The Divine Sky Gate was the main entrance to the Daqi palace. There were nine gates and nine arches, each gate opening and closing at a different time. Everyone who entered or left the palace had a different status.
The main gate was the tallest and widest, the deep arches making people feel small when they entered. They felt a terrifying pressure and the majesty of the Emperor.
This gate was only opened during court meetings to intimidate the officials and make them realise that the Emperor was not to be offended.
Li Chengfeng was naturally at the end of the line. Interestingly, the officials were clearly divided. The officials on the left were the generals, all dressed in red official robes and black boots. The only difference was the patterns on their belts and robes. The officials on the right were the civil officials, all dressed in black official robes and white boots. Similarly, their belts and robes were different.
Li Chengfeng did not know if he should stand with the civil officials or the generals. He was caught in a dilemma and it was extremely awkward.
Fortunately, the eunuch in charge of welcoming him was very considerate and led him to the group of generals.
However, even though he was led to the end of the group, the generals in front of him immediately glared at him, as if wondering who he was and what did he do to deserve to be here.
The general was burly and had a full beard. He glanced at Li Chengfeng and said in a low voice, "May I know who you are …"
If Li Chengfeng mentioned his identity as a cultivator now, he would immediately be treated with hostility. Although he was not afraid of such hostility, it was better to avoid trouble so he used his ancestors. "I am the descendant of Duke Guang, Li Chengfeng of the Cleansing Moon Sect."
The general was stunned. "Duke Guang?
What Duke Guang? "
When he said this, a gentle-looking, fair-skinned official turned around and grinned. "Are you the descendant of the founding Duke Guang, Duke Li Yue?"
Li Chengfeng smiled. "I'm ashamed, my unfilial descendant has brought shame to my ancestors …"
The officer grinned and patted Li Chengfeng's shoulder. "Then let's get to know each other better. Did our ancestors fight alongside each other all those years ago?"
Li Chengfeng was about to speak when he heard the head attendant yell, "This is an important place, do not make a ruckus!"
The official shrunk his head and cupped his fists at Li Chengfeng. "I'm Wu Tianan, we'll get to know each other better later!"
Li Chengfeng smiled and cupped his fists but did not speak.
To him, generals and civil officials did not have much to do with him. After all, he was a cultivator and it was not a good thing to be involved with civil and military officials.
The procession quickly calmed down. After passing through the arched cave, they came to an extremely wide and tall building. This building was about twenty to thirty meters tall, and the stairs were built into seven paths. The one in the middle was incomparably wide, and it was the imperial path. If anyone stepped on it, it would be a crime of great disrespect, and they would immediately be beheaded.
Next to this path were two wide steps, known as the Palace Path. It was used by the princesses, princes, concubines, and other nobles. Next to the Palace Path was a slightly narrower path that could only allow six people to walk side by side. It was used by the civil and military officials to go to court. Next to the Palace Path was a small path that could only allow four people to walk side by side. It was called the Inner Path. It was used by the palace maids, guards, and eunuchs.
From here, Li Chengfeng could see that the Daqi Palace was very strict in terms of hierarchy.
When they climbed up the platform, many of the elderly civil officials were already panting. They arrived at a huge square where they waited in the bone-chilling wind for an hour. Then, the majestic Chong Wen Palace slowly opened. A eunuch with a sharp voice yelled, "All officials welcome you!"
The civil and military officials filed in through two doors on both sides of Chong Wen Palace and stood in line.
Li Chengfeng was not like the other civil and military officials who kept their heads down the moment they entered. He was brave enough to take the opportunity to look around. The palace was about four to five metres tall and was decorated in splendor. A dragon throne was suspended on a high platform with palace maids and eunuchs standing on both sides of the throne. Around the hall were Imperial Guards armed to the teeth, each of them carefully selected to be loyal to the Imperial Family.
After everyone entered the imperial court, about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, an inner servant screamed, "His Majesty has arrived!"
The officials all knelt down and kowtowed. Li Chengfeng followed suit. Although he did not do well in certain areas, he was the last in line and did not stand out. Hence, no one found fault with him.
Li Chengfeng was tall and had good eyesight. Although he was the last in line, he could still see Zhao Bairen clearly.
The person sitting on the throne was an old man who looked to be in his seventies but Li Chengfeng knew that he was only in his sixties. His eyes were sunken and his nose was red. He had been yawning ever since he sat on the throne. It was obvious that he was suffering from excessive lust.
Zhao Bairen raised his hand. "You may rise."
Only then did the officials stand up. For a moment, the court was silent.
Then, the attendant screamed, "All officials have a report, no report, leave the court!"
This was a scripted cliché, but in reality, everyone knew it. How could there not be a scripture?
Li Chengfeng's sudden appearance made it clear to everyone that today's court would be a fiery battle.
But everyone knew that today was not a trivial matter. For a moment, no one presented the memorial. There was a strange and terrifying sense of oppression in the court, as if everyone was accumulating energy.
After waiting for the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the eunuchs screamed twice in a row, "If there is a memorial, the court shall be dismissed if there is no memorial." Zhao Bairen could not help but yawn again and said, "If there is nothing else, please leave. I am very tired today.
Li Chengfeng had seen how the Crown Prince, Zhao Hanqing, handled government affairs. He worked day and night, burning the midnight oil to work. Even the next day, he was still full of energy. Most importantly, he handled government affairs in an orderly manner, fast and accurate manner, exactly like a wise ruler. On the other hand, Zhao Bairen's performance was exactly like that of a fatuous ruler.
The Emperor yawned in the morning. In this era where the Emperor could not leave the palace and there were no extra activities at night, what else could he do until so late?
Think about it with your brain!
However, the officials were already used to Zhao Bairen's behavior. In the beginning, the Emperor doted on Concubine Ming, so the officials tried their best to dissuade her. Not only did it not work, but Zhao Bairen's behavior became even worse. He indulged in sensual pleasures every night.
As the Crown Prince took over the reins of the country and revealed his power as the Great Emperor, those ambitious officials shifted their attention and hopes to the Crown Prince. They were too lazy to bother Zhao Bairen anymore.
As soon as Zhao Bairen finished speaking, one of the civil officials stepped forward and said, "This official has something to report to the emperor!"
Everyone took a look and saw that this was the Supervising Censor of the Imperial Censorate, Liu Qingqi. He was an eighth-ranked official, and in the capital, his rank couldn't even be considered as a sesame seed. But … the responsibilities of the Supervising Censor were very powerful. Not only did they supervise the officials, but they also supervised the prefectures and counties, prison trials, military affairs, sacrificial ceremonies, camps, cashiers of the Imperial Palace … they could manage all kinds of matters.
In other words, there was nothing in the Divine Capital and Daqi territory that they could not manage. They could not submit reports and scold anyone.
Therefore, the Supervising Censor also had a nickname: Mad Dog.
Zhao Bairen naturally knew that the officials had a report. He rubbed the gunk from the corner of his eyes and said casually, "I have a report."
The Supervising Censor, Liu Qingqi, stepped forward with a ceremonial tablet and a report. He said in a loud voice, "I accuse Yuezhou's Governor Liu Ming, Yuanjin's Governor Zhang Junming, Taiyang's Governor Li Tian, and the rest of their officials for neglecting their duties and colluding with bandits, causing the appalling case of the Crown Prince's assassination!"
Everyone was in an uproar upon hearing this!
The first shot had actually landed on the heads of the three governors and hundreds of officials!
If these officials were to investigate, the scope of their influence could include almost everyone here.
In other words, the Mad Dog, Liu Qingqi, had bitten everyone!
The first shot had also made everyone realize that today's matter would not end well!