Gu Shang Enters The Dragon Nest

Daybreak at the Rising Phoenix Manor.

In a large room in the manor, Gu Shang stood Infront of a water mirror as three maids and his mother helped him change into court robes.

Gu Shang's mother couldn't help but shed tears as she helped her son put on his silver court robes.

"Why do you keep shedding tears?" Gu Shang asked as he wiped away the tears on the face of his mother.

"I'm so proud of you, who would've thought that the boy the Gu Clan rejected and mistreated would become the nation Grand General" She said as she straightened the robes for her son.

Liu Feifei who was also in the room took the imperial hanfu hat from one of the maids and walked towards Gu Shang before gently placing the hat on Gu Shang's head.

Gu Shang smiled at Liu Feifei, before walking out of his courtyard, Liu Feifei had a lot of mixed emotions on her face as she watched Gu Shang departing figure. The eight emissaries immediately gave Gu Shang a bow before giving him a thumb up when he stepped out from his room.

They were so used to seeing him in bloody armor during their time in the nothern boader, but since their arrival in the capital those days were far behind them now. They approved Gu Shang new looks.

A golden carriage being being pulled by white winged horses arrived Infront of Gu Shang, the carriage was a bit too luxurious, not that Gu Shang minded it anyways.

Twelve cavalry guards with the Purple Qilin banner closely followed the carriage as it galloped through the main entrance of the manor.

Gu Shang who was in the carriage had a serious expression on his face, this was the first time he was going to the imperial court.

"It's time to move on to the next phase" he muttered to himself, a smile forming on his lips

...

Imperial Palace also referred to as Dragon Nest,

All the officials stood Infront of the Hall Of Might, donning their red imperial robes and black hanfu hats with swan's on it as they held their name plaques.

They were waiting for the emperor before they could enter the hall. According to customs, imperial officials had to wait for the emperor outside the Hall Of Might, they are to only enter when the emperor is present.

No one was allowed inside the hall in the absence of the emperor, anyone who disobeyed this was going to be executed without mercy.

All the officials waited outside the hall as they conversed in factions.

"The Grand Governor has arrived!!'' A palace eunche announced loudly.

The place fell silent after the announcement, the Qing Clan carriage appeared in front of the Hall of Might shortly after the announcement.

A handsome middle aged man in red imperial robes stepped out of the carriage with his name plaque, on his hanfu hat was two characters weaved with golden threads, 'Grand Governor'

All the officials flocked to him to fawn on him with praises, the only people who did not flock to him was the Prime Minister, First Chancellor and their factions and the Military officials.

"Congratulations Lord Qing, we've heard the great achievements of your son"

"That's right, being ranked in the first fifty of the Young Lords Ranking for his age is indeed a great achievement"

"All he needs it's time, and he may actually become a true lord of this empire"

"I've always heard the saying that the fruit does not fall far from the tree, but today I've truly experienced it"

The officials said as the clasped their hands.

"I'm truly honoured by all your praises, but I don't think I deserve it, my son accomplished this on his own. We'll be holding a banquet very soon so I hope you can all attend and give him these praises.

He deserves it, not me" The Qing Clan lord said with a smile plastered on his face.

"Of course grand governor, even if you had not invited us, we would have shamelessly still sneaked it, Talents like your sons are rear" The court officials kept on with their praises.

The military officials were disgusted by the shamelessness of the court officials, the old master of Liu clan was also among them.

Ever since Gu Shang arrival in the capital, he's rank had risen from a sixth rank official to a third rank official, this made him one of the highest ranking officials among the military officials.

"What's with that look on your faces?!" A court official coldly asked.

Lately those irrelevant military officials had gained a lot of power in the court due to the arrival of the prince of the north, this irked him a lot.

They were the one's who were supposed to look down on the military officials, so what was with that look of disgust on the military officials faces,did they believe they were better than them or what?

The more he thought about it, the more angrier he got.

"Are you guys looking down on us? Hah, you guys have barely become relevant in the court not by own power but by someone's else influence.

Yet you dare to look down on us, the true retainers of this empire, the empire stands because of us, so what gives you lot the right to act so arrogantly in the imperial court?

You guys should stick to swinging swords, affairs of the nation isn't child's play" The junior fourth rank official said coldly.

The Qing Clan lord raised an eyebrow..

Non of the other officials bothered to stop him, they all had the same feeling as him. Over the previous days,the military officials had taken some important decisions using the seal of the prince of the north, this had made them furious but they couldn't vent it out.

"Old Liu, now tell me. What gives someone like you, whose relying on your son in law influence the right to look down on us?

Old master Liu was about to retort but stopped midway.

"The Prince Of The North has arrived in the Dragon's Nest, All pay obeisance!!!" An eunuch announced loudly.

A golden carriage appeared Infront of everybody, all the eunuches and golden imperial guards who heard the announcement all bowed their head deeply as the carriage passed them.

Most of the officials trembled when they saw this, especially the Junior fourth rank official who was having a go at the old general.

A light shone in the eyes of the Qing Clan lord as he focused his attention on the golden carriage.

The Prime Minister and First Chancellor glanced at each other before smiling.

The imperial court was about to get quite interesting from now on.