The three shared a knowing look, smiled at one another, and the previously tentative and trapping atmosphere immediately swept away, replaced by great mirth.
Minister Qin laughed and clapped Lian Musu on the shoulder, saying, "Experience does trump youth, accept it."
Minister Fan, his face beaming with a smug smile, stroked his uneven beard, laughing silently.
Lian Musu also smiled, thinking to himself that plans couldn't keep up with changes, no one schemes like Minister Fan. Getting his hands on the rare book earlier had already put him at a disadvantage but, well, there were certain matters that needed to be discussed first.
Although he and Minister Fan hadn't been in close contact before, not even speaking to each other, there was an inexplicable sense of closeness between them, perhaps brought on by their initial accidental dropping of the rare book, which brought them closer together unwittingly.
