"Even His Majesty believes this is of great importance? The Imperial Seal?" Ye Jiao was so startled she nearly dropped the object. Hastily catching it again, she gently brushed off imaginary dust from the pouch.
The emperor raised his arm, as if intending to knock Ye Jiao on the head like before. But the distance was too great, and he let it fall in disappointment, feigning annoyance."I'm giving you the Imperial Seal—shall I carve another one from a radish?"
Ye Jiao giggled, her cleverness laced with charming innocence. Gao Fu couldn't help but smile as well.
The emperor glanced at Gao Fu, then turned back to Ye Jiao."'Warfare is the most solemn affair of the state, the domain of life and death, the path to survival or ruin—it must not be taken lightly.' I've sent you to the Ministry of War because you are bold and meticulous. You are one I deem worthy of great trust. Should the path ahead ever seem too arduous to tread, open the brocade pouch and take a look."
"The brocade pouch?" Ye Jiao deflated a little. "So what His Majesty has bestowed upon me... is just a maxim?"
The emperor was about to respond when a palace attendant entered to report that Prince Jin had come to pay his respects. The emperor wiped the smile from his face and said to Ye Jiao,"You may go. Come the twenty-ninth of March, I may well be fully recovered."
March 29th—that was the date of Ye Jiao's wedding to Li Ce.
Ye Jiao looked deeply at the emperor, then knelt once more. She tucked the pouch into her sleeve, retreated a few steps, and finally turned to leave.
As expected, Li Zhang was waiting outside the hall. He stood tall and straight, his head slightly bowed, exuding respectful elegance.
Ye Jiao had planned to ignore him, but to her surprise, Li Zhang greeted her:"Physician Ye."
Though his expression remained neutral, his voice was warm.
"Your Highness Prince Jin," Ye Jiao replied, offering the proper courtesy due to a superior.
Li Zhang nodded. "Please convey to Vice Minister Jiang that he is to report tomorrow at court regarding the inspection issues with this batch of weapons."
Ye Jiao answered affirmatively, though puzzled. If he wished to issue an order to her superior, surely there were others he could have chosen. Why her? Could this be a personal vendetta?
Without further speculation, she hurried straight back to the Ministry of War.
There, Vice Minister Jiang Min was in discussion with Minister Song Shoujie. Upon the desk lay a broken blade—its fracture fresh and sharp.
After Ye Jiao relayed Li Zhang's message, Jiang Min said,"This matter has only just arisen, and already His Highness is informed—it seems he pays special attention to it."
Ye Jiao feigned disinterest in confidential matters and stepped outside.
Yet Jiang Min called after her: "Physician Ye, this concerns you."
Me? Ye Jiao nearly leapt in protest. I've only been in office half a day—why should I take the blame?
Jiang Min, in his forties, lacked martial prowess but held high rank due to his intellect. Rumor claimed he descended from Jiang Taigong, master of military classics and strategic mind. His cheeks were lean, his gaze always thoughtful—even in conversation, he seemed lost in calculation.
"The previous Quartermaster, Hu Jia, was appointed by Prince Jin himself," Jiang Min stated bluntly. "He stepped down before the New Year, and the handover went smoothly. But the first batch of newly forged Mo swords this year—" he pointed to the blade, "—is brittle and prone to breaking. Come and see for yourself."
The Mo sword, double-edged and nearly ten feet long, was mainly used to fell cavalry. The Great Tang had a designated Mo Sword Unit whose role was to charge and cut down enemy horsemen, minimizing casualties.
As Quartermaster, Ye Jiao oversaw the administration of weaponry, transport, and military gear. Forging arms indeed fell within her duties.
With that in mind, she approached the desk and picked up the broken blade. Even half of it felt weighty.
Minister Song Shoujie, now nearing sixty, had a broad face, prominent cheekbones, and a fiery spirit. Short in stature, he was quick to anger, often punctuating his fury with table-thumping outbursts.
"Call back Hu Jia! I don't care who I offend!" he roared, face contorted with rage. "That scoundrel leaves, and everything falls apart?!"
His fury seemed to make the papers and teacups on the table tremble. For a moment, Ye Jiao thought even his hair stood on end like a lion in a rage.
No wonder Liu Yan had warned her that tempers in the Ministry of War were notoriously foul.
Jiang Min quickly poured tea and helped Song Shoujie to sit. "This matter requires thorough investigation. Please take care of your health, Minister. His Highness merely inquired—there was no pressure. Speak honestly at court tomorrow, and all will be well."
To speak honestly meant admitting the weapons were flawed, and the issue unresolved. Prince Jin would not lightly offend the Minister of War, especially so early in his political career.
"Are the weapons urgently needed?" Ye Jiao asked.
"Not urgently," Jiang Min replied, fingers brushing the fracture. "But Tang's arms must never be faulty."
The empire's might wasn't built merely on grand palaces or rich culture, but on an indomitable army. Even if foreigners were handed the blueprints, they couldn't replicate Tang's weaponry.
So now that the Mo swords had failed, both the Ministry and Prince Jin were gravely concerned. And who knew what conclusions foreign spies might draw from this?
Still fuming, Song Shoujie grumbled,"The Armory Bureau blames the presence of a woman in our Ministry! Utter nonsense! Why don't they say it's because they stepped into the office with the wrong foot?"
A woman in the Ministry—surely that meant Ye Jiao. When she first arrived at the Wuhou Post, the officers there hadn't accepted her either.
But she established discipline, supported capable subordinates, and even recommended over a dozen to the Imperial Guard. When her transfer was announced, many colleagues had pleaded with Liu Yan to let her stay.
This time, though, there were no allies like Bai Xianyu or Zong Quanwu to help her assert authority.
Jiang Min seemed slightly embarrassed on her behalf. "Please don't take offense. The Armory Bureau is full of rough men. Minister and I both trust in your abilities."
"It's quite all right," Ye Jiao stood with hands clasped behind her, lips curved in a faint smile. "Of all things, I fear rough men the least. A good beating usually settles them."
Jiang Min's eyes widened in surprise, then he chuckled, remembering the two recent brawls she'd fought.
"His Majesty truly knows how to choose his people. Then I'll assign you to investigate the Armory Bureau. The Minister is impatient—he wants results in seven days."
This was a significant responsibility.
"Very well," Ye Jiao said. "I too despise faulty blades. However, there's one former subordinate of mine who's especially capable. I'll need his help. How about transferring him to our ministry and offering a small post as incentive?"
As the Wuhou Post was not under the Civil Ministry's strict jurisdiction, this transfer required no formal approval.
Jiang Min, decisive and bold, nodded."So long as it's official business, you have full discretion. He may serve under you as a registrar. What is his name?"
"A registrar," Ye Jiao echoed, smiling. The post came with a salary several times higher than the Wuhou's.
"Lin Jing," she replied, her smile deepening.
Lin Jing—her most dependable comrade at the Wuhou Post, the man who had chosen death over betrayal in the dungeons. Competent and loyal, how could she forget him now that she'd risen to higher office?
At day's end, it was Li Ce who came to fetch her.
He had been busy these past days, his clothes faintly scented with ink from countless documents and reports.
No sooner had they entered the carriage than Ye Jiao threw herself into his arms like a mischievous beast, sniffing here and there before burrowing into his collar and planting a kiss behind his ear.
"What are you searching for?" Li Ce chuckled as he held her close.
"I didn't see you all day," Ye Jiao murmured, "Just making sure no wild vixen's gotten close to you."
"Physician Ye is overly suspicious," Li Ce teased, popping a grape into her mouth. "Your husband wouldn't dare."
Today, he wore a sky-blue robe with a round collar, adorned with twin golden cloud-patterned sashes draped over his left shoulder—dignified, yet unmistakably elegant…