ministers are While riding in the sedan, Qi Ning showed respect for the elderly and followed a group of sedans, so there were more than a dozen sedans between him and Sima Lan.
When he heard the exclamation coming from the front, he was immediately worried about Longtai. He urged his horse forward without hesitation. At this time, he heard someone shouting that Sima Lan had fallen off his horse. He was very strange in his heart. At this time, he had already urged his horse over and saw a group of people gathered around Sima Lan. Next to Lan, Sima Lan was lying on the ground. Sima Changshen was holding Sima Lan from behind, with an anxious look on his face, and kept shouting: "Father, father!"
Qi Ning turned over and dismounted. Feeling a little strange, he stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong with the old Duke?"
Someone on the side said: "Old Duke's horse was suddenly frightened and jumped. The old Duke accidentally fell off the horse."
Qi Ning frowned and said, "The horse was frightened?" He was surprised and thought to himself that there was nothing special happening nearby, so how could the horse be frightened? But since this person said this, naturally many people saw it.
Sima Lan was lying in Sima Changshen's arms, with a look of pain on his face. Someone on the side wanted to help him up. Sima Changshen had already said in a deep voice: "Don't move, father may have injured his muscles and bones. The imperial doctor Wherever it is, let the imperial doctor come and take a look."
At this time, the King of Huainan also rushed over and saw Sima Changshen lying on the ground. He frowned and said, "What's going on, old Duke?" Seeing some panic around him, he shouted loudly: "No one should mess up, and no one should come over. ." At this time, he saw envoy Fan from the Taiyuan Hospital coming over in a hurry. King Huainan immediately said: "Envoy Fan, come quickly and help the old prince take a look at his body to see if he is injured."
Qi Ning saw the solemn look on the Huainan King's face and thought that the Huainan King might be putting on a show in front of people again. Ever since the ghost Ajiu died in Sima Mansion, the Huainan King and Sima Lan had already been at odds with each other. When they usually entered the court, Even if they met face to face, they would not say hello, but today King Huainan seemed to be very concerned.
Envoy Fan came forward, first asked everyone to disperse, and then ordered two people to help Sima Lan lie down. Qi Ning stood on the side and saw Envoy Fan reaching out and touching Sima Lan's shoulders, back and waist. , and soon Fan Yuan's expression became serious. Sima Changshen looked anxious. Seeing that Fan Yuan's expression was wrong, he asked in a deep voice: "Fan Yuan, what is the situation?"
"Reporting to the Marquis, the old Duke's waist seems to be slightly misaligned." Envoy Fan Yuan said, "I can't stand up yet."
"The waist bone is dislocated?" Sima Chang asked anxiously: "What should we do?"
Fan Yuan envoy said hurriedly: "Master Hou, don't worry. The dislocation of the old Duke's waist is just above the muscles and bones. There won't be any big problem. As long as the imperial doctor who understands the muscles and bones can slightly shift the position, and then apply medicine, it will last for a long time." If so, there won’t be much of a problem.”
King Huainan frowned and said, "Envoy Fan, according to your wishes, does the old prince want to return to Beijing for treatment?"
"Replying to the prince, I want to return to the capital immediately." Fan Yuan said sternly: "The waist bone is dislocated, so don't delay. The longer it takes, the greater the damage will be. And even if you treat it here, there is no suitable medicine."
"You can't go back to the capital." Ma Lan of the Zhenguo Company raised his hand, as if holding back the pain, and waved his hand: "Sacrifice to the imperial mausoleum is such a big event, I... How can I be absent? Envoy Fan, you... you send someone to get it Medicines, I... I'm waiting here, you can treat me on the spot, and after transplanting the bones, you have to carry me to the imperial mausoleum!"