Deep within the Regence Government, a simple, unadorned office.
There was no extravagant decor in the office, it looked like just a regular room.
It couldn't compare to the office of Qin Ming, the Cardinal's Executor, or even the office of a regular guild master.
Yet, this office was indeed the workplace of the Imperial Regent, Lord Lu Ji.
“The Northern Army's third round of restructuring plan has been rejected by the Imperial Parliament. The Parliament insists on selecting senior military officers above the rank of Colonel, and they've submitted nominations… mostly from the noble houses.”
“There have been further disturbances on the Void Front. According to intelligence, a large-scale Void invasion is expected on the frontlines in three months.”
“The Tsarist envoy has just arrived in the capital and wishes to meet with you.”
Lu Ji looked like an ordinary, white-haired elder. He reviewed various documents while listening to his subordinates' reports.
Just then, a middle-aged man rushed into the office: "Regent, something has happened in the East Sea!"
Hearing this, Lu Ji frowned slightly and waved his hand, signaling for the few subordinates in front of him to leave.
After the subordinates left, Lu Ji said calmly: "I wonder how many of these people have already been bought."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man was speechless, not knowing what to say…
In recent years, those noble houses had become increasingly arrogant, even daring to reach into the Regence Government!
The middle-aged man's name was Ren Xun, the Chief Officer of the Regence Government's Attendant Room, a 59th-level Proverbial Mage, and a trusted confidant of Lu Ji.
“What happened in the East Sea?”
“A Void Invasion erupted in the East Sea province, leading to the destruction of the East Sea City Sanctuary. Thousands of examinees died! The East Sea provincial parliament is impeaching Governor Chen Bei Guo!”
Hearing this, Lu Ji's expression changed.
The loss of thousands of examinees meant the loss of thousands of potential professionals, who might have become the backbone of the Empire in the future.
This was a loss for the Empire!
The impeachment of Chen Bei Guo further made Lu Ji frown.
Chen Bei Guo was someone he personally promoted. It was he who had defied the odds and appointed Chen Bei Guo, a commoner, as the Governor of the East Sea province.
He was one of the few governor-level figures under his command.
“What happened?”
“It seems like a Void Cultist infiltrated the examinees. Chen Bei Guo’s daughter vouched for the Cultist’s participation in the exam, and then it happened! The provincial parliament believes that Chen Bei Guo is connected to the Void Cultist and launched the impeachment.”
Ren Xun handed over a few documents and said in a deep voice, "The Imperial Cardinal's Court has approved the impeachment of Chen Bei Guo and requested that he be investigated by the Imperial Supervisory Department!"
Lu Ji’s expression remained unchanged. He took the documents and looked at them, a hint of anger appearing on his face.
“The East Sea province has been peaceful for the past decade. How could it have a series of Void Sacrifice events and a Void Invasion in just three days?”
Hearing this, Ren Xun suddenly realized something.
“You mean… the Qin family?”
He was suddenly enlightened and muttered, “No wonder the Qin family’s eldest son suddenly went to the East Sea…”
Qin Xian suddenly leaving the capital for East Sea City, even during the Awakening Ceremony, and defying Imperial law, had naturally attracted attention from various forces.
It now seemed that this was all Qin Xian’s doing.
Ren Xun was furious: "What is the Qin family trying to do? Their appetite is so large, they even want the East Sea?!"
Of the Empire's thirty-seven provinces, eleven governors belonged to the Qin family faction.
If the East Sea province was added, that would be twelve governors. Almost a third of the entire Empire's provinces would be under the Qin family's control!
“Chen Bei Guo can’t hold on to his position as Governor. Inform the Cardinal's Court and agree to the provincial Speaker Yu Feng taking over as governor.
But let the Supervisory Department not investigate Chen Bei Guo.”
Lu Ji pondered for a moment and said calmly, "Transfer Chen Bei Guo to the Northern Army as Chief of Staff, and let the Chief Officer of the Statistics Department, Huangfu Zhe, go to the East Sea provincial parliament to serve as Speaker."
It was undeniable that Lu Ji had been able to maneuver through the noble houses for all these years and maintain control of the regency power.
His methods were also extremely shrewd.
During the rebuilding of the Northern Army, several candidates selected by Lu Ji were blocked by the Cardinal's Court and the Imperial Parliament, citing insufficient experience and strength.
Since Chen Bei Guo’s position as governor couldn’t be saved, he should be sent to the Northern Army.
With Chen Bei Guo's strength and experience, even those noble houses wouldn't be able to say anything.
He used the condition of agreeing to the Qin family's acquisition of the East Sea province to protect Chen Bei Guo and appoint him as the Chief of Staff of the Northern Army.
The Qin family would agree. After all, if they really wanted to break things off, Lu Ji could directly put the position of East Sea province governor up for discussion in the Imperial Parliament.
The major noble houses would surely compete for it with all their might!
Moreover, Lu Ji also knew that this was an unspoken agreement between him and Qin Ming…
He had appointed the Chief Officer of the Statistics Department, Huangfu Zhe, as the Speaker of the East Sea provincial parliament.
Huangfu Zhe was from the Imperial noble house of Huangfu, which had always been on less than amicable terms with the Qin family.
If Huangfu Zhe became the second-in-command in the East Sea province, the Huangfu family would surely not miss this opportunity and might even compete with the Qin family for control of the East Sea province.
Lu Ji’s multiple arrangements not only protected Chen Bei Guo but also stirred up conflict between the Qin family and the Huangfu family…
And he had also secured real power in the Northern Army!
However, in this game of power, the biggest winner was undoubtedly the Qin family, who had acquired the East Sea province…
“By the way, what progress has been made on that matter?”
Lu Ji suddenly spoke, staring at Ren Xun with seriousness and caution.
“It's not going very smoothly… We secretly investigated the Imperial Guard's archives from that year. Those archives were either destroyed or missing.
As for the Emperor's whereabouts, we've been searching for him all along. We've deduced… that the Emperor is likely trapped in some kind of dimensional prison!”