Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 248, Section 247: New Year's Day Court Greetings
"To pay homage and have an audience—"

With a loud shout from the eunuch, all the civil and military officials bowed in unison:

"Congratulations to the King!"

"Congratulations to my Great Qin!"

"The world is unified, the mighty Qin Dynasty is established!"

Qin Shi and Ji Heng sat on the jade steps, watching the ministers enter the spacious and lofty Zhangtai Palace one by one. The sound of their footsteps shook the bronze incense burner, and a great sense of pride welled up in their hearts.

Whether they were ministers at the foot of the throne or monarchs and queens sitting high above, at this moment, they all sincerely hoped that the Qin Dynasty would become even more prosperous in the future.

The Grand Historian, accompanied by the prayer official, recited a long prayer on the side.

The Zongzheng and Fengchang also have their own grand procedures for worship.

Lady Ba and Wuyou, who were at the very end of the hall, just next to the gate of Zhangtai Palace, were filled with excitement, their cheeks flushed and sweat beading on their foreheads.

Standing there now, I felt a chill run down my spine.

This is...this is Zhangtai Palace!
This is where the king receives his ministers, handles government affairs, and discusses important national matters!

Their identity, their identity!

Even though the two were shrewd and mature, they couldn't help but hold back their tears, and their noses tingled.

If they had the chance to rush to the front of the hall, the two would bow down without reservation.

For the King, for the Queen!

I would gladly die for such an honor!
……

Qin Shi had to admit that the New Year's Day celebrations, which required a period of neglect of government affairs and could even be described as a waste of resources and manpower, still had the effect of uniting people's hearts when necessary.

Then came the busy sacrificial ceremony, in which we respectfully informed Heaven and Earth and our ancestors, not only of these external things, but also of the heart of the ruler.

Thinking of this, her slightly tired spirits were greatly invigorated.

His eyes gleamed as he looked at the officials below the stage and smiled freely.

Ji Heng keenly noticed the change in her demeanor and couldn't help but ponder again:

The Queen is in poor health; he will need to be more cautious next time there is a grand ceremony...

After the court audience, it is time for the officials to present gifts to the king.

This gift is not limited to any precious jewels or gems, nor is its value measured by worldly prices to determine its loyalty.

For example, when Prime Minister Wang Fu presented him with a painting of auspicious snow that he had made himself.

The Imperial Censor Wang Xueyuan had always been very particular about his hobbies, and the item he presented was also related to his preferences: a bronze lamp pillar with nine phoenixes hovering around it, about two meters tall.

The phoenix's head feathers are raised high, and its sharp beak is slightly open, just enough to hold a small flame in its mouth.

The long tail feathers spiraled and spread from top to bottom around the central bronze pillar, with a place to hold lamp oil at intervals.

Despite being cast in bronze, the flowing and intricate details of the swirling hair are displayed to the fullest extent!

Such skill is truly ingenious.

The Grand Historian presented a single ear of fine millet from a certain region. Qin Shi took a closer look and decided to inquire about it carefully after paying homage. If the millet was indeed abundant, he would keep more for seed.

Next, the officials presented their congratulatory gifts one by one.

Qin Shi looked on with great interest. Although there was nothing she wanted inside, it was still very interesting to look at each item and witness the art and craftsmanship of today.

She vaguely remembered that since the court officials were to present gifts to the king, the palace officials would naturally also present gifts to her, the queen.

However, everyone was extremely busy before the New Year, and apart from Madam Zheng and Madam Chu, who had powerful backgrounds, the rest of them were probably short of money.

I wonder what they'll be offering this time—mostly things they've made themselves.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, although it was the October version of the Lunar New Year, there were still gifts to receive, and Qin Shi was still very much looking forward to it.

Of the more than one hundred officials and ministers of Qin who were qualified to offer New Year's greetings, only a few hundred could enter the Zhangtai Palace. Others were outside the palace, quietly presenting their gifts as a sign of respect.

By the time these procedures were completed, it was already broad daylight.

The Grand Astrologer had an exceptionally good grasp of the timing, and Zhou Ju had made the same arrangement.

Just as they were about to depart, the gift-giving ceremony came to an end.

Then Ji Heng got up first and left Zhangtai Palace with the Queen.

After a quick bath and change of clothes, and then donning a more formal set of Junxuan attire, they set off for the Ji Temple.

The emperor's carriage, with its six magnificent steeds.

Behind them, officials and scholars rode in carriages befitting their status, some with four horses and others with two, forming a large and impressive procession as they left Xianyang City and arrived at the Ji Temple on the banks of the Wei River.

The gates here are wide open, and the sacrificial animals are all in their proper places.

As Ji Heng alighted from the carriage, attendants immediately presented him with plain clothes to wear over his black robes, as a sign of respect to his ancestors and to bid farewell to those who would perish in the coming desolate winter.

Among the servants on both sides, someone was offering a cup of frost and dew collected at dawn. Ji Heng needed to use it to mix with wine, so that the slightly turbid wine would become clear and transparent after being diluted by the frost and dew, to show that his heart was pure.

Another live pig was found during the sacrifice at the prison.

Before Qin Shi could even be surprised, he saw Ji Heng deftly pull off the clothes on his left shoulder, revealing his strong and powerful arm in the cold winter, his muscles bulging.

This is the "left-side exposure," a posture that expresses the utmost piety and reverence for Heaven and ancestors.

This also highlights Qin King Heng's identity as a priest, the ruler of a nation and the son of Heaven.

Qin Shi took a deep breath and stood quietly to the side.

The musicians on both sides began to play their instruments and sing at the same time.

September brings frost, October brings cleansing. Friends gather for a feast, a lamb is slaughtered. We ascend the hall, raise the rhinoceros horn cup, and wish for boundless longevity…

Amidst the repeated strains of music, Ji Heng, holding a sharp knife, stood with veins bulging on his arm!
With a "pfft" sound.

The live pig in front of them had already been killed, and its blood was boiling down. With its extremely yang and vital energy, Ji Heng still collected a bowl of it and offered it to his ancestors along with wine.

Qin Shi looked at the process with some surprise.

It is both sacred and barbaric, both dignified and down-to-earth.

It was quite different from the sacrificial customs of other dynasties that she was more familiar with.

The slaughtered pig was quickly dragged away, and someone in a secluded spot did their best to clean it up.

She snapped out of her reverie, feeling a sense of ethereal lightness, as if she were standing at the center of the universe amidst the grand sacrificial site. Beside her, Ji Heng, his gaze focused, clearly no longer paying attention to the people and events around him.

A servant held a ladle and poured water onto his hands.

Ji Heng caught the water with both hands, and as the water flowed downwards, a servant was kneeling on one knee below, holding a tray to catch the water used for washing.

Only in this way can we show respect to our ancestors.

As the queen, Qin Shi offered Ji Heng a cloth to wipe his hands. Meanwhile, the sacrificial pig, which had been simply prepared, was once again carried onto the altar, waiting for Ji Heng to personally butcher it.

Qin Shi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Although the monarch is required to personally distribute the meat, during this sacrificial ceremony, he only needs to skillfully make a cut to remove the pig's hock.

After this long process was over, Qin Shi had to be careful about his posture and position, and keep in mind the sacrificial rites he was to perform. He could be considered to have completed most of the task.

　The sacrificial ceremony combined customs from the pre-Qin and Han dynasties, with some selections and omissions.

　　It's a bit dry, but I wanted to share it with those who don't know it. You can watch it a couple of times; it's a piece of knowledge that might not be very useful.

　　(Researching is tough! Reading too fast will make it even tougher!)

　　(End of this chapter)