Chen Luo followed the voice and saw a dignified elderly scholar step out from among the assembled officials. His gaze flicked over the man's chest, where there was an emblem of the Rising Sun, with five birds beating their wings as they flew before the red sun.
A voice transmission reached Chen Luo's ears: "This is Director of the Ministry of Rites, Lü Dazhi, from the Grand Hall. He holds a fifth-rank post."
"What does Director Lü wish to ask me?" Chen Luo cupped his hands.
Lü Dazhi hurried over to Chen Luo's side. First, he saluted Ye Heng, then turned to Chen Luo. "Earl of Wan'an, this old man has a question. Was that Great Scholar's Literary Heart discovered in Wan'an County stolen by you?"
Chen Luo's brows drew together slightly. "Director Lü, you're already this old, yet you just blurt things out without thinking? A thief either steals or robs. Which one did I commit? You let the Literary Heart choose its master, and it chose me. Is there a problem?"
Lü Dazhi snorted coldly. "Nonsense. A Great Scholar's Literary Heart is a treasured possession of Confucianism. I see that you have not produced Righteous Qi, which means you are not a member of the Confucian school. How could the Literary Heart choose you as its master?"
"You old bastard, watch your tongue!" At that moment, a sudden shout thundered through the Imperial Court, nearly drowning out the pounding rain beyond the hall. Chen Luo turned his head and only then saw Wei Yan, who had been hiding God knew where, step out from among the officials with a dark expression.
Seeing Wei Yan appear, Lü Dazhi was not surprised. He said, "Director Wei, although you are a Great Scholar and I am a Master, reason recognizes no