Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Chang'an, Imperial City, Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, 1:30 AM

The dawn was breaking, and the mist along the Jinshui Bridge had not yet completely dissipated. The towering Hall of Supreme Harmony, like a dormant giant, stood silently atop its vast white marble steps. The vermilion lacquered columns shimmered in the morning light, and the stone carvings of coiled dragons exuded a solemn majesty. Dozens of court officials in various official robes had already begun to gather in the square outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Today was a small court meeting, and only civil officials of the fifth rank or above, or military commanders of the third rank or above, holding real power, could attend. There were only about seventy people in total, making it seem empty and solemn compared to the more than two hundred people who crowded the Grand Court. Everyone held their breath, stood in silence with their hands lowered. An invisible pressure hung in the air, broken only by the subtle rustling of clothing and the occasional muffled cough.

In this sea of ​​vermilion (fourth and third ranks) and deep crimson (third rank and above) official robes, two figures stood out like a crane among chickens, particularly conspicuous.

Zhao Mingcheng, the Left Prime Minister and the Minister of the Central Government, was seen wearing a purple robe embroidered with gold thread and a dragon-shaped pattern, the symbol of the highest rank of Prime Minister. He wore a jade belt around his waist and a seven-beamed Jinxian crown on his head. With his hands behind his back, he walked in from the side door of the square with a leisurely, even unsteady, pace. A smile almost smug wore on his face, his snow-white beard fluttering gently with his steps, as if he were not attending court but rather attending a pleasant gathering. The red-robed dignitaries passing by, from the Ministers to the Nine Ministers, immediately stepped aside as he approached, bowing and respectfully calling out, "Left Prime Minister!" Zhao Mingcheng simply nodded casually, but his gaze was already fixed on the first seat beneath the red steps at the front of the square.

There, already stood another equally distinguished figure in a purple robe—Shi Jinchao, the current Right Prime Minister, Minister of the Chancellery, and Imperial Censor. Shi Jinchao, in his early fifties, was tall and straight, with a clear-faced face, a short beard, and a sharp, steady gaze. He wore the same customary purple robe with gold patterns, his back straight and his demeanor as imposing as a mountain, a stark contrast to Zhao Mingcheng's casual demeanor. He paid no attention to the officials behind him, but simply stared silently at the closed gates of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as if lost in thought.

Zhao Mingcheng walked unsteadily to Shi Jinchao's side, stopped, turned his head, and put on an extremely familiar and somewhat deliberately teasing smile on his face. His voice was loud enough for the officials around him to vaguely hear:

"Oh! Master Shi! You come quite early today!" He deliberately dragged out the tone of the word "quite early" and swept his eyes over the surrounding seats that were not yet filled.

Shi Jinchao turned around slowly, a formal, cold smile appeared on his face, and he nodded slightly: "Mr. Zhao Linggong, you are too kind. Haven't you been waiting for the emperor here before the morning hour in the past? Today..." He looked up at the sky. The morning hour had passed, and the sun was getting higher. "...I am quite surprised that you kept me waiting. I am considered... late, right?" His tone was flat, but every word was as sharp as a needle.

Zhao Mingcheng seemed oblivious to the sting. He laughed heartily and waved his hand nonchalantly, "Haha, it's not too late, it's not too late! How can I compare with Master Shi on my feet? Besides," he lowered his voice, but still made it clear to those nearby, with a cunning look on his face that showed he knew the situation, "Your Majesty is only ten years old this year. It's normal for a child to stay in bed and throw a tantrum. I guess he's still... lounging in the warm room right now!"

Shi Jinchao's brows furrowed slightly, and his voice deepened, "Lord, be careful with your words! Your Majesty may be young, but he is gifted and intelligent. As he grows up, it's time for him to understand things. As a minister, you should strictly abide by your duties and not criticize your sovereign without authorization."

"Sensible?" The smile on Zhao Mingcheng's face faded a little, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, and his voice became a little colder. "It's understandable that the child is naive. But what about Empress Dowager Shi? It's already past the hour of Mao! All the civil and military officials in the court, the pillars of the country, are just standing outside like this, drinking wind and dew? Is this how she governs the country from behind the curtain?" This question was like a bolt from the blue, and the faces of several officials around him changed. They lowered their heads and wished they could plug their ears.

Shi Jinchao's face instantly turned ashen, and a flash of anger flashed in his eyes. He suppressed his emotions and squeezed out a voice through his teeth: "Lord! Royal affairs must be handled with extreme caution! Such words are not what a subject should say! "

"Be careful with your words? Haha!" Zhao Mingcheng laughed out loud as if he had heard a huge joke. The laughter echoed in the empty square, with a bit of desolation and arrogance. "I have been scolding people with this mouth for half my life! When the late emperor was late for the morning court, didn't I also point at his nose and scold him? What was the result?" He spread his hands, his tone was self-deprecating, but his eyes were sharp as knives. "You scolded me and I lost my 'Gu Xian' (referring to lofty and honorable titles such as Tai Shi and Tai Fu)! But so what? I have to scold you! In this country, someone has to speak the truth!"

Shi Jinchao took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, but his knuckles were already turning white from the grip of his hands clenched in his sleeves. He spoke in a deep voice, "Your Excellency is now a high-ranking official in the court, a position of supreme authority. You should prioritize the greater good, share the emperor's burdens, and serve the court! How could you... still cling to mere petty fame and profit?" His words were both an admonition and a rebuttal, implying that Zhao Mingcheng was being too calculating and disregarding the greater good.

Zhao Mingcheng's face was filled with sarcasm when he heard this, and he said in a gloomy tone: "Master Shi is right! I am confused. I am ashamed, ashamed!"

Shi Jinchao turned around and ignored him, only saying lightly, "Save your breath, you have to go to court soon."

……

After an unknown number of minutes, a dull bell echoed nine times over the Imperial City, its rich, long peals piercing the mist, heralding the official start of the court session. Palace guards, clad in golden armor, stood solemnly on either side of the imperial steps, their long spears like a forest, gleaming coldly in the morning light. The eunuch in charge of ceremonies from the Imperial Household Department, standing on a high step, took a deep breath, and sang in a high, piercing, and well-trained voice:

"Go to court! All officials come to the audience!!"

The civil and military officials, already arranged by rank, immediately straightened their attire upon hearing the announcement. The civil officials on the left, those in purple robes, led the way, followed by those in crimson robes; the military officers on the right followed suit. Because Shi Jinchao held the lofty title of Grand Tutor, he was ranked first among the civil officials and stood closest to the imperial steps. Zhao Mingcheng, as the Left Prime Minister and the Minister of the Central Government, held the same rank but a lower title, so he followed closely behind, standing half a step to Shi Jinchao's side.

The heavy, vermilion-lacquered gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony creaked on its hinges as it slowly opened, revealing the magnificent, solemn, and majestic hall within. Officials filed in, their steps steady and composed, in a hushed silence.

According to regulations, with the exception of the Censor of Gyeonggi Province and the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, two officials of less prestigious but crucial positions, who were allowed to stand on either side of the inner hall, only officials of the first rank, wearing purple robes, were permitted to enter the core area of ​​the inner hall. The remaining officials lined up in order on either side of the outer hall, bowing their heads in silence, awaiting the emperor's arrival.

Within the inner hall, towering golden pillars adorned with coiled dragons and intricately painted caisson ceilings stood atop nine golden steps. Precious ambergris burned in a massive gilded bronze cauldron, its wisps of smoke rising, adding a touch of mystery and intimidation.

In this pin-drop silence, the eunuch's signature shrill voice rang out again, with immense respect and penetrating power:

"His Majesty has arrived --!!!"

In an instant, all the officials, whether inside or outside the hall, seemed to be pulled by invisible strings. They lifted their robes, bent their knees, and bowed in unison. Their movements were uniform, their foreheads touching the ground, and they kowtowed in low and respectful voices:

"Long live our emperor! Long live him! Long, long live him!" The roar of applause was so loud that even the beams of the palace seemed to creak slightly.

On the nine golden steps, on the throne, a small figure finally appeared.

The young emperor, who had just turned ten this year, wore a bright yellow nine-dragon robe, clearly adapted for adult sizes. It was too large and heavy, with the gold-embroidered dragons entwined across it, nearly drowning his frail frame. A twelve-tasseled white jade crown weighed heavily on his tiny head, its drooping tassels accentuating his childish face.

His face was round, fair, with the soft features of a child, his skin as delicate as fine porcelain. His large eyes, a stark contrast of black and white, resembled obsidian bathed in a spring. Through the slits of the jade tassels dangling from his crown, he surveyed the prostrate ministers below, with a mixture of curiosity and subtle nervousness. His nose was small and straight, and his lips, a pale pink, were slightly pursed. He seemed to be trying to appear serious, yet a childlike innocence and a hint of unease were still clearly visible on his face. He sat upright on the spacious throne, his tiny frame occupying less than half the space. His feet couldn't even touch the ground, suspended in mid-air, barely able to touch the edge of the golden steps with his toes. The vast throne and his tiny figure formed a stark contrast, one that evoked both pity and a sense of absurdity.

Amidst the roaring cries of his ministers, the young emperor seemed somewhat bewildered. He subconsciously turned his head and quickly glanced at the draped pearl curtain embroidered with golden phoenixes behind the throne (where Empress Dowager Shi held court). Then, he cleared his throat and, trying to imitate the majestic tone he remembered, spoke in a slightly hurried voice that still carried the clarity of childishness:

"All...my dear ministers...please stand up."

Although the voice tried to be raised, it still had the crispness of a child, and seemed a little weak in the empty and majestic hall.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the officials kowtowed once more before slowly rising in order, their hands hanging. Everyone's gaze, some respectful, some inquiring, some complex, was focused on the tiny figure clad in a heavy dragon robe and crown perched atop the nine golden steps. With this tender child's voice, the court curtain officially opened.