Jinghe Year Fifteen, April fifteenth. The Grand Court Audience.
At Yin Hour, before daylight had fully broken, purple, scarlet, green, and blue robes already filled the ranks outside the Great Ming Gate.
This was no ordinary Morning Court in the Hall of Sagely Governance. The Suzhou Silver Case remained unresolved, and each of the Three Bureaus clung to its own account.
Though the Council Secretariat's memorandum had been drafted, without the imperial brush's approval, it counted for nothing.
Every official understood without saying it: a bitter battle would unfold in the hall today.
Third Quarter of Yin Hour, in the Court Waiting Hall outside the Meridian Gate.
Among the Ministry of Revenue officials, Kou Yuan sat in a corner.
With a tea cup in hand, he gently skimmed the foam with its lid, his gaze resting on empty space, his expression unchanged.
Five days earlier, Shen Duan had rebuked him to his face during the council deliberations.
Those words-"You are still far from it"-had driven into his heart like an iron nail that could not be pulled free.
During the four days of council deliberations that followed, Fang Qi had opposed him at every turn over the Suzhou Silver affair.
"Shen Duan..."
Kou Yuan lifted his tea cup, tested its warmth with his lips, then set it down again.
"Grand Secretary." Qi Zhao approached from a nearby seat, bowed, and spoke in a voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.
"The wind seems to be blowing the wrong way over at the Censorate today.
Yao Zhen arrived very early. After entering the Court Waiting Hall, he sat alone and spoke to no one.
I greeted several men who usually exchange greetings with him. He merely nodded slightly to each and said nothing."
"Yao Zhijie." Kou