Some of the gazes in the hall turned toward the voice.
The speaker was Yang Tingheng, Court of State Ceremonial Minister.
Clad in a crimson robe bearing an Immortal Crane Rank Badge, he was the Principal Third Rank ceremonial minister of Imperial Pole Hall, responsible for court order at assemblies, envoys from the Various Nations, and ceremonial protocol for Princes and Dukes.
Although his cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, on matters of placement and ceremonial protocol within Imperial Pole Hall, even ministers of the Six Ministries and senior officials of the Ministry of Rites would not lightly deny him face.
Holding a purple jade hu tablet, Yang Tingheng bowed slightly to Qing Chen. "Marquis, you have entered the hall today by imperial decree, and the Court of State Ceremonial has reviewed your placement. Today, you will not stand among the Principal Third Rank substantive officials, but among the Subordinate Second Rank crimson-robed officials."
At these words, the atmosphere in the hall changed at once, and quite a few people were inwardly astonished.
The Subordinate Second Rank crimson-robed ranks were not where Tie Ce stood.
Who stood in that row?
Several Circuit Inspectors of the Governor-General's Office who wielded real authority, the Right Clan Court Minister of the Clan Court, lower-ranking Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, powerful Left Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries, and Dukes whose titles carried hereditary succession.
Many were themselves Great Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Peak, with Spirit Transformation Venerables backing them to varying degrees. Their seniority and power in the Immortal Dynasty could be said to reach the heavens.
Although Tie Ce knew Qing Chen was formidable in battle, the Immortal Dynasty was not all fighting and killing. He had never expected that this