At an estate outside the city, Jizi told Bi Gan how the ministers had reacted.
Bi Gan immediately set down the square bronze stamp engraved with reversed characters, his breathing quickening.
Two years. He had finally done it.
Though his treason had forced him to retreat behind the scenes, fame and fortune did not matter. Within his finite lifetime, he wanted to see Great Shang's boundless future.
And now, he had seen it.
At the thought, Bi Gan flushed crimson, unable to contain his excitement.
At tomorrow's court assembly, His Majesty would surely be just as delighted and surprised as those ministers.
He gave Jizi a long, meaningful look. I leave everything to you.
The next morning's court assembly arrived, and the ministers hurried to the Nine-Chamber Hall.
Zi Shou had reached the Nine-Chamber Hall early and watched San Yisheng ram his head against a pillar three times in succession.
He wondered if he should simply build more palaces.
What foolish monarch did not launch massive construction projects?
Construction had stopped once the Star-Plucking Tower was finished. That was not a good sign.
Each of the Six Ministries needed its own hall.
Each of the Three Departments needed at least one hall.
The Nine-Chamber Hall had been in use far too long, and its name did not sound good either. He would build a new one.
He could not build the Deer Terrace-that was bad luck. But he had to build two Epang Palaces, one pronounced "E-pang Palace," the other "A-fang Palace."
Zi Shou looked down at those below him. Rather than first asking whether there were any memorials, he had the Seasonal Official check who was on recess that day.
After a while, the Seasonal Official said, "Reporting to Your Majesty: Grand Tutor Wen, Grandee Yang, Grandee Sun, and