Dawn broke through the glass windows of the main hall, illuminating the polished marble floor with a wash of golden light. The scent of burning wood and warm candle wax mingled with the morning air, bringing a hush that felt both serene and sacred.
The hall was filled with palace attendants, ministers, generals, and honored guests from neighboring kingdoms, all wearing formal attire silk hanfu in symbolic colors: red for courage, blue for loyalty, and gold for authority. Their faces restrained emotion behind courtly manners; their gazes reflected respect, hope, and a faint tension.
At the center of the hall, Yi Feng stood upon the marble dais, wearing a dark-blue imperial robe embroidered with a golden dragon coiling across his chest, its tail spiraling down to his sleeves. The dragon was not merely ornamentation; it symbolized Heaven and the authority bestowed upon the sovereign. In his hand he held a ceremonial staff plated in gold, carved with cloud patterns and a tiny phoenix at its base. His stance was erect, yet his breath remained heavy, concealing the nervousness beneath his composed expression. Every pair of eyes upon him saw not only the heir, but the leader who would bring prosperity and honor to the Xiao realm.
General Li Zue An, clad all in black with bronze-scaled armor gleaming, stepped forward. His voice was firm, resonating through the lofty hall:
"Huang Shang, all preparations are complete. The ministers await your final instruction. The people have been informed of today's proceedings, and the temporary altar is ready for the final tribute to the Late Xiao Muo Heng."
Yi Feng nodded, his eyes sweeping over the rows of ministers kneeling in respect. Each face conveyed a mixture of reverence, expectation, and unspoken tension. He drew a long breath to steady his racing heart, then raised his voice:
"Begin the ceremony."
From the adjacent hall, the ritual drums sounded a slow cadence, followed by the soft chime of bronze bells. The guards, wearing finely layered armor, stood tall at either side of the hall, their swords glinting beneath the dawn. The air filled with the rhythm of measured steps the tapping of silk shoes on marble creating a sacred tempo.
One by one, the ministers approached Yi Feng. They bowed until their hands touched the ground in deep respect, presenting documents of assent and the imperial seals symbols acknowledging the legitimacy of Yi Feng's ascension. Every motion followed strict protocol, from hand placement to the angle of the gaze, demonstrating obedience and homage to traditions handed down through centuries.
When Yi Feng signed the final document with a brush dipped in golden pigment, time itself seemed to slow. He looked toward the temporary altar where his father's body lay. A shadow of grief slipped through his heart, but he brushed it aside, straightened his shoulders, inhaled deeply, and lifted his head with the dignity that signaled the birth of an emperor.
"By the power bestowed by Heaven, through the will of the people and the legacy of my ancestors, I, Yi Feng, formally accept the throne of the Xiao realm," he proclaimed, his voice steady, echoing throughout the hall. The morning light highlighted his robe, making the golden dragon embroidery seem alive, as if the dragon itself nodded in blessing.
Soft cheers rose among the guests and ministers, yet behind the polite applause, Yi Feng still felt the heavy burden. Every word he had spoken was a promise a vow to lead, protect the people, and continue his father's legacy with justice and wisdom.
After the ceremony concluded, the ministers withdrew to their positions, and Yi Feng stood alone upon the marble dais. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, reflecting off the polished floor and bringing every detail of the dragon's gold thread into relief. He drew a long breath, letting grief, duty, and resolve merge into a single new strength within him.
That day, Yi Feng was no longer a prince. He was Huang Shang, the bearer of Heaven's Mandate. And although the world around him awaited his first command, in his heart he knew this was only the beginning of the true trial that awaited him.
After the echoes of the hall's applause faded and the ministers returned to their places, Yi Feng remained alone on the marble dais. Sunlight fell upon the dragon embroidery on his robe, as if the dragon bestowed its blessing. Yet inside, the sorrow of his father's passing had only just begun to fall.
04:30 Funeral Preparations
A thin mist veiled the palace courtyard as dawn blushed. Servants and ministers in mourning wore black and white hanfu symbols of purity and grief. Tall candles were lit slowly, reflecting against gilded pillars and walls, creating a quiet, warm glow. The morning air felt cold and damp; the scent of old wood and marble mingled, imbuing the scene with a solemn weight.
Yi Feng emerged from his private chamber at 05:00, dressed in a black mourning robe embroidered with a dimmer golden dragon. His hands held a closed black fan a symbol of self-control and composure. He looked upon the temporary altar where the body of Xiao Muo Heng lay in state, his face firm though his eyes betrayed deep sorrow.
06:00 Procession to the Tomb
The funeral carriage, carved from black wood with dragons and phoenixes, was carried slowly across the palace grounds. Candles held by attendants fluttered gently in the morning air. The low beat of ritual drums rolled, accompanied by the soft chime of bronze bells. Ministers bowed in respect; guards stood rigid with gleaming swords; each step followed the rhythm of ancestral rites.
Yi Feng walked ahead of the carriage, bowing his head. The scent of wet earth and old wood blended with the sound of footsteps, creating a sacred hush that pressed upon the heart but remained full of reverence.
08:00 — Offering Ceremony in the Great Courtyard
Upon arrival in the courtyard, a temporary altar was erected for the final offerings. Bronze cauldrons held sacred water and lit candles, while ministers chanted ritual prayers that echoed across the palace grounds. Offerings—rice cakes, fruits, and sacred tea—were arranged neatly, symbols of respect to ancestors and Heaven.
Yi Feng bowed and offered a brief prayer as the morning light struck the dragon embroidery on his robe. The dragon's shadow on the floor seemed to move with his steps, granting a symbolic blessing.
10:00 — Homage by People and Ministers
Those permitted to attend lowered their heads and threw white chrysanthemum petals toward the funeral carriage. Ministers followed the rhythm of steps and prayers. Silence filled the courtyard; only the voices of ritual and the sound of feet remained. Yi Feng led the procession with a steady face, suppressing personal grief for the dignity of the throne.
12:00 — Lowering the Carriage into the Burial Chamber
The funeral carriage was slowly moved toward the burial chamber in the Royal Mausoleum. The earth had been consecrated; headstones bore carvings of dragons and phoenixes; a small canal flowed beside the tomb—symbols of cosmic balance and imperial power. Guards and ministers accompanied the carriage in measured steps, while Yi Feng walked behind, shoulders tense as he contained his sorrow.
15:00 — Interment and Closure
Upon reaching the burial chamber, the body was placed officially. The ritual officiant poured sacred water into the earth; candles were set around the grave; the final incense was offered. Yi Feng bowed once more in the last tribute. Ministers sealed the tomb with a large stone, followed by the placement of the royal banner to mark the continuity of rule.
16:30 — Closing Prayers and Reflection
All ministers and officials gathered for closing prayers. Yi Feng stood at the center, looking upon his father's tomb with a determined expression. He drew a deep breath, letting grief, responsibility, and resolve meld into a new source of strength. Evening light wrapped the mausoleum courtyard; the last rays reflected off marble and the dragon threads of his robe.
That day, Yi Feng was not only an emperor—he was also the heir to tangible responsibilities. His father's funeral was his first test as ruler—an examination of patience, authority, and self-control that would help shape the future of the Xiao realm.