Passing through the outer corridor’s horizontal gate in the north, she could see in the distance the majestic and solemn Great Celebration Hall half-hidden behind Xuande Tower. Its bright glazed tiles reflected light that seemed to connect with the sky. The sun moved westward, and the distant horizon appeared to be coated with a thin layer of gold, like a dream, quite unreal.

She walked along, looking down at the palace bricks beneath her feet.

Ice chips were embedded in the coarse and fine seams, making the mythical beast patterns on the brick surfaces even more distinct.

Dragon scrolls, phoenix cases, paired carvings of strange beasts… each one was intensely fierce, enough to make observers tremble with fear.

The official escorting her to the Chancellery hadn’t uttered a single word along the way, simply striding forward with large steps.

She also remained silent, following his large strides.

Entering the Left Side Gate, they walked slowly along the southern corridor, passing the Privy Council, the Central Secretariat, and then the Palace Administration… the wide steps of the Chancellery were right before her.

The man didn’t announce her first; he merely turned his head, nodded slightly to her, and said, “Madam Meng.”

She understood, composed herself, and followed him up the steps, walked through a curved corridor, and was led by him into a spacious hall on the southeast side.

They encountered many people along the way, but all of them had hurried expressions. Whether they were walking out or coming in, when they saw her, they merely glanced at her briefly, showing no signs of surprise on their faces.

But in her heart, she was surprised.

She recalled how when she first entered the Hanlin Academy as a woman, every man in that full academy had regarded her as a curiosity. She had expected to receive similar “treatment” upon entering the Chancellery today, but unexpectedly, the people here didn’t seem to think she was anything special.

Upon reaching this place, the man finally spoke, saying, “There are a total of eleven people in the Remonstrance Bureau of the Two Departments. Except for the vacancy of Left Gentleman Attendant which has not yet been filled, all other colleagues serve in this hall.”

She smiled at him to show she understood, then carried her bookcase in, placing her things behind an empty desk as he indicated, before asking, “May I know your name, sir?”

The man also smiled, “My surname is Cao, given name just the single character Jing. I am not like Madam Meng; it has been nearly four years since I passed the jinshi examination, yet I am still only a minor Left Admonisher.”

Meng Tinghui raised her eyebrows, fixed her gaze on him for a moment, and felt that while his expression was warm, his words contained implicit criticism. After a while, she smiled faintly and said, “Master Cao is too kind.” She turned to look behind the curtain inside and asked, “Is Master Guo present now?”

Cao Jing also looked inside, and seeing no one, he turned to ask several people sitting nearby, “This is Madam Meng, the one recommended by the Hanlin Academy…” Seeing that they all had knowing expressions, he asked with a smile, “Didn’t Master Guo say earlier that he wanted to wait here to meet her? Why isn’t he here now?”

One person peeked outside to ensure no one was passing by, then leaned closer and said, “You don’t know, shortly after you left with the transfer order, someone from the Palace Administration came with a message saying that Prince Ping had arrived alone, summoning all officials of the third rank and above from the Central Secretariat and Chancellery to go over there!”

Cao Jing’s face showed surprise, “Prince Ping?”

Meng Tinghui raised her eyebrows and looked up, her heart also stirred with surprise.

Since the Crown Prince began participating in court affairs ten years ago, there had been no news of Prince Ping inquiring about state affairs or military matters, nor of Prince Ping entering the Palace Administration to handle business.

Although everyone knew that half the credit for the empire and realm belonged to Prince Ping, he had always been aloof about such matters. Even when the Emperor repeatedly issued edicts to honor him, he consistently refused all of them. Over the years, his only concern had been the Emperor’s safety and health.

Recently, there had been rumors at court that the reason the Emperor wanted to abdicate to the Crown Prince was because Prince Ping had thoughts of returning to the old capital to spend his remaining years with the Emperor.

The deep bond between the Emperor and Prince Ping was known to everyone at court, so when this rumor emerged, everyone believed it and secretly sighed.

But who would have thought that Prince Ping would break his decade-long practice today and come to the Palace Administration to inquire about state affairs?

Cao Jing’s face was full of curiosity, and with an expression of having missed a good show, he leaned forward and asked softly, “Did you see Prince Ping’s bearing? I’ve long heard of Prince Ping’s dominating presence that once surveyed the world, but in my four years at court, I’ve never seen him…”

The person shook his head and sighed lightly, “Apart from those summoned by Prince Ping, which official from the Central Secretariat or Chancellery would dare to go to the Palace Administration to watch the commotion?… It was just before you returned that we heard from someone who had come out from there—Prince Ping smashed the ministerial seal in front of those high officials from the Two Departments!”

Cao Jing clucked his tongue, “What could have angered Prince Ping so?”

Someone else approached from the side and said with a strange smile, “To think you’re supposed to be the most informed person in the Remonstrance Bureau, yet you can’t figure this out? What was the most debated issue in today’s morning court? After court, what did the Emperor summon the senior officials to discuss in the palace?”

“Naturally, it’s the matter of the Crown Prince selecting a consort.”

Before Cao Jing could respond, Meng Tinghui’s voice came from behind, soft and gentle.

Several people turned around to see her with bright eyes and a face full of smiles, clearly having listened to their conversation for quite some time and unable to resist joining in.

The person smiled, “Madam Meng is indeed clever, knowing the inner court affairs so well while still at the Hanlin Academy.”

Meng Tinghui stepped forward, pressed her lips together, and said, “I just found your discussion interesting. When I was at the Hanlin Academy, I couldn’t hear so many things.”

The men all showed slightly proud expressions on their faces. Cao Jing also smiled and said to the other person, “So, Prince Ping is displeased with the memorial those senior officials presented, requesting that the Crown Prince marry the Princess of North Jian as his consort?”

“That must be it,” another person interjected, “Otherwise, why would Prince Ping come to the Palace Administration to intimidate the senior officials so soon after the Emperor’s discussion ended? It was said that Minister Gu was most actively promoting this matter. When Prince Ping arrived at the Palace Administration, he saw people from the Central Secretariat drafting the response document, and he immediately became angry… But now it seems that no one in the Two Departments would dare to memorialize in favor of North Jian’s diplomatic request.”

Cao Jing’s expression became somewhat strange. His lips moved several times before he finally said in a low voice, “…With relations being restored between the two countries, even the Emperor hasn’t shown any opposition. Why is Prince Ping so unwilling for the Crown Prince to marry the Princess of North Jian? Could it be that those rumors we heard before are true…”

When he said this, everyone’s faces became uncomfortable. After a while, someone said softly, “Who knows if those rumors are true or false? It’s just that Prince Ping had many disputes with North Jian when he was in power, so it’s understandable that he wouldn’t want someone from North Jian to occupy the position of Empress in the future.”

Meng Tinghui listened carefully to their conversation. Although she didn’t know what rumors they were referring to, she more or less understood that the plan for the Crown Prince to make the Princess of North Jian his consort would come to nothing.

It felt as if a huge stone had been instantly removed from her heart, and her entire being felt much lighter.

She smiled faintly at the men, appearing as if she didn’t understand, and turned back to her desk to arrange the things she had brought from the Hanlin Academy.

Just as she bent her head, a cool, low call suddenly came from the hall entrance—

“Meng Tinghui.”