After arriving in the Chengji Empire, Luo Shangyu felt she had finally found some temporary stability, and her mind relaxed significantly.
Combined with the exhaustion from their flight, she slept exceptionally deeply.
The next morning, she surprisingly woke up later than Qin Yu.
When she opened her eyes, the bed beside her was empty, replaced by a set of casual clothes.
‘Is this…?’ Luo Shangyu picked up the clothes and held them against herself.
They fit perfectly; Qin Yu must have had them custom-made for her.
She dressed and went to the main hall of the East Palace.
Qin Yu was sitting at the table eating breakfast, with a set of utensils laid out beside her.
Luo Shangyu sat next to her and couldn’t help but marvel at the sumptuous spread.
“What’s there to be surprised about?” Qin Yu said, “This is just standard procedure.”
Luo Shangyu said nothing more.
She had already witnessed the extravagant lifestyle of the Chengji Empire’s imperial family.
“Eat quickly. It’s getting late, and the morning court session is about to begin.” Qin Yu pointed to the clock on the wall.
Luo Shangyu was a bit confused and asked, “Morning court? The daily routine one?”
“That’s right. All government officials, regardless of rank, must attend.”
“I have to attend too?” Luo Shangyu pointed at herself and said, “I haven’t been appointed to an official position yet, have I?”
“But your future as a court official is basically set in stone, isn’t it? For now, you’ll participate as an ‘East Palace Attendant.’ Just consider it getting familiar with the environment in advance.”
“Fine.” Seeing that there was less than 1 hour until the court session, Luo Shangyu quickened her pace.
After finishing the meal, a maid brought two sets of court robes for Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu.
Looking closely, Luo Shangyu noticed the style was similar to that of the Kingdom of Yiyong — traditional Chengji Empire attire with wide sleeves.
“Do we have to wear these?” Luo Shangyu asked, pointing at her cyan court robes.
“That’s how it is,” Qin Yu nodded, “As a court official, you don’t have to wear them to work, but you must wear them while attending court.”
Luo Shangyu turned her cyan robes over and over, then took them into the bedroom with Qin Yu to change for the session.
***
The morning sun shone brightly over Yong’an City.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu sat in a small sedan chair, carried by attendants from the side gate of the East Palace directly into Changle Palace.
The imperial palace was solemn and majestic, with vast, empty squares between the towering halls.
Soldiers in magnificent armor, carrying spears and halberds, patrolled the area.
“This is Weiyang Hall,” Qin Yu said, pointing through the left window of the sedan.
“All major government gatherings and court sessions are held here. It is also one of the Emperor’s primary offices.”
Luo Shangyu was deeply shaken by the scene.
Before her seclusion, she had traveled across the Southern Continent of the Phantom World and held a strong impression of the Chengji Empire’s towering imperial halls.
However, she had only ever seen them from a distance outside the palace.
Now, standing so close to the base of the hall, she had to crane her neck to see the top of the soaring roof.
It gave her a sense of vertigo.
The sedan stopped at the base of the foundation of Weiyang Hall.
The path up the foundation had to be traveled on foot.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu stepped out.
Before them were wide white marble steps stretching upward, flanked by stern-faced soldiers.
As they climbed, Luo Shangyu felt a sense of daze.
This was her first time ascending to the center of power in the strongest nation of the Southern Continent — the Chengji Empire (at least the strongest on the surface).
It felt as if a bright future and supreme glory were beckoning to her nearby.
At the top, guided by eunuchs, they entered through a side door into a side hall.
The side hall served as a lounge where officials could rest before court began.
The other subordinate officials of the East Palace had been waiting for a long time.
When they saw Qin Yu enter, the chatter immediately died down.
Everyone stood to salute Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu.
Only after Qin Yu nodded did they return to their seats.
News of Qin Yu returning to the Chengji Empire and her change in gender had already hit the headlines.
Everyone was gossiping about it.
Qin Yu was worried someone might publicly question her in court, but seeing the East Palace officials remain silent on the matter, she felt slightly more at ease.
“It’s about time.” After a while, Qin Yu stood up.
The subordinate officials followed suit, lining up behind her to enter the main hall of Weiyang Hall.
Seeing that every official’s rank was much higher than her own, Luo Shangyu consciously moved to the very back of the line.
Qin Yu was ready to go when she realized Luo Shangyu wasn’t by her side.
Looking back, she found her at the end of the line.
“Get over here!” Qin Yu walked to the back, grabbed Luo Shangyu’s hand, and pulled her to her side.
The other officials didn’t say anything.
Reports of Luo Shangyu’s arrival had shared the headlines with Qin Yu’s return, so they were not strangers to her.
Moreover, seeing them walk in side by side, everyone realized their relationship was not simple.
But it made sense — could Luo Shangyu have defected from the Kingdom of Yiyong to the Chengji Empire for Qin Yu’s sake if their bond was just a simple matter of captor and prisoner?
Luo Shangyu had intended to keep a low profile among the officials, but after Qin Yu’s intervention, she had to follow obediently behind her.
Qin Yu led the group to the East Palace’s designated area.
To the north of the main hall was the Dragon Throne, the Emperor’s seat.
To the right was the area for East Palace personnel, and to the left was the area for the various vassal kings, directly opposite the East Palace.
In the middle was a wide open space for officials of all levels to stand during the session.
In front of the East Palace section was a small table with two chairs.
Judging by the size of the table and chairs, it was obvious there was originally only one chair; the second had been added recently.
Emperor Qin Ling was already seated on the Dragon Throne.
Qin Yu led the East Palace officials in a bow, and Luo Shangyu followed their lead.
Once Qin Ling gave a slight nod, Qin Yu pulled Luo Shangyu down to sit.
As for the other officials, their rank only permitted them to stand behind Qin Yu.
Having been away from the court for a long time, Qin Yu surveyed the changes.
The furnishings in Weiyang Hall remained the same, but Qin Ling’s complexion was deathly pale, clearly abnormal.
While Qin Yu was observing him, Luo Shangyu nudged her elbow and asked, “Who is that opposite us?”
Qin Yu looked across.
In the vassal kings’ section sat a middle-aged man.
He had a head of glossy black, short-cropped hair, and his eyes were bright and piercing.
A few wrinkles on his face added to his air of maturity.
He was thin and upright, projecting an image of shrewd competence.
This was Qin Yi, the Prince of Zhenping.
“Why does he have a sword at his waist?” Luo Shangyu whispered.
According to the laws of the Chengji Empire, no one was allowed to carry weapons when meeting the Emperor unless granted special permission.
Qin Yu shook her head, indicating she didn’t know.
Even more shocking were the guards standing behind Qin Yi.
They were clad in armor and held long sabers.
Qin Yu quickly realized their armor was not the standard-issue equipment of the Chengji Empire; it looked like Qin Yi’s own custom design.
‘He’s actually maintaining a private army!’ Qin Yu gasped inwardly.
For a vassal king to recruit a private army was not just a simple violation of the law — it was a sign of impending rebellion.