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Fourth, oops! Did everyone understand? If it's really too complicated, I'll just have to change the time to the simplest equality conversion, saving some troublesome details. Please leave a comment.

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Chapter 9 Pilgrimage and State Affairs

Chapter 9 Pilgrimage and State Affairs

It was barely dawn outside. The thought of having to get up this early every day sent chills down my spine. Wasn't this even more inhumane than the college entrance exam period?

After a dazed breakfast, I set off, accompanied only by one person and one ghost. The person was Feng Yihan, and the ghost, of course, needs no introduction.

Although I originally lived in the palace, it was still quite a distance from my residence, the Fei Garden, to the main hall where court assemblies were held. I walked forward, nodding every few steps, when a strangely shaped rock suddenly appeared in front of me, and I almost fell headfirst into it.

Yi Han caught me at the critical moment, his face showing no surprise, shock, or even a hint of worry. He simply said calmly, as if it were a casual greeting during a meal, "Young Master, watch your step."

I patted my chest, still shaken, and half of my sleepiness vanished instantly. I turned my head and saw Zimo's smirking face, and couldn't help but glare at him fiercely.

"Yihan." I stood up, feeling a little embarrassed, and called out, "Could you come with me to the court?"

Yi Han nodded, his handsome face calm: "Young Master may not remember, but when you first assisted the Emperor in ascending the throne, you were ambushed outside the court and almost lost your life. Fortunately, a eunuch risked his life to save you. Since then, the Emperor has allowed me to protect you closely. No matter the circumstances or the method, as long as it is for your safety, my actions are unrestricted."

"Oh—" I exclaimed, "So that's how it is. It seems that this emperor is quite good to me...."

Yi Han neither refuted nor agreed, but gestured for me to hurry up. Only after I had passed him by half a body length did I hear his formulaic voice: "If the young master says he is good to you, then he is good to you."

Huh? I tilted my head. What does that mean? I don't understand at all. I turned my head and saw Zi Mo's eyes flashing with a sharp light as he looked down at Yi Han's straight but indifferent back.

When we arrived at the Tenglong Hall, which was used for court ceremonies (this professional term was taught to me by Zimo), it was just dawn. According to Zimo, it was at the time when dawn was about to break.

I saw many guards carrying spears and flags running back and forth busily but orderly. Just as I was watching with curiosity, I heard Zi Mo say, "The court etiquette of this era is not much different from ours. Do you see those people on the left who are arranging the civil and military officials?"

I looked around and sure enough, I saw several respectful people wearing felt hats and deep red brocade robes, arranging the officials who had arrived early in order. Zi Mo continued, "These people are called officials of rites. Their duty is to guide the guests in order of rites. As for the guards running around, their duty is to place weapons and raise the five-colored dragon and phoenix flags. In a moment, once everything is arranged, the master of ceremonies will announce the arrival of the officials. The officials are headed by the Three Dukes, namely the Grand Commandant, the Chancellor, and the Grand Censor. In our Jin Yao Kingdom, the Chancellor is the head of the Three Dukes. So, when the master of ceremonies announces the arrival of the officials, you will lead the court officials into the hall."

"Zi... Zimo, what should I do if my legs feel weak?" I looked at him anxiously. When I saw the dark and towering Tenglong Palace, my hair stood on end and I was filled with unbearable fear.

Zi Mo looked at me with a mixture of amusement and helplessness. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly focused and said, "Someone is coming to greet you. Be on your guard!"

I was startled and quickly turned around. I saw a middle-aged man with a strange headdress, wearing a dark blue long robe and a belt, walking towards me with a kind and friendly smile on his face. I quickly smiled back.

"Did you see the embroidery on the front of his clothes?" Zi Mo's voice suddenly came. "It's embroidered with a golden pheasant, and he's wearing a ceremonial hat, which means he's a civil official of the second rank. If I'm not mistaken, he should be Feng Yue, the Imperial Censor who is ranked among the Three Dukes with you, and is responsible for supervising all officials and advising the Emperor."

As we spoke, the man had already walked up to me, smiling kindly, "I am so happy to see that my nephew Qin is safe and sound. We were so worried when we heard that you, Lin Yu, were suffering from a serious illness and the Emperor would not allow us to visit you!"

I quickly followed Zi Mo's instructions and performed a junior's curtsy to an elder, saying gratefully, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Feng. Lin Yu's illness has fully recovered. I will definitely visit you another day. Thank you for your concern, Uncle Feng."

Feng Yuenan left with a satisfied look on his face. I let out a long sigh of relief and glanced at Yi Han, who looked slightly surprised. When he saw me looking at him, he lowered his eyelids expressionlessly.

"Teacher! Teacher, you've finally come!" A voice called out excitedly, deep yet still a little childish.

I turned around in surprise and saw a handsome young man with delicate features, his dark eyes filled with surprise and admiration, staring at me nakedly, rushing straight towards me without stopping.

Perhaps his charge was too fierce and reckless, because Yi Han suddenly stepped between me and him, his indifferent and cold gaze not even looking at him, which made the young man stop in his tracks, his face turning red and white, full of awe.

I couldn't help but glance curiously at Yi Han's cold face. On the battlefield that day, he was covered in blood and severely wounded, and I couldn't tell how capable he really was. Could it be... that he's very powerful?

"I was being presumptuous," the young man said hastily, bowing. "Guardian Feng, please forgive me. I only wished to inquire about my teacher's condition."

Yi Han took two steps around me, retreating behind me with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping elsewhere. Every guard whose gaze fell upon him showed an expression of admiration and fear, hastily straightening their backs and not daring to look away, as if they were both afraid of him and wanted to gain his praise.

How strange! How really strange!

"Teacher, are you fully recovered?" the boy asked with a worried expression.

Silence, a three-tenths smile, five-tenths aloofness, and two-tenths of threatening aura—this is how Zimo taught me to face the crowd.

I placed one hand on the jade pendant at my waist, raised my head with a calm expression, nodded with a smile, and said, "I'm much better now." I didn't know who this young man was, but he was definitely a disciple of Lin Yu.

The boy's face was filled with satisfaction and reverence, his eyes shining like stars in the night sky, clear and pure.

After Feng Yue and the boy made a scene, most people's attention began to focus on me. Several people strode towards me with all sorts of strange expressions.

I stumbled and almost gave myself away, but luckily at that moment, the master of ceremonies announced my arrival, and I quickly led the way into the inner hall. Half a step behind me, on my left was a young general in military uniform. His gaze was neither cold nor warm, but rather friendly. This must be the Grand Commandant and General of Chariots and Cavalry that Zi Mo had mentioned—Lu Shaojun. On my right was the Imperial Censor Feng Yuenan.

We entered the main hall in perfect unison, landing silently. The civil officials, except for myself, were positioned to the east, facing west; the military officials were positioned to the west, facing east. Lü Shaojun, Feng Yuenan, and I stood silently beneath the golden hall, facing east from left to right, awaiting the emperor's arrival.

The master of ceremonies began to sing again, followed by the officials' congratulations. I didn't know what they were singing; I only knew that my lips were moving, pretending to sing. Just then, the Golden Hall was filled with people, brightly lit. Emperor Yang Yi of the Golden Glory Kingdom, wearing a phoenix-pearl and jade crown and a black and blue robe with gold embroidery and red trim, walked in with steady steps.

Despite his overtly friendly demeanor, his gaze swept over the crowd with an air of superiority. He then waved to the kneeling masses and said, "Rise, my lords!"

Not counting the area outside the main hall, the sight of several hundred people standing up in such a grand and imposing manner was truly magnificent.

The master of ceremonies eunuch announced in a shrill voice: "His Majesty says, if there is anything to report, please do not speak; otherwise, the court may adjourn!"

And so began the long and boring morning assembly, which was even more outrageous than the routine reports at our school. They didn't even let people sit down. If this continued every day, how could anyone live like this?

I didn't hear a word they were reporting, arguing, or the Emperor's replies. My legs ached, my back hurt, and my eyelids were drooping as if I were in love.

She secretly covered her mouth with her sleeve and yawned, just in time to catch a glimpse of Yi Han's slightly amused look. She suddenly realized that he had actually followed her into court, and if she didn't pay attention, she wouldn't even remember his existence. It was too outrageous.

"Galan, concentrate! The Emperor's attention has already started to turn to you, and he will probably ask for your opinion soon." Zi Mo's voice came at just the right time. I was startled and quickly put my hands in front of me and listened attentively.

Sure enough, after some easily filtered words, Yang Yi asked in a gentle but worried tone, "Does Prime Minister Qin have any objections?"

I composed myself, straightened my back, and listened attentively while speaking in a moderate voice: "Your Majesty, the solution to this problem is neither easy nor difficult. I have no way to find a solution that satisfies both sides. I can only say that it temporarily alleviates these contradictions."

All of the above is actually nonsense, just to make sure I can hear what Zimo is saying carefully and to buy time.

Of course, Yang Yi had no chance of finding out. Upon hearing that I had a solution, a smile immediately appeared on his face: "My dear minister, you said yesterday that you would think of a solution. I was worried that there wouldn't be enough time, but I didn't expect that you, Lin Yu, would actually come up with a solution. You and Shao Jun, one a scholar and the other a warrior, are indeed my indispensable right and left arms!"