Covering up the crime of deceiving the emperor with more deception-how did you even come up with that?!!

For a long while, no one spoke in the imperial study. Everyone even kept their breathing light.

Duke Wang stared in shock at his colleagues who had claimed exhaustion and returned home, while his colleagues stared incredulously at his muscle-bound physique.

The meaning in their eyes could more or less be summed up as-

"This is what you call utterly exhausted?!"

And-

"This is what you call your health going from bad to worse?!"

The speechlessness in their eyes grew ever more intense. They were on different wavelengths, but their purpose was utterly united-

Duke Wang turned back and looked earnestly at Emperor Mingze above him. "Your Majesty, I-"

Before he could finish, Jiang Yanchuan raised a hand to stop him. "No hurry."

Duke Wang looked baffled.

No hurry about what?

What did he mean, no hurry?!

He was in a terrible hurry?!!

But seeing that Emperor Mingze had no intention of saying more, Duke Wang sensibly stepped aside and joined the Upright Officials who could hear the little one's thoughts.

Only after taking his place did he discover a long row of Upholstered Chairs opposite them, occupied by a group of consorts with the empress at their head.

Duke Wang: "..."

He thought he understood something now.

A moment later, a palace attendant hurried in with exceedingly light footsteps and whispered into Eunuch Changshun's ear. Eunuch Changshun promptly went out with the attendant.

When he returned, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard followed behind him, looking grave.

The officials present widened their eyes in shock and admiration, all but giving Lu Yao a thumbs-up on the spot.

What dedication!

It was one thing for the rest of them, but Lu Yao had two weighty assignments that Emperor Mingze had only just entrusted to him. He could not afford