Beiyuan's coronation ceremony was similar to that of Nanjing, with complicated etiquette and lengthy rituals to show the emperor's majesty. Compared with the extremely noble ceremony of Nanjing, Beiyuan pays more attention to the style of governing the country with military force. Thousands of elite soldiers in armor stood in a uniform manner outside the hall. Looking from a high place, a silver-gray iron armor was like a vast wave, submerging the solemn and quiet imperial city, leaving only a broad road extending to the end of the hall.
The young emperor, dressed in a black dragon robe, with a crown on his head and a sword at his waist, walked up the long steps step by step and came to the top of Beiyuan.
The spring breeze that should have been gentle suddenly became hot without warning. The strong wind blew up the sleeves of the young man's dragon robe. The golden dragon seemed to be given life at this moment, flying in the clouds and mist, and exerting its power to call the wind and rain.
"The wind is so loud today, it adds to the momentum of my sister-in-law." Zhao Lin, who was standing below and watching the ceremony, couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Of course, she still can't compare to my brother."
When the auspicious time arrived, the emperor held a sword in the wind, the sacrificial fire was burned for a long time, and all civil and military officials knelt together.
A thousand years begins today.
Among the huge and magnificent surrender, there was only one person standing.
Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng looked at each other across the crowd kneeling on the ground. One in the south and one in the north, two shadows of black and yellow, complementing each other.
They had experienced two coronation ceremonies in just one year. The last time, Zhao Mian sat high up in the hall, and Wei Zhenfeng looked up at him. This time, Zhao Mian stood low down, looking at the high and mighty Wei Zhenfeng, with a different kind of pride in his eyes.
He was proud of Wei Zhenfeng.
This is the man he loves and the father of his child.
At that time, Wei Zhenfeng must have felt the same way when he saw him sitting on the dragon throne.
On the night when the ceremony ended, Wei Zhenfeng presented the seal of the Queen of Beiyuan to Zhao Mian with both hands in Fengyi Palace.
Zhao Mian finished reading the edict written by Wei Zhenfeng, and was very satisfied: "Very good, from now on I finally don't have to carry the seal of the previous princess with me - it's so embarrassing."
Wei Zhenfeng laughed: "I really wronged you. Fortunately, you are no longer a princess, but my Queen Zhao."
Zhao Mian admitted dignifiedly: "Yes, I am Queen Zhao."
"But I am only a concubine in Nanjing." Wei Zhenfeng sighed, "Same person, different fate."
Zhao Mian watched Wei Zhenfeng act calmly.
Wei Zhenfeng said quietly, "If Fanfan's biological mother wasn't the empress, he wouldn't be called the 'first born' in Nanjing."
"That's enough, Concubine Wei. Your methods of vying for favor and promotion are so clumsy that I can't bear to watch them." Zhao Mian said expressionlessly, "I really can't stand it any longer."
Zhao Mian clapped his hands twice, and Bai Yu, Shen Buci and Zhou Huairang came in. Zhou Huairang was holding an exquisite brocade box, the whole body of the box was golden, and it was engraved with a phoenix holding a pearl, which was very dignified and luxurious.
Wei Zhenfeng realized something. The young man who was calm and composed at his own coronation ceremony now had a violent heartbeat and a slightly hoarse voice: "Is this... for me?"
Zhao Mian asked back: "If it's not for you, then is it for Zhou Huairang?"
Zhou Huairang hurriedly said: "No, no, no, I would never dare to do that even if I die!"
Zhao Mian said: "I brought this item all the way from Shangjing to Shengjing, and I will give it to you for safekeeping from now on."
Wei Zhenfeng opened the brocade box and saw the imperial seal of the Queen Nanjing, whom he had longed for. The imperial seal was made of gold pieces, and the three words "Wei Zhenfeng" were prominently listed.
Wei Zhenfeng recognized Zhao Mian's handwriting on the imperial edict. He could see that Zhao Mian hesitated a little when writing the eight characters "virtuous, virtuous, and upright", and his strokes were much lighter than the other characters.
Zhao Mian rarely refrained from sarcasm and gave an affirmative answer readily: "It's written for you, Queen Wei." Although he once thought of only giving Wei Zhenfeng the title of Imperial Noble Consort after Wei Zhenfeng lied to him that she had breasts, he endured it for Fanfan's sake.
The three people from Yongning Palace looked at each other and said in unison: "Congratulations to Concubine Wei for ascending the throne."
Queen Wei raised her lips, her eyes beaming with laughter: "I am happy, I am happy."
Zhao Mian reminded him: "Did you forget something?"
"I haven't forgotten." Wei Zhenfeng raised his hand and bowed to Zhao Mian in a proper manner, "Thank you, Lord, for your grace."
After Wei Zhenfeng ascended the throne in Beiyuan and became emperor, the first two things he did were:
First, he wrote Fanfan's name into the imperial jade book, officially announcing to the world that he had such a son. After that, Zhao Fan was the eldest son of the emperor in Nanjing, and when he came to Beiyuan, he was also the legitimate eldest son of the emperor in Beiyuan, Wei Fan.
Second, Beiyuan will form an alliance with Nanjing to discuss the plan of the Eastern Expedition.
In the past, Nanjing had helped Beiyuan in its expedition to the West. Today, Nanjing is the main force and Beiyuan is the auxiliary force. The two countries have reunited as Qin and Jin, and are determined to obtain the territory of Dongling.
After the situation in the court stabilized, Wei Zhenfeng and Zhao Mian took Zhao Lin and others to bid farewell to Shengjing and embarked on a journey to Dongling.
They met at the age of six, met again in Dongling at the age of 18, fell in love at the age of 19, and had their first child at the age of 20. Dongling has a special meaning to them, and now they are revisiting the old place, they want to package Dongling into a big gift and give it to their children.
Zhao Mian and his companions rode their horses all the way and arrived at the border of Dongling five days later. They rested in the wilderness for a night and were about to continue their journey the next morning when Wei Zhenfeng suddenly said he wanted to take Zhao Mian to a place.
The two rode along the path, going up a hill, and the view suddenly opened up. Everything could be found in the morning light.
Zhao Mian's slightly widened eyes reflected the color of the morning sun: "Could this be..."
"This is the junction of the three kingdoms." Wei Zhenfeng pointed them out to Zhao Mian one by one, "To the south is Nanjing, to the north is Beiyuan, and the direction we are facing is Dongling, which is where we are about to go."
Zhao Mian gazed into the distance at the endless territory, as if he saw the prosperous city of Nanjing, heard the clashes of the Beiyuan cavalry, and smelled the rare and precious herbs growing silently in the Dongling jungle.
Shangjing, Shengjing, Kyoto.
Plains, deserts, mountains and rivers.
A huge ambition swept through my body in an instant.
In the dim morning light, two young kings stood side by side, their long hair blown by the spring breeze, swirling and entangled behind them.
This is their new journey.
This is their world.
—End of text
(End of this chapter)