Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

That year, at the end of the year.

The sky over Shenjing was filled with low-hanging leaden clouds, and finally the first light snow of the winter fell, fluttering down and covering the glazed tiles of the imperial city, also silencing the last trace of the old-time noise in the streets and alleys.

When the last petition from Jiangnan, requesting "return to the king's rule," along with the bronze drum presented by the mountain villages of Lingnan and the petition from the elders of Sichuan, was delivered to the Regent's Palace, the ceremony, which everyone had anticipated yet was made solemn and heavy by its inevitability, was finally put on the unavoidable agenda.

When the world is unified, war will cease.

The black banners that rose from the western frontier have now been planted all over the land.

Apart from the empty, symbolic title of "Son of Heaven" within the deep palace, there is no power in the Central Plains that can contend with Xiao Chen's will.

It's time for this final curtain to fall.

The drama of "urging him to ascend the throne" unfolded naturally, driven by an almost tacit and silent consensus.

The first person to mention this matter in a formal setting was Su Shen, a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion who had just been promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince for "revising the new laws and making contributions to the country".

This old minister, known for his profound learning and upright conduct, unexpectedly rose from his seat and kowtowed during the court assembly to discuss the regulations for the imperial examinations the following year. Tears streamed down his face as he said that he had observed the celestial phenomena of the night and saw "purple aura coming from the west, piercing the mid-sky, the Big Dipper dimming, indicating that a celestial ruler is about to rise." He then quoted extensively from classical texts, from the "revolution of Tang and Wu" to "the world belongs to all," and concluded with a powerful and resounding statement: "Your Highness, the Prince of Qin, has swept away the chaos of the world and restored order to the land. His achievements surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and his virtue exceeds that of the Five Emperors."

Now that all under heaven are subdued and all people revere your virtue, the imperial throne is without a master; where can the common people turn for refuge? This is the mandate of Heaven, and no human power can reverse it! Your subject, Su Shen, humbly begs Your Highness to follow the will of Heaven and the people, and to ascend the throne as soon as possible, so as to stabilize the hearts of the people and secure the nation!

The hall was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately, countless gazes, some fiery, some fearful, some complex, all turned toward the side of the imperial steps, toward the seat of the regent.

Xiao Chen sat motionless, his face ashen.

After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it made the entire hall feel heavy and still: "Lord Su, you are utterly absurd! I am but a border soldier, relying on the bravery of my soldiers and the protection of my ancestors to quell the rebellion. Although the young emperor is still young, as his elder brother, I should assist him in governing and securing the country. I only know to devote myself to the utmost, even unto death. Such absurd words threaten the very foundation of the nation. Su Shen, do you know your crime?"

"Your subject acknowledges his guilt!"

Su Shen banged his head on the ground, blood streaming down his forehead, but his voice grew even more impassioned: "However, the will of Heaven cannot be defied, and the will of the people cannot be deceived! If Your Highness insists on upholding your loyalty as a subject, you are abandoning the people of the world to suffering and going against the vast and mighty will of Heaven! My words today come from the bottom of my heart, and I will die without regret!" After saying this, he lay prostrate on the ground, seemingly insane.

Xiao Chen's face turned ashen. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "How dare you! Drag him away, strip him of his post, and hand him over to the Court of Judicial Review for trial!"

The guards stepped forward and carried the crying and struggling Su Shen out of the hall.

However, the cries of "destined by Heaven" and "ascend to the throne soon" were like a boulder thrown into a still lake, creating ripples that could never be calmed.

Su Shen's "outspoken remonstrance" and "dismissal" were like a lightning bolt that tore through the sky.

The following day, congratulatory messages and letters urging the emperor to ascend the throne, led by the Secretariat and the Chancellery, and from the Six Ministries, the Nine Ministers, and even local governors and viceroys, flooded in like a burst dam.

Whether the language was elegant or simple, the core message was remarkably consistent: the King of Qin's merits were so great that he should be made emperor.

In the streets and alleys, nursery rhymes are revived, no longer veiled: "When the black bird is born, the Xia dynasty rises; when the King of Zhenbei rises, the world is at peace."

Even the newly surrendered Southern Barbarian King and Western Qiang leader offered "white tiger" and "white pheasant" as auspicious omens.

The pressure was invisible, yet as heavy as Mount Tai, and finally poured into the depths of Weiyang Palace, the palace that belonged to the "emperor" but had long been a place where no one dared to enter or leave with the rites due to an emperor.

The ten-year-old Emperor Xiao Jie's limited memories are filled with the majesty of his "elder brother" and the constant awe of those around him.

The Grand Tutor no longer taught the Book of Documents and the Spring and Autumn Annals, but instead repeatedly told the story of "the virtuous should hold the position, and the unvirtuous should lose it," and recounted the "great virtue" of the abdication of Yao and Shun.

The palace maids and eunuchs were all talking about "which place His Highness Prince Zhenbei has pacified again" and "how the people are praising him."

He was like a delicate caged bird, silently guided toward the ending that had already been written for him.

During the grand court assembly on the winter solstice, the charcoal fire blazed brightly inside the Zichen Hall, yet it could not warm the bone-chilling cold.

Accompanied by the Minister of the Imperial Clan and several white-bearded, former officials symbolizing "old virtues," Emperor Xiao Jie, dressed in an overly large crown and robes, ascended the imperial steps. Facing the empty regent's throne, he read aloud the abdication edict, meticulously drafted by learned scholars of the Hanlin Academy, in a voice that he knew by heart yet still couldn't hide his immaturity.

The imperial edict was extremely ornate and lamenting, beginning with the statement: "I, being young and inexperienced, succeeded to the throne, but my virtue is meager and my abilities are limited. I have offended Heaven and lost the people's trust."

War and calamity have ravaged the land, leaving the nation scarred, ancestral temples in peril, and the people in dire straits. Whenever I think of this, tears stream down my face, and my heart burns with anguish.

Then, the writing style shifts, praising Xiao Chen as "divinely gifted and martial, his wisdom rivals the sun and moon, he restored order from chaos, his achievements are unparalleled. He rescued the people from suffering, restored the crumbling empire, his power reached overseas, and his virtue subdued the eight wastelands."

Finally, the conclusion was reached: "The mandate of Heaven is clear, the people's hearts are at peace. I fear Heaven's clear mandate and dare not act selfishly. I have studied the past and present, tracing back to the Tang and Yu dynasties. I respectfully abdicate in a separate palace, passing the throne to my elder brother, Emperor Xiao Chen. Heaven has blessed my virtuous character, granting me this great position, protecting and governing my people, and praising Heaven's benevolence. Respectfully!"

After the imperial edict was read aloud, the entire hall fell silent, save for the crackling sound of popping charcoal.

Immediately, led by Su Shen, who had just been released from the Dali Temple, reinstated to his original position, and given the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, all the civil and military officials, members of the imperial clan and their relatives, as if they had rehearsed this a thousand times, knelt down in unison, their foreheads touching the golden bricks. Their shouts were so loud that dust fell from the beams: "The Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon you! We, your humble servants, risk our lives to once again beg Your Highness Prince Qin to obey Heaven and the people, to ascend the throne as soon as possible, to secure the ancestral temples, and to stabilize the world!"

Xiao Chen's "decline" followed ancient etiquette meticulously.

The first time, he sternly refused, was heartbroken, and even wanted to kill the "initiator" to appease the world.

The second time, he stayed indoors and said, "I have no face to see the late emperor in the underworld."

The third time, faced with the overwhelming public opinion of "officials weeping at the palace" and "people blocking the roads," he was "forced" to meet with representatives of the nobles at the Prince's Palace and listen to their tearful pleas. Finally, with a "helpless" sigh for "the sake of all people and to prevent further chaos," his eyes reddened and his voice was heavy with sorrow as he "had no choice" to accept the Mandate of Heaven.

The dust settled, and the machines started up.

The Ministry of Rites, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Imperial Observatory worked day and night to determine the auspicious day for the enthronement ceremony on the first day of the first lunar month of the following year. They proposed "Xuanji" as the new era name, which means "the northernmost point of the dark sky, the most upright and supreme."

The capital city was thoroughly cleaned, with yellow earth used to pave the roads and clean water splashed on the streets. Every household was "advised" to hang black flags or yellow silk. Amnesty regulations, imperial examination rules, reward schemes for officials, and the new dynasty's ceremonial system... a vast sea of ​​documents were drafted, copied, and stamped under countless candlelight.

The first day of the first month of the first year of Xuanji.

At 3:45 AM, the capital city was still asleep, but the imperial city had already awakened.

Xiao Chen bathed and burned incense at the Prince's Palace, donned a black robe with twelve embroidered patterns and a crimson skirt, and offered sacrifices at the Xiao Clan Ancestral Temple.

The congratulatory text recounts how "our ancestors faced great hardships in establishing their dynasty, accumulating virtue and benevolence," ultimately leading to "the great destiny being bestowed upon the emperor."

After the ceremony, firewood was burned to announce the arrival of heaven; the plumes of smoke rose straight up and disappeared into the deepest darkness before dawn.

As dawn broke, the grand procession set off.

A forest of black banners, a formidable array of ceremonial axes and halberds, golden gourds, reclining gourds, imperial staffs, and ceremonial swords—countless objects symbolizing the emperor's authority moved silently in the morning light.

The imperial carriage departed from Chengtian Gate, passed through Zhuque Heavenly Street, and arrived directly at the Circular Mound Altar in the southern suburbs.

The road was quiet, save for the sound of orderly footsteps and the clear ringing of bells. On both sides of the road, guards in black stood solemnly like bronze statues, while in the distance, a dark mass of people looked up, holding their breath.

The Circular Mound Altar is three stories high, and its round shape symbolizes the heavens.

Xiao Chen ascended the altar, burned firewood, offered jade and silk, played the music of "Jingyun," and danced the dance of "Dacheng."

The official in charge of ceremonies chanted praises, his voice so powerful it seemed to stop the clouds in their tracks.

Xiao Chen stood facing south, reading his proclamation of accession to the heavens. His voice carried clearly through the biting wind: "Your subject Chen, the successor to the throne, dares to use a black ox to proclaim to the Supreme God of Heaven: The Mandate of Heaven is not constant; only virtue is its guide."

Your Majesty, I am of limited ability and fear unworthy of this position. Yet, the world is in distress and the people are without a ruler, and I dare not refuse. On the first day of the dark month, I have received the mandate from Heaven to succeed to the throne.

May the divine spirits accept this offering, and may we, in awe of Heaven's majesty, be diligent day and night, daring not to be idle or complacent. May harmony be preserved, and may the benefits extend to all people. May this offering be accepted!

After the ceremony to inform Heaven was completed, wisps of smoke rose straight up, merging into the gradually whitening sky, as if reaching the heavens.

The emperor returned to the palace.

At the hour of Yi (9-11 AM), in front of the Xuanzheng Hall, the main hall of Weiyang Palace, a high platform for receiving the abdication was built.

The Minister of the Imperial Clan and the Director of the Palace Attendants presented a sandalwood tray covered with bright yellow brocade, beneath which lay the newly cast Imperial Seal of the State, along with the Emperor's six seals.

Xiao Chen bowed three times to accept it.

The music and rituals were performed in grand style, with the sounds of great bells and drums resounding throughout the palace.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands, Xiao Chen slowly turned around, stepped onto the high platform, faced south, and sat steadily on the throne carved with nine dragons and gleaming with gold lacquer.

"The Emperor ascends the throne."

The master of ceremonies' voice, carrying an ancient rhythm, resounded through the sky.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

In the square in front of the palace, civil and military officials, members of the imperial family and nobles, envoys from foreign vassals, and representatives of elders performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony according to custom.

The roar of voices surged like the ocean tide, mingling with the spontaneous, earth-shaking cheers of "Long live the Emperor" from hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians outside the imperial city, shaking the entire capital and soaring into the heavens.

Xiao Chen sat upright on the throne, his black crown tassels swaying slightly, obscuring his gaze.

He calmly accepted the overwhelming adoration, feeling the solidity and coldness of the throne beneath his feet. The weight and loneliness of being the supreme ruler of the world were truly imposed upon him at this moment.

The Minister of Rites stepped forward, unfurled the bright yellow edict with gold-embroidered dragon patterns, and read aloud the first edict of the new dynasty in a loud and clear voice:

"I, by the mandate of Heaven, reign over all lands... to reform the old and establish the new, and to change the era name to Xuanji, making this year the first year of Xuanji. A general amnesty is hereby granted."

From this day forward, except for the ten unpardonable crimes of treason, disrespect, filial impiety, internal strife, heinous crimes, immorality, discord, injustice, incest, and disrespect, all other crimes are pardoned. A five-day grand feast is hereby granted to all the people of the land.

Thirty percent of the land tax will be waived, and corvée labor and taxes will be halved for a period of three years. All officials and nobles will be promoted one rank. Fallen soldiers will receive generous pensions, and their orphans will be cared for. Widows, widowers, and the lonely will receive appropriate relief...

The edict clearly stipulated that the country's name would remain "Xia," signifying "receiving the mandate of Heaven, restoring the Xia dynasty, and ruling over China."

Empress Murong Xue was established, and the reign title "Xuanji" was adopted, signifying the ambition of "profound virtue and boundless fortune, reaching the heavens without falling."

At the same time, a series of new policies were promulgated: the central government was based on the Three Departments and Six Ministries, and the local government was established at the level of Circuit, Prefecture, and County; the Xuanji Law was promulgated to strictly govern officials and punish corruption.

He verified the national register, equitably distributed taxes and corvée labor, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and promoted water conservancy; he also reorganized the military system, establishing local militia, border troops, and imperial guards.

The imperial examinations were held, regardless of social status, selecting officials based solely on their talent... A complete and rigorous imperial blueprint, aimed at consolidating imperial power, restoring production, and strengthening centralized authority, was thus unveiled.

The ceremony lasted until after sunset.

As the last group of vassal envoys left Xuanzheng Hall, Xiao Chen—Emperor Xuanji—returned to his bedchamber, Ziji Hall, surrounded by palace attendants.

He removed his heavy and elaborate imperial robes, changed into casual clothes, dismissed all his attendants, and walked alone to the high platform outside the palace.

The biting wind whipped up the corner of his dark robe.

Looking down, the lights of the capital city gradually illuminate, like a cascading galaxy, stretching to the horizon.

In the distance, the majestic outline of the city wall stands silently in the twilight, and further away, the boundless territory disappears into darkness.

The clamor of the coronation has faded, leaving only the cool touch of the jade seal on his fingertips and the invisible yet immense burden on his shoulders.

The chaotic era ended in his hands, and a brand new empire called "Great Xia" officially begins today.

However, this is not the end, but the beginning of something grander, more complex, and more challenging.