"You came just to tell me this?" Chen Ke heard it, still the endless struggle in the official circle, and immediately lost interest: "What does this have to do with me?"

  "It's related," Zhao Zongji said calmly: "The official wants to see you..."

  "See me..." Chen Ke's expression suddenly froze.

  "Hmm." Zhao Zongji ordered outside: "Let's go."

  "Where are you going?"

  "Enter the palace."

  "Can't I even change my clothes?"

  "This outfit is just fine."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  On the way to the imperial palace, Chen Ke suddenly felt a bit nervous: "This... is too sudden, isn't it?"

  "I thought you didn't know what tension was." Zhao Zongji smiled and said in a low voice, "Today when I went to the palace to pay my respects, I mentioned to the official that you were ambushed last month. The official is kind-hearted, so he said, 'Bring him along next time.'"

  "... Chen Ke's heart was slightly moved, how could he not know? Having been summoned by the imperial court, those people would inevitably be cautious and his safety would definitely be greatly guaranteed."

  "It's not just about giving you a boost," Zhao Zongji said in a low voice, "At this critical moment, eight out of ten will also ask about the Liu Ta River. What do you plan to say?"

  "What does it mean?" Chen Ke looked at Zhao Zongji.

  "Wenfu's two-phase element has a good reputation, and he is still young and vigorous, with a long future ahead... Zhao Zongji said slowly: "If you don't give them some face, I'm afraid you'll be in trouble later."

  Chen Ke knew that Zhao Zongji was doing this for his own good. For a newcomer who is about to enter the officialdom, making a young and powerful leader resentful would have a serious negative impact on his entire career path. Unfortunately, both chancellors were recognized as 'gentlemen', and opposing them would not even gain a good reputation...

  "Who's afraid?!" Chen Ke sneered, "At worst, I'll return to my old home in Sichuan and let me wipe the butts of these hypocrites. Don't even think about it! My old self barely escaped with my life, how can I bow down and fawn on those in power, making me unable to show a smile?"

  "Alas..." Zhao Zongji sighed with a bitter smile: "Then what did you take the imperial examination for?"

  "After ten years of hard work, I should at least give myself an explanation." Chen Ke said coldly: "I originally planned that if this official position is enjoyable, I'll pretend for a few years and consider it as giving the imperial court an explanation. If it's not enjoyable, I'll immediately return home and live a happy life in my own courtyard."

  "Courtyard?" Zhao Zongji exclaimed in surprise: "You still have such ideals?"

  "I told you so."

  "I thought you were joking."

  "I also thought that the Song Dynasty officials being corrupt and not distinguishing between right and wrong was just a joke."

  “……”

  The horse carriage fell into silence, neither of them spoke again.

  As they approached Xuan De Gate, Zhao Zongji gently pressed down on Chen Ke's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Say whatever you want to say."

  "Are you going to take what I say as your own intention?" Chen Xiao understood.

  "Ah, you're the one I invited into the palace, they'll naturally think that you're speaking on my behalf, saying things that aren't convenient for me to say." Zhao Zongji smiled freely and said: "What do I care about them? As a leisurely and idle member of the imperial family, what do I have to gain? Just speak your mind and be done with it!"

  Chen Ke fell silent again.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  If one were to choose the most majestic imperial palace in Chinese history, there would certainly be some debate. However, if one were to choose the most frugal, there would be no dispute - it would have to be the imperial palace of the Northern Song Dynasty's capital, Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng), specifically the Zhao family's palace. Its predecessor was the Tang Dynasty's Xuanwu Military Command headquarters, which was later converted into the Jianchang Palace by the Later Liang Dynasty, marking the beginning of this location being used as an imperial palace.

  Afterwards, it went through the Later Jin and the Later Zhou before finally coming to the current dynasty. In the third year of Jianlong, Zhao Kuangyin, who had stabilized his regime, ordered workers to build according to the palace system of Luoyang in the Tang Dynasty. However, due to the refusal of surrounding residents to relocate, the Song emperor did not know what forced demolition was, and finally had to merge the imperial city and the palace city into one, setting up some central government offices in the front part of the imperial palace, while putting the emperor's residential palace, the harem palace, and some palace facilities in the back part of the imperial palace, separated by a street running east-west.

  If drawn in a bird's-eye view, you will find that the imperial palaces of other dynasties all have strict central axes, emphasizing symmetry and rigorous laws. Only the Song Dynasty palace, although each part is rigorous in law, but the overall structure is like building blocks stacked together, only seeking to be functional and complete, without considering anything else...

  Of course, what is called 'dilapidated' is also because it is placed in the long river of history for vertical comparison. In this era alone, the Song Dynasty palace is still the most luxurious and majestic building complex in the world. Every citizen who stands under Xuan De Gate for the first time will be deeply shocked by its grandeur.

  But not including Chen Kui, because the shape of Xuan De Men is similar to that of Wu Men in later dynasties' Forbidden City, and it's even smaller. As the saying goes, "it's hard for a river to be as vast as an ocean", for those who have visited the Forbidden City in Beijing, it's difficult to find another palace that can surprise them greatly.

  After entering the Xuan De Gate, a magnificent palace sitting on top of three layers of Dan Tai appeared before him. This was the Da Qing Hall, equivalent to the Tai He Hall of later generations. This made Chen Xiao feel somewhat unaccustomed, because between the Tai He Hall and the Wu Men, there was also the Tai He Gate, with two spacious courtyards to the south and north, fully displaying the majestic imperial atmosphere.

  But this Song Dynasty palace, as soon as you enter the palace gate, it's the main hall, and there are only three layers of platforms in front of the hall as a buffer, which is much colder than the Forbidden City. It seems that the rumor that they don't compete with the people for land is true... This made Chen Ke finally have a bit of a good impression of the Song Dynasty officials.

  "Go this way." Zhao Zongji gestured to Chen Ke to turn right, heading east along the north corridor, entering the Left Longqing Gate. They walked north for about a mile, passing through the Left Silver Platform Gate and onto the main street that separated the inner and outer palaces. On this imperial corridor, they walked another mile or so before arriving at the gate of the Chuiwen Hall, where Zhao Zongji finally said, "We're here."

  Leading Chen Ke into the Weiyang Palace, Zhao Zongji let the eunuch go in to report. While waiting, a small eunuch invited the two of them to the ear room to warm up by the fire, and also brought over ginger soup, as well as bringing over two pairs of clean shoes... Although they were holding umbrellas, but on this road, the two people's bodies were still dripping wet, especially their feet in their shoes, which had become completely soaked through.

  When the two men had finished arranging everything, an imperial eunuch arrived with a message.

  The two of them hastily got up, held their breath and concentrated, passing through the layers of curtains, until they reached the entrance to the imperial hall. There, they saw a middle-aged man wearing a blue silk robe, with jade hairpins, gentle eyes and eyebrows, and a sickly complexion, sitting on a tiger-shaped bed, smiling at them.

  "Junior greets uncle..." Zhao Zongji bowed deeply on horseback.

  "A humble villager pays respects to the sage." Chen Ke also hastily dismounted and bowed deeply... On the way here, he had repeatedly confirmed that this was indeed the etiquette for a subject of the Great Song Dynasty to meet their lord. Although he knew it was because the "kowtow" hadn't been invented yet, he still felt secretly pleased... Not having to perform three kneelings and nine knockings was really great.

  "Get up." A gentle voice said: "Ji'er, this is Chen Sanlang, right?"

  "Yes, uncle." Zhao Zongji said: "This is for Chen Ke."

  "Hmm..." The official smiled and looked at Chen Ke, seeing that he was tall and strong, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, exuding an air of elegance. He wore a white shirt with a black belt, typical of a Confucian student, and his eyebrows seemed to hold a hint of literary talent, giving off an impression of being both refined and martially capable. The official couldn't help but smile in praise: "Chen, you've raised a good son!"

  Chen Ke was also secretly sizing up the Song Dynasty, this gentle middle-aged uncle, whose words and deeds made people feel like a spring breeze, if he wasn't in this palace, he really couldn't associate him with the ruler of a country.

  "Don't be constrained, your father and I will soon become sworn brothers," the official laughed and said: "In fact, you should also call me Uncle..."

  "......" Chen Ke was sweating, although they also joked about it in private, but who dared to climb this relative? He repeatedly said "I don't dare".

  "Even if you don't call me 'brother-in-law'," the official smiled and said, "you should still refer to yourself as 'your subordinate', rather than 'humble citizen'. Are you dissatisfied with the low rank of a secretary?"

  "No, humble subject... oh no, your humble servant," Chen Ke was still a bit nervous when he saw the famous Song Renzong, and then returned to normal: "It's just that I didn't take myself as an official, this ceremonial officer, not mentioning it would make me forget."

  "Hehehe, can't forget." The official waved his hand and a palace servant brought over two embroidered cushions.

  Zhao Zongji thanked him and sat down properly.

  Chen Ke didn't know whether he should sit or not, and was somewhat dazed... The TV dramas of his past life had told him that the palace had many rules, such as being granted a seat, which was only for high-ranking officials or princes like Zhao Zongji. As a small fry like himself, it was already good enough to not have to kneel, let alone hope for a seat?

  "Sit down." The official smiled and said: "Don't be formal, we're just chatting like family, so consider me your uncle."

  Chen Ke said he didn't dare, and put half of his buttocks on the brocade cushion.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "We can be considered old friends." The official had someone serve Chen Ke and Zhao Zongji two bowls of Angelica and Red Date Soup, telling them to drink it to dispel the cold. After the two finished drinking, he smiled and said: "Your 'Dictionary' still has my preface."

  "The kindness of Your Excellency," Chen Ke hastily rose and said: "Your humble servant is deeply grateful."

  "Sit down and talk, don't get up and leave suddenly. You may not find it difficult, but I do." The official smiled and scolded, "What kind of favor is that? You probably don't even understand what this dictionary means to the Song Dynasty."

  "Your humble servant truly didn't know," Chen Ke said in a low voice: "I just felt that I should do this thing, so I did it. Nor did I think it would startle the authorities."

  Zhao Zongji gave him a somewhat unexpected glance, and secretly laughed to himself: 'You thought you could act like that in front of anyone, but here in the official's residence, you're as meek as a little cat.'

  "To put it in a big way, this is the heyday of education and culture. The hundred-year national policy of our great Song Dynasty will also be glorified because of this." The official smiled and said: "People who know characters, read classics, understand etiquette, and are clear about faithfulness will increase greatly. The prosperity of education and culture in our great Song Dynasty will surely far surpass that of the eight generations."

  "The official has made a mistake." Chen Ke was sweating, did the emperor want to open a night school to eradicate illiteracy?