Chapter 249 - Entering the Fray
Fan Shaolin’s words seemed to freeze the air for a moment, leaving the gathered officials unable to continue socializing.
As an awkward silence descended at the palace gates, a loud sound shattered the tension—the palace gates opened.
A low hum accompanied the slow opening of the gates.
Fan Shaolin took Su Yi by the hand and led him to the front, saying, "Su Yi, today you will stand with me."
Su Yi quickly waved his hand in protest. "I wouldn’t dare, sir. That would be inappropriate."
"It’s fine," Fan Shaolin replied before turning to an elderly man behind him and asking, "Would it be alright if Su Yi stood behind me today?"
Following Fan Shaolin’s gaze, Su Yi realized the man Fan Shaolin was addressing was Grand Mentor Meng Xi.
Meng Xi was the Grand Mentor of the current dynasty. He had once tutored the Crown Prince and was promoted to Grand Mentor after the current Emperor ascended the throne.
In Su Yi’s memory, he was an elderly man who always appeared affable, with a perpetual smile and a demeanor of kindness. However, Su Yi knew that anyone who had navigated the court so smoothly to reach such a high position could not possibly be as simple as they seemed.
Su Yi usually stood behind Grand Mentor Meng during court sessions. Today, Fan Shaolin's insistence on having Su Yi stand beside him disrupted the usual order which ended up forcing Grand Mentor Meng to stand behind Su Yi instead.
Grand Mentor Meng smiled warmly, cupped his hands, and said, "Since Senior Fan has spoken, there’s no issue. Today, I’ll stand behind Su Yi—it’ll give me a chance to doze off. Just make sure to block me from sight a little."