The next day.
The Chu Imperial Palace, the new ruler's early court session.
Xiang Chong was extremely excited. He had changed into his dragon robes and crown early, waiting in the back hall for an auspicious time before having the ministers kowtow to him, this new ruler of Chu.
"Imperial Mother, does your son look like an emperor?" Xiang Chong held his head high with a straight posture, walking back and forth in big strides.
The Empress Dowager Li smiled. "My son is also of the Xiang clan, a descendant of the founding emperor. Of course you look like an emperor. Especially with my son wearing the dragon robes, you look more like an emperor than anyone."
The mother and son's conversation left the eunuch Chen Gonggong next to them with a bad taste in his mouth.
How could the son be so foolish? Why was the mother muddled as well?
The emperor was the emperor. He wasn't an opera singer. Why ask if he looked the part?
But Chen Gonggong was a true eunuch servant, never forgetting his status as a slave. Even if he had complaints in his heart about his masters, his mouth would never utter them out.
"How many civil and military officials have come so far?" Xiang Chong asked again.
Chen Gonggong was the head eunuch in charge of the palace affairs, with countless spies in the palace. He knew exactly how many ministers had come to the main hall.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the laws of Chu, officials with an annual salary of two thousand dan or more may attend the daily imperial court to see Your Majesty. Within the capital city, there are a total of 732 civil and military officials who meet this criterion."
Xiang Chong happily said, "So many, almost 700 people will kowtow to me?!"
"Uhh..." Chen Gonggong really didn't understand.
He was already the Emperor of Chu, yet he only cared about how many people would kowtow to him?
With the Fan clan still controlling Great Chu's power, Xiang Chong seemed completely oblivious, without any sense of crisis at all?
Chen Gonggong patiently explained, "There are over 700 qualified civil and military ministers, but the various government offices also need people to remain on duty. There are also many ministers on leave, sick leave, or dispatched outside the capital..."
"Enough, enough."
After hearing Chen Gonggong's long-winded explanation, Xiang Chong finally realized there wouldn't be as many people kowtowing to him as he imagined. His enthusiasm instantly dampened by half.
"Just directly tell me, how many people should come today, how many have arrived so far, and how many are still missing? I want to heavily punish those ingrates who should come but haven't!"
"Ah?" Chen Gonggong was baffled.
It was the new emperor's first time holding court. Instead of widely granting favors and pardons, he wanted to severely punish his officials? Was this appropriate?
Xiang Chong glared at him. "What? My subordinates dare defy their lord? As the Son of Heaven, where is my majestic authority? Where is the proper hierarchy between lord and subject?"
"Your Majesty speaks correctly!"
Although Chen Gonggong could crush Xiang Chong with one finger, he still immediately knelt down in agreement.
The old eunuch helplessly said, "The civil and military officials who should attend today's court session to kowtow to the new emperor number at least 365 people. 364 have arrived so far, still missing one person..."
"There actually dares to be someone who didn't come?" Xiang Chong was angered but also laughed. "Proclaim my edict. Dismiss that ungrateful wretch from office and imprison him. Confiscate his assets, then exterminate his entire clan!"
Chen Gonggong exclaimed in shock, "But Your Majesty..."
Xiang Chong waved his hand to interrupt him. "Exterminate his nine familial relations! No pleading on anyone's behalf!"
"But that person is Fan Li..."
"Cough, cough, cough!!!" Xiang Chong coughed violently, his face flushed bright red. "Why didn't you say so earlier!?"
Chen Gonggong smiled bitterly. Say it earlier? When have you given people a chance to speak?
"Chen Gonggong, didn't you go to the Fan manor to deliver an imperial decree? Why hasn't Fan Li come yet?" The Empress Dowager demanded sternly.
"This is..."
Chen Gonggong didn't have the face to say that Fan Li simply hadn't arrived yet because it wasn't time. He glanced up at the sky to convey his meaning.
It was very simple. The time hadn't arrived yet so Fan Li was merely late, not absent.
"No more waiting for Fan Li! I'm holding court now!"
Just the thought of Fan Li made Xiang Chong's entire body uncomfortable. He was really afraid that when Fan Li arrived later, if he refused to perform the three kneels and nine bows, it would utterly humiliate him. He might as well enjoy the ministers' kowtows first!
"Chen Gonggong, take me to the Golden Scales Hall." Xiang Chong grandly commanded.
The old eunuch was speechless. Weren't they already in the back hall of the Golden Scales Hall? Going around the corner was the front hall. What was the point of this pompous order?
"Yes, departing." Chen Gonggong lifelessly replied.
Front Hall.
The civil and military ministers all wore heavy expressions, no one spoke a word, not even whispering among themselves.
The ministers only exchanged information through eye contact, clearly all aware today was an extremely special day.
"His Majesty arrives."
Suddenly, the ministers heard the attending eunuch's resonant announcement. Familiarly, they began moving to their positions according to individual ranks and government departments.
Xiang Chong sat on the dragon throne, looking down condescendingly at the Chu civil and military officials.
Humph!
So this was an emperor's perspective?
It felt fucking incredible!
"Kneel." Chen Gonggong knew what the new emperor expected. He directly got to the main issue.
"Your subjects pay respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, ten thousand years!"
The ministers fell to their knees as expected.
As Xiang Chong watched the three kneels and nine bows, he strangely felt it wasn't right. Although the three hundred-some people's kowtowing movements were extremely skilled, because there were so many people bowing together, it was completely disorderly without any uniformity.
Aside from the messy kowtowing, the ministers' shouts of "Long live" were scattered and sporadic.
"Even opera troupes sound more melodious than them." Xiang Chong resentfully thought.
Perhaps the imperial court session was always like this?
Xiang Chong refused to believe the hundred ministers would actually dare fool him. Just as he gave the civil and military officials and himself an excuse, he saw an imposing figure approaching the Golden Scales Hall from outside.
"Duke Jin arrives!"
A eunuch announced loudly from the palace gates, immediately stimulating Xiang Chong's spirit! No, he meant causing him to become nervous.
"Duke Jin? Why not announce his full name?" Xiang Chong wondered to himself. But then he remembered Fan Li had the privilege to not use his name.
Fan Li smiled as he strode into the Golden Scales Hall. At practically the same moment, all the ministers in the main hall rose to their feet.
In an extremely crisp and uniform movement, the officials split into two rows on either side as they bowed towards Fan Li.
"We pay our respects to Duke Jin."
Although they didn't kneel, it was still the bowing etiquette. The words were also extremely simple, using "pay our respects" instead of "pay our highest respects".
But the ministers' action was far too neat and their voices far too sonorous. In aura, they completely overwhelmed the scattered "Long live" shouts from earlier!
"Fuck!" Xiang Chong swore in his heart.
So it turned out the civil and military officials could do it properly but just didn't want to bow to him. They had fooled him earlier!
Fan Li walked to the very front of the ministers' ranks, smiling slightly at Xiang Chong atop the dragon throne. Xiang Chong felt extremely awkward being smiled at. He also noticed the sword Fan Li wore at his waist.
"Audacious!" Xiang Chong was overly nervous and blurted out. "Fan Li, you are a subject while I am the lord. For you to not bow to your lord when entering court and even wearing weapons, could it be... you want to rebel?"
Because he was so anxious, Xiang Chong almost added "Chen Gonggong, arrest him!"
Fortunately Xiang Chong endured. He also knew Great Chu's treasury and granaries were secretly controlled by Fan Li's business conglomerate. The most elite guards were also absolutely loyal towards the Fan clan.
Arrest Fan Li?
Even he wouldn't do something so stupid.
Fan Li laughed. Hearing Xiang Chong interrogate him like this, how could he not laugh?
"Your Majesty." With just two words from Fan Li, it made Xiang Chong excitedly tremble.
'He addressed me as Your Majesty? Fan Li acknowledges me as the emperor? Hahahaha!' Xiang Chong grinned from ear to ear. His previous anger and anxiety were instantly flung beyond the highest heavens.
"Uh... Duke, please speak." Xiang Chong adopted the mien of one humbly accepting advice from the wise.
Fan Li nodded. "Your Majesty, does Your Majesty not know that I have the privileges of not needing to hurry when entering court, not needing to bow and state my name during court sessions, wearing swords while entering the throne hall, and not kneeling when seeing the lord?"