Officials from every department in the imperial city hurried into their courtyards and looked up. They did not yet know what had happened; they only felt as though something heavy were pressing on their hearts.
The cloud cover hung so low it seemed within arm's reach. One official muttered, "A great calamity has descended from heaven. We must calm the people at once..."
The moment he said this, the officials around him suddenly came to their senses and rushed toward the imperial palace in panic. "Quick, notify the Imperial Guards and Shuntian Prefecture! We must keep the people calm!"
Under no circumstances could they allow unrest to break out at such a time.
They had only just reached the gate when they were stopped. Imperial Guards who had somehow appeared outside the government offices stretched out their arms to block them. "By His Majesty's order, while the National Preceptor undergoes her tribulation, all officials are to remain at their posts and must not run about."
The officials were all stunned. "The National Preceptor is undergoing a tribulation? What tribulation? In the imperial palace?"
Everyone turned in unison to look at the gates of the Ministry of Works.
Sure enough, officials from the Ministry of Works were also peeking out from the entrance. When their eyes met those outside, they jerked their heads back in a flash, looking somewhat guilty.
In truth, the Ministry of Works was in an uproar as well. One official painfully slapped a pillar. "The National Preceptor is muddleheaded! How could she undergo a tribulation inside the palace?"
Others went to tug at Hu Cheng. "My lord, quickly think of a way to enter the palace and persuade the National Preceptor! Before the heavenly lightning falls, tell her to run as far away as possible. She must