Xu Ji, having said those words, wore a pride so naked on his face that it was almost unbearable to look at — yet he himself felt it was only his due.

And his manner had already begun to shape the thinking of the trusted aide before him. A man who, as Attendant Minister of Personnel, already held in his hands the power to recommend, appoint, dismiss, and assign officials — let that man’s mind be shaped by such words from Xu Ji, and heaven alone knew what reckless things he might do in the days to come.

Fortunately, in this moment, Guan Mo had not yet been consumed by that fervor. He only felt he had chosen the right patron to follow.

The brilliance radiating from Xu Ji at this moment was all for him to see — and that, he felt, was his privilege.

Xu Ji had already said it — this was a privilege His Majesty had granted him. What was there left to worry about?

With heaven and earth, nothing ranked higher than His Majesty.

And so Guan Mo immediately swept the robe aside, knelt down, and pressed his forehead to the floor.

“This student congratulates Master on receiving His Majesty’s trust and favor. Whether in the past, the present, or the future — this student will always obey Master’s commands without question.”

Xu Ji smiled and helped Guan Mo to his feet. “There are indeed some things I had in mind to ask you to do — had you not come today, I would have sent for you.”

Xu Ji returned to his seat behind the writing desk and pointed at a thick envelope lying there.

“Inside this — information someone gathered for me. It concerns Lu Chonglou.”

Xu Ji said, “As things stand, the only man who can still rank above you is the Minister of Personnel, Lu Chonglou.”

Guan Mo immediately understood what Xu Ji meant.

Right now, although Xu Ji had arranged for a number of men to hold positions throughout the court, with Lu Chonglou serving as Minister of Personnel, these men could not simply be placed where he wished if they lacked genuine ability.

Yet if one wanted to employ many men — more than a select few — where would one find so many who were both truly capable and deeply loyal to Xu Ji?

And so at this juncture, loyalty mattered far, far more than talent or integrity.

Xu Ji spoke in a flat, unhurried tone. “While I am away from Chang’an, fix your attention on this one man, and see to this one matter alone.”

His hand tapped the envelope a few times. “The men below have been clumsy about it — they’ve been looking for months and found nothing substantial enough to move Lu Chonglou.”

He looked at Guan Mo and said, “Of everything I said just now — which part matters most? Did you catch it?”

Guan Mo’s first instinct was to say “substantial evidence,” but he caught himself before the words came out. Because he had already seen clearly: if even Xu Ji’s men could not uncover solid evidence, what made him think he would fare any better?

In the flash of that realization, Guan Mo replaced the four words he had nearly spoken with two different ones.

“‘Move.'”

“Hahahaha—”

Xu Ji burst out laughing at Guan Mo’s answer, his face alight with undisguised admiration.

“There is no one who understands me like Guan Mo.”

Xu Ji laughed. “I don’t care how you go about it — so long as you find evidence sufficient to bring down Lu Chonglou, I will personally recommend you as Minister of Personnel.”

Guan Mo immediately knelt again, kowtowing repeatedly.

“This student is deeply grateful for Master’s guidance. This student will not fail Master’s expectations.”

Xu Ji smiled and said, “From the very beginning I knew you were a clever man. Back in Ji Province, I told you — I would give you important responsibilities in the future. So long as you always know who your guiding light is, the path will keep being shown to you.”

He tossed the thick envelope aside carelessly.

“Nothing of value in there. Not enough to topple Lu Chonglou — not even enough to start a rumor.”

He looked at Guan Mo. “So handle the matter as you see fit. It would be best if, by the time I return from my inspection tour, you have already made progress.”

Guan Mo stood up and picked up the envelope that Xu Ji had tossed away.

“This student will take it back and have a look. There is nothing useless about things — look carefully enough through what feels worthless, and a useful thread may yet be found. That would honor the effort of Master’s men who spent so long gathering it.”

Xu Ji liked this quality in Guan Mo most of all, and gave an approving nod. “Take it back then. I depart tomorrow, so you should not linger here too long — if anyone asks, simply say you came to wish me well on the journey. And tomorrow at the city gates — do not come to see me off. We must not invite gossip.”

“Yes, this student will remember.”

Guan Mo tucked the envelope inside his robe, bowed once more to Xu Ji, and took his leave.

After Guan Mo had gone, Xu Ji turned the matter over in his mind once more, carefully. In his estimation, the only man at court who could contend with him now was Lu Chonglou.

And this was not without reason — by all factors considered together, Lu Chonglou was indeed the only one with any capacity to be a rival.

Yan Qingzhi?

Xu Ji had no regard whatsoever for the so-called Imperial Tutor. Being an Imperial Tutor was a title, not an ability.

Moreover, if Yan Qingzhi were truly suited to be Da Ning’s first Chancellor, would there have been any room left for him, Xu Ji?

Why had His Majesty not given the post to Yan Qingzhi? Simple — Xu Ji had already touched on this when speaking with Guan Mo. Because Yan Qingzhi’s ties with those Dukes and Grand Generals were far too close.

His Majesty was not afraid of him, Xu Ji, building a faction — because His Majesty knew that no matter how much Xu Ji accumulated power, he would never overstep too far. Because Xu Ji had no military authority.

But if Yan Qingzhi became Chancellor while maintaining close ties with those Grand Generals — that kind of faction-building was precisely what His Majesty could not afford to allow.

And this was the source of Xu Ji’s confidence.

He was indeed sufficiently intelligent — he could see deeply into a problem. Yet sometimes, looking too deeply led one to see wrong.

At this moment, Xu Ji was firmly convinced that His Majesty had allowed him to grow powerful for one purpose: to stand against those Grand Generals whose merits had grown beyond all measure.

Of course Xu Ji had not conjured this from thin air. Being a man of great learning, he knew well enough: throughout every dynasty and era, what was it that founding Emperors most feared above all else? Was it not precisely those battle-hardened generals who had fought by their side to win the realm?

The more Xu Ji turned this over, the more it seemed to make sense. The more sense it made, the more certain he felt that he was walking the right path.

He even convinced himself that at this moment, the only person His Majesty could truly use was him — and that was why he wore his pride so unabashedly.

The following morning, Xu Ji entered Weiyang Palace early. He first went to bid farewell to Li Chi, then, by Li Chi’s instruction, requested entry to the inner palace to pay his respects to the Empress as well.

This kind of Imperial favor was something others could only envy.

Xu Ji departed Chang’an at the head of his retinue, accompanied by a sizable party of officials. Even Da Ning’s own Emperor came personally to see him off at the city gates.

Watching that spectacle — who could not feel a pang of envy in their heart? Who would not say, with a sigh, that Xu Ji was without question the most favored and most trusted minister under the present reign?

The afternoon sun was warm enough to make a man drowsy. Li Chi had been reviewing memorials for a full hour and a half — he had been sitting so long that his whole body had grown stiff.

With Xu Ji managing affairs at court, he would sort the memorials into categories by urgency and importance. So the memorials requiring Li Chi’s personal attention were never overwhelming — the vast majority were handled by Xu Ji directly.

But with Xu Ji gone from Chang’an, which minister at court would dare presume to review and sort memorials as Xu Ji had done?

And so the memorials came like snowflakes, quickly piling up until Li Chi’s writing desk was nearly buried.

Li Chi stretched both arms, then glanced across at Master Yan, who sat opposite him, and smiled. “Master Yan, how long has it been since you last tended a vegetable patch?”

Master Yan had been granted the special privilege of assisting Li Chi in sorting and reviewing memorials here in the Eastern Warm Chamber.

With Xu Ji gone, the work of sorting naturally fell to Master Yan — but Li Chi was not willing to burden him so heavily.

And this arrangement, too, carried another layer of meaning.

“In answer to Your Majesty — this subject has truly not tended a vegetable patch for several years now. Come to think of it, the last time was in Ji Province.”

Master Yan smiled slightly, a faint distance in his expression. Without noticing it, so much time had passed.

“Come, let us go stretch our limbs.”

Li Chi rose and headed for the door, calling as he walked, “Ye Xiaoqian — go find some vegetable seeds, or seedlings if you can. I want to set the little garden in order with Master Yan.”

Ye Xiaoqian promptly acknowledged the order. Truthfully, he too had been hoping His Majesty would get some movement in.

When Prince Ning was still Prince Ning, he had always found time each day to be active. His life in those days had seemed relatively unhurried.

Since Prince Ning became Emperor, there had been nothing but court affairs and memorials — day upon day, with hardly a moment of leisure.

He had just turned to carry out the order when Li Chi beckoned him back. “Come here — let me tell you properly what seeds and seedlings to look for.”

Ye Xiaoqian quickly stepped forward and leaned in to listen as Li Chi gave him quiet instructions. When he understood, Ye Xiaoqian acknowledged the order and withdrew.

At that, Master Yan, who had caught what Li Chi had just said, allowed a faint smile to come over his face.

—

*Two days later, on the official road.*

Xu Ji sat in his carriage reading, but the swaying motion was making him drowsy. He would read a few pages, then close his eyes for a while — in truth, very little of what he had turned past had actually sunk in.

“Sir.”

Someone outside the carriage called softly — Gao Weiyong, the steward of Xu Ji’s household.

“What is it?”

Xu Ji asked.

Gao Weiyong lifted the carriage curtain from outside and passed a folded paper in. “Just arrived from Chang’an, by fast courier. It concerns matters in the palace…”

Xu Ji gestured for him to lower his voice, then took the neatly folded slip of paper.

After reading it for a moment, Xu Ji could not suppress a burst of laughter. The sound carried quite far — enough that many in the procession turned to look, not understanding what had made the Chancellor so delighted.

“Gao Weiyong — come inside.”

Xu Ji called out to him.

Gao Weiyong climbed into the carriage and knelt across from Xu Ji.

Xu Ji passed him the slip of paper. “Have a read.”

Gao Weiyong read it, and then he too began to laugh. He rolled the slip up and swallowed it.

A moment later he smiled and said, “His Majesty truly cannot do without you, sir — not for a single moment.”

Word had come from the palace: barely a day after Xu Ji’s departure, His Majesty had been in a rather poor mood.

With no one capable of sorting and categorizing the pile of memorials, they had all been delivered directly to His Majesty in one undifferentiated heap.

Left with no choice, His Majesty had called Yan Qingzhi to assist — but Yan Qingzhi was even slower at the work than His Majesty himself.

Yesterday’s memorials were still unfinished when today’s arrived on top of them, stacking up high.

His Majesty had grown weary, and simply took Yan Qingzhi off to tend the little garden. The memorials were left lying where they were.

Xu Ji laughed. “You see — what greatness does Yan Qingzhi possess? His greatest talent is keeping His Majesty company while planting vegetables and lifting his spirits.”

He closed his eyes, and his fingers tapped lightly against the carriage window.

“Your Majesty… how would you ever get on without this subject?”

A murmur to himself — and Xu Ji laughed again. The curve of satisfaction at the corner of his lips was full to overflowing.

—