"The manners and etiquette of an Official is their face," Yunyin recited, "his actions and words may gain him the contempt of the emperor or the faith of all people," he continued, "yet what he achieves depends solely on his ability and determination!"
His face, carrying a natural casualness, hardened with each sentence until it transformed into the face of a stern official about to attend court.
As a second son, he couldn't inherit his rightful legacy of his own family. Trying out other paths, he found that there were open and hidden rules everywhere. In the end, he decided that since these rules annoyed him so much, he would simply enter the court and change them as he wished!
Yunyin took the robes from his bed, first the inner white robe then the outer grey robe, simple robes signifying his status as a low official without any accomplishments. He tied them and took the neat perfectly fitting cap, putting it on his head, hiding his bound hair.
Finally there was the Hu Tablet on his bed - a long wooden slip with symbols of auspicious reign and supreme righteousness.
"Master, I have prepared the writing supplies," Heiluan said as he presented the items he was to prepare. A large scroll for notes in court, several pieces of paper containing information for today's matter, and bamboo slips used for communication between the officials during the court.
"That's good, put them into the carrying box." Yunyin nodded after seeing that everything was as he had ordered yesterday.
Looking at the papers one last time, his mind focused into his inner mental space, the space of a 9th stage Scholar, accompanied with the mental tool.
An abacus, black in colour with white tiles, rose and fell in his mind.
The numbers appearing next to them in a small screen were the small modifications he had implemented based on his ideas as a reincarnator. Having arrived here for so long, he had revised even the foundation of the Path of Wisdom with the sole goal of being a single step ahead of others!
Numbers played in his mind - 5.000 was the minimum, 15.000 the maximum. The average was 10.000-11.000, but he couldn't allow this number to pass. His ministry had a clear budget, and this year had started with little rain.
Thoughts and calculations ran through his mind, finally settling when he confirmed they were the same as those on his notes.
Today would be his first day in court, a position his father had fought tooth and nail for, something unattainable for countless scholars!
'Of the two Vice Ministers of the Yueling Province's Ministry of Revenue, which one will discuss today's issue? If it's Vice Minister Lang, I might have a chance...' - he prepared for the various variables, yet the perfect plan was still the one he wished to pursue most.
"Heiluan, have you prepared the carriage?" he asked the scribe attendant to his left.
"Master, steward Bailuan has prepared it and is waiting outside." Heiluan said as he put on the carrying box containing the writing utensils.
"Then let's go," Yunyin said, turning and walking out of the door his scribe opened hastily.
His courtyard was small and directly bordered a street, allowing him to enter the road to the royal court fast.
Above, the sun hadn't yet risen, it was still rather dark.
He entered the carriage prepared outside, sending his steward back into the courtyard.
This carriage was rented by the steward beforehand, including the driver. There wasn't enough space in the courtyard to park one, so it didn't make sense to purchase one.
As a ninth-rank official, Yunyin was rather poor. It was only with the support of his father, a far-away magistrate, that he was able to purchase a courtyard and enter the Ministry of Revenues, a ministry that thousands of people wished to enter.
Now that he was here, he wouldn't care about minor inconveniences. His talent had given him the foundation to reach his position, his father's assistance had allowed him to enter the door. Everything from now on would depend on his ability and schemes!
His carriage drove off down the streets, giving him a short time to calm his heart while ensuring his persona of a stern official solidified truly.
A short while later, he arrived near the court and left the carriage, walking to the gates by foot. His position didn't allow him to enter the court with the carriage, though he wouldn't do so even if he could. Entering the court with a rented carriage, he couldn't blame anyone for the embarrassment that would ensue.
Stopping at the gate, he waited for the guards to allow him entry. With his robe carrying the symbol of the Ministry of Revenue – a Golden Pixiu at the corners of his sleeves, the guards would naturally not make things difficult and allow him entry after a simple glance.
His steps led into the outer court, where he saw only a few people in the last places. Along the way there were only rushing servants and eunuchs, who merely bowed for a second before continuing their way.
Arriving at the outer court, glancing at the majestic palace of white and gold, he commanded Heiluan to enter and arrange his writing supplies inside.
At this time, only servants could enter the court to prepare the officials' items.
Just after sending Heiluan away, he took out his Hu Tablet, about to raise it.
"Official Jie, why are you so hasty? You haven't greeted the senior officials of the Ministry of Rites yet!" a young man with average looks stopped him, looking at him with a smile yet his intentions clearly not right.
The officials of the Ministry of Rites a short distance away looked at him with a slight annoyance. They, the ministry managing the whole process of the court together with the Office of Heaven, didn't have time for a greeting, nor did they wish to be included in the small schemes of this official!
"Official Lai, greetings! Arriving at the outer court, officials shall await his majesty's arrival. Is there a reason for us to bother other officials at this hour?" Yunyin said reasonably, once again raising his Hu Tablet, not waiting for a reply.
Lai Wenyan saw this and was about to raise his hand, when he stopped himself, a look of annoyance disappearing as fast as it appeared. He only nodded and walked away, talking a bit with the officials of other ministries who had already arrived. It was very early, so only a few ninth rank officials had arrived.
Time passed as Yunyin remained in his position, not budging one bit. His mental power had been refined many times, so this bit of patience was nothing.
Slowly, the sun started rising and people entered one after another.
The last bunch of officials to enter the outer court wasn't the arrogant Ministry of Revenue, but the always busy Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Land!
Soon all Ten Ministries and Six Offices gathered and chatted quietly, only a few already preparing their tablets like Yunyin.
As the lower area of the outer court was filled, carriages with officials of the middle ranks, ranging from the sixth to fourth rank, arrived one after another. Two or three servants walked out with their masters, one remaining by the master's side while the other entered the court. A privilege of their rank was to have an assistant aiding them by their side during the whole court.
Finally, the high ranking officials came one by one in grand carriages with great symbols, their mere presence putting pressure on Yunyin's mind – the pressure of those with a higher mental power.
Their works had been prepared by the servants in the palace already, so they stood by with two people on their side, a scribe and an assistant, each assistant wearing the robe of a lower ranking official.
Just as everyone had arrived, the sun rose and a huge procession could be seen coming from afar –
The guards started playing music as yet another guard at the front announced, "His majesty the Great Emperor of the Ying Dynasty, Huangdi Ninghu has arrived!"
"Greetings to the Great Emperor! Blessings to the emperor! Long shall the great dynasty stand! Long live the eternal royal family!" the officials shouted one after another, raising the tablets in their hands – white wood, black stone and jade!
"Rise," the emperor, dressed in grand royal purple dragon garment and wearing his purple dragon crown, commanded them to rise as he entered the court.
From afar, Yunyin felt an immense pressure, yet it wasn't the kingdom-like pressure of the ministers in front. Instead, it was as if this pressure carried the whole world on its shoulders, forcefully lowering his head, forbidding him looking directly at the purple dragon!
One official after the other followed orderly into the court -
Thousands of people entered, a spectacular scene.
Only the inside of the court, able to contain so many people, could live up to this.
At the far back of the court there was the area for lower ranking officials, with the ninth rank officials sitting at the last rows.
They sat down close to each other with no servant in sight. Yunyin's desk was prepared, everything arranged neatly and carefully by Heiluan.
Members of the Ministry of Rites led the officials to bow deeply to his majesty the emperor who sat on the purple-gold throne at the very front, while a member of the Grand Secretariat walked to the side, kneeling in front of the emperor, asking him to start the court -
"I hereby open the 10.234th morning court of the Ying Dynasty!" the emperor loudly complied with the wishes of his subjects and announced the start of the court, his gaze sweeping over the countless officials in front of him, carrying great majesty yet also indifference.