Chapter 341: The Court Audience Begins

Zhenguan Year Five, New Year's Day, Chang'an.

In the fifth watch, the bells and drums shattered the dawn's silence, and the gates of the one hundred and eight wards of Chang'an City opened in succession.

On Zhuque Dajie, the masses surged like a tide, with cheers and clamor, all flowing toward the Imperial City—

Today is not only the New Year's Day of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, but also the day of the grand court audience where the sage monarch holds court and all nations come to pay homage.

Inside the Imperial City, the atmosphere is entirely different.

The officials have long stood solemnly on the vast plaza in front of Tai Ji Palace according to their ranks, dressed in crimson silk court robes, holding jade tablets, silent under the faint morning light and the swaying palace lanterns.

Suddenly, the bells and chimes rang together, and the solemn, grand music of Great Harmony spilled out from the towering Tai Ji Dian.

In an instant, the officials shouted "Long live!" in unison, their voices piercing the palace walls and sweeping across the sky over Chang'an.

This is the civil and military officials, and the envoys from all quarters, presenting the first New Year tribute to the Heavenly Khagan, the Tang Dynasty ruler Li Shimin.

But Chen Yan, who should have attended according to protocol, sat at the dining table, leisurely eating dumplings at home.

From time to time he also teased the sleepy little Xiao Sizi beside him, snatching a few dumplings from her bowl.

This made Li Lizhi extremely anxious, "Husband, on such an important day as the New Year's grand court audience, why… why are you not in a hurry?"

"Husband, the carriage is already waiting at the gate of the residence; you can still make it now. If you're later, you'll likely be subject to criticism."

Gao Yang rested his chin on one hand, idly twirling his hair, and after hearing Li Lizhi's words, said slowly, "Sister, it's been so long, how could you still not understand him?"

"When has he ever done something without being sure?"

"What matter doesn't require thinking through all possibilities before acting?"

"He isn't in a hurry, which shows he knows what's up; no need to worry."

"Moreover…" Gao Yang gave Chen Yan a glance, "By this hour it's already late; the officials have entered the hall, and the Qin King Breaking Formation Music is probably already being played. What's the difference if it's later?"

"Exactly!" Chen Yan replied indifferently, "It's already late; what does it matter if it's later?"

"In any case, crashing in midway will definitely draw many eyes, so it doesn't matter."

Li Lizhi choked a little, thought it over repeatedly, and seeing the two adults and one child eating dumplings heedlessly, she also gave in.

"Fine, if you're all not in a hurry, then I'm not in a hurry either."

"Anyway, the one who'll embarrass themselves later won't be me."

Li Lizhi let out two humming sounds, plopped down, and began eating with them.

"That's right then."

Chen Yan smiled and said, "Don't rush in everything; learn to stay calm."

"These people are working themselves to death; they've been waiting outside the palace since before dawn, and there's a whole series of complicated procedures ahead. If I go now, won't I be in big trouble?"

"Isn't that fine then?"

"Just skip the earlier steps and wait for a final spotlight appearance."

"Is the little affectation not bending before it shows up?"

Gao Yang: "......"

Li Lizhi: "......"

"Ha!" Gao Yang sneered, "I get it, you were just pulling our leg that day."

"It wasn't Father Emperor trying to act big; you're the one trying to act big!"

"What are you saying?" Chen Yan said with a stern face, "What do you call what you just said?"

"What I and His Majesty call mutual achievement, you don't understand, so don't babble."

Gao Yang was too lazy to argue with Chen Yan, and the family ate by themselves, occasionally chatting, teasing the child, and the atmosphere was rather harmonious.

Until the sky became fully bright, Chen Yan calculated the time, felt it was about right, and then, unhurriedly, had Qing'er tidy his appearance for entering the palace.

Li Lizhi, seeing this, was delighted and immediately helped Chen Yan get ready.

The girl said she wasn't in a hurry, but in fact she was more anxious than anyone; the moment she saw Chen Yan preparing to enter the palace, she was all over it.

"Husband, Xue Li is already waiting outside; you can just go out and take the carriage..."

Before she could finish, Chen Yan interrupted, "What carriage? We're not taking that thing; I'll walk over today!"

"...... huh?"

Li Lizhi's mind completely short‑circuited.

There's a carriage but we won't use it, and we must walk over?

What were you thinking?

"......"

At that moment, inside the Tai Ji Dian, the civil and military officials and the envoys from all quarters each held jade tablets, standing solemnly on both sides of the hall.

Li Shimin sat alone at the top.

The core stage of the New Year's grand court audience is solemn; Li Shimin's solitary seat amid the thousands standing inside and outside the hall epitomizes the ultimate expression of imperial authority.

Only Crown Prince Li Chengqian, as the heir, is an exception; he has a couch to sit on.

At this moment, no one in the great hall spoke; all eyes were on the one hundred and twenty armored, halberd‑wielding elite warriors at the center of the hall.

As the Tai Le command sounded the Qin King Breaking Formation Music, the elite warriors immediately moved.

They simulated battle formation changes through dance: circling left, forming squares on the right, alternating offsets, interlacing bends and stretches, heads and tails reversing, drums booming to the heavens, the sound of killing shaking the earth.

This brought tremendous awe to everyone, especially the envoys, who couldn't help but feel reverence.

While everyone was focused on the Qin King Breaking Formation Music, Cheng Yaojin's gaze subtly scanned the officials present, yet he could not find that familiar young face, and he grew quietly anxious inside.

Logically, regardless of Chen Yan's title or his nominal position as Imperial son‑in‑law Commandant, his sixth‑rank position as County Magistrate of Weinan County should be sufficient to attend the New Year's grand court audience.

Given His Majesty's regard for Chen Yan, he shouldn't be left out at a time like this, right?

How could he not be seen?

"Could he be outside?"

Cheng Yaojin had a guess pop into his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

"Impossible, given Chen Yan's status, he shouldn't be waiting outside the hall no matter what."

As Cheng Yaojin secretly wondered why Chen Yan hadn't arrived, several others were also carefully searching for Chen Yan.

As the Qin King Breaks Battle Music and the dance were about to end, everyone would then take their seats, and the court assembly would enter its lengthy middle-later stage.

If Chen Yan still doesn't come by then, even they would find it hard to plead for him.

Time ticked by second by second; the Qin King Breaks Battle Music ended, and Li Shimin ordered the Minister of Revenue to present the tribute list from the various states, while also granting seats, bestowing cypress leaf wine upon the officials, and presenting the five-spice platter.

Seeing that Chen Yan still hadn't arrived, those who cared about this matter finally gave up hope.

However, just as the officials were taking their seats and Minister of Revenue Dai Zhou was about to step forward to present the tribute list from the various states, a sudden commotion and exclamation came from outside.

Li Shimin's eyes flickered, and he feigned anger, asking, "Who is making a ruckus outside?"

Upon hearing this, most of the officials present silently cursed, wondering which reckless fool dared to disturb such an important moment.

"Your...... Majesty, it is...... the Marquis of Weinan!"

A eunuch trembled as he ran in from outside, his legs giving out and he knelt down.

Upon hearing that name, everyone's expressions varied—some gloated, some remained calm, some were resentful, and some worried.

Before Li Shimin could reply, a somewhat youthful yet soul-shaking roar suddenly rang out.

A figure walked in against the light, one hand holding a jade seal.

The hall fell into dead silence in an instant!

Because, beside that figure...... followed a......

White Tiger!!!

"......"