Governing the country, enriching the people, an unparalleled imperial tutor

Before dawn, the capital city was already awake.

After the first rooster crowed, the streets and alleys began to stir. Some people were sweeping the streets at their doorways, gathering the fallen paulownia leaves from the previous night into the corners of the walls; others were bringing out low tables and setting out teacups under the eaves. The red silk that had been hung up the night before now gleamed with a moist, warm hue in the dim morning light.

The lights in the backyard of the Imperial Preceptor's residence had been on for a long time. Xiaolan and Xiaoyu got up before dawn and changed the water in the copper basin twice. Lin Yanzhou stood in front of the bronze mirror, wearing a deep red round-necked brocade robe with dark gold cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His belt was woven with silver thread and had a round white jade buckle.

This outfit was sent from the palace a few days ago. When he tried it on, he only put it on briefly before taking it off. But today he dressed impeccably, with a neat collar and a properly cinched waist. The silver threads shimmered with a fine sheen in the morning light.

Xiaolan stood behind him, smoothing out the wrinkles at his collar. She looked up from his collar, glanced at his profile in the bronze mirror, and then took a step back. "Honey, you look really handsome today!"

Meanwhile, inside the palace gates, Prince An, Zhao Hong, stood at the edge of the ceremonial guard. He wore a dark purple birthday robe, with a dark leather belt around his waist. A blood-red jade pendant hung from the side of the belt, its texture warm and smooth yet exuding an unusual aura, as if it had been hidden away for many years before being retrieved. He deliberately glanced down at the jade pendant, his fingertips lightly tracing the edge of the jade, then withdrew his hand and murmured, "I've returned to claim the throne."

Behind him stood the leaders of the three southeastern kingdoms: Li Chong, Duan Heng, and Helian Mu. Each wore well-fitting black robes, their faces composed and expressionless. Li Chong's short beard was trimmed, Duan Heng's silk robe concealed his stature, and Helian Mu wore a plain jade pendant at his waist, befitting a local gentry coming to the capital to offer congratulations. Prince An turned his head and said in a voice only the four of them could hear, "Once inside, proceed according to plan." The four walked side by side toward the palace gate, the shadows of the archway slowly engulfing their figures.

The crowd outside the palace walls was even denser than in the morning. Several middle-aged people sat in the middle of the banquet, their bowls of food barely touched, a thin film of oil forming on the rim of the soup. An old farmer at the next table turned to chat, and they talked casually, but their eyes never left the direction of the palace gate.

They waited and waited until noon, but the signal still hadn't come. Then they heard people at the table starting to discuss when the Imperial Advisor would appear. Several old farmers, bowls in hand, stood up and pushed their way forward. One of them even turned and called out, "Come on, let's go wait up front to see the Imperial Advisor and the Princess!"

Those people didn't get up; they were waiting for a signal to start.

As Lin Yanzhou walked through the Imperial Garden, the palace servants under the corridor stopped in their tracks, bowing their heads and waiting for him to pass before raising their heads again. The chief eunuch approached him with lighter steps than usual: "Grand Preceptor, His Majesty and the Princess are already waiting inside the palace." Lin Yanzhou nodded and continued walking, his shoes making almost no sound as they touched the blue brick floor.

The commotion outside the palace continued to rise, like the tide coming in. The soldiers on the city wall returned to their positions, facing outwards, their eyes fixed ahead. The boxes inside the crenellations were now mostly covered by red silk.

Below the city wall, the bowls and plates at the banquet were already piled up, the steam from the steamed buns was dissipating, some people were still eating, and some had already put down their chopsticks and looked up towards the palace wall, waiting for some commotion that was about to occur to fall from above the city wall.

Amidst the lively and celebratory scene, suddenly, the red mineral between Lin Yanzhou's brows emitted a slight pulling sensation that made him extremely nervous.

The side doors of the Zichen Hall opened one by one. Officials entered from both entrances, some in formal court robes, others in newly made congratulatory robes, their colors ranging from deep purple to dark red. After they stood in place, a passageway leading to the throne was left in the middle of the line. The officials on both sides were neatly dressed, and the hall was quiet. Only the faint noise from the banquet on the other side of the palace wall could be heard, becoming blurred and distant after passing through several layers of doors and walls.

Prince An walked at the head of the procession. He stood in the center of the hall, followed by Li Chong, Duan Heng, and Helian Mu.

Zhao Yan sat on the throne, dressed in a dark ochre robe, with an extra jade belt around his waist. He sat upright, his hands resting flat on the armrests, his back ramrod straight.

Prince An took half a step forward and bowed, saying, "Your subject Zhao Hong, along with King Li Chong of Dongli, Chief Duan Heng of Nanyue, and Chief Helian Mu of Xiqiang, congratulates the princess on her wedding." He straightened up and stepped aside to let the three behind him pass. Li Chong cupped his hands, Duan Heng clasped his fists, and Helian Mu nodded, their movements clean and efficient.

Zhao Yan's gaze swept over the three men in turn, finally settling on Prince An's face: "Uncle, you've come from afar; you must be tired. The three kingdoms of Dongli, Nanyue, and Xiqiang have never had any dealings with Xuan Shuo, yet they've all come to this banquet today. I am very pleased." He paused for a moment, then continued, "Uncle, how long do you plan to stay in the capital this time?"

Prince An's hands hung at his sides: "Let's stay for a while, and see after the wedding is over."

Zhao Yan did not press further: "Then, Imperial Uncle, take a good look at the changes in the capital over the past few years. Bring a seat."

A round stool was brought out, and Prince An sat down, followed by the three others. A very faint rustling of fabric echoed through the ranks of officials in the hall, then silence returned. The master of ceremonies began to announce the rites, drawing everyone's attention back to the throne.

Lin Yanzhou stood at the front of the procession, about seven steps from the throne. Just as the master of ceremonies sang the third line, he suddenly felt a warm sensation deep between his brows, seeping from the crevices of his bones, slowly spreading, down the sides of his eye sockets, reaching his jaw, and then circling behind his ears, as if something was slowly turning over inside his skull. He adjusted his breathing, but the warm current did not weaken; instead, it continued to seep outwards, as if being pulled from the outside by something.

He raised his gaze slightly. His eyes slowly shifted from the direction of the throne to the right, finally landing on the blood-red jade pendant at Prince An's waist.

In that instant, the warmth became clear. An invisible line stretched from the end of the jade pendant to the space between his eyebrows, and was slowly vibrating.

Lin Yanzhou withdrew his gaze, having already locked onto his target, and didn't linger on the jade pendant. He glanced down at his finger; the silver ring sat quietly on the base of his finger, neither hot nor vibrating.

The master of ceremonies had finished reading the congratulatory message and announced the official start of the wedding luncheon.