Duke of Wei, Chu Luoyan!
Yaoshi Yuan stared at the disheveled, aged white-haired old man before her, unable to connect him with the Duke of Wei, one of the Six Pillars of State, from her memories. During Yaoshi Mo Ke's rule, although his personal power had reached its peak and he had the final say over all matters under heaven, there were still some people at court beyond his control. Chu Luoyan was one of them.
Whether stabilizing a region as a local official or bringing peace to the realm after entering the central government, Chu Luoyan's record of accomplishments exceeded that of all the retainers of Duke of Jin Manor combined. He was one of the few ministers who dared openly defy Yaoshi Mo Ke, and countless scholars regarded him as a model for the realm. Though Yaoshi Mo Ke found him extremely displeasing, he had never harmed him throughout all those years, at most pushing Chu Luoyan out to serve in the provinces.
Ultimately, Chu Luoyan's opposition was not excessive, and he had never attempted to collude with Zhao Yuanbao and the others in plotting rebellion. Yet his reputation was formidable, and his governing ability was exceptional. After weighing the matter repeatedly, Yaoshi Mo Ke could only hold his nose and make use of him.
The last time Yaoshi Yuan had seen him was three months ago, when he had come to Duke of Jin Manor to confer with her father. At the time, he was past fifty, but his temples were still black. He held his back straight without servility or arrogance, and his speech was measured while his manner was refined. Of all the people Yaoshi Yuan knew, the only one who could compare with him in bearing was Liang Kingdom Chancellor Shang Xuanwen.
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