Chapter 28: Is He the Only Capable Official?

Inside the imperial study, Bai Yujing’s gaze shifted away from the still-damp water stain on the floor and settled on Nangong Lin, who sat quietly in the single armchair. Her posture was composed, her eyes lowered, focused intently on the book spread open across her lap, as if the absurd incident from moments ago had never occurred.

Bai Yujing rubbed his brow and smiled wryly. “Lucia will come by later. Remember to apologize to her.”

At this, Nangong Lin finally lifted her eyes from the pages, casting him a faint glance. “I allotted enough time for her to get dressed properly. Who told her to take a bath during working hours? Or is it common practice in the Great Han Empire for officials to do whatever they please during office hours?”

“I’m not going to argue with you,” Bai Yujing replied, unshaken by her assumption.

“You made a mistake here. Remember to apologize to Lucia.”

“I will handle it appropriately,” Nangong Lin responded softly, her gaze returning to the book exploring the construction and future development of utopia. She found the depicted ideal world deeply intriguing.

Bai Yujing said no more, glancing instead at the time displayed in the bottom right corner of his computer screen. It should be soon.

Ding dong.

The crisp sound of the doorbell rang just then.

From outside came the respectful voice of the imperial study’s administrative secretary: “Sage, the Prime Minister has arrived.”

Bai Yujing pressed the green button on his desk.

The heavy wooden doors silently slid open to either side.

The Prime Minister entered with steady steps, crossing the mirror-like marble floor to the crescent-shaped desk laid with a woolen carpet. He bowed deeply. “Your servant pays respects, Sage.”

“Rise,” Bai Yujing said calmly, but his words struck the Prime Minister like thunder. “Earlier at the Kunlun Academy, someone attempted to assassinate me.”

“Sage! Are you unharmed?” The Prime Minister’s head snapped up, his voice betraying his alarm.

“I’m fine. The assassin was killed on the spot by Lucia.”

“I will immediately investigate the Forbidden Guards stationed at the Suzaku Gate today to see if there is a traitor colluding with the assassin!”

“The assassin infiltrated through his own skill, with no one behind him. He is Lars from the Second District Progressive Party, who, believing his career was over, decided to gamble everything.” Bai Yujing’s tone shifted abruptly. “However, send an edict to Hou Jie: after he assumes office as the new governor of the Second District, he must investigate whether the assassin had accomplices.”

Though these statements seemed contradictory, the Prime Minister instantly grasped the sage’s intent.

The Sage was using the assassination attempt to establish the new governor’s authority. Even though there were no accomplices, who would be labeled as such next would be entirely at Hou Jie’s discretion.

“But this must not cause too much upheaval,” Bai Yujing added.

As the sovereign of all lands, he naturally hoped for a government free from factionalism, where all served the public good. Yet reality was often contrary.

Those in power needed to cultivate loyalists.

Without “one’s own people,” orders would be met with insincere compliance or outright obstruction.

Bai Yujing could not eradicate factionalism, only constantly rotate those in power.

If the Progressive Party became corrupt, dismiss and replace them, nurturing a new party.

If the new party repeated the same mistakes, replace them again.

“Rest assured, Sage. I will strictly instruct Hou Jie to act prudently and keep his measures balanced!” The Prime Minister bowed deeply, his voice grave.

Bai Yujing nodded slightly, then asked, “Recently, some members of parliament petitioned, saying Zhao Yinglong has governed Manaus well, benefiting the locals. The city’s residents have jointly requested leniency, hoping to spare him from the death penalty. What is your opinion?”

The Prime Minister pondered briefly. “I have heard that before Zhao Yinglong took office, Manaus was the poorest among the twenty-one administrative districts. Now, it has risen to become the sixth largest economy in this district.”

“Hmph!” Bai Yujing interrupted with a cold snort. “Do you mean to say that without Zhao Yinglong, Manaus could not have developed due to its advantageous location and rich resources? In the vast Great Han Empire, is he the only capable and virtuous official, while the rest are all good-for-nothings?”

Hearing this, the Prime Minister immediately understood the Sage’s meaning and hurriedly corrected himself, “Your wisdom is profound, I am but foolish!”

“Dismiss those parliamentarians who submitted the petition and investigate thoroughly whether they received bribes.”

Bai Yujing’s tone was resolute.

He never believed in balancing merits and faults.

In his eyes, if Zhao Yinglong was an honest official, his achievements deserved reward.

From mayor to cabinet prime minister, he would not hesitate to grant authority and honors.

But if Zhao Yinglong was corrupt, no matter his talents, Bai Yujing would punish him strictly and without regret.

After all, aside from the emperor himself, all other officials in the Great Han Empire were replaceable.

“I obey!” The Prime Minister accepted the order respectfully and slowly exited the study.

Almost the moment his figure disappeared beyond the door, Lucia, who had long been waiting nearby, strode in with an icy expression.

Her wine-red hair was tied neatly into a single ponytail, and she wore a brand-new Forbidden Guard commander’s uniform, radiating a heroic aura, though her brow was furrowed with fierce anger.

As the heavy wooden doors had not fully closed, the Prime Minister faintly heard her voice, suppressed but seething behind him:

“Sage! I implore you to allow me to have a duel to the death with Nangong Lin!”

The Prime Minister paused, stunned. How had these two suddenly turned against each other?

Inside the study, Bai Yujing rubbed his temples in helplessness, casting a glance at Nangong Lin, silently urging her to fix the mess someone else had caused.

Nangong Lin calmly closed her book on her lap, rising with grace. Her voice remained gentle.

“Lucia, the human body is but a mere shell. There’s nothing shameful about being seen.”

“Shut up!” Lucia’s beautiful eyes widened, her killing intent almost solidifying. “You speak so lightly, but if it were you… could you endure this?”

“I don’t care.” Nangong Lin gently placed the book on the desk. “If you’re angry, I can take off my clothes for you, as compensation.”

As she spoke, she actually lifted her delicate hand, pinching the strap of her simple long dress and slowly pulling it aside.

Her fair, rounded shoulder and exquisite collarbone were exposed to the air, followed by the white strap of her bra beneath.

Her motion continued, as if she intended to slide the strap entirely off her arm.

“Enough!” Lucia blushed deeply, hastily stopping her. “Alright, alright! This time... I’ll let it go. I forgive you, but you must never do this again!”

“Rest assured.” Nangong Lin was not surprised at Lucia’s intervention.

With her pride, she would never lower her head to apologize sincerely, let alone strip naked.

Her offer to undress was a calculated move, knowing Lucia would never allow it.

She slid the strap back into place, her tone soft. “As long as it’s not during working hours, I won’t drag you anywhere without reason.”

Listening to this, Lucia felt a tightness in her chest. The more she heard, the more it sounded like she was the one in the wrong.

Yet seeing Nangong Lin’s serene posture bent over her book, Lucia was at a loss for words and could only brood silently, counting the woolen fibers of the carpet on the floor.