Chapter 32: The Golden Throne Hall

Jia Zheng, a minor fifth-rank official, was inconspicuous among the thousands of Shun Dynasty bureaucrats. He was startled when he first heard Prince Qian’s booming voice, but upon hearing the Prince declare that no one would be killed upon entering the city except for the most heinous criminals, he felt a wave of relief. At the very least, the Jia family would be able to keep their lives.

Although he held a fifth-rank post and was among those allowed to retain their official positions, Jia Zheng knew that Prince Qian would not easily overlook his family, for they were the Duke of Rong’s household and held a noble title.

"Those without official duties, return to your homes. Assemble at the palace tomorrow for the Great Court, and do not be late!"

"Everyone, follow me into the city!"

After issuing his orders, Prince Qian led his civil and military officials on horseback toward the city gates. The Shun Dynasty officials yielded, bowing their heads in respectful welcome.

Jia Zheng calculated the timing; as Prince Qian approached, he raised his head slightly to catch a glimpse of the man who was now the master of the capital.

The Prince sat astride a sleek, pitch-black stallion, clad in marshal’s armor. He looked tall and formidable, possessing an imposing aura that remained steady and composed. With a sword at his side, he resembled a tiger slowly stepping into the capital, ready to seize the mandate of heaven.

Daring only a single glance, Jia Zheng lowered his head once more.

They stood for a full hour. Only after the more than forty thousand soldiers of Prince Qian’s army had entered the city were the officials of the former regime permitted to follow.

Exhausted in body and spirit, Jia Zheng returned to the Ning-Rong Mansion, only to find six of Prince Qian’s soldiers standing at the gate, patrolling back and forth. Jia Zheng’s heart plummeted in terror.

...

Chu Yan entered the city. From a distance, he saw many citizens peeking out from the alleyways; some of the bolder ones came closer to watch, but they dared not look directly at him, only stealing glances at the army he led.

Chu Yan paid them no mind. Upon entering, he rode straight for the imperial palace. Following the arrangements of Chu Ming, Xu Zhiyi, and others, his forty thousand troops moved to various locations to take control of the capital's defenses, while five thousand personal guards accompanied him to the palace.

"Your Highness!"

Chu Ming suddenly spurred his horse forward to report, gesturing quietly toward a street in the distance: "That is Ning-Rong Street, where the Jia family resides."

Chu Yan looked over, lost in thought. He glanced at Chu Ming, who was sharp and intuitive, always knowing exactly what his master was thinking.

"Dai Wei." Chu Yan beckoned one of his personal guards and ordered, "Take a detachment of men and surround the Ning and Rong mansions. Keep them contained until I issue further orders."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Dai Wei cupped his hands in acknowledgment. He reined in his horse, waiting until the Prince had ridden further ahead before selecting a squad of men, arming them with crossbows and shields, and heading toward Ning-Rong Street.

Following this small interlude, Chu Yan quickened his pace, leading his guards to the gates of the imperial palace.

He pulled his horse to a stop, looking across the moat at the towering palace complex.

"Your Highness! This is the imperial palace!"

The generals and civil officials were moved, their eyes fixed on the concave-shaped gatehouse. The red Chengtian Gate shimmered under the sunlight, its golden tiles gleaming. The imperial majesty, accentuated by the towering gate, inspired both awe and fear.

Yet today, they were the ones who had shattered the majesty of the Shun Dynasty.

"Welcome to the imperial palace, Prince Qian!"

Below the Chengtian Gate, the Imperial Guards had already discarded their armor and weapons, lining up beneath the city walls. Seeing the formidable army arrive, they were struck with terror and knelt in unison.

"Your Highness, let me send men to secure the gate first!"

Li Changjin volunteered. After receiving Chu Yan’s approval, he led a thousand men to confiscate the weapons and armor of the Shun Imperial Guards and ordered the Prince’s own guards to seize control of the ramparts.

A quarter of an hour later, Chu Yan and his officers rode across the Outer Five-Dragon Bridge.

Chu Ming intentionally slowed his horse. He saw dozens of generals riding excitedly across the bridge in a swarm, while most of the civil officials remained disciplined, walking across the outermost bridge.

After passing through the Chengtian Gate, they reached the Duan Gate, with the Altar of Land and Grain to the left and the Imperial Ancestral Temple to the right. Chu Yan ignored them and rode on to the Meridian Gate.

The Imperial Guards there also knelt to welcome him.

Passing through the Meridian Gate, they went from the Fengtian Gate to the front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Thousands of eunuchs and palace maids stood where officials usually gathered for the morning court. Seeing Chu Yan and his officers approach, they too fell to their knees.

"Welcome, Prince Qian!"

Several elderly eunuchs bowed low, carefully approaching Chu Yan before prostrating themselves to kowtow.

Ma Ji chuckled. "Who organized the palace staff to welcome the Prince? This is quite the reception!"

"Reporting to the General, this servant felt that since the mandate has changed hands, we servants who serve the Emperor should also come to welcome the new sovereign!"

An old eunuch looked up, smiling obsequiously.

Chu Yan asked, "What is your name? What were your duties here?"

"Reporting to the new Emperor, this servant’s name is Xia Shouzhong. I was the... oh, I deserve a beating!"

Xia Shouzhong slapped his own face before hurrying to continue: "This servant was the head eunuch of the Kunning Palace, serving the late Empress Zhang of the Shun Dynasty!"

The other eunuchs and maids followed suit, reporting their names and positions; the eunuchs were head eunuchs of various palaces, and the maids were palace historians.

Chu Yan nodded, looking at the sea of kneeling servants, and ordered, "Tell them to rise and return to their duties to maintain order."

"Yes, as the new Emperor commands!"

Xia Shouzhong, eager to prove his loyalty, rose and shouted to the crowd: "Rise!"

The eunuchs and maids stood, bowing their heads in submission.

Chu Yan then commanded them: "Bring the Emperor and his family to see me."

Xia Shouzhong and the others felt a jolt of anxiety. Just as they were about to kneel again to receive the order, they saw the new Emperor ride off with his hundred officials and a thousand guards toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Where is the Emperor?" one head eunuch asked the others.

Most shook their heads; the palace had been in chaos all morning, with servants running in every direction.

"You said earlier that if the Emperor died, none of us would survive. Did you keep a close watch on him?!"

"The Emperor is in the Qianqing Palace; he hasn't stepped out all morning. I told Liu Ju of the Qianqing Palace to watch him closely!"

"What? You told him? That’s a disaster! He is fiercely loyal to the old Emperor!"

"This..."

"Quick, take a squad, break down the doors of the Qianqing Palace, and bring the old Emperor to meet the new one!"

The head eunuchs hurriedly gave orders and, after arranging the men, rushed to attend to the new Emperor.

Chu Yan dismounted before the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. With his sword at his waist, he led his officers up the stairs and into the hall—the Golden Throne Hall.

Seventy-two golden nanmu pillars supported the magnificent structure. The breathtaking, grand sight left the generals, who had spent their lives on the battlefield, completely stunned.

They slowed their pace, circling the pillars and running their hands over them in awe, murmuring praises.

Chu Yan smiled, admiring the furnishings: the golden dragon pillars, the plaques, the couplets, and the throne in the center.

Thirteen years since he arrived in this world, ten years of rebellion, having survived over a hundred battles and traversed the length and breadth of the land—today, he finally stood at the very center of power.