In the middle of the courtyard of the Imperial Ceremony Office, Ming Lan stood under the sun.

The beads of sweat from his temples and forehead wet the edges of the black net-patterned hat and dripped down his cheeks, washing off lines of the delicate makeup apricot-flower powder on them.

Both he and Leng Qingtang were the second-class minister, the dignified Master of the Depot, but now he stood under the sun while Leng Qingtang sat on the fauteuil.

The disparity had already made Ming Lan feel unhappy.

Besides, as the Western Depot's Commander-in-chief, he was sneered in front of the twelve departments' chiefs and his subordinates by the Eastern Depot's Commander-in-chief. It indeed broke his face and self-esteem!

Ming Lan could no longer bear it!

"Leng Qingtang, enough is enough—"

Ming Lan's beautiful eyes stared wide, and two cold blade-like rays of light shot from his eyes straight to the man on the fauteuil.

Angrily raising his finger to point at him, Ming Lan roared with a sharp voice.

"You are nothing but the Seal Keeper of the Imperial Ceremony Office. How come could you take the lead to search the Palace and convict the internal officials! How come could your Imperial Ceremony Office be the master of the entire twelve departments!!!"

Under the porch, Xiao Xiaoshen stood behind the fauteuil. He was a rank-fourth guard armed with the broadsword and the close guard of the Master. He kept trying his best to suppress his killing intention under his ice-cold handsome face while hearing Ming Lan's offensive words.

Seeing Ming Lan actually pointing straight toward Master Leng, Xiaoshen suddenly stretched out his hand and held the broadsword hilt firmly. He gripped so hard that his finger joints clicked loudly.

With the hatred filling his heart, he had decided to avenge Yuan Qian, Qinger, and his younger sister Yunxi.

As soon as Master Leng ordered, he would immediately jump out and cut Ming Lan into pieces with his broadsword.

Leng Qingtang kept calm and looked into Ming Lan's eyes with a faint smile. His tone was light and indifferent.

"You ask me why? Just because I am the Seal Keeper of the Imperial Ceremony Office, and my Office is the head of the twelve departments in the Palace!"

He opened his dark eyes and clearly showed his malice after he spoke out the resolute words.

"How shameless—"

The words annoyed Ming Lan. He fisted his right hand tightly in the wide sleeves with silver lines piping and strode forward to the porch, sharply accusing.

"The other eleven departments all have their own Seal Keeper and Supervisor, and how can your Imperial Ceremony Office be so bossy!"

"Hah..."

Leng Qingtang laughed coldly and changed his posture on the fauteuil.

The shadow that sunlight caused under the porch covered his jade-white and thin face and made his exquisite facial features look a bit horrible and unclear.

Leng Qingtang slowly raised his arms, spreading to the sides, and said casually.

"At the moment, all the eleven departments' managers are beside me. Is my Imperial Ceremony Office bossy among the internal officials? Can I call the shots for the twelve departments as the Imperial Ceremony Office's Seal Keeper? Master Ming, you can ask them personally if you feel dissatisfied!"

"You..."

Ming Lan became speechless for a moment.

Leng Qingtang made it clear that he was intentionally being an elegant bastard, and he did keep calm and feel no ashamed for his behavior.

Ming Lan was so angry that he almost fainted on the spot. He turned his head and looked around. Under the porch, the chiefs of the other eleven departments bent their heads extremely low.

Ming Lan gritted his teeth and glanced around with hatred, saying in a deep voice.

"You are the Seal Keeper and the Supervisor in charge of the eleven imperial departments. Do you just let the Imperial Ceremony Office's Seal Keeper dominate and overstep here?!"

No one responded to him—

Ming Lan really got dizzy for anger and actually pinned his hope on the other eleven departments' managers, hoping that someone like-minded him would stand up with him to impeach the shameless act of the Eastern Depot's Commander-in-chief.

However, he forgot that all the chiefs in front of him were the most worldly-wise ones in the Palace, being extremely good at judging the situation.

Since the Western Depot was in danger and the Eastern Depot's Master got reinstated now, these wise people would not stand in the wrong team.

Besides, the one with the highest rank among them was only equal to the rank-fourth young close guard standing by Leng Qingtang.

Who would think themselves live long enough and dare to stick their necks out at such a tense moment to fight against the rank-second Master?

Not to mention that the Seal Keeper of the Imperial Ceremony Office also controlled the Eastern Depot, one of the top institutions in the court.

If they abandoned their good days but openly opposed the Eastern Depot, who knew which night they would be unknowingly thrown into the lotus pond to feed the tortoise.

Seeing Ming Lan sinking into a desperate situation of isolation and helplessness, Leng Qingtang wore an ambiguous smile and looked triumphant with a sharp and cold gaze in his eyes.

"Duan Shaochun, as the Supervisor of the service center, always behaves immorally and never disciplines himself, causing troubles and loss of lives in the Palace. Now, I decide to discipline him with A Stick in Red according to the law of the Palace! All the remaining thirteen accomplices of the service center will receive the flogging of a hundred blows. Execute immediately!"

Leng Qingtang spoke out loudly and forcefully.

As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Shaochun over there gasped and then shouted in a sad voice.

"Godfather! Godfather, save me— I don’t want to die—"

"Master Ming, help—"

The thirteen internal officials also yelled in shock.

The dozens of other culprits kneeling on the ground followed, crying and howling.

Gazing at the purgatory-liked chaotic scene in front of him, Leng Qingtang sat calmly on the fauteuil with a sly smile on his handsome face.

It was good that they kept crying and hollering for help. The scene was what Leng Qingtang needed precisely.

Only such a scene could touch Ming Lan's rock-solid heart violently.

In the middle of the courtyard, fourteen eunuchs in charge of punishment raised the stout red-painted stick in their hands.

"Stop—"

Ming Lan shouted at the top of his voice among the crowd. He screamed so hard that his enchanting and high voice burst out, sounding like splitting silk. After that, he felt sore in his throat.

In a few steps, Ming Lan rushed to Duan Shaochun and raised his arms to prevent the eunuchs from flogging him.

The Western Depot's eunuchs who followed Ming Lan understood immediately, and they all rushed to rob the big sticks from the eunuchs taking charge of punishment.

Their pairs of hostile eyes looked around, and they put on a posture of ready to fight in desperation.

Xiao Xiaoshen on the steps roared. He peaked his straight eyebrows and pulled out the broadsword after a shake of his wrist.

With a sharp sound, he jumped to the middle of the courtyard.

Simultaneously, the Eastern Depot's guards around unsheathed their swords one by one, aiming straight at the troublemakers in the courtyard.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became tense and aggressive.

Leng Qingtang's expression was calm, but his dazzling eyes concealed sharpness.

"Master Ming, as the external official of the Palace, you trespassed on my Imperial Ceremony Office and kept disturbing me from punishing offenders today. Wasn't it the violation of the Palace rules?"

The light in Ming Lan's charming eyes brightened with burning anger.

"Duan Shaochun is the man in my charge! Leng Qingtang, you should know that you must consider the master before beating a dog!"

"I'm the Seal Keeper of the Imperial Ceremony Office, and it's within my duty to discipline the internal officials by the rules of the Palace.

However, Master Ming, you insist on bucking against me. Do you have any objection to the disciplines and rules passed down by the ancestors?!"

Leng Qingtang looked down at Ming Lan under the steps. His phoenix eyes, as dark as night, were filled with chilly lights.

Ming Lan showed no concession and said in a cold voice.

"I am also a rank-second official equal to you, and why should I follow your order? Since I came from the service center, I will not ignore it when the service center has troubles."

"Whether you agree or disagree, in short, I will take Duan Shaochun and the thirteen internal officials of the service center away immediately. I'll see who dares to stop me!"

Ming Lan stood with a stern look and turned his eyes to motion subordinates beside him after he finished speaking.

Two Western Depot's eunuchs immediately rushed forward and pulled the frightened Lord Duan from the bench.

Seeing it, the thirteen accomplices wriggled and slipped off the bench without saying a word.

Their thirteen pairs of eyes kept fixing on Duan Shaochun, their Supervisor. As long as he was successfully rescued from the Imperial Ceremony Office by Ming Lan, they would follow him to escape immediately.

In that case, Ming Lan, the godfather of Supervisor Duan, would shoulder all the consequences.

Only the Master of the Western Depot could fight against the Seal Keeper of the Imperial Ceremony Office right now.

It became silent again and got in a deadlock.

Leng Qingtang got up from the fauteuil and stood upright with his hands clasped behind, showing a cold and grim expression.

"Guards, arrest Ming Lan—"

Upon hearing his order, the guards swarmed over and pinned the arms of Ming Lan and his men behind them.

"Leng Qingtang! How dare you to arrest me—"

Ming Lan couldn't believe it, and his look changed drastically. After struggling a few times, he still couldn't get away from the two guards with high skilled Kungfu.

With a gloomy smile, Leng Qingtang curled his lips wantonly and gazed at Ming Lan's face on which the sweat almost ruined the makeup.

"You keep saying offensive words and despising the Palace rules, and I decide to publish you by slapping you in the face fifty times!"

Ming Lan was so angry that his cheeks got bulging while his complexion blushed. Glaring at Leng Qingtang, who looked arrogant and rebellious, he shouted in a broken voice.

"Ridiculous! What right do you have to punish me—"

A dazzling light flashed by in Leng Qingtang's eyes. He smiled lightly and said indifferently, with his charming voice showing an endless cruel intention.

"Since you said you came from the service center, I am the superintendent of the internal officers and naturally have the right to discipline you. Now that I punish you is equivalent to rewarding you! Whether you wish or not, you must accept it!"

"Leng Qingtang, how dare you—"

"Master Leng, if you don't want to give face to Lord Ming, I wonder if you can give me face?"

All of a sudden, a voice came from outside the encirclement circle.

Everyone turned to look at the voice's direction. From the gap widened in the circle, a eunuch in the dark red rank-third internal official's robe and holding a horsetail whisk strode to the front of the porch and stopped under the steps.

"Lord Bai?"

Ming Lan was startled and soon showed joy.

This handsome eunuch in his twenties was the current chief eunuch of Yongning Palace.

It should be because of the order of Noble Concubine Wan that he appeared at this critical moment.

Ming Lan guessed with delight secretly. While Noble Concubine Wan got annoyed at him on the surface, she still cared about him at the critical moment!

In fact, Gu Yunjin rushed to the Yongning Palace to report to Wan Yuyao in a hurry just after Ming Lan ran out of the Weiyan Chamber.

Wan Yuyao had her plan.

To get ahead in the imperial harem, she needed Ming Lan and couldn't let him get into trouble.

Leng Qingtang knew well why the chief eunuch of Yongning Palace visited the Imperial Ceremony Office suddenly.

He smiled and lowered his eyelashes, his gaze like an ice blade fixed the servant under the steps. He asked in a sluggish voice with his hands behind.

"Lord Bai, how did you get free today and visit my Imperial Ceremony Office in person?"

Glancing at Ming Lan, who was bound, Lord Bai smiled faintly and bowed his hands to Leng Qingtang on the steps, coming straight to the point.

"As Lord Ming said before, Master Leng, you should remember to consider the dog's master first before you beat it."

"Lord Ming came from our Yongning Palace. Do you consider our Imperial Noble Concubine when you want to arrest and sentence Lord Ming as you please?"

After a pause, Lord Bai shook his hand and waved the horsetail whisk. He raised his eyelids to look up at Leng Qingtang standing straight there, showing a domineering smile on his face.

"This time, I came with the Imperial Noble Concubine's oral instructions. She said the Palace's twelve departments should carry out their duties and assume their respective roles since they had their own Seal Keeper."

The drowning maid case came from the service center, so it should be the service center's duty to bring suspects back and let the Seal Keeper over there interrogate and sentence personally.

"So, Master Leng, I hope you will give Lord Ming and me a face. You can rest assured, and the service center will deal with this case."

He said in the tone of discussion but threatened the Imperial Ceremony Office everywhere in the Imperial Noble Concubine's name.

No wonder Wan Yuyao couldn't sit still this time. No matter how annoyed she felt at Ming Lan, everyone in the Palace knew Ming Lan's background.

If he got insulted by Leng Qingtang in public, Wan Yuyao would also lose face.

She had concerns, so she sent a chief eunuch to intervene.

The expression on Leng Qingtang's handsome face kept still and indifferent. He waved his hand calmly.

The guards obediently released Ming Lan and stepped aside.

"A stumble may prevent a fall, and I didn't mean to disturb Noble Concubine Wan. That's it, Xiaoshen..."

His eyes glowed with the chill of frost and snow, turning slightly.

Xiao Xiaoshen nodded immediately and waited for his order.

"Go to fetch the seal of the Imperial Ceremony Office."

Xiaoshen put his steel sword into the sheath and went straight to the front hall.

After a short while, he returned with a red-glazed square box in his hands.

"Master, the seal is here."

Xiao Xiaoshen said and uncovered the vermilion wooden cover in front of Leng Qingtang.

A square white jade seal appeared in front of everyone. Under the blazing sun, its sharp edges and corners reflected a faint halo.

Leng Qingtang remained silent and gazed straight down the steps with cold eyes.

Xiao Xiaoshen beside him understood his hint and stepped down the steps to Ming Lan and Lord Bai, holding the white jade seal in his hands.

Lord Bai frowned and asked with puzzlement.

"What do you mean, Master Leng?"

Leng Qingtang's eyelashes trembled slightly. He twisted his thin red lips into a sneer and opened his sparkling eyes wide.

"Everyone wants me to give face. As for how big it is, we can only find out after inspection."

"We often say how big a person's appetite is, how big his face is."

"In this way, if someone can swallow the Imperial Ceremony Office's seal in public today, I will give him face and release the service center's suspects immediately.

If not, Master Ming and the offenders all have to stay here today!"

"Master Leng, you..."

No one expected Leng Qingtang would have such a trick. Staring at the dazzling jade seal, Lord Bai got dumbfounded and speechless for a moment.

Ming Lan felt jolted in his heart, and he also didn't expect that Leng Qingtang would have a trick up his sleeve.

He stared blankly at Xiao Xiaoshen, and his clenched fists got wet by cold sweats. Xiao Xiaoshen raised the seal on his hands closer and closer to Ming Lan, saying with a faint smile.

"Master Ming, enjoy yourself! If you eat it, my Master will let go of them immediately!"