What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 281 The Grand Master of Ceremonial Affairs personally visits!
The Empress suppressed her surprise and carefully read Ye Wenshan's confession.

Then her eyebrows suddenly furrowed.

Ye Wenshan's confession has only one meaning: This sinner misinterpreted the celestial phenomena, Your Majesty did not ascend the throne illegitimately, and I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and forgive this sinner!

The Empress was dumbfounded for a long time!

At first, she couldn't believe it, thinking that Ye Wenshan was pulling a fast one, first admitting that he was wrong, and then subtly accusing her of being illegitimate in taking the position.

This tactic was frequently used by court officials.

Surprisingly, after reading the entire story, there was no plot twist as the Empress had expected, and her attitude in admitting her mistakes was very sincere.

The Empress looked at it again carefully, and it was indeed the meaning.

Is Su Mo really that powerful?
In no time at all, he persuaded that stubborn Ye Wenshan.

Or was it that Ye Wenshan had long intended to repent, but was too proud to admit it, so he deliberately used this opportunity to write a letter of apology?

After much deliberation, the Empress still felt that the second possibility was more likely.

Although Su Mo was a man of great learning and exceptional talent.

But this doesn't seem to have much to do with persuading Ip Man Shan, who is such a tough nut to crack.

If Ye Wenshan were so easily subdued, I wouldn't have had to imprison him in the Dali Temple prison for three years!
The Empress put down Ye Wenshan's confession without expression, then casually asked Zhang Yu about the disciples of the Su Nu Palace, before dismissing Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu secretly felt lucky.

Fortunately, I resolved the case of the Su Nu Palace early on!

The Empress's affection for Su Mo was no longer concealed.

This isn't even the case of "love me, love my dog"; it's even more outrageous than that—they actually asked about the Su Nu Palace!
After Zhang Yu left, the Empress pondered for a moment and then summoned An Wu back in.

Not long after, a detailed dossier appeared in the Empress's hands.

If Su Mo saw this, he would definitely be shocked.

The paper was filled with his conversation with Ip Man Shan in prison, word for word!
The more the Empress looked, the wider her mouth opened!
Was Ye Wenshan actually persuaded by Su Mo?
No! It was Su Mo's words that made him realize he was wrong!

Completely superior in terms of knowledge!

Su Mo's knowledge of astronomy, geography, and astrology actually surpassed that of Ye Wenshan, the former director of the Imperial Observatory!

The spy who recorded the case file even used the phrase "not ashamed to ask questions" to describe Ye Wenshan's attitude!

The Empress was speechless!
When Su Mo first said he wanted to start an astronomy and geography column, I questioned whether he knew anything about it. Su Mo claimed to know a little about it!

With only a little knowledge, he utterly defeated the top astrologer of the Great Wu Dynasty?

How terrifying!
Ip Man Shan's knowledge of astrology is beyond doubt; he is recognized as the number one astrologist in the Great Martial Arts.

That's why the Empress was furious when he interpreted the celestial phenomena and implied that his fortune was not right!
Kowloon Taoist even admitted that, in terms of divination and astrology alone, he was inferior to Ip Man Shan!
Does this mean...?
Su Mo's knowledge of astronomy, geography, and astrology.

Has he replaced Ip Man Shan and become the number one person in the world?
The empress was dumbfounded.

No matter how you look at it, Su Mo doesn't seem like someone who is so knowledgeable about astrology!
This is not something that can be achieved simply by being taught by others; it requires years of accumulation and countless days and nights of observing the stars before one can even begin to make a difference!
Last time, Su Mo told himself on the ship's lookout tower that the world is a sphere. Could it really be true?

Does he really know what's going on across the ocean?
Is it just that you don't want to tell yourself?

The Empress gasped!
Once again, he realized the information he had gathered about Su Mo.

This is probably just the tip of the iceberg!

After the Empress was shocked.

Suddenly, I realized an even more terrifying fact.

Su Mo claims to know a little? Could it really be just a little?

Is this not him being modest?

What kind of knowledge did he truly study and master? How profound was it?
A sharp glint suddenly flashed in the Empress's eyes!
Su Mo agreed to accept him as a disciple.

We must learn all of his hidden skills!
Leng Liuxi refused to believe that anyone in the world was more qualified than herself to inherit Su Lang's true mantle.

The empress became more and more excited as she thought about it.

I've lost interest in reading official documents; finding a master is the most important thing!

"Anbanban, have I prepared all six rites for my formal apprenticeship? I shall proceed to the Su residence now!"

An Wu hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, the six rites for the apprenticeship have been prepared, but..."

The Empress frowned slightly: "Speak!"

An Wu hesitated for a moment: "It's still early. Lord Su has just returned home and is probably busy..."

The old eunuch's expression suddenly turned serious: "Furthermore, the matter of taking a master is no ordinary affair; the proper etiquette must not be disregarded!"

"This old servant believes that we should not act hastily, but should give Lord Su ample time to prepare and respectfully welcome His Majesty!"

The Empress frowned and thought for a moment: "An Banban is right. I was indeed a little impatient."

"It's not advisable to make a big fuss about becoming Su Mo's disciple; just let Wang Hao and the others know."

Su Mo's official Weibo account indicates he is relatively young and has been in Shenjing for less than half a year.

The Empress also understood that it would be unwise to expose Su Mo to the public at this time, making him the target of everyone's criticism.

An Wu breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "His Majesty is not in a hurry, but is simply eager for talented people."

He paused, then exclaimed, "Lord Su's talent is truly like a vast ocean, unfathomable. This old servant is truly astonished!"

"Although Ip Man-shan is arrogant and stubborn by nature, his knowledge of divination and astrology is indeed profound, far surpassing that of this old servant!"

He took a deep breath, his expression turning slightly strange: "I never imagined there were people more capable than you, and that there were always higher levels to reach!"

"It's truly unbelievable that Ye Wenshan would admit he's inferior to Lord Su and even ask for his guidance!"

"The real purpose behind this letter of confession is probably to leave the Dali Temple prison and seek out Lord Su to learn astrology!"

An Wu, who once joined forces with him to deal with Master Kowloon.

Their understanding of Ip Man Shan's skills and background is so thorough that if they claim to be second, no one would dare to claim to be first!

That's why An Wu was even more shocked!

The Empress nodded slightly: "That should be so."

"In his entire confession, Ip Man Shan did not utter a single word asking for his official position or reinstatement; he only begged for my forgiveness."

She paused slightly, then turned her gaze to An Wu, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes: "An Banban, are you saying that Su Mo learned his astrological knowledge from Baiyujing and Kunlun Ruins?"

"Baiyujing! Kunlun Ruins! What kind of places are these, that they possess such unparalleled knowledge?"

An Wu shook his head with a wry smile: "This old servant also does not know."

"This old servant has consulted numerous ancient books and miscellaneous texts, but has not found any relevant descriptions."

He sighed: "However, the people from the Phoenix Cry Division have already boarded the ship and set sail to hunt Kun. Given time, they might be able to discover some clues."

The Empress remained silent.

An Wu then smiled and said, "Lord Su has agreed to be His Majesty's teacher. His Majesty treats him with sincerity, and Lord Su will surely impart all his knowledge without reservation. His Majesty will definitely learn all the knowledge he has gained."

The Empress chuckled lightly: "Making him my teacher is not what I truly desire."

"But this guy is lazy by nature, I really have to come up with a solution."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but darken her pretty face and let out a heavy snort: "He even told Ye Wenshan earlier that he was lazy and averse to work, how outrageous!"

"With your profound knowledge and unparalleled talent, you should be contributing to the Great Wu and bringing benefits to the people. How can you be so unambitious and live a muddled life? This infuriates me!"

An Wu smiled but remained silent.

This isn't real anger; it's clearly playful banter, a way of expressing disappointment and frustration!
Don't think you don't know just because you're a eunuch!

I wasn't born a eunuch!

……

The Empress is coming to the residence tonight to formally become a disciple, bringing six gifts. Even if the Empress doesn't make a big fuss, Su Mo still has to treat her with the utmost seriousness.

Although Su Mo could see the Empress's favorability rating, he knew that favorability ratings were easily changed.

Even the closest relatives and sworn brothers can turn into enemies in an instant!
Since the empress was a disciple in her imperial capacity, I should treat her with the same respect due to an emperor, and not be negligent.

Goodwill is usually built up little by little.

Similarly, goodwill will gradually disappear little by little!

Upon exiting the Dali Temple, Su Mo discovered that Jiang Laoshi, accompanied by several guards from his residence, had arrived in a large black carriage and was waiting outside the temple.

Su Mo boarded the carriage, with the rest of the people and the disciples of Su Nu Palace following behind, and headed straight for the Su residence along Zhuque Avenue.

The guards returned to the residence in advance to inform the ladies.

When Su Mo returned to the house, he saw Liu Siyun, Jiang Lan, Qin Bier, Chen Qianyu and others waiting outside the door. Unexpectedly, Diandian also came along.

Prepare all necessary items to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, such as braziers, straw, and pomelo leaves.

I stepped over the brazier and washed my hands in a copper basin containing pomelo leaves.

Then the disciples of the Su Nu Palace were also asked to wash away the bad luck.

Su Mo's gaze then fell on Dian Dian, who was being led by Qin Bi'er and looked both timid and excited. He noticed that the little one had become noticeably plumper in the six months since he last saw her, with chubby little faces.

He couldn't resist pinching her little cheek and said with a smile, "It's been so long since I've seen Diandian!" "Did Diandian miss Daddy?"

Dian Dian glanced timidly at Su Mo, hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't hold back anymore. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she nodded emphatically: "Dian Dian misses Daddy so much!"

Su Mo laughed heartily: "Dian Dian is so good!"

Then look at Qin Bier and Chen Qianyu, who are excited but dare not speak!

Qin Bier still looked like a girl from a modest family, while Chen, the female knight-errant, had lost her former naivety and impulsiveness and looked much more gentle and composed.

Of course, the granary is still as full as before, and looks even more prosperous!

It seems that during his six months in Changping County, Chen Qian did a lot of discipline on this girl who dreamed of becoming a female knight-errant.

Under Su Mo's gaze, Qin Bier and Chen Qianyu both blushed slightly and lowered their heads, not daring to meet Su Mo's eyes.

Su Mo smiled and asked, "How have you all been lately?"

Qin Bier blushed and whispered, "My lord, I am on good terms with Sister Qianyu."

Chen Qianyu nodded helplessly.

Su Mo nodded and said, "Since you're here, stay here and don't go back to Changping County."

"If you're bored or there's anything you'd like to do, just tell me."

"Okay, let's go back inside first!"

"DianDian, let's ride a horse!"

After saying that, he lifted Dian Dian high above his head and put her on his neck, which startled Dian Dian, who then giggled excitedly.

With small dots on her forehead, Su Mo led everyone into the central courtyard, asking as they walked, "Where is Palace Master Xiao?"

Liu Siyun quickly replied, "Mr. Wang is receiving Palace Master Xiao in the side hall."

She paused, her gaze falling on the disciples of the Su Nu Palace: "My lord, they are..."

Su Mo then said, "The disciples of Su Nu Palace were imprisoned in Dali Temple Prison. The case was just closed, so they were brought back and handed over to Palace Master Xiao."

As he was speaking, Xiao Lizhuang and Wang Xiuzhi, who had heard the commotion inside, came out from the side hall.

When Su Mo appeared, a little girl was riding on his shoulders.

Xiao Lizhuang was stunned for a moment, and a look of astonishment appeared on her face.

She clearly found it hard to connect the current Su Mo with the Su Mo who arrogantly attacked in court, slapped the Wang family in the face, and ultimately scared the Imperial Uncle into fleeing in panic.

Then, Xiao Lizhuang looked in shock at the group of Su Nu Palace disciples behind Su Mo.

He's out of prison like that?

She had originally planned to take the silver from Su Mo and then personally go to Princess Jinling's residence and Duke Anguo's residence to apologize, hoping to get the people from Su Nu Palace released.

Unexpectedly, I discovered that one of my disciples had been released from prison!

Upon seeing that Xiao Lizhuang was indeed in the Su residence, the disciples of Su Nu Palace hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects: "Disciple greets Master/Senior Uncle/Palace Master!"

Xiao Lizhuang glared at them with a dark expression.

The disciples of Su Nu Palace were immediately terrified, their faces turning deathly pale.

However, now is not the time to scold them. Xiao Lizhuang looked at Su Mo with a strange expression, and then couldn't help but look at the little girl who was holding Su Mo's hair and riding on his neck.

Finally, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your help, Lord Su. I will repay you later!"

Su Mo smiled and said, "It was nothing, not worth mentioning."

"Furthermore, I have a very close relationship with Palace Master Xiao's beloved disciple, so there is no need for you to stand on ceremony."

Xiao Lizhuang nodded: "I need to go back and punish them properly. Farewell!"

With a baby face, this girl of seventeen or eighteen years old spoke with such an old-fashioned air, giving Su Mo a strange feeling. He nodded: "In that case, I will not keep Palace Master Xiao any longer."

"Hmm... In fact, their imprisonment was partly due to my actions, so Palace Master Xiao, please don't blame them too much."

Xiao Lizhuang's expression grew increasingly strange!
She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes.

Even with the powerful backgrounds of the Wang family and Zhang Shouning, they didn't dare to directly attack this young man, and could only use the disciples of Su Nu Palace to launch a roundabout attack!

She remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say, and finally nodded before leading the people from Su Nu Palace away.

Su Mo suddenly remembered something: "Palace Master, please wait!"

"That five thousand taels of silver..."

Xiao Lizhuang interrupted Su Mo: "This silver was originally intended to smooth things over and save the disciples in the palace. Now that they are safe, Lord Su, please don't bring it up again."

Su Mo nodded: "In that case, Palace Master, please take care. I won't see you off!"

Xiao Lizhuang left with the disciples of Su Nu Palace.

After they left, just as Liu Siyun was about to speak, Su Mo looked around at everyone with a serious expression and said, "You all tidy up the house and put away all the odds and ends."

"Also, remind the servants and guards to keep an eye on things."

Liu Siyun and the others looked at Su Mo in astonishment.

Su Mo then added, "Tonight, His Majesty will come to the residence to formally become my disciple!"

Upon hearing this, everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Su Mo.

Even the most composed Wang Xiuzhi and Ding Yu were dumbfounded.

Du Zhongbai, who had only been in the capital for a short time, was so frightened that he staggered and almost lost his balance!

"What?! A sage wants to become your disciple?" Wang Xiuzhi took a deep breath, his eyes wide as he stared intently at Su Mo. "A sage wants to become your disciple?"

He swallowed hard: "You little...you've become the emperor's tutor, haven't you?"

Su Mo sighed: "I don't want to be the Imperial Tutor either."

"However, I am full of knowledge and have extraordinary talent, which I cannot hide even if I want to. His Majesty forced me to take her as my disciple, so I... Dian Dian, don't grab Daddy's ears!"

Su Mo reached out and pulled away Dian Dian's little hand that was pinching his ear, placing it on his hair before sighing, "I have no choice but to reluctantly become the Imperial Tutor!"

Wang Xiuzhi...

Liu Siyun...

There's also Yin Rou, Su Mo's disciple in name only...

Then Su Mo remembered something and said in a deep voice, "You guys should also be careful."

"This time, His Majesty has come to seek apprenticeship as a sage, not as the cold-hearted Hundred-Household Officer who used to visit our residence."

"Everyone, please be mindful of your behavior!"

Everyone's faces turned a little pale.

Su Mo was both amused and exasperated, and could only say, "Well... actually, there's no need to be too careful. His Majesty is quite approachable and easy to get along with."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuzhi's expression instantly turned strange.

Ding Yu couldn't utter a single word.

After seizing the throne by killing her brother, she went on to execute more than a dozen female emperors who opposed her court officials. Ye Wenshan, a veteran of three reigns, was imprisoned in the Northern Garrison Prison without hesitation.

You said she's approachable?
Don't be fooled by the ministers' constant probing of the Empress's bottom line, attempting to seize some power from her.

In fact, the fact that the court officials did this precisely shows their fear of the Empress and how terrifying she is. Otherwise, why would the court officials need to test her like this?
The empress, court officials, nobles, powerful families, Taoist sorcerers, and feudal lords, among other forces, seem to have barely achieved a balance of power.

But no one dared to truly cross the Empress's bottom line.

The name Xuanwu Gate became an absolute taboo, something no one dared to mention!

Just as everyone was bewildered.

Suddenly, a doorman came to report: "Master, a eunuch named Ning Jing has arrived outside. He says he has been ordered to come and assist you in preparing for the apprenticeship ceremony."

Hearing this name, Liu Siyun and the others didn't think much of it.

Wang Xiuzhi and Ding Yu's expressions changed drastically at the same time, and they subconsciously turned their heads to look at the side gate of the central courtyard!
Su Mo was also taken aback.

Ning Jing was the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the most powerful person in the inner court.

He came to help me prepare for becoming an apprentice?
It seems that the Empress attaches great importance to the apprenticeship ceremony to a much greater extent than she had estimated!

Su Mo originally thought that the Empress would only bring An Wu to present the six gifts for the master's initiation, and might even offer him a cup of tea as a gesture of respect, and that would be the end of it.

As a soul from a later era, Su Mo really didn't understand what the master-disciple relationship meant to people in ancient times!
After all, I've had countless teachers in my past life, so I don't think teachers are that important.

I give you money, and you teach me knowledge, that's all!

The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, also known as the Inner Chancellor, was one of the two major factions in the inner court, along with An Wu.

Although Su Mo felt that Ning Jing was a relatively easy person to talk to, he had given her face when her second uncle had the incident last time.

However, since courtesy should not be wasted, Su Mo still sent the women back to the inner quarters, and then personally went out through the side gate with Wang Xiuzhi and Ding Yu to welcome Ning Jing.

Of course, Ning Jing wasn't the only one outside the door.

There were also a dozen or so eunuchs in purple and blue robes, carrying various utensils.

When Su Mo noticed Ning Jing staring blankly at the top of her head, she realized that Dian Dian was still riding on her neck!
　Here's a 5,000-word chapter first, I'll continue writing the second chapter later! But it'll be a bit later though.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)