Although accompanying the morning court was also a first for Jiang Yan, to ensure no mistakes were made today, the servants of the Han family had kept him occupied for over an hour the previous night. They had meticulously explained every detail, potential emergency, and how to resolve them.
"What's the rush? There's still almost an hour left," Han Mo mumbled, his mouth full of a half-eaten steamed bun. He closed his eyes again, leaning back against the soft cushions of the carriage, and fell asleep once more.
"You brat, time to wake up for the roll call!" Not long after Han Mo had fallen asleep, he felt his ear being roughly grabbed by a cold hand.
"I say, Uncle, what is this..." Han Mo jolted, nearly throwing a punch at Fan Zhengguo, who stood before him with a mischievous grin.
"I heard the Emperor bestowed a purple robe upon you yesterday. Why aren't you wearing it today?" Fan Zhengguo spoke while casually taking a steaming assorted steamed bun from the food box beside him. After taking a bite, he said with satisfaction, "Aren't you just teasing me? Do I dare wear that thing?" Han Mo spoke, looking at Fan Zhengguo with a resentful expression.
This was, after all, within Bianliang City. He, a young lad who had only been in office for less than two years, was already enough of a target for envy and jealousy just by wearing a scarlet robe. To wear a purple robe now would be to court disaster!
"It seems you have some self-awareness. With the sealing ceremony only a few days away, what about the money you promised? If this drags on any longer, my Ministry of Revenue's office might get torn down!" Fan Zhengguo said casually, without any sympathy for Han Mo, while eating his bun.
"You don't need to worry about this. I think within two or three days at most, someone will deliver a large sum of money to your hands! It's just that I fear with so much money, the officials at the Ministry of Revenue might not be able to have a proper New Year's Day this year!" Han Mo quickly tidied his clothes before speaking again.
"This is a time of great events. If the national treasury can gain some funds, what does it matter if New Year's Day is not celebrated?" Fan Zhengguo's eyes lit up upon hearing this. As the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, his greatest worry was the lack of funds in the national treasury.
"I don't know how these steamed buns are made, but they taste really good. Send the cook to my manor later, and by the way, you'll have to pay his salary!" Having received a satisfactory answer, Fan Zhengguo pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve, wrapped the remaining few small buns from the food box in it, carefully tucked them into his robes, and then, with a satisfied expression, got out of Han Mo's carriage.
"Wait, why do I have to pay the cook's salary for you to eat steamed buns?" Only after the old man had walked away did Han Mo realize. This was the Great Song Dynasty. Even though ordinary people were indeed struggling at this time, it wasn't so dire that it would affect him, a Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
"Hahahaha!" Fan Zhengguo naturally ignored Han Mo's distress, leaving behind a string of hearty laughter as he swaggered into the Waiting Pavilion.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Jiang Yan asked cautiously, looking at Han Mo's dark expression.
"What could be wrong with me? I was just caught off guard again and got taken advantage of by that old man!" Han Mo gritted his teeth as he said this, then could only vent his anger on the table, at the remaining half steamed bun.
"Then... how about I bring some people tonight to vent your anger?" Jiang Yan asked in a low voice, seeing his furious expression.
"You think I'm going to vent my anger like that! Go back and discuss with the old housekeeper at the residence, pick a chef who makes steamed buns, and send him to that old man's manor!" Han Mo kicked Jiang Yan's butt crossly before huffing and entering the Waiting Pavilion.
Where there are people, there is jianghu. This saying held true even in the imperial court. In the small Waiting Pavilion, the officials had also spontaneously divided themselves into several small factions. Of course, lower-ranking officials could only huddle in small groups in the outer corridors, chatting quietly to ward off the cold.
For officials like Han Mo, who could wear scarlet robes, the treatment was significantly better. Although the hall was still drafty, at least there was a chair now.
"Brother Han!"
"Lord Han!"
As soon as Han Mo entered, his fellow jinshi graduates started greeting him. Although they were all only able to wear green robes at this time, Han Mo had to respond with a smile. After all, being classmates and fellow graduates, such a relationship was truly firm in the current officialdom! As the foremost among his peers, Han Mo was, for the moment, enjoying unparalleled attention.
"Sigh..." In a room nearby, watching Han Mo being surrounded by everyone, Zhao Huan let out a long sigh.
"Your Highness, rest assured. I have made all the arrangements for the court affairs, and they will absolutely not implicate the Crown Prince!" Seeing his sighing appearance, Geng Nanzhong quickly stepped forward and guaranteed again.
"If that is the case, then it is for the best!" After giving him a deep look, Zhao Huan said no more, turning back to his seat.
After a long wait, until the fifth watch, the impromptu grand court session finally began. After completing the lengthy etiquette, the rest was just aimless bickering. For a full half hour, just as Han Mo was starting to feel drowsy, he finally heard Zhao Ji's voice.
"Minister Du, how are the preparations for what I instructed you to prepare?"
"Replying to His Majesty, everything is ready. All the cases are outside the door!" Upon hearing Du Chong's words, the senior officials in the court immediately perked up and opened their eyes.
"My esteemed ministers should have all heard, I intend to personally try the case of Huang Qianshan's deception of the Emperor today. Since you all have been rather bored lately, let's consider it entertainment and listen carefully!" Zhao Ji said calmly after scanning the assembled officials standing in the hall.
"Someone, bring Huang Qianshan!"