Nine-year-old Wang Guicai has been staying in this nursing home for more than a year.
A year ago, his father, Mr. Wang, died suddenly at home.
He thought his father died and the house was haunted.
However, after the practitioners from the Exorcism Department arrived, he discovered that the person who killed his father was not the lonely ghost who ran in from outside, but his young and beautiful stepmother, Mrs. Wang!
To this day, he still clearly remembers the scene when Mrs. Wang took off her "painted skin" and revealed her ferocious and terrifying true form.
Seeing the two-story giant green ugly monster, Wang Guicai screamed and fainted.
By the time he woke up from his coma, the Painted Skin Ghost had long since disappeared and turned into black ashes.
Two adults from the Exorcist Department stood beside him, looking calm and calm, like gods descending into the mortal world.
Their strength left a deep imprint on Wang Guicai's young mind.
Wang Guicai has cherished a dream since then, looking forward to joining the Daqi Exorcism Department when he grows up, working with the two adults, and becoming a great hero who slays demons.
However, before Wang Guicai grew up, Dahuang had already changed its dynasty.
The Daqi Exorcist Department became the Daxia Exorcist Department.
The clothing styles of the officials of the Exorcism Department are also being changed one after another, from the original black to red. After all, Daxia belongs to the fire virtue.
In addition, Wang Guicai was surprised to learn recently that the famous founding emperor of Great Xia actually spent several years in this almshouse in Yishui!
This caused the orphans in the orphanage to become extremely popular instantly. Many dignitaries came from thousands of miles away, vying to adopt these children with "dragon spirit".
Wang Guicai did not follow these people because he had a large house waiting for him to inherit.
But many people still came to him and asked if the official from the Exorcism Department who sent him to the Almshouse was named "Gu".
Wang Guicai shook his head and responded: "I don't know. He called himself 'Xiao' at the time, but that might just be his pseudonym."
These people failed to get the answers they expected from him. So I left with some disappointment.
As time goes by, Wang Guicai has fewer and fewer companions around him. In the past, they could gather a large group of people to play Cuju in the yard; now, they can only play Touhu in groups of two or three.
Sometimes, he would even squat alone in the grass, staring boredly at a group of busy ants, letting his thoughts drift into the distance.
Under such circumstances, he will anxiously long for when he can grow up quickly, master the vast magical powers of practitioners, and fight side by side with the two adults of the Exorcism Department to fight against ghosts and protect Common people.
"Wang Guicai, aren't you going to the exorcism office today?" On this day, when Wang Guicai was concentrating on counting ants, his good friend Mou Pengwei suddenly appeared behind him and patted him on the shoulder. asked.
In the nursing home, when many children were adopted one after another, Mou Pengwei became one of Wang Guicai's few remaining playmates.
Wang Guicai turned his head and looked at Mou Pengwei with confusion: "Exorcist Department Yamen? I haven't seen ghosts, why should I go there?"
"Today is His Majesty's ascension ceremony. This is a grand event that only happens once in a century. Don't you want to go and watch it?"
"The ascension ceremony... wasn't it held in Luojing? Could it be that we are in Yi Can water be seen? "
"Wang Guicai, it seems that you are really obsessed with observing ants recently and don't care about the outside world. Your Majesty hopes to celebrate this event with all the people of the wilderness. The enthronement has been recognized by the people of the world, so special formations have been installed in the exorcism departments in various counties in Daxia so that all people can watch this grand ceremony remotely."
Hearing Mou Pengwei's words. Wang Guicai was quite surprised by these words.
As far as he knew, in the past, the emperors of the Daqi Dynasty usually just led the civil and military officials to the Yuanqiu on the outskirts of the city to worship God, and then issued an edict to inform the world. In this way, the enthronement ceremony was completed.
For ordinary people, it is naturally impossible to see it and is full of mystery.
Unexpectedly, the emperor of the new dynasty actually changed the traditional practice and took the initiative to reveal the mystery of the enthronement ceremony in front of ordinary people!
…………
Zhengqi Street, which runs through the north and south of Yishui County, is crowded with people at the moment, like a turbulent river, and the several alleys next to it are like tributaries, surging with water every moment. There was a surge of people coming.
Wang Guicai followed Mou Pengwei, like two fish swimming upstream, struggling through the crowds of people, and finally arrived at the gate of the Exorcism Department.
He stood on tiptoes, raised his head, and stared at the clear blue sky above the Exorcist Department with everyone in anticipation.
I saw a dazzling light rising into the sky from the depths of the Yamen, hanging high above the street, and then slowly spreading around, gradually transforming into a huge invisible light curtain.
Soon, a clear dynamic image was displayed on the light curtain -
The round hills in the southern suburbs of Luojing, with clear blue sky and bright sun.
Hundreds of soldiers stood around, their armors shining in the sun, the golden light rolling like waves, dazzling.
The guard of honor, centered on the emperor's jade chariot, slowly drove out from the Luojing city gate and marched towards Yuanqiu.
The vehicles are neatly driven, the battle formations are bright, the flags are flying, and the drums and music are singing.
The "Twelve Levels of Guidance" guard composed of twelve rows of cavalry armed with horizontal knives and bows and arrows led the way at the front.
Following them was a massive drumming band, with big drums, cymbal drums, festival drums, Yubao drums, flutes, flutes, bamboo rafts, and bamboo poles. The sounds of various musical instruments were intertwined. Play a majestic and powerful movement.
Jin Wu’s thin arm holds the umbrella and fan flag high.
The Fengchen team was equipped with strong armor and strong military skills, and closely guarded the surroundings of the jade chariot.
The whole team is powerful and impressive.
When the jade chariot arrived at Yuanqiu, the bells tolled in unison, echoing endlessly.
The young emperor stepped out of the car.
Today he wears a crown with Xuanbiao Zhuli and twelve thorns on the front and back, and a robe embroidered with twelve chapters such as sun, sun, stars, mountains and dragons.
Because Daxia belongs to the fire virtue, this dragon gun is not golden, but has black clothes, leather belt and jade.
When Wang Guicai saw the emperor clearly through the light curtain, his eyes were as big as a bell, his mouth was wide open, and he couldn't help but scream.
“What’s your name?” Mou Pengwei poked him on the arm.
"This...this Your Majesty, I...I have seen him before..." Wang Guicai was excited and stammered, "Last year, he...he came to my house, He asked me my name and covered my eyes with his hands, telling me... telling me not to watch anything inappropriate for children..."
Hearing his words, Mou Pengwei frowned slightly, thinking that he Is my companion confused? When he gets excited, he confuses dreams with reality.
.........
The Circular Mound Altar is divided into three floors. Each floor has nine steps on all four sides. There are white marble railings around it and exquisite carvings of cloud and dragon patterns.
In the past, when the emperors of Daqi and Dachu came here to worship heaven, they had to slaughter livestock, make sacrifices, offer jade and silk, and dance to entertain the gods. The emperor also had to personally kowtow three times and nine times before the main seat of the God of Heaven Tablet, offer honors and offer incense.
But today, Gu Xu has neither sacrifice nor treasure.
With his hands empty, he strode to the top of the Circular Mound Altar with his head held high. With everyone looking up at him, he waved his sleeves lightly, and nine rays of light fell from the sky, hovered in the air, and then turned into nine monsters with ferocious faces——
The Fei with the body of an ox and the tail of a snake, the Nine Infants that spit water and fire, the Feng Xi with the body of a pig and two heads, the Xiu Snake with a green head and black body, the Chaos with long hair and four legs, and the ghost car that is as red as a duck. , the mountain demon with a human face and a monkey body, the ghost mother with python eyebrows and dragon eyes, and the yaksha with green fire coming from his head.
They are all notorious ferocious god-level ghosts in the wilderness.
Seeing the appearance of these ghosts and monsters, ordinary people in front of exorcism departments across the country could not help but feel shocked and dumbfounded.
Especially those who live near ghost lairs and have witnessed their relatives, friends and neighbors being preyed upon by ghosts are greatly shocked.
Because at this moment, these ghosts are either sealed in bottles, tightly bound by iron chains, or have turned into motionless corpses.
Their pitiful and helpless appearance is in sharp contrast to the arrogant and wanton attitude of the past.
With them as a backdrop, the young emperor's figure is like the mountains of Sichuan and Tingzhou, and his bearing is majestic.
If it was in the Daqi or Dachu dynasties, Gu Xu should stand solemnly in front of the tablet of God at this time and respectfully recite the memorial book that begins with "I, the emperor, report to God."
But Daxia is a different era after all.
The ceremony officer came forward and respectfully handed over the "Message to the People".
Gu Xu reached out to take it and unfolded it.
The sound of music from all directions stopped suddenly.
“I heard that the heaven and the earth are eternal, and the country changes, all because of the people’s aspirations and the choices of the people.
“In the days of Da Qi, the emperor was fatuous, the government was corrupt, demons were rampant, and the people were in ruins... …
"With my humble bow, I inherited the foundation of my previous life, and with the trust of the people, I raised an army to fight against the rebellion, and displayed my might... Today, the order has been decided, and all the civil and military officials, officials and common people in the country have all spoken out to exhort me and respect me. As the emperor, he was to rule all the people and control the world...
"He encouraged public opinion and comforted the people with the nine evils such as Jiu Ying, Feng Xi, Xiu Snake, etc. He was born in the south of Luoshui, and named the world Daxia , changing the twenty-fourth year of Tianxing to the first year of Yuanshi...
"..."
His voice echoed around Yuanqiu through the formation, lingering in the sky of Luojing, spreading Every city in the wilderness.
The crowd watching in front of the gate of the Exorcism Department seemed to understand his intention to invite all people in the world to witness this ascension ceremony through his "Message to All Peoples".
This edict is very different from the previous dynasty. It does not mention words such as "God's favor" or "destiny", but emphasizes "the people's will" and "the people's choice".
After he finished speaking, Gu Xu stretched out his hand and pointed lightly towards the sky.
A black space crack appeared between heaven and earth.
It was as if a vast picture scroll was suddenly torn open by an invisible giant hand, revealing an abrupt gap.
Then, the nine fierce gods, pulled by a powerful and invisible force, fell into the bottomless crack one by one, as black as ink, and soon disappeared without a trace. No trace.
They were all exiled into the endless void.
If nothing unexpected happens, they will be torn into pieces in the violent space turbulence and disappear completely from the world.
After the last fierce god disappeared, the crack in space slowly closed, as if it had never existed.
Gu Xu turned around and looked under the altar.
Civil and military officials, monks and soldiers all knelt on the ground and shouted long live in unison.
The sound was like rolling thunder, shaking the heaven and earth, reverberating between rivers and cities, between the blue sky and the loess, and reverberating deep in everyone's soul.
…………
After the sacrificial ceremony, Gu Xu led all the civil and military officials back to the palace, dressed in royal robes and ascended the throne in Fengtian Hall, and all officials saluted and congratulated him again.
The Fengtian Hall is the tallest and majestic building in the imperial city. It has a roof with heavy eaves and a three-story white marble base. It is usually only used for major ceremonies.
Gu Xu still clearly remembers the scene when he entered the palace to receive the knighthood in the spring of this year - at that time, he was not qualified to step into the Fengtian Palace, so he could only go to the Guangzheng Palace at the back and stand in the empty space with fear. Under the throne.
The golden dragons carved on the caissons and pillars were lifelike, and all looked at him with scrutiny. The strong pressure made it difficult for him to stand upright.
Today things have changed and people have changed.
Emperor Tianxing no longer exists.
Gu Xu sat on the golden-lacquered nanmu throne on the nine-layered steps, his eyes as calm as a deep pool.
Everyone stood under the steps, looking up at his figure, with deep awe in their eyes.
The former eldest prince Xiao Shangyuan also stood silently in the crowd.
Now that the new dynasty was established, he was canonized as Yi'anbo.
But this was not because he was a relative of the previous dynasty - due to the hostile relationship between Emperor Ziwei and Taishang Haotian, Gu Xu did not recognize the orthodox status of Da Qi, but instead regarded this The imperial court that acted as a lackey for Supreme Shang Haotian regarded it as a "pseudo dynasty" and did not follow the tradition of canonizing the clans of the previous dynasty.
The reason why Xiao Shangyuan was named Yi'an Bo was actually to reward his "impressive contributions" -
He once "assisted" Gu Xu and Wang Jian to perfect " Zhoutianxingdou Formation" played an important role that cannot be ignored in the process of deciphering Luo Jing's "Dragon Formation".
Xiao Shangyuan had mixed feelings about this.
He lowered his head and carefully glanced at the Tai'a sword, "the most famous weapon in the wilderness" placed on the imperial case with the corner of his eye.
In the past many years, he has exhausted all means and made great efforts to make himself stand out among his brothers and sisters and be recognized by this sword.
He practiced hard, recruited talents, plotted against his brothers, and even risked his life to go to Yishan to try to deal with the powerful Snow Girl...
Looking back now, those years feel like a dream .
The Daqi Dynasty has become a page in history and no longer exists.
The Taia Sword may never have a new owner.
Those princes and princesses who once fought openly and secretly, and intrigued each other, are now in vain, gone with the wind.
Xiao Shangyuan sighed deeply.
Inadvertently, he felt a little lucky that he had surrendered early enough and decisively enough - while other princes and princesses were being demoted to common people, he had gained a title in the new dynasty.
Except for Xiao Wanjun, who is a cabinet minister, he should be the best-performing among the many brothers and sisters.
Perhaps... this can barely be regarded as a victory in competition, right? (End of this chapter)