When Zeng Anmin arrived at the grand hall.
He naturally felt everyone's eyes upon him.
Following behind Zeng Shilin, he swept his innocent gaze across the assembled officials.
Tsk, that old man who looked so steady should be Li Zhen, the current Grand Chancellor of the Great Sage Dynasty.
Oh? Liu Chengqian was here too? And sitting behind Li Zhen?
Pretending to be one of the Grand Chancellor's faction while actually serving as Duke Ning's lapdog. Tsk, tsk.
Eh? Who was that smiling at me?
"Since Venerable Zeng has arrived, please take your seat. Your place is up front."
When the young eunuch saw the father and son enter the hall, his smile bloomed brilliantly.
Zeng Shilin merely nodded faintly.
"Thank you for the trouble."
Then, he followed the young eunuch toward the front.
Zeng Anmin was just about to follow his father.
But the young eunuch stopped him.
"County Duke Zeng, you needn't go over there. Your seat is in the middle of the hall."
Seeing Zeng Anmin, the young eunuch's smile became even brighter.
His youthful face crinkled like a chrysanthemum, wrinkle upon wrinkle folding inward.
"The middle?"
Following the young eunuch's gesture, Zeng Anmin headed toward the center.
It was surrounded by the tables of the officials arranged in two rows, directly before Emperor Jianhong's Dragon Throne.
A row of tables was laden with delicacies.
"This... is a little conspicuous, isn't it...?"
Zeng Anmin blinked.
"Not conspicuous at all! As meritorious officials of this southern campaign, this palace banquet has been held precisely for people like you!"
"Don't be modest. Please, sit!"
The young eunuch smilingly arranged Zeng Anmin's seat.
"That works for me."
Zeng Anmin had barely planted his backside on the chair.
When a voice rang out beside his ear.
"Princess has arrived!!"
The next