As soon as Lu Jingze stepped into the mansion, Wang Xiuxiu lifted her skirt and jogged up to greet him, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling, just like a kitten that had smelled fish.
"I heard that Lord Zhang made someone faint again during the morning court session this day?"
Lu Jingze stumbled as she pulled him, then shook his head and chuckled helplessly, "Your information network is quite impressive."
Lu Jingze casually took off his official robe and handed it to a maid, saying, "Today's performance was even more exciting than the last one."
Wang Xiuxiu immediately perked up, quickly poured him a cup of tea, and instructed the nanny to fetch some snacks. She then rested her chin on her hand, eagerly waiting for what would follow.
"Tell me quickly, which official has suffered this time?"
Nan Wei, who had been following Wang Xiuxiu around, also quietly perked up her ears.
"Today, Zhang Heng submitted a memorial impeaching two high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Revenue."
Lu Jingze took a sip of tea. "The memorial states, 'I have heard that the mythical beast Xie Zhi eats carrion, but now I see these high and mighty officials actually fighting over it…'"
"He...he called those adults rotten?! Unbelievable!"
The melon seeds in Nanwei's hand also fell to the ground with a "plop".
Lu Jingze couldn't help but chuckle: "When the old Minister was carried out, the entire court was dumbfounded."
Wang Xiuxiu laughed so hard she almost fell over. "And then? What did the Emperor say?"
"His Majesty is quite composed," Lu Jingze recalled the scene in court, "He only summoned the imperial physician, and before leaving, he patted Zhang Heng on the shoulder and said, 'My dear minister, your sincerity pleases me greatly, but next time... perhaps you could spare some face for the other officials,' however..."
"But what?"
"Look how anxious you are. It's Lord Qiao from the Censorate," Lu Jingze said, suppressing a laugh. "I saw him with my own eyes after court; he was holding Zhang Heng's hand, his eyes practically shining, constantly asking him if he wanted to take a position at the Censorate."
"Hahahaha!" Wang Xiuxiu laughed so hard she slapped her thigh. "Isn't this blatantly saying, 'Our Censorate needs a sharp tongue like yours!' If Zhang Heng really goes to the Censorate, Lord Qiao will have struck gold!"
Lu Jingze was amused by her and shook his head, laughing, "Zhang Heng's mouth, though a bit sharp, is always full of solid evidence and incisive criticism. Which of those old foxes in the court hasn't been hit where it hurts, yet they can't refute it? He truly is a rare upright official."
He gently took Wang Xiuxiu's hand and said, "You have such discerning eyes; you chose him from among so many students from poor families back then."
A sly glint flashed in Wang Xiuxiu's eyes, but she deliberately kept a straight face and said, "Of course! When has my judgment ever been bad!"
"A sharp tongue is the sheath, sincerity is the blade." Lu Jingze's gaze was distant. "What the court lacks is precisely this kind of sharp blade that dares to speak the truth. There are too many smooth-talking and worldly-wise people, who only make the court a chaotic mess."
Wang Xiuxiu, resting her chin on her hand, blinked and suddenly asked, "Then do you think Lord Qiao will really poach Zhang Heng to the Censorate?"
Lu Jingze reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, pondering seriously, "It probably won't work in the next year or two. The officials in the Ministry of Personnel are efficient in their work, but they lack debating skills. Currently, all matters concerning the new policies that need to be discussed in court have been handed over to Zhang Heng. If we poach him now, those officials will probably run to the Imperial Study in their official robes and cry to the Emperor."
"Pfft—" Wang Xiuxiu imagined the scene and laughed heartily, "The Emperor will probably have a headache then, with the talent-loving Imperial Censor Qiao on one side and the wailing and lamenting officials of the Ministry of Personnel on the other."
The two exchanged a smile, and the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled softly in the breeze, as if playing a cheerful ending note to this amusing incident in the imperial court.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com