After failing the imperial examination, he began to wield immense power after entering the palace!

Du Jiang put down his teacup, his brows furrowed.

"So what do we do next?"

The anger on Feng Bao's long face slowly faded, replaced by a deep, cold gloom.

"No rush. He may seem to have won today, but he doesn't know the full extent of the Eastern Depot's scheme..."

"He's only just entered the game."

Du Jiang was also somewhat unhappy.

But since Feng Bao was keeping an eye on Li Fan, he didn't think too much about it.

"Then I'll leave everything to Supervisor Feng. I'll head back now."

With a gloomy face, Feng Bao escorted Du Jiang to the door.

"Minister Du, today's events were due to my negligence."

"But please tell His Highness Prince Wei that I will definitely find a way to get rid of that scoundrel Gao Jin."

"The Eastern Depot will never fall into the hands of Consort Xie."

Du Jiang patted Feng Bao on the shoulder, trying to keep his tone gentle.

"Chief Supervisor Feng, there's no need to blame yourself. No one could have predicted what happened to Xu Biao."

"Just stay calm and eliminate him slowly. If you get any news, just have someone relay it."

Feng Bao nodded, reached out to push the door open, but froze.

Three steps away from the threshold, there stood a person.

It's Li Fan.

He stood there with his hands behind his back, like a master taking a stroll in his own yard, calm and composed.

When he saw the door open, he smiled, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Hey, Minister Du, what are you doing here?"

The moment Du Jiang saw Li Fan, he changed completely.

Gao Jin, what's he doing here? When did he arrive?

How much did he hear?

But Du Jiang was a cunning old fox who had been in the imperial court for decades, and he quickly suppressed his panic and composed himself.

Instead, he had a livid face and an arrogant attitude.

"Gao Jin, I can go wherever I want."

"When did it become your place, a mere eunuch, to question me?"

"As the Minister of Works, a second-rank official appointed by the imperial court, do I need to report to a eunuch like you where I go and what I do?"

These words were spoken with confidence and force.

Feng Bao, standing to the side, quickly tried to smooth things over, smiling apologetically as he said:

"Admiral Gao, Minister Du is here to discuss some official business with us from the Ministry of Works. It has nothing to do with the Eastern Depot, so you don't need to worry about it."

Li Fan glanced at Du Jiang, then at Feng Bao, his smile remaining gentle.

"What official business requires a Minister of Works to personally come to the Eastern Depot to discuss it?"

Du Jiang frowned, his tone becoming even more unfriendly:

"Gao Jin, I've already told you, this is a matter for the Ministry of Works, it has nothing to do with you."

"You're just a eunuch, mind your own business and stop meddling in other people's affairs."

Li Fan was neither annoyed nor angry.

He slowly took two steps and came to Du Jiang, less than three feet away.

"Minister Du, I have a few words to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

Du Jiang sneered and raised his chin even higher.

"Speak your mind. I don't have time to waste with your words."

Li Fan nodded, but the smile on his face suddenly disappeared.

"Minister Du, you should know better than I do what the Eastern Depot is."

"This is a crucial government office that oversees His Majesty's officials and apprehends treacherous officials."

"According to the laws of the Great Chu, officials of the court are not allowed to enter the Eastern Depot without cause; those who violate this rule will be punished for illicit relations."

Du Jiang's expression changed slightly.

Li Fan continued, his tone neither hurried nor slow:

"Minister Du, you are a second-rank official Minister of Works, and a well-known upright official in the court."

"But today, you, a man of integrity, dressed in plain clothes, sneaked into the Eastern Depot and spoke with the Grand Eunuch behind closed doors..."

"Minister Du, if this gets out, what do you think the officials will think?"

"Won't they suspect that Minister Du is secretly colluding with the Eastern Depot and engaging in some shady dealings?"

Du Jiang's face instantly turned from ashen to deathly pale.

He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but when the words reached his lips, he found that he couldn't utter a single word.

Because every word Li Fan said hit his weak spot.

My secret trip to the Eastern Depot to see Feng Bao today was something that couldn't be done openly.

"Stop spreading alarmist rumors!"

"I'm here to discuss official business with Governor Feng! It's all aboveboard! What's there to hide?"

"Oh? Openly and aboveboard?"

Li Fan smiled, a gentle smile that sent chills down one's spine.

"Since you're acting openly and aboveboard, why did Minister Du come in civilian clothes?"

"Why didn't you come in broad daylight, in front of everyone? Why did you have to come when we were out ransacking our house?"

"Why close the door and not let anyone serve you?"

With each question, Du Jiang's face paled a little more.

Li Fan took a step forward, almost touching Du Jiang's face, and lowered his voice so low that only the two of them could hear him:

"Minister Du, my master is now the Director of the Eastern Depot."

"Every little thing that happens in the Eastern Depot is under our control."

"We can write a report about your presence here today and submit it to the higher authorities at any time."

"What will His Majesty think of you then?"

Du Jiang's face was as white as a sheet of paper.

His lips were trembling, his fingers were trembling, even his beard was trembling.

He wanted to curse.

I want to fight.

I want to shut this dog eunuch's mouth.

But he dared not.

Because everything Li Fan said was true.

"What...what exactly do you want?"

Li Fan took a step back, and a smile reappeared on his face, as gentle as a spring breeze.

"I don't mean anything by it, I just want to remind Minister Du of something..."

"From now on, if you want to have tea with Chief Supervisor Feng, try to do it during the day, wearing your official robes, and doing so openly and honestly."

"Being sneaky can easily lead to misunderstandings."

"Don't you think so?"

Du Jiang's temples throbbed, and his veins bulged.

He stared intently at Li Fan's smiling face, wishing he could punch him.

"Hmph! Gao Jin, you just wait and see."

Then, without looking back, he disappeared through the side gate of the East Depot.

Feng Bao watched Du Jiang's departing figure, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

He turned his head and looked at Li Fan, his deep-set eyes filled with fear and ruthlessness.

"Admiral Gao, what a sharp tongue you have."

"Minister Du only came to the Eastern Depot for a visit, and you've made such a big deal out of it."

"We really underestimated you."

Li Fan looked at him, smiling gently, his tone as polite as if chatting with an old friend:

"You flatter me, Chief Supervisor Feng. I'm just stating the facts."

"The Eastern Depot belongs to His Majesty; it is not a place where anyone can come and go as they please."

"As the head of the Eastern Depot, I have a responsibility to uphold its rules."

"Chief Supervisor Feng, you're right, aren't you?"

Feng Bao's lips twitched, but he didn't reply.

He didn't want to waste his breath arguing with this dog of a eunuch.

There were too many things to do today; I need to go back and think things through carefully, and then reorganize my plans.

"Chief Supervisor Feng, there's something else I'd like to discuss with you."