After the Emperor took his seat, no one spoke.
Then, from the highest balcony, a single crystal chime rang and echoed through the hall.
This is known as the First Tone of the Day.
At once, the Chief Grand Secretary standing just below the throne stepped forward. He was clad in crimson robes with golden cranes—a symbol of the highest civil rank— and raised a jade tablet that was inscribed with the day's agenda and read.
"The Son of Heaven has ascended. The Court of Dawn is convened. Let the matters of the Empire be brought forth."
This declaration marked the opening of the Morning Court.
A drum was struck once.
It was said that the masters of the court were sacred.
Solaan listened to the ministers and officials discuss the matters of the Empire in front of the Emperor. And not once did the man speak.
Moreover, no one could look at him. As though no one dared to look up at the heavens.
Not even Solaan. He had a feeling that if he made such an attempt, he would garner unwanted attention for himself.
And so he kept his head low and continued to listen to the matters of the court.
After 3 hours, they were finally coming to the end of Morning Court.
And then the Chief Grand Secretary stepped forward again and announced.
"Her Highness, the Emperor's daughter, Bilin has fallen prey to an attack by demonic cultivators,"
Solaan's ears pricked up.
What interested him here was the word cultivators, not the state of the Princess.
Gasps came from many of the officials.
"Those evil bastards! Even His Majesty's daughter!?"
"His Majesty has sworn to capture and deal with the culprits accordingly. He implores you all, his loyal subjects to tighten your securities and beware of them. These days, they have become increasingly brazen and are definitely planning something sinister." The Chief Grand Secretary continued.
"Your Majesty, I'd like to be the first to offer my clan's celestial physician. I'm confident that the Princess will be well taken care of." One of the Nine Grand Ministers seated closest to the Emperor, offered.
And then subsequently, the other ministers made the same offer.
"His Majesty is touched by his loyal subjects' affection for his daughter's wellbeing, however, he will have to reject your offers. This time, it was a part of her life force that was seized… with a powerful blade injury on her Spiritual Sense."
The Chief Grand Secretary responded and the ministers bowed, not surprised by the Emperor's choice.
It was as though the announcement was made to just rile up the court attendees.
As for Solaan, his mind was already racing. He had seized someone's life force last night, and also attacked the same person with his Neili Sense.
What are the odds? He shook his head. But a Demonic Cultivator, what's that?
At this point, Solaan assumed that this was the reason why he was summoned here. However, it was still weird.
If they knew he was the culprit, why bring him here and not apprehend him?
Surely they didn't think he would be powerless if they were able to judge as much as they did.
And that was when the Chief Grand Secretary called his name out.
"Solaan, the slave. Step forward and answer to his Majesty."
The hall suddenly went dead quiet.
Quite a few officials and ministers had noticed his presence in the court when he entered. They also found it strange that a third-tier slave had it here.
However, because none of the guards moved, they figured that it had been permitted. They had all been waiting patiently to know why.
Especially the Nine Grand Ministers.
"Whose mole is this?" The Grand Minister of State whispered, throwing a glance at the Grand Minister of Rites.
Solaan remained where he was for a few seconds before stepping out.
There's no point in delaying the inevitable. He thought as he secretly gathered Neili in his heart, ready to escape the moment the situation looked dire.
As he stepped on the white path, his mind shook and a mountain of pressure descended on him. Solaan found himself on his knees.
This body of his couldn't resist the suppression, and if he chose to remain stubborn, he would probably do more harm than good to himself.
There is something wrong with this body. The diamond-shaped mark on his forehead burned a bit.
"This slave has been wrongfully convicted by the incompetence of the Jade Hall," the Chief Grand Secretary began.
A lot of eyes turned towards the Grand Minister of Justice. However, the man, dressed in indigo robes, acted as though no one was around him.
He ignored their gazes, not acknowledging them in the circumstances.
"He was also under the spell of a demon, however, with misfortune comes fortune. The slave had received an epiphany."
The moment these words were uttered, the entire hall fell into a clamorous whisper.
An epiphany!? On what? What is all of this about? I had a feeling that something was off, but not to this extent.
Back in the stone room that he awakened in, Inquisitor Johan had claimed that he had assisted in a murder attempt, and now the story was being spun another way.
"It is clear as day that His Majesty is just and he has decided to reward this slave with whatever he wishes, so long as it doesn't break the codes of conduct and Laws."
What!?
Once again, Solaan was caught off guard. Not only was he not getting punished, he was getting rewarded. The whole thing was confusing.
"So speak, let His Majesty know what you wish." The Chief Grand Secretary said.
Too stunned to speak, Solaan, still on his knees, blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. "I wish not to be a slave anymore."
Many had guessed that he would ask for a promotion, and some figured that it would be money. But never did they think he would ask for his freedom.
"You are forever a subject of mine. What exactly do you want freedom from?" The Emperor spoke for the second time since this Morning's Court began, surprising the Ministers.
Once again, Solaan was reminded that he had never heard anyone speak with so much majesty infused into each word.
He didn't know what took over him when he heard the Emperor's voice, but his lips moved on their own.
"I want freedom from weakness. Freedom from ignorance. I want to rise above the servitude of the body… That is what I wish for, Your Majesty."