Chapter 104: The Holy Hall Consecration (Part One)

Tao Ming had never imagined that the Imperial Clan Hall stood behind Xuanling Hall, built back-to-back with it and smaller in size, so that from Xuanling Hall no one could tell there was another building behind it.

Because of that, its doors could only open to the north, glaringly out of place among the other structures inside the imperial palace.

A small square before the hall’s front was now full of people, all dressed in uniform azure robes embroidered with different patterns.

Tao Ming stood motionless facing the hall gate, cradling Ruanruan and Nono, who had changed into a white tiger, in her arms, while Qin Youchuan and Su Yanfeng stood on either side of her.

The hall doors opened wide. Inside, it was no different from the hall she had once seen in the Qiluo Estate, except for the intricate pattern painted on the floor; everywhere else was bare.

From behind, a loud voice called out, “The Holy Maiden enters the hall.”

Remembering the procedure Su Nansxing had explained to her before, Tao Ming steadied herself and stepped toward the hall.

She set Ruanruan down on the symbol drawn at the center of the floor, then put Nono back into her lap, then said softly, “Ruanruan, stand here with Nono for a little while. If you can bear it, Mother will give you three lollipops.”

Ruanruan wanted a lollipop, but she didn’t want Tao Ming to leave her side. She started to cry. “Mama, I’m scared.”

Tao Ming felt a sting in her chest, wiped away Ruanruan’s tears, and asked Qin Youchuan in a low voice, “Grandfather, are these two only ones who can stand here?”

Qin Youchuan nodded.

So Tao Ming kept holding Ruanruan and soothing her. “Mama is right here. You can see me if you turn your head. Nono will stay with you the whole time. Be brave, it won’t take long.”

Nono murmured softly, “My claws are strong. I can protect you.”

Ruanruan rubbed her eyes with a small hand, then nodded. “Mama, I am brave.”

Tao Ming hugged her once more, then got to her feet and moved to Qin Youchuan’s side, watching the two small children at the center of the design with a heart full of worry.

When the announcer saw Tao Ming step out of the formation, he shouted, “Welcome, Son of Heaven.”

Tao Ming had expected the Son of Heaven to enter through the gate, but the wall facing the gate flashed with white light and he suddenly appeared inside the hall, with two men at his sides.

She noticed the Seventh Prince standing to his right and guessed in silence that the figure on his left might be the Sixth Prince.

For the first time, she truly saw the Son of Heaven’s appearance. He wore a deep violet robe, bound a matching sash at his waist, and had his jet-black hair tied high under a violet crown. Beneath his sharp brows were profound eyes, his features clear and strong, his tall frame upright and elegant, his bearing unmistakably imperial.

Such a face alone could inspire the usual praise—wise and mighty, every inch a sovereign.

Yet Tao Ming had once heard about the sordid things the Seventh Prince attributed to him, and she could not look at him without prejudgment.

He was handsome, undeniably handsome, but she felt as if an ugly ferocity still clung to him like a shadow.

“The auspicious hour has come,” he said. “The Holy Maiden is to be enthroned.”

Qiao Lingcang stood before Ruanruan, extended both hands, and hovered them lightly above her head in gentle circles. From the two children, tiny threads of violet light seeped out, coiled upward and rose until they touched his palms, then followed the lines of his arms and entered his body.

Sensing the restraints on the two children, Qiao Lingcang felt a faint gratitude toward his ancestor.

Had his ancestor not possessed such farsighted insight and laid this scheme, then through the ages the sacred sons and daughters would have been nothing more than tools for the imperial clan to send where they wished.

The Qin and Su houses, assuming they could sideline the Weishui orphan, were tragic and laughable; such a trifling Weishui child did not have to be taken seriously, after all.

Tao Ming tensed at every movement. If the Son of Heaven showed even a trace of malice, she would at once whisk the two little ones away through the Rotating Stars Shift.

Slowly the violet light from the two children thinned and faded. When no more light exuded, he withdrew his hands and said, “Kong Jin.”

The man on his left, who had been standing there, held an open pledge of loyalty and walked to his side, then knelt and set the document before Ruanruan.

Looking down from above, the Son of Heaven spoke in an even tone, “Holy Maiden, one drop of blood is all that is required.”

At the mention of blood, Ruanruan snapped, “I don’t want to!”

The Son of Heaven had never heard anyone speak to him that way. For a brief moment he seemed unable to react; after a heartbeat he forced himself to reign in his anger and said, “Kong Jin, take the blood.”

Qiao Lingcang thought that in every previous enthronement, the sacred sons and daughters had been infants, and he had assumed this Maiden would willingly bleed at once. He had not expected he would have to make another do it.

Tao Ming’s heart rose to her throat. Had the oath document been tampered with?

Or was this all a trick meant to occur after the blood was drawn?

Would the Son of Heaven be angered by Ruanruan speaking so directly?

Kong Jin drew a small knife, reached for Ruanruan’s left hand, and tried to pull it. She resisted with all her strength, but she was too small, and he pulled her into his side.

As the knife was about to slice her finger, Ruanruan cried out, “You bad man!”

A plume of orange flame burst from her fingertip and ran along Kong Jin’s fingers up to his arm.

Kong Jin screamed and released Ruanruan, then watched helplessly as the fire spread from his shoulder to the rest of his body. He hurriedly used his inner techniques to fight it.

His whole body darkened beneath a skin of violet lightning as he tried to keep the orange flame outside.

But the orange fire burned through the lightning as well. In the confusion, Kong Jin staggered and stepped on the loyalty document; it quickly turned to a thin layer of ash.

Tao Ming reacted at once and ran to Ruanruan. “Good girl. Call that fire back.”

Ruanruan, curling against Tao Ming, shook her head. “No. He’s a bad man!”

Kong Jin’s screams grew louder. Tao Ming thought, if he keeps this up, he’ll die.

She held her breath and soothed her, “Little sweetheart, even if he is bad, he ought to be punished by law. You are still just a child. You cannot do this.”

Ruanruan sighed, and reluctantly said, “All right.”

With a slight twist of her finger, the orange fire leapt off Kong Jin, vanished, and sank back into her body.

By then Kong Jin looked utterly wretched. Even his hair had burned away; not only his clothing, even his fur had gone, and his whole body was blackened.

Tao Ming pressed Ruanruan’s head against her chest so she would not carry the sight as a memory.

When Qiao Lingcang saw the orange fire rise from Ruanruan’s fingertips, his eyes flashed with fierce excitement.

The Holy Maiden carried strange fire within her, and though not yet one year old, she could wield it at will. That meant the return of a celestial immortal might truly be near.

Unbidden, he wanted to lift Ruanruan in his arms. When a hand appeared in front of her, Tao Ming, on instinct, stepped backward quickly; Qin Youchuan and Su Yanfeng moved together to stand before her.

Both men were equally startled, especially Su Yanfeng. Ruanruan had spent a full day and night at the Wei-Xiang Court, and he still had noticed nothing at all.

Seeing them block the way to Tao Ming, Qiao Lingcang regained his composure. He thought to himself that once the Sacred Maiden’s injuries had healed and he had removed the restraints in her body, he would have these two skinned alive and their tendons torn out.

He glanced at Kong Jin and said, “Kong Qing, take Kong Jin for treatment.”

The Seventh Prince acknowledged and called for two men, who carried Kong Jin off. Without looking back, they walked to the gate, holding in check even the urge to cast another look at Tao Ming, and left the Imperial Clan Hall.

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