"Then I shall not trouble Minister Zeng any further. This servant still has an Imperial Decree to deliver to Dean Qin."
After bidding his father farewell with a genial smile, the eunuch led his men out of the residence on horseback.
Only Zeng Shilin remained, holding the Imperial Decree as he stood rooted in place, expressionless and lost in thought for a long while.
"Father?"
Zeng Anmin stepped forward and called out.
Zeng Shilin slowly came back to himself. He then looked at Zeng Anmin and said in a deep voice:
"Come with me to the study."
With that, he took the lead toward the study without another word.
Zeng Anmin watched his father's retreating back, his brows knitting slightly. Yet he said nothing and followed Zeng Shilin.
"Creak~"
The study door closed.
Only father and son remained in the room.
Zeng Anmin looked toward his father.
At that moment, his father's gaze happened to turn toward him as well.
Their eyes met, and a heavy atmosphere rose between them.
Doubt stirred in Zeng Anmin's heart.
Yet he did not rashly speak. He merely found a place to stand and quietly waited for his father to open his mouth.
His father's gaze was calm, without the slightest joy at his promotion. His voice was even.
"Do you know why I remain still as water despite being promoted to such an important post?"
"Then tell me."
Zeng Anmin casually picked up the Jade Ruyi from the table and turned it over in his hand.
The Jade Ruyi was enormous. It was not something one could simply stuff into one's robes...
After playing with it for a while, he found it dull. Zeng Anmin looked at his father with bored impatience.
His father's voice was deep at this point.
"Both Imperial Decrees