Chapter 114

The Great Zhou Imperial Palace was expanded on the basis of the previous dynasty's Wan'an Palace and was the most magnificent and spectacular palace complex in the world.

Jia Cong followed behind the attendant, walking on the wide palace axis.

The bright sunlight shone down, and the tall and towering palace buildings all around cast huge shadows. Walking through them, an inexplicable majesty and oppression arose spontaneously.

The leading attendant seemed used to walking in the palace, looking steady in his figure, but his footsteps were fast.

Jia Cong followed him for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his back already slightly sweaty, before arriving at a huge place.

Looking up, he saw a magnificent palace standing before his eyes on a single-story white marble terrace.

The golden glazed tiles on the palace roof shone brilliantly in the sunlight, reflecting a bright yellow strange light, magnificent and splendid.

The triple palace eaves were stacked, and the complex and magnificent flying eaves pierced the sky, as if looking down on the world and overlooking all living things.

The attendant left Jia Cong at the palace gate and went in to report.

Jia Cong stood at the palace gate, feeling the cool air coming from the spacious palace hall, which actually dispelled quite a bit of the heat from just walking.

Jia Cong couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this. Before coming, he had imagined what the scene would be like when seeing the Emperor, and what that Supreme Ruler would ask.

The palace hall seemed to have excellent sound transmission, and a low and majestic voice echoed in the hall, rising like an undercurrent of the tide: "Summon him for an audience."

The attendant chanted toward the palace gate: "Proclaim the eighth-rank official Jia Cong to enter the palace for an audience!"

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had long known a lot about Jia Cong through the secret memorandum of the Central Vehicle Office, but this was the first time he had seen him in person.

Jia Cong raised his head at the sound and looked toward the throne, seeing this Great Zhou Supreme Ruler, who was forty years old, with white stars at his temples, a clear and upright appearance, and a pair of eyes shining with divine light, imposing and majestic.

But this question really couldn't be answered wrongly, otherwise, if he left the Emperor with the impression that the top candidate of the provincial examination was a boor, it was hard to say what the result would be.

Although he was only a teenager, facing the majestic imperial power, his expression was neither humble nor arrogant, his gaze was calm and composed, and he didn't show the slightest embarrassment or anxiety, which made the Emperor secretly marvel.

Could he say that the Emperor granted him, a scholar, an eighth-rank official position just to make it easier to use him as a gun?

He walked to a distance of ten steps from the imperial desk and knelt to pay his respects: "Subject, eighth-rank official Jia Cong, pays respects to Your Majesty."

If it were all that calm and composed, a teenager would be too monstrous.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao saw that the teenager, who had just been calm and composed, showed a hint of hesitation and nervousness upon hearing his words, and smiled in his heart. This was more like a teenager's appearance.

Imperial power is majestic, and a slip of the tongue could mean one's head; only a fool would act like a clever person in front of the Emperor, and such a person would definitely die very quickly.

Seeing that he was extremely handsome and had an outstanding demeanor, it was hard to forget him once seen.

He also heard the attendant's voice coming: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the eighth-rank official Jia Cong, granted by the Emperor, has entered the palace for an audience to express his gratitude and is now waiting outside the palace gate."

Thinking of the various behaviors described in those secret memoranda, a hint of warmth also appeared on his face: "The young man is indeed a talent. Do you know why I granted you the eighth-rank official position despite your status as a scholar?"

Jia Cong took a breath, stepped over the high palace threshold, and walked into the spacious and somewhat gloomy palace hall.

A voice came from the throne: "Raise your head!"

But he really didn't expect Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao to open with a direct question, asking such a sharp question.

Jia Cong naturally knew why he was granted the eighth-rank official position, but many things in this world can be done but cannot be spoken of openly.

"No need for scruples, just speak clearly. Even if you say it wrong, I will not blame you."

Jia Cong thought for a moment and said:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, when the subject heard Eunuch Guo read the imperial decree that day, the decree said: The country governs the world with filial piety. Filial piety does not distinguish between legitimate and concubine-born, does not distinguish between noble and humble, and only narrates the grace of relatives."

"The subject feels this deeply. The subject is but a mere scholar, without an inch of merit to the country, and originally had no honor to be granted an official position."

"The reason the subject was able to receive Your Majesty's grace and be granted this position is that Your Majesty wants to demonstrate to the world's subjects the supreme principle of filial piety that does not distinguish between legitimate and concubine-born and does not distinguish between noble and humble."

Jia Cong said this and stopped speaking.

Originally, he wanted to say a few more words, but thinking that saying too much would lead to mistakes, and that his head was more important, he very wisely swallowed the rest of his words.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao looked at Jia Cong, his face already showing surprise. A young teenager, with clear thinking, could actually hit the nail on the head, which was indeed rare.

No wonder he could take the name of the top candidate at this age; he indeed had some extraordinary talent.

Thinking of this, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, who was always strict and deep, also showed a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Well said! At such an age, to be suddenly granted a position without arrogance or vanity, and to understand the truth of things, is truly rare."

"I will notify Li Li Shouzhong, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, to coordinate with the Jin Ling Imperial Academy. While you are copying scriptures for the Empress Dowager, you can go there to listen to lectures so as not to delay your studies. You may withdraw."

Jia Cong was stunned. It was over just like that? He breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

This Emperor was truly straightforward. He didn't ask if he didn't have to, but when he did, he asked questions that dug into the heart. If he stayed any longer, he didn't know what other life-threatening questions would be asked.

When he stepped out of the palace hall, he found that his back was already soaked.

The majesty of a monarch who presides over all the civil and military officials every day, accumulated over time, is something ordinary people can hardly imagine.

Not to mention the dispute over the etiquette of the Empress Dowager's funeral, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's actions in this matter were unparalleled in calculation and deep in city, which had long made Jia Cong develop a lot of wariness.

It was already very difficult for him to respond calmly on the surface during his first audience, but the inner tension and oppression were indescribable.

Just as he was about to follow the little attendant from the Directorate of Ceremonial out of the palace, a palace maid suddenly walked in front, graceful and charming, with a very pretty appearance.

"This Eunuch, the slave is acting on the Empress's secret decree to take the eighth-rank official to see the Female Historian of the Phoenix Algae Palace. I have the Phoenix Algae Palace's decree token as proof. Please Eunuch, verify it."

Jia Cong was surprised when he heard this. The Female Historian of the Phoenix Algae Palace, isn't that Jia Jia Yuanchun!

The palace maid took out an exquisite silver token, inlaid with a beautiful flying phoenix pattern, with the three characters "Phoenix Algae Palace" engraved in the middle.

The little attendant carefully verified the silver token and returned it to the palace maid.

Palace rules have always been strict, and the itinerary of people entering the palace is arranged in advance. This little attendant from the Directorate of Ceremonial was ordered to bring Jia Cong into the palace this morning, and there was no prior schedule for the Empress to summon him.

However, the Phoenix Algae Palace Empress's silver token was not wrong at all. It seemed the Empress had a temporary idea, but why wasn't it the Empress seeing him personally, but letting the official see the Female Historian? What was the explanation for this?

He also recognized this palace maid; she was one of the most outstanding among the Phoenix Algae Palace maids.

Since there was the Phoenix Algae Palace token as proof, and this palace maid was also a familiar face, it was naturally fine. At most, when he returned to the Directorate of Ceremonial, he would report it to the head eunuch to file it.

After the attendant took his leave, the palace maid smiled at Jia Cong: "Cong Sanye Cong, follow me."

Jia Cong was stunned when he heard this form of address. Only the maidservants and servants in the Jia Prefecture would address him like this. How could there be someone in the palace who addressed him like this?

The palace maid saw Jia Cong's confusion and smiled slightly. Her watery eyes flickered with warmth as she looked at Jia Cong's handsome face, as if recalling many past events.

"I entered the palace many years ago with the Eldest Young Lady. When I left the Jia Prefecture, Cong Sanye Cong was still young, so you probably don't remember me. I am the Eldest Young Lady's maid, Sister Baoqin."

The four maids close to the four springs of the Jia Prefecture were each named after zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

This Sister Baoqin was the top among the maids of the young ladies of the Jia Prefecture back then. Jia Yuanchun was selected to enter the palace as a Female Historian because of her outstanding talent and appearance. Being her close maid, she was naturally an extraordinary figure.

Jia Cong saw that she was fifteen or sixteen years old, with a beautiful appearance, graceful posture, and as elegant as an orchid. She didn't have the greenness of Wu'er and Qingwen, looking like a neighbor's girl who had just grown up.

"So it is Sister Sister Baoqin. Jia Cong pays his respects."

(End of chapter)