Chapter 573: The End is Nigh (2)_1
As the sun rose, Emperor Huian, draped in a bright yellow dragon robe, stepped out of the traveling palace, protected by the imperial guards. Following him, the Crown Prince, seated in a wheelchair and pushed out by the attending eunuchs, and even though the attending princes did not care for the feeble Crown Prince, they dared not act presumptuously in front of Emperor Huian. According to the order of seniority, they earnestly followed behind the Crown Prince to the already constructed high platform, lining up on either side of Emperor Huian.
The ministers and accompanying families who had long been waiting below kneeled en masse on the ground, hundreds of voices unified and loud, respectfully greeting, "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live; long life to the Crown Prince, long life, long life!"
The awe-inspiring voices carried far across the tranquil wilderness and echoed in the distance, startling countless birds into flight from the trees.
Despite having experienced such grand scenes before, the princes standing on the lofty platform looking down at the kneeling ministers still couldn’t suppress their excitement, their ambitions hidden deep in their hearts blatantly flourishing at this moment.
Chu Heng, who stood closest to Emperor Huian, watched as King Heng beside him breathed a bit heavier, a hint of ridicule flashing in his downcast eyes before calmly surveying everything below with an undisturbed gaze.
"My loyal subjects, rise! Since we are outside the palace, you may be at ease!"
Emperor Huian, nearly fifty and with well-maintained health, still couldn’t avoid the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and his slightly slack skin never ceased to reveal the reality that he was no longer young. However, as the ruler of Great Chu, his accumulated imperial presence ensured that even those unaware of his identity dared not treat him as an ordinary old man.
At that moment, although he was smiling and telling the people below to "be at ease," no one dared to truly behave casually in his presence. Everyone stood up with caution, fearing to behave improperly before the Emperor and to be despised by Emperor Huian.