Chapter 23 God Palace Supervisor

The entire imperial court was on the verge of descending into chaos, but Emperor Wanli seized the opportunity to hit the pause button, declaring that today's meeting would end there. Everyone should return home for some serious self-reflection, and he himself would go back to the palace to ponder things over in his dreams.

The court session adjourned.

It was quite a peculiar feeling, finishing work in the Ming Dynasty for the first time.

The emperor and his ministers bickered, ultimately slapping him with the title of Sicheng (Assistant Director of Studies) of the Imperial Academy. He composed a poem, and then they started fighting among themselves... This internal strife, was this a typical feature of the Ming Dynasty bureaucracy?

As a Fourth Rank official of the Imperial Academy, he would, of course, be formally given an official robe emblazoned with the divine beasts of the Ming Dynasty, but that would have to wait a few days. However, Ji Xiang had no intention of actually working at the Imperial Academy. In any case, his position was newly created and effectively a honorary title.

Not bad. If he had really been given some powerful official post, he wouldn't be able to resign... But thinking about it, that wasn't realistic.

The censorate officials had originally wanted to quarrel in the court, but the emperor had forcibly dismissed them. Now they were blocking the entrance to the Meridian Gate, engaging in a war of words with the old man, Old Liu.

Typical of the Ming Dynasty: criticizing people at work, engaging in armchair politics after work.

Every day, they would mutter that if so-and-so didn't die, the Ming Dynasty would be finished. Everywhere they went, the general environment was bad, and they were the ones who would change it.

Ji Xiang's poem, composed in four steps, was being recited by many people, who decided to copy it down and take it home. Within the scholar-official group, it was well-received.

Of course, there were also those who harbored hostility towards Ji Xiang, declaring on the sidelines, "This Daoist is the second Tao Zhongwen! The events of last night were probably like Tao Zhongwen setting the fire back then. He did it himself, and then went to save the day!"

However, this slogan didn't resonate with most people because one of the three Grand Secretaries had come over to talk to him.

Who instructed you to spout nonsense here? What is your purpose in saying these things? Does your family live close to the Northern Garrison Office? I think you'll soon experience a brand new life that is both imprisonable and un-imprisonable.

"It doesn't feel good to be watched, does it? It's okay, they're all censors, reporting things based on hearsay. Just have a thick skin and you'll be fine."

The Grand Secretary, also the Second Assistant Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, Shen Yiguan, spoke to Ji Xiang at this time, praising him, "But having said that, you little brat are really something. This poem is really good. Does it have a title?"

Ji Xiang said, "It's just a spontaneous expression... As for a title... Why doesn't Your Excellency bestow one?"

Shen Yiguan smiled, his old face crinkling. "That won't do. It's not that I don't want to give your poem a name, but if I get involved in poetry, the censors will inevitably nag at me, saying that I instructed you to write this poem."

"Then there will be talk of metaphors and schemes, and they'll weave it into a grand conspiracy. Never mind, never mind. If you have a title in mind, just tell me later."

Ji Xiang's mind raced, and he muttered, "How about 'Reformation'?"

The Reformation Movement? In a few days, I'll give you the Scholars' Petition, the winds of fortune turning between the Ming and Qing dynasties.

But Shen Yiguan pondered the two characters and felt that it was acceptable. Although it sounded a bit strange, it did fit the main theme of the poem.

"'Poem of Reformation,' not bad."

The Grand Secretary was very satisfied and asked, "By the way, do you want to give up Daoism and study? I see that your literary talent is extraordinary, not just a smattering of knowledge. Let me tell you, studying still has a great future. Cultivating immortality and longevity—so many people cultivate diligently every day, holed up in the mountains, tired of the mortal world. What's so good about that?"

Shen Yiguan seemed to have some intention of winning him over, asking, "Do you know that Zhang Zhenren not only has an official position, but his wife is also the daughter of the current Emperor's son-in-law, and his son, that little immortal, is regarded by His Majesty as a godson... or rather, a grandson? In short, he is very favored."

"If you study, your official career should be smooth. Maybe you can become related to the royal family like Zhang Zhenren."

"So, if you want to study now, come to me."

After the court session adjourned, the Inner Cabinet still had work to do. The three Grand Secretaries went back to work, and Ji Xiang also had to return to the Longde Hall, while Emperor Wanli had already ordered people to move the things from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to the Longde Hall, where he would reside.

As for the other concubines, they all lived in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, after all, the West Six Palaces were almost completely destroyed, except for Consort Shang's Yongning Palace, which was untouched.

The Imperial Hospital went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but at noon, they revealed the news that it was estimated that some concubines would die in the next two days. Consorts Zhou and Xu were already delirious, their breaths as thin as a thread, and Consort Liu Zhao had also been frightened and fell seriously ill.

The emperor transferred some guards into the Longde Hall. The Longde Hall did not belong to the inner palace. At noon, Ji Xiang saw a group of... divine eunuchs?

Divine, not insane. These eunuchs were indeed divine beings, although most of them were minor gods, which still surprised Ji Xiang.

"Which one is Daoist Ji?"

The leading eunuch caught Ji Xiang's attention. In the inner landscape of his divine tablet, the characters of the divine position were reflected.

[Azure Sky Attendant: Proper God, Celestial Secretariat! Middle position of the Human Department, Thirtieth Grade, legend in the Tang Dynasty as a celestial official in charge of communication between heaven and the human realm, the sound of sacrifices is transmitted through him and can reach the ears of the Supreme Lord Lao.]

Ji Xiang bowed. "This poor Daoist is he. May I know why you are looking for this poor Daoist, esteemed sir?"

"Oh, this humble one is the director of the Seal of the Shen Gong Jian (Directorate of Divine Accoutrements). By His Majesty's order, we have returned the statues of Lord Zhenwu and Emperor Ruizong from the Shen Gong Jian."

The Shen Gong Jian was the name of the Ming Dynasty eunuch agency. It was established in the tenth year of Hongwu, located outside the main gate of the Imperial City, relatively far from the Forbidden City. It was one of the Twelve Directorates, with a director eunuch in charge. Under it were clerical assistants, managers, and supervisors, responsible for sweeping, lighting incense, and other matters in the various temples.

They were small in number, but they all held divine positions, belonging to the Celestial Secretariat, but they were all minor gods responsible for sweeping and offering sacrifices.

The Three Pure Ones of the Longde Hall were officially laid off, and the True Martial Emperor and Ruizong were rehired.

Watching the statues of the Three Pure Ones being moved out of the palace, Ji Xiang couldn't help but shake his head.

The gods' promotion and demotion, the rise and fall of their status, were all decided by the contemporary dynasty. However, moving the statues was just a small matter.

The statues of the Three Pure Ones did not suppress the great fire. After such a major event, they were immediately replaced and the True Martial Emperor was rehired.

Moreover, the director eunuch of the Shen Gong Jian also said that they would replace this small incense burner with a large one in a few days, and they would take the small incense burner away.

Ji Xiang immediately understood. The Shen Gong Jian was a junk warehouse, where everything was put?

"Esteemed sir, the magic artifacts here are damaged. Are you responsible for this...?"

Ji Xiang said that his magic artifacts were broken. Could he get some second-hand goods from them, or get them repaired? The director eunuch smiled, saying that where there was procurement, there was a plan, and where there was a plan, there were kickbacks. It depended on whether the Daoist's needs were great or not.

At this time, the statue of the True Martial Emperor was carried in, passing by Ji Xiang. Ji Xiang suddenly felt something and took a closer look.

The statue of the True Martial Emperor was said to have been acquired from somewhere during the Jiajing Emperor's reign. Ji Xiang stared at the statue of the True Martial Emperor and suddenly felt an inexplicable strangeness about it.