First update
After noon, in the rear office's flower hall.
When Sun Shaozong arrived, Wei Yi and Li Wenshan were seated facing each other. More than half the sandalwood incense on the small round table had already burned away, clearly showing that the two had been alone together for quite some time.
Considering that Sun Shaozong had set out immediately after receiving the summons, it could basically be inferred that Wei Yi had invited Li Wenshan here at least a quarter-hour earlier.
Was this a show of strength against him?
Or was Wei Yi trying to sow discord?
It did not matter. Even if the two had truly joined forces, as long as Li Wenshan was not some idler content to eat and wait for death, the Law Popularization in Rural Areas policy Sun Shaozong had devised would surely change his mind.
"Vice Minister Sun."
Seeing Sun Shaozong enter from outside, Li Wenshan hurriedly rose to greet him.
Wei Yi, however, remained motionless in his chair. He merely tilted his chin slightly toward the empty chair on the left. "Sit."
After their initial sparring, the old bastard could not even be bothered to pretend to be friendly in private anymore.
Sun Shaozong smiled and returned Li Wenshan's bow. As he took his seat, he placed two memorials on the table and pushed one toward each of them. "These are the detailed regulations. I ask you both to correct them."
Preparing memorials in duplicate was standard court practice—otherwise, if the court suddenly brought up the matter again several months after a submission and one had already forgotten most of its contents, would that not be terribly awkward?
Li Wenshan accepted his copy instinctively, straightened it before him, and was about to open it for a careful read.
Wei Yi, however, reached