Three days later, in the Imperial Study of the palace.
Lu Jing'an sat on the dragon throne, engrossed in reviewing memorials with one hand while holding a teacup in the other.
After a short while, Eunuch Hua, standing beside him, whispered a few words into his ear.
Lu Jing'an paused and said, "She's back? Let her in."
Eunuch Hua nodded and called out to the outside, "Announce Minister Lan of the Dali Temple. He is to have an audience."
As the words fell, the door to the Imperial Study slowly opened, and a figure in crimson walked in with steady strides and a solemn bearing.
"Your humble subject, Lan Heng, pays his respects to the Emperor." Lan Heng bowed to the man on the dragon throne, his golden fish pouch swaying slightly with his movement.
"You are dismissed, my dear minister." Lu Jing'an raised his hand.
Lan Heng looked up, his clear black and white eyes holding a hint of distance.
Lu Jing'an, seemingly accustomed to his usual stern expression, set aside the memorials and asked, "How did your mission in Jinzhou go?"
"Reporting to the Emperor, everything went smoothly, but..." Lan Heng trailed off, hesitant to continue.
"Speak freely."
Lan Heng nodded. "As you predicted, Commander Guo of the Jinzhou naval forces has issues with his military payroll accounts. The Dali Temple is investigating thoroughly. As for whether the Crown Prince had secret dealings with the Jinzhou local officials, that has not yet been discovered.
The murder case in Jinzhou has been solved, and the culprits have been apprehended and are being held in the local yamen."
Lu Jing'an nodded and asked,
"Regarding the Crown Prince's affairs, has nothing been found, or is there no conclusive evidence?"
Lan Heng bowed again and replied truthfully, "There is no conclusive evidence."
"Lan Heng!" Lu Jing'an said, tapping his finger. "You are good in every aspect, and you have learned much from your teacher, Chong Ye. Your only flaw is being too rigid."
Lan Heng remained silent, his bowing posture becoming even lower.
Lu Jing'an, not annoyed, casually remarked, "Well, that's your nature. It's right not to speak carelessly without evidence. Otherwise, I wouldn't have appointed you to manage the Dali Temple."
Lan Heng maintained his posture without answering.
After a while, Lu Jing'an finished reading most of the memorials before him and suddenly remembered something. He asked Eunuch Hua, "What time is it?"
"Reporting to the Emperor, it has just passed noon," Eunuch Hua replied quickly.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jing'an glanced at Lan Heng, who was still standing opposite him, and said, "Since you are here, I have something to discuss with you."
"Your subject is here," Lan Heng replied.
"During your absence, several matters have occurred in Jincheng. One is that last year, Chen Nan, who had just resigned as Minister of Dali Temple to become Minister of the Ministry of Justice, found that after only a year, the case he was responsible for in Dali Temple ran into trouble. Fortunately, Wu Xie was there to solve it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have simply demoted him to first rank." Lu Jing'an said.
Lan Heng had heard about this matter from Xu Qing before his arrival. He replied, "I heard that Lord Chen did not investigate the case thoroughly and missed arresting one person. Recently, the culprit committed the crime again. The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple lacked evidence and could not pass judgment. It was the heir of the Wise Prince's estate who sorted out this case."
"Hmm." Lu Jing'an nodded. "I have always heard rumors that the Minister of Dali Temple of the Southern Yue Kingdom was just a figurehead. Now... how many faces have been slapped?"
Lan Heng curled his lips and said, "Although the Heir is dissolute and his reputation in Jincheng is not good, he has always been among the elite of the court in official matters. Moreover, the Heir is inherently intelligent, so it is natural that he can solve cases."
"Oh?" Lu Jing'an's eyebrows lifted upon hearing Lan Heng praise someone else. Knowing his personality, this was rare. "According to your esteemed opinion, is the Dali Temple not as good as Wu Xie?"
"Great wisdom appears foolish." Lan Heng did not continue following the Emperor's words, only uttering these four characters.
Lu Jing'an laughed heartily. "Speaking of which, the youngest daughter of the Hua family, Hua Yao, has been pestering me, wanting to join the Dali Temple. I have always known your character, but I cannot withstand the entanglement of a young girl. So today, I am asking your opinion on behalf of the Hua family."
"Your Majesty." Upon hearing this, Lan Heng bowed again and said, "In the past, the former emperor, in imitation of the Lin Kingdom, established the Dali Temple to ensure the peace and security of all the people of the Southern Yue Kingdom, and to reduce wrongful convictions. Not to mention that Hua Yao is a young lady, and her constant presence with me would damage her reputation. Even if we speak of Hua Yao herself, I truly do not know what position I should assign her."
"Haha!" Lu Jing'an's smile grew even wider upon hearing this. He looked deeply at Lan Heng and said, "My dear minister, you know that the Hua family's intention is not solely for wine. Such words would truly hurt the feelings of a young lady."
Lan Heng's thin lips tightened. "Your Majesty is wise. I truly have no intention of marriage for the time being."
"Fine!" Lu Jing'an waved his hand, seemingly not pressing further.
After a long while, he said again, "I heard that the Dali Temple is short of coroners recently?"
Lan Heng was slightly taken aback. The Emperor rarely cared about such trivial matters, but he quickly reacted and replied, "Indeed."
"Then it's a coincidence." Lu Jing'an's smile widened. "Wu Xie has one with him. I've decided to place her in the Dali Temple."
"This..." Lan Heng frowned slightly. The Dali Temple was indeed lacking in competent coroners. For this reason, he, as the Minister of the Dali Temple, had increased the monthly salary for coroners, which was a universally disliked position, many times over. Applicants did come forward, but after his review, none were even barely qualified. Now, the Emperor was sending someone of unknown name to the Dali Temple. If this person turned out to be incompetent, how would the Dali Temple be managed in the future?
"Your Majesty..."
"My dear minister." Before Lan Heng could voice his refusal, Eunuch Hua whispered a few words into his ear. He nodded, momentarily interrupting Lan Heng's words, and said, "This person has already arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study with Wu Xie. You needn't rush to refuse. You'll know once you meet her."
After Lu Jing'an finished speaking, he gestured to Eunuch Hua.
As Eunuch Hua shouted loudly, the door to the Imperial Study was opened again, and two figures walked in, one after the other.
Lan Heng instinctively turned his head to look back. His gaze swept past Lu Wu Xie, who walked with a slightly casual gait, and landed on the person behind her. When he saw Zhong Li's face, with her eyes slightly downcast and her beauty unparalleled, his pupils contracted slightly.
"Your humble subject Wu Xie pays his respects to Imperial Uncle." Lu Wu Xie bowed to Lu Jing'an, while Zhong Li, standing behind him, also spoke, "Your humble subject Zhong Li pays her respects to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor."
Lu Jing'an did not notice the emotion surging within Lan Heng. He raised his hand, and the two opposite him rose. Then, his gaze returned to Lan Heng and he said,
"My dear minister, this is Zhong Li, the coroner I am assigning to assist you in the Dali Temple. Do not underestimate her just because she is a woman. The Miao Jie case you handled some time ago was solved by her, and she also made significant contributions to Li Kun's matter this time.
Moreover, I heard from Wu Xie's letter that Miss Zhong also knows some martial arts, so you don't have to worry too much about protecting her when she's chasing criminals."
Lu Jing'an said, then shifted his gaze to Lu Wu Xie.
Lu Wu Xie quickly responded, "Imperial Uncle is wise, it is indeed so. Li'er has traveled extensively with her adoptive father and has seen many things. If she joins the Dali Temple, it will be like adding wings to a tiger."
"You are so flattering." Upon hearing this, Lu Jing'an's smile widened. He then looked back at Lan Heng, about to ask for his opinion again.
Unexpectedly, Lan Heng spoke first this time, "Your subject is willing."
The man's low and hoarse voice echoed in the hall. Zhong Li, who had kept her eyes downcast, startled and looked up, her gaze meeting Lan Heng's.
Is it him?
Zhong Li's heart skipped a beat.