"Explain clearly!" Zhao Douan's spirit was jolted, and any drowsiness dissipated.
"Yesterday, according to your orders, I had someone follow Wang Xian and report any unusual activity.
In the end, after leaving Dingfeng Building, he went straight home and did not go out, nor did anyone visit him. It wasn't until dawn that a servant quietly left the house, went straight to the residence of the Literary Bureau's Chief of the Ministry of Personnel, possibly to deliver a message, and then returned."
The Literary Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel? Zhao Douan was taken aback and asked,
The six ministries, each had several "departments," with each department having one doctor, one deputy director, and two chiefs.
The chief was a sixth-rank official, managing various "sections" below them. Though the rank sounded low, the Literary Bureau was responsible for the appointment and removal of fourth-rank and below local officials, which concerned future prospects.
Therefore, even in the Capital, they were considered officials with real power.
The father of the notable lyricist Li Shutong, Li Shizhen (not Li Shizhen), once held the position of chief at the Ministry of Personnel.
"Feng Ju, Chief Feng," Zhu Kui must have done some background check before coming; seeing Zhao Douan frown, he softly reminded,
"Also a scholar from Jiangnan, an Advanced Scholar from the 38th year of Longjing."
The 38th year of Longjing?
Zhao Douan felt the number sounded familiar.
Upon careful thought, he suddenly remembered that the county magistrate of Ning'an, who bribed him to rescue, was also under detention at the Ministry of Justice as a "criminal official" and was also an Advanced Scholar from the 38th year of Longjing.
As fellow "graduates," they were very likely members of the same officialdom "clique."
Perhaps out of friendship, or perhaps due to shared interests, belonging to a community that must help each other... it wasn't important. What was important was that Zhao Douan finally pinpointed the "buyer."
"Well done," Zhao Douan praised, "I'll give you credit for this."
Zhu Kui laughed slyly and asked for instructions,
"My lord, what do you plan to do?"
This old official had already sensed the situation, realizing that his lord might be up to something.
Zhao Douan did not answer, glancing at the pale morning sun rising in the fog outside the window and the clouds slowly gathering in the sky, he remained silent.
Outside the main gate of the Literary Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel in the capital, a seemingly simple carriage slowly drove out, heading back to the mansion.
Feng Ju was over forty this year, with a lean appearance, embodying a typical scholarly temperament.
Given his background, reaching this position at this age in the Great Yu Dynasty's officialdom wasn't easy.
Naturally, the support of fellow hometown people and fellow scholars couldn't be ignored.
In the small circles of officialdom, Advanced Scholars of the same year would form small groups, and those from the same region would have "hometown associations."
Members must support and recommend each other, similar to the pattern in some large American enterprises in Zhao Douan's past life where Indian executives would promote each other.
Gains always come with costs. Feng Ju had benefited from the small circle and had to take risks to help when members were in trouble.
For instance, a recent incident,
An official in the circle was caught by the Imperial Censor with evidence of corruption and was arrested and escorted to the capital for investigation at the Ministry of Justice.
Feng Ju, facing colleagues' plea for help, attempted to make arrangements and found the magistrate of Ning'an to bribe Zhao Douan, rumored to be the "gigolo" of the Saint.
Consequently, there was no action from the other party for a long time. In anxiety, Feng Ju urged Wang Xian to inquire.
This morning Wang Xian's house servant delivered the message that Zhao Douan had agreed to lend a hand in the upcoming days.
After arriving at the office this morning, he learned that Zhao Douan's attempt to capture the rebels failed and now faced joint impeachment by the Imperial Court and the Imperial Court of Supervision, making his position precarious.
Inside the carriage, Feng Ju felt a headache and was uneasy.
Although Wang Xian assured that Zhao Douan would not fall, advising him to be at ease,
In the officialdom, situations were unpredictable. Who could guarantee anything?
Gathering his thoughts, he decided not to overthink and went home for lunch as usual—Feng Mansion wasn't far from the office, and he was accustomed to having lunch at home.
However, midway through his journey, the carriage suddenly stopped, and Feng Ju asked through the curtain,
The coachman responded,
"Someone is blocking the way... Alas, who are you people? Don't you know who is in this carriage…"
"Chief Feng, isn't it," an eerie voice rang out.
Immediately, Feng Ju was astonished to see the curtain lifted, revealing several men outside. Leading them, Zhu Kui smiled and said,
"My master invites Chief Feng for a talk by the lakeside. May I know if you're willing to grace us with your presence?"
When Feng Ju, under duress, arrived at the northern bank of the Hun River, which traversed east to west across the capital, and stepped down from the carriage, raindrops began to fall from the sky.
Dark clouds loomed, and the riverbank was lined with willows.
On the gray, muddy river surface floated a small black-covered boat, with a small skiff moored by the bank.
"Chief Feng, please."
Zhu Kui stared at him, gesturing for him to "board the boat."
Feng Ju felt anxious but as a scholar had a sense of pride and didn't believe there was danger under the Emperor's watch. Instructing the coachman to wait, he boarded the boat with pleasure.
Zhu Kui personally steered the boat; after a short while, the two boats connected, and the old official dropped Feng Ju off and returned to the shore.
In this manner, the conversation on the boat wouldn't be overheard.
"Apologies for the rude invitation, perhaps causing offense. Chief Feng, please come in and have a seat," a voice called out.
Only then did Feng Ju notice a well-dressed and extraordinarily handsome man sitting cross-legged inside the black canopy boat.
A small table in front of him, he held a small fan while brewing tea, with a scarlet flame licking beneath a small red clay stove, wisps of steam rising, and pastries placed around.
In this misty rain, on a lake with a black canopy, brewing tea by the hearth...
Feng Ju, a scholar, had his DNA activated, shaken by this elegant and refined scene.
In a daze, he couldn't discern whether he was "kidnapped" or invited to a private scholarly gathering.
"May I ask who this young man is..."
Feng Ju, unable to grasp the direction, cautiously inquired.
In the Capital, there were countless officials and dignitaries; Zhao Douan had only risen to prominence for a year, and Feng Ju had never met him.
"Chief Feng doesn't recognize me?" Zhao Douan feigned surprise, smiling,
"Then why did you have Wang Xian seek me out?"
Feng Ju was taken aback and astonished,
"You are Zhao Dou... Lord Zhao?!"
He was dumbfounded, unable to fathom why the other party would find him and still know Wang Xian was backed by him... This was against the rules!
A sudden surge of anger rose in Feng Ju's heart, feeling that Wang Xian had broken the rules, revealing his identity to the other party as an intermediary.
Then it shifted to vigilance and doubt, not understanding the other party's intentions.
Zhao Douan noted his demeanor and nodded slightly,
"It's me. Though the rain outside is light, it's easy to catch cold. Please, come inside."
Feng Ju, in doubt, stepped into the black canopy and sat cross-legged opposite him.
While observing closely, he felt quite amazed.
In hearsay, the "gigolo of the Empress" Zhao Douan was a frivolous little man who gained power overnight.
He was arrogant to those below and fawning to those above, born from an imperial guard soldier though blessed with handsome looks, his temperament was said to be foul-smelling, unworthy for scholars.
Yet upon witnessing, he was quite different.
The person in front, not only handsome, exuded a steady and restrained aura, lacking the crudeness of a soldier, instead possessing a faint scholarly air.
His demeanor was composed, hinting at a person seasoned in officialdom.
If Zhao Douan knew what he was thinking, he might have rolled his eyes, saying it was nonsense.
After all, he was also a top student from a small town, having progressed through competitive exams to enter a prestigious university, working within the system alongside high-ranking officials for several years.
With earfuls of influence and far more insight exceeding the current era, he was truly not beneath a chief of the Ministry of Personnel.
"I wonder why Lord Zhao invited this official here?"
Feng Ju, cautious as ever, probed.