"Greetings, Chief Minister." Lu Liangsheng took the initiative to greet him.
Zhao Yishan's aged face broke into a faint smile. "Are you heading to the Dragon-Controlling Army, Eunuch Lu?"
Lu Liangsheng's smile remained unchanged. "No, I'm merely going to inspect the imperial kitchens. Those little brats haven't been putting their hearts into their work lately."
Zhao Yishan glanced up at the sky. "The winds have been strong these past few days. The Divine Capital still needs pillars of the state like you, Eunuch Lu."
"All officials should follow the Chief Minister's lead." Lu Liangsheng's smile grew warmer.
Zhao Yishan nodded and continued on his way.
Once Zhao Yishan had left, Lu Liangsheng's expression shifted slightly.
He glanced at the road hemmed in by red walls, and a cold sweat began to bead on his back.
Zhao Yishan had not needed to scheme to make him take this road at this hour.
Whatever he wished, everything fell into place.
Even a dignified First Rank like himself could not resist a mere desire of Zhao Yishan's to meet him.
It seemed that old fellow Zhao Yishan's cultivation had reached its peak. He could enter Beyond-Rank at any moment and attain the position of Literary Sage.
The Inner Factory might be powerful, but before the chief minister of an entire nation, every card it played had to be faceup. Every move it made lay beneath Zhao Yishan's gaze.
Zhao Yishan had easily foreseen the Inner Factory's possible next move, so he had appeared to deliver a warning.
No, I'm not worth Zhao Yishan coming in person. Any excuse would have sufficed. By appearing himself, he wasn't warning only me, but also... this man with rebellion written all over him... this outspoken minister.
The instant that thought arose, Lu Liangsheng hastily changed it.
He