54. My Lord Minister, your handling of this case has been entirely upright and impartial. This subordinate has the utmost admiration.

Early morning at the Ministry of Punishments.

Just after the morning court session, Yueer changed into her official robes, adorned with a peacock embroidered on the chest, and accompanied Shang Zhixia to the Ministry of Punishments. Shang Zhixia truly lived up to his surname and his title. As the youngest Minister of Punishments in the Radiant Sun Kingdom, he had soared from a fourth-rank Prefecture Magistrate of the capital to a junior first-rank minister in a mere two years—a remarkably rapid rise. Yet Yueer was no slouch either; she had vaulted from an unranked, working-student scholar straight to a junior third-rank Vice Minister of Punishments. This meteoric advancement demonstrated that Xuanyuan Ren was far from a conventional conservative monarch. He boldly entrusted crucial imperial posts to youth, adhering to the principle that in the court of the Radiant Sun Kingdom, holding high office did not strictly require decades of experience; anyone with genuine ability and a heart dedicated to the welfare of the common people was given a chance.

Yueer and her entourage rode in a four-bearer sedan chair, following behind Shang Zhixia. Though Shang Zhixia was only a year or two older than Yueer, he appeared far more mature and composed. Soon, they arrived at the Ministry of Punishments. Upon stepping out of the sedan chair, Yueer was struck by a solemn and imposing atmosphere. Impeccable bailiffs, completely expressionless and armed with sabers, stood at attention by the entrance in two neat rows of five on either side. They maintained their stoic silence even upon the arrival of their superiors. Yueer knew that the Ministry of Punishments handled major and critical cases, employing elite constables whose martial prowess far exceeded that of ordinary bailiffs.

Just as they passed through the grand gates, two men approached them: one was tall and thin with a pair of delicate mustaches, while the other sported a noticeable beer belly. Despite their contrasting builds, the duo wore identical uniforms, indicating they held the same official rank. The thin man resembled a nimble mouse, whereas the chubby one looked somewhat like an honest, good-natured cat.

Catching sight of Shang Zhixia, they bowed respectfully with folded hands. The thin man began, "My Lord, we heard that the newly appointed Vice Minister..." and then he abruptly stopped. Yueer found this quite peculiar, but seeing that Shang Zhixia appeared entirely accustomed to it, she refrained from asking.

The chubby man seamlessly picked up where the thin man left off, "...has arrived, so allow us to introduce ourselves!" Only then did Yueer realize that the thin man's sentences required the chubby man to finish them. Yueer wanted to laugh, but she feared it would seem impolite; after all, on her very first day on the job, she wished to leave a favorable impression on her subordinates.

Shang Zhixia seemed to read Yueer's thoughts. He smiled as he glanced at the plump-and-lean duo, then turned to Yueer to explain, "These two are the Senior Legal Officials. Having worked together for many years, they share an extraordinary rapport and have grown accustomed to speaking in this manner!" Turning back to the duo, he introduced Yueer, "This is the newly appointed Vice Minister, Yang Wentai, who is also this year's top imperial scholar. From now on, we must all cooperate wholeheartedly to uphold the impartiality of justice together!" Shang Zhixia clearly was not an overbearing taskmaster; rather, he judged people strictly by their work ethic.

Yueer cupped her fists and smiled, "I have long heard of Lord Minister's incorruptibility and firm righteousness. This subordinate holds you in the highest esteem!" This was something she had witnessed with her own eyes, though Shang Zhixia remained entirely unaware of it—having only learned by chance from Xuanyuan Ren that Zhao Chengxian had previously investigated her background.

Looking at Yueer with a smile, Shang Zhixia replied, "You flatter me. This official merely strives to fulfill his duty." Realizing that Yueer would naturally find the unfamiliar surroundings inconvenient, he instructed the duo, "Show Vice Minister Yang around and help her get acquainted with the place." Then, turning to Yueer, he added, "Spend today familiarizing yourself with the environment and reviewing the case files. We will arrange your specific duties tomorrow." With a reassuring pat on Yueer's shoulder, he took his leave.

Watching Shang Zhixia's retreating figure, Yueer smiled to herself, thinking: Today is a good beginning. Working under him shouldn't be too difficult! Ever since she had witnessed Shang Zhixia ruthlessly prosecute his own cousin—who had once done him a favor—two years ago, Yueer had known him to be a truly upright official.

The chubby man smiled at Yueer and began, "Vice Minister..." and similarly trailed off. Yueer looked at him, caught on, and immediately turned her gaze to the thin man.

The thin man continued, "...this way, please!" Offering a faint smile, Yueer followed them as they gave her a tour of the ministry.

Yueer could not help but admire the quirky duo. The Ministry of Punishments was truly a gathering place for eccentric talents and extraordinary individuals: some possessed peerless martial arts, others were well-versed in astronomy and geography, and a few were even experts in deception and swindling. It was a complete melting pot of characters from all walks of life and every conceivable trade. Whenever they needed to apprehend suspects, operatives skilled in specific trades often had to assume various disguises. Yueer was hardly surprised by any of this.

After completing her tour of the ministry, she made her way to the archives room to examine the unsolved case files from the current year. Sitting alone amidst the documents, her mind began to wander, and she fell deep into thought: *Must I really return to the Hui Family Escort Agency tonight? My brother surely knows by now that I am Hui Yueer. What on earth should I do?*

Finding herself completely unable to focus on the files, Yueer tapped herself on the head and whispered softly, "Stop letting your mind wander. Focus on your work!" With that, she steeled her resolve and began reading the case records with earnest concentration.