Zhangsun Wuji's Gaze in the Imperial Court

Early in the morning, Gao Xuan got up and headed to the Yangxin Palace.

Having grown accustomed to waking up naturally every day, he felt a bit out of sorts suddenly waking up so early.

With his cultivation now at the Grandmaster realm, he didn't feel tired even if he went without eating, drinking, or sleeping for days on end. It was mainly the psychological discomfort that bothered him.

The sky was not fully bright yet, and the vast and majestic palace appeared exceptionally serene. The rustling sound of leaves echoed in the cold wind, and occasionally, he could see a few eunuchs busy with their night duties.

Walking on the white jade stone path, Gao Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of sentimentality.

In his past life, he had never seen Los Angeles at five in the morning, but in this life, he was forced to witness the palace at a little past four in the morning.

When he arrived at the Yangxin Palace, the Emperor, dressed in men's clothing, had just finished washing up and put on her golden dragon-embroidered robe.

At first glance, she did exude some majesty, but Gao Xuan couldn't help but feel like she was a little dandy.

Looking at the pile of memorials on the table, it seemed that she hadn't slept all night, which instantly balanced Gao Xuan's emotions to some extent.

Setting aside her job performance, the dedication of the beautiful Emperor was commendable.

It's just that it was all for naught.

She had no real power, and it would be better if she just lounged around.

"Your Majesty, it's time," Gao Xuan said.

"Let's go to court." the empress said lightly. Her beautiful eyes swept over Gao Xuan before she stood up and walked out. Ling Shuang accompanied her by her side, and Gao Xuan hurriedly caught up.

This title of "Front Court Eunuch" sounded nice, but in reality, he was just a little attendant.

In no time, they arrived at the Taihe Hall.

The Emperor entered through a side door and took her seat on the dragon throne in the center of the high platform. Gao Xuan and Ling Shuang stood below the dais.

"We, your ministers, pay homage to Your Majesty."

At this moment, all the civil and military officials had gathered, and they bowed in unison to the Emperor.

As Gao Xuan looked at the magnificent hall and the officials in their diverse attire paying their respects, he felt a sense of awe. It was a completely different experience from watching it on television.

Before he could regain his composure, a court eunuch stepped forward and, with a flick of his whisk, shouted loudly, "The Empress Dowager has arrived~"

A graceful figure, assisted by two palace maids, sat down on the soft couch behind the dragon throne. The pearl curtains covered her, making it impossible to see her face clearly.

"We, your ministers, pay homage to the Empress Dowager!"

Except for a few who were exempted from kneeling, all the civil and military officials knelt and kowtowed, even the Empress stood up and paid her respects.

"I greet the Empress Dowager."

"Emperor, rise. Everyone, please rise," came the faint voice from behind the pearl curtains, exuding a sense of nobility and laziness.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

The officials then stood up one by one.

As Gao Xuan stood up, he couldn't help but secretly ridicule. The beautiful Emperor was indeed just an empty figurehead, without any of the dignity befitting an Emperor.

The regent Empress Dowager, who held power behind the curtains, had quite a grand display. Even the officials only kowtowed to the Empress Dowager and not the Emperor.

In the past, due to the young age of the Empress, the late Emperor had designated the Empress Dowager as the temporary regent, with the assistance of four ministers to act as her guardians.

However, this had become an obstacle for the beautiful Emperor to regain full control of the court.

Although she had reached adulthood, the Empress Dowager showed no intention of relinquishing power. Instead, she used her authority to cultivate a large group of officials loyal to her.

Among the four ministers acting as her guardians, apart from the ambitious General Wanzhen Shan, who held military power, and the Prime Minister Changsun Wuji, the other two had secretly sided with the Empress Dowager.

The Steward of the Imperial Household, Wei Xian, who was in charge of all the palace expenses, was also nurtured and promoted by the Empress Dowager. And there was the Chief Supervisor of the East Chambers, Bai Shouhe.

Gao Xuan secretly glanced behind the dragon throne, wanting to catch a glimpse of the legendary Empress Dowager who held power over the court and the country.

It was rumored that the Empress Dowager, who had once overshadowed the capital with her beauty, still retained her allure even though she was nearing forty.

But because of the curtains, he could only see a figure.

Gao Xuan felt a bit itchy. He wondered who would be more impressive, the beautiful Emperor or the Empress Dowager.

Then, someone stepped forward and started reporting some insignificant matters. Bored, Gao Xuan looked around the court and was instantly drawn to the figure of a middle-aged man in full armor at the forefront. He had a burly figure and a fierce gaze.

Especially since this middle-aged man was able to carry a sword into the court, his status must be extraordinary.

His thoughts flickered, and an attribute panel appeared in his mind.

[Name: Wan Zhenshan]

[Age: 57]

[Cultivation]:??? (temporarily unavailable)

[Cultivation Technique]:??

[Identity: Great Pillar Country of the Da Qian Dynasty, Guarding General]

As he suspected, this person was none other than the father of the Imperial Concubine, Grand Marshal Wan Zhenshan!

What made him feel palpitations was that he couldn't see through the opponent's cultivation!

It must be because the other party's realm far surpassed his own, at least at the top three realms, making it impossible to detect.

Gao Xuan quickly lowered his head and shifted his gaze elsewhere.

People like him with sharp senses usually noticed any prying eyes. If Wan Zhenshan detected his scrutiny, it would lead to big trouble.

Fortunately, there were many people in the court, and his gaze didn't attract Wan Zhenshan's attention.

Gao Xuan then turned his gaze to the person standing side by side with Wan Zhenshan, an old man dressed in a gray Confucian robe, with a thin and clean appearance.

[Name: Zhangsun Wuji]

[Age: 60]

[Cultivation]:???

[Cultivation Technique]:??

[Identity: High Priest of the Confucian Temple, Prime Minister of the Great Qian Dynasty]

This is the empress's father!

Gao Xuan became excited at the sight of the name, and when he saw the cultivation level, he was even more shocked.

He never expected Changsun Wuji's cultivation to be so profound. He truly deserved to be the High Priest of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, who could contend with Wan Zhenshan!

In a sense, Changsun Wuji was also considered as father-in-law. After all, he was the one who slept with the Empress.

It was just that he couldn't let his father-in-law know about this for the time being. Otherwise, Gao Xuan would be killed by the other party's palm.

Just as Gao Xuan was thinking, Zhangsun Wuji also noticed something and looked over at him with doubt and curiosity.

Gao Xuan quickly shifted his gaze elsewhere, pretending that he was just casually looking at it.

He could feel a terrifying divine sense probing his body, as if it wanted to see through him.

Zhangsun Wuji was slightly puzzled. Why did he seem to sense a trace of his daughter's aura from this Ling Sea Realm eunuch?

When he saw Gao Xuan's clothes, he immediately reacted.

The imperial eunuch, no wonder.

He must have followed the Emperor to the Kunning Palace.

After figuring it out, Zhangsun Wuji immediately shifted his gaze away and no longer paid attention to Gao Xuan.

Gao Xuan heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. His back was already drenched in cold sweat.

Putting everything else aside, if Zhangsun Wuji found out that she was his man, he would be done for.

Not to mention that he was still cultivating a forbidden demonic technique and had concealed his true cultivation.

Fortunately, the Sky-Devouring Demonic Technique was well-concealed, so he was not discovered by the other party.

He had thought that he would have the ability to protect himself after reaching the Grandmaster Realm, but it was still not enough in front of the big shots of the Upper Three Realms.

Now, he had already met three Upper Three Realm experts, Wei Xian, Wan Zhenshan, and Zhangsun Wuji. Who knew if there were any other old foxes in the palace?

His cultivation realm was still too low. Before he reached the upper three realms, he still had to develop.

Gao Xuan thought to himself that he had to find an opportunity to increase his strength.

..