Zhou Ming had just sat down in his study, not having even taken two sips of the hot tea in his hand.

Steward Meng walked in on tiptoe and bowed to report: "Master, there is someone at the door asking to see you. They say they are a newly appointed official of the Ministry of Justice, here specifically to pay respects to the Minister."

They arrived quickly. Zhou Ming set his teacup on the desk and nodded: "Bring him in."

Before long, a middle-aged man wearing brand-new official robes followed Steward Meng into the study.

This man was in his early forties, of average build, with a fair complexion and a neatly trimmed three-stranded beard on his chin; it was evident that he must have been a refined-looking person in his youth.

He walked in with very light steps, his eyelids lowered, and did not stop until he reached the front of the desk.

He cupped his hands, bowed, and said with a hint of undetectable nervousness in his voice: "Left Vice Minister of Justice, Wu Shijun, greets the Minister."

Zhou Ming raised his eyes to look him up and down, then nodded slightly: "No need for such formalities. Please, sit."

Hearing Zhou Ming ask the guest to sit, Steward Meng tactfully retreated to the doorway and beckoned for a maid to serve two cups of freshly brewed hot tea.

Wu Shijun sat on the chair, his buttocks barely touching the edge of the seat. His back was straight, his hands rested properly on his knees, and his posture was respectful to the point of being stiff.

"When did Vice Minister Wu receive the decree from Your Majesty?" Zhou Ming asked casually as he picked up his teacup.

"Reporting to the Minister, this subordinate received it two quarters of an hour ago. After receiving the decree, I had someone inquire about the location of your residence and hurried over immediately."

Wu Shijun answered very quickly, clearly having rehearsed these words in his mind several times before coming.

Zhou Ming gave a hum, lowered his head to take a sip of tea, and said nothing more.

The study fell into silence.

Wu Shijun sat on the chair, not daring to even breathe loudly.

He stole a glance, quickly sweeping his eyes over Zhou Ming.

The newly appointed Minister of Justice sat behind the desk, his face still that same sharp-featured, monkey-like face.

His frame looked quite a bit longer and sturdier, but sitting there, his whole body seemed to be wrapped in an invisible layer of frost.

Zhou Ming's notoriety was known to everyone in Youzhou, from the young to the old—his deeds from half a year ago at Taihe Hall, where he called a deer a horse, and the time he wiped out five or six aristocratic families in one breath.

The storytellers in the teahouses told several versions over and over again, and every version depicted this sharp-featured young man as a living Yama with a green face and fangs who devoured people without spitting out the bones.

When he received the decree, his heart had been pounding.

Left Vice Minister of Justice, a third-rank official—this was a high position that many people couldn't even dream of, but being a deputy to Zhou Ming was no different from dancing on the tip of a knife.

Now, sitting in this study with the Minister opposite him drinking tea without saying a word, he felt as if the chair beneath him was covered in needles; every second was torture.

"Minister..."

Wu Shijun finally couldn't hold it back and carefully ventured to ask.

"The Ministry of Justice's offices are currently under construction, so our future workplace..."

"I know," Zhou Ming took a sip of tea, his tone flat. "Just work here for now."

The study fell silent again.

Wu Shijun felt a fine layer of cold sweat bead on his forehead, and the inner garment on his back was already stuck to his skin.

He really couldn't fathom this Minister's temperament.

If one said he was kind, there was clearly a blade hidden in those eyes.

If one said he was stern, his tone of voice was unhurried, and he even had someone serve him tea.

This feeling of being left hanging in mid-air was even more uncomfortable than being harshly scolded.

"Then... then Minister, should this subordinate... should I go familiarize myself with the office space?"

He probed cautiously once more, his voice so soft it was as if he were asking if he could go to the latrine.

"No need," Zhou Ming finally raised his eyes, his gaze landing on his face. "Wait a moment."

Wu Shijun hurriedly nailed his buttocks back onto the chair.

Wait, he would wait.

The Minister said to wait, so he would wait. He would wait as long as needed, as long as he didn't stare at him with that expressionless gaze again.

"Minister Wu, do you have the list of Ministry of Justice officials in your hands?"

Zhou Ming suddenly asked.

Although the tone was still flat, at least it was a clear question.

Wu Shijun felt as if he had been granted an amnesty. He hurriedly pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands: "Reporting to the Minister, yes... yes..."

Zhou Ming took the paper, unfolded it, and scanned it.

The paper was densely packed with names, from the Left and Right Vice Ministers to the directors of each bureau, from the auxiliary secretaries to the chief clerks, and down to the scribes of each bureau—everything was complete.

He couldn't help but nod inwardly; Chunlan was indeed reliable.

Just as he was looking at the list, Steward Meng walked in on tiptoe again and bowed to report: "Master, there are more guests at the door asking to see you."

Zhou Ming nodded, signaling for him to bring them in.

Steward Meng did not turn around immediately but looked at the limited number of chairs in the study with a troubled expression, whispering: "Master, there are quite a few people; I'm afraid this study..."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming stood up, folded the list and tucked it into his sleeve, and said to Wu Shijun: "Minister Wu, let us go meet our colleagues together."

Wu Shijun sprang up from his chair hurriedly and followed behind Zhou Ming out of the study.

In the front courtyard, forty or fifty officials wearing brand-new official robes were standing in twos and threes, whispering to each other.

Sunlight slanted down from above the courtyard wall, illuminating the varying expressions on these people's faces.

Some looked calm, some looked anxious, some were lowering their voices to exchange information with those beside them, and others just stood silently, their gazes occasionally glancing toward the main hall.

Hearing footsteps approaching from afar, all the whispering ceased in an instant.

Everyone turned around in unison, their gazes falling on the figure walking at the very front.

Zhou Ming's pace was neither fast nor slow. His old navy-blue robe was washed until it had faded somewhat, making it particularly striking against the backdrop of the courtyard full of brand-new official robes.

Yet, not a single official in the courtyard felt there was anything amiss with this old robe.

A person's name is like the shadow of a tree; no matter how old the robe was, it could not cover up that chill seeping out from his very bones.

"Greetings, Minister!"

Forty or fifty people cupped their hands in a salute in unison, their voices echoing in the courtyard.

Zhou Ming stood still on the steps, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces one by one, then he took the list from his sleeve and handed it to Wu Shijun beside him: "Minister Wu, take roll call."

Wu Shijun took the list, cleared his throat, and began to call names one by one.

Those whose names were called stepped forward one by one and cupped their hands in response; some had loud, resonant voices, while others were as quiet as mosquitoes.

Zhou Ming stood on the steps, watching each person expressionlessly; he was memorizing the people, but also observing them.

After the roll call, most of the names on the list had been accounted for, except when two names were read out, there was no response in the courtyard.

One was the Right Vice Minister, Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan, and the other was the Prison Director, Zhang Wenming.

Wu Shijun read them out twice, but the only response was the autumn wind blowing through the courtyard.