Chapter 629: Chapter 217: The Bird

Red boats vied for victory, aiming for the golden ball, but Pei Yunmeng didn’t choose from the array of beaming flowers on the gold plate, instead, she casually picked a wildflower from the herbage of the sheltered ground, an action that surprised everyone.

However, although it was surprising, it was not unreasonable.

After all, in today’s competition for the red boats, she wasn’t among the racing soldiers.

Having obtained the wildflower, Pei Yunmeng retreated to the upper floor of the pavilion, and the minor commotion of the race quickly passed, with the golden ball being hung up again, and the rest of the red boats resumed their competition.

But with the excellence of what had just happened before, this current contest seemed to lack some excitement and didn’t stir the blood as it did earlier.

On the flower boat, the Music Officers performed water plays and dances, and amidst the lively singing, Lu Tong sat with lowered brows, slightly zoning out for a moment.

Pei Yunmeng had chosen a hibiscus flower.

That night, she thought she had made herself very clear to Pei Yunmeng.

Lu Tong raised her hand, her fingertips brushing through the hair by her temples, and the hibiscus flower hairpin implanted slantwise in her hair felt cool.

She withdrew her hand, her expression returning to calm once more.

The crowd on the terrace buzzed with excitement, and after the water palace’s various plays were finished, the dozens of tiger head boats and flying fish boats on Chang’an Pool all pulled away, leaving only a few of the most magnificent dragon boats for the ministers to enjoy at their leisure.

What followed was a presentation of a hundred plays by the various armies.

Dozens of people beat drums to the tune of "Mo Shanxi," and with the music, performers who acted out beatings entered the stage, fluttering flags, performing somersaults, arranging in crescent formations, and then suddenly, a thunderous explosion sounded, splitting the ranks of the soldiers.

A round of "Bravo!" erupted from the terrace.

Lin Danqing couldn’t stop clapping: "This is so spectacular!"

Caught up in the excitement at the edge of Chang Le Pond, Lu Tong, seated among the assembly, watched intently. Subconsciously, she felt as if a gaze had landed on her and looked up to meet the eyes of a youth from the Divine Treasure Tower.

Their eyes collided; he paused ever so slightly, then swiftly turned his head away, shifting his gaze.

After the mock battle, the sons of nobles from direct official families presented horseback performances: leading processions on horseback, shooting with one hand, shooting with joined hands, binding flying horses in mid-air... it was a dazzling spectacle.

Then came the performances by the girls from the Miaofa Institute and the flower-garbed men juggling balls...

As people watched, they cheered, and by the time all hundred plays were presented, it was already the afternoon.

The auspicious time arrived, and the grand ceremony was about to begin.

Above the high tower, the Emperor already showed signs of fatigue, but upon seeing the music officers beating the drums, he came down to Tianzhang Platform amidst his Imperial Guards.

Lu Tong stood with the officials below the sacrificial altar.

"The Records of the Grand Historian. Music Records" states, "The grand music harmonizes with heaven and earth, the grand rites follow the seasons of heaven and earth."

When the late Emperor was alive, he held personal sacrifices every three years with great solemnity. After Emperor Liang Ming’s accession, the personal sacrifices changed to once every five years.

Although this year was not a year for grand ceremonies, the unrest at Qi Shui and the locust disaster in Su Nan had left the common people in deep suffering. The Imperial Censors petitioned repeatedly, and Emperor Liang Ming thus specially opened the sacrificial altar to pray for blessings for all under heaven.

Imperial ritual implements were all prepared, and The Great Scribe Bureau was verifying the time. All officials were in ceremonial dress, holding tablets according to their rank, with the Imperial Guards fully armored, surrounding the area.

The Emperor, dressed in his ceremonial robes and wearing his crown, ascended the three-tiered high altar.

The Ceremonial Officer played music, dancers struck bronze cymbals and chime rings, the Emperor ascended the altar, bowed in all directions, knelt down, offered wine.

Summoning the divine presence, the Emperor made his ascent and descent, laid down jade tokens, presented the sacrificial platter, poured libations, drank to fortune, made the second offering, the final offering, sent off the divine presence...

Atop the altar, offerings and silk were sprinkled down from the western steps.

All items for the sacrifice were carried to the Burn Furnace and incinerated. The music ended, praises followed by a bow, and the ceremony was concluded.

From the start to the end of the grand ceremony, it took a full three hours, and by the end, the sky was completely dark.

This was Lu Tong’s first experience of a palace grand ceremony, and she had yet to feel anything particular, but the older Medical Officer beside her could not help but show a troubled expression, and Chang Jin even took the chance to secretly rub his knees when no one was paying attention.

Looking at the other officials, aside from the princes and marquesses standing at the very front, those hiding at the back all had somewhat strained faces.

Emperor Liang Ming was no different.

The Emperor’s health was not the best, and just to get through the full three hours of ceremonies was a feat; after the ceremony, he went to rest for a while on the dragon boat at Chang Le Pond. Around the Hai Hour, the grand Nuo ceremony would begin, and then fireworks would be set off within the Imperial City.

In the time between the end of the grand ceremony and the start of the Nuo ritual, the officials could also take a short break at the banquet by the pond.

The crowd then dispersed back to the banquet by the edge of Chang Le Pond.

Pei Yunmeng followed Emperor Liang Ming onto the dragon boat, where the Empress and the Empress Dowager were resting. After hearing updates for the upcoming Nuo ritual, Pei Yunmeng excused himself and left.

He first made a round near the Imperial Guards, then returned to the edge of Chang Le Pond, where the atmosphere was lively. Lin Danqing was speaking to Chang Jin, and there was no sign of Lu Tong beside her.

He scanned the surroundings but did not see Lu Tong anywhere.

However, Lin Danqing noticed his arrival and greeted him: "Why is Marshal Pei here?"

Pei Yunmeng glanced at the seat, asking, "Isn’t Lu Tong here?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read