A quarter past the Hour of the Monkey.
Bianjing.
Fish-Dragon Street, Su Manor.
Su Yun had long been standing outside the left side of the main gate, proper and respectful as he waited.
In front of him stood the aunts from every courtyard of the Su Family, while behind him, more than a dozen quick-witted servants of Su Manor lowered their heads to stare at their toes.
Chen Jiuyan stood among them as well, still dressed as a man. She wore a footed headwrap and a jade-green belt around her waist, one hand resting on it. Her lovely eyes held a little more spirit than before.
The vermilion gates of Su Manor remained tightly shut.
A group of important court ministers stood to the right outside the entrance.
None wore their purple official robes. They were all dressed in ordinary clothes.
On the street before the gates!
Carriages stood in neat rows, while tall, fine horses occasionally snorted and lightly stamped their hooves.
Their crisp sounds echoed over the flagstone road.
The snow on the street had long since been swept clean. Only a little white snow remained atop the eaves and walls of the vermilion enclosure, adding a touch of winter's chill.
Everyone had waited here for quite some time, yet no one dared whisper. All remained silent.
Only the white vapor of their breaths hung low as they rubbed their frost-reddened hands within their sleeves.
The atmosphere was solemn!
Su Yun and Chen Jiuyan stood bent in respectful waiting as well.
At this moment!
A servant slowly pushed open the gates of the Su Family, and everyone's expressions instantly tightened.
Then someone took the lead, bending at the waist as he called out:
"Greetings, Chancellor!"
The voices were orderly and resounding, echoing through the street.
As the cries