Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 553: King Yong Ascends to the Throne, Dai Temple is Reduced in Size_1

Chapter 553: Chapter 553: King Yong Ascends to the Throne, Dai Temple is Reduced in Size_1

King Yong, Pei Kang, was completely perplexed as to how he had become the new emperor. Theoretically, he held no advantage whatsoever, yet he found himself mysteriously ascending to the throne.

He had never handled state affairs. His previous appointment to the regency by Pei Jiang had been precisely because he posed little threat. Taking charge of such a vast kingdom was indeed intimidating. Pei Kang harbored no grand ambitions. He had never aspired to claim the throne, keenly aware of his own limitations. However, in an unpredictable turn of events, he was forced into the role of Emperor.

Fortunately, the personnel Pei Jiang had left behind were capable. Pei Kang eagerly relinquished power, unafraid of being rendered a puppet, as he had never possessed much authority to begin with. With him as a figurehead, his subordinates eliminated the threats posed by his brothers and nephews. This relieved him from the worry of waking up one day to news of a plot against him by his kin. His primary role was reduced to that of a human emblem seal. All he had to do was keep stamping documents.

Nevertheless, he now faced a serious problem: the matter of his father, Pei Jiang’s, imperial mausoleum. Because Pei Jiang had believed in his own immortality, he hadn’t prepared an imperial mausoleum. Consequently, there was nowhere to bury him, and temporary arrangements had to be made.

Moreover, the circumstances of his death could not be revealed. Those who knew the truth had been mostly silenced. Pei Kang, despite his misgivings, had steeled himself to carry out this grim task, fully aware of its immense implications. If news leaked that the Xuan Ancestor was struck by lightning—especially in the Dai Temple due to a loss of faith—it would cause a great commotion. It could even call the legitimacy of the Great Xuan’s rule into question. The Xuan Ancestor had, after all, risen to power by invoking the name of the Holy Emperor and the teachings of the Heng Grand Emperor. Therefore, any blemish on his legacy was unacceptable.

"Your Majesty, it is not suitable to delay the mourning of the late emperor for too long," a minister said.

"I understand. Do my beloved ministers have any good solutions?" Pei Kang asked. Fortunately, when Pei Jiang’s corpse was returned, it was already badly decomposed. No one examined it closely enough to determine the cause of death. The official statement merely declared his sudden demise, with no further details mentioned. Thankfully, no one persisted in asking further.

"Why not proceed with the burial first and build the mausoleum simultaneously?" the Ministry of Rites suggested. Leaving the remains exposed was improper. It would be better to bury them while the mausoleum was under construction; otherwise, they would decompose entirely.

With the Ministry of Rites taking the lead, the court quickly became abuzz with discussions. Witnessing this, Pei Kang felt overwhelmed. If not for this urgent matter requiring his attention, he would have skipped the morning court session. Rising early each day only to be pestered was tiresome. However, this time he didn’t voice any opposition. He was curious about the solutions the ministers would propose.

After almost an hour of heated debate, a consensus was reached to follow the solution proposed by the Ministry of Rites.

After Pei Kang agreed, he added, "Ministers, you are to take charge and make decisions on all related matters according to law and rituals. Court dismissed." His statement implied that the ministers were to handle all remaining affairs, whether it was the mausoleum’s construction or other governmental matters. He didn’t plan to interfere further. However, he also subtly warned them to adhere to laws and rituals, cautioning them against stirring up trouble, lest he be forced to intervene.

Upon his declaration, the ministers exchanged anxious glances before dispersing from the court. His decision indeed sparked significant ripples. At the very least, the scramble for power would commence. If the emperor did not interfere, they would have to take matters into their own hands.

Seeing this, Wang Linchi was left somewhat speechless. He had, after all, propped up an incompetent emperor. Regardless, the overall situation had stabilized. These ministers were sure to engage in a power struggle in the coming days, which would indirectly maintain a balance of power. The downside was the potential waste of national resources, which would further diminish the Great Xuan’s national power. National strength wasn’t an abstract concept; it was simply a concrete manifestation of the state’s overall power.

Once back in the Inner Court, Pei Kang immediately lay down for a nap. The early start and the hectic morning session had left him without an appetite. He decided to catch up on sleep, resolving not to attend the court session the next morning. He felt his presence might only be an impediment, considering the many capable ministers and officials available.

However, not even fifteen minutes later, he was abruptly woken up.

"Your Majesty, a memorial has arrived from the Grand Secretary," a eunuch by his side said, carefully presenting it. The eunuch looked uneasy, clearly sensing Pei Kang’s displeasure at being disturbed.

Although irritated, Pei Kang was not a tyrant who would execute or punish a eunuch over such a triviality. They would only interrupt him for a crucial matter; otherwise, they were not supposed to disturb his rest.

He glanced at the memorial, and his expression grew odd. It detailed a past affair: an agreement between the late emperor and Wang Xueshu, the Temple Master of the Dai Temple. The agreement stipulated that the Royal Family would protect the Ancestor Court of Mount Tai Temple and oversee the assessment of its Temple Master and other personnel. However, the assessment was so difficult that no one had passed it to this day. Consequently, the Royal Family was expected to provide the aid required to manage the temple. However, during the Crown Prince’s regency, no one had bothered to visit, leading to the temple’s neglect. The current issue was whether to send people to repair the Ancestor Court of Mount Tai Temple and station personnel there, as a display of magnanimous royal favor.

This news made Pei Kang break out in a cold sweat. He suspected his father’s death was likely due to his elder brother’s negligence in this matter. As far as he knew, this broken promise regarding the temple was the late emperor’s only significant lapse in faith. Therefore, he concluded, the Dai Temple must be the root of the problem.

Pei Kang had no desire to handle this, so he asked, "Does the Grand Secretary offer any suggestions?"

"He mentioned that the Dai Temple, despite its grandeur, lacks virtuous service," the eunuch said quickly. "It could be demolished and a smaller temple built in its place for worship."

The implication was that maintaining such a grand temple was costly. It would be better to replace it with a smaller one, especially since no one visited the temple on Mount Tai anyway. As for the Fengshan offerings, they were performed when the dynasty was founded. The next such ceremony would likely only occur with the founding of a new dynasty—an event of no concern to the Great Xuan. Therefore, the best solution seemed to be to maintain a temple but not station anyone there.

Despite the numerous honorary titles bestowed upon it, Mount Tai couldn’t hide the fact that it was merely a vast mountain wilderness, teeming with countless wild beasts and toxic miasma. It had only flourished with human activity when Pei Jiang visited in the past, reverting to its wild state once people left. Developing Mount Tai was an arduous and unrewarding task with limited benefits. Therefore, a simpler, permanent solution regarding the temple was preferable.

Pei Kang agreed with this solution but worried about potential consequences. Although his father, not he, had made the promise, who knew if problems would still arise?

"The Grand Secretary also mentioned that if this plan is followed, it could save the Great Xuan hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in the future," the eunuch added. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"How could it be so much?" Pei Kang exclaimed, surprised. The amount seemed outrageous; he had initially thought it would be merely tens of thousands of taels.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch reminded him, "the Dai Temple dates back to the founding of the previous dynasty. It stands deep in the mountains, exposed to harsh weather, insects, and beasts. Thus, it requires constant repairs."

"Very well, let’s follow the Grand Secretary’s suggestion." Ultimately, Pei Kang conceded. Hundreds of thousands of taels of silver was a hefty sum for the Great Xuan. Although not a one-time cost, investing so much in an ancient temple from a previous dynasty seemed unnecessary, especially with two other major expenditures looming. One was for his father’s imperial mausoleum, and the other was for his own. Yes, imperial mausoleums were always constructed in advance. Furthermore, the imperial palace needed construction, among other matters. In short, they were severely lacking funds.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the eunuch said. He then went to retrieve the imperial jade seal and ink pad for Pei Kang to affix his seal.

The process went smoothly. At least his subordinates proposed solutions when they identified problems, rather than merely presenting issues for others to resolve.

Seeing this, Wang Linchi had nothing to say. He wasn’t particularly concerned about the Dai Temple’s situation and deemed the solution acceptable. Reducing the grand temple to a smaller one also meant it was less likely to attract unwanted attention. Once the smaller temple was rebuilt, it would likely be forgotten over time due to infrequent visits. This suited him perfectly, as he could remain alone on Mount Tai, caring for the Tai Mountain Seal while studying the dismantled Nine Extremes Divine Palace.

What a pity, Wang Linchi thought with a pang of regret. The Dai Temple was once so magnificent, but now it has fallen into such a desolate state. Now, only the temple on Mount Tai remained. The Dai Temple in Springhead City had long since collapsed from neglect, leaving only ruins. With Wang Linchi gone for over thirty years, the Springhead City Dai Temple could not possibly have endured for so long.

I should leave some of my power constructs to help with its upkeep, Wang Linchi decided. Just to prevent it from being utterly destroyed and causing the Great Xuan’s collapse. He then left some of his people behind as a precaution, lest this newly enthroned King Yong suddenly meet his demise.