Free Web NovelChapter 1608: Chapter 8: The Son of Heaven Has Not Yet Opened The Gate of Fortune_2
At this moment, Jiang Wang and Jiang Wuyou stood to the right of the Son of Heaven. Further to the right was Xiu Yuan, the Commander of the Prisoner Electric Army, standing before his seat.
Moving forward from Xiu Yuan was Jiang Wuji, the Crown Princess Consort, and the Queen of Daqi, standing beside the coffin.
Across from the Queen, on the other side of the coffin, were the Crown Prince, Jiang Wuhua, and the Fourteenth Prince, Jiang Wuyong. One appeared distraught, and the other’s tears had not yet dried. Further behind them, in front of a row of seats, stood Cao Jie and Chen Fu.
Everyone remained silent, waiting for the Son of Heaven to say something or do something.
The Son of Heaven mourns his minister, and a father mourns his son. Only the coffin will never respond.
Jiang Wang had not seen Emperor Qi for the first time, yet he still felt the same as his first encounter, only sensing the unfathomable majesty.
The deeper his cultivation, the higher his rank, the more he saw, the further he thought... the more he could appreciate the unfathomable strength of Emperor Qi.
With a flip of his hand, he could summon clouds; with another, bring down rain. The entire Great Qi Empire depended on him, his thoughts could stir the entire world.
Dressed in mourning clothes today, he might just be a father who lost a beloved son, but who could ignore his identity as Emperor?
In and around this mourning hall, who dared not to be sad, who dared not to be in pain, who dared to laugh?
But were they all truly heartbroken?
Is it not because the Son of Heaven is sad that the world is sad?
As he stood in that supreme position, how much mist must he pierce to see into people’s hearts?
Emperor Qi quietly looked at the coffin for a while, then finally moved his gaze.
He scanned the entire mourning hall from left to right, as if surveying mountains and rivers. Everyone touched by his gaze was restless.
"Your Majesty." The Queen came forward, holding his arm, and said softly, "Come burn incense for Wuqi, he must have waited for you for a long time."
Emperor Qi did not speak, allowing the Queen to guide him forward.
Under the white mourning attire, his body was like a mountain.
Speaking of which, Jiang Wang had never looked closely at the Son of Heaven’s face until now, when he only lowered his eyes to see the Son of Heaven’s left hand resting on Jiang Wuqi’s coffin.
This was a hand with pronounced joints, grasping the world, yet at this moment, it lightly rested on the edge of the coffin several times, finally passing it to reach the offering table.
The Queen carefully lit three sticks of incense over the golden candle flame before handing them to the Son of Heaven.
The Son of Heaven offered the three sticks of incense, then fell silent again.
This silence was like a great mountain, pressing heavily on everyone’s hearts.
The entire Long Life Palace gradually came to a stop.
It seemed as if this world had reached a moment of voicelessness.
All sounds were hushed, even those whispering no longer were.
Why was the Son of Heaven silent?
No one knew how long had passed.
Emperor Qi turned around, his back facing the offering table, facing Jiang Wuqi’s coffin, as well as everyone inside and outside the mourning hall.
"Jiang Qingyang." He suddenly spoke.
Jiang Wang’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stepped forward, "I am here."
The Son of Heaven’s voice fell: "Today’s funeral, there is a proper time for ceremony. The tables outside are not yet filled, yet you have come. Coming so early, is it to show off to me? Are you seeking to be a sycophantic minister?"
This statement was light, yet heavy.
Like a towering mountain pressing down!
The Queen understood immediately.
The Son of Heaven was dissatisfied with what happened in the mourning hall today, even if what happened was merely an undercurrent! ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
The statement was directed at Jiang Qingyang, but how could it not also refer to the various behaviors of the royal family before Jiang Wuqi’s coffin?
The Queen understood, the Crown Prince understood, Jiang Wuji understood, Jiang Wuyou also understood.
But regardless of whom the Son of Heaven intended to rebuke, for the named Jiang Wang, it was like a mountain pressing on top, the sky falling and the earth caving in. It was the majesty of the Son of Heaven resting upon one. It was the fury of the four seas engulfing one person.
He couldn’t help but be terrified!
Jiang Wuyou pondered his words, about to speak, when he suddenly saw a white figure move beside him.
Still wearing mourning clothes, Jiang Wang took another step forward, turned to face the Son of Heaven across Jiang Wuqi’s coffin.
"Please retract those words, Your Majesty!" he said as such.
The inscrutable gaze of the Son of Heaven fell.
Jiang Wang bore the indescribable weight, yet stood upright, unwavering.
Within the mourning hall, he declared, "I believe that the feelings of mourning and the heart of sacrifice exist within a thought, and have no concern with timing. The Son of Heaven is wise and mighty, never would he open the door to sycophants; hence how could there be sycophantic ministers? Every inch of my official rank and every stipend I earn are obtained by shedding blood for Daqi. How can the Son of Heaven belittle me with the word ’sycophancy’? I rose early today, thus I came early, nothing more. I truly was unaware that mourning the Eleventh Prince also required keeping track of time!"
He cupped his hands and bowed, "These words of Your Majesty wound me deeply. I cannot bear, nor am I willing to bear! Please take them back!"
The entire room fell silent.
Cao Jie looked at the upright genius, opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.
How spirited Jiang Qingyang was, daring to directly rebuke the Son of Heaven, and ask him to retract his words!
In truth, he saw it clearly. The reason the Son of Heaven named Jiang Qingyang was that if he intended to give a warning today, Jiang Qingyang was the best choice.
At this moment, with the Longevity Palace Master now deceased, no matter which prince or princess the Son of Heaven hinted at, it would inevitably be perceived as a signal, directly affecting the succession struggle.
Figures like himself and Chen Fu, as eminent officials of the Empire, were also not easy targets for the Son of Heaven to take lightly, especially Xiu Yuan, who had just cleared his name and ended his house arrest, his long-time friend was at this moment being executed by slow slicing.
If the Son of Heaven had questioned Xiu Yuan in the same way, he might have had no choice but to commit suicide on the spot.
Thus, questioning Jiang Qingyang in this manner was precisely because the Son of Heaven held high regard for Jiang Wang, and there was an undertone of closeness. This was nothing less than a sign of the Emperor’s favor.
