Chapter 550 - 553: Moving the Capital
Hua Manman froze.
As far as she knew, Alien Kings in history rarely met a good end.
Li Ji slowly recounted the events of that year.
"In the year the current Saint ascended the throne, a massive earthquake struck the Southwest, causing countless deaths and injuries."
"Rumors spread among the common people that the Saint was unfit to rule, that his lack of virtue had provoked the wrath of the heavens and brought down this calamity."
"At the time, the Saint had just taken the throne, and his position was not yet secure."
"The court was in turmoil with frequent personnel changes, and the Saint was too preoccupied to issue a decree in time to comfort the disaster victims."
"The people were left to suffer—the injured untreated, the dead unburied. No one took charge, and cries of misery filled the land."
"A plague broke out soon after, spreading rapidly and turning nearly the entire Southwest into a living hell."
"Public resentment boiled over. Someone raised the banner of rebellion, and people immediately flocked to their cause."
"It was the largest internal conflict since the founding of the Great Zhou."
"At the critical moment, your grandfather volunteered to lead the troops. With ruthless efficiency, he crushed the rebel forces."
"Every last one of the rebels was slaughtered. Not a single one was left alive."
"Afterward, to reward your grandfather for his service, the Saint made an exception and enfeoffed him as a Prince."
"He was granted the title ’Yu,’ signifying that he would enjoy honor for the rest of his life."
Hua Manman’s heart felt heavy after hearing the story.
’Those rebels were just a group of poor, desperate people with nowhere else to turn.’
’If the court had given them even a sliver of hope, they would never have resorted to rebellion.’
"Why not offer them amnesty?"
Li Ji said, "Because your grandfather believed they were nothing more than a disorganized mob."
"Even if he had offered them amnesty, it would have brought no benefit to the court."
"On the contrary, it would have wasted a great deal of food to support such a large group of useless people."
"It was better to just kill them all and be done with it."
"It also served as a warning to the world that the court’s authority was not to be challenged."
"His methods happened to align perfectly with the Saint’s."
"At the time, the Saint was besieged on all sides and needed to use ruthless measures to intimidate the populace."
"The massacre of the rebels served as a perfect example to deter others."
Hua Manman was speechless.
She couldn’t say the Emperor and Prince Yu were wrong, because from their perspective, it was the most direct and effective course of action.
’To those in power, the common people are merely ants.’
’To them, there is no difference between a hundred dead ants and ten thousand dead ants.’
’Only those living at the bottom know they are not ants. They are human, too.’
Li Xun noticed that his mother was in low spirits.
He picked up a piece of candied fruit and held it to her lips.
"Mother, eat this. It’s very sweet."
When he was unhappy, he liked to eat something sweet.
As long as there was a sweet taste in his mouth, his heart seemed to feel a little better, too.
Hua Manman looked down and met the child’s clear, bright eyes.
His eyes were filled with concern.
A warmth spread through Hua Manman’s heart, and much of the gloom that had settled there dissipated.
She took the candied fruit and said with a smile,
"Thank you."
「The next day.」
Because today was the momentous day of moving the capital, officials began leaving their homes before dawn, heading for the city gate in succession.
Hua Manman was forced to wake up bright and early.
She changed into the crown robe that signified her status as the Heir of Prince Yu.
Just as she stepped out of the Yu Royal Mansion, she saw Li Xun standing by a carriage.
Li Xun was dressed in a crimson crown robe today, which made his small face look even more porcelain-white, like a beautiful, delicate porcelain doll.
He waved to his mother, his smile as bright as the sun.
Hua Manman walked over. "What are you doing here? Where’s your father?"
Li Xun replied, "Last night, someone from the palace came to inform Father that the Saint has fallen gravely ill again."
"Father left for the Imperial Palace in the middle of the night and hasn’t returned."
"This morning, he sent someone with a message for me."
"He said he’ll be leaving directly from the Imperial Palace today and told me to travel with you."
Hua Manman picked him up and settled him into the carriage.
The carriage wheels began to turn slowly, rolling over the bluestone-paved road and heading toward the city gate.
On the way, Hua Manman asked Li Xun if the Saint’s condition was very serious.
Li Xun pouted, looking quite disdainful.
"The Saint falls ’ill’ every other day. Each time they say he’s gravely ill and on the verge of death, but he’s always fine. The Saint is just lying."
Hua Manman quickly covered his mouth and warned in a low voice,
"You can’t say such things. If anyone else heard you, you’d be finished."
Li Xun nodded obediently, indicating that he understood.
Only then did Hua Manman remove her hand.
Li Xun smiled slyly. "Don’t worry, Mother. I only say these things to you."
Many carriages were moving through the streets, each followed by numerous servants. They even ran into traffic jams on narrower roads.
With all the stopping and starting, it took them twice as long as usual to reach the city gate.
Fortunately, Hua Manman and he had left early.
If they had left any later, they would surely have been late.
The civil and military officials and the nobles had already gathered near the city gate.
As soon as the carriages of the Empress Dowager and the Regent King appeared, the grand procession began its slow journey toward Tianjing.
Hua Manman peered out the carriage window and saw that the road ahead was a vast, endless procession.
From a distance, it looked like a long, winding dragon—a truly magnificent sight.
’This scene will definitely be recorded in the annals of history,’ Hua Manman thought. ’A thousand years from now, in history class, this event will probably be a key topic on students’ exams.’
The thought that she was a participant in this major historical event made her feel a surge of excitement.
’So this is what it feels like to witness history in the making!’
Inside the Celestial Capital, officials had long been leading the common people to line the streets in welcome.
Originally, the Empress Dowager’s carriage was at the head of the procession, but after entering the Celestial Capital, the Regent King dismounted from his carriage and switched to horseback.
He rode at the very front of the procession.
On both sides of the street were the common people, prostrated on the ground, shouting in unison.
"Long live the Regent King! Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Crown Prince!"
Hearing the shouts from outside, Hua Manman and Li Xun both pushed open their windows to look out.
The streets were lined with kneeling commoners. Behind them were new, orderly houses, and in the distance, the tall and imposing palace walls.
The Daoists of Xuanji Temple and the monks of Chongming Temple had also come out. They stood on opposite sides of the street, bowing to the Regent King who rode at the head of the procession.
Hua Qingqing did not open her carriage window to look outside, but just from the shouts, she could imagine how spectacular the scene was.
She looked down at the young Crown Prince sitting beside her and asked softly,
"Qiong’er, do you hear them calling your name?"
Li Qiong replied stoically, "Mm."
He was only a year older than Li Xun, but due to his different status, he had developed a steady and mature personality from a young age.
Hua Qingqing said, "From now on, this will be our home."
Li Qiong did not ask why his imperial father had not moved with them.
He just nodded, indicating that he understood.
The procession finally came to a halt before the palace gates.
The nobles and the civil and military officials all disembarked from their carriages, following behind the carriages of the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince to enter the Imperial Palace on foot.
As for the servants they had brought with them, they were led by stewards to their respective new residences within the Celestial Capital.