Phoenix Astonishes Heaven 052 Grand New Year's Palace Banquet

  After the imperial edict was read, everyone was shocked and amazed. From five years ago when Liu's family was exterminated and Empress Shengyuan was given poisonous wine, people knew that Emperor Qing was heartless and ruthless. But now, facing it again, everyone still felt the horror of Emperor Qing from the bottom of their hearts.

  Yu Fei was given three zhang of white silk, the second prince and the eldest prince were given poisonous wine. All the palace maidservants and eunuchs involved were beheaded, the female members of the Shi family were exiled to the border and became official slaves and concubines.

  When an emperor is enraged, blood flows like a river; it wasn't until this moment that everyone present finally understood the true meaning of these words.

  So after Shigong finished reading the imperial edict, the entire hall was silent and everyone was shocked out of their souls.

  All the palace maids and serving women were frightened into tears.

  "No... it won't happen, Mother Empress, it won't happen, Father Emperor wouldn't do this to us, you didn't say we would be fine, that nothing would happen..." The Second Prince was shocked and his soul flew away, he completely collapsed.

  Yu Fei's whole body went limp on the ground, and she suddenly smiled foolishly like a lost soul. Her dying struggles were in vain, and in the end, she succumbed to fate, ending up just like Liu Shi.

  No, her fate was worse than Liu's. This is what happens when you anger that man, he doesn't even spare her family. The hatred of that cold-blooded man is really terrifying.

  Apart from the Second Prince's collapse, Shi Kaiyan, who had always been calm and composed, was also shocked beyond recognition upon hearing this unexpected imperial decree. He never could have imagined that things would turn out like this. If he had known earlier... if only he had known it would end up like this, perhaps he wouldn't have dragged his wife and daughter down with him.

  Song Ayi and Xiao Haizi suddenly seemed to wake up from a dream, desperately collapsing on the ground.

  The eldest prince, Wu You, gazed at the crowd with a cold eye, his expression indifferent, the most ruthless emperor.

  "Take him away and behead him!"

  The imperial guards following behind him immediately stepped forward and set up a stretcher to carry out the palace maidservants including Song Ruoxin who were lying on the ground.

  At this time, a eunuch ran in and said respectfully: "Sir Shi, all the rebels from the History Bureau have been taken away."

  Yu Fei's smile was wooden, and it turned out that when one had reached the depths of despair, there would be no tears.

  "Take Shi Kaiyan out and behead him along with the other guilty members of the Shi family, to serve as a warning to the public."

  Shi Kaiyan closed his eyes in pain, revenge, revenge...

  The second prince fell to the ground, despairingly muttering to himself, but no one heard what he was saying.

  In front of the main hall of the Temple of the Great Principle, aside from Shi's male family members who were dragged down from the prisoner carts by the imperial guards, the female members of the Shi family in several other carts had their eyes wide with terror, staring blankly at the familiar heads of their husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and younger brothers rolling on the ground, their terrified eyes frozen open in death.

  Screams and wails gathered together to form a river of blood on the green stone bricks, with heads rolling in a scene that sent shivers down one's spine.

  Some of the onlookers who had gathered out of curiosity were frightened out of their wits, as if they were experiencing a terrifying nightmare, and didn't even dare to scream.

  Afraid that their own heads would roll on the ground, everyone's throat made a terrifying sound, and their teeth also chattered uncontrollably.

  The scene before their eyes is something they will probably never forget in this lifetime.

  On the wide street, a horse came galloping, and Tao Niuyu on its back didn't wait for it to stop steadily. She almost rolled off the horse's back and fell down, crazily squeezing into the crowd, shouting: "Make way, make way... Xiangxiang..."

  She finally squeezed into the crowd, but with just one glance, she was frightened and fell to the ground. The young master of the Tao family, who had been chasing her, struck her neck with his sword, and she fainted immediately.

  The young master of the Tao family quickly swept a glance over the scene and then picked up Tao Fengyu and took her away.

  In a prison car, Shi Ningxiang's beautiful eyes were wide open in horror as she stared at the scene before her.

  This must be a nightmare, yes, a dream. She was sleeping in her own boudoir on her own bed having a terrible nightmare. When she woke up, she was still Shi Ningxiang, the renowned lady of the capital city, and the Shi family was still a royal relative.

  But why did that skull with despair rolling not far from her prison car look so familiar?

  Who is it? Ah, she remembered, it was her father. And who is the one with eyes wide open in terror? It's her younger brother...

  Although he was just a short distance away from her, she couldn't get close to them. The bars of the prison car were so cold and hard that she had no strength to break free from them.

  Who is calling her Xiang Xiang? Who? Who is crying so desperately by her ear? Who is wailing so sorrowfully? It sounds so familiar, but why can't she remember who it is?

  Shi Ningxiang sat in the prison car, her hands tightly wrapped around herself, her whole body trembling, constantly telling herself that she was just having a nightmare!

  When she wakes up from her dream, everything will be fine, but how can she wake up?

  Listening to the wailing outside, Shi Zhi's face was expressionless. He signaled with his eyes, and several eunuchs stepped forward from behind him. One of them held a tray in his hand, on which was a full plate of white silk.

  "The humble servant escorts Princess Yufei."

  In unison they said goodbye and didn't wait for Yu Fei's response, directly carrying the weak Yu Fei who was lying on the ground to the back hall.

  "No, Your Majesty, you canine slaves, let go..."

  Shi Ji gave another signal with his eyes, and another group of eunuchs came forward from behind him, carrying wine to be bestowed.

  Watching them approach, the Second Prince shook his head in collapse: "No... no..."

  "The slaves respectfully send off the two princes." Several eunuchs approached, speaking words of respect, but their faces were numb and cold.

  The second prince stared at the wine brought in front of him, and frantically rushed to knock it over, but was held firmly by two eunuchs. The two men skillfully pried open his mouth, while another person forcibly poured the wine down his throat.

  "No... cough... cough... no..."

  The three judges looked at the scene in front of them as if they had been fished out of water, crawling on the ground and trembling all over.

  Gu Ling knelt beside, his head lowered, and no one could see his expression at this time. However, the slender palms that were prostrate on the bluestone bricks were white without a hint of blood color.

  The eldest prince stared blankly at the scene in front of him, feeling no sadness, pain or suffering.

  Shi Ze looked at the indifferent Crown Prince, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He didn't let the eunuchs behind him come forward, but instead personally poured wine and handed it to the Crown Prince himself.

  The eldest prince lowered his head and looked at the wine that was presented before him, his eyes seemed a bit dazed, but he still slowly raised his hand to take it.

  It was quite some time before he spoke in a low voice: "Governor Shi."

  "Yes."

  "Please let the queen mother know that she doesn't have to be heartbroken for Xiao Wang's sake, leaving is actually a relief for him."

  "I will definitely inform Concubine Mei about this." said Shi Ji.

  The Crown Prince smiled: "Little Wang has one more thing he wants to tell Father Emperor."

  Shi Ze was taken aback, but still said: "Please speak, Crown Prince."

  "Although he was the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty with the most concentrated power and strength, his life was only left with cruelty, cold-bloodedness, tyranny, and loneliness. This is also why so many people did not dare to truly surrender to him. Did he really succeed?"

  Shi Ji listened to the words of the Crown Prince, and a faint cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The Crown Prince...

  Gu Ling, who was standing beside him, heard the Crown Prince's words and looked up at him with a determined expression. He felt a pang of pain in his heart. In this bloody battle, why did the Emperor sacrifice the innocent Crown Prince? Even tigers do not eat their own cubs; what kind of ruler is this?

  ……

  The sky was overcast with thick, low-hanging dark clouds that completely covered the blue sky.

  The cold wind howled and ravaged, as if grasping sharp knives, piercing the tightly closed windows, penetrating the warmth emitted by the stove, chilling to the bone.

  It seems that the sunny days seen in recent days are just people's fantasies. Under the ravages of dark clouds and cold winds, everything within sight seems to have changed its appearance.

  The sky of Beijing turned bitterly cold again overnight.

  Gu Ling drank a small amount of wine and brought a jar of wine to the Half Slope Garden.

  "Brother Qingyun, let's get drunk together."

  Liao Qingyun looked at him and sighed silently: "Gu brother, it's not that you're not capable enough, but... the hearts of men are too cruel!"

  He can understand Gu Xiong's depression, this kind of feeling of being manipulated like a chess piece is not good for someone who has never experienced setbacks. Gu Xiong came to the capital alone, which shows his confidence and even arrogance, and this result is a significant blow to him.

  Gu Ling took a sip of wine, his expression somewhat dejected. The emperor and the people behind the scenes viewed human life as worthless, the struggle for imperial power had always been cruel, he knew, but he thought he could navigate it with ease. However, when he truly entered the fray, he discovered that he was overly confident, and what he thought were truth and justice were actually unimportant.

  Because the ending was destined from the start.

  "No wonder you'd rather keep company with the dead than get entangled in palace affairs. These days, I've found myself like a juggling clown, thinking I had everything under control, only to discover that I was just wasting my energy."

  Liao Qingyun took over the wine jug and drank a mouthful: "Why must Brother Gu be so modest?"

  "Heh, I know what Qingyun wants to say. At least I wasn't implicated, right?" Gu Ling chuckled softly: "But I'm not even sure if I managed to extricate myself through my own efforts or... someone else's gift."

  Liao Qingyun fell silent for a moment before saying, "Brother Gu, you're drunk."

  "I'm not drunk." Gu Ling hugged the wine jar and poured it down his throat, emptying the entire jar in one go, then slammed it down with a loud bang.

  A crisp shattering sound echoed in the hall, Liao Qingyun seemed oblivious, her expression calm as she gazed at Gu Ling.

  "I'd like to see who's behind the scenes." Gu Ling said slowly, his pride and self-respect not allowing him to evade, or rather, reality no longer allowed him to evade. Unless he could prove that the person behind the scenes was not Prince Huai, the Gu family would still be in a precarious situation.

  Liao Qingyun's eyes flickered slightly, and he wondered if the person behind the scenes was really Huai Wang. He was also very curious.

  ……

  Mei Fei stood on the high palace steps, gazing out at the lanterns and decorations surrounding her, her expression bewildered and lost. Who in this imperial palace would care about her pain of losing a child?

  Because she was put to death by the emperor, she didn't even dare to wear mourning clothes, but instead wore bright and colorful clothes, forcing a smile on her face as she watched the festive New Year celebrations in the palace.

  In two more days it will be New Year's Eve, and once again there will be a grand feast in the palace.

  Perhaps in that man's eyes, all people in the world are as heartless as him, so after he sacrificed her son, this mother didn't even have the qualification to be sad.

  "It's windy today, why is sister still standing here getting blown by the cold wind?"

  Mei Fei composed herself and only then did she clearly see that the person walking up to her was Ning Fei. She forced a smile: "Sister, why have you come?"

  Ning Fei looked at Mei Fei, whose temples had turned white overnight, and felt a pang in her heart. She didn't say anything, but stepped forward and tightly grasped Mei Fei's hand. She knew that Mei Fei might hate her to the bone, but heaven and earth were her witnesses, this matter really had nothing to do with her.

  Mei Fei's heart ached with a sharp pain, her eyes instantly turned red, and she struggled free from his grasp.

  Ning Fei didn't think much of it, standing alongside her, looking at the festive atmosphere in the imperial palace with lanterns and streamers: "Every year, the four sisters and I take care of the New Year's affairs together. Now that another new year has arrived, things are no longer the same."

  Mei Fei calmly said: "Why does sister need to be like this?"

  "I know sister must have heard some rumors and thought that I was spreading the rumors about the Crown Prince in the capital."

  "Isn't that right?" Who else could it be besides her? Liang Fei was demoted, Shan Fei's power is weak, who else has the ability besides Ning Fei? It can't be Liu Hou whose bones have already been reduced to ashes.

  Although Ning Fei's eyes were slightly hurt, she still said: "Whether sister believes it or not, I have a clear conscience."

  "Who knows?" In this palace, as Yu'er said, who is human and who is a ghost, who can distinguish clearly? Thinking of Yu'er, Mei Fei's heart ached, and her eyes, which had dried out countless times, became moist again. Her son...

  At the same time, the Yunguang Palace and the Guilfo Temple were also built.

  The Empress Dowager did not worship Buddha or recite scriptures today. She simply knelt in front of the Buddha statue, gazing at it blankly and lost in thought.

  Madam Lan carried in the fabric sent by Duke Wei's little eunuch.

  "Madam Lan, go and invite Princess Worry-Free over." Consort Gu said suddenly.

  "Miss?"

  "Go." The Empress Dowager Cui said lightly.

  The old lady moved her lips a few times, but just said: "Yes"

  Yu Zhu heard that Imperial Consort Gu had summoned her and was somewhat startled. She hastily entered the inner chamber to report to Yuan Wuyou, who was reading a book.

  Yu Worry's action of flipping through the book came to an abrupt halt, and then slowly closed the book in her hand. She stood up, and Yu Zhu took out a cloak to help her put it on.

  Lan's aunt led Yuan Wuyou in and then quietly slipped out.

  The Empress Dowager knelt down in front of the Buddha statue, seemingly unaware of her arrival. Yuan Wuyou sat cross-legged on the cushion beside her.

  After a long time, Empress Gu slowly straightened up and looked into Yuan Wuyou's eyes, which were filled with bloodshot, indicating her previous struggle.

  Yu Worry-free bowed her head and said: "Your Highness is well."

  "Grant me one request," said Empress Dowager Yu in a low, husky voice. She used the word "please".

  "Please speak, Princess." Yuan Wuyou said with a smile.

  "Adopt me as your son and serve under you."

  Yu Wu raised an eyebrow: "If I'm not mistaken, isn't Wang Shu only 21 years old this year?"

  Adopting a successor? Making her niece an heir? This is indeed a good way to bind her, sharing honor and loss together. If this rebellion fails, it usually results in the execution of nine clans. If it were to happen to Prince Hui's household, executing nine clans would be impossible, but annihilating Prince Hui's entire household would be certain. Her legitimate child through adoption is strictly speaking a true heir by bloodline and will definitely die!

  "You don't want to?" The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes.

  Yu Wu laughed: "No, Wu Le is willing, but the queen does not think that Yu Wu is suitable for King Shu to marry a princess, and the descendants will be even more pure?"

  The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze indifferently: "You promised, that's all."

  Yu Wuyou smiled and said, "Seeing that Your Highness is calm and composed, I am also relieved."

  The Empress Dowager Gu joined her palms together and performed a triple kneel nine knock great ceremony, after which she personally handed the incense to Wu You.

  Yu Worryless smiled as she accepted it, and after making three bows in front of the Buddha, she made a triple kneel nine knock gesture to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Gu, who accepted her salute.

  After everything was over, the two returned to their original positions. Gu Tai Fei worshiped Buddha and Yuan Wu You sat cross-legged on a cushion.

  Looking at the incense smoke curling up in front of the Buddha, Empress Dowager Yu seemed a bit distracted: "Do you know how many people have died?"

  "Yeah, about as expected."

  "Don't you feel even a little bit guilty?"

  Yu Worry smiled slightly: "Why should I be uneasy?"

  The Empress Dowager gazed at her for a moment, then softly sighed: "Go."

  Yu Worry Chao curtsied respectfully and walked out of the hall. Lan's maid, who was waiting outside, saw her come out with a complex expression, but still bowed respectfully: "Slave servant sees the county master."

  Yu Zhu, who was standing under the eaves of the house, looked at Lan Jie in surprise after hearing her words.

  Yu Worryless smiled silently, "Nanny Lan, please get up." It turned out that she had an unexpected gain. Compared to Princess Worryless, this Princess Worryless was much freer.

  Watching Yuan Wuyou and her servant leave, Lan's maid let out a soft sigh and returned to the inner chamber.

  The Empress Dowager knelt before the Buddha, staring blankly at the object in her hand. Lan's nanny took a closer look and found that it was indeed the golden pardon plaque, and instantly tears welled up in her eyes. This pardon plaque had been Miss's only hope, but now...

  "Gu Tai Fei smiled faintly: 'Lan Ya, take this letter of request and this object to see the Emperor at the palace banquet in two days.'"

  "... is"

  The master and servant walked out of the Return to Buddha Hall and saw someone kneeling in the distance.

  "Princess." Yu Zhu said softly.

  Yu Worry stepped forward with ease and stood in front of the kneeling person.

  "The humble servant Chen Mei Ren greets: 'Your servant has seen her master.'"

  "It's been several days since we last met, and Chen Mei Ren seems to have gained some insight?"

  Chen Meiren bowed deeply and respectfully: "Your humble servant has been enlightened by your guidance, Master, and the fog has lifted. Your humble servant is eternally grateful."

  "Come on." After saying that, he didn't even wait for Chen Mei Ren's response and directly walked past her towards the front.

  After Yuan Wuyou walked a few steps, Chen Mei finally got up from the ground, lowered her eyebrows and followed slowly behind Yuan Wuyou.

  Looking at the desolate landscape in front of her, Yuan Wuyou smiled slightly, and her mood was different. Everything she saw was different now. She had been in this world for five years, day after day, year after year, trapped under this narrow sky.

  Perhaps the sky outside is vast, but it's also unsettling for a while. In comparison, she still prefers an even vaster sky.

  Chen Meiren's eyes, which had been about to speak but stopped, looked up at Yuan Wuyou's slender and weak back, and the shock and turmoil in her heart were known only to herself. Because she had a kind of intuition that the bloody storm outside the palace was connected to this slender and weak back in front of her.

  And this intuition made her terrified.

  "Chen Mei Ren will be sent here today, please go back." Yu Zhu suddenly said.

  Chen Mei Ren was startled and suddenly realized that she was already in front of Tai Hui Hall: "Yes, I'll withdraw."

  "Chen Mei Ren." Yuan Wu You spoke softly.

  Chen Meiren's heart sank and she hastily turned back: "Your servant is here." It was calling her Chen Meiren, not her name.

  "Continue to ponder."

  The implication was that she was still not satisfied, and Chen Mei Ren respectfully said: "Yes."

  ……

  The Lin Mansion, Miss Lin's boudoir, the flower hall.

  Lin Yingying softly comforted the crying Taohuayu, who was accompanied by rain, and sighed: "Little Seventh Sister, if Xiangxiang knew that she had a friend like you to grieve for her, she would also feel some comfort in her heart."

  Tao Feyu tightly grasped her hand: "Ying jiejie, why, why is it like this? Why did Da Shixiong die? Isn't he the crown prince? And Xiangxiang...isn't there anyone who can save her?"

  Lin Yingying shook her head gloomily: "The emperor has issued a decree, no one can save her. If we could have saved her, you and I wouldn't be sitting here feeling sad and worried."

  "Could... but... " The moment she thought of Xiangxiang being sent to the border and becoming an official concubine, her heart couldn't accept it.

  Lin Yingying's eyes were red as she clutched a handkerchief and wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes.

  Tao Fei's voice was anxious and uneasy: "Sister Ying, do you think if I go to beg the Emperor for mercy, he will forgive Xiangxiang?" The Emperor didn't even spare her own big brother, how could he possibly forgive Xiangxiang? But she felt that if she didn't do something, it would be like betraying Xiangxiang.

  Lin Yingying hastily advised: "First, let's not discuss whether Little Seventh can see the Emperor or not. Even if she sees the Emperor, the Emperor won't forgive Xiangxiang and will implicate Little Seventh and her family. Little Seventh mustn't do it."

  Tao Feyu covered her face and wept in despair. After hearing the news that day, she rushed to find Xiangxiang, but was frightened by the execution ground. She didn't know how she was taken back home by her elder brother afterwards. When she woke up, Xiangxiang had already been escorted out of the capital. She didn't even have a chance to see Xiangxiang for the last time.

  There was also Eldest Brother, although she and Eldest Brother were not close, but knowing that he had been given a death sentence, her heart still felt very sad.

  The daughter said that the death of her eldest brother made her aunt's hair turn white overnight, and the atmosphere in the house was different from before. Even at home, they didn't dare to speak loudly on the road, and there was no vitality in the entire mansion.

  She couldn't stand that kind of atmosphere, so she came to find older sister Ying instead.

  Seeing her so heartbroken, Lin Yingying felt a little surprised. Shi Ningxiang was able to make such sincere and true-hearted friends, which was also her blessing, but her blessings were still not deep enough.

  The imperial power is supreme, making people yearn for it.

  She had truly developed a curiosity about the king who was said to be weak and frail due to his illness, yet with one move, he had eliminated two princes, one imperial concubine, and an entire family, creating a huge contrast with how others perceived him as weak.

  What kind of protective charm does the king have in his hands that makes the emperor dare not to move him for the time being, despite his usual style of not letting go of anyone who has wronged him?

  This is exactly where scrutiny is most needed.

  "Little sister, don't cry anymore, it's bad for your eyes. Xiang Xiang will know and feel uneasy too. She will definitely appreciate the feelings you have for her."

  Tao Feyu's eyes were red and swollen, and she choked back a sob: "The day after tomorrow is the grand New Year's banquet in the palace, originally... originally I could have met with Xiangxiang again in the palace, but... waaah..." Overnight, she had encountered a huge change, and all she could do was cry.

  "Miss, madam asks you to go to the hall." The maid said respectfully outside.

  Lin Yingying looked at Tao Feiyu with some hesitation.

  Tao Feyu sobbed: "Ying jiejie, Lin Bomu is looking for you, there must be something going on, you should go quickly, I...I'm fine."

  "Alright, I'll go and come back. You've been thinking too much. I'll have someone send over some food for you. You haven't eaten all day."

  "I've lost my appetite, Sister Yan. I just want to be alone for a while."

  Lin Yingying patted her hand lightly and comforted her silently before leaving.

  On the eve of the 30th day of the year, the last big snowfall of the fifteenth celebration floated down, and the goose feather-like snow fell all night without stopping until the next day when the snow was still falling heavily.

  The sky and earth are connected together, a vast expanse of white, unable to distinguish which is the sky or the earth.

  Delicate and pure white snowflakes floated down from the dense, crimson clouds in the sky, dancing freely in the vast expanse of the sky with the whistling cold wind, like gentle willow catkins, like goose feathers flying in the wind.

  The eaves of the houses are all dressed in white, and the wintergreen trees by the roadside have snowflakes hanging from their branches. The whole world is spotlessly white.

  A thick layer of white snow covered the ground, as if it had also submerged the slaughter that had occurred just a short while ago.

  In the palace, eunuchs were working hard to clear the snow on the roads. Today was New Year's Eve, and at noon, there would be a grand banquet in the palace, which would not only be attended by members of the royal family, nobles, officials, but also by wives and families of those who had received imperial appointments.

  The snow fell bigger and bigger, one wave was like another, the wind wrapped around the snow, in pieces and fragments, fluttering and fluttering, in an instant the sky and earth were the same color, the wind and snow filled the entire imperial palace.

  The eunuchs had just managed to clear a small path with great effort, but in the blink of an eye it was covered again by the drifting snow.

  A grand feast was held in the Golden Hall of the palace, and since Empress Liu had passed away without a new empress being appointed, the banquet was overseen by the three departments of Shangyi Nei Gong, Nei Wu Sheng, and Nei Wu Gong.

  The banquet was set at noon, so after the early morning ceremony ended today, the civil and military officials did not leave the palace, but waited in the side hall for their relatives to enter the palace. After the banquet ended, they left the palace and went home to prepare for New Year's Eve dinner.

  The first three days of the new year were all off, and they could finally relax a bit. It was supposed to be a joyful New Year's celebration, but no one could truly get into the mood. This year's New Year's banquet seemed to have taken them back to that banquet five years ago.

  Trembling with fear, as if sitting on pins and needles, all the blood in his body couldn't flow normally.

  At the beginning of the fourth watch, although the heavy snow was falling, on the main streets of the inner city, horse-drawn carriages and sedan chairs were going to the imperial palace without fear of wind and rain.

  The Dongzheng Gate was wide open, and the four deputy commanders of the Imperial Guard personally led their troops to guard it.

  Gu Ling got out of the sedan, looking at the imperial palace in front of him, which was covered with heavy snow but still decorated with lanterns and couplets filled with festive atmosphere, a faint smile of ridicule appeared on his lips.

  Liao Qingyun got off the carriage and stretched out his hand to help Mrs. Liao down.

  Everyone in sight is wrapped up warm, perhaps because of the icy weather, people aren't even enthusiastic about exchanging pleasantries, although everyone's face has a smile on it, but not one person's smile reaches their eyes.

  It was almost noon, and many people had already taken their seats in the main hall. With the dragon-shaped stove burning and the heaters surrounding them, the hall was warm and cozy, contrasting with the icy sky and snowy ground outside, creating a unique atmosphere.

  No one would be late for today's banquet, so there is still nearly half an hour before noon. Compared to the numbness outside just now, the atmosphere in the grand hall is not obviously cold due to the crowd.

  Digression

  Got up at 5 o'clock in the morning and started typing, continued in the afternoon, and updated twice at night.