Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

On the third day of the eighth lunar month, a grand court assembly was held at the Chuigong Hall.

Following the old rituals, Gao Qiu led the officers and soldiers of the Palace Guard to be the first to enter the palace to take their daily routines.

The Commander of the Palace Guards, who oversees all the palace guards, is by convention ranked first among military officials and is entitled to pay homage before the civil and military officials of the outer court.

After the eunuchs had arranged the order of the palace staff and the guards in the corridors to their respective positions, the chief ministers of the two prefectures and the civil and military officials of the six ministries were summoned to enter the palace in turn and stand in their respective positions on the east and west sides.

After a series of ceremonial procedures were completed, the officials began to present their reports.

Today's first topic of discussion in the court is the newly revised banquet music of the Dasheng Prefecture. This reform of the Dasheng Prefecture incorporates the correct tones of ancient elegant music into daily banquet music. The old music has always been incomplete, lacking the Zheng and Jiao tones, and the tones of the earth, wood, and gourd instruments are not complete. Now, all of these have been added and made complete. The music officials have specially come to the palace to request the Emperor to issue an edict to promulgate it to the music halls of all prefectures and counties.

The courtiers in the hall stepped forward to offer their praise, all saying that this was an omen of the flourishing of rites and music and a time of peace. The emperor listened with great interest and casually discussed with the courtiers the rules of the seven equal parts and the regulations of the eight tones, with every sentence revolving around music theory and rhythm.

Gao Qiu was ranked in the Western Class, after the Prince. Although he was not interested in these matters of music theory, he still forced himself to listen to a few sentences, so that he would not know anything if the Emperor asked him about it in the future.

The newly revised banquet music was approved by the emperor and promulgated, and all the officials congratulated him.

Then came reports from various government departments and local authorities, and so on.

These were all routine matters, nothing to say. Gao Qiu didn't care about these things. As the saying goes, small matters are discussed in large meetings, and big matters in small meetings. The things discussed in the Chuigong Hall were not important.

If one day the Emperor summons all civil officials of the two systems and military officials of the rank of Hengban and above to the rear hall of Chongzheng Hall for a small court assembly, that would be a sign that something big is about to happen!

While listening to the reports in the main hall, he thought about other things. Yesterday, he heard that Gao Zhao had fought Xuan Zan a few days ago and was defeated. He was so shocked that he stayed at home for the past few days to recuperate.

This made him somewhat emotional. Although he was a bit petty, his sense of shame and courage was still very gratifying.

He needs to rein in his temper. After a few years in the Imperial Palace, he can ask the Emperor for favor and be promoted to the position of Xuanzan Sheren. Then he can be sent out to gain experience, preferably to the west to get some experience. When he comes back, he should be able to become a Hengban Fushi!

If he gets closer to the officials in the future, he might be able to take over his position.

That's... a way of giving an explanation!

As he was silently planning Gao Zhao's career path, a voice suddenly rang out: "Your Majesty, Huang Baoguang, the Acting Censor, has impeached Gao Qiu, the Commander of the Palace Guards, for abusing the Emperor's favor and interfering with judicial fairness!"

Gao Qiu was startled, his face completely blank: "Huh?"

Being impeached by the censor is no big deal; they have quotas to meet too! They dare to impeach anyone in the entire court!

Even Grand Tutor Cai was no exception; the memorials impeaching him were piled up like mountains, enough to start a fire and cook a meal!

As a minister who served the emperor from his youth and held the high position of Commander of the Palace Guard, Gao Qiu would feel uneasy if he didn't receive several impeachments every month!

But ordinary people would just submit impeachment petitions; it's really rare to see one being impeached by the court itself, like today!

Gao Qiu's impeachment of the censors was understandable; it was all for the sake of their work!

But we can't impeach people indiscriminately!

If you accuse me of embezzling military funds and using the Imperial Guards for personal purposes, then I admit it. Of course, all of these have already been impeached!

But you can't create something out of nothing just to be different!

When did I interfere with the judiciary?

I haven't been to Kaifeng Prefecture in ages because Gao Zhao hasn't caused any trouble lately!

You're wronging an innocent person!

"Gao Qiu, do you wish to debate in court?" Zhao Ji turned to look at him, his gaze deep and unfathomable, as if he were deep in thought.

Upon hearing this, Gao Qiu hurriedly stepped forward, straightened his hat and robes, and approached the center of the steps. Holding his tablet, he bowed deeply and replied loudly, "Your Majesty, I wish to debate this before you. I truly do not know what Imperial Censor Huang is referring to."

"Hmm, Gao Qiu denies it!" Zhao Ji turned to Huang Baoguang and said, "Then tell me how Gao Qiu interfered with the judiciary? Let him die knowing why!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Huang Baoguang bowed again and said in a deep voice, "As far as I know, the Kaifeng Prefecture recently arrested a robber who was about to be convicted. However, this robber is quite capable and has managed to find a servant of Grand Commandant Gao, who then spoke to the Kaifeng Prefecture on his behalf, hoping to have his crime changed and be treated leniently!"

"Nonsense!" Gao Qiu was completely bewildered, his grievances evident on his face. He immediately rebuked, "I am in charge of the palace guards every day, handling military affairs of the three military commands, and I dare not slacken my duties in guarding the palace for even a moment. When have I ever had the leisure to interfere in the criminal cases of Kaifeng Prefecture? Censor Huang's words are baseless and baseless, slandering my innocence!"

He then turned and bowed to Emperor Huizong, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, I am willing to confront the Kaifeng Prefecture officials face to face to prove my innocence!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Baoguang sneered, "Grand Commandant Gao, you certainly have a clever method. You didn't go to Kaifeng Prefecture yourself; that's because you sent your brother-in-law, Guo Weize, instead!"

Gao Qiu froze, his face filled with astonishment. He turned his head with difficulty and a dry voice, saying, "Who did you say? Guo Weize?"

"What? Isn't he your brother-in-law? Or are you trying to say that Guo Wei is a member of the Guo family and doesn't represent you?"

Huang Baoguang sneered repeatedly: "If that's what you're saying, then don't say it. Without your brother-in-law, the Commander of the Palace Guard, why would Kaifeng Prefecture give him face?"

Zhao Ji narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his voice, "Kaifeng Prefecture, is this matter true?"

The Prefect of Kaifeng also looked bewildered and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I have never seen Grand Commandant Gao, nor have I seen anyone who came in his name!"

The magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Guo Weize did indeed come to Kaifeng Prefecture the day before yesterday and mentioned the case of Wang Qing. However, the case is still under trial, and I did not grant his request, nor did I report the matter to the authorities!"

The truth has come out!

Huang Baoguang looked at Gao Qiu smugly and said, "Grand Commandant Gao, what else do you have to say?"

Gao Qiu hurriedly turned to look at the imperial desk and said in a pained voice, "Your Majesty, I truly knew nothing about this matter! I am willing to remain secluded and await punishment, and I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give Your Majesty an explanation!"

Zhao Ji waved his hand and said, "You should return to your post and stand still. There's no need to be anxious! Guo Weize is your brother-in-law, not your direct blood relative. He cannot represent you. The censor's impeachment cannot prove that he was the one who ordered you. Go back and investigate the situation before we speak."

Gao Qiu was moved to tears, thanked the emperor, and withdrew, but in his heart he gritted his teeth, secretly hating Guo Weize for bringing this undeserved disaster upon him!

Seeing that the emperor was so openly biased towards Gao Qiu, Huang Baoguang frowned and prepared to step forward to remonstrate again.

At this moment, a flippant voice rang out: "Imperial Censor Huang, that's enough! What kind of person is Grand Commandant Gao? How could a thief who makes a living by stealing possibly be associated with him!"

Huang Baoguang turned his head and saw that the person speaking was Li Bangyan, the Imperial Diarist.

Although these words sound frivolous and unseemly, there is some truth to them. If the thief could really get Gao Qiu to help him, how could he have ended up having to steal to make a living?

He snorted coldly and then left without saying another word.

After the court session ended, Gao Qiu did not go to the Three Offices to work, but went straight home. His face was ashen, as if he was suppressing a volcano that was about to erupt!