The Seventh Section: The Terrifying Uncle

  The bell drum struck four times, and the lanterns in the Blue Field Marquis's mansion lit up one after another. The servants were busy lighting fires and boiling water to prepare for their master's morning ablutions and breakfast. The groom had washed and brushed the big green horse clean, saddled it up, and the personal guards put on new clothes, with their horizontal swords inserted into their waist belts. Cloud Auntie was busily rushing about, not daring to be careless in the slightest, as today was the master's first grand court audience with His Majesty.

  No human rights! Yun Ye was pulled up from the bed by Old Madam with great difficulty, standing dazedly beside the bed as she wiped his face and brushed his teeth. The bitterness of the willow branch couldn't even chase away his sleepiness. Old Madam wouldn't let the maidservants touch him, personally and lovingly washing her grandson with warm water, while the big and small maidservants stood behind, supporting their brother in case he accidentally fell over. After putting on official robes, wearing a golden crown - not yet old enough to wear an official hat - changing into thin-soled deerskin boots, and securing his ceremonial sword at his waist, it wasn't until Old Madam wanted to powder his face that Yun Ye suddenly woke up with a start: "This can't be powdered, I'm not a transvestite!" He hastily said it was getting late, so they wouldn't powder him. Old Madam's face was full of regret, thinking her grandson should be able to dress more beautifully.

  He swallowed a large bowl of thin porridge in two or three mouthfuls. He felt his soul returning to his body, and he was invigorated.

  The gate of the Yun's residence opened, and the maidservants stood on both sides. The old lady wiped away her tears as she was supported by Housekeeper Gu to see Cloud off. The little maids also cried so much that they had to be comforted, but it wasn't a farewell for life or death, just an ordinary morning court session.

  Because it was not yet time to open the gate, the entire street was quiet and still, with a crescent moon hanging in the sky. It was now 4:00 AM, and the sound of horseshoes on the ground was particularly clear. Yun Ye let out a breath of white air and once again silently cursed the inhumane early morning hours. Yun's aunt had already given notice to the gate official, who wore a belt full of keys and opened each of the four gates one by one, asking Yun Ye to sign his name. According to Tang law, anyone below the third rank was not qualified to open a side door on the wall of the street, and it was stipulated that no one could open the gate at night without reason. Those who did so would be exiled 3,000 miles away - a distance that would surely bring discomfort. After leaving Yong'an Street, they arrived at Zhuque Avenue, where only patrolling soldiers were present, with no other officials passing by. After verifying their identities, the soldiers from the Martial Arts Department all bowed in unison, leaving two men carrying large lanterns to lead the way forward.

  Taiji Palace is located in the north of the city, built on a mountain. One needs to travel through half of Chang'an City to reach it. Facing south and backing north is the privilege of the imperial family, but ordinary people living in northern houses do not harm the grandeur. Li Er does not need to control this as well.

  The streets were filled with more and more carriages, and the Hou Mansion's guards stopped their horses and cars, waiting for Yun Ye to pass by with his head held high. Only then did they move on. Yun Ye whipped Liu Jinbao with a whip: "Can't you just not be so arrogant? You're making others think you're the young master of the Hou Mansion."

  Liu Jinbao hastily shrunk his neck and turned back to give a silly smile to Lord Hou, causing the surrounding guards to burst into laughter.

  The imperial city has arrived, and from a distance, the gate is seen to be brightly lit, with people surging forward, bowing and greeting each other, chatting and laughing, in a harmonious atmosphere. However, seeing the flames on the torches swaying everywhere reveals that countless sword lights are brewing, waiting for dawn to strike.

  Yun Ye was a military officer, but everyone in front of him was a civil official. When they saw Yun Ye, a young man wearing a purple gold crown on his head, a fourth-rank crimson robe on his body, and an ceremonial sword at his waist representing his identity as a military officer, his face looked very unfamiliar. They whispered to each other, trying to figure out who he was, but no one knew. They concluded that he must be the son of some family who had taken his father's place to gain experience in the imperial court.

  "You stinky brat, what are you doing running to the civil officials' side as a military officer?" His neck hurt and he felt a familiar sensation, so he stopped struggling. Old Cheng completely ignored the disdainful looks from the civil officials, dragged Yun Ye to the front of the military officers' lineup, and put him behind himself: "I'll introduce you to these seniors, they're all good men who have been through life-and-death battles, don't be rude."

  Yun Ye hastily agreed and exchanged a glance with Cheng Chumou, who was wearing a green robe, before following in the footsteps of Old Cheng.

  "This is your Uncle Qin, my old friend and confidant. I'm not feeling well now, you young scamp are full of strange stories. Tomorrow, come and show them to me!" A tall, dark-skinned man with a yellowish complexion was smiling at Yun Ruo in front of him. After Yun Ruo paid his respects, he helped him up and looked him up and down: "What a fine young man! Your master has told me all about you, but unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to meet your teacher. It's really a pity that you can bring bad news ahead of time. I'm convinced that you're a good kid, not someone who is not compassionate. When things settle down at home, come to my place and we'll talk in detail." Yun Ruo couldn't help but associate the kindly old man in front of him with Qin Qiong, the heroic general from "The Legend of Sui and Tang". He had seen his portrait on almost every household door before. It was said that he had eight hundred famous friends and countless unknown ones. With a yellow horse, wearing a purple gold crown, draped in a golden chain mail armor, with a pair of copper shields on his back, holding a tiger-headed spear, he could take the head of a general from among thousands of soldiers as easily as taking something out of a bag. Such a heroic figure was now hunched over, coughing lightly from time to time, looking at this young hero who still had less than ten years of life left, Yun Ruo was choked with emotion and couldn't speak.

  Lao Cheng's face was very bad, Yun Ye's reaction he had seen it all, regret? Yes, it was regret, thinking of his older brother's life of war and battle, day and night fighting, with unmatched martial prowess under the heavens. The new emperor ascended to the throne and granted him the title of Wing Country Duke, Pillar of the State, what was there to regret? Only his body made Lao Cheng worried. His older brother had also said before: "I have been in battles for many years, experienced over 200 wars, repeatedly suffered heavy injuries, calculated that I have shed several dou of blood, how can I not be ill?" This kid didn't take care of his older brother's body well, tomorrow, he would think of a way to cure his older brother's illness.

  Yun Ye didn't know that Lao Cheng was already hitting his ideology, and he was still talking to Qin Qiong in a low voice, constantly asking about Lao Guo Gong's heroic appearance in the past, from time to time making Qin Qiong laugh loudly, having a good impression of this self-assured young man.

  "Is this little guy the Blue Field Marquis?" A big, dark mountain of a man moved over, eight feet tall and with a waist just as wide, basically neckless. His face was covered in wild whiskers, and he lifted Yun Ye's chin to face himself: "I'm going to take a good look at what kind of little guy can offer 50 stones of grain per mu." Yun Ye felt like he was being pinched by a beast trap, his whole body trembling with fear. No need to ask, this was clearly Wei Chi Da Sha's father, Wei Chi Lao Sha. Originally wanted to call him Uncle Wei Chi, but thinking back to the humiliation at Niu Jin Da's hands, his heart seethed with anger, unable to bear being treated like a little chick by just anyone, so he changed his mind on the spot and silently screamed "Wei Chi Lao Sha" several times to comfort his weak and small spirit.

  "Uncle Wuji, I wish you peace and safety. Your nephew Yunyan is paying his respects to you." Hurry up and respond, or else who knows what might happen next, maybe even another half-paralyzed outcome.

  "This kid's got decent looks, but his body is too thin and light, doesn't have any weight to him, not like the tough guys in our army unit." This guy just opened his mouth and slapped a half-disabled label on Yun Ye.

  "You're not even a decent person, how can I marry off my seven or eight daughters to you? Except for your family's two blind siblings who are infatuated with you, any other girl who sees your face would rather jump into a well!" Oh my, who is this? How dare they be so bold? Eldest Young Master Yun's joke was also something only he could casually make. Tongue-tied and staring at the approaching figure, elegant and refined, wearing a purple robe that fit perfectly, with a fan in his sleeve, his clothes fluttering as if he were an immortal."

  "Ox nose, not spitting out human words, no wonder your family is full of girls, heaven punishes you!" Wei Chi Lao Sha also didn't show weakness and scolded back. Yun Yan would have known the name of this person if he hadn't read "The Romance of Sui and Tang". Xu Mao Gong, now called Li Shi Ji, will be called Li Ji after Li Er is gone, to avoid using the emperor's name. With a bandit background, his heart was ruthless enough, and his hands were fierce enough, following three masters and dying half a pair, fortunately Li Er had good luck for a while and wouldn't be killed yet. Since he couldn't kill Li Er, he could only have bad luck himself, in the future he would have a son, and his son would give him a grandson named Li Jing Ye, who was very diligent in rebelling, but ended up rebelling his whole family to death.

  Stay away from this guy, he's an ominous figure. Especially since his daughter can't get married, whoever marries her will be unlucky. Not to mention that he has a habit of using his sons-in-law as scapegoats. Two out of three sons-in-law were killed by him, and one barely escaped with his life to become a legend. This incident is about to happen during the Eastern Expedition to Korea, where his daughter, even if she grows up to be an immortal fairy, still won't get married.

  Hypocritical courtesy was paid to Uncle Li, and the flattery flowed endlessly from his mouth. Who can't stand being buttered up in the 21st century? Uncle Li's face turned bright red as he seemed about to vomit. Cheng Mou rubbed his arms, his whole body covered in goosebumps, hesitating whether to come over and cover Yun Ye's mouth. Old Cheng looked stunned, Qin Qiong had a strange expression on his face, and Wei Gong was furious, earlier Yun Ye hadn't even flattered him like that.

  "Uncle Li is a man of great literary and military talent, looking down on the world with disdain. With one raise of his hand, the river water flows backwards; with one flip of his palm, mountains collapse and the earth splits... Wuuu..." Li Ji finally couldn't take it anymore, covering Yun Yan's mouth: "You little brat, where did you learn this nonsense?" He was dizzy from Yun Yan's flattery, but hadn't grasped the underlying principle, only feeling that this kid had a loose tongue and lacked the dignity of a soldier, looking down on Yun Yan a bit in his heart.