At dawn, just after Yin Shi, Qi Ning had arrived at the eastern outskirts of the imperial mausoleum. At this time, the red sun had risen in the east. All the ministers had had breakfast and were gathering together, waiting for the emperor to lead them into the imperial mausoleum.
The rays of the rising sun shone on the earth. The ministers seemed to have had a good rest last night. They were all in high spirits. They gathered together to whisper, and they were talking and laughing.
Qi Ning walked calmly through the crowd of ministers, but never found Ximen Wuhen. When the ministers set out yesterday, there were so many people, but Qining had never seen Ximen Wuhen. Today, he still did not see him. I secretly wondered if Ximen Wuhen did not come to participate in this sacrificial ceremony.
Suddenly I heard someone shouting not far away: "Isn't that the old prince coming?"
Qining immediately followed the sound and saw Sima Changshen pushing a wheelchair not far away. As expected, Zhenguo Company's Ma Lan was sitting in the wheelchair.
Qi Ning frowned slightly, but saw that King Huainan had emerged from the crowd and came forward to greet him. After looking around, King Huainan had already smiled and said: "How is the old man's injury? I thought that the old man could not come today. "
Sima Lan sighed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Fortunately, the doctors at the Royal Hospital have made a wonderful recovery. Although it will take some time for the waist to recover, it is not too serious."
The King of Huainan said with a smile: "That's very good. Today's sacrificial ceremony must not be without the old prince."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of ritual music. The ministers immediately lowered their hands and rushed to the sides. Then they saw the eunuchs and maids approaching the young emperor Longtai. The ministers on both sides prostrated themselves on the ground, waiting for Longtai to leave. Afterwards, all the officials stood up and followed the emperor to the imperial mausoleum.
The important place of the imperial mausoleum is unusual. Even the young Emperor Longtai was not allowed to enter by car. Everyone had to walk into the imperial mausoleum. However, Sima Lan was in a special situation today. Sima Changshen personally pushed the wheelchair and followed the emperor. later.
Fortunately, the road from the eastern suburbs of the Imperial Tomb to the Imperial Tomb is not far, and a road has been built long ago.
The team entered the imperial mausoleum, and after walking only a few miles, the front suddenly opened up. Qining looked into the distance and couldn't help being surprised. However, he saw blue waves rippling not far in front of him. The area was very wide, and there was a huge place. An artificial lake, in the lake, there are small islands built with huge rocks, which look extremely spectacular.
Two wide roads were built with white marble on the left and right sides of the lake. Going around the lake, there is a spacious avenue. The tomb guards have already been guarding both sides of the avenue. The avenue leads straight ahead. Several miles later, A tall and magnificent circular altar appeared.
The sacrificial platform is divided into three floors, forming three circles. The middle of each lane is very open, and its width is enough to accommodate two to three hundred people. This also forms three white marble guardrails. On the edge of each guardrail, there are people standing. There was a circle of Taoist priests from Longhu Mountain, fly whisks on their arms, and words murmuring in their mouths.
On both sides of the steps leading up to the sacrificial platform, there were mausoleum guards wearing sharp armor and holding guns, while Chi Fengdian led the elite soldiers of Yulin Camp to protect the sacrificial platform.
The highest sacrificial platform is extremely spacious and can accommodate two to three hundred people. At this moment, three animals and six animals have been set up on the sacrificial platform to worship ancestors. The monks of Daguangming Temple are led by two eminent monks, Jingwu and Jingyuan. , sitting cross-legged on both sides, beating wooden fish, and the sound of chanting spread far away.
Taoist Master Lingxu was standing at the entrance of the sacrificial platform, his Taoist robes fluttering, and his Taoist spirit was immortal.
Longtai led the ministers to the sacrificial platform. When they reached the last floor, the ministers stopped. Longtai took a few steps forward and then knelt down. The ministers behind him also knelt down. Master Lingxu sang aloud. With a shout, Longtai stood up and walked slowly onto the stage, while the officials stayed under the steps.
King Huainan glanced at Sima Lan beside him, and then slowly followed him. Sima Changshen also pushed Sima Lan and followed closely.
According to the etiquette of the Great Chu Empire, the only officials who could accompany the emperor to the altar were the four hereditary princes of the empire. King Huainan was a direct bloodline of the royal family, so he was naturally among them.
At this time, a eunuch came to Qi Ning and whispered a few words. Qi Ning nodded slightly. At this time, he saw Wuxiang Hou Su Zhen coming out of the crowd and following Sima Lan to the sacrificial altar. Qi Ning did not hesitate. , also stepped forward and followed King Huainan.
Longtai looked solemn, and the ministers who followed him on stage also looked solemn.
The sound of chanting was endless. Headmaster Lingxu led Longtai through and walked directly to the incense table. Green smoke curled up. Headmaster Lingxu turned around and stood beside the incense table. He flicked his fly whisk, raised his head and looked at the sky. He said loudly: "The sacrificial ceremony has begun!" Xiang Longtai bowed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, can you read out the ritual of worshiping the heaven?"
Longtai nodded slightly, with a solemn expression.
Headmaster Lingxu picked up the sacrificial ritual text that had been prepared long ago from the incense table, took a few steps forward, slowly unfolded it, glanced at it, and his expression changed drastically.
The ministers all held their breaths at this time, and there was silence everywhere.
After waiting for a while, there was no sign of Master Lingxu reading the ceremony. Many officials couldn't help but wonder. Longtai also looked sideways and frowned when he saw Master Lingxu standing there blankly.
Qi Ning was not far behind the emperor at this time. When he saw Headmaster Lingxu looking at the ceremony in his hand in a daze, he knew something was wrong. At this time, he heard King Huainan cough and asked: "Headmaster Lingxu, why?" Don’t you read out the ceremony?”
Headmaster Lingxu hesitated for a moment, but King Huainan had already walked over. Everyone was a little surprised when they saw it. King Huainan walked up to Headmaster Lingxu and stretched out his hand. Headmaster Lingxu bowed slightly and presented the gift with both hands. Coming over, King Huainan took it, glanced at it, smiled faintly, walked towards Longtai, a few steps away, knelt down, and presented the gift to Longtai with both hands.
Seeing this scene, everyone was even more surprised. They thought that since the founding of the Chu State, whether it was worshiping heaven or ancestors, the Taoist leader had read out the rituals and never changed. Today's scene is really too weird. I have never seen a general. The ceremony was presented to the emperor.
Longtai's face was slightly solemn. He reached out and took the gift. He also glanced at it, his face became even more ugly, and he suddenly said in a deep voice: "Where is Mr. Yuan Shangshu?"
When Yuan Lao Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites heard the voice, he went over immediately. The last step was not high. Everything that happened on it could be clearly seen by the ministers standing in front. Although Yuan Lao Shangshu was old, what happened on the sacrificial platform was still there. He could see everything very clearly. Hearing the emperor's call, he immediately climbed up the steps and reached the side of Delongtai. Just as he was about to kneel down, Longtai had already asked: "Did the old minister prepare the sacrificial ceremony?"
Mr. Yuan Lao Shangshu was startled, and he cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to your Majesty, the sacrificial rites were written by the old minister himself!"
Longtai handed over the gift in his hand and said, "Look, is this the gift you prepared?"
Old Minister Yuan took it with both hands respectfully, glanced at it, his face suddenly changed, and he said in a voiceless voice: "Your Majesty, this... this is not the ceremony prepared by the old minister, this is... this is a confession!"
Qi Ning heard this from behind and frowned, greatly surprised.
"It's interesting that the sacrificial ritual turned into a confession." Longtai said lightly: "This confession is signed by Hu Bowen. The old minister naturally knows who Hu Bowen is."
Qining's heart trembled when he heard the word "Hu Bowen", but he was extremely familiar with this name.
The previous time he took an envoy to the Eastern Qi Dynasty, he was appointed as the envoy of the envoy, and the deputy envoy of the envoy was Hu Bowen, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Hu Bowen and Liang Xiong colluded with each other. They colluded with a group of assassins to destroy all the gifts of the delegation and prevent the Chu delegation from going to Dong Qi. Qining noticed Hu Bowen's plot and used his plan to finally expose the two men's conspiracy. , and even detained two people.
When going to Eastern Qi, Qi Ning handed these two people to the custody of the Qinhuai Army. When he returned, he handed these two people to the King of Huainan for escort to Beijing. Later, Qi Ning heard that Hu Bowen had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Punishment Prison. , but he didn't have the intention to care about the result.
Now that he heard the sacrificial ritual turned into Hu Bowen's confession, Qining was naturally surprised.
Although Old Shangshu Yuan was surprised, he was still an old minister after all. He had seen many storms, so he remained calm and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, Hu Bowen was originally the minister of the Ministry of Rites, but he had ulterior motives and had evil intentions. He has been convicted and imprisoned in the Prison of the Ministry of Punishment. The Ministry of Punishment has been interrogating this case. .”
"The confession from the Criminal Department interrogation appears here." Long Tai's face was grim: "Where is Qian Raoshun?"
Soon I saw an official walking up to the stage and kneeling on the ground: "Qian Raoshun, Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, is here to pay homage to the Emperor!"
"Qian Raoshun, are you interrogating Hu Bowen's case?" Longtai glanced at Qian Raoshun, took the gift from Yuan Laoshan and threw it in front of Qian Raoshun: "See for yourself, is this Hu Bowen's confession?" ?”
Qian Raoshun took it, glanced at it, and said respectfully: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this is indeed the confession signed by Hu Bowen. I was about to submit it to the emperor, but I don't know why I appeared here."
Longtai said coldly: "You really don't know?"
King Huainan stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the confession appears on the sacrificial altar, perhaps out of necessity."
"We have no choice?" Long Tai frowned and said, "Uncle Wang, what do you mean?"
"Your Majesty, although there are many memorials to be reported to you in the court, not every memorial can be seen by you." King Huainan sighed: "For example, this confession now, if it had not appeared on the sacrificial altar, maybe The emperor has no chance to see it."
"I don't quite understand what Uncle Wang said." Longtai said: "In a major case like Hu Bowen's, if the closing statement and memorial are submitted, how come I can't see it?"
King Huainan glanced at Sima Lan. Sima Lan was sitting in a wheelchair with an expressionless face. He looked unusually calm. King Huainan took a step forward, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, there are traitorous ministers in the court who are obstructing the Holy Father's hearing and deceiving His Majesty. With only one hand Zhe Tian, many important information has been blocked from the imperial study room before it was sent to the imperial study. Naturally, the emperor does not know many truths."
As soon as King Huainan said this, everyone who heard this was shocked, and Qining also had a cold look on his face.