Thank you to Yuki for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
To ascend the throne is not a matter easily settled with mere cheers. The court’s authority relies on “rituals,” and without established ceremonies, how can legitimacy be demonstrated?
Also because of these repeated suggestions, the preparations for the enthronement ceremony entered the final stage.
“When the emperor ascends to the throne, he should perform the ceremony at the Altar of the Circular Mound.” Wang Pou’s voice was not loud, but his tone was firm and unyielding.
The imperial sacrifices are divided into two ceremonies: the Yuanqiu Sacrifice and the Nanjiao Sacrifice, which can be considered the highest level of national rituals. However, there has always been a debate on whether Yuanqiu and Nanjiao should be separate or combined. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, only the Nanjiao Sacrifice was performed. In the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, it was changed to separate sacrifices. The Yuanqiu worshiped the ancestral god of the Cao clan, the remote ancestor Yu Shun, while the Nanjiao worshiped the god of the imperial heaven and the recent ancestor Cao Cao. It can be said that the Yuanqiu had a higher status than the Nanjiao.
In the Western Jin Dynasty, Emperor Wu changed the system of Cao Wei and combined the Yuanqiu and the Nanjiao Sacrifice into one. Since then, the Yuanqiu and the Nanjiao Sacrifice were no longer separately established.
Now, with Liang Feng’s accession, whether to follow the Han system, Wei system, or Jin system has become a crucial issue. Such a major decision cannot be made by just one or two individuals, so the experienced court historians and ministers were voicing their opinions.
Wang Pou was newly recruited by Liang Feng after he declared himself king. Although his experience was still lacking, his entry into the court held symbolic significance. His father, Wang Yi, died under the sword of Sima Zhao, and he did not serve Western Jin. Despite being thrice summoned and seven times offered positions, he remained hidden and focused on scholarly pursuits. Known for his filial piety, extensive learning, and high reputation, he had ignored the Sima clan for decades. Now, with Liang Feng’s favor, he had become a prominent figure. Wang Pou, being highly regarded by Liang Feng, worked diligently. While he might lack experience in governing the country, his expertise in the study of ancient rituals was unmatched among the court officials.
“Your Majesty has received the divine mandate, and it is only proper to first perform the sacrifice to the ancestral god of the Cao clan. After ascending to the position of the Son of Heaven, you can proceed to the high-ranking ceremony.” Wang Pou’s reasoning was well-founded and articulated.
This discussion also raised another critical question: How would Liang Feng ascend to the throne? The coronation ceremony for Liang Feng would undoubtedly differ from those of other emperors. Without abdication or an imperial edict, he relied solely on the phrase “Heaven’s mandate is conferred.” Such a situation had only occurred once in the early Han Dynasty during the time of Emperor Gaozu. However, the Five Rites of the early Han were incomplete and had no reference value.
Other emperors either ascended to the throne in front of the funeral bier or performed the enthronement in the Temple of Heaven, followed by a Nanjiao sacrifice. Even Cao Pi and Sima Yan had abdication edicts, allowing them to legitimize their reign.
Unfortunately, Liang Feng had none of that. Consequently, the divine will, represented by the significance of the Yuanqiu Sacrifice, became even more crucial. By first performing the ceremony of kindling fire and reporting to Heaven, then ascending to the position of the Son of Heaven, and finally receiving the royal seal and coronation, Liang Feng could demonstrate legitimacy.
As for these matters, Liang Feng was not particularly concerned. In his modern mindset, as a person emphasizing moral conduct and aesthetics, he cared little about his posthumous affairs. However, the choice between these rituals did bring up another issue.
After pondering for a moment, Liang Feng finally stated, “The Nanjiao should share the same altar with the Yuanqiu, with two separate ceremonies. The altar position should be unique.”
This was a tradition left over from later generations, akin to the Temple of Heaven and the Altar of Earth in Beijing. The Temple of Heaven was for the worship of Heaven, while the Altar of Earth was for the worship of the Earth. In other words, the Temple of Heaven was a combination of the Yuanqiu and the Nanjiao, while the Altar of Earth served the purpose of worshiping the Earth. If there was a need for separate buildings, they could be added for the ceremonies of worshiping Heaven and praying for a good harvest. But if there were to be a separate Altar of Nanjiao, it would entail constructing another altar, which seemed unnecessary and formalistic.
This approach was similar to the sacrificial rituals of the Western Jin Dynasty but had its distinctions. The courtiers below engaged in a lively discussion and readily accepted this decision. With the method of worshiping Heaven determined, the next step was to address the ancestral temple.
Since Liang Feng intended to ascend the throne first, the ceremony at the ancestral temple would follow after the enthronement. There would also be the posthumous title for ancestors and rewards for courtiers. The significance of the ancestral temple was no less than that of worshiping Heaven.
After a thorough discussion, it was ultimately decided to posthumously honor the Three Zhao and Three Mu, six generations of ancestors. Simultaneously, Liang Feng’s deceased wife, Lady He, would be posthumously honored as the Empress and included in the ancestral temple. The intention behind this decision was also quite clear.
“The Book of Rites: The System of Kings” states: “The Son of Heaven has seven ancestral temples, three dedicated to the Three Bright Ancestors and three to the Three Cultivated Ancestors, in addition to the ancestral temple for the Great Ancestor, totaling seven. Princes have five ancestral temples, two for the Two Bright Ancestors and two for the Two Cultivated Ancestors, along with the ancestral temple for the Great Ancestor, totaling five. The temples for high officials have one each for the Bright and Cultivated Ancestors, along with the ancestral temple for the Great Ancestor, totaling three. Scholars have one ancestral temple and common people perform sacrifices at their resting places.”
In other words, the Son of Heaven’s ancestral temple can be used to worship seven ancestors. Among them, six are ordinary ancestors, and one is the great ancestor who laid the foundation. Honoring the Three Bright and Three Cultivated Ancestors and enshrining the wife’s spirit in the ancestral temple to emphasize the idea of “wife equals harmony.” While the emperor is alive, he cannot enter the ancestral temple, so the position is reserved for the empress. After waiting for a hundred years, they can be included in the ancestral temple.
With this arrangement, it implies that after Liang Feng’s death, the Taizu would be posthumously honored. Taizu was the one who laid the foundation of the dynasty and was not subject to the constraints of posthumous honors, relocations, or temple destruction. This change also made the Zhao Dynasty’s ancestral temple system more orthodox than Cao Wei, which went from five ancestral temples to seven, and the Jin Dynasty, which had no Taizu in the temple, and the brothers all entered the temple.
Liang Feng had no objections to this. Ancestral temples were left for future generations to brainstorm and fool around with. There were countless tricks, and simply lacking a legitimate son or a successor by adoption could lead to endless tricks. In his view, it might be better to study it carefully after becoming emperor and see if it was possible to allow meritorious officials to be included in the Taizu Temple.
With the two most important matters settled, the next step was to decide on the reign title after the enthronement. Liang Feng did not hesitate this time and directly said, “Let it be changed to ‘Kaiming.'”
He couldn’t be capricious and arbitrarily choose a national title. However, he could retain a bit of nostalgia, which was not unreasonable. This reign title was not only a remembrance of the past but also an expectation for the future. Would the phrase “Kaiming rule” be left behind in the future?
Everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Liang Feng personally wrote the enthronement edict, conferred titles on the persuading meritorious officials, and established the system of the Three Departments and Six Ministries.
Time flew by.
The water clock emitted a ticking sound, and Liang Feng opened his eyes. Was it time?
As if hearing the sound behind the curtain, someone by the bedside said, “Your Majesty, are you ready to get up?”
Liang Feng found the voice quite familiar. Back then, this woman was rescued from the mountain stronghold and entered the Liang’s residence, becoming his maidservant. During the shortage of human resources, she served as a confidential secretary.
However, nowadays, she no longer goes by Cang Lan but has returned to her original surname. Who would have thought that she was from the Guo family’s collateral branch? Nevertheless, despite returning to her original surname, she had not returned to her ancestral home. Leaving Shangdang, she came to Luoyang and became a palace maid. Along with Cai Wei, she managed internal affairs in the palace.
With a fleeting thought, Liang Feng quickly regained his composure and rose from the bed. Following this movement, seven or eight palace maids entered the room, offering water and towels, and assisting with washing and dressing.
No matter how much he disliked using maidservants, an emperor could not afford to lack attendants. Early on, the inner court officials had selected three hundred young men from respectable families to serve as palace attendants. Compared to the grand gesture of Jin Wu Di adding five thousand palace attendants at once, this number was negligible. However, Liang Feng still found it excessive. After all, was the deep palace a place where a normal person should stay?
Unfortunately, from today onward, he would become the most abnormal one.
After washing up, a set of court robes was laid out in front of him. Nine dragons, nine ranks of crowns. This was the attire of kings and dukes. When the ceremony at the Yuanqiu concluded, the nine would become twelve. The robe was black on top and red below, with three front panels and four back panels. The garment was painted and the skirt embroidered, depicting the images of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, magnificent insects, algae, fire, powdered rice, and fu, symbols of heaven’s blessings. This was the auspicious attire for the Son of Heaven.
There was a buzzing sound in his mind as Liang Feng mechanically spread his arms and dressed neatly under the service of palace attendants. Then the ritual official entered to report the schedule once again.
First, to the South to offer sacrifices at the Yuanqiu and announce to the heavens. Then, to the east of the Altar in the suburbs, facing south to set up the altar, wear the court robes and imperial seal, and proclaim himself emperor amidst the praises of the officials. After that, to the Tai Temple with the registry, posthumously honor the Three Bright and Three Cultivated Ancestors and the late emperor, confer titles and rewards. Finally, enter the Luoyang Palace, ascend the Taiji Hall, take the imperial seat, receive congratulations from the officials, establish the crown prince, and hold the feast of the beginning of the reign.
Every step involved a multitude of rituals that needed to be meticulously executed. For the grand ceremony, Liang Feng did not know how much mental energy he had expended to make everything second nature. However, the more solemn the faces of the ritual officials, the stronger the sense of unreality in his heart.
This was not a graduation ceremony or any commendation assembly. It was the process of transforming from a person into the Son of Heaven.
Guardians of the hall cleared the way, accompanied by courtiers, Liang Feng walked out of the grand hall and into the courtyard. The carriage was ready, with the yellow canopy and left banners, and horses in the front. This golden-rooted carriage was exclusively used by emperors. However, Liang Feng’s gaze did not linger on the splendid carriage but fell directly on the person in front of it.
In the ceremonial procession of the Son of Heaven, the Grand Charioteer served as the charioteer, and the Grand General participated in the ride. Although he had not formally ascended the throne, Liang Feng could now use the golden-rooted carriage, and naturally, he had to find someone to accompany him.
That person was none other than Yiyan.
Just a few days ago, Yiyan was appointed as the Chariot and Cavalry General. This rank was only below the Grand General and the Cavalry General, ranking above the highest officials or even on par with the Three Excellencies. He was in charge of various important tasks such as garrisoning the borders, defending the capital, and leading campaigns against rebellions. Since the situation in Jiangdong was not yet settled, excessive rewards were inappropriate. However, this position still garnered a lot of criticism. This was because during the Han Dynasty, the Chariot and Cavalry General position was often held by relatives of the imperial family.
Liang Feng didn’t care about all that. The management of the palace restrictions could be delegated to others, but when it came to the Six Armies of the Son of Heaven, only this person could command!
Currently, there was no appointed Grand General in the court, and Yiyan was the foremost military commander. In this grand ceremony, he could also join the imperial carriage procession.
Wearing martial attire and a plume on his head, that person, clad in auspicious attire, stood out from his usual appearance in bright armor. However, his gray-blue eyes still shone brightly, just like in the past.
“Your Majesty, please ascend the carriage.”
Those eyes seemed to soothe the restlessness in Liang Feng’s heart. Without uttering a word, he mounted the imperial carriage. The wheels rolled, and they entered the sea of ceremonial processions.
Trumpets sounded, umbrellas swayed, shields, swords, crossbows, exotic birds, and ceremonial axes—countless palace guards held ritual implements, surrounding the imperial carriage. Officials rode in carriages or on horseback, accompanying the procession.
This was not yet the true imperial procession, but it already obscured the sky! In every direction, there was no gap in the dense ceremonial array. Along the royal road, it unfolded, stretching all the way to the horizon.
Figures moved about, wheels turned, creating an intoxicating atmosphere. Beads of sweat appeared on Liang Feng’s back, and he clenched his palms tightly. The music and the fluttering banners seemed to enchant the mind. After an unknown duration, the newly erected altar at the South Suburb finally appeared in their view.
With eight terraces, and a central altar sealed with earth, representing heaven and earth, the Five Emperors presided over it. The sun was in the east, the moon in the west, guarding the 1,514 deities.
This was the place for the Nanjiao Sacrifice and the altar for the Yuanqiu Sacrifice. It was also the sole location for the Son of Heaven to offer sacrifices to the heavens.
The ceremonial procession and the carriage procession gradually came to a halt. However, Liang Feng seemed as if he were rooted to the carriage. It was only when a voice sounded beside him.
“Your Majesty, please ascend the altar.”
Liang Feng glanced down to see Yiyan extending his hand from below the carriage.
Was this in line with etiquette? Liang Feng didn’t think much and placed his hand in the other’s palm. In that hand, there was also sweat, hot and sticky, as if wanting to glue his hand onto it.
Half-supporting and half-leaning, he descended from the carriage and slowly walked through the ceremonial array, crossing over the courtiers, and stood at the foot of the altar.
That hand, seeming reluctant to part, gently squeezed his hand and withdrew.
The music resumed, but this time, Liang Feng’s heart calmed down. No more confusion, no more doubts; he gazed steadily at the solitary path leading to the heavens.
Grasping the warmth left in the palm of his hand, he lifted his foot and stepped onto the stairs.
—Main text complete—
Author’s note:
This time it’s truly the “main text complete.” Writing up to this point, I’m filled with countless emotions. More than a year of arduous journey, dealing with illness and injuries in the latter half—it’s like reaching the finish line. For someone not very familiar with the Wei and Jin history, this has been an incredibly challenging trip.
Fortunately, it’s finally finished.
Thanks to everyone for the continuous encouragement and tolerance. If not for all of you, I might have given up on the way. I’m also grateful that I gathered the courage to write this book. Although it required a lot of brainstorming, it was indeed a wonderfully strange journey.
I hope this work brings you the same joy.
Also, countless comments and tips. I haven’t replied or made a thank-you list, but every single one is etched in my heart. Thank you all; having angels like you is truly fortunate.
Next, there will be extras about various events after the ascension. Politics, military campaigns, daily life, and some sweet moments XD. Of course, there will also be some reflections on the future. But first, I need to take care of my health and take a break outside. I estimate that the extras won’t be ready until July.
Don’t forget to come back and check it out then! Love you all =3=
