The first time in history

Soon, one official ship after another arrived. Zhao Yong, Qian Mingduo and others thought that the emperor had arrived. However, the people who got off the official ships were eunuchs, palace maids, imperial guards, and imperial palace guards.

After they got ashore, they immediately lined up on both sides of the dock, and the palace guards were verifying the identity of each person.

The rain poured down like a river in the sky, smashing down hard on the earth. The dark clouds were like huge black waves, surging and rolling in the sky, filling the entire dome tightly. The world seemed to be swallowed by darkness, and it was so oppressive that it made people breathless.

Suddenly, a dazzling ray of light split the darkness like a sharp sword. It was a huge hole in the clouds in the sky! The golden sunlight poured down like a waterfall, and every ray of light was clearly visible, as if God's hand had opened the curtain of hope. Wherever the light went, the raindrops reflected the dazzling light, like countless diamonds shining. This light illuminated the gray world and covered the earth with a sacred veil, like a dream.

At 3:30 pm, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared. In the distance, a large and magnificent ship was slowly approaching.

The Emperor's ship floated on the canal, like a palace on the water. The ship was several dozen feet long, huge and majestic, and decorated with red lacquer, as red as red clouds, shining brightly among the waves.

The decks of the ship were all paved with green wood, with fine textures and smooth as a mirror. The bow was high, shaped like the head of a dragon, and carved with auspicious beasts with eyes wide open, like a river demon guarding the safety of the emperor. On both sides of the ship, there were gold-painted railings with exquisite carvings, some with cloud patterns, some with flowers, showing the luxury of the royal family.

Inside the cabin, there is a large space, with a main hall, in which is placed an imperial throne, decorated with gold and jade, and covered with brocade, the embroidery is exquisite, and the auspicious pattern of dragons and phoenixes is lifelike.

The walls were all hung with brocade curtains, painted with magnificent mountains and rivers. There were several rooms beside the hall, which were used for rest. The beds were soft and covered with silk, the curtains were lightly hung, and the air was filled with fragrant breezes.

The roof of the boat is covered with special tiles, which are waterproof and sun-proof. There are also carvings on the tiles, showing exquisite details. The stern is flat and wide, with a high platform for observation.

There were also flags flying and dragon flags unfurling, showing the emperor's dignity. The entire imperial ship, sailing along the canal, was like a shining pearl, showing the royal style of the Song Dynasty.

The imperial boat slowly approached the shore, and after it came to a stop, several palace guards jumped onto the stone steps first, and then several palace maids stood by the boat with fans, and several eunuchs helped the emperor slowly walk out of the cabin.

All the officials on the bank knelt down and shouted "Long live the emperor". Emperor Gaozong walked up to the bank and said to the crowd: "My beloved ministers, I wish you a happy life."

He walked up to Qian Mingduo who had just stood up and asked, "Are you used to living in Lin'an Prefecture, Lord Lu?"

Qian Mingduo quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am originally from Lin'an. There is nothing I am not used to here."

"That's good." The emperor nodded slightly. "I will host a banquet in the palace at twilight hour. Lord Lu, please join me for a few drinks."

"I bow to thank the emperor for his great grace!" Qian Mingduo didn't want to kneel again, but since the emperor gave him so much face, he had to kneel.

Not only were his clothes wet, his pants were covered in mud. Qian Mingduo rode his horse along the crowd, and suddenly he spotted a familiar figure not far ahead.

He looked carefully and found that it was Feng Yixuan. Qian Mingduo knew that he had also passed the imperial examination, but was only in the top three.

Unexpectedly, he appeared among the emperor's entourage.