After hearing Liu Jin's description, Ye Ning had a general understanding of the Overwatch Council.
His instincts told him that there was a lot of room for action in this institution.
However, it was clear that the views of others and his own were completely different, such as those of Ji Mingyue.
The Emperor had just finished the morning court session and returned to her study without taking a break.
"Lord Liu, how do you think I should arrange Ye Ning in the Overwatch Council?"
Liu Shen was also present.
The two were talking to each other.
Scene like this was quite common, even for the officials of the Great Zhou.
Liu Shen was highly favored by the Emperor, and enjoyed this kind of special privilege.
"Is there ever a talented person who is not given the opportunity to shine?"
Liu Shen hesitated and asked.
Placing oneself in the past, being able to enter the Overwatch Council was equivalent to soaring to the top of the tree.
Regardless, the Overwatch Council at that time was the pinnacle of the power structure, encompassing major powers such as the judiciary, prisons, surveillance, and incomparable prestige.
But now, things were different.
Currently, the Overwatch Council had already declined beyond imagination.
Even everyone had forgotten about it.
The Overwatch Council had held a position for more than a thousand years.
Years of erosion were enough to wear down the will of everyone.
Liu Shen was not truly a Rebellious Official, as he appeared to be someone who was incapable of doing anything, but in reality, he understood the intricacies of each department within the court.
Only the Overwatch Council was an exception.
This was because the Overwatch Council truly had nothing to learn, a place that used to frighten people just by its name, but now it was nothing more than a dilapidated council.
Who was inside and what they were doing...
No one cared.
Was it appropriate to place Ye Ning in a place where everyone had forgotten about it?
"A talented person who is not given the opportunity to shine is indeed a wasted talent. Currently, the Overwatch Council only exists in name. If it weren't for the regulations set by the Great Zhou Taizu, the Overwatch Council would have been abolished long ago."
Ji Mingyue sighed.
The decline of the Overwatch Council represented the decline of imperial power, but this was not something she could change.
She didn't want to think about these meaningless matters anymore and said.
"The reason I placed Ye Ning in a place like this is actually to hone his character a bit."
Liu Shen seemed to be lost in thought.
"Your Majesty thinks that if Ye Ning goes to another place, he will cause trouble?"
Ji Mingyue gave a bitter laugh and said.
"It's not just a possibility, it's a certainty!"
"Ye Ning hates evil like a mortal enemy, and can't tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. If he sees anything he doesn't like, can he endure it? I'm afraid he will cause a big disturbance. Upon reflection, only the Overwatch Council is suitable for him."
Hearing this, Liu Shen sighed.
"Nowadays, the imperial court is really desolate, with flattery and sycophancy prevailing. On the other hand, there is no place for a true gentleman to stand."
He no longer objected to this matter.
Ji Mingyue's arrangements were very reasonable.
This temperament of Ye Ning, if placed elsewhere, would be very vulnerable to others' targeting.
But as rebellious officials and a benighted emperor, they could not stand outside and help him.
He could only fight alone.
Could he fight against those officials alone?
Obviously, it was impossible.
Ye Ning had already attracted enough attention from others.
There were many people who silently held a grudge against him and wanted him dead.
And now Ji Mingyue was putting him in the line of fire, could she really do that?
Therefore, the only option was to let Ye Ning go to the Overwatch Council.
One, it could make him stay put, diminish his influence, which could be considered as another form of protection.
Two, despite the Overwatch Council being in shambles, it still held a respectable position in the entire government system, and Ye Ning becoming an Imperial Censor would not tarnish his reputation.
"I can only delegate Ye Ning and wait for the storm to pass. Then, I will think of ways to utilize him."
Ji Mingyue was deeply troubled by this.
Having a talented official that couldn't be used was frustrating for any emperor.
To hide his talent, he had to be sent to a declining Council.
For the emperor, this was undoubtedly unpleasant.
However, she knew a principle that small concessions could prevent bigger disasters, and sometimes giving in temporarily was necessary.
Ye Ning was too stubborn to give in, so she could only help him a little by forcing him to hide for a while.
Ji Mingyue and Liu Shen both had the same thought.
They both believed that Ye Ning becoming an Imperial Censor would keep him content.
Jokingly, the Overwatch Council has been useless for so many years.
Could it stir up trouble now?
Impossible.
"What does it matter if the Overwatch Council is useless? I must stir up trouble!"
As soon as he left the imperial palace, Ye Ning had completely different thoughts.
He had to cause trouble; otherwise, how would he find a way to die?
If he couldn't find a way to die, then how would he die?
The Overwatch Council was located in the northern part of the Imperial capital, far from the bustling areas and other prestigious residences, and was not connected to the residence of the high-ranking officials.
It was like an independent space occupying a large area.
When Ye Ning arrived there and looked from a distance, he saw that the Overwatch Council had a large area and the layout of a palace, which showed how magnificent it was in the past.
But now, it was just desolate and endless.
After he arrived, he found that the large door was tightly closed and there had been no one cleaning it for a long time, with dead leaves piling up in front of it.
Above the big door were two words "Overwatch Council" personally written by the Great Zhou Taizu, and now covered in thick dust, looking gloomy and without any light.
The two stone lions at the gate were the most peculiar, with one of them even missing its head, but no one had thought to repair it.
"Is this really the Overwatch Council?"
Ye Ning was skeptical.
Hearing the name was not as good as seeing it in person.
He felt a little nervous as Liu Jin had described the Overwatch Council as a dilapidated garbage dump where even dogs didn't want to go.
Now that he saw it with his own eyes, he realized that Liu Jin had been too polite.
Was anyone really working in this damn place?
Ye Ning gritted his teeth and walked forward to use the sleeve of his robe to wipe the big door, revealing an ancient couplet that said.
"Deceiving others, deceiving heaven, but don't deceive yourself."
In the past, the officials of the Overwatch Council were very arrogant, but now it seems that they are full of mockery.
" Don't look anymore, there's nobody inside today."
An old man passing by saw Ye Ning wandering around and stopped to speak.
"Where did everyone go?"
The old man sneered and said.
"Where else can they go? The Brothel? The Tavern? In short, if you're not an official, and you want to see them, you have to be lucky enough to catch them."