The Imperial Study, in the Great Ming Imperial Palace.
The Emperor of Great Ming was reviewing memorials.
Since Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi had both died, he had become much busier.
Especially with Liu Xi of the Western Depot helping him ruthlessly deal with a number of civil officials, even the imperial treasury had grown considerably fuller.
"Is something the matter?" The Emperor of Great Ming put down his brush and looked at Liu Xi, who had been standing there for quite some time.
Liu Xi bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, did you not say you wished to recruit outstanding talents from across the land? This old servant has learned that Li Xunhuan, our dynasty's former Third-Rank Scholar, has returned. Why not grant him an official post and strengthen the court?"
The Emperor of Great Ming grew interested. "Li Xunhuan, the young Li the Third-Rank Scholar of 'Seven Jinshi in One Family' and 'Three Third-Rank Scholars in One Father-and-Son Line'?"
This was unquestionably a family of officials, descended from loyal and worthy men.
In particular, he also knew that this man possessed formidable martial arts. If he could be put to use by the court, he would surely spare the emperor a great deal of worry.
Previously, he had cultivated the Western Depot with the intention of counterbalancing the Eastern Depot and Dragon Guard Manor.
But he had never expected Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi to perish together, while the Eastern Depot, under that Wan Yulou's leadership, had been completely suppressed by the Western Depot.
He had thought the Jinyiwei would continue joining forces with the Eastern Depot to resist the Western Depot, achieving the balance he wanted.
To his surprise, however, neither the Eastern Depot nor the Western Depot seemed willing to provoke Lin Lang, the Commander of the Jinyiwei.