After listening to Leo Kim's description, Nathan Ye felt he had a decent understanding of the Ministry of Supervision. Instinctively, he knew there was plenty of room to maneuver in this position.
Others, however, seemed to have a different view—especially Sirius Ji.
The Empress, having just concluded the morning court session, did not retire but instead returned to the Imperial Study.
"Prime Minister Liu," she began, "what is your opinion on appointing Nathan Ye to the Ministry of Supervision?"
Duke Liu was present, and once again, it was just the two of them. Such scenes were not unusual, and the officials had long accepted the exclusive bond between the Empress and her supposedly treacherous prime minister.
"Would it not be a waste of his talents?" Duke Liu asked, hesitating for a moment.
In the past, a posting to the Ministry of Supervision was a rare opportunity for significant advancement. It had once been a highly authoritative institution with oversight of judicial, criminal, and surveillance matters. The Ministry had struck fear into corrupt officials, and the reputation of the place was such that anyone who walked through its doors rarely came back the same.
But that era had passed. The Ministry of Supervision had been in decline for centuries, fading into relative obscurity, and Duke Liu knew it as little more than a ghost of its former self.
The idea of assigning Nathan Ye to such an abandoned place didn't sit well with him.
"True, it may seem beneath him now. The Ministry of Supervision has long since lost its prestige," the Empress sighed. "Were it not for the founding emperor's decree that it should never be dismantled, it likely would have been disbanded generations ago." Pausing, she explained, "But my aim here is to temper his character."
Duke Liu pondered this, his face showing a glimmer of understanding.
"Your Majesty believes he would be...too disruptive elsewhere?"
The Empress gave a rueful smile.
"It's not that he might stir up trouble; it's that he most certainly would! Nathan despises injustice and refuses to compromise. Given the state of the court now—with its corruption and deceit—do you think he could remain silent if he witnessed such rot?"
She gave a light, tired laugh. "No, I believe only the Ministry of Supervision can tolerate him."
Duke Liu nodded, sighing.
"These times are truly absurd. Scoundrels rule while men of virtue have no place."
Seeing her reasoning, he no longer objected. The Empress's arrangement was, indeed, logical. With Nathan Ye's rigid nature, he would become a clear target in almost any department.
As things were, Sirius Ji and Duke Liu couldn't openly support him. Instead, he would be left to navigate alone. Could he really withstand the entrenched resistance of the court?
Nathan's enemies were many. Given his mounting reputation, those who wished to see him fail were already legion. The Empress, who knew this all too well, was reluctant to place him in harm's way.
So, the Ministry of Supervision it was.
On one hand, the Empress hoped it would temper his influence for now; on the other, it was still an honorable position in name. Serving as a Office of Censors official in the Ministry of Supervision would maintain his dignity and, perhaps, provide him some protection.
"For now, we must restrain him," the Empress said with resignation. "Once things have settled, I'll look for a way to properly employ his talents."
Having a loyal and able official yet feeling unable to use him left Sirius Ji deeply pained. But she knew that yielding for now was a must.
Nathan Ye lacked the skill to hide his strength or compromise. She would have to be his restraint, ensuring he could operate quietly for a while.
On this point, the Empress and Duke Liu found complete agreement.
Together, they were confident that placing Nathan in the Ministry of Supervision would keep him occupied and out of trouble. After all, could he really create a stir in a department that had been neglected for generations?
There was simply no way.
"The Ministry of Supervision may be in disrepair, but I'll make something of it!" Outside the palace gates, Nathan's thoughts were decidedly different.
Making waves was a necessity. How else could he tempt fate? How else could he die heroically? And how else could he ascend?
Nathan Ye would not abandon his dreams so easily.
Upon learning the Ministry's location, he made his way to the northern part of the capital, far from the bustling city center and the residences of the aristocracy.
The Ministry stood isolated, occupying a vast stretch of land that was almost as large as a prince's estate—a testament to its former glory. Yet now, it seemed desolate.
Arriving at its doors, Nathan found them tightly shut. The entryway looked as though it hadn't been swept in years, covered in leaves and dust. Above the doors hung a faded plaque inscribed with "Ministry of Supervision," in the bold calligraphy of the founding emperor. Years of neglect had left it dull and colorless.
Nearby stood a pair of stone lions. One had even lost its head, which no one had bothered to repair.
"This...this is the Ministry of Supervision?"
He was stunned. Leo Kim had mentioned the department was run-down, practically forgotten, but this exceeded even Nathan's low expectations.
"Is anyone actually working here?" he muttered, brows furrowing.
Wiping some dust from the door, he uncovered an ancient couplet, presumably left over from the ministry's heyday:
"To deceive others is to deceive Heaven; do not deceive yourself. To fail the nation is to fail the people; do not bear this burden."
The words must have once served as a reminder to the Ministry's officers of the gravity of their role. But now, they rang with a tragic irony.
"Don't bother waiting. Nobody's here today," said an elderly man, stopping to speak as he passed.
"Where is everyone?" Nathan asked.
"Where else? The brothel, the tavern—anywhere but doing their jobs. If you want to catch them here, it'll be pure luck."
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