Xiao Zhu Zi smiled broadly, but quickly added with lingering fear, "Princess, the situation was truly intense. This servant couldn't quite understand what the officials were saying, but I remembered their conversation perfectly, and I'll tell you about it now." He tried his best to recall what he had seen and heard, striving to recreate the scene so that Zhao Shu could know everything in detail.

"At that time, the situation was like this..."

By the end of the Yin hour, the sky was already beginning to lighten. If this were last month, the roads on the ground would be faintly visible without any lights. However, perhaps because it was early autumn, the Meridian Gate was still shrouded in darkness at this hour.

The palace lanterns along the roadside added a lot of human presence to the night, and from a distance, one could already see shadowy figures moving about.

The Wei family's carriage slowly arrived at the Meridian Gate, its hooves clattering softly. The officials were puzzled, for Lord Wei had never appeared at the morning court in the Wei family's carriage before. He usually came on horseback, and not from this direction, but from the direction of the Wucheng Military Command. What was going on today?

Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual.

Several officials who were not involved in the partisan struggle gathered together and began to talk in hushed tones. "Just recently, there were rumors that the third young master of the Wang family had been beheaded at Caishikou by Lord Wei Tingsi, and then Lord Yang's eldest grandson was imprisoned. These events, one after another, are like nightmares that chill me to the bone. I don't even dare to breathe loudly when I walk. Before I could figure out what was going on, Lord Wang Kuanqi was imprisoned. Tell me, isn't this strange?"

"Yes, I heard yesterday that the Huo family has come to the capital and even moved into the Yong Prince's mansion. Please don't doubt your ears, it is indeed the Yong Prince's mansion! How could such a great thing have fallen on that absurd prince? Why couldn't I have invited the Huo family?" The man sighed deeply.

Before they could process this shocking fact, someone else said, "I heard that Lord Qiu Chengshi personally went out of the city ten miles to welcome the Yan family. Lord Xie has returned to the capital. Lord Xie and Lord Yang are at odds. Lord Yang is still kneeling at the East Gate. Now the court is going to be under Lord Xie's control."

"What do you mean?" they all asked in unison.

The official who spoke stroked his goatee, glanced around, and, finding no one paying attention to them and that they were quite far from the other officials, whispered, "I've heard that the Xie family has secret dealings with the Prince Yong's residence. Now, the Prince Yong has invited the Huo family, while Lord Xie has invited the Yan family. The Yan family is located in the Jiangnan region, which we are not familiar with, but the Yan family of Jiangnan is descended from the great painter Yan Youlong of the previous dynasty. The Xie, Huo, and Yan families are all formidable families. With these three giants together, who in the court can stand against them? It's no wonder that Lord Xie's domain is about to become his."

Several officials shook their heads and clicked their tongues a few times after hearing what he said. One of them couldn't help but say, "You've forgotten something. Do you remember when Lord Xie came to court last time?"

"What?" the man asked.

"When Lord Xie came to court last time, he not only ordered Lord Liu Huan to investigate the cheating case in the imperial examination, but His Majesty also had a long private talk with Lord Xie. Only then did Lord Xie go to Jiangnan. It can be seen that the biggest winner is the current emperor."

"Shh." The group quickly made a shushing gesture, and then they saw that the Wei family's carriage had stopped not far away. The group pretended to look elsewhere, but their eyes were fixed on the Wei family's carriage.

As soon as the carriage curtain was lifted, Wei Caitao, with his refined and gentle demeanor, poked his head out. A servant had already brought a ladder and placed it beside the carriage. He glanced at the assembled officials and then gracefully stepped down from the ladder.

"Good morning, esteemed lords." Stepping down from the carriage, Wei Caitao smiled broadly, a smile that was as warm as a spring breeze. He cupped his hands in a respectful greeting, holding a folding fan in his hand.

Despite being middle-aged, he still managed to exude such elegance that he outshone all the officials present.

The ministers were secretly filled with jealousy and resentment. Back then, their wives, daughters, sisters, and older sisters had all been infatuated with Wei Caitao. How hateful, truly hateful.

"Good morning, Mr. Wei." Everyone chose to laugh it off. Xie Yun, Qiu Tangshi, and other senior officials had not yet arrived, and no one dared to talk to Wei Caitao, for fear that Wei Caitao would refuse and they would lose face. Wei Caitao seemed gentle, but in reality, he was a very arrogant person.

Wei Caitao glanced around. That rebellious son wasn't there. The Emperor valued him so much, yet he arrived so late.

Unable to find Wei Tingsi, he began to feel bored and was just about to talk to someone when he saw two carriages approaching from two different directions.

Someone whispered, "They're here! They're here! Lord Xie and Prince Yong's carriages!" He was so excited that spittle flew everywhere.

But no one paid any attention. Little Zhu calmly took a ladder from the carriage and placed it next to the carriage. Xie Zhuo did the same, taking a ladder and placing it next to the carriage, and then lifted the carriage curtain.

"Master, we've arrived."

Xie Yun and Yan Shiren arrived in the same carriage. To show his respect, Xie Yun said, "Brother Yan, please." Xie Yun gestured for them to proceed.

Yan Shiren was younger than Xie Yun and was the second master in his family, so he humbly made a gesture of invitation, saying, "Brother Xie, please."

This scene was witnessed by Sun Ganzheng, who arrived a step later. He snorted coldly, his face as cold as ice, wanting to say something sarcastic to Xie Yun. Xie Yun got out of the car first, followed closely by Yan Shiren.

Prince Yong lifted his skirt and got off the carriage, while Huo Baichuan, who was behind him, jumped off the carriage on the other side.

"Nephew Huo," Yan Shiren greeted Huo Baichuan with a smile, stroking his short, neat beard. "It's been decades since we last met. I wonder how your father is?"

Huo Baichuan held a blade of dry grass in his hand, casually tucked it into his belt, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and smiled—whether genuine or not was unclear, but his handsome face was captivating whether he smiled or not.

"This nephew greets Uncle Yan." He bowed, then stood up and walked to Yan Shiren's side. Like two good brothers, he put his right hand on Yan Shiren's shoulder and said, "My father is still the same as always. He fishes when he has nothing to do, or he raises birds. If you have time, Uncle, you can go to Bianzhou. My father's pond of koi fish is very fat."

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