Chapter 334: Audience with the Emperor

Does the Emperor wait for people to drink with him?

What nerve!

This is truly rare in Yu State—even third-rank officials likely don't have such fortune.

The Emperor's grace is boundless, truly boundless!

Lin Hai and the others' expressions shifted from shock to envy; having served in the capital for years, they understood the weight of this honor—meeting the Emperor was already immense favor, and now His Majesty had specifically waited for Li Rui.

What else could this be but a heavenly favor?

Even high-ranking officials would beg for such an opportunity.

Eunuch Zheng smiled warmly at Li Rui: "After tomorrow's court session, this old servant will come to the Guest Office. I hope Director Li won't step out."

"Gentlemen, please continue your feast. This old servant shall return to report."

With that said.

Eunuch Zheng turned and left.

So gentle, so soothing, it left one's body and spirit at ease.

Eunuchs are not as treacherous and arrogant as storytellers claim, nor do they look down on court officials; on the contrary, they are exceptionally skilled in interpersonal relations and adept at building connections.

Take this Eunuch Zheng before us.

His reputation is excellent.

Yet eunuchs are, by nature, tools the Emperor uses to balance the civil and military officials.

Their relationship is destined to never be good.

Especially the top few.

Grand Secretary Zhang had once said: "Eunuch words are all nonsense."

This became a classic among court ministers.

In truth, it is a struggle over interests; according to Nie Siming, that Grand Secretary Zhang actually gets along quite well with Eunuch Zheng.

Only the low-ranking officials believe the rumors.

Lin Hai gazed at Li Rui with envy: "Brother Li, you're something else."

The others wore nearly identical expressions.

Though all of them were capital officials.

In reality, they'd never had a chance to see the Emperor—perhaps only a distant glimpse during grand sacrifices.

To be granted an audience with the Emperor? They'd never even dreamed of it.

Yu State, drawing lessons from the previous dynasty, narrowed court sessions to only third-rank and above officials, sparing lower ranks the daily ordeal of standing in attendance; the sole drawback was that officials below third rank lost all chance to see the Emperor's face.

Thus, seeing the Emperor's face became the greatest aspiration of officials below third rank.

How could Lin Hai and the others not envy him?

A local official who had just arrived in the capital had been granted an audience with the Emperor.

His fortune was sky-high!

"No wonder."

Lin Hai suddenly had a thought.

"I heard this military examination was the Emperor's first-ever initiative, and palace rumors say he intended to watch personally—could it be true?"

Thinking of Li Rui's feat today, combined with Eunuch Zheng's sudden visit,

he grew even more certain.

The others, upon hearing this, were even more envious.

Clearly, Li Rui had caught the Emperor's eye.

This imperial audience means promotion is coming!

They grew even more enthusiastic, taking turns to toast him, nearly elevating Li Rui to the status of Number One of Yunzhou.

They had passed countless rounds of wine.

In the end, not a single soul in Dongbao Pavilion remained sober.

The night breeze was cool.

Li Rui staggered out of Dongbao Pavilion, rubbing his temples hard.

He glanced at the moon.

It was at least the third watch.

He looked at the men in the courtyard—already drunk and asleep, carried off by their servants onto carriages.

By comparison, he had already fared far better.

Was it because he had a strong liquor tolerance?

Of course not.

Had Eunuch Zheng not appeared tonight, he would have been the one passed out in the courtyard.

An audience with the Emperor is a precursor to promotion.

At least a third-rank deputy position.

Yu State's bureaucracy is rigidly hierarchical, obsessed with rank—how could a room full of fifth-rank officials dare to pour wine down the throat of a man certain to be a third-rank deputy?

Lin Hai and the others had all, without saying a word, gotten themselves drunk.

It was all for sincerity.

As he pondered,

Tan Hu and Ge Hong stepped forward, supporting Li Rui: "Big Brother, what just happened? I saw several eunuchs go in."

They had been guarding outside the entire time.

Naturally, they had seen Eunuch Zheng's party.

Dongbao Pavilion was private, a closed banquet—each courtyard hosted one exclusive gathering; the eunuchs' arrival could only mean they were seeking Li Rui and his group, hence Tan Hu's question.

Li Rui: "They came for me."

Tan Hu and Ge Hong were stunned.

"It was Eunuch Zheng from the palace. The Emperor watched the military examination today and wants me to enter the palace."

Enter the palace?!

Both widened their eyes.

This was a scene they'd only read about in tales.

Tan Hu: "Holy hell, Big Brother's going to the palace!"

Ge Hong was equally thrilled.

"Big Brother, can we come with you?"

Even with Ge Hong's composure, he couldn't help but be swayed.

Li Rui shook his head: "Difficult."

This is an audience with the Emperor—bringing two subordinates? What kind of thing is that?

He didn't have that much influence.

Entering the imperial city wasn't something he could control; if he angered the palace guards, he'd be in deep trouble.

As always: only after arriving in the capital do you realize how small your rank is.

He was just a lowly Assistant Regional Commander of Anning Guard—utterly insignificant. He had to be cautious.

Though they'd expected it, Tan Hu and Ge Hong still felt a pang of disappointment—this was a rare chance to broaden their horizons.

Li Rui smiled slightly: "I have some connections with the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Next time, I'll see if I can get you into the palace."

Upon hearing this,

both lit up. "Only Big Brother can do it."

Twenty minutes later,

Li Rui returned to the Guest Office. As they stepped through the gate, they were told their rooms had been upgraded.

Not just him.

Even Tan Hu and Ge Hong had been given private courtyards.

Li Rui looked at the spacious mansion and chuckled.

"Looks like I wasn't drunk after all."

Though Lin Hai and the others seemed utterly passed out, their words and actions showed not a single flaw—even remembering to move his room.

Li Rui didn't hesitate.

He moved in immediately—otherwise, tonight's wine would have been wasted.

No error in any single character or content!

Originally, maidservants had been assigned to serve.

But after helping him wash and change clothes, he dismissed them.

He sat cross-legged on the bed.

As usual, he practiced.

As the Immortal Xuan Qi flowed through him, the alcohol vanished instantly, his mind becoming crystal clear.

The night passed without incident.

Morning sunlight filtered through the wutong leaves in the courtyard, casting dappled patches on Li Rui's window.

He opened the door.

Li Rui was fully dressed in a crisp blue official robe, making him look imposing and distinguished.

He strode out of the room.

There he saw Tan Hu and Ge Hong already seated on stone benches in the courtyard, happily eating steaming buns and stir-fried liver bought that morning from three li away.

Seeing Li Rui step out.

Ge Hong called out: "Big Brother, come try these—Qing Aunt's buns, bought specially by Tiger."

Li Rui heard this.

He cheerfully picked up a still-steaming, plump bun and ate it.

Mm. Thin skin, generous filling.

After breakfast, Li Rui obediently practiced his cultivation in the courtyard, waiting for Eunuch Zheng to appear.

At noon sharp.

As if he had anticipated it, Li Rui was already waiting by the door.

Eunuch Zheng indeed appeared outside the Dianke Office, smiling: "Official Li, please follow me."

Although the Yu Kingdom's morning court had been streamlined.

The current Son of Heaven was a diligent man, holding court as scheduled, without fail every day.

Generally speaking,

His Majesty would only have free time to receive ministers after noon.

Then he would work straight through until late night.

He took no holidays all year round—so being emperor was by no means an easy task.

Though the ministers attending court were also "unlucky," the emperor's diligence forced them to suffer; after several delays, they finally settled on gathering at the Wu Gate by Yin Hour.

At Mao Hour they entered through Jin Guang Bridge, where Censorate officials monitored attendance—hence the origin of "calling the roll."

They remained busy until Si Hour.

This was why Li Rui waited by the door at noon.

Li Rui boarded the carriage already prepared by the Dianke Office, riding with Eunuch Zheng.

The carriage moved slowly.

Passing through the vast Shenlong Avenue, it finally arrived beneath a towering golden gatehouse, its walls dozens of zhang high, pressing down so heavily that breathing grew difficult.

As they neared the palace gate,

Li Rui finally stepped down from the carriage.

"Is this the Imperial City?"

He murmured inwardly, gazing at the majestic, sprawling palace complex.

The carriage had stopped atop the Jin Guang Bridge over the moat; nearby stood the Wu Gate, where armored guards stood like iron towers—broad-shouldered, muscular, many of them even Xiantian martial cultivators.

Truly a grand spectacle.

Foreign envoys must have been intimidated just by seeing this imperial guard—such a display of national strength.

Eunuch Zheng smiled: "Official Li, let's go."

Palace rules were extremely strict.

Any misstep would invite punishment.

In Yunzhou, Li Rui had often heard storytellers recount how eunuchs, disliking local officials, would deliberately lead them into forbidden areas, resulting in demotion or dismissal.

He walked closely beside Eunuch Zheng.

It was his first time—he'd better be cautious.

Eunuch Zheng smiled: "Official Li, we are now passing through the Left Ye Gate. All ministers enter court through this gate. Only His Majesty, the top three graduates of the imperial examination, and a few others may enter the main gate. Any commoner passing through the main gate commits a grave offense."

As Eunuch Zheng led Li Rui through one pavilion and hall after another, he explained palace regulations.

Like how one must never casually enter the Imperial Garden.

One might encounter maids dressed only in silk undergarments and gauze robes.

As the emperor's private property, seeing them was a serious crime.

Li Rui kept his eyes down, nose straight, gaze fixed ahead, terrified of catching sight of some Zhao Yi, Jieyu, Meiren, or Cairen—lest Eunuch Zheng beside him take note.

Consorts, however, he wasn't worried about—he had no chance of seeing them anyway.

That would be a true injustice.

Old Li never makes such mistakes.

After winding through labyrinthine corridors, they finally reached the entrance to a garden, its fragrant blossoms filling Li Rui's nose and mouth.

"The Imperial Garden?"

Yes—it was precisely the Imperial Garden Eunuch Zheng had just warned him about, as dangerous as a tiger.

Li Rui silently cursed.

It was spring now, the weather warming; even on the streets of Jingcheng, women could be seen in light clothing—how much more so inside the palace.

He must not repeat the mistake of that Lin instructor who wandered into the White Tiger Hall.

Be careful!

But Eunuch Zheng pointed to a pavilion in the garden:

"Official Li, His Majesty has been waiting for you a long time—go on."

(End of Chapter)