Again and again he practiced his Swordsmanship, the sword moves flowing freely in his hands, no longer bound by any fixed pattern.

With his Swordsmanship at Perfection, every move in his hands was fully integrated and mastered, without the slightest hint of stiffness.

Strands of Divine Power within his body were also being constantly consumed.

However, in the void, countless free-floating particles of various energies were also converging into his body with every breath he took.

They were then naturally absorbed and refined by his body.

The continuous replenishment of external energy particles made his endurance astonishing.

The abundant vigor kept him from feeling any fatigue.

...

The sky was clear for ten thousand miles, not a single cloud in sight.

Overhead, the bright and unusually clear moon was slowly sinking toward the east, and the time was gradually approaching the hours of Yin.

Hearing two sets of footsteps gradually approaching from outside the courtyard, Jiang Ning abruptly sheathed his sword.

Countless sword shadows and human phantoms, with his movement, all converged and merged into one.

The twisted space-time in the courtyard, along with the stark patches of light and dark, quickly returned to normal.

A moment later.

Three figures had already appeared in Jiang Ning’s courtyard.

The newcomers were Su Qingying, with Qinghe and Hong Mian at her sides.

Su Qingying wore a long white palace dress, her features exquisite, her long hair coiled up. Compared to usual, she carried a few more shades of cold purity and lofty grace, like a Heavenly Palace Goddess rather than a woman of the mortal world.

Qinghe and Hong Mian, by contrast, each wore a light green dress and a red dress respectively.

"It should be about time, right?" Jiang Ning looked at the three who had appeared and spoke in a natural tone.

"Yes, Marquis!" Hong Mian took the initiative to answer, her voice crisp and pleasing to the ear, like a konghou harp, like a yellow oriole.

"Then let’s go." Jiang Ning withdrew the long sword in his hand.

Su Qingying, whose gaze had been fixed on the long sword in Jiang Ning’s hand, finally drew her eyes back.

"Marquis, for the morning court, you normally need to put on your official uniform." Hong Mian reminded in a low voice.

At her words, Jiang Ning’s expression flashed with realization, and he instantly came back to himself.

Since taking the post of Zeshan State Inspector, and since being conferred the title of Dongling Marquis, he had yet to attend a single court session.

Thus he had overlooked this matter.

He lowered his head to glance at himself; at the moment he was wearing his usual Practice clothes, and from training, they were soaked through with sweat.

"I really should change my clothes." He spoke silently in his heart.

"Then please wait a moment, the three of you. I’ll go back to my room and change." Jiang Ning said.

"Marquis, please bathe first. This maid has already prepared bath water for you!" Hong Mian said.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Sister Qinghe, go into the Marquis’s room and bring both of his official uniforms. I’ll first attend on the Marquis while he bathes." Hong Mian said to Qinghe at her side.

Qinghe, hearing this, nodded slightly.

...

A moment later.

Inside the bamboo house.

Hong Mian rested her head against Jiang Ning’s chest, her arms wrapped around his waist as she tied the inner sash for him.

When she lifted her head, her cheeks were flushed scarlet, and her eyes still held a deep shyness.

But at the same time, there was also a trace of excitement.

"Such a good figure—my hands have really had their fill." She looked at Jiang Ning, a hint of satisfaction glinting in her eyes.

"Marquis, will you wear the python robe or the Inspector’s Official Uniform?" Qinghe carried in a tray, upon which lay two sets of formal attire.

One was the marquis robe, a purple python robe.

The other was the Zeshan State Patrol Envoy’s official uniform.

"The official uniform," Jiang Ning said.

"Yes!" Qinghe answered.

Then she set the tray aside.

After that, she called Hong Mian over, and the two of them worked together, only then managing to dress Jiang Ning in the complicated official attire.

This was also why Jiang Ning usually did not wear official uniforms or python robes.

Clothes like these were extremely troublesome to put on by oneself; at least two people were needed to help in order to wear them properly.

"My lord, we should set out. There’s less than a quarter of an hour left before the hours of Yin." Su Qingying, who had been silently watching inside the room, chose this moment to speak.

"All right." Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

...

A moment later, the two of them walked out of the National Master Mansion. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The moonlight was bright and clear, spilling down over the empty, desolate street.

The last moments of the hours of Chou were when people were at their drowsiest in the entire day.

Night raids in military campaigns were often carried out at precisely this time.

On the empty, desolate street, the sound of the two of their footsteps echoed.

"My lord, if Ji Xuan makes a move against you later, I will protect you!" Su Qingying said.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled. "You’re already addressing me like that! Shouldn’t I be the one protecting you?"

Su Qingying shook her head. "It’s different. My lord, you have broken free of your shackles and regained your freedom, but you have yet to return to your Peak, right when you most need support. And my lord aided me in breaking free of the constraints of Divinity; now I possess humanity as well. I too wish to be a living person, not just a sword that knows only slaughter."

Listening to these words from Su Qingying, Jiang Ning patted her head.

"We have to move faster; it’s a bit far."

Su Qingying nodded.

The next instant, the two of them, like flickering light and fleeting shadow, swept rapidly across the street.

...

The very end of the 1 a.m. hour, the beginning of the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m hour.

Vermilion Bird Gate.

"We pay respects to the State Preceptor!"

"We pay respects to the Dongling Marquis!"

When Jiang Ning and Su Qingying appeared at the Vermilion Bird main gate, the Forbidden Army stationed at the brightly lit Vermilion Bird City Gate all bowed toward the two of them.

Then, from within the Forbidden Army, two Inner Palace guards immediately stepped forward and once more bowed to Jiang Ning and Su Qingying.

"State Preceptor, Dongling Marquis, please follow us. At present, the civil and military officials are all waiting in the Taiji Hall."

Jiang Ning gave a slight nod.

"I must trouble you two to lead the way."

"Marquis, you are too polite!" the two said.

Then the two led Jiang Ning and Su Qingying through the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The broad palace road stretched forward under the glow of moonlight and palace lanterns.

The Imperial Guard stood in armor with halberds in hand, eyes like torches, the atmosphere even more austere than usual.

The Inner Palace guard leading the way walked in quick strides, explaining in a low voice, "Today’s court assembly is no ordinary one. The Holy Emperor will ascend the throne to hold court at the first quarter of the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m hour. Almost all the lords have already arrived and are waiting outside the Taiji Hall."

Jiang Ning inclined his head slightly and walked side by side with Su Qingying.

Dong——

From deep within the palace walls came the faint sound of a bell.

"My lords, it is now the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m hour!" the leading Inner Palace guard said quietly.

Jiang Ning nodded again.

After that, the steps of the two leading Inner Palace guards became even more hurried.

There was a not insignificant distance from the Vermilion Bird Gate to the Taiji Hall.

And the time had now entered the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m hour.

With the two Inner Palace guides quickening their pace, Jiang Ning and Su Qingying also sped up.

All along the way, on both sides, stood Forbidden Army soldiers in armor with halberds.

A short while later.

Upon reaching the plaza in front of the Taiji Hall, they saw it was as bright as day with lantern light, the civil and military officials standing in strict ranks, not a sound to be heard.

When footsteps sounded from behind, half of the gazes turned to look back.

Seeing who had come, most of the officials’ eyes showed astonishment.

Because ever since Jiang Ning had been granted the title of Dongling Marquis, he had never once attended court. Even later, when he served as an important local official, Zeshan State Patrol Envoy, he still had not come to court to face the emperor.

This was the first time they had seen Jiang Ning attend a court assembly.

Besides that was the appearance of the State Preceptor.

They had not expected that the State Preceptor, who for many years had taken no part in court assemblies, would break precedent and attend court this time.

Among the officials, a few gazes with particular emotions in them were immediately noticed by Jiang Ning.

His eyes swept over, one by one taking them in.

The Third Prince Ji Mingyu, the Fifth Prince Ji Mingyuan, and the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao—these were princes he could name.

There were also a few princes whose names he could not recall, as well as the gaze of the Second Princess Ji Mingya.

Besides them, those present included the Beicang King, the Martial King Xiang Yuan, the Divine Might King Li Tianwen, the Deputy Mansion Master of the Inspection Office, Xiao Wuque.

There was Shen Mengyun’s father, Shen Xiao, General Shen, the highest military commander. There was Prime Minister Li, the Imperial Censor, and the heads of the Nine Ministries and Three Prefectures of First-grade rank...

His gaze swept over them; nearly all the great figures of the Royal Capital were already present.

"Marquis, please come with me. This is your first time attending court, so you do not yet know your position among the hundred officials." The Inner Palace guard leading in front of Jiang Ning once more took the initiative to explain.

"I’ll trouble you," Jiang Ning said.

"Marquis, you are too courteous!" the guide said.

Then he led Jiang Ning toward the ranks of civil and military officials, heading to the line of military officers.

The Nine States Inspection Envoy was classified as a military post.

As for the Dongling Marquis, that was an additional noble title, not divided into civil or military.

Under the watchful eyes of the many officials, the Inner Palace guard led Jiang Ning to the middle-front section of the military officers.

"Marquis, you bear a marquisate and are also a Standard Second Rank high official. According to the order of precedence, you stand only beneath the First-grade."

At this moment, Jiang Ning looked at the dozen-odd heads in front of him.

"So, among the civil and military officials, I rank somewhere beyond twentieth or thirtieth," he said to himself inwardly.