Gu Jingming had originally held an idle position and spent his days idle. Especially after Lin Mao went to Shandong, he had even less to do.
Gu Jingming said, "My mother moved my grandfather to the capital and arranged a marriage for me. As soon as he arrived, all his disciples in the capital came to visit him, and the emperor even asked about it several times. I didn't want to stay home, but luckily he's going to have tea with Lord Xie tomorrow, so I have a day off."
Luo Shenyuan took another book and continued to comment, saying, "It was thanks to his guidance back then. I will pay him a visit someday. Please prepare some wine."
At this point, he remembered that he still had to take Yi Ning to visit Xu Wei. Xu Wei was his mentor, and his current position was thanks to Xu Wei's help, although he had used him. However, Luo Shenyuan always felt that as long as it was beneficial to him, it didn't matter if he used him. Besides, Xu Wei was a very humorous and kind person.
Gu Jingming thought he was boring. "It's only been a few days since you got married to my cousin, and you don't feel any joy from your marriage? I see you still have a cold face all day long. Doesn't my cousin dislike you?"
"I've been watching Yining since she was little, so what's the point of newlywed joy?" Luo Shenyuan said calmly, raising an eyebrow. He then called in his subordinates, threw a few documents at them, and said, "Call these people over for questioning."
Gu Jingming clearly noticed that Luo Shenyuan was wearing two different pairs of shoes and socks today, one with a dark bamboo leaf pattern, the other with a white auspicious pattern. He didn't know what had happened at home, but the self-disciplined Lord Luo was wearing two different pairs of shoes and socks.
Only after several doctors from the Ministry of Works came over did Gu Jingming retreat, thinking that he should not tell him and let him stand out.
Luo Shenyuan, an elite officer trained in the Dali Temple, had noticed problems with the accounting for granary construction or mining operations at the Ministry of Works. He personally checked everything, leaning back in his armchair, taking a sip of tea and letting the other doctors take a look. The doctors didn't seem to care until Luo Shenyuan put down his teacup and said, "The granary in Wanping was built with stone and timber sourced from Shanxi. The mining of the mineral deposits was originally a collaboration between the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice, using corvée labor or prisoners, but it was outsourced to a businessman named Jia in the capital. I find this inappropriate. What do you think, gentlemen?"
"Of course, we'll follow the Minister's orders." One of them smiled and bowed, "We don't have any objections. Whatever the Minister thinks is fine."
This is just taking advantage of troubled waters. You can't do anything to him anyway. He is young, has no experience and no authority.
Luo Shenyuan smiled and said, "In that case, please go back first. I will make the decision."
A few of them bowed politely and left.
Luo Shenyuan summoned the Minister of Works and handed him the documents. "Go and report to the Emperor, impeaching these individuals for their idleness, corruption, and abuse of power. Request that they be dismissed and investigated."
The Ministry of Works' Imperial Secretary was startled and asked cautiously, "Lord Luo, is this... too harsh a punishment? If the Emperor blames me..."
"The Emperor will not blame you, but will reward you," Luo Shenyuan said, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. He smiled again, "If you need evidence of corruption, come back to me."
The Emperor had long been troubled by the Ministry of Works' lack of leadership and the officials' idleness, so he overcame public opinion and promoted him to the position of Vice Minister of Works, putting him in charge. Now, just after his arrival, someone was disobeying him, which was a disgrace to his reputation, and the punishment would be harsh. Moreover, he held the valuables of many officials in the Ministry of Works, all of whom came from wealthy families, so he could easily defeat them.
The Imperial Censor saw his face, a faint smile etched in the autumn haze. He suddenly remembered the rumor that Lord Luo was a master at torture, his methods brutal and inhumane. Once, Lord Xu Wei asked him to join in an interrogation, originally just to record a confession. The prisoner was being rude and cunning, and the others were unable to get any information out of him. So, Lord Xu Wei put down his pen and, taking a dagger, cooked food with his ear. This nearly drove the prisoner insane, causing him to vomit out all the details, including how many people he had killed and where they had been killed.
Judging only by appearance, this Lord Luo could be described as extremely handsome and elegant. The Imperial Secretary suddenly felt a little hesitant to look at him, and nodded his head.
Luo Shenyuan stood up and put on his cloak. Someone had already prepared a sedan chair outside the door. When they saw him coming out, they lowered the sedan door and waited respectfully for him to enter.
Luo Shenyuan sometimes wondered if this was truly a legacy from his deceased mother. Old Mrs. Luo was right: a dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix begets a phoenix, and a mouse's son will dig holes. He simply resembled his mother, a bloodline resemblance—ruthless and vicious.
As soon as he stepped into the sedan chair, a guard came to tell him that someone wanted to see him.
The meeting place was at the Governor's Mansion. Upon entering, one could see the weapons racks. The alleyways were swept clean, and security was tight. As Luo Shenyuan crossed the threshold, the sky suddenly darkened, with dark clouds covering the day. The jujube trees lining the alleyway swayed violently in the wind. Luo Shenyuan whispered to his attendants, "Wait outside."
Lu Jiaxue stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back. Outside were the vermilion palace walls and glazed tiles, and in the distance were the rolling shadows of gray mountains.
Luo Shenyuan walked into the room, smiled, and bowed, "Your Excellency the Governor has invited me, but I wonder what you want to talk to me about?"
Luo Shenyuan was known for his silence, but he was actually quite adaptable and never made others feel uncomfortable. At least when it came time to socialize, he wouldn't refuse. This was how he developed his drinking capacity. A genius who remains unsung is a master, like Wang Yangming's supreme philosophy of mind. To achieve power, he had to be involved in the world; no one rises to the top by holding their head high.
Lu Jiaxue turned around and saw Luo Shenyuan with a pine-like figure and a clear face.
Lu Jiaxue knew that Luo Shenyuan was also very cruel and ambitious.
But for him, power has been in his hands for too long. Things have been in his hands for too long, and he no longer feels them.
This man married Luo Yining, and they spent every day together, doing the same things he and Yining had done before.
Lu Jiaxue closed his eyes. Why did he only discover so many clues after Luo Yining got married? If that was true, then he was practically handing the person over to Luo Shenyuan himself.
If the Queen hadn't wanted to please him, she wouldn't have asked Yi Ning to be the Third Prince's concubine. He wouldn't have spoken up for Wei Ling, and he even agreed to let Cheng Lang marry her to strengthen the relationship between the two families.
"Lord Luo is finally here." The sky outside the window was gloomy, and Lu Jiaxue poured him tea.
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