The night quickly passed, and on the morning of the next day, Wang Chong took a bath and changed his clothes. After washing his face and rinsing his mouth, the maids of the residence helped him put on the crimson imperial robe that symbolized his status as King of Foreign Lands. He straightened the violet-gold crown on his head, one hand resting on the imperial sword at his waist while the other gripped the dragon token that symbolized his status as King of Foreign Lands. Then, under the watchful eyes of his mother, the maids, and the servants, he leisurely seated himself on a golden-red palanquin.
"Young Master is so impressive!"
"Young Master is so handsome! With the crimson imperial robe and the violet-gold crown, even Pan An and Song Yu would feel ashamed of their inferiority before Young Master. "
The pretty maids blushed as they gazed at the palanquin outside the gate. When they had been helping Wang Chong change into the imperial robe, their hearts had been thumping in their chests. At some point, Wang Chong had gone from that hedonistic scion to a hero of the Tang dynasty. Moreover, the temperament that he had tempered on the battlefield caused his every move to emit a soul-stirring charm, causing the hearts of all the young girls to be moved.
Wang Chong's mother, Lady Zhao, stood at the gate, her eyes slightly red, gratified and excited.
Today was Wang Chong's first time participating in the morning court session of the Tang dynasty, and nothing could make Lady Zhao more excited. All the hard work he had put in had paid off at this moment.
From this moment on, the most worthless child of the Wang Clan had grown up. He could now act like the Wang Clan's Old Master and display his talents in the royal court with a different identity.
"Raise the palanquin!"
Outside the gate of the Wang Clan, a resounding voice rang out, and eight burly guards rose to their feet, lifting the golden-red palanquin toward the Imperial Palace. As Wang Chong set off, firecrackers exploded behind him.
Wang Chong sat in the eight-bearer palanquin, escorted by two rows of guards as he swiftly made his way to the Imperial City. After passing through many alleys, he appeared at the palace gate.
By the time Wang Chong arrived, there were already many palanquins parked in front of the palace gates.
The morning court assembly of the Great Tang would begin from the fifth watch period (five to seven in the morning), and some of the officials would even wake up at the fourth watch period. Wang Chong could be considered one of the latecomers.
There were many empty palanquins at the city gate. According to the rules of the Tang dynasty, the palanquins of civil and military officials could only be sent to the gates of the imperial city.
But when Wang Chong arrived, he saw a sedan bearing the emblem of the Wang Clan. Big Uncle Wang Gen was already waiting for him there.
"Chong-er, this is your first time participating in the morning court session as an Advisor-in-Waiting. In a while, remember to watch, listen, and learn more during the morning court session. Before you speak, think carefully before you speak and think thrice before you speak. In addition, the civil and military officials of the Imperial Court have their own shifts, and their positions cannot be randomly assigned. Although you are the King of Foreign Lands conferred the title of King of Foreign Lands by the Imperial Court, the Imperial Court values your status as a participant in politics, so when assigning you a shift, it still follows your status as an Advisor-in-Waiting. But in the end, you are still a King of the Imperial Court, the King of Foreign Lands conferred by His Majesty. Other than a different shift, there are no other restrictions in the Imperial Court. "
Wang Gen waited for Wang Chong to step forward, and as they entered the Imperial Palace, he earnestly informed him of the taboos of the Imperial Court.
"The Imperial Court is different from the battlefield. There are many rules and regulations, and many restrictions. One cannot make a decision based on one's status alone. In addition, a tall tree attracts the wind, and the current Imperial Court is much more complicated than before. When you were on the border, many people couldn't do anything to you, but when it comes to matters of the Imperial Court, especially the memorials sent in from various places and the urgent discussions that need to be resolved, if you don't speak with substance, you will be mocked by the officials and used to attack you. King Qi and the others might even make an issue out of it to discredit you. "
"Chong-er understands!"
Wang Chong deferentially said.
Although Wang Chong was a Great General and hero revered by countless people on the battlefield, the Imperial Court was a completely foreign place, and martial strength could not solve any problems. When the Tang Dynasty's War God Wang Zhongsi was at his peak, he left Longxi's Big Dipper City, resigned from all his posts, and became the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian, precisely because he was framed by the Imperial Court.
A place where the smoke and flames of war could not be seen was far more dangerous than a place where the smoke and flames of war could be seen.
Wang Chong had understood this a long time ago.
However, not even his big uncle knew that his thinking was completely different from his big uncle's. He had his own plans for this morning court session.
In the Imperial Palace, the Golden Guards opened the way in the morning. From the palace gate, the two sides of the alleys were guarded by the Golden Guards, leading to the place where the Imperial Court was to be held. Even those unfamiliar with the Imperial Court would be able to follow these rows of Golden Guards through the maze-like Imperial Palace to find the place where the court was to be held.
Along the way, Wang Chong listened to his big uncle's instructions as he made his way deeper into the Imperial Palace. Along the way, all the Golden Guards he encountered would look at Wang Chong with reverence. Whether it was the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Guard, the Golden Guard, or the Protectorate army on the border, as long as Wang Chong was a soldier of the Tang Dynasty, there was no one who did not revere Wang Chong.
But the civil officials he encountered along the way were completely different. Although Wang Chong did not dare to say anything because of his status, he could not help but point fingers at him.
"Hmph, officials protecting each other, three titles a year. At such a young age, he's already the King of Foreign Lands. Does he still care about the rules of the Imperial Court?"
"He's just a brat who's still wet behind his ears, and he hasn't even grown a beard yet. It's fine if he's placed on the border, as youths are full of vigor and courage, but what's with him participating in the Imperial Court? Are we old officials not a match for a youngster?"
"Shh, lower your voice! He's the King of Foreign Lands, and he's currently in the limelight. Don't make trouble. One clan has four ministers and generals!"
"What King of Foreign Lands? He's clearly the Asura King who kills people like flies! How despicable!"
… …
The officials whispered to each other from a distance, but given Wang Chong's cultivation level, even if they did, their words would still resound like thunder in his ears.
"Chong-er, there's no need to pay attention to them. They're all old officials who have sat on the bench for decades. You've been promoted so quickly, so it's no wonder they have complaints."
The familiar voice of Wang Chong's big uncle, Wang Gen, came from the side. There were all sorts of officials in the Imperial Court. There were those who had been promoted due to their outstanding achievements, those from noble clans, those who had been recommended for their filial piety, and those who had passed the imperial examinations … There was no such thing as one or the other. There were only the people of the King of Song and King Qi's faction.
"In truth, when I entered the Imperial Court, I was the same."
Wang Gen continued.
Wang Chong couldn't help but smile at these words. The matter was naturally not as simple as his big uncle made it out to be, but Wang Chong had already weathered many storms, so he didn't care about such slander.
"Big Uncle, let's go!"
With a wave of his sleeve, Wang Chong and his big uncle walked in.
"Foul brat, remember that there are no relatives in the Imperial Court. Once you enter, you must call me Lord Wang."
Wang Gen said, making a rare joke about Wang Chong.
"Yes, Lord Wang!"
Wang Chong couldn't help but smile.
… …
The Hall of Taihe was solemn and dignified. By the time Wang Chong entered, the Imperial Court was already packed with civil and military officials. Wang Chong, dressed in a crimson imperial robe, calmly walked in, instantly attracting the attention of the people in the hall. In an instant, the ministers who had been discussing in low voices immediately stopped, and the entire hall suddenly became much quieter. Countless officials began to size up this youthful King of Foreign Lands who was bursting with success.
Although Wang Chong had made a name for himself in the war of the southwest, many of the most powerful officials of the Imperial Court had never even seen him. To these people, only by squeezing into this dazzling Hall of Taihe would they have the right to see him.
As they gazed at Wang Chong's youthful figure, they had all sorts of expressions: envy, jealousy, admiration, hostility, and kindness.
But in the face of so many of the most illustrious and powerful officials of the Tang Dynasty, in the face of so many complicated gazes, Wang Chong remained calm and unperturbed.
While the officials were sizing him up, he was also sizing up the officials in the hall. A few moments later, Wang Chong's eyes paused as he spotted a familiar figure.
The King of Song!
Beneath a cinnabar coiling dragon pillar, The King of Song, dressed in his imperial robe, stood motionless. Although he had been avoiding Wang Chong this entire time, and even when Wang Chong had gone to visit The King of Song, he had not been able to see him. But no matter how much the King of Song tried to avoid him, he could not avoid the morning court session.
As if sensing Wang Chong's gaze, The King of Song turned his head and glanced at him. But after this glance, he immediately turned his head away, avoiding Wang Chong's gaze.
But to Wang Chong, this one glance was enough. At that moment, Wang Chong sensed that The King of Song's mind was weighed down by many things, as if he had fallen into some massive puzzle.
It seems like the old butler wasn't lying …
Wang Chong mentally muttered to himself. There were times when words were not necessary to communicate. For Wang Chong, he had at least confirmed one thing. The King of Song was still the King of Song. He had not changed, but he had probably encountered a very difficult problem.
"Buzz!"
Just as he was pondering this, Wang Chong suddenly heard a cold snort. Almost at the same time, a gaze filled with malice turned toward him from another direction.
Wang Chong turned his head and saw that in a place opposite The King of Song, there was another figure with a majestic aura, noble and dignified, his aura not one bit inferior to The King of Song's. But this person had a sinister aura that was not present on The King of Song's body. The ministers around this person stood, smiling coldly at Wang Chong, making no attempt to conceal the malice in his eyes.
King Qi!
A thought flashed through Wang Chong's mind. This was not the first time he had met King Qi. During the Marquis Conferral Ceremony, Wang Chong had already met King Qi face to face. However, this was the first time they were actually standing so close, serving as ministers in the same palace.
Wang Chong sneered, fearless. He glared back at King Qi, showing no intention of backing down.
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