It was getting colder and colder. Wen Chan was standing by the window, wearing a thick velvet cloak. The vermilion color made his skin bright and white. After more than half a month of cultivation, his face was rounded.
The stove burns very well, and it is placed next to it. The continuous heat contrasts with the cold air outside the window.
Wen Chan breathed out lightly, spit out some white mist, raised his eyes slightly, and looked into the distance, "November..."
"Your Highness, what are you doing standing in front of the window? Be careful not to catch the cold." Ah Fu suddenly jumped out from nowhere and stood in front of the window.
Wen Chan was taken aback by him, "The one who walks quietly is trying to scare me to another master?"
Ah Fu hurriedly said, "Damn the slave! It is the blessing of the slave's eight lifetimes to have His Royal Highness as the master of the slave! How dare I have other thoughts."
Wen Chan has long been immune to Ah Fu's flattery, and just ignores it, "It's already November, and the day is coming soon, right?"
"Returning to Your Highness, the day is approaching, and the preparations began half a month before the court." Ah Fu replied.
"This is a good opportunity." Wen Chan was thoughtful.
The "big day" in the two populations is the annual sacrificial ceremony in Xiliang.
More than a hundred years ago, the ancestor of the Wen family, Jin Ge and Iron Horse, broke into the Imperial City of Xiliang, killed all the former court officials, and ascended to the throne.
Since then, Xiliang has been on the road to prosperity, and has become a big country with thousands of nations coming to court year by year, and the Wen family has been hereditary to this day.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, every year on November 23rd, the emperor would personally lead a hundred officials to offer sacrifices in order to hope that Xiliang would be peaceful and the world would be peaceful.
Strange to say, worshiping gods is clearly not allowed in Xiliang, but there are many activities such as offering sacrifices and praying for blessings.
In the past, on that day, the emperor would set up an altar in the palace, burn incense and worship Buddha, but gradually changed the rules. In this dynasty, the emperor set up the altar in Yanxiang Temple, and led all officials to offer sacrifices during the day. Worship, and stay overnight in Yanxiang Temple at night.
Wen Chan stood in front of the window and thought for a long time. Ah Fu, who was standing by the side, did not dare to disturb him. He endured the chill until his nose turned red from the cold. Clothes, I see you nagging me all day long, but it is negligent how it happened to me."
"It's not yet the cold winter, and the cold-resistant clothes haven't been issued yet. The servants are wearing three layers of autumn robes, and they still don't feel cold." Afu shivered.
"Just go and ask for it. If anyone dares to stop you from giving it, you can report it to me directly." Wen Chan frowned slightly.
Ah Fu got the order, he responded excitedly, and immediately sent someone to pick it up.
After Wen Chan's injury healed, he said nothing to let Liang Yanbei take the risk to come to the palace. He asked Ah Fu to find a sword, and practiced in the inner courtyard for half an hour every morning and sunset.
In the first few days, the wound on his left arm was still aching, but Wen Chan managed to endure it, and then gradually improved. The body skills and internal skills of martial arts in his previous life were all engraved in his mind. Today, I also regain the feeling of the past.
After Liang Yanbei created the exclusive footwork in his previous life, Wen Chan was his first apprentice. In order to practice a body technique, he walked the same footwork for several days in a row.
Later, that set of footwork was thoroughly learned by Wen Chan, as if it was imprinted in his bones. After a few days of serious practice in Wen Chan's reborn body, his limbs also memorized the number of footwork.
In a blink of an eye, the 23rd day came, and the sacrificial ceremony was held in a mighty manner.
Wen Chan got up early that day, Ah Fu brought people into the hall to freshen up for him.
Jade crown, Jin Qiu, girdle seal.
The black and black cloak was embroidered with gold threaded hornless dragons, and the snow-white fox fur was pressed against the collar, sleeves and bottom of the robe, revealing a pair of brocade boots slightly. His formal attire made his appearance even more refined, and his whole body was extravagant.
Wen Chan stretched out his hand and brushed his sleeves, and when he looked up, he saw a court lady who was holding a tray of clothes.
The court lady lowered her head and stood in an orderly manner, so quiet that she hardly felt her presence.
But Wen Chan walked in front of her with two steps, and said softly, "Raise your head up and let me have a look."
The maid's body froze undetectably, she slowly raised her head, her eyes always looking down.
The people around were stunned, not sure what Wen Chan meant.
"The eyes are also raised." Wen Chan continued.
Hearing the words, the maid raised her eyes slowly, looked straight at Wen Chan, her black eyes were a little nervous, and she murmured, "Your Highness..."
Wen Chan looked at her for a moment, then bent his eyes and smiled, the warm spring and midsummer melted into his eyes, which was so beautiful that it made people's heart beat, "The eyes are very beautiful, like crabapple flowers in autumn."
None of the palace servants who served Wen Chan had ever heard him praise him so bluntly. There were once restless little maids who had the idea of climbing the dragon and the phoenix, but Wen Chan was neither cold nor cold, and was too difficult to get close to. Over time, those thoughts faded away. .
But at this moment, he praised a court lady's eyes like crabapple flowers, which made people surprised and a little bit jealous.
After Wen Chan finished boasting, he turned around and walked out of the hall, saying as he walked, "Ah Fu, the people serving today seem to be very smart, please appreciate it."
Ah Fu was the first to react, and quickly waved to the dazed palace servants, gestured to get out of the hall, and replied casually, "I obey."
The crabapple flowers in autumn are as dark as blood. Although they are gorgeous, they are also fatal.
He stood under the verandah and glanced at the gray sky.
"Your Highness, the carriage is ready." Ah Fu reminded in a low voice.
Wen Chan nodded slightly, "Then let's go."
Offering sacrifices in the morning means morning rising, and praying that the Xiliang Empire will be like a vigorous sun that will never decline.
The civil and military officials in the capital rushed to Yanxiang Temple according to the time. Ordinary people also got up early and stood on both sides of the road to watch the high-ranking courtiers. If they were lucky, they could even see the emperor's holy car.
Yanxiang Temple is located in the southernmost part of the capital. It is built on a low peak. If you want to enter the temple, you have to walk through seventy-seven stone steps. Steps, so walking up, but not exhausted.
There were one carriage after another parked at the foot of the stone steps, and the guards were heavily guarded, and the common people were not allowed to approach half a step, so they could only watch from a distance.
When Wen Chan arrived, it was neither too early nor too late, he lifted the curtain of the car and got out, just as his feet hit the ground, a gust of cold wind hit his face, curling up his long hair, causing him to shrink his neck.
The piano, chess, calligraphy and painting were guarded on the left and right sides, and Wen Chan led the people from the place where the carriage was parked to the foot of the stone steps.
After walking in, he saw a very conspicuous figure.
It's not that the color of the clothes is bright, it's just that the back figure is unique in Wen Chan's eyes, one can recognize it at a glance, especially in the vast crowd.
"Liang Yanbei." Wen Chan subconsciously blurted out after not seeing him for several days.
The voice passed through the noisy crowd and reached Liang Yanbei's ears. He turned his head and saw the very delicate Wen Chan being served, and smiled slightly.
Just when the first ray of golden light from the morning sun broke through the clouds and reflected on his face, it was so beautiful that Wen Chan's heart stopped beating.
Liang Yanbei is also dressed quite decently today. His long hair is still high, and he has replaced it with dark mahogany and white jade hairpins. The black and blue cloak is embroidered with billowing wishful patterns. The dark clothes add a little bit to Liang Yanbei. Noble cool color.
Wen Chan couldn't find any words of praise to describe him.
Liang Yanbei walked over with a smile in the golden light, "Your Highness, I have been waiting for you for a long time."
These words brought back Wen Chan's consciousness, he raised his eyelids and said, "Why are you here so early?"
"I'm afraid His Highness will go up first." Liang Yanbei confessed.
"Why do you have to be with me, it's freezing cold." Wen Chan lowered his voice, forcibly suppressing the throbbing in his heart.
Liang Yan turned his head to the north, looked at the stone steps where the crowd continued, and said, "Seventy-seven steps, one level of blessing and one level of luck, the abbot of Yanxiang Temple said that every time you step on a step, you will make a wish in your heart." , seventy-seven, there will always be one who will be heard by the Buddha."
He turned back again and looked at Wen Chan intently, "I want to go with His Highness, and make seventy-seven wishes for His Highness' good luck, maybe one of them will come true."
Wen Chan only felt his ears quiet down for a moment, only those beautiful black eyes were in his sight, his heartbeat was getting faster and faster, he opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say.
Liang Yanbei, taking advantage of his moment of stupefaction, stretched his hand into the cloak, held his hand, and frowned slightly, "Why are your hands so cold? Are you wearing less clothes?"
Feeling the warmth in his palm, Wen Chan didn't have time to feel nostalgic, but his body reacted first, pulled out his hand suddenly, and said in a low voice, "Don't mess around, you don't want to see where this is!"
All civil and military officials from all over the city gather here, so many pairs of eyes are staring at it, this is not a place for jokes.
Liang Yanbei withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, "Okay, let's not hold or hold, then let's go up first?"
Wen Chan breathed a sigh of relief, nodded in response, "Let's go."
They followed the sparse crowd up the stone steps at a steady pace, Wen Chan stared at the stone steps, concentrating on it.
Liang Yanbei looked sideways for a few times and saw that he was serious, as if he was really making a wish, so he didn't make a sound to disturb him, and quietly watched him complete the seventy-seven steps.
When you walk to the top of the stone steps, there is a big stone gate, and the stone pillars on both sides are engraved with big characters of dragons and phoenixes - Yanxiang Temple.
Because Wen Chan practiced martial arts for several days, he walked all the way down without blushing or panting, and looked into the distance with a calm expression. Although the short peak is not very high, when standing on it, he can still see the morning sun, which is extremely vigorous.
Looking down at the seventy-seven stone steps, Wen Chan was silent.
Step by step, these steps, every wish was made to Liang Yanbei. He wanted to leave a few promises to the people of Xiliang, but he didn't pay attention and came to the end.
As the former emperor of Xiliang, Wen Chan felt a little bit ashamed in his heart.
Seeing that he was lost in thought, Liang Yanbei gently touched his arm with his hand, "Your Highness, what are you thinking so absorbed in?"
"I'm thinking," Wen Chan pointed to the stone steps, "If I walk it all over again, I wonder if my wish will come true."
Liang Yanbei: "..."
"Your Highness, you can't be too greedy." Liang Yanbei sighed, and then said, "I'll accompany His Highness to walk again some other day."
Wen Chan nodded.
The two of them only said a few words, and continued to walk inside in order not to block the way of the people behind.
"His Highness Ninth!" As he was walking, a shout came from ahead.