"Then have this matter carried out as I said. Lord Lu, I have discussed the specific expenses with you. Go with Lord Cui to his residence and discuss them further."
With a sweep of his hand, Cao Mao put Lu Qin in charge of the matter.
This was also a show of recognition and trust in Lu Qin for his counterattack just now.
Lu Qin hurriedly bowed, then left with Cui Zan.
No sooner had Cui Zan left than Chen Qian entered the hall, but Cao Mao rose with a wry smile.
"Duke Chen, you came at just the right time. Come, join me in the Western Hall. I'll treat you to a proper meal!"
Cao Mao warmly took Chen Qian's hand and led him toward the Western Hall. Chen Qian hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I have already eaten..."
"I haven't!"
Cao Mao shook his head and began to complain. "We must settle the appointments to the Three Offices first. Otherwise, I have to do everything myself. I can't bear it."
Chen Qian was rather unaccustomed to this.
On the whole, Chen Qian was a reserved man. Once he had passed the age of youthful recklessness, he had never behaved too intimately with others.
Yet Cao Mao's attitude now plainly suggested that he regarded him as a close friend, even volunteering his complaints.
In his capacity as a minister, Chen Qian ought to have knelt and confessed his guilt by now.
As a minister, he had actually allowed the emperor to wear himself out. What a dereliction of duty!
But Cao Mao seemed to give him no chance at all to ask forgiveness, quickly turning the conversation to food.
"When I was in Yuan City, I personally devised recipes. They were famous throughout Hebei. Even now, they still call those