This was Chen Ji’s fourth time entering the palace.
If the Ning Dynasty were a giant spanning four thousand li of mountains and rivers, then the Forbidden City, enclosed by towering red palace walls, was the crimson heart of that giant.
The grand secretaries and ministers who came and went from here were the blood flowing through Ning’s veins.
The blood flowed endlessly, yet no one truly knew what the giant’s heart was thinking.
Chen Ji followed Shan Niu’s back, passing through the palace paths between red walls and golden tiles.
Along the way, the Jie Fan guards and eunuchs, upon seeing Shan Niu, all respectfully stepped aside, standing silently at the sides of the path.
Only after he passed would they dare to lift their heads.
Some quietly glanced at Chen Ji, trying to figure out what foolish greenhorn had drunkenly entered the palace to face the emperor.
After a brief peek, they quickly looked away again.
Chen Ji staggered slowly.
Shan Niu turned back without a word, grabbed his belt, lifted him up with one hand, while with the other hand he also carried Liao Zhong forward into the palace.