Evergreen Immortal

The Holy Emperor is waiting for someone to drink?

What a great honor!

This is really rare in the State of Yu, and even officials of the third rank may not be so lucky.

The emperor’s grace is great, truly the emperor’s grace is great!

The faces of Lin Hai and his companions changed from shock to envy. They had been officials in Beijing for many years and of course understood the value of this honor. Meeting the Holy Emperor was already a great favor, and now His Majesty was waiting for Li Rui.

If this isn’t a great blessing, what is it?

Even those high-ranking officials would be eager to have it.

Eunuch Zheng looked at Li Rui with a smile and said, "After the court meeting tomorrow, I will come to the Dianke Office. I hope Lord Li will not go out."

"My Lords, please continue to eat and drink. I will go back and report."

After saying.

Eunuch Zheng turned and left.

It was such a gentle breeze and drizzle that made people feel relaxed and comfortable both physically and mentally.

The eunuchs were not as cunning, arrogant and contemptuous as the storytellers described them to be, and they did not look down on court officials. On the contrary, they were very kind to people and were very good at making friends and currying favor with others.

For example, the eunuch Zheng in front of us.

The reputation is excellent.

It’s just that eunuchs were tools used by the imperial power to check and balance civil and military officials.

The relationship between the two sides is destined not to be very good.

Especially the ones at the top.

The chief minister of the cabinet, Lord Zhang, once said that what the eunuchs said was all nonsense.

It was cited as a classic by a group of court officials.

But in fact, this is a struggle for interests. According to Nie Siming, Mr. Zhang and Eunuch Zheng actually have a pretty good relationship.

Those who believe it are just low-level officials.

Lin Hai looked at Li Rui with envy: "Brother Li, you are amazing."

The other people had similar expressions.

Although they are all Beijing officials.

But in reality, there was no chance to meet the Lord of Dragon Court at all. At most, he could only catch a glimpse of him from afar during the grand sacrifice.

He had never even thought about meeting the Holy Emperor.

The State of Yu learned from the lessons of the previous dynasty and reduced the scope of court meetings so that only officials above the third rank could attend, thus relieving officials below the third rank from the pain of standing by every day. The only disadvantage was that officials below the third rank would never have the chance to see the emperor again.

As a result, meeting the emperor became a great pursuit for officials below the third rank.

How could Lin Hai and his companions not be envious?

A local official who had just arrived in the capital was actually received by the Holy Emperor.

Good fortune is soaring!

“No wonder.”

Lin Hai suddenly had an idea in his mind.

"I heard that this is the first time that Your Majesty has ever held a national exam. There have been rumors in the palace that Your Majesty wants to watch the competition in person. Could it be true?"

When I think of Li Rui’s heroic deeds today, coupled with the sudden visit of Eunuch Zheng.

He became more certain of his ideas.

When the others heard this, they became even more envious.

It is obvious that Li Rui is valued by the Holy Emperor.

Just wait for promotion when you enter the palace this time!

They suddenly became more enthusiastic and took turns to toast Li Rui, almost praising him as the best in Yunzhou.

I don't know how many rounds of drinking have passed.

In the end, there was no sober person left in Toho Curie.

The night breeze is cool.

Li Rui walked out of Dongbaoju with a staggering step and rubbed his eyebrows hard.

A look at the moonlight.

At least it’s three o’clock in the morning.

He glanced at the people in the yard. They were all drunk and fast asleep, and were being helped into the carriage by their servants.

In comparison, he is already much more decent.

Is it because he can drink a lot?

Of course not.

If Eunuch Zheng had not appeared today, he would have been the one drunk in the yard tonight.

Audience with the Holy Emperor is a precursor to promotion.

At least a fourth-rank one.

The officialdom of the State of Yu has always been strictly hierarchical and extremely particular about official titles. How could a room full of fifth-rank officials dare to force a man who was definitely a fourth-rank official to drink wine?

Lin Hai and his friends all got drunk without any prior arrangement.

It's actually out of sincerity.

While thinking.

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

The two of them were guarding outside the door the whole time.

Naturally, everyone saw Eunuch Zheng and his entourage just now.

Dongbaoju is not open to the public and is a private banquet, with the rule of one banquet per courtyard. There is no doubt that the eunuchs and their entourage went to see Li Rui and his companions, which is why Tan Hu asked this question.

Li Rui: "It's for me."

Tan Hu and Ge Hong were suddenly shocked.

"It's Eunuch Zheng from the palace. The Holy Emperor watched the martial arts exam today and wants me to enter the palace."

Enter the palace?!

The two of them suddenly widened their eyes.

This was a scene they had only seen in storybooks.

Tan Hu: "Oh my goodness, this is terrible, our eldest brother is going to the palace!"

Ge Hong was also very surprised.

"Brother, can we go together?"

Even Ge Hong, a shrewd man, could not help but be shaken.

Li Rui shook his head: "It's difficult."

This time I'm going to see the emperor, so what's the point of bringing two subordinates with me?

He's not that prestigious yet.

Entering the imperial city is not something he can control. If he angers the palace guards, he will be in big trouble.

As I said, only when you come to the capital do you realize how low your position is.

He was just a small soldier in An Ning Wei and was really insignificant, so of course he had to be cautious.

Although they had expected this, Tan Hu and Ge Hong felt a little disappointed, as it was a great opportunity to broaden their horizons.

Li Rui smiled slightly: "I have some connections with the Imperial Observatory. I will see if I can bring you into the palace another day."

Listen.

The two of them were immediately happy.

"It still has to be the eldest brother."

A quarter of an hour later.

Li Rui returned to the Guest Room, and when they stepped into the room, they were told that their room had been upgraded.

Not just him.

Even Tan Hu and Ge Hong got a place to live with a yard.

Li Rui looked at the spacious mansion and chuckled.

"It seems he is still not drunk."

Even though Lin Hai and his companions seemed to be drunk and unconscious, they acted and spoke perfectly, and they even remembered to change his room.

Li Rui was not shy either.

I decided to move in without hesitation, otherwise all the drinking tonight would have been in vain.

Originally, a maid was arranged to serve.

But after helping him to wash and undress, he was sent away by Li Rui.

He sat cross-legged on the bed.

Practice as usual.

As the immortal energy moved around, the drunkenness suddenly disappeared and his mind became clear.

No words were spoken that night.

The early morning sunlight shines through the leaves of the sycamore trees in the yard, turning into spots of light that shine on Li Rui's window.

Open the door.

Li Rui was already dressed neatly, wearing a neat blue official robe, which made him look majestic and powerful.

Stride out of the room.

I saw Tan Hu and Ge Hong sitting on the stone bench in the yard, happily eating the steaming hot buns and fried liver that they had bought three miles away.

See Li Rui go out.

Ge Hong called out, "Brother, come and try some of these Aunt Qing's steamed buns. Huzi bought them especially for me."

Li Rui heard it.

He happily picked up a steaming Xuanhu bun and started eating it.

Hmm. Thin skin and big filling.

After finishing breakfast, Li Rui obediently practiced martial arts in the yard, waiting for Eunuch Zheng to appear.

As soon as noon arrives.

Li Rui was already waiting at the door as if he had expected it.

As expected, Eunuch Zheng appeared outside the gate of the Palace Museum and said with a smile, "Master Li, please come in."

Although the early court of the State of Yu had been streamlined.

But the current Holy Emperor is a diligent person, and he holds the morning court as usual, every day without fail.

Generally speaking.

The Holy Emperor will only have free time to meet with his subjects after noon.

Then I have to work until late at night.

There are no holidays throughout the year, so being an emperor is not an easy job.

Although those ministers who attended the morning court were also "miserable", they would suffer as the emperor was diligent. After several postponements, it was changed to the current time when they waited at the Meridian Gate at the hour of Yin.

At the hour of Mao, people entered from Jinguang Bridge, and the censors from the Censorate would supervise those who had not arrived yet. This is the origin of the call of Mao.

It was not until the 9th hour that the work was finished.

This is also the reason why Li Rui was waiting at the door at noon.

Li Rui followed Eunuch Zheng and got into the carriage that had been prepared by the Dianke Office.

The carriage moved slowly.

After passing through the extremely spacious Shenlong Avenue, we finally arrived under a towering golden city wall. The city wall was dozens of feet high, and the oppressive feeling made people's breathing stagnate.

Near the palace gate.

Only then did Li Rui get off the carriage.

"Is this the Imperial City?"

Looking at the majestic and continuous imperial city, I murmured in my heart.

The carriage was parked on the Jinguan Bridge on top of the moat. Not far away was the Meridian Gate. Armored soldiers on both sides of the gate stood like iron towers. Each of them had a strong aura and strong build, and many of them were innate warriors.

It’s really a grand scene.

Those foreign court officials must have been intimidated just by looking at the Imperial Guards, given the country's strength.

Eunuch Zheng said with a smile: "Master Li, let's go."

The rules in the palace are extremely strict.

The slightest mistake will result in punishment.

When Li Rui was in Yunzhou, he often heard storytellers say that there were eunuchs who disliked local officials and took them to places they shouldn't go when they entered the palace, and they were eventually demoted and dismissed from their posts.

Walking closely side by side with Eunuch Zheng.

It’s always better to be cautious for the first time.

Eunuch Zheng said with a smile: "Sir Li, we are passing through the Zuoye Gate now. The ministers enter through this gate for the morning court. The main gate is only for your majesty and a few people such as the top scorers in the imperial examination. It is a crime of disrespect for ordinary people to pass through the main gate."

Eunuch Zheng took Li Rui through the palaces and pavilions while talking about the rules of the palace.

You can't just enter the imperial garden without permission.

It is easy to meet palace maids wearing only kerchiefs and gauze clothes.

Palace maids were the emperor's private property, so looking at them was a serious crime.

Li Rui watched his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, and never looked away, for fear that he would see some Zhaoyi, Jieyushi, beauty, or talented woman and be remembered by the eunuch Zheng beside him.

As for the concubines, they were not afraid because Li Rui had no chance to see them at all.

Only then will it be felt that it was an injustice.

We, Old Li, never make this kind of mistake.

After passing through a maze-like corridor, he finally arrived at the entrance of a garden. The fragrant scent of flowers filled Li Rui's mouth and nose.

"The Imperial Garden?"

Yes, it was the Imperial Garden that Eunuch Zheng had just described as being like a ferocious tiger.

Li Rui secretly exclaimed in his heart, "Oh no!"

It is spring now and the weather is getting warmer. Women wearing cool clothes can be seen from time to time on the streets of the capital, and this is especially true for the women in the palace.

We must not repeat the mistake made by a certain coach named Lin who mistakenly entered the White Tiger Hall.

cautious!

But then Eunuch Zheng pointed to a pavilion in the garden and said:

"Lord Li, His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time, go now."