For a long time afterward, the Marquis's residence would become an object of ridicule whenever this banquet was mentioned.
After all that trouble, they gained nothing and became a laughing stock. Every time Chi Jingyu and Chi Yan met in court, Chi Jingyu's face was so cold it could freeze, and anyone could see the undercurrents between them.
After Chi Yan's promotion, Shen Tangning's life did not change much. However, the harem was in turmoil, and many changes occurred.
Consort Li regained favor and was promoted back to Imperial Concubine Li, while Consort Rou became pregnant and was granted the title of Imperial Concubine Rou. The two now seem to be vying for power.
The Empress, who was originally the only one who had the final say, suddenly fell seriously ill and had no choice but to retire to Kunning Palace, leaving Consort Li and Consort Rou to assist in managing the inner palace.
The Xie family's withdrawal from the center of power and the Empress's relinquishment of control over the six palaces have led many to sense a crisis, but at the same time, it also signifies the imminent emergence of a new situation.
——
The transfer process took several days to complete before Chi Yan was finally able to move out of the Hanlin Academy.
At his suggestion, Emperor Chongde established the Yiluan Office, located near the imperial city, which was not under the jurisdiction of any force and was directly under the emperor's command.
At first, many people were not clear about the specific responsibilities of this new institution. The Yiluan Division sounded like it was responsible for the imperial procession and sacrificial rites. If that were the case, it wouldn't have much power and wouldn't pose a threat to them for the time being.
Establishing a new organization in a short period of time is no easy task, and Chi Yan faces even greater challenges. As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and the first of these challenges has landed on his head.
Because it was a temporary formation, the selection system was not perfect. The people in this team came from various departments, such as the Imperial Guard, the Capital Prefecture, and the Patrol Battalion. They were a mixed bag and each had their own camp.
They were transferred here out of necessity, a place that no one else wanted to go, and it ended up in the hands of these people who had no say. How could they possibly be convinced by Chi Yan?
A large group of people gathered together and began to whisper among themselves:
"What bad luck! So many people were drawing lots, and I just had to be the unluckiest one! I almost became the laughingstock of those bastards!"
"Isn't that right? Yi Luan Si, it sounds nice, like a promising future, but if no one else wanted to come, how would this job have fallen to me?"
"Damn it! You guys can't be as unlucky as me! I used to be a member of the Imperial Guard. If I had served a few more years, I could have easily become a captain. If I hadn't gotten drunk and missed my duty the other day, I wouldn't have been punished and sent to this godforsaken place!"
The speaker was named Feng Yong. He had the biggest complaints. The Imperial Guard was a place that everyone wanted to join, but he was kicked out, and in such a humiliating way!
If Chi Yan hadn't suggested to His Majesty the establishment of the Yi Luan Division, he wouldn't have lost his coveted job, which is why he was extremely dissatisfied!
The lower ranks were also clearly divided. The Jingzhao Prefecture looked down on the patrol battalion, and the Imperial Guards looked down on the Jingzhao Prefecture. For a time, everyone began to praise Feng Yong.
Chi Yan listened quietly outside for a while before deliberately making his footsteps heavier, and the courtyard fell silent as if by unspoken agreement.
Stepping into the courtyard, he showed no unusual expression, smiling as he surveyed the group of people: "It's quite lively, isn't it?"
The crowd looked at each other, and no one spoke for a moment. These people were all proud and arrogant, and deep down they did not respect Chi Yan, a civil official, and even harbored resentment towards him.
Secondly, we also wanted to give him a hard time. A new broom sweeps clean, and we couldn't let him establish his authority too quickly!
Chi Yan's dark eyes flickered slightly, his tone still carrying a smile, making him seem incredibly approachable: "Let me introduce myself, Chi Yan. We'll be working together for a long time, so you can call me Commander."
No one spoke in the courtyard, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward, with some people in the crowd secretly watching the drama unfold.
He showed no sign of annoyance, leisurely strolling around twice, his tone utterly sincere:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
