Officials of the Dayin Dynasty did not attend court every day, but once every five days, at about four in the morning. There was a long distance from outside the palace to inside the palace, and the fastest means of transportation was only a horse. If you were late, not only would your salary be deducted, but you would also be punished. To avoid being late, ministers who went to court had to get up at three o'clock to prepare. Although it was hard work, not all officials could attend court meetings. There were also regulations on the ranks of officials who attended court. According to the three-province system, the lowest rank in the Menxia Province was the Jiujiu Lang, the rank of officials in the Zhongshu Province must be Jiujiu Sheren or above, the rank of officials in the Shangshu Province was above Shilang, and the rank of officials in the Yushitai was above Yushi Zhongcheng.

Su Yanli is now the Minister of Justice, so of course he is qualified to attend court.

The Minister's Mansion is closer to the imperial city than his previous residence, but it is still some distance away from the imperial palace. It was Su Yanli's first time to attend court, and he basically did not sleep much that night. Firstly, he was nervous and excited, and secondly, he was afraid of oversleeping, so he kept getting up to look at the hourglass. Anyway, he did not sleep much all night.

At three o'clock in the morning, the couple smiled at each other with dark circles under their eyes, and simply got up without sleeping to prepare for court.

It was dark outside. Cheng Yingzhen personally helped her husband change his clothes and straighten his hat. She waited until he was perfectly dressed before she said, "Sir, please sit still. I'll ask the kitchen to bring breakfast over."

Just as she was about to go out, Su Ruojin arrived at the door of the wing room and said, "Dad, Mom, you two should get up."

"Ajin, why are you up so early?"

Their daughter was famous for being a sleepyhead, and the fact that she got up so early really surprised and delighted Su Yanli and his wife, as if they had found a backbone.

Su Ruojin smiled and said, "The old woman on duty saw that the light in your room was not turned off all night, so I knew that Dad and Mom were nervous and would get up early."

What their daughter said was right. They are already in their early forties, and Su Yanli and his wife feel a little embarrassed.

Su Ruojin asked Chunxiao to bring in breakfast, "Dad, it's either steamed dumplings or fried noodles, not much soup, can you eat it?"

"be able to eat."

It was her first time to attend court, so her daughter was very thoughtful in case she had to go to the toilet. Su Yanli was afraid that she would be late, so she swallowed a few mouthfuls without making any progress. "I need to hurry. Lord Fan said he will wait for you at the palace gate."

Su Sanlang and his two younger brothers and one younger sister all had their parents and siblings to take care of everything for them, so they were still sleeping soundly. Only Cheng Yingzhen and Su Ruojin brought the maids and servants to see Su Yanli off to the door.

Shu Tong and the coachman were already waiting at the gate. When he saw Su Yanli, he grinned happily and said, "Sir, thanks to you, we now have the opportunity to park our carriage at the palace gate."

This was the first time in their lives that they had docked openly at the place closest to the imperial palace.

Su Ruojin was also happy, and said with a smile, "I wish you a smooth career and success in everything."

Su Yanli also bowed his hands to the sky, smiling: "Thank my daughter for your good wishes, and may everything go well."

Su Ruojin lifted the curtain for his father, "Master Su, please go up to the throne--"

Su Yanli threw his head back and laughed, his laughter floating in the cool and dark early morning, "Haha..." He got into the carriage in high spirits.

He was a scholar. When he was in the Imperial College, he had the air of a weak scholar. But now, after years of trials and tribulations, he has become as calm as the abyss and as steady as Mount Tai.

Cheng Yingzhen looked at the carriage in the distance and said with emotion, "Ajin, your father is becoming more and more mature and stable, and more and more powerful. I..."

Su Ruojin saw her mother's worry and quickly reached out to hold her hands, which were cold from getting up early. "Mom, you are becoming more and more adept at being the mistress of the house, and you are just as powerful."

Cheng Yingzhen looked at her daughter, her eyes full of admiration and encouragement.

"Ajin..."

She was very satisfied to have a daughter like this, and she reached out to hug her, "I really don't want you to get married."

"Then I won't marry."

Cheng Yingzhen scolded her daughter, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Didn't mother say she couldn't bear to part with it?"

"You kid..." No matter how reluctant you are, you have to marry her! Cheng Yingzhen was also amused by her own contradictory words, "Let's go, let's go back and have some sleep."

"Not worried about Dad anymore?"

"Your father won't let us worry."

"Hehe...I'll tell Dad when he comes back..."

…

The mother and daughter joked with each other while returning home happily hand in hand.

In the east, the sky gradually brightens, and it is a new day. (End of this chapter)