She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

As Cheng Wenhao stepped onto the steps of the Ministry of Personnel, he caught a glimpse of a figure carrying a thick stack of files, hurrying out from a side path.

Xie's second son lost his footing and was about to fall flat on his back.

With quick reflexes, Cheng Wenhao caught several scattered pieces of paper with a flick of his folding fan, and supported the staggering young master of the noble family with one hand, saying, "Brother Xie, watch your step."

After being helped to his feet, Young Master Xie belatedly rubbed his sore neck, muttering a complaint: "Thank you, this file is too heavy. The new person in charge is having a good time, reaping the benefits as soon as he arrives."

When she looked up again, she was caught off guard by Cheng Wenhao's ambiguous smile.

His scarlet official robe accentuated his smiling, almond-shaped eyes, making him appear even more dashing and debonair.

"Cheng Wenhao?" Young Master Xie was taken aback, recognizing the person in front of him, and hurriedly took half a step back.

"His Majesty has been kind enough to send me to the Examination and Evaluation Office to have tea and chat with you gentlemen. I hope to absorb some of your refined and noble air."

His words were polite, but to onlookers, they sounded sarcastic.

Twelve pairs of eyes rose from behind the scrolls and then fell back down in unison. The sound of turning the roster was mixed with whispers, like the buzzing of mosquitoes on a summer afternoon, making one feel restless.

Cheng Wenhao didn't care at all. He tapped the jade buckle on the other man's waist with his folding fan. Although he was a man, he smiled like a lotus in June, clear and bright. "Brother Xie, your waist tag is too loose. When you have time another day, I'll give you a gold-inlaid jade one. I guarantee it will be secure."

"Bribery?" Young Master Xie frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure.

Cheng Wenhao raised an eyebrow, closed his folding fan and tapped it against his palm: "I heard that your brother only got a B grade in his evaluation last month?"

Young Master Xie paused, his hand adjusting the jade belt, and his face instantly turned bright red.

Young masters from prominent families are known for their arrogance, and Xie Gongzi is especially so. He despises the money-grubbing of merchants and looks down on the nouveau riche attitude of the newly rich.

He had always disliked Cheng Wenhao's dissolute playboy behavior, and even thought that Cheng Wenhao's rise to the position of Director of the Personnel Department was only due to his power and influence. His contempt and disdain for Cheng Wenhao were even greater than before.

With a flick of his sleeve, he scattered the pages of the dossier that Cheng Wenhao had caught but hadn't fully landed, like snowflakes, the pages falling haphazardly to the ground.

Young Master Xie angrily retorted, "How dare you, a mere merchant, interfere in matters of performance evaluation? You are simply defiling the tranquility of the Ministry of Personnel!"

Cheng Wenhao's expression remained unchanged, and he was neither angry nor annoyed. He simply smiled and said, "Back in late spring, I was still looking through the rosters of those girls behind the beaded curtain. Now, it seems I'm going to be in charge of this merit and demerit book for you gentlemen."

As he spoke, he squatted down and picked up the scattered files one by one.

He carefully examined the file in his hand, clicking his tongue in amazement: "Oh, Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Works, he took five days off last month... Hmm? The reason for the leave was 'family matters'? This record from the Performance Evaluation Department is far too vague. What exactly are these 'family matters'?"

"Cheng Wenhao!"

A voice came from behind the rosewood screen, and a corner of a crimson official robe came into view first.

Minister Wen came out with a solemn expression. He first glanced at the embarrassed Young Master Xie, then turned his gaze to Cheng Wenhao. "The Ministry of Justice needs to review Jinghe's thirty years of performance evaluation records. Chief Cheng, come with me."

Cheng Wenhao stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his robes, and smiled broadly: "What did Brother Xie just say? Merchants are not allowed to comment?"

The two brushed past each other, and the smiles that fell on Young Master Xie's face were more unpleasant than swallowing a fly.

Cheng Wenhao followed Minister Wen through the vermilion corridor. A few foxtail grasses sprouting from the cracks in the blue bricks brushed against the hem of his scarlet official robe. Outside the corridor, the wisteria trellis cast dappled light and shadow, making the crane patch on Minister Wen's crimson official robe appear and disappear.

"Please, sir."

The clerk pushed open the ebony door, and a musty smell mixed with the scent of stale ink wafted out. Bundles of files were piled from the top of the rosewood shelves to the blue brick floor, with cobwebs growing in the gaps.

Minister Wen dismissed the other officials, leaving only the two of them in the large room.

Cheng Wenhao watched his retreating figure, the carefree smile in his eyes fading. After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke, "Gu Er, he..."

Gu Changyi's feelings for Wen Yin were already common knowledge in the capital.

Minister Wen paused in his hand, which was pointing at the dossier, and pulled out a dossier.

Patches of sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, falling on his graying temples and making the fine beads of sweat on his forehead glisten. "...His Highness Prince Jing and the Commandant have already gone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to meet the Emperor."

The cicadas chirping outside the window suddenly became shrill in my ears.

Cheng Wenhao scoffed. This old man couldn't even be bothered to cover up his lie. Why would the Ministry of Justice need to review the performance evaluations from seven years ago?

The ambergris incense in the Hall of Mental Cultivation became increasingly strong and pungent, but the heat was somewhat dispelled by the ice chest.

Emperor Hui sat high on the dragon throne, his fingers, which had become noticeably thinner, pressed against his temples.

Wen Huaizhang, Wen Huaiqing, and Jiang Jin'an sat below Emperor Hui.

"After being confined for over a month, I ask you, do you know what 'quietly reflecting on one's own faults' means?"

Wen Huaiqing rose and knelt on the ground, "Your subject knows his mistake."

Emperor Hui snorted coldly and slammed the teacup in his hand onto Wen Huaiqing's lap. Tea splashed everywhere, and shards flew, leaving glaring marks on the gold bricks.

Li Delu was so frightened that the whisk in his hand trembled.

Ever since Emperor Hui coughed up blood, his temper has become increasingly unpredictable.

"You admit your mistake?" Emperor Hui's voice suddenly rose. "You admit your mistake and yet you've forced that girl from the Wen family to shave her head as a sign of your resolve! A prince of your stature, how dare you coerce a respectable woman like this! What has become of the royal family's dignity? What has become of my dignity?!"

Wen Huaizhang's wrist, which was holding the cup, paused slightly. He glanced up at Jiang Jin'an, who was looking down and fiddling with the tassel of the token at his waist.

“Father, you are wise.” Wen Huaiqing pressed a cool gold brick against his forehead. “Miss Wen’s request to become a nun is…”

With a clang, Emperor Hui smashed the agate prayer beads just inches away. The crimson beads rolled through the gaps in the gold bricks and came to a stop just beside the prince's black boots.

Wen Huaizhang's black boots instinctively retreated half an inch, then remained firmly planted in place.

Jiang Jin'an suddenly shook his head and sighed, "Young Master Gu has attempted suicide three times in my residence, and my wife has been guarding the gate of Shanyuan Temple for days. If His Majesty does not show mercy, I fear I will have to borrow a pair of shackles from the Commandery to prevent any unrest in the household."

Water droplets from the melting ice cascaded onto the gold bricks. Wen Huaiqing's knuckles, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, were already clenched until they turned white, yet his face remained as respectful as ever: "Captain, you must have misunderstood. I have only met Miss Wen a few times, but it is Second Young Master Gu..."

Emperor Hui slammed his palm on the table and began to cough uncontrollably.

Wen Huaizhang handed over a warm medicine cup at the right time: "The loquat syrup that the Imperial Hospital has recently made is more refreshing and soothing than the old formula."

Just as Li Delu was about to step forward to take it, Emperor Hui suddenly stood up, leaning on the table.

Jiang Jin'an finally raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the Buddhist beads scattered on the ground and landing on Emperor Hui's violently heaving shoulders and back.