As they chatted, they arrived at the square of Jade Brilliance Palace.
Chen Hong said, "I heard Vice Minister Wang escorted the Old Patriarch and Huang Jin to the auspicious burial grounds?"
"Indeed." Wang Yan nodded with a smile. "After I entered the capital in the fortieth year of Jiajing, the two of them took great care of me. For fourteen years, we served the late emperor faithfully together. Now that they have retired to keep vigil for the late emperor, it is only proper for an old friend like me to see them off.
"Eunuch Chen is a man of deep feeling as well. Now that you are in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial, you still call Eunuch Lü the Old Patriarch whenever he is mentioned. What true devotion. It is a pity Eunuch Lü does not know, or he would surely be quite pleased."
"Vice Minister Wang is scolding me." Mimicking Wang Yan's earlier tone, Chen Hong replied, "Though we are men without roots, we are not men without virtue. The Old Patriarch is the godfather I acknowledged, and so he will be my godfather for life. Without his support, I could not have become what I am today. Even if Vice Minister Wang had not seen him off, I would never have allowed anyone to bully the Old Patriarch."
"That is only right."
"Still, Vice Minister Wang, I must say something to you. The new emperor has ascended the throne, and there are countless affairs to attend to. You are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, yet at such a critical time, you left behind a mountain of business in the capital to escort the Old Patriarch to Heaven-Worshipping Temple, pick up Yang Jinshui, then send them to the auspicious burial grounds. You even stayed