Pampered by the Toughest Man After Divorce
Chapter 613 - 614: Changes in the Military Department_1

Chapter 613: Chapter 614: Changes in the Military Department_1

Capital City.

Minister Yan returned by carriage after the morning court session had ended.

Usually, he would go back to work at his residence after court, but today he first changed into casual clothes in the waiting room of the palace, then instructed the coachman to take him to the nearby Yuelai Tea House.

This time, he drank tea for an hour.

Not until noon did Minister Yan leave the tea house. Once the carriage reached an alleyway up ahead, he spotted a man walking towards him where he ordered the coachman to stop.

Surprised at first when he saw the carriage, the man knew that the carriages used by ministers in the Capital City were patterned, unless the minister chose to remain low-profile, using ordinary people’s carriages that required right-of-way from commoners on the street.

This man was hardly an ordinary commoner, he was Li Ze, the former War Superintendent. Unfortunately, he was recently moved to a different position. He had never had much freedom while at the War Department, but now that he had been transferred, he found time to visit the teahouse.

Minister Yan had deliberately waited until this moment.

Upon spotting the carriage stopping in front of him, Li Ze took a closer look and found that it was a first-rank minister’s carriage. Preparing to make way, he saw Minister Yan coming out of the carriage and promptly paid his respects, "Greetings Minister Yan."

"No need for formalities," Minister Yan poked his head out, smiling at Li Ze, then asked: "Where are you headed?"

"I was planning to have lunch at a nearby teahouse. My home is too far to return for lunch, so I usually sort it out at a teahouse. Have you eaten, Minister Yan? Perhaps you would care to join me?"

Minister Yan replied: "I just came out of the teahouse, so I won’t be needing lunch right now. Why don’t you come to my place instead? We should be serving lunch around this time."

"This..." Li Ze hesitated before confessing his concerns: "Minister Yan, I am no longer the War Superintendent. I’m afraid I no longer have the privilege of sharing a table with you."

"What of it?" Minister Yan stroked his beard, grinned and looked at Li Ze before saying, "The very purpose of my invitation today is to discuss with you this matter of your transfer."

Li Ze, who had been demoted and transferred without any reason, was certainly in a melancholy mood. Hearing that Minister Yan wanted to talk about this, he naturally agreed. Minister Yan was a respected senior official who had served three reigns, and perhaps he could relieve some of Li Ze’s troubles.

"With utmost respect, I will comply with your wishes," Li Ze said, then climbed into Minister Yan’s carriage.

The carriage pulled out of the alley, and the carriage window was lowered again, everything as it was on the way here.

...

The carriage headed straight to the Grandmaster Residence, stopping in the yard. Li Ze alighted first, then turned to assist Minister Yan.

"I appreciate it," said Minister Yan, then instructed his butler to arrange a banquet.

The butler promptly served the meal. As Minister Yan was encouraging Li Ze to eat, he asked, "I only heard a few days ago of your transfer, but I don’t know why it happened. You, a War Superintendent, were transferred to the Court of Judicial Review as an Inspector. Why is that?"

Deeply troubled, Li Ze took a bite of food and a sip of wine before answering: "I have no idea about the reasons either. It seems to be due to mismanagement. However, during my five years as superintendent, I have always been vigilant and diligent. Never did I anticipate being transferred out of the blue. I asked the Minister, but he didn’t offer much explanation."

"Who has now taken over your previous position?" asked Minister Yan, patiently.