Chapter 1969: The Sage Emperor Makes Trouble! (1/2)

Edited by: Michyrr

While the officials were happy, they were also rather worried.

Everyone knew Wang Chong's true goal in cutting down the giant trees of Lingnan, but the Sage Emperor appeared absolutely furious. This was the only reason Wang Chong had been summoned to court today.

'Imperial censors should not be punished for their words.' This was a rule in the Imperial Court, and those imperial censors had never imagined that the Sage Emperor would really demote them when they submitted their memorials.

The current Sage Emperor was no longer the Sage Emperor they remembered. No one knew what sort of absurd action he might take while enraged.

”Wang Chong!” An elderly voice came out of the crowd, upon which people began to move aside. At the same time, Wang Chong turned toward the speaker.

An elderly figure walked out from the back of the crowd, his face austere and inflexible, his body exuding an aura of authority that made him a crane among chickens.

The Grand Preceptor!

Wang Chong raised an eyebrow in surprise. The man who was walking toward him was none other than the Grand Preceptor with whom he had quarreled several times: Zhan Zhongmi!

Wang Chong's relationship with him had never been good, so he had not expected the Grand Preceptor to come and meet him before this court session.

Wang Chong slightly frowned as he silently watched the man walk over. As the saying went, visitors had bad intentions and those with good intentions did not visit. Wang Chong did not know what goal the Grand Preceptor had in coming to meet him.

The Grand Preceptor stopped a few steps away from Wang Chong and sternly said, ”Kid, this old man has never liked you or your Wang Clan, but this incident has made even this old man have to take a second look at you. No matter how you were in your past or how this old man thought of you, this incident shows that you truly are one of the valued officials of my Great Tang. This old man pays his respects to you, Your Highness!”

”!!!”

Wang Chong was surprised to hear this, but he quickly understood.

The Grand Preceptor was an elder statesman of immense prestige who had served under several governments, and he was never one to easily lower his head. But this time, because of the Sage Emperor, he had come forward and lowered his head, though with his personality, he could not bring himself to speak the words of defeat.

”Grand Preceptor flatters me!” Wang Chong sincerely said as he bowed.

The matter of the Sage Emperor was a public affair, and even though the Grand Preceptor was stubborn, he could still concede in front of all the other officials for the sake of the public good. This greatly altered Wang Chong's opinion of him.

At least in this aspect, Grand Preceptor Zhan was still worthy of respect.

”Haaah…”

The Grand Preceptor couldn't help but emotionally sigh as he looked at Wang Chong.

He was an elder statesman who had served three Emperors. After these recent incidents with the Sage Emperor, trusting in his seniority, he had gone with the Grand Tutor several times to the inner palace to try to see the Sage Emperor, but he had been refused each time. Whether it was the Qian Gate, Center Gate, or Kun Gate, he had not been able to step through a single one, let alone enter Taiji Palace.

Never in his life had this happened to the Grand Preceptor before. Not even the previous Emperor had treated him like this.

Not only that, when he was refused an audience in the inner court, the Grand Preceptor decided to chide the Sage Emperor in the court, but he had barely spoken when the Sage Emperor impatiently cut him off. The Grand Preceptor had never imagined this sort of scenario.

This series of incidents had made the Grand Preceptor's heart grow cold.

”Wang Chong, we are already old, but now, the court is in turmoil and plagued with many incidents. In the future, the lands of the Great Tang and its millions of people can only rely on you!”

The Grand Preceptor sighed.

Wang Chong's face froze. He recalled the Grand Preceptor to be a proud and obstinate man. He had never seen the man so dejected and dispirited before.

Bong!

Suddenly, a bell rang out, and everyone, including Wang Chong, turned toward Taihe Palace.

The court session was finally beginning.

With another sigh, the Grand Preceptor turned around and left Taihe Palace, quickly vanishing into the distance.

”All officials, please enter the hall!”

A whip cracked in front of the hall. The court session was about to begin.

Wang Chong suppressed his thoughts and joined the other officials in entering Taihe Palace.

Upon entering the palace, the officials all took up their proper positions. A few moments later, the court session was formally opened.

”His Majesty arrives!” a eunuch official sharply said.

Escorted by guards and palace ladies, the 'Sage Emperor' strode out and seated himself on the supreme throne of the land.

It was the same person with the same majesty. Nothing seemed to have changed. Yet in Wang Chong's eyes, the entire world had flipped upside down.

Wang Chong knew that this man was no longer the wise Sage Emperor, but the Third Son Xuan who had been suppressed for thirty-some years.