"Does the Empress Dowager and the Virtuous King have any other suitable locations in mind? If so, you could share them with , and we could discuss them together—it’s not out of the question to negotiate."
Zhao Rong scanned the aunt and nephew before him, thought for a mont, and then politely suggested.
"This humble one will follow Mr. Zhao’s advice," she said.
"I have no objections either," the prince agreed.
Zhao Rong nodded lightly, "Then it’s settled."
Li Mingyi pondered aloud, "I must confess to Mr. Zhao, in fact, the Prince Regent and the Empress Dowager have already considered several suitable locations for the enfeoffnt ceremony, and Sacrificial Moon Mountain is among them. This mountain is a Divine Mountain for our Li Territory, holding an extraordinary place in the hearts of the people of Great Li. To hold the ceremony there would indeed be most fitting."
Dugu Clan’s matriarch nodded in agreent, "Indeed. Mr. Zhao has insightful judgnt. With you presiding over the enfeoffnt ceremony, I am all the more at ease."
Oh, so before this, you weren’t at ease with ? Such a petty mindset... Zhao Rong laughed to himself.
The group exchanged a few more pleasantries.
The Dugu matriarch and Li Mingyi began discussing the official appointnts to be granted to Zhao Rong, Gu Yiwu, and their companions.
Their current status as Confucian Scholars was more akin to that of Immortal Envoys sent by the Mountain Immortals—even Linlu Academy, renowned throughout Yizhou for both its presence in the mountains and valleys, had the nature of Mountain Immortals.
Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu, along with others, were soon to coordinate with the hundreds of officials from the Li Court, as well as various powers and resources from across Great Li, to carry out the enfeoffnt ceremony, and so they needed an official position, nominally.
After so thought, Dugu Clan’s matriarch declared in a clear voice, "Mr. Zhao and Mr. Gu will be tasked with dispatching orders to the Six Ministries of the Court; their appointnts must not be insignificant. How about a position as an official in the Privy Council or the Chancellery?"
Zhao Rong narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Privy Council and the Chancellery of the Li Dynasty, also known as the Eastern and Western offices, are the highest governing bodies for civil and military affairs in Great Li.
Those who serve there are essentially Ministers atop Great Li’s hierarchy of power.
If Zhao Rong and his companions accepted these positions, it would be prestigious indeed. However, if they wished to return to the Academy after their task was complete and the Court insisted on retaining their official titles and denying their resignations,
wouldn’t these scholars from the Academy be bound to Great Li in so sense?
Taking on a minor official’s role in Great Li would be one thing. But for such high-ranking positions, even if eventually relinquished, the experience would certainly have to be recorded on their resus, leaving a lingering connection.
Zhao Rong couldn’t help but glance at the purple bead curtain above.
It was hard not to suspect if this was intentional.
Gu Yiwu didn’t think so far ahead, perhaps because he had never considered leaving the mountains to aid another secular dynasty; hence it mattered little to him.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager..." He was about to nod in agreent when he was interrupted by his friend’s cough.
The burly scholar glanced at Zhao Rong and imdiately fell silent.
The latter lowered the hand covering his coughing mouth and, without making a sound, shook his head, "Many thanks for the Empress Dowager’s kind intentions, but Gu Yiwu and I perceive ourselves as lacking in talent and learning; how dare we rank imdiately alongside the officials of the Li Court. Your Highness and the Virtuous King might as well bestow upon us a lesser position in the Ritual Departnt. To command the Six Ministries of the Court, your silver token is sufficient for ."
Dugu Clan’s matriarch was still not ready to give up, trying to persuade him:
"Mr. Zhao, you are too modest. The two poems you composed effortlessly in Xingzi Town have swept through Hanjing, earning acclaim across the literary world of Great Li. If even this is what you call ’lacking in talent and learning’, I truly cannot find anyone who is ’abundant in talent and profound in learning’."
She paused for a mont, "How about this? Today, I saw the Emperor’s admiration for Mr. Zhao, and he too venerates Confucianism... Why not take up the position of Grand Tutor? In your spare ti from preparing for the enfeoffnt ceremony, you could impart so knowledge to His Majesty’s studies, how about that?"
The voice of the white-clad woman behind the bead curtain carried a sincere hope.
Together with her pleasant voice and the illustrious status of the current Empress Dowager, few n could withstand this beauty’s longing.
Yet, the young Confucian Scholar bowed and shook his head still.
Good heavens, the Grand Tutor is none other than the Imperial Tutor. She intends to completely bind us together.
Zhao Rong was left speechless, thinking that although the little Emperor seed quite adorable and intriguing, that was no reason to entrap him.
Subsequently, seeing that Zhao Rong was still declining, Dugu Clan’s matriarch had no choice but to let the matter go.
After further discussions, Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu accepted smaller official positions as Langzhong, a mid-level bureaucratic role, within one of the four divisions under the Ritual Departnt responsible for overseeing sacrificial ceremonies, a fitting assignnt given their role in planning the enfeoffnt ceremony.
Zhao Langzhong? Sounds rather like soone peddling plasters... Zhao Rong couldn’t help but chuckle, muttering to himself, well, it’s all the sa, just hustle your way through it.
Before long, this first eting ca to an end, and Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu took their leave.
In the spacious and bright Great Hall, only the Dugu matriarch and Li Mingyi remained.
this aunt and nephew pair, holding the supre power of Great Li.
One seated high on the dais, hidden behind the Purple Bead Curtain, her face unseen.
One standing quietly at the foot of the steps, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze resolute.
The air was still for a mont.
Dugu Clan’s matriarch spoke softly, "Uncle Emperor, please take the trouble to escort Mr. Zhao and Mr. Gu on their way."
Li Mingyi nodded and departed.
With no one else left below, the white-clad woman behind the bead curtain seed to relax slightly, leaning on the bright yellow pillow next to her, staring ahead, silent for a mont.
"...Heh, others should not bully ... but the Li family can, that’s both right and not right..."
The woman chuckled quietly.
This uncle-in-na had never shown her any inappropriate looks nor had he ever behaved improperly in her presence.
Yet, the white-clad woman grew increasingly wary of him.
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