Chapter 1234: Wang Chong Attends Court! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
A night quickly passed. On the morning of the next day, after Wang Chong bathed himself, changed his clothes, and did his toiletries, the maids of the residence unhurriedly assisted him with putting on the red imperial robe signifying his identity as King of Foreign Lands. After adjusting the violet-gold crown on his head, grasping the imperial sword granted to him in one hand while gripping the dragon token of the King of Foreign Lands in the other, he strode confidently out of the residence and into a gorgeous golden and red sedan chair, all as his mother and the servants watched on.
”Young Master is so impressive!”
”Young Master is really handsome! With his red imperial robe and violet-gold crown, even Pan An and Song Yu1 would feel inferior before Young Master.”
The charming maids blushed as they gazed at the eight-carrier sedan chair. When they had been helping Wang Chong put on the imperial robe, their hearts had been madly thumping. At some point, Wang Chong had matured from that hedonistic young scion into a hero of the entire Great Tang. The demeanor he had tempered through battle imbued his every movement with astonishing charm that could tempt any young maiden.
Wang Chong's mother Madam Zhao stood at the gate, her eyes reddening and a grateful and excited look on her face.
Today was Wang Chong's first session of morning court, and nothing could make Madam Zhao more excited. All her investment had finally paid off.
Starting from this moment, the most good-for-nothing child of the Wang Clan had also become an adult and could now stand in the court like the Wang Clan's Old Master and display their talents.
”Raise the chair!”
Outside the Wang Family's gate, with a loud call, eight muscular guards stood up, raising the red and golden sedan chair and carrying it off toward the Imperial Palace. As Wang Chong set off, the sound of firecrackers going off could be heard behind him.
Wang Chong sat in the sedan chair, in the center of two rows of guards, and was swiftly carried to the Imperial City. After passing through many streets, he finally appeared before the palace gate.
By the time Wang Chong arrived, there were already many sedan chairs in front of the palace gate.
The Great Tang's morning court session began at the fifth watch (5am – 7am), and some of the more important officials would even get up at the fourth watch. Wang Chong could be considered to have arrived rather late.
Many of the sedan chairs at the gate were empty. It was a law of the Great Tang that the sedan chairs for officials could at most send them up to the gates of the Imperial City.
But when Wang Chong arrived, he had noticed at a glance a sedan chair with the symbol of the Wang Clan. His big uncle Wang Gen had been waiting for him for some time.
Once Wang Chong stepped forward, Wang Gen began to walk with him to the Imperial Palace while assiduously explaining to him the taboos of the Imperial Court.
”Chong-er, this is your first time attending morning court as an Advisor-in-Waiting. Remember, in morning court, it's more about watching, listening, and learning. Before speaking, you must be absolutely certain of your words and think about them again and again. In addition, all the officials and generals have their own grade which decides where they can stand, and you can't just choose a place. Although the Imperial Court has granted you the title of King of Foreign Lands, the position that you use to participate in politics is what determines your grade, which is your post of Advisor-in-Waiting. But you are still royalty of the court, a King of a different surname ennobled by His Majesty, so other than the fact that the place where you stand is different, you have few other restrictions in the Imperial Court.
”The Imperial Court is different from the battlefield. There are many conventions and many restrictions, and things aren't decided just because one has a high enough status. In addition, a large tree attracts wind, and the Imperial Court is much more complicated than it was before. While you were on the border, many people had no means of doing anything to you, but when it comes to the Imperial Court, particularly when it comes to memorials sent from various areas and petitions urgently seeking resolution, if one cannot speak substantively, one will become the laughingstock of the court. Such incidents will become ways to attack you, and King Qi and others like him might even use these incidents to stir trouble and mar your reputation.”
”Chong-er understands!” Wang Chong respectfully said.
Although Wang Chong had already become a much-admired Great General and hero on the battlefield, the Imperial Court was an utterly strange and unfamiliar place where martial strength could not solve any problems. Back then, when Great Tang War God Wang Zhongsi was at his most glorious period, he had been forced to leave Longxi's Big Dipper City and resign his posts to take up the position of Crown Prince's Junior Guardian in the palace precisely because he had fallen into a trap in the Imperial Court.
A place where one could not see the smoke and fire of war was far more dangerous than a place where one could see such things.
Wang Chong had long ago understood this point.
But probably not even his big uncle knew that he did not share his big uncle's opinion. He had his own plans for this morning court session.
In this early morning hour in the Imperial Palace, the Golden Guards had already opened the way. Golden Guards lined the palace avenues from the palace gate all the way to the site of the court session. Even someone unfamiliar with the Imperial Palace could simply follow these lines of Golden Guards all the way until they found the place where the court debates were held.
As Wang Chong listened to Wang Gen's lessons, he continued farther in. Along the way, all the Golden Guards who saw Wang Chong showed deep respect in their eyes. Whether it was the Imperial Army, the Golden Guards, or the protectorate armies on the border, anyone who was a Great Tang soldier was brimming with respect and adoration for Wang Chong.
But the civil officials Wang Chong met along the road were not so kind. Although they didn't dare to say anything too extreme about Wang Chong, given his status, a few critical comments here and there were unavoidable.
”Hmph, shielded by officials, three titles in one year, and becoming King of Foreign Lands at such a young age—does the Imperial Court even have rules anymore!”
”He's just an immature brat without even a proper beard. Putting him on the border is fine. After all, young men are full of spirit and rash courage. But what's this about allowing him to participate in political affairs? Or are old officials like us unable to compare to a single youth?”
”Sssh! Softer! This person is the King of Foreign Lands, riding high on the waves of success. Try not to cause any trouble. A clan with four generals and ministers!”
”What King of Foreign Lands? This is clearly an Asura King who's gone numb to the thought of killing people! Truly bone-chilling!”