The Storm is Gathering

The Imperial Palace, the massive plaza before the grand hall.

The white marble-paved ground was smooth enough to reflect one's image, mirroring the brightening sky and the solemn silhouettes of the towering palaces surrounding it.

Normally at this hour, the civil and military officials waiting for the morning assembly would have already gathered in small groups, conversing in low voices and exchanging political views.

Today, however, the vast plaza had fallen into an eerie silence.

The officials stood solemnly in neat formations according to their ranks.

Dressed in various colors of official robes—crimson, cyan, green—they formed a colorful yet lifeless ocean.

No one whispered to each other, and rarely did anyone casually move around or adjust their attire.

The vast majority kept their eyelids slightly lowered, staring at the smooth ground beneath their feet or the backs of their colleagues in front of them.

Only occasionally would a few bolder individuals lift their eyelids to cast their gaze toward the very front of the procession, resting upon the hunched figure of an octogenarian.

The Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Xiao Song.

Today, he wore the purple robe embroidered with a mandarin square of a white crane and auspicious clouds, symbolizing the ultimate glory of a civil official, along with a black gauze hat.

His face was covered with deep wrinkles carved by time and political machinations, his eyelids drooping, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.

Everyone knew that today's morning assembly would be a pivotal moment deciding the fate of the Chief Grand Secretary, and even the direction of the entire imperial court.

The wind sweeps through the tower heralding a rising storm; no one dared to easily make a sound at this time, terrified that a single misstep would sweep them into the impending political tempest, leaving them shattered to pieces.

This oppressive silence was not broken until the rhythmic sound of carriage wheels and orderly footsteps approached.

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward the entrance of the plaza.

The Crown Heir's procession had arrived.

First came the Golden Feather Guards clearing the way, their helmets and armor gleaming, their steps resonant, quickly clearing a path along the edge of the plaza.

Immediately following was the canopied carriage symbolizing the majesty of the Crown Heir, driving steadily into the center of the plaza.

The carriage stopped, and a female official stepped forward, bowing as she lifted the brocade curtain embroidered with golden mythical birds and auspicious clouds.

A jade-like foot wearing a black cloud-toed shoe stepped out first, landing firmly on the prepared brocade stool.

Following that, a figure stepped out unhurriedly.

When Luo Zhao was fully revealed beneath the morning light and countless gazes, even the sound of the wind seemed to stagnate.

Hiss...

Someone inhaled sharply; the sound was faint, yet exceptionally clear in the current silence.

It was too shocking.

A seven-tasseled crown, a black ceremonial robe, mountains and rivers embroidered in gold, and a jade belt wrapped around the waist.

That extremely magnificent court attire, brimming with both majesty and nobility, accentuated Luo Zhao's already peerless visage and aloof temperament, making her look like a divine goddess descending from the highest heavens.

The newly risen sun cast its light upon her, and the golden embroidery reflected a dazzling yet unglaring brilliance.

At this moment, the figures of everyone in the plaza and the grandeur of the surrounding palaces all paled in comparison, reduced to mere background scenery.

Truly, the sun and moon lost their luster, leaving her to shine alone.

Many officials, especially the younger ones or those whose loyalties already leaned toward the Crown Heir, involuntarily revealed looks of awe in their eyes.

Others, such as the partisans of Xiao Song's faction, lowered their heads with complex expressions.

Luo Zhao seemed entirely oblivious to the hundreds of gazes with varying implications across the plaza.

She slightly raised her chin, revealing the fair, graceful lines of her neck, her eyes calm and devoid of ripples.

She looked at no one, as if these high-ranking nobles and officials before her were nothing more than dust and weeds by the roadside.

With Shangguan Yunying lightly supporting her, Luo Zhao walked unhurriedly straight toward the main entrance of the towering grand hall.

As the Crown Heir, she did not need to wait here with the officials and had the privilege to enter the hall first.

Shangguan Yunying followed closely, half a step behind Luo Zhao.

The figures of the two, one in black and one in crimson, crossed the silent plaza under the watch of countless eyes.

They stepped onto the high white marble stairs and eventually disappeared into the doorway of the grand hall.

It was not until Luo Zhao's figure completely vanished into the hall that the atmosphere in the plaza loosened slightly, though still no one dared to make a loud noise.

Right at this moment, Gu Chengyin stepped into the plaza.

He caught the very last glimpse of Luo Zhao's figure disappearing through the hall doors.

His gaze swept over the dead-silent civil and military officials in the plaza, and he began to ponder where he should stand.

After all, his status today was rather special.

Before he could make up his mind, the figure of a eunuch silently and swiftly approached him:

Junior Preceptor Gu.

Gu Chengyin looked closely and recognized the newcomer.

It was Huang Jing, whom he had met before.

Ah, it is Eunuch Huang. Gu Chengyin politely cupped his hands in greeting. Does His Majesty have any orders?

Huang Jing straightened up, still maintaining a respectful posture, and nodded. Junior Preceptor Gu, your status is special today. According to the rules, you cannot join the ranks of the officials for the audience.

You must wait quietly in the side hall, and only enter the main hall when summoned.

Gu Chengyin had no objections to this; in fact, he felt it was better this way.

It saved him from standing outside and being stared at like a monkey by hundreds of people, allowing him to enjoy some peace and quiet.

I see. Then I must trouble Eunuch Huang to lead the way.

Please follow me, Junior Preceptor Gu. Huang Jing turned sideways and made an inviting gesture.

He then led Gu Chengyin toward the side of the plaza.

This action immediately drew sidelong glances from many people, who began to discuss in low voices.

The whispers, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, quickly spread through the ranks.

Standing at the very front of the civil officials' ranks, right next to Xiao Song, Cui Shifan also turned his head slightly, casting a glance at Gu Chengyin from the corner of his eye.

He then withdrew his gaze, looking straight ahead at the towering grand hall once more, and casually said:

Elder Xiao, Gu Chengyin has arrived.

Standing beside him, Xiao Song slowly opened his eyelids into a narrow slit upon hearing this. His cloudy eyes shifted slightly before slowly closing again.

He sighed softly, his voice aged and peaceful, carrying a trace of fatalistic indifference, yet also concealing something much deeper:

Alas... he who comes, comes with ill intent.

These words were spoken lightly, revealing no worry or panic, only the tranquility of one who had weathered countless storms.

Cui Shifan did not speak again, and a strange, tacit silence fell between the two of them.

Behind the two of them, the group of noble-faction officials who were originally united now showed a clear division.

With the positions of Cui Shifan and Xiao Song acting as an invisible dividing line, the officials behind them, although still standing together,

revealed different inclinations through the distances between them and even the angles at which their bodies leaned.

One portion leaned closer to Cui Shifan, their expressions relatively composed.

The other portion centered around Xiao Song, their faces mostly gloomy and grave, even bearing traces of unease.

Gu Chengyin naturally did not see the changes taking place in the plaza.

He followed Huang Jing through a side door into the grand hall, arriving in a small room.

Huang Jing pushed the door open and stepped aside to gesture. Junior Preceptor Gu, please wait here for a moment.

Gu Chengyin stepped inside, surprised to find that the room was not empty.

Sitting on a simple rosewood armchair was a familiar face.

The Grand Eunuch: Lyu Fang.