Chapter 14: The Morning Court

The sky just dawned, Pei Si Yan was dazedly assisted by Yun Qi to sit in the carriage, the carriage happily ran towards the palace.

Yesterday's ceremony had been made until almost midnight before the meeting was adjourned, Pei Si Yan was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as she sat in the carriage, even some of the things that she had intended to ask Li Qingyan about she forgot to say. When she woke up she found herself lying in a soft **, it was probably Li Qingyan who carried her in. Manners and teachings and whatnot can basically be ignored in their case, and the family can say whatever they like.

Looking at the magnificent red wall that could be seen, Pei Si Yan recalled yesterday's succession ceremony, which could only be described with the word "shocking", reminding her of the scene of the crowning of the Empress that was played in a TV drama.

On the square fluttering coloured flags, civil and military officials arranged neatly, densely packed square, leaving only the middle of a red carpet paved road straight to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Although also in the TV series to see the civil and military officials gathered, the scene is really a spectacular, but the crew casually pulled the mass of actors and actresses crooked official uniforms than she saw in the end of the Palace to be inferior to a thousand times, look at the other people's fabrics, handmade, tsk, has been enough to the "shock" word.

She pretended that it was just another ordinary rehearsal, surrounded by a group of colourful ladies-in-waiting through the trees of the hundreds of officials, climbed the high steps, and then kneeled in front of the emperor, the chamberlain read out the decree of succession in a loud voice.

The Emperor took the official seal of Wu Pan and the imperial decree from the chamberlain, and she accepted it with both hands, and the official succession ceremony was declared over.

The Emperor was probably in his fifties, and had a kindly look about him. She treated him as an old grandpa in her next door neighbour's house, and instantly relaxed a lot as they chatted in the Zhenghe Palace. The emperor asked her some of her views on the current dynasty politics, all of which she had prepared for and easily solved one by one. The emperor looks very happy, they have been chatting until almost noon, before starting the banquet.

Banquet, she didn't see His Royal Highness, regretted the previous ceremony when how not outside the side of the glance, also don't know when to see people again.

"My lord, it's here." The car driver outside said in a respectful voice.

Calling suddenly changed, let Pei Si Yan momentarily did not react, until Yun Qi lifted the curtain to call himself a sound, she only suddenly understand that this "adult" is talking about her.

Usually it is the men who are called "lord", now it is her turn as a woman, Pei Si Yan can't get used to it yet.

Jumping down from the carriage, Pei Si Yan looked around, the officials were entering the palace from the east and west side gates, she squinted her eyes to see the pattern on the official uniform clearly, and then walked towards the east gate.

Once the officials saw the new successor of the witch Pan adult came, have respectfully make a way, politely greeted, Pei Si Yan one by one smiled back, there are too many people she can't distinguish who is who. Among the officials, only a white-haired purple-robed old man squinted at her, nostrils facing the sky, as if he didn't see anyone straight towards the palace gate.

Pei Si Yan struggled to recall the picture book, not remembering who it was, and was about to follow him in when a scarlet-robed man probably in his thirties pushed his way out of the crowd to stop her.

"Witch Pan-sama."

"Er... "Pei Si Yan stared at him and tentatively shouted in a small voice, "Lord Shen?" Seeing that the looks were quite similar to Shen Shuzhe, if not for the accident this person should be Shen Zhongning.

Shen Zhongning nodded his head amiably and lowered his voice: "Feng Taishi has always been like this, Wuban adult need not care."

Turns out to be the legendary emperor's most trusted courtier - Feng Yuanding Feng Taishi, no wonder arrogance into this kind of appearance, people have the backbone, have the strength, even if it is the first grade also dared to be insolent to the position of the four major auxiliary ministers of any grade.

Pei Siyan smiled indifferently: ''Eunuch Feng is a pillar of the country, why should I take such a small matter to heart? But thanks to Lord Shen for reminding me."

Shen Zhongning responded, "Yes, yes."

There was nothing more to say, and it was the "rush hour" when there were many people and ears, Pei Si Yan followed far behind the Feng Tai Shi into the main hall. There are already a few officials standing on the left and right, a middle-aged man wearing a white robe embroidered with a light floral pattern and covered with a light grey gauze coat is standing on the first right hand side, Pei Si Yan walks over and stands beside him, greeting him in a friendly manner, "Lord Wuluo."

According to Li Light Dye's reliable intelligence, Wu Pan and Wu Luo's two families' relationship is neither good nor bad, neither will they give you any favours nor will they secretly make trips, Pei Si Yan is very satisfied with such a situation - she doesn't have to worry about one of the most powerful of the four great gate valves.

Wuluo nodded slightly, "Lord Wulpan."

Not long after, all the officials had already stood in their positions, Pei Si Yan held the last bit of hope and secretly scanned the circle, tragically realising that apart from the two palace maidens behind the dragon chair, she herself was the only woman in the hall.

It seems that only the four great patriarchs of the clan position is a woman can inherit, other official position still can only men to sit.

Pei Si Yan instantly felt uncomfortable, although she grew up in an era of gender equality, but she is now in a feudal society after all, the court hall except for her are all men, exceptionally strange.

A chamberlain shouted with a shrill voice, "His Majesty has arrived."

The crowd knelt respectfully and shouted, "Long live the emperor, long live, ten thousand years old."

The middle-aged man in a metaphysical dragon robe slowly walked to the front of the dragon chair and majestically looked round at the crowd in the hall, "All the beloved ministers rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" There was a rustling sound as the crowd stood up.

As soon as a scarlet-clothed official stood up, he immediately jumped out of the column to present to the emperor the matter of a certain official's embezzlement and bribery, requesting the emperor to issue a decree to thoroughly investigate and severely deal with the matter.

In the hall at once exploded pot, and a few officials out of the column, chirping to express their own views, what "Lord Li has always been clean, must be someone framed", and "you and other complicit in the dirt", arguing red faced, can not be separated.

The emperor looked at this scene, difficult to look to Feng Taishi.

Feng Taishi is calm and relaxed, not too fast and not too slow to watch the officials fight, wait until the argument is almost over, to the emperor arched his hand, and coughed twice, the hall suddenly quiet.

"To check whether Lord Li has a corruption and bribery, when from the Ministry of mandarins Tantai Lu check up, I think the reason must be able to find out. However, it concerns the Wuban family, I wonder what Lord Wuban has to say about it?"

Hearing someone mention her own, Pei Si Yan came to her senses from her daze, she recalled that Li Qing Dye had said that in the entire Blue Nation, only the Wu Pan family was surnamed Tantai, so Tantai Lu must be her uncle and uncles. It seems that on her first day in court, Taishi Feng was planning to give her a downward spiral.

The gazes of the crowd gathered on Pei Si Yan, there were expressionless ones, gloating ones, and those who were vaguely worried. They wanted to see how the newly appointed young Witch Pan would receive the move from Grandmaster Feng.

Pei Si Yan stared at them dumbfounded, just woke up not long after sleeping, a corruption case was brought onto herself, she really hated to go up and pinch the neck of the Feng Tai Shi.

"Wu Pan's opinion is ..." the emperor snapped.

Pei Siyan knew that he could not hide, honestly said, "In my opinion, since it is implicated, then it will be handed over to the Da Lisi for a thorough investigation."

Someone "Huh?" There was a sound, and the wrinkles on Taishi Feng's smug face deepened.

"But the Tantai family has always been loyal to their duties, how could they be implicated in a corruption case," the emperor pondered, Wu Pan had just succeeded to his position but this kind of fact was not very good, "Taishi, can you be sure?"

"I don't dare to deceive the emperor," Feng Taishi proudly, "according to Wu Pan adult intention, hand over to the Da Lisi to check it, if it is innocent certainly return a fair."

Pei Siyan glanced at him, clearly his own intention, how to involve her again?

The emperor nodded his head and decreed: "Good, Da Lisi Secretary, this matter wants to shut people and so on by you full interrogation."

The Secretary of the Da Lisi immediately stepped out to receive the decree.

Feng Taishi turned his head sideways, showing Pei Siyan an ill-conceived smile, then stopped looking at her.

Some more trivial matters were discussed next and the court was dismissed. Pei Si Yan walked towards the outside of the hall sullenly, Shen Zhongning had a worried look as he stood at the door waiting for her.

"Is something wrong?" Pei Si Yan took the initiative to ask.

Shen Zhongning looked around, at this time most of the officials had already descended the steps of the great hall, only Wuli slowly just walked to the edge of the steps, "My lord, why did you let want the Da Lisi to investigate Tantai Lu ah?"

Pei Siyan looked at his distracted appearance and found it strange, "Being involved in a corruption case, of course I have to go and find out what's going on? What's wrong with that?"

"Is it not wrong!" Shen Zhongning was genuinely worried, his tone couldn't help but be heavy, "In case we really let the Da Lisi find out what's wrong, the Tantai family ..."

"Lord Wuban, there are still many folders to be dealt with in the Council of Science, why are you still here?" An effeminate voice suddenly appeared and interrupted Shen Zhongning.

The two of them turned around to take a look, it was a man wearing a dark blue chamberlain's uniform, probably in his thirties, who was standing a few steps away with a smile on his face.

"Deputy Chief Qian." Shen Zhongning called out politely.

"I know, thanks for the reminder." Pei Siyan said that Wuli had just walked down the last step of the steps, and only the three of them were left in front of the temple, it was indeed getting late. She nodded to Shen Zhongning and quickly followed Wuli's footsteps, as she had no idea where the Academy of Reason and Government was at all.

The Rizheng Courtyard was similar to the Military Affairs Office of the Qing Dynasty, a place where important ministers of the imperial court dealt with political affairs and sangs, close to the Great Hall. Currently, there were only eleven ministers who could step into this place - the four auxiliary ministers, the Feng Taishi and the six ministers.

When Pei Si Yan followed Wu Li into the Ruling Court, apart from Imperial Master Feng the rest of the people had long since arrived, and were discussing the zhang folds in an orderly manner, preparing to send them to the Emperor to request a decree. Seeing the new Wu Pan came, everyone polite before sitting down again.

Pei Si Yan looked blankly at the table divided into three piles of red, yellow and green zhang folders, not knowing what to do, could only stare stupidly at the other officials, his mind thinking about Shen Zhongning's concerns just now.

What exactly would be the problem with handing Tantai Lu over to the Da Lisi for interrogation? No problem if you give innocence on the line, if you really did something bad, getting retribution is deserved. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice happens to be here, why don't we ask him about the situation first?

"There are a lot more impeachment papers against Tantai Lu today." Wu Li said as he glanced at the folders in his hand.

Minister Shan Hao coughed unnaturally, after all, it is the officials under him who have gone wrong, of course his face as a superior can't bear it, "Tantai Lu has always been self-restrained and courteous, isn't it the unpleasantness stated in the folders?"

Wu Li raised his eyebrows, showing slight displeasure: "Is Lord Shan protecting his shortcomings? This folding list of offences is clear."

"If you want to commit a crime, why don't you have the words?" Wuluo said lightly, leisurely sipping a mouthful of tea.

"That's also true," Wuli gave an unknown laugh and looked at Pei Si Yan, "Lord Wuban let the Da Lisi investigate without saying a word, perhaps Tantai Lu is innocent nine times out of ten, and it's because of rumours that someone is causing trouble?"

Pei Si Yan didn't react and casually let out a "hmm".

Wu Li closed the folders and said, "Organise the charges and submit them to the Emperor, then transfer them to the Da Lisi. Right or wrong, must be clarified. If someone is deliberately framing the charges, Lord Wuban can't lightly forgive the mastermind behind it, ah?"

Pei Si Yan furrowed her brows, she felt that the situation was moving towards danger and she had yet to feel out the other party's intentions!