In the Imperial Study, Emperor Song He, who had been reviewing memorials, set down his vermilion brush on a celadon brush rest shaped like a sea turtle bearing three mountains, an item for the inner court fired by an official kiln in Xitou County, Baoxi Prefecture. Song He rubbed his wrist and picked up a confidential record from the Ministry of Justice that had just been delivered, its contents naturally abridged. After reading it for a while, the emperor said, "Immortal Realm. And an Immortal who knew how to pick both the day and the place."
At that moment, the two Chief Eunuchs from the Court of Ceremonial and the Imperial Stable Bureau, the commander of the Troop and Horse Department responsible for capital security, the old Immortal Master overseeing the Song Clan's royal guardians, and a Deputy Director from the Imperial Observatory all held their breaths, silently awaiting the moment of dragon-faced wrath.
Song He casually flipped through a few more pages, the paper rustling loudly.
Song He suddenly raised his arm and slammed the booklet heavily onto the imperial desk. "A pack of wine sacks and rice bags! Shall I take you all to the National Teacher's Manor to apologize to the National Teacher and explain properly why such a blunder occurred?!"
The newly appointed Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Stable Bureau and Hong Ji, the official who had only taken command of the Troop and Horse Department less than a month ago, were particularly tense, their mouths dry and their tongues parched. The former had just been about to explain to His Majesty why Old Man Liu Cheng's escape technique had been able to bypass three Capital City Great Formations in succession, and why even the Imperial Observatory had been exploited... Yet, from the corner of his