The back kitchen of the Mao County Government.

On the cutting board in front of Xiao Chong, there were already several dishes, including corn steamed buns, oil-braised prawns, scallions in sea melon seeds, spicy cabbage lamb soup, and a plate of tuna sashimi, but the quantity was regrettably small, with only a few pieces of sashimi in the corner of a large plate, leaving the rest blank.

Xiao Chong stood at the newly constructed high dining table layout, calmly carving a white radish, with two kitchen maids standing by his side as assistants.

A subordinate suddenly reported the loss of the Imperial Censor’s trail, and there was no sign of them on the official road.

Xiao Chong, unfazed, asked, "Where did we lose them?"

The subordinate replied, "In Wanghai Town."

"Did you search?"

"We searched for an hour but didn’t find them. We asked the locals, and they said they might have entered the mountains. There are too many mountains around; we don’t know which one."

Xiao Chong carved two words on a slice of white radish and handed it to the subordinate, saying, "Take it to the Lin Family Manor, and ask the Village Lady to help search together."

"Yes." The subordinate respectfully accepted it with both hands and then quietly withdrew.

After the person left, Xiao Chong remained focused on carving the white radish, as if the previous matter hadn’t affected him at all.

Soon, an exquisite sashimi platter appeared, pleasing to the eye, truly a combination of color, aroma, and taste.

Xiao Chong scooped water to carefully wash the dagger, but his face showed a disinterested expression at the sight of the food, as if his interest lay only in the process of creating the food, not the outcome.

"Take it to the west hall for the evening meal." Xiao Chong put away the dagger and left gracefully after giving the order.

Upon seeing the evening meal, Xiao Ce smiled and asked, "Zifang, did you personally cook again today?"

Xiao Ce casually took a seat and replied calmly, "Yes. Brother Shi Heng, Brother Xiwen, please."

"Please."

"Please."

The three exchanged pleasantries and began picking up chopsticks to eat.

After swallowing the mini corn steamed bun, Dugu Di asked, "Is this made with added corn flour?"

Xiao Ce replied, "Yes, how does it taste?"

"Excellent." Dugu Di replied with a smile and then asked, "Are you going to promote it throughout Mao County again?"

Xiao Chong said, "Too much effort, just sell the recipe to a few taverns for wine money."

Both Xiao Ce and Dugu Di laughed at this and the former said, "Brilliant, this method is brilliant."

"Ha, Zifang is almost becoming a master chef; the people of Mao County are blessed." Xiao Ce sighed.

Dugu Di added, "We too are very fortunate, hahaha."

Xiao Chong smiled without speaking, leisurely eating the evening meal.

"Speaking of which, it’s been a long time since I visited Le’an. Zifang, why have you become estranged even after getting engaged?" Xiao Ce asked curiously.

As usual, Xiao Chong replied, "The rites are not yet complete; we need to maintain distance."

Xiao Ce and Dugu Di exchanged a glance and could not help but laugh simultaneously.

No one believed this was the reason, given Xiao Chong’s unrestrained nature; how could he be held back by such formalities?

Whether they believed it or not, Xiao Chong did not care, as if that was the reason, he wouldn’t say another word. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Things are accomplished in secret, and ruined by speech.

While Xiao Chong and others were having their evening meal, Lin Wanwan was busily moving prohibited weapons back and forth, feeling dizzy from the heavy task.

It wasn’t because of the weight; she wasn’t afraid of the heavy stuff, but the sheer volume of it, with the frequency of her back-and-forth trips exhausting her spiritual power.

Finally, after moving all the crossbow arrows and long knives, she left the remaining modified nail guns and homemade hand grenades as they were; after all, no one else but her and Xiao Chong understood them.

In the cold winter night, sweat covered Lin Wanwan’s forehead, and her once white and red face turned pale as paper.

The repeated crossings were too draining; Lin Wanwan sat on the warehouse floor without an image, feeling utterly exhausted.

A moment later, she took several deep breaths, got up, brushed off the dust on her clothes, opened the warehouse door, and said to Kun Lun, who was waiting outside, "Let’s go, we’re meeting with the Imperial Censor Ma."

"Hmm." Kun Lun responded.

He still couldn’t speak Mao County or official language, but he could manage simple responses of a few words.

Lin Wanwan led Kun Lun to the meeting room at the base, where Hong Yan and Ji Yue had been waiting.

"Madam."

"Yes, where’s the Dragon Pearl Hair Crown?" Lin Wanwan asked.

Hong Yan patted the bundle on her shoulder, replying, "I’m carrying it."

Lin Wanwan nodded and instructed, "Alright, help me tidy up my attire and put it on."

"Yes."

Hong Yan and Ji Yue both approached, one helping her adjust her headdress and crown, the other tidying her clothes, brushing away dust invisible to the naked eye.

Moments later, her appearance sorted, the two close maids stepped back, and Hong Yan took out a handy mirror, holding it in front of Lin Wanwan for her review.

Lin Wanwan looked at her own opulent and radiant reflection in the mirror, nodding in satisfaction.

Although her face was excessively pale, it didn’t seem sickly but was instead enhanced by her makeup and attire, giving off a sense of noble aloofness, unmistakably cold.

"Alright, invite the esteemed guest over." Lin Wanwan took her seat at the head with poise, instructing Ji Yue to notify Baye Feng.

She was about to face one of the Great Tang’s smartest people, filled with excitement and nervousness.

This current Imperial Censor, the future Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Ma Zhou, was highly acclaimed, even by the founders of New Huaxia.

The assessment of his "Memorial on Current State Affairs" was "Since Jia Sheng’s ’Security Strategy,’ it is the first extraordinary work, and the essays of the Song people, like those by Su Shi, are just empty words on paper. Fu Shuo, Lv Wang, what are they compared to Ma Zhou? His talent and virtue are far superior."

He was recognized by both Emperor Taizong and New Huaxia’s outstanding politicians as a loyal minister, which speaks for his abilities.

Lin Wanwan’s research suggested that Ma Zhou had significant contributions to contemporary people and was beneficial to future generations as well.

Among them, his objection to the numerous attempts by Emperor Taizong to restore the enfeoffment system was a major achievement.

Emperor Shi unified Huaxia, giving us the historical "since ancient times" claim to our vast territory in the future, so how could we dismantle it and ruin our future?

Being of high-born and supporting Li Shimin’s enfeoffment idea, Xiao Chong’s grandfather, Xiao Yu, was one unforgotten example, demoted and promoted repeatedly.

In terms of political acumen, Xiao Yu lagged far behind Ma Zhou.

It’s a mystery how the straightforward and upright Xiao Yu could raise such a cunning grandson as Xiao Chong, who seemed more like a family with Ma Zhou!

Both were young and wild, unrestrained by conventions, yet filled with profound strategies.

As she internally evaluated, a slender figure appeared at the door of the meeting room.

The man was slightly over thirty, about seven feet tall, in a blue robe, wearing a black headscarf, with two split mustaches, most striking were his eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Though single-lidded, the eyes were phoenix-shaped, piercing like torches. If not for the beard conforming to modern aesthetics that sealed his appearance, this future Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat would probably define the ambiance of a handsome man.