"Thank you, Brother Han!"
After a long, long time, Zhao Kai finally calmed down. It was indeed as Han Mo had said, he was too sharp-edged at the moment.
"Does Your Highness understand?"
Han Mo smiled and asked again.
"I understand. If it weren't for Brother Han, I would have likely perished!"
Zhao Kai gave a bitter smile. He felt completely drained, as if all his strength had been sucked out.
His face was even a bit pale, and he no longer possessed the spirited demeanor he had when he first arrived.
"Your Highness, you speak too highly of me. My identity is sensitive, so I shall not linger here any longer. I take my leave!"
Han Mo did not mention the subsequent struggle for the position of Grand Preceptor of Daming, nor did Zhao Kai ask about it.
After leaving the restaurant, they each went home. However, while Zhao Kai was unwilling to contend, it did not mean that no one else would vie for this prize.
At the very least, Cai Jing and Cai You both felt that they absolutely had to secure it.
To increase his chances, Cai You even made a special trip to Tong Guan's mansion, hoping to gain his favor.
In the past, such a thing would have been almost impossible.
Although they were both subordinates of Prince Yun, Cai You was ambitious and held himself in high regard, so he naturally looked down on Tong Guan.
After all, the matters of the court were not hidden from the lower ranks.
How Tong Guan had risen through the ranks â did anyone know better than Cai You?
If he had, like Di Qing in the past, forced his way up through sheer merit, that would have been one thing.
But he relied on stealing credit and deceiving his superiors. Cai You, in his heart, still retained a shred of scholarly pride and naturally had no fondness for such behavior.
However, now, the position of Grand Preceptor of Daming was too important to him. In the face of true benefit, he was naturally capable of bending.
As for Cai Jing, due to Liang Shicheng's backstabbing, the position of Grand Preceptor of Nanjing was likely to be lost. He naturally had to do his utmost to contend for the position of Grand Preceptor of Daming.
After all, if they lost this position as well, even if the Emperor granted him the position of Grand Preceptor of Xijing, it would still be an unacceptable failure for the Cai faction.
They needed to wield power, using local governance and military authority, to counter the pressure from Wang Fu.
After all, everyone knew everyone else's game!
Although this scoundrel always maintained a smiling demeanor, he was truly a smiling tiger.
As long as Cai Jing stepped down, this old scoundrel would immediately move against the Cai faction.
However, at the center of all this storm, Emperor Zhao Ji was no longer in a hurry.
"You say Prince Yun went to see Han Mo just now?"
"Yes, Your Highness had too many people around him. Our people could not get too close, so..."
"It doesn't matter. At this time, one can guess what the third prince would ask. I just don't know if this young man truly understands my intentions..."
Zhao Ji spoke while carefully trimming the flight feathers of his pet birds.
As the Emperor spoke to himself, the eunuchs of the Imperial City Department lowered their heads.
"Your Majesty, shall we send someone to..."
"No need. I also want to see how smart the child can be!"
Zhao Ji spoke as he made the final snip.
Fortunately, he was quite satisfied with his handiwork.
"Yes!"
Several eunuchs responded and left. Zhao Ji was once again alone in the Fu Ning Hall.
Tomorrow was the grand court assembly, and the struggle for the position of Grand Preceptor of Daming should come to an end.
The final list from the Political Affairs Council was about to be revealed. Looking at the candidates on the table, Zhao Ji's eyes were filled with amusement.
He was a competent painter, a good calligrapher, but hardly a good emperor.
Originally, this position had to be filled by a capable minister, as it was a truly crucial location.
But now, this position had become a bargaining chip for the Emperor to play his game of balancing power.
If Zhao Kuangyin knew this, his coffin lid would probably be unable to stay shut.
After carefully reviewing the resumes of those individuals, Zhao Ji had already formed his own conclusion.
"Your Majesty, Immortal Lin has arrived!"
Just as he was lost in thought, a young eunuch spoke cautiously.
"Please invite Immortal Lin in!"
Zhao Ji was slightly startled, then put down the memorial he was holding.
"Greetings, Emperor!"
When Lin Lingsu met the Emperor, he never addressed him as Emperor or Your Majesty, but rather as Emperor.
This, however, truly struck a chord with the Emperor. He was exceptionally pleased with this identity of the Great Emperor Jun of Longevity.
After all, wasn't being an immortal happier than being an emperor?
"True Master, why are we being so formal between us? There are no outsiders here."
Although he was very pleased with this appellation, he still displayed a hint of feigned displeasure on his face.
"Your Majesty, you speak amiss. Your status is noble. If I were to be presumptuous and disregard propriety, I might incur divine retribution!"
Lin Lingsu knew exactly how to please the Emperor, and thus began his flattery once more.
This was also one of the main reasons why the Divine Firmament School had developed so rapidly compared to other Taoist schools.
After all, other Taoist schools claimed their founders were celestial beings who could help earthly emperors ascend to immortality.
These celestial beings were naturally nobler than mortals. Following this logic, one was a subordinate, and then rewarded with ascension to immortality.
The other claimed that you were a celestial being yourself, the reincarnation of the first son of the Heavenly Emperor, the Great Emperor Jun of Longevity. The status was naturally different.
Even the former Grand Preceptors of the Great Song Dynasty had to treat the Emperor with great respect when they met him.
Yet, only he, this Grand Preceptor, had to bow respectfully to the Emperor every time they met.
It was not optional; it was not out of respect for the Emperor's status, but because you were a celestial being from heaven, and failing to bow would incur divine retribution!
Every emperor naturally liked to hear pleasant words, so this charade was performed almost every time they met.
Seeing Lin Lingsu bow respectfully once more, Zhao Ji felt a sense of accomplishment.
"Alright, now that the formalities are concluded, let us discuss important matters today!"
After Lin Lingsu had completed his elaborate ritual, Zhao Ji smiled and gestured for him to sit down.
"Your Majesty, whatever you wish, just command me. I shall obey without question!"
Lin Lingsu said with a smile.
"I have a matter of uncertainty today, and I wish for you to divine aćŠ for me!"
Zhao Ji smiled and said casually.
"Your Majesty, please write down the matter you wish to divine on paper!"
Lin Lingsu said directly without hesitation.
"I have already prepared this. Please, True Master!"
Zhao Ji spoke as he took a pre-written list from his desk, folded it a few times, and then handed it to Lin Lingsu.