454: Chapter 454 The Crown Prince Ascends the Throne

Returning to the Chaotian Dynasty this time, Di Pingjian felt apprehensive. She knew her status was lowly and feared she would be unable to accompany the Heir Apparent to court to witness him inheriting the throne.

After all, she was merely a commoner without any official Rank in the Chaotian Dynasty, and her background was considered the most humble in the entire realm.

However, fate is always full of unexpected turns.

Just as she and the Heir Apparent's group stepped through the gates of Chaotian City, a sudden royal decree pierced through the gloom in her heart like a bolt of lightning.

It turned out that the King had specifically dispatched an envoy to convey his will, granting her special permission to attend court as a commoner!

This news not only stunned Di Pingjian herself but also greatly surprised the Heir Apparent and the other members of the entourage.

After all, in the strictly hierarchical Chaotian Dynasty, a commoner being allowed to attend court to discuss affairs was simply unheard of.

With a heart full of doubt and anticipation, Di Pingjian entered the palace gates alongside the Heir Apparent.

However, shortly after entering the palace, the two of them had to part ways.

Because the Heir Apparent was about to inherit the throne, he still needed to undergo a series of necessary preparations, such as changing into the specially made new royal robes.

Di Pingjian, meanwhile, was led by a eunuch and arrived at Chaotian Hall ahead of him.

This magnificent palace was where the ministers and generals attended court, and it was also a place Di Pingjian had visited once more than ten years ago.

At that time, Di Pingjian was still an innocent young girl. Her eyes were like a clear spring, deep and bright, but in all other respects, she had seemed somewhat immature and green.

However, time flies. While today's Di Pingjian remained pure and lovely, her appearance had undergone a significant transformation.

Her waterfall-like long black hair was carefully coiled and neatly tied behind her head, projecting a sharp and capable aura.

Dressed in men's clothing, her every movement revealed a heroic spirit; she looked every bit the part of a dashing young man.

Furthermore, Di Pingjian's face was no longer as youthful as before. The traces of time were faintly visible, adding a sense of maturity and steadiness to her features.

Strangely, however, her eyes seemed to have lost their former depth, replaced by a subtle indifference, as if she were unconcerned with everything around her.

At this moment, the great Chaotian Hall was already crowded with ministers and generals who had come for the audience.

Dressed in magnificent court robes, they stood in perfect order.

In the very center of the hall, the King sat high upon his throne, his figure appearing exceptionally majestic under the brilliant light.

Compared to ten years ago, the current King had indeed changed a great deal.

Though his majesty remained as it always was, the one or two strands of white hair peeking out from beneath his crown ruthlessly revealed his aging.

Over the years, the Chaotian Dynasty had continuously expanded outward, and wars were frequent. This King must have borne immense pressure, causing his hair to turn gray in just over a decade.

The moment Di Pingjian stepped into Chaotian Hall, the entire hall seemed shaken by her appearance.

The ministers and generals, who had been whispering or busy with their own affairs, suddenly stopped what they were doing and turned as one to look at Di Pingjian.

Some wore expressions of bewilderment, seemingly baffled by her arrival, while others' faces turned dark and unsightly, clearly dissatisfied with her intrusion.

In the eyes of these ministers and generals, a commoner like Di Pingjian had no right to enter the palace, let alone step into a place as solemn as Chaotian Hall.

However, facing the various complex gazes cast upon her, Di Pingjian remained exceptionally calm and composed.

She walked with steady steps directly toward the center of the hall without the slightest hesitation or fluster.

Only when she reached the appropriate position did she stop. She then bowed respectfully toward the King on the throne and said in a clear voice:

“Your subject, the Heir Apparent's Attendant, pays respects to the King!”

Her voice echoed through the vast hall, clear and powerful.

Upon hearing how she addressed herself, everyone looked at each other, secretly wondering: “Heir Apparent's Attendant? What kind of official Rank is that?”

...

“When did the King appoint this person as the Heir Apparent's Attendant?”

“Indeed. Since she holds an official Rank, why is she not wearing court robes but instead dressed in commoner's clothing? Is this not a great disrespect to the King?”

...

For a moment, the hall was filled with the sound of discussion. The ministers were full of questions and doubts regarding Di Pingjian's identity and Rank, whispering among themselves.

The King sat upon the magnificent Dragon Throne, dressed in a splendid Dragon Robe and wearing a crown, appearing majestic and solemn.

When he saw the commotion in the hall, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he were dissatisfied with the noisy scene.

However, his voice was like a great bell, deep and powerful, resounding throughout the hall:

“Silence!”

These two words were like a clap of thunder, causing the noisy hall to instantly fall silent.

The King's gaze fell upon Di Pingjian, and he said slowly, “Di Pingjian has contributed to the Heir Apparent's growth. Not long ago, I appointed her to the position of Heir Apparent's Attendant.

As for the official robes of the Heir Apparent's Attendant, I have already ordered the Ministry of Rites to begin making them, but they are not yet finished.

Therefore, I have specially permitted Di Pingjian to attend court in commoner's clothing. Do my dear ministers have any objections?”

As the King's words fell, a silence settled over the hall.

After a while, a minister snapped out of it and hurriedly shook his head, saying, “None at all, none at all!”

“The King is wise!” another minister chimed in.

“Indeed, indeed. The King truly possesses a Wisdom Eye!” yet another minister praised loudly.

Instantly, the hall was filled with voices of praise. The ministers all expressed their agreement with the King's decision, and no one raised any further objections to Di Pingjian attending court in commoner's clothing.

“Since my dear ministers see no impropriety, then Heir Apparent's Attendant, take your place!”

With a smile on his face, the King's gaze swept over the ministers before landing on Di Pingjian, nodding in satisfaction.

Hearing this, Di Pingjian hurriedly bowed and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

She straightened up and slowly scanned the people in the court, first looking toward where the civil officials stood.

She noticed that the first row clearly had five more positions than the other rows. Di Pingjian's heart stirred as she realized those extra spots must have belonged to the princes who had already passed away.

Di Pingjian sighed inwardly and continued looking back.

Soon, her gaze fell upon the last row of the three columns of civil officials, where an empty spot happened to be.

Di Pingjian understood; this was her position in the court.

She walked to the empty spot and stood elegantly, her posture as straight as a pine tree.

However, because Di Pingjian was a woman and slightly shorter than the other civil officials, she suddenly realized upon standing straight that she couldn't even see the King's entire body from this position.

She could only see the King from the chest up; if she wanted to see him fully, she had to lean to the side.

“Very well, my dear ministers. Now that everyone is present, I have followed the instructions left by the Ancestral King and conducted a rigorous assessment of the Heir Apparent and several princes who had hopes of inheriting the throne.

Through this assessment, the Heir Apparent performed excellently and emerged victorious. Therefore, from this day forward, the Heir Apparent shall inherit the throne according to the ancestral decree, and I shall abdicate to become the Supreme King!”

The King stood up abruptly, his voice like a great bell echoing throughout the hall.

Upon hearing this, many civil and military officials showed looks of joy. They bowed and kowtowed slightly, shouting in unison, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Heir Apparent inherits the great succession. May the King's Dragon body be healthy and his life long!”

Seeing this, the King's lips curled into a satisfied smile.

He gestured for everyone to rise, then turned to the personal attendant eunuch beside him and commanded, “Come, summon the Heir Apparent into the hall for his coronation!”

The attendant eunuch received the order, hurriedly bowed in response, and turned to leave quickly.

In the hall, the officials whispered among themselves.

They were not actually surprised by the King's decision. After all, over the years, the Heir Apparent's scholarship and character were both outstanding; his inheritance of the throne was what everyone expected.

However, many ministers still found it hard to remain calm.

They thought to themselves that five princes were missing from the hall today, including even the First Prince, whom the King doted on the most.

Since the King had just mentioned that several princes had participated in the ancestral decree assessment with the Heir Apparent, the fate of these five princes was not hard to imagine—it was highly likely they had met with misfortune after failing the assessment and had already departed for the Yellow Springs.

“Summon the Heir Apparent into the hall for his coronation!”

“Summon the Heir Apparent into the hall for his coronation!”

“Summon the Heir Apparent into the hall for his coronation!”

These summons were like the ringing of a great bell, echoing outside the vast hall and spreading outward like ripples.

Before long, the sound spread throughout the entire palace, and even the common people outside could faintly hear it.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the entrance of the hall, as if some miracle were about to happen there.

Time passed second by second, and finally, amidst everyone's anticipation, the Heir Apparent's figure appeared in their sight.

The Heir Apparent was dressed in a brand-new Black Gold Flood Dragon King Robe. The color of this garment was deep and solemn, and the flood dragons embroidered upon it were lifelike, as if they could take flight at any moment.

Led by several eunuchs, the Heir Apparent walked into Chaotian Hall with steady steps.

The Black Gold Flood Dragon King Robe was the exclusive attire for the new king of the Chaotian Dynasty.

Only if the Dynasty could maintain prosperity and not decline for three years under the new king's leadership would this robe be replaced by the even more precious Black Gold True Dragon Robe.

The Heir Apparent was still the same man, and his face was still handsome, but after more than ten years of experience with the army on the front lines, his temperament had undergone a world-shaking change.

Now, he exuded a kingly aura that could not be ignored—a majesty that seemed innate, making people feel instinctive awe.

Even the civil and military officials who had long frequented the court could not help but show looks of shock upon seeing the Heir Apparent's demeanor.

They sighed inwardly, realizing that the Heir Apparent truly possessed the majesty of a king now!

The Heir Apparent walked step by step toward the center of the hall, each step carrying an indescribable kingly power.

“Your son pays respects to Father!”

The Heir Apparent knelt on both knees, his forehead lightly touching the ground, and then he slowly raised his head. His gaze fell upon his father on the throne, his eyes revealing a hint of uncontrollable fervor.

The King sat upon the throne, majestic and solemn.

With a smile, he looked at the kneeling Heir Apparent, nodded in satisfaction, and said, “Mmm, Waner, rise quickly. There is no need for such ceremony.”

The Heir Apparent rose as instructed, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his magnificent robes making him look even more distinguished.

He stood respectfully in place, waiting for the King's next instructions.

At that moment, the King rose from his throne and slowly walked down the steps.

Beside him followed a eunuch holding a jade tray covered with a layer of red silk, making it impossible to see what was placed inside.

However, everyone present knew in their hearts that the tray must contain a crown—and a brand-new one at that.

The King walked up to the Heir Apparent and stopped. He gazed at the Heir Apparent with complex emotions in his eyes—both the gratification of seeing his son grow and the expectations for the Dynasty's future.

He said softly, “Waner, over these years, the various changes you have undergone have been witnessed by myself and all the officials. You have not only achieved excellent results in your studies but have also shown extraordinary potential in character and talent.

Now, you have passed the rigorous assessment of the Ancestral Kings Decree, proving that you have enough ability and responsibility to succeed me and shoulder the heavy task of making our Chaotian Dynasty prosper.”

Having said that, the King took a deep breath and personally pulled back the red cloth on the jade tray.

In an instant, a shimmering black gold crown was revealed to all.

This crown was identical to the one the King wore, for it represented the kingly authority of the Chaotian Dynasty and was a symbol of power and glory.

The King carefully placed the crown on the Heir Apparent's head and said solemnly:

“From this moment on, you are the King of the Chaotian Dynasty! You must inherit the will of the Ancestral Kings Decree and strive for the strength and prosperity of the Dynasty!”

“Yes, Father. Your son shall surely strive for the greatness of the Dynasty!”

The Heir Apparent replied with a look of determination.

Seeing that the Heir Apparent had been crowned, the King left Chaotian Hall supported by two eunuchs.

After the King departed, the Heir Apparent slowly turned around. His steps were steady and composed, as if this throne were his natural destination.

He walked to the throne and sat down without the slightest hesitation. In that moment, the entire hall seemed to tremble.

“Ten thousand years to the King! Ten thousand years to Chaotian!”

“Ten thousand years to the King! Ten thousand years to Chaotian!”

“...”

As the Heir Apparent sat firmly upon the throne, the civil and military officials in the hall seemed driven by an invisible force, falling to their knees and shouting loudly.

The shouting was like thunder, echoing through the hall and deafening to the ears.

This was the coronation etiquette of the Chaotian Dynasty; only when a new king ascended the throne would the ministers kneel and bow so solemnly.

Normally, the ministers only needed to perform a simple bow.

However, at this moment, they knelt without hesitation, paying their respects and offering congratulations to the new king in the most devout manner.

...