fynovel Chapter 886 features the abbot of Qingxu Temple and the abbot of Jingang Temple!
Chapter 886 features the abbot of Qingxu Temple and the abbot of Jingang Temple!
Amidst the wisps of dust, a graceful figure in red rushed into the courtyard.
She wore a long, golden-red dress with a hemline that reached the horizon, adorned with numerous decorations, and a phoenix crown on her head; it was clear that she had been carefully and meticulously dressed.
As soon as Ji Mingyue rushed into the courtyard, she saw Ji Mingyuan lying lifeless on the ground, his wine cup rolling to the side, spilling amber wine all over the ground.
Her steps abruptly halted, the color draining from her face instantly, and her pupils contracting violently.
"Fifth...Fifth Brother..."
Ji Mingyue's voice trembled, almost out of tune.
She rushed to Ji Mingyuan's side and reached out to check his breath, only to find it ice-cold and completely still.
"Fifth Brother!" Her tone became calm as she grabbed Ji Mingyuan's shoulder and shook him.
Ji Mingyuan's body was still warm, but he had no life left.
At this moment, Ji Mingyuan's eyes were closed, his face was ashen, and there was still a trace of wine stain left on the corner of his mouth, as well as a smile that seemed both mocking and relieved.
The black-clad swordsman stood quietly to the side, watching Ji Mingyue's distraught appearance. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but it quickly returned to calm. His grip on his sword tightened slightly, but he ultimately remained silent.
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
After a long while.
Ji Mingyue felt the corpse in her hands gradually getting cold, and slowly raised her head to look at the black-clad swordsman beside her.
"Does this look like a myna bird?"
Although the voice was questioning, the tone contained an element of certainty.
The swordsman in black remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Highness, the Emperor's will cannot be defied. The Fifth Prince... drank this cup of wine willingly."
"I knew it!" Ji Mingyue sighed softly.
To say that his relationship with Ji Mingyuan was not particularly good is an understatement.
They only had some contact when she was a child, and as they grew older, the bond between the siblings became increasingly distant.
However, following the palace turmoil of the past few days, only two of her brothers remained.
Her half-brother, the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao, the soon-to-be new emperor, and the Fifth Prince Ji Mingyuan.
On this auspicious day of his coronation, his elder brother Ji Minghao took his fifth brother's life with a cup of poisoned wine.
At that moment, a flood of memories from the past flashed through her mind.
The brother she remembered was gentle, mild-mannered, and kind, but she had never seen him so ruthless.
Thinking of this, Ji Mingyue's heart trembled.
Then a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Imperial power...the throne..."
"Is this what imperial power is? Brotherly affection is nothing but a joke! It has to be a fight to the death!"
Then, Ji Mingyue put her hand down on Ji Mingyuan's shoulder and slowly stood up.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and a sense of sadness rose in my heart for no apparent reason.
She didn't know where this sadness came from or where it originated.
But deep down, I felt such sorrow.
She knew that although Ji Mingyuan was her brother, his death had not moved her as much as it had, nor had it caused her uncontrollable grief that welled up from the bottom of her heart.
Standing in the courtyard.
Her body convulsed, and large tears fell to the ground.
His already thin body appeared broken and fragmented.
Tears silently streamed down her face, dripping onto her red dress and spreading out dark watermarks.
The wind blew outside, swirling up the fallen leaves and making a rustling sound, which only made the courtyard seem even more deathly silent.
Ji Mingyue slowly raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, but new tears welled up again.
"Princess, please take care of yourself!" said the black-clad swordsman beside her.
"Take care of yourself!" Ji Mingyue gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Then, she slowly raised her head, her eyes still glistening with tears, but now filled with a cold clarity.
She looked at the swordsman in black and said calmly, "Please tell Eighth Brother—no, tell His Majesty—that I will personally handle Fifth Brother's funeral. Let him rest in peace as Emperor."
The swordsman in black bowed slightly: "Yes."
Ji Mingyue said no more, took one last look at Ji Mingyuan's gradually stiffening body on the ground, and turned to walk out of the courtyard step by step.
The red dress dragged on the ground, making a rustling sound on the bricks and stones. Her back was straight, unusually thin, and she exuded a sense of loneliness.
A grand and imposing compound, where imperial power is ruthless.
At that moment, she truly understood.
She walked through the long palace corridor toward the Chengtian Hall.
The distant sounds of ceremonial music drifted over, solemn and joyous, seemingly a world apart from her current state of mind.
the other side.
The enthronement ceremony was nearing its end in front of the Chengtian Hall.
Ji Minghao sat on the dragon throne, receiving the congratulations of all the officials, changed the era name to "Jinghe", and granted a general amnesty.
Following this was the ceremony of the emperor and empress's wedding.
Wearing a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, Shen Mengyun, supported by a female official, slowly walked into the square and headed towards Chengtian Hall.
At this moment, the solemn atmosphere surrounding the new emperor's ascension to the throne in front of the Chengtian Hall had not yet completely dissipated, but the ceremonial music had already quietly changed its tune.
The solemn sounds of the chime bells and stone chimes gradually faded away, and the strings and pipes played a joyful and festive melody.
"At the auspicious second quarter of an hour, the imperial wedding ceremony begins—"
As Xie Xun, the Minister of Rites, spoke again.
The officials stood solemnly again, but the atmosphere was completely different from before.
The enthronement ceremony is a major national event, solemn and dignified, and everyone is serious and unsmiling.
However, the wedding of the emperor and empress was different. It was a royal celebration, and although it was grand, it was also noisy and lively.
Jiang Ning stood before the seat, his gaze calmly fixed on the palace path to the side of Chengtian Hall.
There, a grand procession was slowly approaching.
Thirty-six maids dressed in crimson palace attire, carrying palace lanterns, feather fans, incense burners, and other items, stood in two rows, their steps light and graceful, their bearing elegant and poised.
Following them were eight eunuchs carrying a golden and red phoenix palanquin. The palanquin was decorated with a phoenix with outstretched wings, and the tassels hanging down swayed gently as they moved, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight, making it exceptionally luxurious.
Following the imperial carriage were two rows of elite imperial guards clad in gleaming armor, reflecting the sunlight, their steps perfectly synchronized.
The ceremonial procession slowly marched to the front of Chengtian Hall and stopped in the center of the white marble square.
The phoenix palanquin landed.
Two female officials stepped forward and gently lifted the curtain of the carriage.
Then, a slender, white hand reached out from the palanquin and rested on the female official's arm.
The next moment, a figure slowly stepped out of the palanquin.
Shen Mengyun was wearing a bright red phoenix robe today, with a pattern of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix embroidered in gold thread. Every feather was lifelike, and the craftsmanship was superb.
At this moment, the patterns on her robe seemed to take flight with her movements.
She wore a jade belt around her waist with long tassels hanging down.
She wore a nine-phoenix crown on her head, with a pearl in the phoenix's beak. The hanging beaded curtain covered her face, but it could not hide her graceful figure and the noble demeanor she exuded.
She stood there, her face unseen, yet she possessed an air of dignified grace befitting an empress.
All eyes of the officials were on her, filled with amazement, envy, and deep awe.
They all knew that this empress was Shen Xiao's beloved daughter.
This means that General Shen Xiao is standing behind the empress.
And who exactly is Shen Xiao?
He held supreme command of the military and his martial arts skills reached their peak, making him an absolute powerhouse.
Shen Xiao stood before the throne, watching his daughter walk step by step towards Chengtian Hall, his eyes filled with satisfaction. The reason he had stood on Ji Minghao's side before was because of his beloved daughter.
Now, his beloved daughter's wish has come true, and Ji Minghao has also ascended the throne.
At this moment, supported by a female official, Shen Mengyun steadily stepped onto the steps leading to Chengtian Hall.
One step, two steps, three steps.
The red carpet-covered steps seemed endless, yet her heartbeat remained remarkably steady.
At that moment, countless images flashed through her mind.
Her heroic figure as a child practicing martial arts in the mansion, her shyness when she first met Ji Minghao, and her worry when she learned that he would compete for the throne.
The despair of being on the brink of life and death in Chengqian Palace the day before yesterday, and Jiang Ning's figure that turned the tide like a divine intervention.
Ultimately, all these images come to an end at this moment.
She raised her head and looked through the beaded curtain at the figure sitting upright on the dragon throne inside the Chengtian Hall.
She knew that she had finally succeeded, that her life was finally complete.
She married the man she was meant to marry and was about to ascend to the throne as Empress, the mother of the nation.
Ji Minghao also achieved his dream, reaching the pinnacle and sitting on the throne of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Ji Minghao watched as Shen Mengyun walked towards him, then rose from the dragon throne and slowly descended the nine steps to greet her at the palace gate.
The two looked into each other's eyes.
Separated by the beaded curtain and the crown, neither of them could see the other's expression, but they nodded to each other as if they were of one mind.
"Your Majesty, I, Shen Mengyun, pay my respects." Shen Mengyun bowed gracefully, her voice clear and melodious, like the tinkling of a mountain spring, echoing clearly in the quiet square.
Ji Minghao stepped forward and gestured for her to rise, saying, "Your Majesty, please rise."
His voice came through the crown, less gentle than usual, and more majestic like an emperor.
It seems that in just a few days, Ji Minghao has already adapted to his new identity.
Every move and every word began to reveal the majesty of an emperor.
Especially at this moment, his demeanor was truly extraordinary.
He is the current emperor, the ruler of Great Xia, and the unparalleled figure who will rule the thirty-six prefectures of the nine provinces of Great Xia in the future, wielding immense power.
Shen Mengyun stood up and gently placed her hand on Ji Minghao's outstretched palm.
The moment their hands clasped, the music in the square suddenly soared, with chimes ringing out and strings playing, bringing the festive atmosphere to its peak.
"The ceremony is complete!"
Xie Xun announced loudly, his voice carrying a hint of relief.
All the officials bowed in unison: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The roar of mountains and seas rose again, the sound waves were deafening, and the sound spread throughout the palace and even reached the streets outside the palace.
Ji Minghao took Shen Mengyun's hand and turned to slowly walk towards the dragon throne.
The two walked side by side, their red robes and dragon robes reflecting each other, creating a scene worthy of being recorded in history amidst the dazzling lights inside the Chengtian Hall and the sunlight pouring in from outside.
Jiang Ning watched this scene unfold.
"They're a good match," he thought to himself.
“They really are a perfect match!” Su Qingying chimed in, then added, “Seeing this scene, I even want to wear a bright red wedding dress like this.”
Jiang Ning looked at Su Qingying, who was a head shorter than him, and couldn't help but smile.
"The Imperial Advisor is wearing a bright red wedding dress, but who is the groom in her mind?"
Upon hearing this, Su Qingying glanced at him, then silently looked away, remaining silent.
At the same time, Ji Minghao and Shen Mengyun walked to the dragon throne, but instead of sitting together, they turned to face the square.
According to the established etiquette, the next step would be for the emperor and empress to receive the congratulations of the officials, followed by a banquet to celebrate together with the courtiers.
however--
Just as Xie Xun was about to speak and announce the next ceremony, a sudden change occurred.
Without warning, the sky above the square split into two.
Half of it was crystal clear, with clouds naturally gathering and condensing into clusters of blue lotuses, slowly rotating and scattering their clear light.
Half of the space was filled with golden light, and the sound of Buddhist chants could be heard. Countless golden lotus phantoms bloomed in the void, and the lotus hearts reflected the Buddha's seal as they slowly drifted down.
The two auras did not oppress the crowd; instead, they were like a gentle spring breeze, nourishing everything silently, yet they made all the martial artists present suddenly feel a chill.
That was the natural awe that arose from the absolute difference between the level of life and the realm of martial arts!
"Amitabha."
A Buddhist chant seemed to come from beyond the heavens, and it seemed to resonate directly in the hearts of everyone.
On the east side of the square, the void rippled like a water curtain, and three figures stepped out from it.
The leader was an old monk wearing a kasaya, with a gaunt face and downcast eyes. He held a string of ancient prayer beads in his hand. With each step he took, a golden lotus phantom appeared under his feet, supporting him as he slowly moved forward.
Two young monks followed behind him.
A man in a snow-white robe, with red lips and white teeth, had eyes as clear as glass.
The other man was as tall and strong as a mountain, with bulging muscles, and every step he took caused the ground to tremble slightly.
It was the abbot of Vajra Temple and the Buddhist disciple Jin Chan who burned the lamp!
The old monk did not deliberately release his aura, but within three zhang of him, the air seemed to solidify into golden amber, and light passing through it bent on its own, turning into soft rays of Buddhist light, making him look like an ancient Buddha who had stepped out of a mural.
Wherever his gaze fell, all the distracting thoughts in everyone's minds vanished, leaving only peace and tranquility; even their breathing slowed involuntarily.
Almost at the same moment.
On the western sky, the clouds parted naturally, and a gray figure seemed to emerge from the void like mist.
The newcomer had white hair and beard, but his face was as rosy as a baby's. He wore a simple gray robe, held a white jade whisk, and exuded a Taoist aura that blended with the natural world.
He did not step into the air, but stood on a slowly rotating yin-yang symbol. The symbol rotated like a millstone, with yin and yang energies constantly regenerating. Wherever it passed, broken dust spontaneously reformed, and withered grass was revitalized.
This person is none other than the abbot of Qingxu Temple!
A faint smile played on his lips, his gaze clear as an ancient well. When he looked at Jiang Ning in front of Chengtian Hall, a faint hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, as if he were looking at a masterpiece of nature.
The two people, one to the east and one to the west, did not intentionally oppose each other, but naturally divided the atmosphere on both sides of the square.
The interplay of Buddhist light and Taoist charm, along with the interplay of blue and golden lotuses, imbued the originally solemn and joyous ceremony with a transcendent and mystical aura.
All the civil and military officials present, including powerful figures like Shen Xiao and Su Qingying, were shaken to their core.
They all recognized the two men.
Abbot Kuhai of Vajra Temple.
A divine technique known as the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill.
Looking across the world, apart from that Martial Saint who transcends worldly affairs, no one can break through his defenses.
At the same time, he possessed the six great powers of Buddhism and mastered the four supernatural powers.
It possesses boundless supernatural powers, and is even said to be unparalleled throughout the ages.
It can be said that the abbot of Vajra Temple, even without making a move, is in an invincible position against the second strongest person in the world.
Another abbot of Qingxu Temple had the Taoist name Qingxu!
Tai Chi Yin and Yang, unparalleled in the world.
The other methods are even more mysterious.
Both of them are supreme martial arts masters who stand at the pinnacle of martial arts, ranking alongside Wang Jixuan as the "second strongest in the world".
Previously, he was one of the five strongest people in the world, collectively known as the second strongest.
They usually live apart from the world and rarely appear in public for decades, but today they have made a joint appearance at the new emperor's enthronement ceremony!
Xie Xun swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He already had a premonition that something bad was going to happen today.
At the same time, Ji Minghao gripped Shen Mengyun's hand tightly, his gaze beneath his crown extremely solemn.
He knew that these two people were definitely not there to offer their congratulations.
At this moment, Jiang Ning slowly raised his eyes, calmly meeting the two gazes directed at him. (End of Chapter)