Passing through the city and arriving at the imperial palace, I found its appearance to be greatly changed from before, much more prosperous.
I wondered if it was because of my arrival, but the previously quiet palace suddenly resounded with melodious music.
I looked up and saw the palace men and women dancing gracefully.
As they danced, they circled me several times. With so many ghosts around me, waves of cold air rushed into my mind.
It had been a long time since I last visited the underworld, and I was still a little unaccustomed to it.
"Um... what kind of celebration are you having here? I'm here to see Prince Xiaoyanwang."
"His Highness is resting in the back. Please follow me." A palace attendant pulled me out of the dancers and led me to the back hall.
It looked like a dressing room. Prince Xiaoyanwang was dressed in a black and white ceremonial robe, his head adorned with many decorations, and his robe embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, looking very grand.
"Dressed so formally, could it be a wedding?" I asked with a smile.
"A wedding? Lord Wu, you don't know yet?" the attendant asked me in a low voice.
"What? Xie Bi'an didn't tell me anything, just asked me to come over."
"His Majesty has abdicated, and His Highness is ascending the throne early. The enthronement ceremony is being prepared!" the attendant explained.
I nodded, "So that's how it is. Congratulations."
Looking at the festive scene throughout Erqi City, it seemed there had been no bloody struggle like the Xuanwumen Incident. The King of Hell had abdicated normally. After all, she only had one daughter, Prince Xiaoyanwang. As long as she wasn't usurped by an outsider, the throne would surely pass to Prince Xiaoyanwang. Moreover, the King of Hell in the underworld was different from ancient emperors. The ghosts in the underworld generally had no desires. The position of King of Hell was merely an office, and it was quite tiring. I had no interest in underworld life anyway.
"Thank you, Lord Wu." Prince Xiaoyanwang said. She wasn't cold, but because of the thick powder on her face, she couldn't speak properly.
"Why did you ask me to come?" I asked casually.
"I wanted to ask for your opinion." Prince Xiaoyanwang nodded slightly, looking at me.
I joked, "What opinion could I have? Do you want to give me the position of King of Hell? I don't want it."
"Not exactly," Prince Xiaoyanwang said, "but are you interested in taking over the Infernal Affairs Office?"
"No, I just want to find a quiet place and live a normal life." I refused, emphasizing "normal human life."
"Alright, then it's not too late for you to take over after your hundred years are up."
"But by then, I'll be old, won't I?" I laughed. When a person dies, they become a ghost in the form they were in at the moment of death. I figured I would live quite a long life.
"It doesn't matter."
"I only care about one question: after you succeed the throne, will you still be able to freely enter and exit the two realms?" I asked.
"It will be difficult. What, do you want to take me to tour the mortal world?" Prince Xiaoyanwang laughed.
"Oh, Your Highness, don't laugh, or the powder will fall off!"
"We'll discuss it then," I said, knowing that the future was uncertain. "Is the ceremony being held here?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Ten hours from now," Prince Xiaoyanwang said. She couldn't say things like "tomorrow morning" because the time and the alternation of day and night here were different from the mortal world. I didn't seem to have seen night in the underworld yet.
"Do you want to stay and attend the ceremony?"
"Of course," I said. There was nothing else for me to do in the mortal world, as long as my body could handle it.
"Good, then you go take a stroll first. I still have many things to prepare."
"Do you need my help?" I asked.
"Heh, such a large court..."
True, what was I compared to them? Their entire underworld system had been running well for millions of years.
After bidding farewell to Prince Xiaoyanwang, I came out and happened to run into Sima Dekan. I asked him about the whereabouts of Zheng Baobao and Xiao Nu. Both of them had made great contributions in the rebellion and had been promoted, soaring to success. They were very busy now and were in different places, so I didn't disturb them.
I wandered around Erqi City for a while, and then suddenly remembered that the firearms camp of Dai Lu was not far from here. I used the Gale Art to get there. Dai Lu had also been promoted. I asked her about the specific developments of the underworld war. Dai Lu briefly explained that after the battle at the Three Yin Palace, the rebel army completely lost morale. Qi Wang City was captured by Qin Shuyao, and Qi Wang Han Xin was killed by Li Yuanba. All other rebel forces surrendered at the sight of them. The rebellion, which had lasted for over a year, finally came to an end.
It was because of this achievement that Prince Xiaoyanwang's accomplishments made the King of Hell consider abdicating directly. If she abdicated at this time, the whole world would be convinced, and no one would dare to rebel again. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
After drinking some relatively normal underworld beverages at Dai Lu's place, I casually went to wander around the places where I had fought before.
Returning to Erqi City, I slept and waited for the ceremony.
In the underworld, I slept soundly. I was truly afraid of not waking up.
When I woke up, a palace attendant informed me that the ceremony would begin in half an hour. Prince Xiaoyanwang had arranged the best viewing spot for me and even got me a court robe.
After changing into the court robe, I also put on the white makeup similar to Prince Xiaoyanwang's and was led to the venue, where I sat and waited.
To describe it, the entire ceremony was grand, but it was pervaded by a sense of gloom. Whether it was the guards standing beside them or the King of Hell seated at the head, they were all clad in black and white robes, and the entire sky was shrouded in a dim grayness – they considered this good weather.
There were many procedures, and time slowly passed. My buttocks were almost sore from sitting, but when I asked the person next to me, they said the ceremony had only just begun.
The position where I was seated was filled with high-ranking officials. They were allowed to whisper to each other, and they were all discussing the ceremony.