Golden Seal of Exalted Enfeoffment, Ranked as Marquis; Cangming's Wrath Ignites Thunderous Torrent

Zhao Cheng's pace was not fast.

Every step he took seemed measured beforehand, landing precisely on the golden line running down the center of the Imperial Road.

His gaze remained level and fixed ahead, never glancing about. His face bore no expression, like a peerless lethal weapon sheathed away—its edge concealed, yet its very presence carrying pressure.

The gazes of the assembled ministers moved with him.

Within those gazes were reverence, envy, fervor, and fear.

A young Doctoral Official stared at the dark ceremonial robes embroidered with the Twelve Emblems, his fingers clenched so tightly within his sleeve that they turned white.

He recalled how he had studied bitterly for twenty years and risen to the rank of Doctoral Official, yet did not even qualify to wear a purple ribbon.

Yet this young man, twenty years his junior, was already about to receive a golden seal and purple ribbon.

Another young noble quietly, imperceptibly, leaned forward a little, like a sunflower turning toward the sun, trying to let his face enter the edge of Zhao Cheng's vision as he passed.

Duan Yu stood to one side of the jade steps, dressed in a moon-white deep robe, with the Jade Balance Pavilion's token hanging at her waist.

Her eyes were like two icy rulers, sweeping one by one across the faces of the ministers, taking in every flicker of expression.

She saw Wang Wan's worry, Li Si's gravity, that noble's fawning, and Wei Liao's composure.

The corner of her lips shifted slightly, revealing the faintest smile.

Zhao Cheng reached the foot of the jade steps and stopped.

Above the nine jade steps stood an enormous imperial throne.

Ying Zheng sat upright upon it, wearing a Heaven-Reaching Crown and black robes with a vermilion lower garment, adorned with all Twelve Emblems. Around