The Secretariat's offices stood in a secluded spot outside the palace, chiefly because this was not an office that received ordinary people.
Fully armed soldiers guarded the entrance, where two great stone lions also stood in imposing majesty.
Images of Vajra adorned the main gates. The emperor favored Buddhism, so fierce, glaring Vajra figures guarded the vermilion gates of every government office.
Luo Xianzhi sat calmly at the head of the hall. Though many people were present, it was very quiet, and the heads of the various offices reported their recent affairs to him in order.
Ordinarily, the Chancellor of the Secretariat did not hear reports on the work of these subordinate offices. The Secretariat's Twenty-Four Offices were far too low in rank; he needed only to hear the opinions of the left and right deputy directors, or at most the reports of the Six Ministers.
But Luo Xianzhi believed that since the Court held Grand Court Audiences despite having the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers, as well as the Secretariat and Central Secretariat, the Secretariat should do the same. Listening to all sides brought clarity; listening to only one brought darkness. Hearing the subordinate offices' opinions helped him maintain control of the Secretariat.
He listened from above as the subordinate officials reported below, unaware that his every movement could send fear through the entire Secretariat. A frown could set hearts trembling, while a nod could bring smiles of delight.
Not many people had died in the recently concluded Gentry Forgery Case. The Luo Clan had never favored indiscriminate guilt by association-not because they dared not kill, of course, but chiefly to avoid becoming a blade in someone else's hand, a tool for eliminating political enemies.
And precisely this ability to remain measured and restrained even in fury inspired another