C16 Paying Respects to the King

After Solomon received the ointment, he returned to Jerusalem under the crowd's escort.

In order to seize the time, there was no need for the other person to disturb the people. When Solomon left the city, he did not deliberately search for participants with similar numbers as Adonijah in the city.

"I have arranged for people before this. The people from Adonijah's side will come to my side sooner or later." Solomon said in a calm manner.

Although Zadok Priest still hesitated, he still chose to believe in Solomon. The result was exactly what Solomon had expected.

Zadok did not understand what Solomon and the Prophet were saying. But at least he could realize that those were words that far surpassed the wisdom of the era.

Solomon had really become different.

The originally kind and humble Solomon, who was a little weak and incompetent, now seemed to have gained enlightenment.

Everyone cheered and praised Solomon loudly. Solomon was among them, greeting everyone warmly and nodding to them with a smile.

What moved the people the most was that Solomon could actually accurately say everyone's name.

As he said each person's name, he gave them sincere blessings. That person knelt on the ground, trembling with excitement. Some people even cried tears of joy because of this.

"Long live King Solomon! Long live Israel!"

The people of Israel knelt down and praised Solomon's name.

The people blew the flute made of reeds, and the priests blew their horns. The praise and music merged together like an invisible torrent. When people were within it, they were carried along and shouted with all their might.

"Long live Solomon! Long live Israel!"

The voice shook a few miles away. If they were closer, they could even feel the ground trembling slightly.

Before the slow moving crowd could reach Jerusalem, the sound of praise had already reached the city. The windows of the city were lowered, the doors and windows were closed, as if they were dead. They opened the windows one by one, and peeked out of the windows to look towards the east curiously.

Then, they heard the joyful praises.

They realized something and opened the windows one by one, or simply walked out of the house, waiting for the crowd to slowly walk towards the city.

Two rows of Royal City guards wearing decorative metal helmets led the way in front, followed by the High Priest Zadok and the Prophet. However, Solomon, who was in the crowd, did not ride a tall horse, but a short donkey.

However, he did not feel ashamed about it. He just straightened his body and wore a gentle smile on his face. He calmly nodded at the people around him.

Then, he raised his right hand high in the crowd and loudly said to the people of Israel, "People of Israel! You will all be blessed!"

He said solemnly: "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May you all be safe and stay away from the conquest. "

"- - - may you be blessed. May all of you be blessed in the future as well."

"Long live King Solomon! Long live my king!"

Everyone was boiling with excitement. They shouted at Solomon, "Long live King Solomon! Long live Israel!"

When everyone happily sent Solomon back to King David's palace, those who participated in Solomon's ointment ceremony could not wait to leave.

They were ready to tell their family and friends about what King Solomon had seen and heard today. They wanted to show them that King Solomon had called out his name in the crowd and blessed them as if they were old friends.

Solomon walked into David's palace, turned a corner, and headed towards the inner palace.

"Long live my king."

"You're back, Solomon."

Solomon respectfully nodded at David. David, who was sitting on the throne, also smiled at Solomon. "Come... stand beside me."

Although King David still could not get up, with the help of Bathsheba and Abisha, he was still carried from the bedchamber to the inner hall. He struggled to lie in his seat.

Solomon saw that Marshal Joab's hands were tied behind his back in front of David's seat. Two internal guards of Royal City stepped on his ankles and held his shoulders as they knelt in front of King David's seat.

David shifted his gaze away from Solomon and looked at Joab again.

"Joab. You have disappointed me."

David said in a weak voice.

Joab quickly raised his head and looked at King David. "I will always be loyal to my king."

However, as soon as he raised his head, he was held down by two silent Royal City guards. They forced him to lower his head again.

"No, not forever. Joab. "

David looked straight at Joab and said in an old but steady voice, "You killed my son, Bessarong."

"That was because he rebelled at that time..."

"But I told you not to kill him. I told you that!"

With a thud, David reached out and patted the throne. He opened his eyes and glared at Joab.

Bessarong was David's third son. He was also the most handsome, outstanding, and proudest of David's sons. Therefore, even if he started a rebellion and tried to rebel, David still could not bear to kill him.

At that time, Joab had already trapped ___. David asked Joab to bring his son back. However, Joab ignored David's order and killed him with his own hands. After he came back, he attacked David first and accused David of being biased towards the dragon in front of the soldiers.

If David had not sworn that he would not kill Joab in his lifetime, he was afraid that Joab would have died by then.

New enmity and old hatred. David opened his eyes, his eyes burning like flames.

A strong sense of existence came from King David's body, causing Joab's back to be instantly drenched in cold sweat.

"... " But, but my king was at war at that time..."

Joab's voice was suppressed by David's power. However, David stiffly interrupted him, "It has already been three times. This was the fourth time, Joab... This is the fourth time you have disobeyed my orders, and you have attacked the righteous man with your sword and saber. "

" I will always be loyal to my king! "

Joab did not hesitate to kowtow to King David. His head hit the ground and made a loud thud. "I never wanted to harm you."

"It will not happen again, Joab."

David's voice was calm, and it stuck the latter half of Joab's words in his throat.

All of a sudden, Wang Ting fell silent.

"Ask him to stand up."

King David ordered.

Two guards of Royal City roughly grabbed Joab's shoulders, grabbed his armpits and wrists, and lifted him up.

David looked at Joab. That aged and aged face was calm, and his lifeless gray pupils were shining with a calm and rational light.

"Then I will pay my respects to the king."

David said word by word in a calm voice.

Marshal Joab bowed to David without hesitation. But just as he made a move, David stopped him. "Wrong."

King David extended his trembling finger and pointed at Solomon beside him. He said softly, "Salute... King Solomon."

Joab's body suddenly froze.

Solomon did not hesitate. He knelt respectfully beside King David's bed and gently kissed his finger. He said naturally and fluently, "No, father. As long as you are still alive, there is only one king in Israel. "

David stroked Solomon's hair, but he looked straight at Joab without saying a word.

After more than ten seconds, Joab slowly bowed to Solomon.

Solomon acted as if he did not see it. He just laid down in front of David's bed with his back facing him.

The silence lasted for five minutes. Solomon then said, "Father, what do you plan to do with Marshal Joab?"

"Not the marshal. It's Joab."

King David looked at Solomon, then looked at Joab and said calmly, "Joab, you... deserve to die ten thousand times for your crimes."

"But I won't kill you."

His words made Joab's pale face once again filled with a trace of blood.

However, that blood color instantly turned into an even deeper despair.

David said softly, "I swear to you that I will never kill you in this lifetime. Today, I will remove your position as the Grand Marshal and imprison you under Jerusalem's city walls. "

"If I live, you live. After I die, your life will be handed over to the new king."

David said word by word, and said calmly, "Your life and death will be determined by Solomon - not me."

"My father... I will do as you wish."

Under Joab's desperate gaze, Solomon elegantly and peacefully nodded at David.