Chapter 807: Chapter 486: Matters on the Road
In the past few days, Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu, along with other Academy Confucian scholars, have been busy during the day coordinating the Six Ministries of the Court.
At night, they read ritual books under the lamp, revising the ceremony process for the Rite of Fengshan.
Finally, they roughly clarified the framework for this Fengshan ceremony and, on the third day during the morning assembly at Li Court, submitted a thick memorial.
The Regent Empress Dowager Dugu and Regent King Li Mingyi, on behalf of the young Emperor, read the memorial with detail. Following the suggestions for coordination, they meticulously issued a series of imperial decrees.
Officials and ministers received their orders one after another.
Yesterday, Dugu and the young Emperor completed the mourning period for the Emperor of Great Li, and preparations for departure from the Capital could begin.
At the morning court assembly.
The morning sunlight slanted through the door, illuminating Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu in their Ritual Department official uniforms, Li Mingyi in a Python Robe, and Zhang Huizhi along with other civil and military officials.
Sitting at the highest spot, the veiled widow behind the bead curtain announced the departure for today.
She steadily issued one imperial decree after another for arrangements.
In the silent Great Hall, Dugu Chanyi’s voice, clear like a yellow oriole, resonated…
After the morning assembly, everyone busily prepared throughout the morning.
By the afternoon hour, the enormous procession of tens of thousands gathered at the city gate.
There were fully armed soldiers from the Imperial Army.
There was the grand and solemn Emperor’s Palace for the travel of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
And there were numerous carriages and horses for officials…
The procession was spectacular, and it began its majestic journey.
Following behind were the citizens leaving the Capital on their own to attend the upcoming grand event at Sacrificial Moon Mountain…
……
“So you’re saying, on that day at the city gate, you were waiting for me while hungry?”
“Hmm.”
“Didn’t I tell you, if you’re hungry, you could eat something first or go back to the mansion.”
“I didn’t want to, what if you came out as soon as I left?”
“Silly girl.”
“Hehe.”
“…”
On a sunny day, a massive procession stretching tens of miles was currently progressing along the official road.
Looking down from high above, this unprecedentedly large procession winds along, surrounded by dense crowds of people by the carriages…
Zhao Rong, at this moment, wore a smile as Qian’er followed behind.
The two rode horses, slightly speeding up, surpassing many others along the way, heading towards the majestic Emperor’s Palace central to the procession ahead.
Right now, everyone had been traveling for a day and night, and soon they would probably reach Sacrificial Moon Mountain.
However, Zhao Rong was not in too much of a hurry.
Because, based on the arrangements, there were already teams rushing ahead to prepare Sacrificial Moon Mountain. By the time Zhao Rong and the others arrived, they should almost have everything set up.
Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu would be able to start the Fengshan ceremony directly upon reaching Sacrificial Moon Mountain.
“The teams that went ahead probably already arrived; we should be able to reach there by this time tomorrow.”
At this moment, the young Confucian scholar riding on horseback squinted towards the endless view ahead, gently nodding.
Over the past two days, with each imperial decree issued and dispatched, the entirety of Great Li had mobilized, converging towards Sacrificial Moon Mountain.
Every day, a significant number of people joined the procession from various places along the way.
Right now, even the spacious official road seemed somewhat inadequate.
“Hmm, Brother Rong’er, I kind of miss Miss Qing Jun. Once you’re done with the ceremony these days, we should hurry back.”
Qian’er brushed the brown hair on the horse’s head, smiling lightly.
Zhao Rong turned back to look at her, chuckling, “We’ve only been apart a few days, and you already miss Qing Jun, huh, alright.”
“Hmph, do you mean you don’t miss Miss?”
The little girl tilted her head, ‘threatening’ with her tone.
“Okay, okay, I miss her terribly.”
The young Confucian scholar helplessly rubbed the white jade hanging from his waist.
On horseback, he slightly tilted his head back, squinting at the rapidly approaching Emperor’s Palace ahead, suddenly smiling and asking:
“So, a couple of days ago at the city gate, Miss Su was also waiting for me while hungry? Were you both inside the hall without going out at all?”
“What activities? No. Hmph, boring, she was boring too. She initially tried to chat with me, but I ignored her. She sat inside the whole time and later took out a book, pretending to read.”
“Oh.”
Zhao Rong gently nodded, seeming absorbed in the scenery ahead, asking no more.
Qian’er regularly teased a certain Fairy in front of Zhao Rong.
“I think she was probably daydreaming; just a little maid, without Brother Rong’er’s help, how could she understand the Mo Scripture? If it weren’t for your previous guidance, Su Qingdai probably wouldn’t know how to study the Mo Family.”
Zhao Rong found humor in it but didn’t follow up.
The young girl urged her horse to move forward, reaching out to tidy the wrinkles on Zhao Rong’s collar, humming along.
“Without that third wheel around, it’s much more comfortable. By the way, has she become bolder lately, trying to alter my authority in our Old Zhao Family?”
She shook the reins in her hand.
“No way, I need to ‘educate’ Miss Su again later. Uncle Bai has been busy lately and wasn’t around, only returning last night. I was occupied handling matters for the Duke Mansion’s commerce in Hanjing, neglecting Miss Su’s discipline a bit.”
Speaking of this, the young girl couldn’t help but mutter:
“How strange, she was well-disciplined before, why has she become increasingly wild recently? Daring to act up? Does she think reading a few Mo Scriptures and receiving some guidance from Brother Rong’er gives her the strength to challenge me? Hmm, foolish maid.”
A certain young Confucian scholar who enjoys teaching and enlightening couldn’t help but cover his mouth with a clenched fist.