A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 62 Court Discussion
The day after Bian Tong returned from the Northern Army, a court meeting without an emperor or a crown prince began in the Chengming Hall of Weiyang Palace.

Slightly behind the four main pillars of the hall, four large white bronze censers were placed. In front of each censer stood a puppet-like eunuch, each person's eyes fixed on the censer, because what burned inside was not incense, but inch-long silver charcoal. The fire was reddish with a hint of blue, but there was not a trace of smoke, yet it was as warm as spring.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly, with the nobles, marquises, and members of the royal family all exchanging greetings and joking with each other, much to the relief of their usual restraint.

You said my calligraphy is getting better and better. When can you bestow a piece of calligraphy upon me? I said I'll be ready with pen and ink anytime. If anyone asks, I'll gladly oblige. A piece of calligraphy and a jar of wine will bring joy to everyone.

Around 7:00 AM, Prime Minister Gongsun Hong arrived last as usual. As soon as he entered the hall, the officials of the outer court greeted him with smiles and expressed their concern for the Prime Minister's health.

Gongsun Hong walked through the crowd with a smile. When he reached the foot of the imperial steps, he made eye contact with the Imperial Censor Mei Gao and immediately became serious. "Alright, gentlemen, it's time to discuss matters."

The official in charge of ceremonies appeared in the hall.

Everyone immediately bowed silently in reverence. Gongsun Hong, facing the empty Sumeru pedestal in the center, then led the chanting, "Long live Your Majesty..."

"May happiness last forever!" Everyone chanted in unison.

Gongsun Hong shifted slightly, facing the nearby, equally empty Sumeru pedestal, and once again led the chanting, "Long live the Supreme Ruler..."

"May happiness last forever!" Everyone chanted in unison once again.

Just then, the four eunuchs who had been standing like puppets by the white cloud bronze stove gently placed the four openwork bronze lids on the stove and then quietly slipped out through the small doors on both sides like cats.

"Still the same as before."

Gongsun Hong formally presided over the court meeting, saying, "What matters cannot be resolved by the various government offices, or what matters need to be reported and advised? If a consensus is reached, we will decide on the matters we can. What do you say, Grand Censor?"

"We will follow the public's opinion," Mei Gao said calmly.

The outer court and the central court are intertwined, each with its own strengths. Success in the world is not easy, but both sides have their own clever ways of causing trouble.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies stepped forward almost without hesitation, saying, "To the Chancellor, the Grand Censor, and all the other ministers and officials, since the Marquis of Sheng is no longer the Grand Master of Ceremonies, I request that this matter be discussed publicly."

With the exile of Marquis Sheng Zhouping to Shuofang Commandery to guard the border, the number of Taichang ministers who have been dismissed, stripped of their titles, stripped of their fiefs, or punished with hard labor under Your Majesty's rule has reached eight.

On average, every two and a half years, a great marquis of the Han Dynasty would disappear.

Well, if any marquis wanted to die, appointing him as the Grand Master of Ceremonies was more effective than the so-called Book of Life and Death.

In the imperial court, the nobles trembled at the sound of the voice, their eyes filled with murderous intent as they looked at the Grand Master of Ceremonies.

The position of Grand Master of Ceremonies was not an easy one among the Nine Ministers. Not only did they have to guard the ancestral temples, but they also had to conduct regular inspections of the imperial tombs every month.

The scenery was truly magnificent; the emperor toured the country on his behalf, accompanied by ten red chariots under a canopy.

Throughout the entire world, apart from the emperor, only the Minister of Ceremonies was in such a position.

However, there were too many incidents involving the imperial palace and temples. Sometimes, it was not the Grand Master of Ceremonies himself but his subordinates who were negligent, yet they were dismissed or punished.

To be involved with the current emperor is certain death.

Furthermore, the Minister of Ceremonies was responsible for sacrificial rites, so he often had to fast and bathe to avoid disrespecting the ancestral gods. This was even more unbearable for some marquises who were fond of sensual pleasures.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies smiled helplessly and replied with the apologies of a marquis. After Zhou Ping, there were no accidents in the ancestral temple for a month, and he spent his days at home burning incense and praying to the gods to express his gratitude to the ancestors. He said, "It's better for a fellow Daoist to die than for me to die. Don't be offended."

"Whose turn is it?" Gongsun Hong looked at Mei Gao.

The position of Grand Master of Ceremonies had a strict order, with one marquis following another, and "bestowing blessings widely".

This was something that the first generation of marquises specifically requested from Emperor Gaozu when he and the marquises made a pact by cutting a white horse, with the intention of ensuring that the positions of marquises and ministers would be passed down from generation to generation.

After all, power is what lasts forever. However, the first-generation marquises never expected to encounter an emperor like Your Majesty. You have decreed that the ancestral laws and the positions of ministers and high officials must be passed down through generations. Very well, very well indeed.

Mei Gao wanted to say the names of "Marquis of Changping" and "Marquis of Champion", but this was a court discussion, not an execution ground. He couldn't kill someone like that. So he said the truth: "Marquis of Dangtu, Wei Buhai".

The voice fell.

One of the marquises was sweating profusely and trembling like a leaf; this day had finally come.

My ancestors have misled me!
"Gentlemen, do you have any objections?" Gongsun Hong asked, looking at the officials of both dynasties.

Completely disregarding the feelings of the Marquis of Dangtu, what does killing you have to do with you?
After waiting for a while and seeing no one object, Gongsun Hongmo said, "In that case, after the court meeting, we will present the edict to His Majesty."

The position of one of the Nine Ministers was thus secured.

Immediately afterward, Physician Li Gan, under the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, stepped forward and said, “Your Excellency, the Grand Censor, a few nights ago, items from the Imperial Treasury left through the Fu'ang Gate and were handed over to the Piao Yao Colonel. I wished to inspect them, but was obstructed by the Imperial Treasury Director and the Piao Yao Colonel. I request the Minister of the Imperial Treasury to explain what those items were.”

Is the Junior Minister of the Imperial Household secretly plotting with the Emperor?

Everyone was somewhat surprised, and the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.

Gongsun Hong remained calm and looked at Zhao Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Household. Zhao Yu stepped out of the court without expression and said, "The Imperial Household is in charge of royal attire. As the ruler of the country, he should change his clothing. The items from that night were silk and brocade."

"impossible!"

Li Gan immediately denied it, saying, "The ruts were deep and long, so it couldn't have been made of light materials like silk."

"What did the Imperial Censor personally witness about the contents of the vehicle?"

"The investigation was obstructed by the Imperial Household Department Commander and the Colonel of the Piaoyao Army, and a detailed investigation could not be conducted."

"Since it is not seen, why is the Grand Master of Ceremonies so certain? The snow has fallen and the ground is wet, and the cart tracks are deep and long. The Grand Master of Ceremonies may have made a mistake."

"No..."

"Li Gan."

Li Gan was about to argue when Li Guang, the Minister of the Imperial Guard, said with a soft shout, "This is a court discussion."

"Father!" Li Gan's voice carried a hint of grievance.

“There are no ‘fathers’ here, we are all subjects of the Han Dynasty.”

Li Guang, having resolved the predicament for his young son who was still inexperienced, then said, "If the Minister of the Imperial Household says he was mistaken, then he was mistaken."

"Let me give you a heads-up."

Gongsun Hong smiled faintly, "It's nothing to blush and sweat a little during a meeting. If the Grand Master of Ceremonies still has objections, he may continue. Gentlemen, please listen attentively."

When everyone's eyes turned to Li Gan, Li Gan, prompted by his father, could only say, "Perhaps I'm seeing things wrong."

The Imperial Censor Mei Gao and the Grand Master of Ceremonies Wuqiu Shouwang looked at Li Gan, then at the Chancellor and the Minister of the Imperial Treasury, their eyes narrowing slightly.

Yan Yi, the Prefect of Grain Supply, stepped forward and said, “Your Excellency, the Grand Censor, not long ago, the Minister of the Imperial Treasury and I received worrying news: there is serious corruption within the Southern Army. I request a thorough investigation of the Southern Army!”

Mei Gao and Wuqiu Shouwang stared intently at Yan Yi.

(End of this chapter)