This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Cheng Jun rode his horse slowly, leaving Huaidefang and leisurely heading towards the imperial city.

This was his third day in the Tang Dynasty and his second day as an imperial censor.

The day before yesterday I time-traveled and carved wooden plaques at home; yesterday I became an imperial censor; today I attend court.

After a night's rest, yesterday's fatigue has completely disappeared.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn; the curfew had not yet ended.

Patrolmen on the streets came in groups of three or five, moving back and forth. The curfew of the Tang Dynasty had been deeply ingrained in people's minds, and apart from night thieves, no ordinary people would roam the streets.

Otherwise, if caught by the patrol officer, they would be punished with caning at the county government office at best, and imprisoned at worst.

When the patrolmen saw Cheng Jun, they all bowed their heads in respect.

Cheng Jun nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded to the Imperial City. Instead of waiting directly outside Chengtian Gate, he went to the Censorate first.

At this moment, in the Imperial Academy, Wen Yanbo stood with his hands behind his back on the steps at the entrance of the academy hall. In front of him stood the censors and officials of the Imperial Academy.

Seeing Cheng Jun approach, Wen Yanbo first waved to him, then pointed to Ma Zhou and the two Imperial Censors among the crowd, and slowly said:

"Today is the regular court session. Officials of the fifth rank and above are required to attend court. The Censorate does not need to send too many people. Cheng Jun, you and Ma Zhou, along with the two Palace Attendant Censors, can accompany me to court."

"promise!"

Everyone bowed their hands.

Wen Yanbo then turned his attention to Cheng Jun, pulled him aside, and said solemnly, "Nephew Cheng, you must be careful when you go to court today."

Cheng Jun was taken aback. "Beware of who?"

"Duke of Mi, Feng Deyi".

Cheng Jun understood immediately and asked, "Is it because of his son?"

Wen Yanbo said in a deep voice, "Someone just told me that Feng Deyi threw a tantrum at the Imperial Medical Bureau yesterday afternoon."

"You prevented his son from becoming an imperial censor and instead got him a job in the Imperial Medical Academy. Do you think he won't come after you for this?"

Cheng Jun said sincerely, "Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Wen."

Wen Yanbo looked him up and down, frowning as he asked, "Why did you come like this?"

Seeing his blank expression, Wen Yanbo explained, "All civil and military officials must carry a tablet. Officials of the fifth rank and above use ivory tablets, while those of the sixth rank and below use bamboo or wooden tablets."

"Without this, before you can even supervise the officials, they will all impeach you."

Old Cheng didn't tell me either, it's probably too late to go back now... Cheng Jun pondered, "Does our Censorate have any extras?"

"The Censorate definitely has them; go ask Ma Zhou for them."

Wen Yanbo waved his hand and said, "I will take my men ahead first, and you will catch up later."

"promise!"

Cheng Jun agreed, then found Ma Zhou and told him the situation.

Ma Zhou was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this and said, "This is common sense. I thought you knew it, so I didn't tell you."

"You come with me!"

As he spoke, he led Cheng Jun into the Inspectorate, found a bamboo tablet in the main hall, and handed it to him, saying, "Brother Chuxia, this is for you."

In ancient times, the scepter could indicate one's official rank and grade, and it could also be used as a memorandum.

Cheng Jun took the bamboo and wooden tablet, held it in his arms, looked around, and noticed a bronze mirror the size of a washbasin on a table in the distance. He pointed at it and asked, "Whose is this?"

"Dr. Wen said that we censors need to pay the most attention to our appearance, so he provided these to the three academies last year."

"Can I borrow it for a bit?"

"sure."

Cheng Jun picked up the bronze mirror and stuffed it into his pocket.

Ma Zhou was stunned. "Is that how you use a bronze mirror?"

Cheng Jun said solemnly, "The sages are right. People should be taught according to their aptitude. The same applies to things. A bronze mirror can straighten one's clothes and also stand alone."

"..."

Ma Zhou looked at him strangely, "Brother Chuxia, you are indeed someone who has studied military strategy. Your words are truly unique."

He didn't ask Cheng Jun why he wore a bronze mirror to court, but simply urged him:

"Let's go, don't keep Dr. Wen waiting."

"it is good!"

Cheng Jun responded and went with him to the outside of Chengtian Gate.

At this moment, hundreds of ministers dressed in red official robes stood outside the palace gates.

The officials were already lined up neatly, with civil officials in one line and military officials in another, clearly separated.

With a creak.

Under the orders of Yuchi Jingde, the green-robed gatekeepers of the Secretariat opened the palace gates of Chengtian Gate.

Immediately afterward, the city gatekeeper stepped forward and said loudly:

"Fang Xuanling, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!"

"exist!"

"Du Ruhui, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!"

"exist!"

"Changsun Wuji, Minister of Personnel!"

"exist!"

Yesterday, Cheng Jun heard Ma Zhou talk about the process of entering the court at the Censorate. This step is called "singing the register," which in modern terms means taking attendance to see who is absent.

After the gatekeeper finished announcing the registration, he stepped back behind Yuchi Jingde.

Yuchi Jingde smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd: "Fellow colleagues, please."

He didn't even look at the civil officials, but spoke to the military officials.

One of the civil officials snorted, and seeing Yuchi Jingde glaring at him, he immediately turned his head away, avoiding eye contact.

When the officials entered the palace, they were led by the Grand Censor.

Behind him, Cheng Jun led one team and Ma Zhou led another.

The other two palace attendants stood on the left and right of the line, observing the officials' clothing and hats to see who was impolite.

Because of what happened yesterday, Ma Zhou specifically asked Cheng Jun to lead the military officers' team, while he himself led the civil officials' team into the palace.

Since it is not a morning court session on the first or fifteenth of the lunar month, but a daily court session, it is not particularly grand. Today's morning court session was held in the Liangyi Hall.

The Liangyi Hall has two gates on the left and right: the Moon Gate on the left and the Sun Gate on the right.

Following Ma Zhou's instructions, Cheng Jun led the military officers to wait under the Yuehua Gate.

Meanwhile, the civil officials were led by Ma Zhou to wait under the corridor at Rihua Gate.

"The lines are so clear..." Cheng Jun observed this scene, secretly marveling.

At that moment, a large hand was placed on his shoulder.

Cheng Jun turned his head and saw that the military officers were all smiling at him.

Cheng Jun felt that the memories inside his body were like a mad donkey, braying and turning the millstone wildly, making him feel tinnitus and a headache.

The symptoms came on quickly and disappeared just as fast. Cheng Jun met the gazes of the military officers and instantly remembered their names and identities.

"This nephew greets all his uncles and elders."

Cheng Jun summed it up in one sentence.

The military officers laughed. At that moment, Yuchi Jingde walked over and said with a smile, "See? I told you that our military officers are no worse than our civil officials."

Someone scoffed, "What makes them think they can compare to us? We can produce a censor among our military officers, but can they produce a decent military officer among their civil officials?"

“Nephew Cheng, we heard about what happened yesterday. You did a good job.”

Hearing the praise from everyone, Cheng Jun quickly returned the compliment, saying, "Uncles, you flatter me."

At this moment, the sound of the captain announcing the arrival of officials rang out again from the direction of Rihua Gate, and then the civil officials walked one after another into Liangyi Hall.

Not long after, a captain came over and repeated the registration process.

"Minister of War Li Jing!"

"exist!"

"General Chai Shao of the Left Guard!"

"exist!"

"General Duan Zhixuan of the Left Valiant Guard!"

"exist!"

As the announcements were made, the military officers began to walk one after another towards the Liangyi Hall.

Cheng Jun had already reached the very back, watching the prime minister and military officers in purple robes enter the main hall, while the other ministers in red robes stood outside the steps below the hall.

Because it was a regular audience, only ministers wearing purple robes were qualified to enter the palace; everyone else had to stand outside and wait for orders.

The hierarchy in ancient times was truly strict... Cheng Jun was thinking to himself when suddenly the calls of eunuchs rang out from afar.

"Your Majesty has arrived——"

Cheng Jun looked over and saw the imperial entourage clearing the way.

Li Shimin, wearing a black hat, a reddish-yellow robe, a nine-ringed belt, and six-joint boots, walked towards this place with an imposing and dignified expression.

Soon, Li Shimin entered the Liangyi Hall and sat down on the dragon throne.

The middle-aged eunuch in purple robes solemnly addressed the officials, saying in a loud voice, "Bowing!"

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

The ministers in purple robes inside the hall, and the civil and military officials in red robes outside, all bowed deeply.

Cheng Jun stood outside the hall and followed their example, bowing towards the direction inside the hall.

"My esteemed ministers, you may rise and dispense with the formalities."

Inside the hall, Li Shimin's majestic voice rang out.

Once all the officials had straightened up, the middle-aged eunuch in purple robes announced loudly, "Those who have matters to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn!"

All the civil and military officials looked toward Wen Yanbo, who was standing inside the hall.

During the Tang Dynasty, officials who could speak out were highly valued. During the morning court session, the Grand Censor of the Censorate would be the first to present a report, followed by other officials who could speak out, such as the Grand Counselor, the three censorate offices, and finally the other ministers.

Wen Yanbo held an ivory tablet, his eyes fixed on his nose, standing still, demonstrating to those present that he had no important matters to report.

Everyone then looked at the Imperial Censor in the palace, but the two remained silent.

The next second, an old man with white hair, dressed in a purple robe, stepped forward, holding an ivory jade tablet, and said angrily:

"Your Majesty, this old minister, Feng Deyi, has something to report!"