Chapter 12: Xiyuan Festival, Wanli Cloud Return

...
After passing through the tall city gate and walking into this capital city among the traffic of horses and wagons, Lin Tuo left behind the episode of the talent and observes the world with great interest.
This is the first time he has entered the Dachi Dynasty, and everything he can see is fresh.
Fortunately, many of the imperial citizens who came to Kyoto for the first time in their lives would have a similar look. In addition, before entering the city, Lin Tuo tried a way to get a local robes, which was not very eye-catching.
especially……
For the citizens of Kyoto, there are so many people in and outside the capital city because of the celebrations that will take place in the past few days, which makes Lin Tuo seem inconspicuous.
...
"This is the country of Chi." Walking in the streets, Lin Tuo admired the shops and buildings on both sides. At this moment, the sun had risen and the whole city was alive.
The streets are getting more people.
People's conversations provided him with a lot of useful information.
Among them, the word that appears most frequently is "memorial ceremony".
"I'm so lucky? The first time I came in, I caught up with the festival?" After confirming the meaning of the so-called celebration, Lin Tuo couldn't help being dumb, and then aroused keen interest.
And realized that, perhaps, this could be an opportunity for his next action.
Yes.
Lin Tuo didn't intend to break into the palace directly. Although he was sure of this, it was not necessary.
As he said to the officer who defended the city, his trip was just to see the world.
...
"Look! The royal car is here!" When Lin Tuo walked aimlessly to the Taochuan River that traverses Kyoto, he saw countless peach blossoms on both sides of the river and painted boats on the water.
Then, he saw the silhouette of the ship pouring out, pointing towards the bridge in the distance.
The national style of the Chi Empire is enlightened, and so is the folk customs, that is, Kyoto. Although the laws are solemn, but not strict, this is a matter of course.
"Imperial car?" Lin Tuo immediately looked around, and saw a string of gorgeous cars coming slowly under the guard of a crowd of palace people, and there was music fluttering around.
It turned out to be a carriage honor queue.
There was no one in the car headed, only a flag was erected, and the flag was bright yellow, drawing the ancient totem of the Chi Empire, slowly fluttering in the spring wind.
"This is part of the ceremony of worshiping the gods. The emperor's car arches the flag and travels all over the city before going to Xiyuan. His Majesty and the officials are there, and there are others waiting. The ceremony is really about to begin. It's afternoon."
There are many people beside Lin Tuo.
At this moment, I heard the reputation, and the local people in Kyoto immediately explained it, and the tone was not lacking in arrogance.
"Your Majesty is not in this team?"
Someone asked while standing on tiptoe, looking out in the crowd.
The Kyoto native snorted, shook his head and smiled:
"How is it possible? This car has to go around for a few hours. If the monarch keeps following, where can I get the strength to worship God in the afternoon?
This is a laborious job. Moreover, when driving across the city, there are so many people, what should I do if something goes wrong? "
"It's also..."
"It's a pity, I still want to take a look at the current saint."
"Let's go to Xiyuan in the afternoon to see, but there were so many people at that time, you can't see it either."
There was a lot of discussion on the banks of Taochuan.
Lin Tuo was in it, his eyes lost focus for a short time, and he switched his consciousness back to his body, condescending, overlooking the city, and found the location of Xiyuan.
"Well, this forest garden should be right?" In the old martial arts house, Lin Tuo stood by the sand table, leaning over to the west of Kyoto, and saw that many humans had gathered there.
"The ceremony to worship the gods...Perhaps, it's really a good opportunity."
Lin Tuo got up and looked at the wisps of clouds above the sand table, lost in thought.
...
...
Since the time flow rate inside and outside the sand table was adjusted to 1:1, Lin Tuo wanted to observe the ceremony and had to wait patiently until the afternoon.
He was not in a hurry, just taking advantage of this time to observe the city.
In a sense, the capital of a country can reflect the country’s style and social conditions.
In Lin Tuo's eyes, this is probably an analogy to the Han and Tang dynasties.
Five hundred years since the founding of Ochi, there have been many wars in history, but most of them belonged to the infighting of the royal family. Therefore, no matter who won, the name of the dynasty has not been changed.
Today's monarchs continue to digitize their ancestors, and they have a great deal of defrauding orders, and the politics and people are harmonious, and the empire is changed.
The reputation among the people is good, it seems that he is an enterprising emperor.
This makes Lin Tuo very satisfied.
It is a pity that many problems cannot be changed at all because of the inefficient productivity of the current society. Therefore, the so-called "enterprising" is only a repair.
"It is good to have the idea of ​​reform, otherwise, I think the promotion of this empire will inevitably be delayed for several decades."
On the bank of the Taochuan River, Lin Tuo leaned over, holding up a river lantern from the water, his eyes flashing.
...
Switched to the main body at noon and ordered a takeaway, and in a blink of an eye, it was afternoon.
When Lin Tuo switched his consciousness to the sub-body again, opened his eyes, he saw the pedestrians on the street, like weaving, in groups, walking westward.
Obviously to participate in the ceremony of worship.
Some people are dressed in ordinary clothes, some are in the dust, and there are some singers and dancers in the classical costumes of bright red, light pink, or goose yellow. The faces are also painted with heavy makeup, dotted in the crowd, like a peach blossom.
No, not "if".
In fact, Lin Tuo noticed that almost half of the people in Kyoto, no matter what they look like, they all hold a branch full of peach blossoms in their hands.
This seems to be some kind of festive etiquette.
While walking, the fragrant wind blows people.
"God bless the country!"
When Lin Tuo followed the crowd, passing a street corner.
A dancer who didn't know whether it was arranged by the court or was a spontaneous dancer, pulled a branch from the huge flower basket beside him and handed it to him with a gentle voice.
"Thank you." Lin Tuo was startled and took it. At this moment, he finally felt the festive atmosphere.
The memorial ceremony has been held for hundreds of years, and it has evolved from a pure royal ceremony to a folk festival for the entire dynasty.
...
When Lin Tuo finally came to Xiyuan with the flow of people, he saw that it was already full of people.
The surrounding trees hurried, and there was an imperial forest guard in front, blocking the crowd here.
Moving forward, you can see a huge circular altar above the ground.
At this moment, flags have been planted around the altar. The current emperor of Chi State led his officials under the altar. The officials around Gong'e are busy, and the ceremony of worshipping the gods is about to begin.
Lin Tuo was submerged in the crowd, extremely inconspicuous. He didn't try to squeeze forward either. He only needed to switch his consciousness back to his body occasionally to be able to sit down and overlook the city.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Suddenly, there were people beating drums around the altar, and there was a burst of drums. Around the entire garden, thousands of Kyoto people were still talking in low voices, a mess.
But as the drum sounded, he closed his mouth for a few breaths.
Seeing this, those outsiders also stopped talking, and for a time, tens of thousands of eyes looked at the Xiyuan altar.
"Quiet! Respect God! The ceremony is on!"
The priest sang a loud shout, and immediately, the ceremony was run according to strict rules.
The first step, the second step...
The ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner, and the Imperial Forest Army walked through the crowd to prevent riots.
Among the crowd, Lin Tuo looked at it for a while at first and found it interesting, but gradually, he began to lose his mind.
Through the understanding of the whole morning, he already knew the procedure of the whole festival.
Knowing that when the previous steps are over, the Emperor Chi State will ascend to the altar, show to the sky, count the merits and demerits of the past year, and then divination and pray for the gods.
Hmm... The latter part is basically the sacrificial officials reciting according to the prepared lines. Anyway, no one has seen the gods. What God said is all based on nonsense by those officials.
After learning about this, Lin Tuo had a plan.
He slowly raised his head and glanced at the sky.
It was quite clear today, with only a few faint clouds floating in the sky, and many people watching the ceremony, let alone the emperor, his officials and officials.
"It's so thick, it doesn't make you sweat." A simple-looking citizen next to him whispered.
Lin Tuo glanced at him, let out a chuckle, and said in a low voice, "I think it might be cloudy later."
"How could this be..."
Seeing that others didn't believe it, Lin Tuo didn't explain, but just continued to wait.
After another half an hour, with a burst of music, a figure in a yellow robe was seen on the altar under the eyes of everyone.
"The monarch is coming up!"
"Is that the emperor?"
"It's out, it's out..."
Seeing this scene, the tarnished crowd suddenly rioted again. Fortunately, there were guards from the Imperial Forest Army and soon calmed down again.
Almost everyone, at this moment, cast their eyes on the figure on the altar ahead.
No one noticed that the eyes of a certain young man in the crowd suddenly lost their brilliance, his expression was dull, standing in place, like a puppet.
...
From Shanwuguan, inside the old house.
Sitting on the wicker chair, Lin Tuo suddenly "woke up", slowly got up, looked at the location of Xiyuan in the sand table, a smile appeared on his face.
"Finally, you can make me wait."
Speaking softly, Lin Tuo suddenly raised his hand, leaned slightly, plunged his arms into the sand table, and hugged the sky of Xiaobanchi Country at a high altitude.
Gather slowly!
So, at this moment, I saw the countless clouds that were originally scattered and floating in the country, being forced to Kyoto by two invisible arms!
While doing this action.
He even put his head into the height below the clouds, and then coughed vigorously.
"cough!"
...
...
At the same time, the Oike Dynasty, Kyoto Xiyuan, was on the altar.
The sweaty Chi Di slowly stood still, and then glanced at the several bronze cauldrons placed on the altar in front of him.
In the largest pot in the center, a flagpole was erected, and the totem that traveled around the city hung on it. At this moment, it was full of words.
That was the ceremonial book written by the head of civil servants before the ceremony began.
The content is also very simple.
The rough meaning is to pray for enlightenment from the gods and guide peace for the world.
It's not that I really want the gods to say something, it's just a tradition, nothing more.
As Emperor Chi came to the stage and finished reading a set of sacrificial poems, the courtier next to him threw something into the cauldron, and immediately, a raging flame rose in the bronze cauldron.
Gradually ignited the entire totem.
This is the most important ceremony of the ceremonial ceremony.
The "letter" of "sacrifice to the gods" is ignited, and then special officials will "interpret" the decrees of the gods.
Everyone watched this scene calmly.
No one thinks it will be different this time.
After all, similar processes have been carried out countless times.
however……
Just today, just now.
When the flames in the cauldron were blazing and tens of thousands of Kyoto citizens stared quietly, suddenly, the blazing sun suddenly disappeared.
...
In the crowd.
The Kyoto native who had just complained silently was stunned, then raised his head and glanced at the sky that was still clear for a second.
Immediately, his face was stunned, and he exclaimed:
"This... God... Naive is really overcast!!!"