The Great Phoenix Hall was the palace where the morning court assembled.
The grand hall’s interior was vast. Sunlight streamed in, creating a play of light and shadow.
A red carpet stretched down the center, leading all the way to the dragon throne, dividing the civil and military officials. The civil officials stood to the left, the men in official robes or scholar’s gowns and the women in court dresses. The martial officials stood to the right, both men and women, all clad in leather armor that emphasized their heroic bearing.
When the Empress had contended for the throne the previous year, she had led a command that included many women from her “Women’s Army”. Therefore, after her ascension, there was no shortage of women among the court officials.
The officials had already assembled in the main hall, waiting only for the Empress to appear.
Soon enough, from the door to the right of the dragon throne, the Heavenly Mandate Empress, Di Lingwei, walked out with an unhurried pace. The entire court kept their eyes on their noses and their minds on their own business, not daring to look directly at her.
After the Empress became the new ruler of the Phoenix Dynasty, her era name was Heavenly Mandate, thus she was also called the Heavenly Mandate Empress.
Taking her seat on the dragon throne, Di Lingwei’s gaze was profound, her posture majestic. An invisible, overbearing aura emanated from within, plunging the hall into a profound silence.
But the truth was, inside she was panicking, feeling a tingling sensation across her scalp.
How do I actually preside over a court session? Someone tell me.
Di Lingwei racked her brain, trying to recall the dramas she’d watched in her past life, hoping for some inspiration. But the more she thought, the more she realized those shows were mostly about romance and love. She couldn’t recall anything useful for this kind of situation.
Just then, Di Lingwei felt a tickle in her left eye. She couldn’t help but blink it. Immediately, she found the world before her had changed.
Her gaze fell upon the black-skirted palace maid who had followed her.
Name: Xing Ruolan.
Identity: Chief Palace Steward.
Personality: Unlock an achievement to obtain.
Hobby: Unlock an achievement to obtain.
Martial Power: Unlock an achievement to obtain.
Regret: Unlock an achievement to obtain.
Heart’s Desire: Unlock an achievement to obtain.
Weakness: Unlock an achievement to obtain.
What is this?
Di Lingwei was briefly stunned, then her mind raced. She figured this was probably her golden finger—her cheat. Truly, as a transmigrator, if you didn’t have one, you were practically unworthy of the title. But was this some kind of mutation in her left eye? The ability to see things others couldn’t?
Xing Ruolan—that’s a nice-sounding name. Chief Palace Steward… so, something like the head of the inner palace staff? The rest needs unlocking through achievements, but how does one unlock an achievement?
As she pondered this, her gaze swept over the civil and military officials in the court. She realized that no matter who she observed, eight traits would appear. However, only the name and identity sections were directly visible. The rest all required unlocking achievements to see.
“Your Majesty,” someone spoke up at that moment.
It was the person standing at the very front of the civil officials’ side. A young and beautiful woman with delicate features and skin as smooth as cream. She wore a snow-white court gown, its long skirt fluttering, giving her an extremely ethereal aura. Standing there, she was like bright moonlight, offering a sense of transcendence.
Other than the women in the martial section who wore leather armor, all the women in the court wore tops and Mamian skirts similar to the palace maids’ attire. Only the colors differed to distinguish rank. This woman, wearing a long flowing dress, was the only one.
Name: Shangguan Yuchan.
Identity: Chancellor.
When Di Lingwei looked at her, she could only see these two pieces of information.
She’s the Chancellor? Such a young woman holding that position is likely quite formidable.
Di Lingwei mused.
By now, Shangguan Yuchan had already begun her report. “The Northern Barbarian Tribe, seeing that our dynasty’s new monarch has just ascended, believes our foundation is unstable. They eye us covetously. Scouts have already detected signs of the Barbarians recruiting troops and buying horses. This cannot go unguarded against.”
How was she supposed to respond to that?
On the surface, Di Lingwei was composed and majestic. In reality, her head was about to explode. To suddenly place a commoner like her on the dragon throne was genuinely a trial.
“Are there other matters? Report them all together,” Di Lingwei said, not answering Shangguan Yuchan’s query, but maintaining an authoritative tone.
Shangguan Yuchan said nothing further, but the ministers began to speak one after another.
“Outside Fortune Pass to the west, the Rebel Army is amassing, proclaiming they will slaughter their way to the Phoenix Capital. It is utter treason! This subject requests Your Majesty appoint a general to lead the army and completely wipe out this band of rebels.”
“In many southern commanderies and counties, from the nineteenth year of the Shenyuan Era to the first year of Heavenly Mandate, so-called preachers have been speaking of supernatural events and heresy, deceiving the common people. This subject hopes Your Majesty will soon send someone to eradicate this scourge.”
“The eastern coastal cities have been plagued by floods for months. The fields are difficult to cultivate, and homes have been swept away by the floodwaters. Refugees are everywhere. The person previously sent could not properly resolve the issue, and we must once again select a capable individual to go.”
“Your Majesty…”
The ministers spoke up in succession, but the more Di Lingwei heard, the more her head throbbed. She never imagined she’d face so many problems. She had absolutely no idea how to handle these matters. What consequences would follow if she said the wrong thing?
From the current information, she seemed to be a newly enthroned monarch with an unstable foundation and restless hearts. In this situation, making a misstep could trigger who knows what trouble. She had to anticipate and prevent the worst possible outcomes.
After some thought, Di Lingwei made a decision. Her gaze swept over the court officials, her expression stern. She spoke with an overbearing tone: “Must Zhen dictate to you how to handle governance? What use does Zhen have for you, then? Are you telling Zhen that without Our own ideas, you are incapable of dealing with these minor matters?”
“We subjects deserve to die!”
Seeing the Heavenly Mandate Empress appearing displeased, the ministers couldn’t help but recall the events of the previous year—the twentieth year of Shenyuan. At that time, a woman still a Princess had led her Women’s Army directly into the Imperial Palace to seize the throne. It had been a scene of rolling heads and rivers of blood!
This was a brutal monarch!
Naturally, the ministers were terrified when such a person showed anger. One by one, they hurriedly knelt, heads bowed, not daring to look at the figure on the dragon throne.
Except for one person.
Shangguan Yuchan!
She still stood there, a smile on her face, looking at Di Lingwei with a gentle gaze.
Di Lingwei, of course, noticed Shangguan Yuchan’s reaction, and her heart couldn’t help but pound.
Why is her behavior different from the others? Is it because the Chancellor’s rank is inherently higher, so she is allowed to stand? Or is there some other reason?
Di Lingwei didn’t know the situation. She could only glare at Shangguan Yuchan.
Seeing the glare, Shangguan Yuchan lowered her head and did not gaze upon the Empress’s face, but she still stood there without kneeling like the others.
Di Lingwei couldn’t push the matter further. She had only just transmigrated, hadn’t inherited the original host’s memories, and knew nothing. Staying in court any longer would be more harmful than beneficial. She should retreat first to understand her own situation and her immediate surroundings.
With that thought, Di Lingwei spoke with a detached expression: “For matters in the various regions, deliberate among yourselves and come up with solutions. Then deliver the results to Zhen. Court dismissed!”
