Chapter 806 Before the Grand Assembly

"Third Sister, we've arrived."

Li Sanniang opened her eyes only after Qiu Xiang called her softly. She blinked and put aside the words she had just recalled about what she had said to Princess Qingyang that day.

"As expected, there are fewer people early in the morning, and it's much faster than I expected."

After getting off the carriage, Li San Niang looked up at the sky. It was just before dawn, with only a little light enough to see the road.

Li San Niang turned her head to look at the gate of the imperial city, where a considerable number of people had already formed a queue.

Today is the second grand court assembly of the month, and all officials of the seventh rank and above are required to attend.

The lower the rank, the earlier one should arrive; high-ranking officials of the third or fourth rank will simply arrive at the appointed time—this is an unspoken rule.

Li San Niang naturally wouldn't challenge such rules. She was already hated because of her status as a woman, so there was no need for her to be unconventional at this time.

So, Li San Niang got up just after four in the morning, and at five o'clock, she and Qiu Xiang got into Lao Shi's carriage and left at the time when the ward gates were open.

Li San Niang turned around, first pressing down on the folds in her sleeve pocket, then raising both hands to straighten her official hat, and then smoothing the hem of her green official robe.

Finally, Li San Niang raised her head and looked at Qiu Xiang: "How is it? Is there any oversight?"

Qiu Xiang stepped forward and patted Li San Niang's shoulder, as if brushing away some dust.

"Take this, Miss. I heard from the master that those with low official positions have to wait quite a long time. If you're thirsty, you can endure it, but when you're hungry, your stomach will inevitably rumble. If someone hears that, they might gossip about you behind your back."

Third Sister, take this. If you get hungry later, you can sneak a piece and eat it.

Li San Niang naturally wouldn't let Qiu Xiang's kindness go to waste. She took the purse containing the candy from Qiu Xiang's hand and put it into another sleeve pocket.

"Then I'll go right now."

"Please find a place outside and wait for me. I think I'll be out before 11:00 AM."

After saying this, Li San Niang strode towards the place where the young men were lined up.

Qiu Xiang and Lao Shi stood on both sides of Zhuque Street like the other servants of the young master, watching their master line up. They also watched Li San Niang enter the line.

Whether it was because the sky was not fully bright yet, or because the officials had gotten up too early and were not in the mood to observe their surroundings or chat with others, Li San Niang smoothly completed her inspection and then followed the others into the palace.

Actually, it was because Li San Niang was wearing an official hat that covered her hair and a loose-fitting round-necked official robe that, if you didn't look closely, you really wouldn't think she was a woman.

At most, from a distance, one could see that Li San Niang's belt made her waist look too thin.

After all, there are some differences between women and men, but you really can't tell unless you look closely.

Upon entering the imperial city, Li Sanniang carefully observed the interior, and couldn't help but chuckle to herself. She knew that in modern times, it would cost at least a hundred or two hundred yuan to enter and visit.

Now that's great, Li San Niang can get in without spending any money. Thinking about it, I feel like I've actually made a profit.

Actually, although the official rank is low and the position is humble, they are still officials, and their treatment is quite humane.

For example, at this moment, Li San Niang and the other officials were placed in a large hall, where not only were there ice basins, but also eunuchs serving tea and snacks.

Even the toilet has a designated area, located in the side hall behind this main hall.

Moreover, while other officials might not have noticed Li Sanniang, the eunuchs serving her certainly had.

At that moment, Li San Niang was being asked by a maid if she wanted to change her clothes.

"Doctor Li, would you like to find another female official?"

Bi, the director of the Ministry of Agriculture, was sitting in the back.

Li San Niang thought it best to go and say hello, so she thanked the maid and asked someone to lead her to see Bi Qionglan.

Because there were many lights inside the main hall, it was brighter than the sky outside. As Li San Niang was led around by her maid, she attracted the attention of many officials.

With her distinctly feminine face, Li San Niang could be mistaken even when she was wearing an official hat and robe, and her movements attracted the attention of many people.

Li San Niang didn't think there was anything wrong with it; hadn't she thought of this before entering the palace?

Go ahead and look, it won't hurt you to take a look.

This was exactly what Li San Niang was thinking. Besides, in such a public place, these officials had a lot of face to maintain, and there shouldn't be anyone who would publicly ridicule or cause trouble.

So what's there to be afraid of?

Therefore, Li San Niang followed the maid without looking to the side and found Bi Qiong Lan. The two greeted each other, and Bi Qiong Lan invited Li San Niang to sit down.

"This is also my first time attending the Grand Court Assembly. However, our official positions are low, so we are just barely qualified. There is no need to be too afraid."

"They should just stand at the back and listen to what they're saying."

After the two chatted for a few more minutes, a palace attendant came out to announce that the time had come and that everyone should line up in order of rank and departmental status to go to the Taiji Hall.

Li San Niang deliberately ignored the subtle gazes coming from all directions, looked around, found the location of Physician Sun and Physician Ning, and walked over.

"Dr. Li is standing right behind us. We just need to follow the crowd."

Li San Niang thanked Physician Sun for his guidance and obediently stood at the back, slowly walking towards the Taiji Hall along with the people in front.

Unbeknownst to Li San Niang, Ning Yizheng glanced at her disdainfully before turning away.

For the past few days, Ning Yizheng has been criticizing Li Sanniang, who works at the Imperial Medical Bureau, in a way that makes her look strange and displeasing.

This was because Ning Yizheng somehow learned that it was Li Sanniang who had persuaded Princess Qingyang to ask the Emperor to let her take over the women's ward at the drug rehabilitation center in the suburbs of the capital.

Although Ning Yizheng didn't think it was important whether or not he was in charge of the women's ward, the princess was, after all, a person of rank, and had been granted a proper official position by the emperor. As a senior official of the Imperial Medical Bureau in the drug rehabilitation center, he ultimately felt like someone was choking him, which was quite unpleasant.

Under such circumstances, how could Physician Ning possibly give Li San Niang a friendly look?

However, Li San Niang didn't care about any of that.

Didn't you already think of this when you decided to become an official and bring Princess Qingyang on board?

Therefore, for the past half month, Li Sanniang has been on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau, and she has endured the disdain, ridicule, and even disgust from the officials in various departments as if nothing had happened.

After all, no matter how outrageous these people were, they were only making veiled criticisms during lunch, and at most isolating Li San Niang.

What do a few verbal insults matter?

Li San Niang had a good attitude. She felt that the officials of the Imperial Medical Bureau were still quite aloof. Not to mention that, apart from the officials who looked down on Li San Niang, there were also people in the Imperial Medical Bureau who were grateful for her previous free lectures.

With Physician Sun being so friendly to her, Li Sanniang felt that working at the Imperial Medical Bureau wasn't really that difficult.

However, this is ultimately an internal matter of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Li San Niang is a woman, but she is still a senior official in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

But there are more than just people from the Imperial Medical Bureau inside this main hall!

People from other places wouldn't be so concerned with appearances and would be so polite to Li San Niang.