Shen Duan heard the shocking grain reserves memorial; yesterday's quail pecked out eyes today

By the time Fang Qi left the Hall of Literary Depths, the sun was already sinking in the west.

The moment he finished his duty in the hall, he hurried out of the palace.

The journey from the Hall of Literary Depths to Shen Duan's residence took barely half an hour, yet that half hour felt longer than an entire day.

[The Grand Secretariat deliberates, the Chief Minister settles, the emperor decides]

He had to act before the Grand Secretariat submitted its drafted response to the emperor

and get word to Shen Duan, giving him time to react.

Otherwise, his tenure as Minister of Works would be over!!

Two stone lions crouched outside the Shen Residence, their jaws slightly parted.

Fang Qi reached the entrance without even having time to present his visiting card.

The gatekeeper had already recognized him. He hastily stepped aside and bowed.

"Grand Secretary Fang? You..."

"Don't stop me, don't stop me! Disaster-a great disaster!"

Fang Qi jogged through the front courtyard, rounded the screen wall, and rushed toward the study, taking the steps two at a time.

Inside the study, Shen Duan sat behind his desk, a brush between his fingers and a memorial spread before him.

The charcoal fire burned fiercely, filling the room with warmth.

He wore only a silk robe beneath a half-worn gray squirrel-fur jacket, his hair loosely gathered with a jade pin.

After years of contending with Feng Yan, his old manner-"a spine as supple as spring willow, a tongue as sweet as candied fruit"-had long since vanished. Now neither joy nor anger showed on his face.

At the sound of the door opening, he merely lifted his eyelids.

Seeing Fang Qi, he lowered his head to the memorial again and asked indifferently,

"Finished your duty? Anything novel in