Chapter 44
The Imperial Palace was more lively than ever before.
Red carpets stretched across the palace grounds.
Golden banners bearing the emblem of the Crimson Empire fluttered in the wind.
Rows upon rows of imperial guards stood motionless, their armor shining beneath the morning sun.
Thousands of nobles, officials, generals, and distinguished guests had gathered within the grand ceremonial plaza to witness the birth of a new emperor.
The atmosphere was solemn.
Today.
The Crown Prince would ascend the throne.
Inside the palace, servants moved hurriedly between halls.
Officials reviewed the ceremonial procedures one last time.
Musicians prepared their instruments.
The entire empire held its breath.
At the center of the grand plaza stood a magnificent staircase leading toward the Dragon Throne.
Above it fluttered the imperial banner of the Hong Family.
Soon.
A loud voice echoed throughout the plaza.
"The auspicious hour has arrived!"
Boom!
Drums sounded across the palace.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
The deep sound spread throughout the capital.
The crowd immediately became silent.
Then, under the watchful eyes of thousands.
A young man wearing golden dragon robes slowly emerged from the palace gates.
Hong Yuanji.
The future ruler of the Crimson Empire.
His expression was calm.
His posture dignified.
Gone was the young boy who once struggled with arithmetic under Hong Yanshu's supervision.
Today, he carried the fate of an empire upon his shoulders.
Following behind him was Hong Yanshu, dressed in official robes as an imperial tutor.
His expression remained composed, though a trace of pride could be seen in his eyes.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Hong Yuanji slowly climbed the stairs toward the Dragon Throne.
The entire plaza remained silent.
When he finally reached the top, an elderly official stepped forward while carrying the Imperial Edict.
The official unfolded the scroll and began reading aloud.
"By the will of Heaven and the ancestors of the Hong Dynasty."
"The former emperor has returned to the heavens after fulfilling his duties."
"Today, Crown Prince Hong Yuanji inherits the Mandate of Heaven and ascends the imperial throne."
"May the empire prosper for ten thousand years."
The officials immediately knelt.
The generals knelt.
The nobles knelt.
Even the surrounding soldiers lowered their heads.
Thousands of voices echoed simultaneously.
"We greet Your Majesty!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
The sound shook the heavens.
Then, with a steady voice befitting an emperor, he declared:
"From this day onward."
"I, Hong Yuanji, shall rule with justice."
"I shall protect the people."
"I shall strengthen the empire."
"And I shall ensure that the Crimson Empire prospers for generations to come."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
After the coronation ceremony concluded, the atmosphere within the Imperial Palace became lively once more.
The newly crowned Emperor Hong Yuanji sat upon the Dragon Throne, wearing the imperial crown and golden dragon robes.
Beside him stood officials and palace attendants.
Below the throne, countless nobles and distinguished guests waited in orderly lines.
Today was not merely a coronation.
It was also a chance for every faction to display their loyalty and wealth.
An imperial eunuch stepped forward and announced loudly:
"The gift presentation ceremony shall begin!"
Immediately, the first group approached.
A middle-aged noble from the western province bowed deeply.
"This minister congratulates His Majesty on ascending the throne!"
He presented a jade box.
The eunuch opened it and announced:
"Lord Xu of West River Province presents ten thousand taels of gold and a hundred-year-old jade sculpture!"
The court officials nodded slightly.
A respectable gift.
But nothing extraordinary.
Hong Yuanji calmly replied,
"You have my gratitude."
The next group consisted of merchants.
A wealthy merchant bowed respectfully.
"This humble merchant congratulates His Majesty and wishes for ten thousand years of prosperity!"
The gift was unveiled.
The eunuch announced:
"The Golden River Merchant Guild presents one hundred bolts of Spirit Silkworm Cloth and fifty rare pearls from the Southern Sea!"
The court became slightly livelier.
Spirit Silkworm Cloth was highly valued among nobles.
Even cultivators occasionally used it to craft robes.
Hong Yuanji nodded.
"Accepted."
The gift presentation ceremony continued.
One noble after another stepped forward.
One merchant after another offered their treasures.
The imperial treasury grew richer by the minute.
Then.
An unfamiliar envoy stepped into the hall.
He wore foreign robes embroidered with wolf patterns.
Behind him stood several guards with stern expressions.
The court officials quietly exchanged glances.
This was an envoy from the Northern Alliance.
The same region where the barbarian tribes resided and the Demon King.
The envoy bowed with a faint smile.
"Congratulations to His Majesty on ascending the throne."
Unlike the others, he carried no treasure chest.
No jade box.
No spirit herbs.
Only a sealed scroll.
The imperial eunuch was puzzled.
"May I ask what gift the honored envoy presents?"
The envoy smiled calmly.
"This gift is somewhat special."
"It would be better if His Majesty reads it privately."
His tone was polite.
Yet the smile on his face carried an indescribable meaning.
Several ministers frowned.
Even Hong Yanshu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Something felt wrong.
Hong Yuanji remained calm.
"Present it."
The eunuch received the scroll and delivered it to the throne.
The entire court watched curiously.
Hong Yuanji opened the scroll.
His eyes slowly scanned its contents.
The message was short.
Yet every word was sharp as a blade.
The Crimson Empire should submit to the Northern Alliance.
Resistance will only bring destruction.
Our side already possesses the support of an immortal powerhouse.
Surrender now and preserve your people.
The atmosphere around Hong Yuanji seemed to grow colder.
For a brief moment.
A flash of anger appeared deep within his eyes.
This was not a gift.
It was a threat.
A declaration of superiority.
A humiliation delivered on the very day of his coronation.
Yet Hong Yuanji did not react.
His expression remained unchanged.
The years of training under Hong Yanshu had taught him one lesson:
An emperor must not reveal his emotions easily.
Especially before enemies.
He calmly rolled the scroll back up.
Then smiled.
"Accepted."
The envoy's smile widened slightly.
He bowed once more.
"We are honored."
Without another word, he turned and left.
The court remained silent.
Many nobles were confused.
Several ministers frowned.
Even the generals sensed that something unusual had occurred.
But none dared ask.
What exactly had been written in that scroll?
Only the emperor knew.
After the envoy leave the imperial palace, the imperial eunuch's voice suddenly rose several degrees.
"The representative of the Zan Clan arrives!"
Instantly.
The entire court look toward the Zan Clan.
Even the ministers straightened their backs.
The Zan Clan.
The hidden pillar of the empire.
Countless eyes turned toward the entrance.
Zan Wei slowly stepped forward while carrying a jade box.
Though his appearance resembled that of an old man, none dared underestimate him.
After all.
This was Elder Zan Wei of the Zan Clan.
Behind him, Zan Yunxiao calmly watched from afar, remaining unnoticed by most.
Zan Wei bowed respectfully toward the throne.
"On behalf of the Zan Clan, we congratulate His Majesty on ascending the throne."
He opened the jade box.
A fragrant medicinal aura instantly spread across the hall.
The eyes of several cultivators widened.
Even the foreign envoys were shocked.
Inside rested a single pill covered in faint spiritual patterns.
The eunuch swallowed nervously before announcing:
"The Zan Clan presents."
"A Foundation Establishment Pill!"
The entire court erupted into an uproar.
Even some officials who knew nothing about cultivation understood its value.
For mortals, it strengthened the body and extended life by 20 years.
For cultivators.
It greatly increased the chance of breaking into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Hong Yuanji's pupils contracted slightly.
Although he had expected a gift from the Zan Clan.
He had not expected such generosity.
. . .
The next day.
Inside the Imperial Study, silence filled the room.
The provocative scroll from the Northern Alliance still lay upon the emperor's desk.
Hong Yuanji rubbed his forehead.
Yesterday had been his coronation.
Today, he was already facing the possibility of war.
The burden of an emperor was far heavier than he had imagined.
Just as he was lost in thought.
A voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"So."
"What is your plan?"
Hong Yuanji's pupils contracted.
Someone had entered his study without him noticing.
He immediately stood up and turned around.
A figure stood quietly behind him.
The figure wore plain robes.
Yet strangely enough.
His face seemed distorted.
Or perhaps blurred.
No matter how hard Hong Yuanji looked, he simply could not see the person's true appearance.
It was as if some mysterious force concealed his face from mortal eyes.
Hong Yuanji's heart trembled.
Someone who could enter the heavily guarded imperial study unnoticed was certainly no ordinary cultivator.
He remained on guard.
"Who are you?"
The mysterious figure chuckled softly.
"Oh?"
"Is this how you greet your ancestor?"
Hong Yuanji froze.
"Ancestor?"
A thought immediately flashed through his mind.
An existence powerful enough to enter the palace unnoticed.
Someone connected to his bloodline.
There was only one answer.
His eyes widened slightly.
"You..."
"Are you the Patriarch of the Zan Clan?"
The figure nodded calmly.
Naturally, it was Zan Yunxiao.
The Heaven Veiling Scripture concealed his appearance, making it impossible for ordinary people to observe his true face.
Zan Yunxiao looked at his descendant with interest.
"So."
"What are your plans for the future war against the neighboring countries?"
Hong Yuanji fell silent.
His confident appearance from the coronation had disappeared.
After all.
He had only been emperor for a single day.
Eventually, he sighed.
"I don't know."
"This is my first duty as emperor."
"I've studied governance all my life, but when the burden truly falls upon me..."
He shook his head bitterly.
"What should I do, Ancestor?"
Zan Yunxiao looked at him quietly.
Then he replied calmly.
"Why are you asking me?"
Hong Yuanji blinked.
Zan Yunxiao continued.
"I am a cultivator."
"You are an emperor."
"I know how to cultivate."
"You must learn how to rule."
Then Zan Yunxiao suddenly pointed toward the study door.
"You already have someone suitable."
"Ask your cousin."
"That boy is quite intelligent."
"Use talented people."
"An emperor who tries to do everything alone is a foolish emperor."
Hong Yuanji lowered his head thoughtfully.
Those words struck directly into his heart.
At that moment.
A voice sounded outside the study.
"Your Majesty."
"May I enter?"
The voice belonged to Hong Yanshu.
Hong Yuanji instinctively looked toward the door.
"Enter."
Then he suddenly remembered something and quickly turned back.
But.
The room was empty.
Zan Yunxiao had vanished without a trace.
Not even a fluctuation of spiritual energy remained.
It was as though he had never been there at all.
Hong Yuanji stood there silently.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
His ancestor had not given him strategies.
Nor military plans.
Instead.
He had given him trust.
Trust in the people around him.
The study doors slowly opened.
Hong Yanshu entered while carrying several scrolls.
Seeing Hong Yuanji standing quietly, he asked curiously,
"Your Majesty?"
"What happened?"
Hong Yuanji sat back on the throne-like chair and smiled.
"Nothing."
Then he looked at his cousin.
The same cousin who had forced him to solve arithmetic problems since childhood.
Perhaps.
The Ancestor was right.
A wise emperor did not rule alone.