(Because it was a five-thousand-word chapter, uploading was a bit late.)
Coincidentally, King of Beiliang Xu Xiao was just about to leave the capital when Great General Gu Jiantang returned from Liao to attend the morning court. Today's morning court was not held in the Hall of Preserving Peace, but rather in the Hall of Cultivating Spirit, which was normally used for holding court. Outside the southern gate, Grand Secretary Zhang Julu led the Zhang Faction, the military general of the Ministry of War, the Green Faction led by Wen Taiyi and Hong Lingshu, and the Old Grand Preceptor of West Chu, Sun Xiji, who had been silently criticized by the local dignitaries of the Liyang Dynasty as a servant of two surnames, led the old and new nobles of the eight countries.
Grand Secretary Zhang had always arrived at the court at the right time, neither too early nor too late. Together with the Green Faction's Wen and Hong, the two pillars behind Shang Zhu Guo Lu Feichi, they were both old, so under normal circumstances, they would arrive rather late. On the contrary, it was the snow-white browed Sun Xiji who always arrived outside the Tai 'an Imperial Gate early, to show that he was an old steed in the stable, but he was used to being taciturn. This old man, who was once known as West Chu's Twin Jade Annulus along with the Spring and Autumn Martial Saint Ye Baikui, now occupied a high position in the dynasty, in charge of a province, with the power to rebuke, and the responsibility to admonish. After entering the dynasty, he never retreated, never spoke in general terms.
Sun Xiji had a head full of white hair, his skin wrinkled like an old pine tree. His health was not too good, from time to time he would catch a cold in winter and suffer from heatstroke in summer. His Majesty even made an exception for this old official, granting him a seat. However, right now, it looked like Old Man Sun's spirit was still flourishing. Around him gathered a group of old and new remnants of the eight countries, all of them about sixty years old. The second generation of 'new remnants' didn't mind openly standing together with the other three factions, exchanging polite greetings, talking about some harmless and amusing matters.
Sun Xiji raised his head, seeing two colleagues walking over from the distance. The Old Grand Preceptor's expression was cold. When the civil and military officials all sensed the appearance of these two, they immediately shut their mouths. One of the two wore first-rank embroidered crane civil official robes, purple beard and blue eyes. His figure was tall, his appearance clear and unique, his steps unhurried. The other person was dressed in a first rank martial official uniform embroidered with a qilin, a pair of long and narrow red phoenix eyes. When he looked at people and things, his eyes would always be narrowed. Not only did he not give others a feeling of elegance and charm, he instead added a bit of gloominess. His steps were firm. This person got off the carriage with Grand Secretary Zhang Julu and walked over together. Perhaps it was because his steps were faster. At first, the two walked side by side, but they gradually passed Grand Secretary Zhang by a body's length. However, he still didn't seem to realize that this was inappropriate, directly walking towards Tai An Gate.
Of all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, only Great General Gu didn't bother with trifles like this.
Gu Jiantang's way of doing things was a bit domineering, but his speech was still respectful. He didn't speak with Gu Party's direct line of descent, instead first greeting Sun Xiji. Old Sun nodded with a smile. The old man didn't have any bad feelings towards this famous general from the Spring and Autumn Period. After all, the ones who destroyed West Chu were Xu Rentu and Chen Baiyi, this pair of adopted father and son.
The Imperial Secretariat's Great Yellow Gate was the Son of Heaven's inner court officials, this Great Yellow Gate was not a eunuch's Great Yellow Gate, the two couldn't be mentioned in the same breath. Only the Imperial Secretariat's Great Yellow Gate was closest to the Emperor, not losing out in the slightest to the eunuchs in the palace. Moreover, the Great and Great Yellow Gate's Great Yellow Gate's reputation in the scholarly world were all excellent, so they were the most confident in front of the eunuchs, wishing they could seize the opportunity to purge the emperor's side to show their true colors as loyal officials. As a result, they were greatly feared by the eunuchs. As a result, the Imperial Secretariat's Great Yellow Gate's status was noble and illustrious. More than ten of them were popular in the imperial court, but they didn't stand on their own against the four factions, and instead dispersed.
There was a large disparity in the age of this group. There was no lack of older people like Sun Xiji, and there was a large number of people like Gu Jiantang. The youngest ones were not even 30 years old. One of the newest members of the Big Yellow Sect was a foreigner. His reputation was not bad, and his self-made Jin Lanting Familiar Proclamation was widely praised in the capital. However, under normal circumstances, according to his qualifications and knowledge, he was far from being qualified to enter the Hall of Governmental Affairs as a Yellow Gatekeeper. Even the Little Yellow Sect was in danger, let alone the Big Yellow Sect. However, for some reason, this kid had been personally recommended by the King of Beiliang. Not long ago, before Xu Dazhuo had arrived in the capital, Jin Lanting's edict to enter the Hall of Governmental Affairs had been quickly sent to the northwest.
This was the first official morning court session for the Emperor of Jinhuang. This kid was born in an ordinary noble family and did not have a strong foundation in the capital. The arrogant officials in the capital also did not like this lucky guy. They could not afford to offend the King of Beiliang. Are you a student of the King of Beiliang? Fine, we won't find trouble with you, but if you want to have a good chat with you, there's no way! So what if you're the new Great Yellow Gate? How many big shots in the capital have been eyeing this position? In the end, a nobody from outside the capital snatched a big piece of fat meat from their bowl. How could they not be angry?
Jin Lanting, who had never interacted with the officials in the capital, seemed a little uneasy. He stood alone in the corner, being stared at by the cold eyes all around him, and his body was covered in sweat. The complacency he had when he first entered the capital was swept clean. There was even a casual rider from the nearby Menxia Province who sneered, "People say that the northwest barbarians are monkeys wearing hats. I didn't believe it in the past, but now it seems like it's true! "
Soon after, several other young and strong officials who were colleagues of the Menxia Province, such as the Menxia Province's Menxia Province's Menxia Province official, laughed and repeated the word 'sure enough'. This made the isolated and helpless Jin Lanting really want to dig a hole and crawl into it. Jin Lanting now truly felt the xenophobia of the capital's officials. His body was weak, his personality also not that resolute. After suffering this type of grievance that he had never expected to encounter before, his eyes immediately turned completely red, actually showing signs of tears. This even more so provoked the sneers and mockery of some of the officials who were the best at bullying the weak.
At this time, Grand Secretary Zhang Julu looked over from the distance. When he saw this scene, he frowned slightly, stopping his steps. Gu Jiantang originally intended for Grand Secretary Zhang to enter the Imperial City first, but when he saw the Grand Secretary turn around and walk away, Great General Gu didn't stand on ceremony either, taking the lead to walk through the main gate. The Gu generals naturally followed in a line. Sun Xiji and Green Party's two great Consecrators also followed closely behind. In the court, Zhang Party's influence was the greatest, their numbers the most numerous. Before the Grand Secretary entered the city gates, they obviously didn't dare act blindly without thinking. They could only stop where they were, all of them looking towards the Grand Secretary. They looked at each other in dismay, all of them seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.
The extremely dignified Zhang Julu arrived at the crestfallen Jin Lanting's side, saying with a gentle smile, "Jin Huang Men, a few days ago, I thickened my skin and specially asked Chancellor Huan for a few blades of Lanting Suxuan. That old fellow's heart ached as if he was cutting his own flesh. Only when I returned to the manor and gave it a try did I realize why Old Man Huan viewed it as his favorite. It really was as light as a cicada's wing, unable to make a sound. If you don't mind, I would like to ask you, the supervisor of Lanting Suxuan, for a few more blades of Suxuan. "
Jin Lanting raised his head, an expression of disbelief on his face. He mumbled, not daring to say anything. Those officials who were originally waiting to watch a good show slowly dispersed, no longer daring to openly ridicule this outsider who was lucky enough to occupy a high position.
Grand Secretary Zhang didn't seem to mind either. He patted Jin Lanting's shoulder, and when he brushed past him, he said indifferently, "Only a gentleman can avoid cliques and pursue personal interests. Let others laugh today, but there's no harm in seeing who laughs ten years later. "
Jin Lanting's legs went soft, almost about to kneel down for that figure.
A gentleman would die for his bosom friend!
This dynasty's Gaozu established the belt system, from the Son of Heaven to the feudal lords, princes, ministers, ministers, as well as third rank and above, they were allowed to use a jade belt. The amount of jade embedded in the belt was also regulated by Ming law. The current dynasty's great pillar state Xu Xiao, because of his outstanding military achievements, the late emperor bestowed a white jade belt embedded with fifteen pieces of jade, the great general Gu Jiantang received thirteen pieces of jade. When it came to the current Son of Heaven, the number of belts bestowed upon him was few and far between. Chen Zhibao, who was publicly revered by the Son of Heaven, was bestowed a purple belt embedded with twelve pieces of jade. After the old Grand Secretary passed away from illness, Grand Secretary Zhang Julu, who had risen more than ten ranks in two years, was bestowed four purple belts, one embedded with gold, and the other embedded with jade was six, ten, thirteen, increasing in that order. The current dynasty's court uniform belt was inlaid with jade as the most respected material, followed by gold, silver, copper, and iron. Unless the emperor bestowed it specially, it could not exceed the official rank.
The standard of a jade belt could not exceed a lightning pool, but it was an ancient custom for gentlemen to love jade. The imperial court didn't forbid the hanging of jade pendants at the waist. Jin Lanting followed the civil and military officials into the city gate. Along the way, jade pendants were knocked, making ding dong sounds, creating a clear and ethereal sound.
Jin Lanting's mind swayed.
This was precisely the center of the entire Liyang Dynasty.
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