THE FOLLOWING day, the Crown Prince officially became the new Emperor of Yan.
There was no grand coronation.
With much of the capital still recovering from the massacre, only the remaining members of the Imperial Family, important officials, and representatives of the Pei Clan were present.
The decorations left behind from the wedding had already been removed from the ceremonial hall. The bright red fabrics, flowers, and ornaments that had decorated the palace only a day earlier were gone, leaving behind a hall that looked considerably emptier than before.
There were no crowds gathered to celebrate the ascension, nor were there elaborate festivities prepared for the new Emperor. The palace remained busy with people coming and going, but almost all of them were occupied with matters concerning the aftermath of the attack.
The ceremony itself was simple.
