Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

The grand ceremony at the southern suburbs was completed. Zhao Ji returned to the inner palace, removed his heavy twelve-patterned imperial robes, and changed back into his regular imperial robes. He then set off for the Qingcheng Palace.

The imperial procession was rearranged, the imperial carriage was put back in place, and civil and military officials, members of the imperial family, and various officials followed the imperial carriage in order, heading north in a continuous line of banners.

Upon returning to Qingcheng, Gao Zhao and others moved the officials of the Imperial Gate to the outer courtyard of the palace, where they lined up in rows to offer their congratulations on the successful completion of the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven.

After the ceremony of paying respects and offering congratulations, the Emperor, being benevolent and considerate of his officials, decreed that all officials should temporarily return to their temporary residences to rest.

After a whole night of commotion, the officials felt as if they had been granted a pardon. The elderly civil official staggered back to his inner quarters, wanting nothing more than to collapse into a deep sleep.

Gao Zhao and the other gatekeepers also retreated to the corridor office next to Xiangxi Gate, where several people were crowded together.

Although Gao Zhao hadn't slept all night and was now extremely tired, he still forced himself to stay awake and didn't lie down.

There's no other reason than that the current officials are frivolous! They always do whatever they want!

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, another eunuch delivered the imperial decree, ordering the imperial entourage to leave Qingcheng immediately and return to the inner palace.

Everyone had no choice but to regroup and set off again.

Outside the city, tens of thousands of imperial guards, palace guards, and musicians had already been deployed.

Emperor Huizong changed to riding in a jade carriage, and the imperial procession set off from Qingcheng, passed through Nanxun Gate, and headed straight into Bianjing City.

On both sides of the road, the people of Bianjing lined the streets to watch, creating a sea of ​​people eager to witness the grand scene of the emperor's return from the suburban sacrifice.

The music and drums never stopped, and the banners blocked out the sun.

Gao Zhao followed in the procession, watching the cheering crowd around him. He couldn't help but sigh, "Putting aside everything else, Zhao Ji's policies were quite good to these ordinary people."

No wonder that when he was later coerced by Fan Qiong to leave the city, the people of Bianjing wept and tried to stop him, and only after several people were killed were they able to take him away.

Thinking about it this way, judging a person solely based on historical records is too one-sided and biased... Of course, I'm not at fault; it's the historians who didn't write it clearly!

As he walked along, lost in thought, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure by the roadside. It was Zhang Yunniang, with Zhang Zhenniang beside her.

Gao Zhao was overjoyed and was about to wink and greet the two of them when suddenly a figure blocked Zhang Yunniang's way. It was Lin Chong who was protecting her from being bumped into.

Huh, why is Lin Chong here too?

Gao Zhao was somewhat surprised. How come I didn't see such a big guy just now? Where did he come from?

Seeing him chatting and laughing with the two women again, Gao Zhao felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, and her gaze towards Lin Chong was filled with jealousy.

He clenched his fist, secretly vowing, "He will take my place!"

When the imperial carriage arrived at Xuande Gate, Emperor Huizong ascended the gate tower. The curtain was drawn back, and the emperor appeared on the tower.

Downstairs, a golden rooster pole was erected high, and the pardon was carried down by a golden phoenix. The Kaifeng Prefecture lined up the prisoners awaiting pardon in front of the building, and the people of the whole city gathered downstairs, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The pardon was officially launched.

As a gatekeeper, Gao Zhao also had to rush to Xuande Tower to perform the duties of calling out messages and identifying attendants.

The sound of voices from the crowd below was like a sea, with the shouts of thousands of people surging upwards and reaching the Xuande City Tower.

The golden rooster pole swayed in the wind, and the scroll of amnesty decree slowly descended along the golden phoenix. Officials from the Court of Judicial Review stepped forward, respectfully took it down, and read it aloud to the public.

In addition to the usual release of prisoners and reduction of sentences, the imperial edict also specified the bestowal of imperial gifts, the review and transfer of officials, and the grand ceremony of granting official titles and privileges.

This is the highlight of this grand suburban sacrificial ceremony!

The first to be rewarded was the current Grand Chancellor, He Zhizhong, who was bestowed with 1,500 taels of silver, 1,500 bolts of silk, a horse with a silver saddle and reins, and a gold belt weighing 80 taels.

Following that were high-ranking officials like Cai Jing, who were awarded one thousand taels of silver, one thousand bolts of silk, a horse with a silver saddle and reins, and a gold belt.

Next up is Gao Qiu, a high-ranking military governor, who was rewarded with 750 taels of silver, 750 bolts of silk, a horse with a silver saddle and bridle, a gold belt, and a complete set of ceremonial robes.

After the rewards for these high-ranking officials were announced, it was time for the ordinary officials. Their rewards were naturally not as good as those of the high-ranking officials, and there were no special privileges or quotas for promotion, but promotion and reduction of the years of service were still good.

As they continued their reports, they eventually reached the Gemensi (a government office in charge of imperial examinations). After all, these officials were Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and received special treatment.

Many people who performed well were promoted directly, while those who were a step down were given a one or two-year reduction in their probationary period.

Gao Zhao was very excited. He had just been promoted, and now he was about to be promoted again!

My colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue, I'm sorry, but I'll have to recalculate my salary again!

There's nothing I can do; that's just how it is for a close advisor to the emperor!

He's always asking for a promotion... haha... I can't help it!

Let's get used to it!

Embrace change!

When he heard that Wei Xun was unable to be promoted because of his disciplinary punishment and could not even have his probation reduced, and could only receive some rewards, he laughed even more happily!

You know what a mess this is... haha... serves them right!

Serves you right for messing with me!

After waiting a while, it was finally his turn. Then he heard someone announce, "Gao Zhao, you are hereby awarded twenty taels of silver and twenty-five bolts of silk!"

Gao Zhao was taken aback, rubbed his ears, wondering if he had missed something.

Is it really that simple?

When I went to listen again, they had already called for the next person!

What the heck?!

Fatty Pan leaned closer with a grin and said, "What are you expecting? You've just joined the Imperial Guard and haven't even entered the probationary period yet. If it weren't for the Emperor's special decree promoting you last time, you would have had to wait several more years before you were even eligible for probationary promotion!"

"Your seniority is currently vacant on the register of official appointments. The reduction of seniority for the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies is for officials awaiting promotion based on seniority, not for you!"

Gao Zhao turned to look at him blankly. No, why should I?

I do the same work as you, so why don't you promote me too?

They're using me as a temporary worker!

After working so hard for so long, I didn't even sleep last night, and all I got was this little bit of silver and silk. You can't just use this stuff as money; if you try to exchange it, you have to pay a discount...

Do you think I, young master, care about such a small thing?

Is this how you try to get rid of me?!

What a cruel and ungrateful tyrant!

Damn it, if Fan Qiong doesn't send you to the Jin camp in a few years, I will send you there myself!

Finally, the pardon was read aloud, and as the pardoned prisoners prostrated themselves in gratitude, shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" once again swept across the Xuande Gate.

Gao Zhao remained calm, his cold gaze sweeping over the cheering crowd.

People's joys and sorrows are not shared; at this moment, he only felt their noise!

When Gao Zhao returned to the palace, it was almost time to leave work. After tidying up, he dragged his tired body back home.

As he exited the palace gates, he happened to run into Gao Qiu walking ahead. An idea struck him, and he quickly caught up, grinning as he said, "My lord, you've had quite a haul today. As the saying goes, we should share it half when we meet..."

Gao Qiu turned his head and gave a cold, sidelong glance, scoffing, "What right does a mere servant of a lowly household have? I'll reward you with two ingots of silver later!"

Gao Zhao paused, only then realizing that his silver was less than a fraction of Gao Zhao's...

"Sir, what you're saying is a bit much... Just give me the horse! You don't need any more horses!"

"That's an imperial horse bestowed by the Emperor!" Gao Qiu stepped forward, poked Gao Zhao's chest with his finger, and sneered, "Is that something a mere envoy like you should ride?"

Gao Zhao, having been repeatedly humiliated, was somewhat enraged, but still clinging to the idea that one shouldn't leave empty-handed, she changed her mind and said, "Then the clothes will do, won't they?"

"Dream on!" Gao Qiu refused decisively and stormed off.

Gao Zhao stared at his retreating figure, gritting his teeth. "What's so smug about that? Once you're dead, all of that will be mine!"

Suddenly his eyes lit up as he remembered that he also had a nice piece of clothing!

That was a gift from my old mentor!

Gao Zhao straightened his back a bit when he thought of the magnificence of that purple robe!

Ha, I find Gao Qiu's clothes dirty!