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The three main halls in front of the Daqin Palace are, in order, the Purple Palace, the Xuanzheng Palace, and the Huagai Palace.
According to regulations of past dynasties, court meetings are divided into regular court meetings and grand court meetings.
The Xuan Zheng Hall in the middle was where the regular court was held every five days. Every day, all civil and military officials in the court went to the Xuan Zheng Hall, facing east and west. A prime minister was in charge of the shift and reported daily government affairs to the emperor. This was called the regular court.
The Purple Palace in the front is the so-called Golden Palace. This palace is not often used. It is usually only used during major celebrations, such as the emperor's enthronement, the enthronement of the crown prince, and other ceremonies, as well as grand court meetings.
The grand court meeting was different from the ordinary court meeting in that it was a hundred times more grand. Participants included dukes, ministers, generals, officials, officials of the imperial clan, governors of various provinces, top candidates in various provincial examinations, and chieftains of various vassal states. Usually, there were more than 10,000 people participating in the grand court meeting.
This time, Qin Mu accepted Sima An's suggestion and decided to hold a grand court meeting temporarily. Although the governors of various provinces and the chieftains of the vassal states could not come, the civil and military officials, royal relatives, nobles, and all the top scholars in the capital had to attend, with a total number of 6,000 to 7,000 people.
At five o'clock in the morning, the city of Nanjing suddenly lifted the martial law. Although there was still a guard every five steps and a sentry every ten steps on the street, the originally quiet city quickly came alive. For a while, the streets were brightly lit and bustling with people. Horses, carriages, and official sedan chairs poured into the streets, rushing to the palace in an endless stream. The lights gathered on the spacious Imperial Street, like a sea of stars in the Milky Way.
The huge palace gates slowly opened under the eunuchs' shouts. On both sides of the Imperial Street, soldiers stood with their spears in hand. The lights above and below the city were shining, illuminating the rainy night, and the entire Daqin Palace was bright.
All officials entered from the Heavenly Gate, passed the Altar of Land and Grain and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and came to the Meridian Gate. Then they went in, and this was the Forbidden City, which symbolized the highest authority of the entire Qin Dynasty.
The sound of bells and drums could be heard in the palace. The tall Meridian Gate also began to open slowly. All officials entered the Meridian Gate and waited at the Xiangyun Pavilion in front of the Purple Palace.
Originally, there should have been more people attending this grand court meeting, but now, hundreds of people are being held in the Ministry of Justice prison on the shore of Xuanwu Lake and cannot come.
The atmosphere was not as warm and festive as the grand court meeting on New Year's Day. Everyone was silent in the drizzle, rarely talking to each other, and even those who talked tried to lower their voices, which seemed a bit depressing.
Zheng Zhilong, wearing the uniform of a second-rank official and a jade belt around his waist, stood in the pavilion, looking at the sky which was gradually getting brighter. He felt inexplicably uneasy in his heart. He already regretted listening to Niu Jinxing's instigation.
But now he is in a situation where he cannot stop. Even if he stops now, Ye Bushou will definitely continue to track down the real culprit behind the assassination of the prince.
And Yan Gaofei just doesn't want to go to Japan. If he stays in Daqin, he will be dug out by Ye Bu Shou sooner or later. Unless Li Guo, Gao Yigong, or even Yuan Zongdi can stir up the waters of Daqin...
At this time, the musicians from the Jiaofang Division were beating the big drum beside the Fengxian Gate, first hitting the drum frame once, then using two hammers to continuously hit the drum center, one heavy beat and one light beat. The rhythm changed from slow to fast and then from fast to slow, and the drum sound changed from weak to strong, spreading throughout the Daqin Palace. It also hit Zheng Zhilong's heart, and he couldn't help but exchange a look with his brother Zheng Hongkui... ..
After the drum beats, in the harem, the imperial guards set up the ceremonial procession, with many elephants, tigers and leopards, which were used to drive the carriage and carry the treasures. Qin Mu sat on the dragon chariot and set off. The Jiaofangsi band began to play Zhonghe music, with loud and clear rhythms. An official from the Shangbaosi walked in front of the emperor holding the emperor's imperial seal in his hand, led by a guide officer, and came towards the Purple Palace.
Your Excellency Xiangyun, the palace attendants were swinging whips more than ten feet long, checking whether the officials' appearance, words and deeds were in order. The officials began to line up according to their ranks.
The Purple Palace stands majestically on a high pedestal, seeming to reach the sky and touch the clouds. The ups and downs of the Zhonghe music echo among the solemn palaces, which is heart-stirring and thrilling.
Amid the loud and clear sounds, all the officials stepped onto the high white marble steps, filed into the court, and came to the east and west of the Danchi, standing solemnly facing north and waiting respectfully.
After the drums were beaten three times, Qin Mu, wearing a Twelve-Yu Emperor's crown, a black robe with a golden dragon inlay, and a sword hanging from his waist, walked out of the back hall with steady steps. Two palace maids followed closely behind him holding feather fans.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the moment Qin Mu walked out, the dark clouds outside the palace suddenly broke, and in the sky where drizzle had lasted for many days, a long-lost sunrise shone on the majestic and solemn Daqin Palace.
The overlapping palaces, with their golden glazed tiles washed by rain, instantly reflected golden light, shining in harmony with each other. The incomparably magnificent scene shocked people and even made them shudder inexplicably.
The light in the solemn Zichen Hall was brightened. Qin Mu stood on the high steps with his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking down at the civil and military officials in the hall.
The ceremonial officer shouted at the right time: "Bye!"
All officials knelt down!
The ceremonial officer shouted: "Mountain cheer!"
All the officials knelt down, raised their hands to their heads and shouted "Long live!"
The ceremonial officer shouted again: "The mountain cheers!"
All officials shouted "Long live!"
The ceremonial officer shouted again: "Let's cheer again!"
All officials shouted again, "Long live!"
In an instant, nearly ten thousand civil and military officials prostrated themselves on the ground, and the sound of "Long live the emperor" was so powerful that it shook the earth and echoed through the nine heavens, and it was so imposing!
The dignity of the emperor is fully demonstrated at this moment!
After the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, all the officials stood up and looked at the emperor on the steps.
Who said the emperor was seriously ill? Who said that
At this moment, the sunlight reflected on the emperor's face, which looked heroic and murderous. How could he look like a sick person
Qin Mu looked down at the crowd and said in a loud voice: "I! I believe everyone knows why I made an exception to hold this grand court meeting. Assassinating the prince! Raising the flag of rebellion! And spreading rumors that I am seriously ill or even dead! Saying that there is no second emperor of Qin!
I! I hereby declare to the world today that whoever assassinated the crown prince and spread these rumors has committed this unforgivable crime. I can guarantee that not only will he not have a second life, but he will not even be able to enjoy a peaceful life in this life!"
No one expected that at this grand court meeting, the emperor would say something as cold as ice. When the emperor is angry, millions of people will die. This sentence instantly came to the minds of all the civil and military officials.
The tens of thousands of civil and military officials who had just performed the three kneeling and nine kowtows ceremony were suddenly shocked and fell to their knees one after another, like wheat waves blown by the wind. Even the eunuchs and palace maids serving in the palace fell to their knees in fear.
In the solemn and dignified Golden Throne Hall, the emperor was the only one standing proudly on the steps with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Zheng Zhilong crouched among his ministers, feeling a chill running up his spine, and his back was soon wet with sweat. Fortunately, he was not the only one who was frightened.
But no matter what, kneeling in this Golden Palace at this moment, under Qin Mu's murderous gaze, the feeling is completely different from when he was plotting and looking forward to the future in the dark room.
In the dark room, I feel that the future is extremely bright and attractive, and that everything is under my control.
At this moment, Zheng Zhilong suddenly felt like an ant, lying at the emperor's feet. The emperor could crush him to pieces with just one foot.
Qin Mu, who stood high on the altar, shouted again, "Everyone, stand up! Don't be afraid, look at me, take a good look at me! I have made an exception to hold this grand court meeting, not to discuss any military or political affairs, but just to let you take a good look at me! Look! Take a good look! See if I am sick? See if I am dead?"
"Your Majesty..."
"Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long, long live our emperor!"
"Long live Long live Long live!"
"... ... ... ... "
Now things got a bit chaotic, all the officials fell to the ground, shouting incoherently...
clang!
With a dragon roar, Qin Mu suddenly drew out his sword and thrust it on the altar. Then he shouted in a loud voice: "I was born in a chaotic era. I have no roof over my head and no place to stand. When I went to southern Jiangxi, only Xiang Fei and Meng Ke accompanied me. At that time, thieves and bandits were everywhere, and the Jiannu frequently knocked on the gates and entered, destroying Yanzhao, Qilu and Qilu.
In troubled times, human life is as cheap as a dog's; people eat grass roots, peel tree bark, and even exchange their own children for food. I, seeing the people of the world in dire straits, living from hand to mouth, and even China in danger of extinction, have worked hard to strengthen the country and save it from collapse.
Since we started the uprising in southern Jiangxi, we have been supported by the people and have worked together to sweep away the bandits, resist the overwhelming force of the Jian Nu army, and then conquer the world and expand our territory for thousands of miles.
Since the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, I have never been lazy, and have worked diligently, rising early and sleeping late. It was not easy for the people of the world to live a peaceful and happy life.
How many days has peace been here? How many days? And yet another person, for his own selfishness, wants to bring chaos to the world and put the people in dire straits again. How can I explain to the people of the world if I don't exterminate all nine generations of this madman?"
After Qin Mu finished drinking, he raised his sword and looked coldly at the ministers kneeling in the hall. There were tens of thousands of ministers, but at this moment, they were completely silent, not even the sound of breathing...
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ps: I would like to bow and thank Xin_Xia Han, Qiu Zhi Shen Guang, scmuller, Niu Huitou, Meng Qingxi, Canbudongski, Zhang Hua Feiyan, Yunfeng Wuhen, Mikelee, Babajiejie, Chouyin, Wenxuan Master, Stagnation```, I'm such a failure, Zhengkun, Bored, Long Gudu, Mai Mengyu, Midnight Smoker and Winner Lucky Number for their precious monthly tickets or rewards. Thank you all.
Haoyuan is suffering from illness and has been unable to update frequently. Fortunately, my friends have not given up. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to every friend who has given support. Thank you all.
In addition, classmate Kingdom said that he will take the college entrance examination tomorrow. Haoyuan would like to wish all the students who are taking the college entrance examination to have God’s help tomorrow, perform beyond their level and get good results.
.(To be continued..)
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