Minister Lu immediately grasped the situation, finally understanding the purpose of Prince Kang's visit today.
"To think that Secretary Lu is actually Your Highness's junior fellow disciple—he must possess remarkable talents. Thanks to His Majesty's blessings, our Ministry of Works has gained such an outstanding individual. Truly a stroke of fortune."
Rumors had been circulating that the only reason Lu Chao was allowed to remain by Prince Kang's side was because the prince coveted Xiao Zheng's military power. Now that Prince Kang claimed Lu Chao was his junior fellow disciple, no one could tell whether it was true or not.
"You flatter me too much."
Prince Kang observed the expressions of those present and could easily deduce the treatment Lu Chao had faced before. A faint smile played on his lips as he glanced at Lu Chao.
"Minister Lu is a veteran of two dynasties, a man of profound learning and wisdom. In your future duties at the Ministry of Works, you must humbly seek guidance from your seniors and avoid rash actions. I shall take my leave now. After your duties today, come join me for lunch."
Lu Chao understood that Prince Kang was elevating his status and promptly agreed.
After seeing Prince Kang off, Chief Clerk Zhang shot Cen Chou a glare before eagerly escorting Lu Chao to the office.
"We had heard of your arrival and prepared everything in advance. All stationery and supplies are ready, and if anything is missing, simply request it from the internal affairs office. Cen Chou, hurry up and pour Secretary Lu some tea!"
Cen Chou grabbed the teapot from the table and entered, his knuckles whitening from the tight grip.
"Chief Clerk Zhang, you honor me too much. How could I trouble a senior to pour tea for me?" Lu Chao intercepted Cen Chou, taking the teapot from his hands and pouring the tea himself.
"I went to the Ministry of Revenue this morning—he must have misunderstood my instructions, leading to this mess. But since you’re new to the Ministry of Works, it’s good to familiarize yourself with the archives. From now on, you may take the documents home after registering them."
Lu Chao nodded in agreement.
After Chief Clerk Zhang left, Lu Chao ignored Cen Chou’s complicated gaze, stretched lazily, and resumed reviewing the documents.
Meanwhile, Chief Clerk Zhang sank into his armchair with a long sigh, lost in thought. Eventually, he decided to visit Vice Minister Li to gather information about Lu Chao’s background. Just as he reached the door, he spotted Staff Officer Qin of the Imperial Guards stepping out.
"Sir, why has Staff Officer Qin suddenly come to our Ministry of Works?"
Vice Minister Li remained silent for a moment.
"I’ve had several visitors this morning, all inquiring about your newly appointed secretary."
Chief Clerk Zhang drew a sharp breath.
Vice Minister Li stroked his beard with his left hand while counting on his right.
"Aside from Staff Officer Qin, there was also Vice Minister Mo from the Ministry of Rites and Mr. Chen from the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Tsk, tsk—what kind of background does this Lu Chao have? I’ve never even heard of him before!"
Chief Clerk Zhang recalled the rumors outside, utterly baffled.
"Sir, this is truly bizarre. The gossip in the streets is downright vicious—some claim Lu Chao is illiterate and rose to power through women. But now, seeing the connections behind him, why would he allow such slander to spread?"
Vice Minister Li shook his head.
"Enough. As long as he doesn’t tear down the Ministry of Works, we’ll treat him like a revered guest and take things one step at a time."
Lu Chao had no idea his arrival had stirred the seemingly calm waters of the Ministry of Works.
At that moment, he sat in his office, lost in thought. Tomorrow, he should bring some dried fruits or snacks—drinking tea all day left his mouth utterly flavorless. Just as he zoned out, someone outside called for him.
Lu Chao quickly stood, straightened his robes, and strode out. The moment he stepped outside, his eyes landed on a man clad in black armor, standing tall and straight in the pavilion.
Lu Chao froze momentarily, searching his memory for any recognition of the man, but drew a blank.
"Lord Lu, your reputation precedes you. It’s an honor to finally meet you today."
The man spoke first, his voice clear and warm, tinged with amusement.
Lu Chao’s eyes flickered with confusion as he studied the stranger.
"Ah, forgive my excitement—I forgot to introduce myself."
Noticing Lu Chao’s puzzlement, the man chuckled and clasped his hands in greeting.
"I am Mo Chong, a captain of the Imperial Guards. During the incident at Taoyuan Mountain, it was only thanks to Lord Lu’s intervention that my younger sister’s life was spared. The Mo family will never forget this kindness. However, to protect her reputation, we dared not visit you rashly. I hope you can forgive our discourtesy."
At the mention of Taoyuan Mountain, Lu Chao instantly recalled the scene—the man before him was the elder brother of Second Miss Mo, who had been trapped in the peach tree that day.
With a carefree laugh, he waved his hand. "Brother Mo, it was merely a trivial effort, hardly worth mentioning. Had you not brought it up, I would’ve forgotten all about it."
"Ha ha ha!"
The man’s hearty laughter shattered the quiet around them. He clapped Lu Chao on the shoulder.
"I’m a few years older, so I’ll take the liberty of calling myself your elder brother. You’re a man of bold actions, Brother Chao, and I can’t afford to be remiss in courtesy. To be frank, ever since Taoyuan Mountain, my mother has spoken of you often. Now that she’s heard you’re serving in the Ministry of Works, she insisted I look out for you in the palace. Though I’m no great figure, I’ve made some connections here. If you ever face difficulties in the future, come find me. Whatever I can do, I’ll spare no effort!"
Mo Chong was a straightforward man by nature, and after their conversation, he felt an immediate kinship with Lu Chao. Before leaving, he insisted on gifting a brocade box, which Lu Chao reluctantly accepted. Inside was a brush—its shaft jet-black and glossy like jade, intricately carved with delicate cloud patterns. It was clearly no ordinary item.
That day, perhaps because he was a new face, Lu Chao noticed an unusual number of people passing by his office—far more than he expected. Did the Ministry of Works really need to interact with so many departments?
By noon, word of the morning’s events had already reached the Emperor.
As he leisurely picked up a delicacy with his chopsticks, savoring it slowly, the Emperor remarked in a casual tone,
"Prince Kang values loyalty. His visit to the Ministry of Works to support Lu Chao is typical of him—quite in character."
Earlier, the imperial spies had reported that several high-ranking officials, after drinking, had openly claimed that Prince Kang harbored sinister ambitions. They alleged that he deliberately exaggerated Xiao Zheng’s abilities in public, all to consolidate more military power under his command. The insinuation was that Xiao Zheng had secretly defected to Prince Kang, and the two were plotting something that could shake the foundations of the court.
It was precisely for this reason that the Emperor had made an impromptu visit to the capital’s military camp.
"How are things progressing in Shuozhou?"
"Your Majesty, the arrangements are in place. Xiao Huan has taken the bait."
"Good. Be thorough—leave no traces."
The Emperor lifted his gaze slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of the dragon throne.
"The Tartar envoys will arrive in the capital in half a month. It seems their ruler holds great regard for this Western Prince. But their schemes are in vain—this Emperor will make them understand the cost of toying with the Son of Heaven!"
...
When the workday ended, Lu Chao stepped out of the Ministry of Works and saw the Lu family carriage already waiting for him.
"Was your first day tolerable?"
Lord Lu had been distracted all day at the office, worried that Lu Chao might face mistreatment. Today, he deliberately left earlier than usual.
"It was alright. The superiors and colleagues at the Ministry were quite friendly. I’m just exhausted."
Lu Chao yawned. He had risen too early, and after lunch, it was straight back to work—who could endure that?
"You’ve only just begun your duties. The road ahead is long. As a newcomer, you must remain humble and cautious. Moreover, always remember—in the world of officials, it’s the petty men who are hardest to guard against..."
As Lord Lu spoke, he turned back only to find Lu Chao’s eyes already closed.
