A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Yang Yuhuan rose and slowly walked into the spacious dance floor in the pavilion. Her wedding robes fluttered as she twirled, and her pomegranate-red silk skirt spread out like a blooming peony.

She danced gracefully to the melodious palace music, her figure supple and graceful. She raised her hands and lowered them, her sleeves twirling gently. Her eyes would sometimes look at Emperor Xuanzong, and sometimes glance at Li Bai, who was writing and singing wildly. Pearls and jade ornaments rose and fell with her dance steps, and her golden embroidery shimmered and swayed.

Even Li Bai had to admit that Yang Yuhuan was indeed an unparalleled beauty.

He raised his hand to rub his eyebrows and eyes, then suddenly laughed loudly: "I am drunk and my writing is difficult. My boots are too tight and may hinder my poetic thoughts. Please, Eunuch Gao, remove my boots."

Gao Lishi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then anger surged into his heart.

As a palace attendant to the emperor, even Li Linfu had to show him some respect back then.

Now Li Bai is actually asking him to do the kind of work only servants do.

But Gao Lishi glanced at Yang Yuhuan, who was dancing, and swallowed his anger.

Li Longji didn't think much of it, after all, in his eyes, Gao Lishi was indeed just a servant.

Gao Lishi suppressed his anger, knelt down, and slowly removed the cloud-white boots from Li Bai's feet.

After taking off his shoes, Li Bai stepped barefoot onto the wooden board and swayed his body to the music of Yang Yuhuan's dance.

Li Bai took the large wolf-hair brush handed to him by the eunuch, held the gilded inkstone in one hand, dipped the brush in the thick ink with the other, walked to the wall, and wrote the three characters "Qing Ping Diao".

"Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy."

"If we don't meet on the summit of Mount Qunyu, we'll meet under the moon on the Jade Terrace."

After finishing writing, he casually tossed aside the large wolf-hair brush in his hand, grabbed the wine pot, and continued drinking.

This was probably the last time Li Bai, the "Poet Immortal of Wine," drank.

From then on, he became more cautious in his actions and could no longer be as unrestrained as he was today.

He wanted to reform the court, so he naturally had to set an example and could no longer be as free as before.

Everything in the world has a price, and it is beyond human control.

Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan walked quickly to Li Bai's poem, "Qingping Diao," and praised it highly.

Yang Yuhuan's eyes sparkled as she looked at Li Bai. In the time it takes to drink a cup of wine, Li Bai was able to compose such a poem. The title of "Poet Immortal" was indeed well-deserved.

It's a pity that her identity is still hidden and she can't spread this poem. Otherwise, he would definitely ask Li Longji to order the poem to be spread throughout Luoyang within a day.

……

The next day, Li Bai once again got out of bed, clutching his head which was throbbing from drinking. After being helped to wash and dress by a maid, he went to the front hall.

"Brother Taibai, I admire you!"

Upon seeing Li Bai, Wang Wei immediately bowed.

"When he met His Majesty, he got completely drunk. In all the world, only Brother Taibai could do that."

"Brother Taibai, have you behaved inappropriately while drunk? Will His Majesty punish you?"

Gao Shi said with concern.

"It's alright."

Li Bai said nonchalantly that he could vaguely remember what had happened. After writing the poem, he got drunk and did not do anything else improper.

Although Li Bai said that, Gao Shi still couldn't help but worry about him.

After all, getting drunk in front of the emperor could be considered a serious offense at times.

Even though the Prince of Yan was behind Li Bai, he was still afraid that it would affect Li Bai's career.

"Young master, an imperial edict has arrived."

Just then, the steward rushed over and reported to Li Bai.

"Let's go, receive the imperial decree."

"Brother Duff, you don't need to worry anymore."

Li Bai patted Gao Shi on the shoulder, and the two smiled at each other.

"A ruler who reigns over the four seas must illuminate the hidden and the manifest, open the channels of communication, and gather the wise men of the world; the peace and stability of a nation depend on upright ministers who can rectify the government and fill in the gaps. Therefore, the position of remonstrator is established, without regard to seniority or rank, but only those who are upright, insightful, and capable of assisting the ruler, so as to glorify the nation's achievements."

"Li Bai, a commoner, possessed profound knowledge and talent, and his literary talent surpassed that of his time. He harbored strategies for governing the country and upheld integrity. His policy essays revealed the root causes of disorder and chaos, and he pointed out the evils of extravagance, the selfishness of those in power, and the suffering of the people. He was upright and honest, and did not flatter the powerful. He had the spirit of a loyal minister of ancient times who spoke frankly and honestly. He was qualified to serve as a strategist and advisor in the court."

"He should be promoted beyond his usual rank and not follow the established procedures. He may be specially appointed as Left Grand Counselor and Attendant to the Inner Court, a rank of Senior Fifth Grade."

"Since you have assumed the responsibility of speaking out, your duty is to assist those who disagree. From now on, you are permitted to refute any policy decisions, address the merits and demerits of officials, the righteousness and wickedness of the common people, and the obstruction of the path for virtuous individuals, whenever necessary. You must ensure that there is no obstruction in the court and no overlooked virtuous individuals in the countryside, so as to fulfill my desire for wise counsel and good governance."

"Go and obey! Do not be arrogant because of your talent, nor keep silent because of power. Do your utmost to be loyal and upright, and correct my shortcomings."

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Li Bai respectfully accepted the imperial edict with both hands, and as he turned around, he winked at Gao Shi.

Gao Shi couldn't help but find it amusing, and at the same time, he was relieved for his friend. His Majesty's decree of exceptional merit showed that there had been no misconduct yesterday.

After letting go of my worries about Li Bai, all that's left is pure envy.

When Li Bai first entered the court, he held a prestigious fifth-rank official position. He may have had to struggle in the court for decades to reach that position.

This is still thanks to Li Bai; no one dared to deny his credit.

Otherwise, he probably would never have been able to attain a fifth-rank official position in his entire life.

"The newly appointed scholars, please receive the imperial decree as well."

The official reading the imperial edict then looked at Du Fu, Gao Shi, and others, and took out several more scrolls of imperial edicts from his bosom, reading them aloud one by one.

The Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Secretariat were all assigned to their respective positions according to the other party's temperament and habits.

Official positions were either prestigious or required real power, making them the best positions in any government office.

The kind that everyone would fight tooth and nail for.

The men received the imperial decree in turn, and all of them were extremely grateful to Li Bai.

If it weren't for Li Bai, given their family background, they would never have been able to obtain such a high-ranking official position.

"Doctor Li, the court has granted you three days of leave. After three days, you must attend court. Do not forget the time."

The official delivering the imperial decree smiled broadly at Li Bai, hoping to make a name for himself here.

"Thank you for reminding me, sir."

Li Bai cupped his hands in greeting, and the official delivering the imperial decree quickly replied, "You're too kind," before turning away with satisfaction.

Three days later, Li Bai attended court for the first time.

Wei Wen had already instructed Li Bai to listen more, observe more, and speak less today, for there would be a good show.

A good show?!

Li Bai never expected that such a good thing would happen on his first day at court.

What he didn't expect was that he would be dragged into this drama.

His poem "Qingping Diao" became Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's most powerful weapon against those who dared to remonstrate.