The Phoenix Reborn Book II
Chapter 107 Day of the Ritual of Death
Everyone was glued to the spot, staring wide-eyed at the one respectable figure that was on the stage. An arrow was set on the man's back, and its pointed tip was sticking proudly through his chest.
The man's eyes bulged, then descended to stare down, at the arrow that pierced through his body. Then, with his remaining energy, he spun around, wanting to ascertain the mastermind over the injuries he received.
As the man's gaze landed on the figure holding the bow, a single drop of his tears should not flow down. His limp hands seemed to tremble as they rose, and he pointed towards the mastermind, “Wang ... Zhengyi, you—!”
*Some time ago*
The sound of horse footsteps knocking on the streets of the capital could be heard. This made a number of people look to see who the person who became the rider.
A woman with a dark bead of night was riding her horse that was breaking as white as snow, matching the color of her body that seemed to sparkle when exposed to the sun. The woman's stature is firm, so in accordance with the status of the general she holds.
“Ah! That's Mingwei Junzhu!” shouted one of the youths with an amazed look.
The figure of Huang Miaoling wearing a harness looks stunning. Her hair tied high back bared her firm and pointed jaws, creating a handsome female figure, but still charming.
“He is so alluring!” a girl looked at Huang Miaoling as if she was in love.
Although various compliments were hailed from various sides, but there were also unfriendly remarks heard, “Today is the ritual day of the Fifth Prince's death, why is he wearing the general's clothes?” the tone used to say the sentence seemed to question the actions of Mingwei Junzhu.
“The Fifth Prince died as a result of a surprise attack from a prairie tribe, wearing a harness is a way to represent the warriors at the border who are trying to avenge themselves!” obviously someone else with passion.
One other resident was also unhappy with the question that intended to lead the opinion, “If she is a third-level princess, but Mingwei Junzhu is also a general of Longzhu Forces. Whatever honor shirt she wears, all is her right!”
Hearing the words of the residents, Fang Yu who accompanied Huang Miaoling tried hard not to show an expression that was able to leak his heart. ‘Junzhu ... has many supporters in the capital.’ Then, the man sighed. 'If they knew .. that the reason Junzhu was wearing war clothes .. was to keep watch of the unexpected.’ The man stared towards the palace gate that was getting closer and closer.
Today was a death ritual held for Wang Wuyu. In honor of the prince, all officials and every troop were obliged to attend and participate. Of course, the Shiyan Army of the Sixth Prince, the Hui King, was also included.
With the feud that occurred between him and Wang Chengliu the other day, Huang Miaoling would not be surprised if the man would try to harm him. Therefore, the woman wore her armor to keep watch.
The moment Huang Miaoling's entourage arrived at the palace gate, the gatekeeper approached them and checked each of the identities of the soldiers present. There were so many important people present in the palace today, no wonder the security of the palace was tightened back.
After examining Huang Miaoling's army, the gatekeeper noticed something strange. He turned around and faced the woman who was in the front row, “Mingwei Junzhu, not all Longzhu troops were present?” ask her with a frown.
Huang Miaoling nodded his head leisurely. “Do I need to explain why?” ask the soldier. “Of course, the most important thing is my presence, isn't it?” huang Miaoling.
Mingwei Junzhu's reply made the soldier quickly reply, “T-of course Junzhu was right, Junzhu's presence was indeed the most important.” With a hardened jaw, trying to hide his terrified expression, the soldier explained, “N-however, I have to give a report to—”
Not wanting to delay the time again, Huang Miaoling cut off the soldier's words, “If all the troops I bring here, who will guard the North gate?” A thin smile was plugged on his face, but his heart was deep, ‘Not usually they will press for an answer, it looks like the man ..’.
“Ah! Y-yeah! Okay, Junzhu! Thanks for your explanation,” clear. He then turned his head towards the other gatekeepers and exclaimed, “Quick open the gate!” Then, he turned around and smiled back to Huang Miaoling, “Please, Mingwei Junzhu.”
Huang Miaoling threw a faint smile, then he spurred his horse through the main gate of the palace. When he arrived at the inner court, Huang Miaoling came down from Mazu and gave the horse to the manager.
Before long, a eunuch who had been waiting on one side of the field came over to Mingwei Junzhu to pick him up. “Junzhu, please come with me,” the eunuch bowed and directed him to the main courtyard of the palace.
Approaching the main courtyard gate, Huang Miaoling could faintly hear the voices of a number of people conversing in a low voice. The black bead of the girl also swept over the scene within the courtyard which was so crowded.
As soon as he passed through the main courtyard gate, Huang Miaoling could see officials gathered in the front row, close to the altar. The higher the position, the more the official will stand closer to the altar.
On the other hand, the palace troops were on standby at some corner of the courtyard. Unlike the palace troops, Shiyan's forces were gathered on one side of the courtyard. There was an empty distance left between Shiyan's forces and the ranks of the officials.
Seeing this, Huang Miaoling glanced at the eunuch who picked him up, “That's the place for Longzhu Squad, isn't it?” his question was immediately avenged by the eunuch with a justification. Sang Mingwei Junzhu turned her head towards Fang Yu, she said in a low voice, “You know what to do, go. I'll join the other officials.”
Fang Yu saluted while replying, “Good, Junzhu.”
Just as Huang Miaoling stepped closer to the ranks of the officials, Huang Yade who had been there immediately signaled him to approach. “You took quite a long time,” he said while telling Huang Miaoling his place in the line.
“I know how long this ritual will run, why come so early in the morning?” huang Miaoling replied in a low voice, then greeted several other officials.
“Ignore him.” Huang Miaoling did not follow Huang Yade's gaze, he already knew that his brother was talking about Shao Yanjun. ‘Observice me? What's the point?’ the inner girl.
Suddenly, there was an announcement about the arrival of Emperor Weixin. Everyone saluted according to their status, welcoming the arrival of the great man.
Emperor Weixin stepped down from his palanquin of honor, the clothes the man wore all white. Not far behind him, a number of other stretchers also followed. The figures that descended from the palaces were court ladies, such as Empress Dowager Shen, Empress Mingmei, Huang Yan'an, and Wang Qiuhua.
Shortly after the arrival of the three people, a cry from the ritual leader could be heard, “Fifth Prince arrived!”
No one was surprised, nor put on a confused face. The shout did not mean that Wang Wuyu was coming back to life, but instead referred to his lifeless body inside the chest that was being transported towards the altar.
From the corner of his eyes, Huang Miaoling could see the figure of Yang Yuechan wearing mourning clothes with an innocent face without the slightest grooming. The woman stood in the front row with a name plaque in her arms, Wang Wuyu's name engraved on the plaque.
Yang Yuechan's appearance was heart-wrenching. Her eye bags looked dark, and the woman's face looked so thin. Briefly, it could be said that Yang Yuechan did not look healthy.
‘Not a surprise,’ Inner Huang Miaoling. ‘The only son to die, is a strange thing if he even smiles.’
At the back of the procession, the figures of Wang Zhengyi and Wang Chengliu could be seen. Just like most of the people, they were also wearing mourning clothes.
Looking at the figures of the two princes, Huang Miaoling's eyes glanced at the two objects that were in their hands, a bow and an arrow. ‘The Crown Prince is in charge of firing letters to heaven?’
“Firing letters to paradise”, it is one part of the ritual of death. After placing the chest on the altar, a letter tied to a headless arrow was shot into the sky in an attempt to deliver the message to heaven. The hope is that the heavens will receive the letter and allow the dead to enter the pages of heaven.
Huang Miaoling squinted at the arrow in Wang Chengliu's hand. ‘Hmm, totally headless.’ For the safety of some people, of course, the arrows used are not dangerous.
Right after Huang Miaoling thought about it, the chest had been above the altar. The figure of Wang Weixin was seen approaching the chest that housed his son's body.
While touching his hand on the side of Wang Wuyu's chest, Wang Weixin closed his eyes, delivering his last message, ‘Ayahanda If it wasn't for him not being able to become a good father and emperor figure, there was no way his son would have ended up like this.
“Your Majesty,” call someone who makes the emperor turn his head. The figure of the ritual leader is seen thrusting a lit torch to Wang Weixin, “It's time.”
Gazing at the flame that was swaying from being blown by the wind, Wang Weixin extended her hand. The man gripped the torch grip.
According to tradition, heaven's permission must be obtained first before the body that binds the spirit is turned back into ashes. Therefore, before allowing Emperor Weixin to burn the chest, the ritual leader turned his head towards Wang Zhengyi and Wang Chengliu. “Arow shot!”
Everyone looked towards Wang Zhengyi, staring at the man turning towards his sister to ask for an arrow with a letter tied to him. The headless arrow was adjusted by Wang Zhengyi on his bow, then the man pointed it towards the sky.
Suddenly, Huang Miaoling heard a shout in his head, ‘Huang Miaoling, stop the Crown Prince!’
Just as the voice was finishing its speech, Huang Miaoling clearly saw Wang Zhengyi's gaze turning blank. Then, without giving the woman a chance to act the crown prince pointed his arrow in one direction—altar.
“Your Highness, mening—!”
Unable to Huang Miaoling complete his warning, the loud whistling of the split wind had first sounded. It was followed by the sound of flesh being torn apart and the low moaning of a man.
And time also stopped.
No one dared to make a sound, everyone was just stunned on the spot while watching the figure of the majestic man bowing his head down. Looming from his chest, Wang Weixin saw clearly a pointed arrowhead that had been covered in blood.
‘Bagai ... where?’ Wang Weixin was still able to get a beat up. The man tried hard to exert the rest of his energy to spin around with a shunt on the altar. As his eyes met the black bead of his eldest son, Wang Weixin pointed his index finger at the young man, “Wang .. Zhengyi, you—!”
Not yet had the man's words finished, another voice had already reverberated, “Catch the Crown Prince! He has injured His Majesty the Emperor!”
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A/S:
Huang Miaoling, stop the Crown Prince!
