Just as they were discussing Northern Province, news came that trouble had broken out there. Long Xiu and Meng Xuan were both startled.
Meng Xuan immediately asked, "What happened?"
Yi Shu glanced at him but ignored him, continuing her report to her master. "Shao Dengyun and Tianyu Sect have launched a massive purge of the Imperial Court officials sent to Northern Province. They struck across Northern Province all at once without the slightest warning. Nearly none of the officials the Imperial Court sent there survived; almost all were killed on the spot!"
Long Xiu and Meng Xuan sprang to their feet in shock. Long Xiu roared, "Outrageous! Insolent! Are they trying to rebel?"
"They had justification," Yi Shu said. "They held evidence of corruption and other crimes verified by the Imperial Court. Claiming that the scope was too broad and the crimes too horrifying, that killing them was necessary to quell the people's fury and prevent the criminals from escaping, Shao Dengyun moved with lightning speed. With Tianyu Sect's cooperation, they met no resistance at all. The various parties did not even have time to react. After sending troops to blood-wash Northern Province's officialdom, Shao Dengyun directly appointed temporary replacements, citing the need to prevent unrest in Northern Province."
Long Xiu's expression shifted uncertainly. "How did the charges verified by the Imperial Court end up in Shao Dengyun's hands?"
"That is unclear," Yi Shu replied.
Long Xiu's face twisted viciously. "Purple Gold Cave's table manners are truly ugly!"
"Whether it was Purple Gold Cave remains to be seen," Meng Xuan said.
"Hm?" Long Xiu turned back to him, seemingly puzzled.
Meng Xuan asked Yi Shu, "You said just now that nearly none of the Imperial Court officials in Northern Province survived, that all of them fell to Shao Dengyun's hand?"