Chapter 5: Choosing an Official Post as Top Scholar

The emperor on the throne showed no sign of hesitation at her words. His gaze swept over the ministers below, and a satisfied smile touched the corners of his mouth. “With Lord Luo’s talent, to place you at the head of the Ministry of War, I can finally entrust it to you with peace of mind.”

He then looked toward Qin Jinghao, whose expression had not changed in the slightest. “Lord Qin previously acted in place of the Minister of War, while also attending to matters within the army. It has truly been arduous for you. Now that Lord Luo will assist you, you may be relieved somewhat.”

“I thank Your Majesty for your concern.” Qin Jinghao cupped his hands in salute.

How could he not understand the emperor’s thoughts? Luo Yaoyao had a spotless background and had never been associated with any faction. She was the easiest to control. Since she wanted into the Ministry of War, the emperor was happy to give her a push, and could also use the opportunity to place an informant in his camp. He had held military authority alone for many years, and had long entrenched himself as one of the great powers at court. Whatever the reason, the emperor’s wariness toward him would never lessen.

Knowing this all too well, Qin Jinghao kept as low a profile as possible in court affairs. Yet even so, the emperor’s suspicion had never changed.

The imperial family was the most merciless of all. He, Qin Jinghao, had spent half his life on campaign, waging war for Western Qin in every direction, and in the end he still had to rely on the brothers who had sworn to follow him unto death to preserve the honors he had won. How laughable.

Luo Yunyao did not notice the subtle currents of thought flowing through the hall. For her, choosing the post of Minister of War had its own calculation.

The Ministry of War was the passage through which the army of a dynasty was marshaled and dispatched. Serving there would also keep her away from some of the struggles among the various factions, and, for her, it would offer more chances to come into contact with matters of military power and deployment.

Her gaze drifted over Qin Jinghao at the head of the hall. She did not know what he was thinking. From the slightly indifferent manner he had just shown, and from his attitude that day in the inn, Luo Yunyao could not fathom his intentions. What was more, his powers of perception left her with no room to guard against him. If she were to serve under him in the future, she would have to be exceedingly careful.

After the court session ended, Luo Yunyao had intended to return with Du Runsheng to pack her belongings and move into the minister’s residence bestowed by the emperor. Who would have thought that just as she stepped out of the palace, a servant would stop her and say that General Qin Jinghao had invited her to his estate to hand over the affairs of the Ministry of War.

That was one thing about life in this age she truly disliked: at the very least, when a new official took office, could they not let her finish packing before starting work?

She grumbled all the way there. Only when the carriage stopped before the gates of the general’s residence did she clear her throat, straighten her garments, and make sure there was not the slightest flaw in her appearance before following the servant into the general’s study.

Qin Jinghao’s study was unlike the opulent and imposing rooms of other high officials. On the contrary, it was a wooden house of bamboo, with a stand of lush bamboo growing beside it. Breathing in the morning freshness that still lingered in the grove even though noon was near, Luo Yunyao could not help wondering what sort of man Qin Jinghao really was. If one called him the Western Qin great general who had slain countless enemies and shaken the four directions, then by his appearance and the place he occupied, he seemed utterly out of keeping with words like cruel, domineering, or fierce. Instead, he looked more like—

A gentleman from the distant road, as pure and radiant as jade; a peerless man among men.

A verse suddenly leapt into her mind, and it described his bearing with perfect precision. Looking again at the expanse of green before her, few people would ever imagine that anyone would associate Qin Jinghao with the phrase “a refined and virtuous gentleman.”

“Lord Luo, please wait a moment. The general will be here shortly.”

Having brought her to the study, the servant politely left this one sentence behind. Before Luo Yunyao could reply, he had already withdrawn, every movement crisp and disciplined.

Luo Yunyao nodded her thanks. Only after his figure had completely disappeared beyond the doorway did she lift her head to examine Qin Jinghao’s study. Directly ahead hung a calligraphy work: a copy of the Orchid Pavilion Preface, its brushwork alternating between rise and fall, vigorous and forceful. The lines flowed like clouds and water; every stroke revealed a composure and reserve beyond the ordinary.

She wandered slowly to the calligraphy and painting, utterly astonished to find the Orchid Pavilion Preface in this era. By rights, after transmigrating into an invented world, such things should not have existed. Or perhaps someone like her had also transmigrated into this time and place...

So absorbed was she in thought that she did not notice when a tall figure appeared at the entrance of the bamboo house. Bathed in the leisurely midday sunlight that slanted into the room, he approached Luo Yunyao step by step and spoke in a light voice by her ear.

“Lord Luo, have you seen this work before?”

She let out a startled cry.

The sudden voice sent her reeling. Turning to look, she saw Qin Jinghao dressed in a white robe, the cuffs and hems embroidered with faint water patterns. A pale jade crown bound up his hair high, revealing a full forehead, handsome brows, and a mouth with thin lips.

Thin lips, thin nature. An old friend had once told her so, claiming it to be an unchanging rule. She had not taken it seriously then, but now that the thought flashed across her mind, she felt a vague and inexplicable panic.

Forcing down her wandering thoughts, Luo Yunyao averted her gaze and looked instead at the work before her. “This humble official had the good fortune, while traveling in the past, to see this piece by chance,” she said, pausing briefly before lifting her head again. “May I ask where the general obtained this calligraphy and painting?”

“A gift from a friend.”

Qin Jinghao took two steps forward and stood beside her, half a head taller than she was. His scrutinizing gaze settled lazily on her eyes, and a teasing curve touched his lips. “That friend’s calligraphy is always made in only one copy, and I have never shown it to the public. May I ask where Lord Luo saw this work?”

Her heart skipped a beat. Luo Yunyao inwardly cried that this was bad. Before those eyes of his, so wise and penetrating as if they could see through the world, every scheme and lie seemed doomed to be exposed. A thin sheen of sweat seeped into her palm. She forced an awkward smile and cautiously offered an explanation.

“Perhaps it was leaked by a servant who had seen the piece?”

Even as she said it, she herself felt how unconvincing it sounded. Her heart was like a taut string, fixed tightly on the man before her, as though any casual word from him could snap it at once.

“Perhaps.”

Qin Jinghao’s gaze lightly skimmed the panic in her eyes, but he did not press further. With those three indifferent words, it was clear he did not care much for her answer. He turned and walked to the desk inside the room, pointing to a stack of documents resembling memorials.

“These are the recent reports from the Ministry of War. I have already reviewed them. You may simply take them back and read through them.”

“Yes.” Luo Yunyao steadied herself before answering.

Having just emerged from that strained tension, she was surprised by how abruptly Qin Jinghao had changed the subject. But did that mean he was letting her go?

“The stack on the other side contains the Ministry of War’s records of troop movements over the years, as well as its administrative arrangements. You should familiarize yourself with them as soon as possible.”

“Yes.”

Was he really letting her off? The first time they met in the inn, he had already seen through her identity. A general of his rank could not lack suspicion and caution. Added to that her brazen entry into the affairs of the Western Qin court and her evasive answers just now, these were the kinds of words that might fool others, but they would never deceive his penetrating eyes.

“Since Lord Luo has only just taken office, I imagine you are not yet familiar with the Ministry of War. If you have any questions later on, feel free to come to me.”

“Yes.”

Qin Jinghao said several sentences in succession. Seeing that Luo Yunyao kept her brows tightly furrowed, he let the corners of his mouth lift slightly. Suddenly, he found that watching her think seemed rather interesting.

Yet Luo Yunyao, still immersed in her own thoughts, did not notice that the man had already been watching her for some time.

“The official matters are done. Now we can talk about private matters. How have you been faring in the capital lately, Brother Luo?”

Out of habit, Luo Yunyao almost answered “yes,” but then realized at once that something was wrong. She swallowed the word back down and forced herself to say, “Quite well.”

Seeing that she still kept her eyes lowered, Qin Jinghao spoke in a calm voice to explain, “That day in the inn, Master Cangshu and I did not mean to conceal anything from you. It was merely inconvenient to reveal our identities outside.”

“Mm, I know.”

She had long understood that they were hiding their identities, so she was not surprised. What surprised her was that Qin Jinghao was explaining himself to her? After all, she and he were only acquaintances of the thinnest kind, having met but once.

Luo Yunyao increasingly felt that she could not see through this man before her. No, perhaps she had never truly seen him clearly at all. The moment you discovered that he had perceived your thoughts and posed a threat to you, he would always stop short at the proper point and meet all your concealments with a faint smile.

Whether it was fortune or misfortune to deal with such a man, even she could not tell.

Unconsciously, Luo Yunyao’s attitude toward Qin Jinghao gradually began to change. It was a sense of danger in the face of the unknown, and also a curiosity toward the way he seemed to see through the truth of things.

But whatever might happen next, so long as she still did not know whether Qin Jinghao was friend or foe, she could not help but remain on guard against him.

The matters at the general’s residence were nearly finished. Luo Yunyao felt she needed enough time to clear her head. Thinking also of returning to Du Runsheng’s place to pack her things, and that she still had to report to the Ministry of War that afternoon, she was rather pressed for time. Before Qin Jinghao could speak again, she hurriedly cupped her hands and took her leave.

“It is getting late. If the general has no further instructions, I would like to take my leave first.”

“No hurry.”

Seeing that she was about to depart, Qin Jinghao turned slightly and looked up at her. One hand came to rest, almost absentmindedly, on the memorials beside the desk. His light voice rose again, carrying a sincere invitation.

“Lord Luo, why not have lunch at the general’s residence before leaving?”

“No need, no need.” How could Luo Yunyao dare linger in the general’s residence? Twice out of the three times she had met Qin Jinghao, something had gone wrong. How could she still dare have much contact with him? Right now, she was eager to leave this place as quickly as possible. “I still need to go back and pack my things, then move into the minister’s residence. This afternoon I must also report to the Ministry of War...”

As she spoke, her voice gradually grew quieter. She thought that, given his mind, he most likely understood what she meant to say.

Now that she had put it so plainly, Qin Jinghao could not well insist on further politeness. Understanding that she probably still held a faint wariness toward him, he did not try to keep her any longer, but only smiled apologetically.

“That was my oversight.”

“The general’s kindness is appreciated. If there is nothing else, then I shall take my leave.”

“Mm.”