The capital, the Left Prime Minister's Residence.
In the study, the Left Prime Minister sat behind a new desk while Ji Zhibai poured tea for Liu Shan.
Ji Zhibai stole a glance at Liu Shan, secretly marveling. Mi Prefecture was about to lose half its territory, and his mentor's two grandchildren had died in the womb, yet he had returned with a ruddy glow on his face, without the slightest trace of dejection.
"Congratulations on your triumphant return, Mentor." Ji Zhibai set down the teapot and respectfully stepped back.
"Sit." Liu Shan raised his eyelids.
Ji Zhibai's expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly said, "I thought the Grain Calamity would at least threaten Fang Yun. Who could have known he would summon people from the Agriculture Hall to resolve it? I failed to consider everything. Please punish me, Mentor."
"This was not your fault. Fang Yun is simply far too extraordinary. There is no need to blame yourself," Liu Shan said calmly.
Ji Zhibai sighed softly. "Our most urgent task now is to investigate the traitors among us. Without a great many traitors supplying information, Fang Yun could never have obtained such conclusive evidence. With the Hall of Punishment involved, I could only inspect the case files by invoking your name. Otherwise, I would not even know the specific reasons."
An unusual gleam flashed through Liu Shan's eyes. "This matter... must not be mentioned again. Even when His Majesty the Western Sea Dragon Sage expended his power to divine the truth, an immense force cut him off. He said he suspected it had something to do with Book Mountain. Beyond that, he could not uncover so much as a scale or a claw."
"Yes." Ji Zhibai sighed helplessly.
Liu Shan glanced at Ji Zhibai. "You need not blame yourself so