Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 453: A Hall Full of Old Acquaintances

The emperor’s pupils, behind the ceremonial fringe, suddenly contracted.

In the space of a single breath, his expression moved from puzzlement to astonishment, then to an almost incredulous shock.

This man… he recognized him!

Five years ago, on this same hall that symbolizes the empire’s highest authority — though back then it was not the Court of State Ceremonies, but the even more imposing Hall of Golden Chimes — after the Metropolitan Examination results were announced and the Qionglin Banquet had ended, the new jinshi had come to the throne to give thanks.

He remembered it clearly: tenth place in the second class, that young jinshi from Qingshi County, only seventeen years old, the one he personally appointed to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler.

That youth who, in the imperial court, had been accused by Yongchang Marquis Chen Yuan of the monstrous crime of "causing military delays," forced into a desperate plight, and ultimately stripped of office and scholarly honors by one helpless imperial edict — then exiled to the Blackwater Camp on the Northern Frontier!

His name was Su Ming!

For a moment, the emperor’s breathing briefly faltered.

Five years had passed.

He had assumed that talented yet stubborn-as-stone teenager had, like countless other exiles, turned into a mound of earth on the northern ice, a single skeleton.So how could he be here?

How could he possibly… be seated in the position of a Cloud Hidden Sect envoy?!

That blue robe, that aloof, otherworldly calm that seemed at odds with the mundane world, all of it pointed toward a possibility that made the emperor’s scalp tingle.

Beneath the throne, among the officials,

several veteran ministers who had attended that same court session five years ago almost simultaneously recognized Su Ming.

“Hiss… isn’t that…”

“The Hanlin compiler… Compiler Su?”

exiled?

the silent ranks of officials. Some gasped in shock, others wore puzzled expressions, and

of Golden Chimes five years

held overwhelming power at court, while the other had become a sect

happened in these

eyes forward, utterly composed. To the probing, astonished gazes turned his way, he seemed entirely oblivious.

returned to the capital that once wronged and humiliated him,

emperor’s eyes rose quickly — and subsided just

he was a mighty sovereign; his temperament was steadier than most. He soon withdrew his gaze and restored his solemn, detached bearing, neither acknowledging nor

wide dragon sleeve had,

image of the thin figure kneeling on the cold tiles of the Hall of Golden Chimes

and framing with a straight back and unflinching eyes, showing no fear, only

person

and weather-beaten as a prisoner, but as a Cloud Hidden Sect envoy — a status that even the Son of Heaven would be required

to Xu Qing beside

many things fell

been placed five years ago, and it was

odd hush fell

chancellor — who had

through his clouded eyes, and his

“Your Majesty.”

deeply

However, Northwind City, Cloud Center City, and Dingxiang City were taken by our forces over four years

tone was neither humble nor arrogant; each word was slow, yet carried an

peace between our states and for the people of the three cities, I implore Your Majesty’s compassion. Allow your mighty

temperature in the hall seemed to

peace talks began with a

thrown into a calm lake, sending