Chapter 397: Temple Altar Above Seven Do Not Kneel

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《Book Title》 on Zongheng.com, Author: Fenghuo Xizhu Hou

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Auspiciousness unfolded in the Forbidden City.

Princes, dukes, and all civil and military officials entered in a single file. Xu Fengnian finally saw the grand hall before him. It had a yellow roof and red walls, with yellow glazed tile roofs on both wings gradually stepping down. The hall was built upon a white Sumeru pedestal, and on the ground, to the left and right of the central axis, were meticulously laid brick floors. Xu Fengnian, who had some knowledge of geomancy, knew that the central axis behind him stretched south. It was not merely a sixteen-li imperial road but also a longer terrestrial axis extending further south into the empire. Mount Tai, where emperors performed the Fengshan sacrifices, the mountains of Huaizhong, and numerous mountain ranges in Jiangnan, together formed a magnificent triple "Anshan" (a geomantic term for a protective mountain formation). The Emperor of the Zhao family in the capital sat on the dragon throne in the grand hall, facing south, listening to the world.

Zhang Julu, the chief civil official, walked to the right, while Gu Jiantang, the leading military general, kept to the left. Five imperial clan vassal kings walked slowly around Zhang Julu, with only Chen Zhibao walking almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Gu Jiantang. As a princely heir, Xu Fengnian's position should not have been so far forward, yet no one raised any objections; the censors remained silent, and the eunuchs held their tongues. Among the five great vassal kings, Prince Jing'an, Zhao Xun, walked behind Prince Huainan, Zhao Ying. Prince Jiaodong, Zhao Sui, intentionally or unintentionally lagged a step, falling behind his younger nephew Zhao Xun, walking only ahead of Xu Fengnian, yet without a word. He seemed like a crumbling old wall, shielding a young man from wind and rain one last time. Xu Fengnian kept his gaze lowered, silently counting his steps. As the splendid dragon screen came into view, he was about to ascend the stairs. Stepping onto the white jade steps, he subtly turned his head to look back, seeing a throng of people, their jade ornaments clinking melodiously. His posture paused slightly, and the aged civil minister behind him, who had once carried a coffin to offer stern advice to the Northern Liang King, instinctively hurried to withdraw his foot, letting out a heavy snort of displeasure, evidently disapproving of the young heir's disregard for decorum. Xu Fengnian withdrew his gaze, ignoring the elder official's opportunistic display, and turned back to ascend steadily into the hall.

Inside the hall stood the dragon throne, and before it was the Danbi (imperial platform), adorned with four significant artifacts: bronze turtles, bronze cranes, a sundial, and a *jialiang* (ancient unit of measure). On the upper and lower terraces, eighteen tripods were arranged. Once the high-ranking officials qualified to attend the court assembly were in place, the Emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, finally appeared. Several imperial princes also quietly entered the hall. According to old custom, at this point, a eunuch would announce the start of the morning court rituals, and all officials inside and outside the hall would kneel to pay homage to the Emperor. However, this assembly was clearly very different from previous ones. Not only was Han Diaosi replaced by Song Tanglu, but the Emperor also did not immediately take his seat. Song Tanglu, the solemn-faced Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Internal Affairs, announced loudly, "At today's morning court, Minister Zhang Julu is not required to kneel."

Grand Secretary Zhang, with his purple beard and green eyes, remained unmoving. He already stood in the foremost position on the right. The imperial princes standing beside him also cast their eyes downwards, so no one could discern the expression of this current chancellor. Since the Liyang dynasty unified the Central Plains after the Spring and Autumn Period, only a handful of officials had been granted special honors. Counting on one's fingers, there were only three such individuals: the Old Grand Secretary, who was Zhang Julu's mentor, and who was not required to kneel before the Emperor at court assemblies. After the Old Grand Tutor of Western Chu entered the capital to serve as the Left Attendant of the Department of the Palace Gate, he was granted an imperial yellow rosewood Grand Tutor's chair to sit on before the Danbi, though the elder never once took his seat. The third was the King of Northern Liang, formerly the Grand Pillar of the State, who did not kneel when facing the Emperor or when listening to imperial decrees, and was permitted to wear a saber in the hall. Among these three, Xu Xiao, who held both civil and military titles as a supreme subject, was the most unapologetic in leveraging his military achievements, naturally inviting criticism.

"Grand General Gu Jiantang is not required to kneel."

Song Tanglu's deep voice, unlike that of a typical eunuch, continued to resonate.

Gu Jiantang, the Minister of War and the first person on the left side of the grand hall, bowed his head slightly in thanks. Throughout Liyang, people often criticized Xu Xiao for his constant irreverence, but many also lamented that Grand General Gu, a similarly meritorious minister from the Spring and Autumn Period, had been unable to fulfill his ambitions, confined to the position of Minister of War for eighteen years. It was only in recent years that he was dispatched to the northern frontier. Both court and commoners deeply felt the Emperor's sagacity, believing that with Gu Jiantang guarding the northern gate of the capital, Liyang could rest easy. However, unofficial whispers had recently spread from influential capital families, suggesting that Grand General Gu was about to resign as Minister of War. This made many people uneasy, wondering if Minister Gu's military authority would also be revoked. Given that the military outposts in the northern frontier had only just begun to improve, would they now "tear down the bridge after crossing the river"? That would indeed be "slaughtering the donkey after it ground the mill"—too ungrateful.

"The Military Sage Chen Zhibao is not required to kneel. From now on, at court assemblies, Chen Zhibao may enter the hall in casual attire and wear a sword."

Chen Zhibao remained expressionless.

However, the pillars of the court, the nobles within the hall, collectively gasped. Some younger officials, who had perhaps only heard from their elders how the "Young Butcher" was highly valued and esteemed by the current Emperor, mostly dismissed it. Today, they truly witnessed it firsthand. Chen Zhibao currently held neither a princely title nor an official position. Well then, he was directly conferred the title of "Military Sage" before all the officials in the imperial court! These two words carried even more weight than the privilege of not kneeling before the Emperor! Clearly, Chen Zhibao's significance to the Liyang Dynasty, which unified the Spring and Autumn Period, was almost comparable to that of Ye Baikui, one of the Thirteen Military Prodigies of the Spring and Autumn Period, to Western Chu. Earlier, when the five vassal kings entered the capital, the Emperor did not extend any special courtesies. Only when Chen Zhibao, the "White Horse, White Robe, Plum Wine from Western Shu," arrived in the capital, did the Emperor personally leave the palace to welcome him! Now, he even participated in court assemblies in casual attire and with a sword, becoming the fourth person after Xu Xiao, the Old Grand Secretary, and Sun Xiji to receive such an honor! The honors bestowed upon Chen Zhibao had reached their pinnacle.

"Prince Yan'e, Zhao Bing, is not required to kneel."

Prince Yan'e bowed his head and softly said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."

"Huan Wen, the Left Libationer of the Imperial Academy, is not required to kneel."

The lean old man, Huan Wen, smiled nonchalantly and accepted it with equanimity. Huan Wen was an anomaly in the Liyang court, known for his lack of contention. Not contending once was nothing, but Huan Wen had consistently avoided contention for most of his life. Among the Old Grand Secretary's favored disciples, it was widely acknowledged that Huan Wen's poetic talent surpassed Zhang Julu's. Before the Old Grand Secretary's death, he could have recommended one person to the Hanlin Academy to serve as a *Huangmenlang* (imperial attendant). It is said that Huan Wen ceded this opportunity to "Green-Eyed Boy" (a nickname for Zhang Julu), and secretly left the capital to become a minor provincial official, slowly rising without arrogance or impatience. Later, when he returned to the capital to resume his duties, the Emperor originally intended for him to head the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Rites. However, at that time, his closest friends happened to be vying for those two high third-rank positions. So, Huan Wen again opted for the unglamorous position of Libationer at the Imperial Academy, secluding himself to focus on scholarly research. Among the high-ranking officials of the court, only the late Old Master Song, who did not preserve his integrity in his later years, and the current Minister of Rites, Lu Daolin, could be compared to Huan Wen in terms of high reputation among scholars.

"Yao Baifeng of Xiongzhou is not required to kneel."

An elegant old man, positioned further back, offered a slight bow in return, neither humble nor arrogant. Yao Baifeng had always been a reclusive, sage-like grand Confucian scholar in the Liyang Dynasty. He was a preeminent master of Neo-Confucianism himself. The "Five Heroes of the Yao Clan" were no less renowned than the previous "Three Outstanding Figures of the Song Clan," and their family scholarship contended with the private academy of Qi Yanglong, who presided over the Shangyin Academy. When Zhang Julu was young, he frequently sought guidance from Grand Master Yao. When the "Green-Eyed Boy" reached manhood, he embarked on a study tour, and his first destination was the Wenzhi Tower of the Yao family in Xiongzhou. Yao Baifeng dedicated his life to transforming the essence of Neo-Confucianism, such as "investigating things to extend knowledge," into national studies, with his disciples spread far and wide. His current trip to the capital for an imperial audience would not have been so "quiet" at any other time, had it not been for the simultaneous gathering of the five kings and Chen Zhibao's solo arrival, which drew too much attention.

"Xu Fengnian, the Heir Apparent of Northern Liang, is not required to kneel."

As soon as the Chief Eunuch Song Tanglu uttered these words, the hall finally erupted in murmurs, and most of the officials standing abreast exchanged bewildered glances.

But the very next sentence shocked them even more profoundly: "He may wear his Northern Liang saber into the hall, and may enter and exit the palace freely in casual attire."

Countless court officials sighed inwardly, realizing this was the court building momentum for this "little bastard" to eventually inherit the title of King of Northern Liang.What a Northern Liang!

Among the several exemptions from kneeling, there was clearly a distinction in their significance. For Zhang Julu, Gu Jiantang, Zhao Bing, Huan Wen, and Yao Baifeng, their exemption applied only to today's court assembly; they would likely not receive this privilege during future imperial audiences. However, for Chen Zhibao and Xu Fengnian, both from Northern Liang, setting aside whether they would kneel in the future, one was already permitted to wear a sword into the hall, and the other to carry a saber. This implied that as long as they did not commit treason, this honor would continue to be passed down, with each additional court assembly adding an unspeakable degree of prestige. For Chen Zhibao, whom the Emperor personally lauded as a "White-Robed War Immortal," the assembled officials in the hall were already psychologically prepared. As for Yao Baifeng, he was a renowned grand Confucian scholar of the current dynasty, so a single exemption from kneeling was still understandable. But what virtue or ability did this Northern Liang heir, Xu Fengnian, possess?! Some upright officials who detested Northern Liang and feared the "Butcher" surreptitiously glanced at the young man with hair as white as an elder's, and all inwardly grumbled: "Since his hair is already white, he might as well just die! The Northern Liang sending off a white-haired man would truly be a joyous occasion for the entire nation!"

With these seven exemptions, no one else was permitted not to kneel.

Over a thousand people inside and outside the hall slowly knelt after the Chief Eunuch's announcement, like a tide swiftly flowing from south to north.

Not to mention the officials on the plaza who were not allowed to see the Emperor's face, even the more than three hundred officials on the vast hall's imperial platform, after prostrating themselves, could only glimpse the Emperor's feet on the dragon throne.

Among the seven who did not kneel, most, including Yao Baifeng, still lowered their heads and bent their backs. Old man Huan Wen, however, seemed fine, looking left and right. In the eyes of this elder, humorously called "Old Man Tan-Tan" (meaning unperturbed), the figure of Chen Zhibao in a python robe, no longer in white, stood elegantly and imposingly in the distance to his left—truly an extraordinary man who stood out wherever he went. Huan Wen had a good impression of this young man who had achieved prosperity early, and he had long ranked him alongside Gu Jiantang, the Minister of War. Then, Huan Wen saw the fellow in a white python robe standing before him, even younger than Chen Zhibao. Their public reputations, of course, were worlds apart. When the White-Robed Military Sage entered the city with plum wine, the streets were deserted as people came out to see him, and the Emperor personally welcomed him. In contrast, this legitimate eldest son of the "Butcher," whose hair had inexplicably turned white, was miles behind in stature. It was said that even officials from the Ministry of Rites were so frustrated and angered by his presence that, were it not for considering Minister Lu Daolin's familial ties with the Xu family, they would have long since cursed him out during official business.

Huan Wen almost couldn't suppress his laughter. This young man, whether foolishly naive or remarkably composed, was currently looking up at the caisson ceiling in the center of the hall, where the Xuanyuan Mirror was suspended. Huan Wen followed his gaze and also looked up. Huan Wen, being immensely learned and knowledgeable in both ancient and modern affairs, was widely considered by the literary world to be an expert in everything. He not only knew that a peach wood talisman for house protection was placed where Xu Fengnian was looking but also clearly understood the runes on both sides of the talisman. The Liyang Dynasty originally valued both Taoism and Buddhism, with Taoism taking precedence. Therefore, that hall-guarding talisman combined both Buddhist and Taoist elements: the front was engraved with the Taoist "Three Pure Ones Secret Method National Guarding Talisman" and a Tai Chi diagram, while the back featured a Buddha from Liangchan Temple's "Eight-Character Great Power Vajra Mantra Heart Sutra" along with the Eight Auspicious Symbols Umbrella Cover Mantra and the Guanyin Mantra. However, in Huan Wen's view, since the suppression of Buddhism had begun, this hall-guarding talisman should probably be replaced, just like the Fuwen Archway, with something new. Huan Wen stared intently at the young man's back, pondering some unspoken implications. The "Sick Tiger," Yang Taisui, felt guilty about the White Robe Case in the capital. Over the years, his power had waned significantly, and he could not stop the "Green-Poem Chancellor" Zhao Danping from gaining increasing influence. Yang Taisui only wished that, before his death, he could quietly establish himself as a cornerstone in the unstoppable tide of Buddhist suppression. Yet, man's plans are no match for heaven's. He died outside Jian'ge Pass. His death, coupled with the passing of Saint Monk Longshu in Northern Mang, and Li Dangxin's unwillingness to leave Liangchan Temple, meant that Buddhism was destined for a bleak future. Huan Wen was one of the few outspoken scholars who advocated for the unity of the Three Teachings. Unfortunately, on this matter, old man Huan also understood the "Green-Eyed Boy's" difficulties and chose not to add to the Grand Secretary's troubles.

The Emperor's call of "All my beloved ministers, rise!" interrupted Huan Wen's thoughts.

Huan Wen composed himself, closing his eyes to rest and doze. The old man had already learned most of the shocking news from today's morning court, so there was no sense of anticipation left. Although he was part of it, Huan Wen had long reached an age where he accepted everything calmly and was unfazed by the unusual.

Today, no one dared to speak out unwisely; they merely listened with keen attention.

Imperial decrees were issued one after another.

Judging by the expressions of the civil and military officials, it was clear that a fierce political upheaval was imminent.

"Huan Wen, Left Libationer of the Imperial Academy, is promoted to Left Attendant of the Department of the Palace Gate and conferred the title of Grand Academician of Wentin Pavilion.""Yao Baifeng is promoted to Left Libationer of the Imperial Academy.""Jin Lanting is promoted to Right Libationer of the Imperial Academy.""Gu Jiantang resigns as Minister of War, is conferred the title of Grand Pillar of the State, and takes overall charge of military and political affairs in the Northern Region.""Lu Shengxiang is promoted to Vice Minister of War.""Yan Jiexu is conferred the title of Grand Academician of Dongyuan Pavilion."

The final imperial decree stated: "Chen Zhibao is appointed Minister of War. Should he be assigned to an external post in the future, he may still remotely oversee the Ministry of War."

As this was announced, Chen Zhibao turned his head to look right, just as someone else looked left.

On the dragon throne, the Emperor's gaze held a hint of amusement.

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