in2ebook Chapter 262 Inviting People from All Over the World
Chapter 262 Inviting People from All Over the World
Chapter 262 Inviting People from All Over the World
Chief Steward Wang pushed open the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and walked in from outside.
Emperor Li Yu of Tang reached out and pulled out a pre-written imperial edict from beside his pillow, handing it to Chief Steward Wang: "Read it to Yuan'er."
Chief Steward Wang received the imperial edict, unfolded it, and read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Li Longyuan possesses extraordinary talent and is composed and measured. He is the only suitable candidate to be a benevolent ruler and stabilize the country. Since the battle in the capital, I have been feeling unwell and have decided to retreat into seclusion to recuperate. I hereby pass the throne to Prince Li Longyuan..."
The imperial edict was a lengthy document, but its core message was that Emperor Li Yu of Tang abdicated and passed the throne to Lin Fei.
After Steward Wang finished reading, Li Yu waved his hand and said, "Go down and read the imperial edict to all civil and military officials. Also, have the Yuan family choose an auspicious day so that Yuan'er can hold the enthronement ceremony."
Chief Steward Wang withdrew as instructed. Li Yu leaned against the dragon bed, gently closed his eyes, and looked exhausted. He said to Lin Fei, "Yuan'er, you may leave now. I am tired. Go back and prepare yourself. From now on, I will entrust this legacy passed down from our ancestors to you."
Lin Fei hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed and did not refuse. He bowed to Li Yu and then left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
……
Emperor Li Yu of Tang formally abdicated and passed the throne to his son, Li Longyuan. Although the event was sudden, the civil and military officials in the capital had actually been prepared for it.
Li Yu's desire to abdicate was nothing new; it had been on the agenda ever since the battle of the capital, it was only a matter of time. No one expected it to come so quickly and suddenly.
The ascension of a new monarch is no small matter. From selecting an auspicious day to preparing all the necessary arrangements, including offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors and inviting guests from all over the world, it will take at least half a year.
These days, Lin Fei has not been idle. In addition to continuing to study the way of governing a country, he has been consolidating his cultivation every day. He himself did not want to take over the throne so soon, but since he has taken over the throne, he must make a name for himself.
Deep in Lin Fei's heart, a bold idea had already begun to take shape—he wanted to make this enthronement ceremony an unprecedented and unparalleled event.
……
Since returning from the capital, Yuan Daotong of the Yuan family in Jiangling has been in seclusion, striving to break through to the Dharma Aspect realm as soon as possible so that he can formally take over the position of Celestial Master, a position passed down through his family.
On this day, the imperial envoy who came from the capital to deliver an imperial decree broke the long-standing peace of the Yuan family.
Even Yuan Daotong was stunned for a long time after receiving the imperial decree, unable to come to his senses.
"Brother, what happened? What did the imperial edict say? Why are you standing here in a daze?" Yuan Qingqing, who came in from outside, asked when she saw Yuan Daotong standing there in a daze.
"Brother Mingxin, no, His Highness Longyuan is about to officially ascend the throne. An imperial decree has been issued from the capital ordering me to come immediately to prepare for the new emperor's ascension." Yuan Daotong was stunned for a long time before he spoke.
"What? That kid is going to become the ruler of the Southern Tang?" Yuan Qingqing covered her mouth in surprise. She never expected that the little Taoist priest would transform into the monarch who ruled the entire Southern Tang in just a few years.
"Qingqing, don't talk nonsense!" Yuan Daotong glared at her angrily: "You just stay at home and don't cause any more trouble!"
After saying that, he picked up the imperial edict and hurriedly walked out.
Alone in her room, Yuan Qingqing wrinkled her nose and said, "Hmph, you're going to the capital all by yourself, leaving me all alone at home. You wish! If you don't take me, I'll go by myself!"
……
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Yuan Daotong dared not delay for even a moment and hurriedly headed to the capital.
Although he and Lin Fei had known each other for a long time, their current statuses were different. Furthermore, Yuan Daotong had not yet officially assumed the position of Celestial Master in the Yuan family. Even though he had a relationship with Lin Fei, he was afraid of gossip. After all, serving a ruler was like walking on thin ice; who knew if the new emperor was still the same little Taoist priest from before?
Yuan Daotong rode swiftly to the capital and arrived at Lin Fei's residence. When he arrived, Lin Fei was discussing the guest list for the enthronement ceremony with the Grand Eunuch Wang and Prime Minister Wang You.
"Your subject Yuan Daotong greets Your Highness!" Yuan Daotong stood below the main hall and bowed respectfully. Lin Fei had not yet officially ascended the throne, so Yuan Daotong addressed him as "Your Highness" rather than "Your Majesty."
“Brother Yuan, you’re being too formal. We only discuss matters of the martial world in private, not the imperial court. Please just call me ‘Brother Dao’.” Lin Fei smiled and invited Yuan Daotong to sit down. “Now that you’re here, let’s discuss the matter of inviting guests for the enthronement ceremony.”
Yuan Daotong sat down as instructed, feeling relieved—thankfully, Lin Fei hadn't changed after becoming the new emperor and still maintained his chivalrous spirit.
He secretly observed Lin Fei, and the more he looked, the more astonished he became—Lin Fei now possessed an even stronger aura of kingship than before. According to the Yuan family's divination techniques, a wisp of golden dragon energy was faintly gathering above Lin Fei's head.
"A true dragon gathers at the top of the head! This is the sign of an ancient benevolent ruler. It's incredible!" Yuan Daotong exclaimed inwardly, feeling a sense of awe.
After a brief interlude, Prime Minister Wang You continued, "Your Highness, I have already prepared the guest list. It includes the major sects within our Southern Tang territory, as well as the powerful families of Northern Han, the Great River Gang, and the Azure Dragon Society. What do you think, Your Highness?"
After listening, Lin Fei shook his head and said, "No, it's not enough!"
He glanced at the three people sitting below and then said, "Since Brother Yuan is here, I might as well tell you the truth. In addition to the new emperor's ascension to the throne, I also want to take this opportunity to break through my cultivation and achieve the Dharma Aspect!"
This news was unprecedented, not only for Yuan Daotong who had traveled from afar, but also for Prime Minister Wang You and the Grand Eunuch Wang. Breaking through to the Dharma Aspect stage is no easy feat, let alone for someone with Lin Fei's talent and cultivation. If he were to break through, it would undoubtedly be a meteoric rise to power, so he couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest.
Before the three could speak, Lin Fei had already stood up: "So these guests are far from enough. The four sects of Taoism, the three temples of Buddhism, the four major sword sects, the twelve great families of Northern Han, the four major gangs, and even the eight evil sects must all be invited for me."
Lin Fei declared with boundless pride, "I will rise to the top in front of the whole world. I will let everyone know that under my leadership, the Southern Tang Dynasty will achieve an unparalleled and unprecedented empire!"