2 weeks later...

"Today we are witnessing the First Prince's ascension to the throne and also his choosing of an Empress!" a powerful female shaman booms

The shuffling of The First Prince's robes are heard as he moves to the center of the building. Gun Fang Lee's face showed no emotion, but inside his heart was beating faster than a mustang in the open plains. His palms were sweaty and small drops of sweat pooled around his eyes.

"Today, I shall make my Mandate to rule by offering prayers to the Heavens" Gun Fang Lee speaks.

Gun Fang Lee motioned for his officials to follow him as he moved inside the Temple of Heaven. The officials brought offering tributes which included cooked chicken, fruits , pork, fish, rice cakes, and long thread moss algae. The men placed the dishes in front of the altar of the gods, and they proceeded to bow and their faces touched the ground. Gun Fang Lee took a incense stick in his left hand and bowed three times. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a shaky breath.

"Let me be blessed by one who is skilled in goodness,
And let me know the path of peace:
Let me be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in my ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let me not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all things be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all things be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.

I wish that I can be a good Emperor  and serve my people with a whole heart and fulfill my duty to my Empress. I also ask for good health and prosperity and that my woman can bear many children. I ask the ancestors to look with favor upon me and guide help me."

 After praying, Gun Fang Lee stuck the incense inside a holder with ashes and let the incense slowly burn until only the incense stopper remained. After Gun Fang Lee finished  bowing and kneeling, white wines were poured into little cups, and the cups were handed to him by Ryoung who bowed. Gun Fang Lee held one of the cups with both hands and poured the wine on the floor in a horizontal manner. His line was long and the officials smiled at this.

"Emperor! You shall have a good life and fortune!" one official said speaking

The emperor then proceeds to the main hall of the Hall of the Supreme Principle , where he is greeted by a large dragoness.

Small ivory eyes sit rooted within her hard, bony skull, which giving her a savage looking appearance.

Several tendrils sit atop her head, just above herlong, dog-like ears. A row of small tendrils runs down the sides of each of the jaw lines.

Her nose is thick and has two thick, pointy nostrils and there are small tendrils on its chin. Several rows of large teeth poke out from the side of its mouth and reveal only a fraction of the terror hiding inside.

A huge neck runs down from her head and into a massive body. The top is covered in small scales and rows of small fan-like growths runs down its spine.

Its bottom is covered in narrow scales and is colored differently than the rest of its body. Four bulky limbs carry its body and allow the creature to stand elegantly and graceful. Each limb has 4 digits, each of which end in sharp nails seemingly made of obsidian.

Slender wings grow starting from just below its shoulders and end at the lower end of its back. The wings are rounded, the edges of the skin inside the wings are tattered and damaged and each bone structures ends in a curved, yet blunt tip.

Its barbed tail ends in a gentle point and is covered in the same small scales as its body.

"I am Gassa, the Eternal Dragoness" the female dragon says speaking, "you the one soon to be crowned as Emperor. Your blood must turn the color of a Reddish-Gold in this bowl for me to approve you."

The Prince is given a jade dagger, and he cuts the middle of the palm of his hands and his blood drips into the water and slowly, but surely the color changes that to of Reddish-Gold and Gassa bows her head and opens the door to the Hall of Supreme Principle and it reveals the Golden Dragon Throne.

A great throne of gold sits atop an elevated platform and is adjoined by three equally impressive seats for esteemed guests.

The throne is covered in sacred sculptures and fixed on the wide backside is a ruby insignia. The soft pillows are a dark ivory and these too have been adorned with the handiwork of royal embroiders.

An ivory rug runs in a circle around the room, with two paths at the throne and the main entrance while pointed banners with embellished edges swing gently from the walls. Between each banner sits a small alter full of candles, they've all been lit and in turn illuminate the tapestries of divine beings below them.

Wide, colored glass windows are framed by draperies colored the same ivory as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with burnished corners and fancy tassels. Gun Fang Lee sits down on the throne and he makes himself comfortable.

"Come forward, the Four Chosen Brides" an Official asks as the Imperial Court comes in and have been seated.

Some of the adorned brides giggle, and all four come and kneel. Each wear a red and gold hanfu with a red veil that covers their faces.

The Official takes a scroll and begins reading,

"Duan Xiuying, daughter of Duan Zhong, the Minister of State Affairs. Age twenty-eight"

Xiuying scurries up and hurriedly bows.

"Dismiss her" The Emperor says bored

The woman gasps, hurt evident in her tone. A guard gives her a rose and escorts her away.

The Official reads off another name.

"Duan Ruogang, daughter of Duan Zhong, the Minister of State Affairs, age twenty-one"

"Dismiss her"

The woman bows her head and leaves before she is given a rose.

"Fang Ling, daughter of Fang Guiying "

"Dismiss her"

"B-But Emperor," the official says, "you must choose two women. One as the Empress and the other as a Second Wife or concubine"

The Emperor sighs, "Keep her, but she is only the rank of a minor Concubine"

"Thank you Emperor" Ling shouts as she bows profusely

The Official motions a Female Servant to escort her away.

"P'i Yu-Jin, daughter of  General Xiao Liuxian, age twenty-two"

"She is to be crowned as Empress"

__________________________________

**RAWWWWWR**

1. So, that ceremony?

2. Thoughts on Gassa?

3. Thoughts on that girl Ling? P'i?

4. Extra thoughts?