Chapter 75: She wants to defy heaven (2)
Perhaps because this was not a pure dreamscape, Qi Huang understood Lu Yao’s thoughts clearly. She knew that this pitiful girl wanted to use her fragile life to question the heavens at the sacrificial ceremony.
Lu Yao knew very well that doing so would not change anything, but she wanted to let everyone in the world know that even if she was an ant, she would still say “no” to the heavens.
Qi Huang had mixed feelings in her heart. She really wanted to stop this pitiful girl from seeking death, but separated by time and space, it was impossible.
‘Forget it. Since fate is already set, dying like this would be the most valuable for her.’
Qi Huang quickly understood this point and felt relieved.
For the next few days, Lu Yao spent her time hurrying on her way. As for how to reach Golden Brilliance Mountain quickly, she didn’t think about it, nor did she want to think about it. She was just a broken body, so what good would protecting her be? In a few months, she would still end up in a grave.
Five days later, Lu Yao arrived at the foot of Golden Brilliance Mountain. By this time, she was exhausted and covered in wounds. However, she made no rest. After a simple wash with stream water, she dragged her heavy legs uphill, because the sacrificial ceremony was to begin at noon today.
The Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony attracted many onlookers, including officials and common people, so the road up the mountain was very lively.
Listening to the cheerful sounds around her, Lu Yao thought about her tragic life, feeling as if she had been abandoned by this world. Her resentment grew stronger.
“Why is it that in the same world, others who have done all sorts of bad things still have everything go their way, while my family, who is simple and kind, suffers misfortune after misfortune? Don’t they all say that karma exists? Where is my family’s karma? Don’t they all say that the heavens have eyes? Where are the heavens’ eyes?”
Lu Yao asked herself repeatedly in her heart, but no one replied. Her resolve to defy heaven grew stronger.
An hour later, Lu Yao finally reached the summit of Golden Brilliance Mountain. As this was where the emperors had performed sacrifices throughout the ages, the local government had been ordered to build a huge altar, surrounded by a plaza covering dozens of acres.
The sacrificial ceremony was a custom, representing the Emperor’s respect for heaven and responsibility to the people. Thus, he wanted to be seen, to showcase his virtue. Therefore, anyone could stand outside the plaza to observe the sacrificial ceremony today, as long as they did not step half a step onto the altar, and no one would bother them.
Because of this, when Lu Yao arrived, the plaza was already crowded. Let alone defying heaven, even reaching the edge of the altar seemed impossibly far away for her.
Just as Lu Yao was worrying about how to get in, she suddenly spotted a beggar in the crowd. This beggar was so scruffy that people avoided him wherever he went.
An idea flashed through Lu Yao’s mind. She ran to the muddy dirt road outside, forced down her nausea, and grabbed mud, smearing it all over herself until not an inch of her skin was visible.
Qi Huang’s consciousness possessed Lu Yao’s body. Although separated by time and space, she could still feel the discomfort on her body, indicating the great sacrifice Lu Yao had made as if she were the one experiencing it.
Lu Yao ignored the stares of passersby and pushed her way into the center. It turned out that her idea was brilliant. When people saw such a dirty girl, no one wanted to interact with her and they all avoided her, parting ways.
In this way, Lu Yao reached the edge of the inner altar without any effort. The only loss was her dignity, but fortunately, she was not afraid of death now, so why would she be afraid of losing face? However, as the altar was heavily guarded by soldiers, her journey ended here. But she was already very satisfied, because from here, she could see the Emperor’s back.
The sacrificial ceremony had already begun. The Emperor was kneeling prostrate on the altar, reciting prayers. He deliberately increased his volume, and since no one dared to make loud noises, Lu Yao could hear him clearly.
“Heaven bless Great Meng, with peace and prosperity for all! Today, by the decree of heaven, I sincerely offer sacrifices to heaven, expressing the gratitude of this humble subject to the heavens, and praying for favorable weather for crops…”
The Emperor’s tone was sincere, but it was unclear if he was truly for the people or for his throne.
“Your Majesty is truly wise! He only prays for the people, disregarding himself.”
“Yes, since Your Majesty ascended the throne, this is the twenty-something consecutive year of sacrifice on Golden Brilliance Mountain. Great Meng has enjoyed favorable weather over the years, and His Majesty deserves great credit.”
“It is thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital to here, yet His Majesty spares no effort for the people. Great Meng is fortunate to have such a ruler.”
“Of course, this also indirectly shows that the heavens have eyes. Those who show respect to it will receive protection!”
…
The people in the plaza praised him one after another, their faces filled with awe.
Lu Yao could no longer listen. At this moment, she felt as if she were isolated from the whole world. The resentment in her heart turned into anger, rushing to the top of her head. Why was it that only our family in this entire world was plagued by disaster? What did our family do wrong to deserve such preferential treatment from the heavens?
“Even if the heavens have eyes, they are at best one-eyed.”
Lu Yao opened her mouth and retorted firmly. Her clear female voice was very distinctive, so much so that people nearby could hear it clearly.
The surroundings instantly fell silent. The faces of those nearby showed shock, and then they hastily retreated, for fear of being implicated.
“What is the point of worshipping this kind of heaven that cannot distinguish right from wrong, good from bad?”
Lu Yao, still indignant, shouted towards the altar with all her might.
This time, most of the people in the plaza heard it. They all looked over in horror, wanting to know who was so bold as to blaspheme against the heavens during the sacrificial ceremony. Didn’t they want to live?
“Bold!”
The surrounding soldiers were furious and rushed forward. How dare a young girl openly provoke them on such an occasion? It was clearly a sign that they did not put their weapons in their eyes.
Although Lu Yao’s body was slender, she stood firm like a poplar in the sand, calmly facing the group of fierce soldiers. However, the people around her were so scared that they fled the scene, tumbling and crawling.
Qi Huang watched all this with heartache, knowing that this pitiful girl’s life was entering its countdown.
Because the disturbance was too large, more and more soldiers surrounded Lu Yao, eventually attracting the Emperor, and the ceremony was naturally forced to a halt.
“You audacious commoner, how dare you blaspheme against the heavens in broad daylight? Aren’t you afraid that heaven will unleash punishment?”
When the Emperor understood the reason, he was furious and cursed.
“Blaspheme? Am I wrong? My whole family consists of honest citizens who have never done anything against their conscience, yet all five of us have contracted terminal illnesses. Since everyone says the heavens have eyes, I want to ask the heavens, what did my family do wrong?”
Lu Yao remained unmoved, tilting her head back and questioning loudly. Her clear voice echoed across the plaza, but unfortunately, there was never any reply.
“Didn’t everyone say the heavens have eyes? Why don’t they answer me?”
Lu Yao questioned.
“Since your family of five all has terminal illnesses, you must have done something heinous. Heaven would not make a mistake.”
The Emperor argued unreasonably.
“What heinous thing? Even for criminals, there must be witnesses and evidence. As the ruler of a nation, you slander my family’s innocence out of thin air. What qualifications do you have to be Emperor?”
Lu Yao questioned sharply. A person on the verge of death, she feared neither heaven nor the Emperor.
“You audacious slut, you first blaspheme against the heavens and then insult me. Do you want to die?”
The Emperor said angrily, his face flushed. He had lived for most of his life and had never been scolded to his face.
“Want to die? Yes, I’ve long wanted to die. Do you know how I’ve lived these past ten years? Watching my family members pass away one by one, all thanks to the ‘heavens’ you speak of! It’s blind and doesn’t distinguish right from wrong, good from evil!”
Lu Yao pointed to the heavens and cursed again.
“This young woman is seeking death! Not only did she disrupt the sacrificial ceremony, but she also dared to openly insult the heavens.”
“Shut up quickly! If you want to die, find a place to hang yourself. Don’t implicate us!”
“Your Majesty, please kill her! If the heavens are angered, our Great Meng will suffer.”
“Your Majesty, hurry and act, otherwise all your years of worship will turn to naught!”
…
The crowd in the plaza was terrified and begged the Emperor to execute Lu Yao, this great sinner.
“Guards! Execute her on the spot!”
The Emperor shouted hysterically.
“Yes!”
A soldier stepped forward and, without any fancy moves, thrust his spear through the pitiful Lu Yao, piercing her through and through.
Even in her dream, Qi Huang’s soul trembled with pain at that moment, unable to call out.
“I… I’m not convinced… Why… Why is this happening?”
Lu Yao’s body trembled slightly from the intense pain, but she still muttered rebelliously. After a long time, her head drooped, and a tear of blood slowly slid from her right eye, finally stopping on her right cheek.
Qi Huang quickly lost consciousness. Just when she thought everything was over, she unexpectedly woke up again. The scene before her was still the same as before she lost consciousness…
“No, that’s wrong! If this isn’t a dreamscape, Lu Yao is already dead, so my consciousness should have also exited the dreamscape!”
Qi Huang was baffled.
“Why didn’t she fall?”
A bystander timidly asked.
“Go and take a look!”
The Emperor also ordered a nearby guard.
The guard hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to check.
And at this moment, Qi Huang was horrified to find that the world in her eyes had changed. She saw countless wisps of Yin energy in the surrounding space converging towards herself… that is, Lu Yao’s body, as if a hole had suddenly appeared at the bottom of a deep lake.
