Departure

Inside the imperial palace in Great Yan's Capital City.

Chengxin Zhai.

Xiao Jue held his right hand above the incense, his eyes slightly lowered as he listened to Zhang Lu's report.

"Earlier today, a great ship over sixty zhang long and more than ten zhang tall descended from the sky onto an empty stretch of ground a dozen or so li outside the Capital City."

Zhang Lu spoke.

"When the Capital City's patrol soldiers rode to the place where the ship had landed, they found only five or six young people. All of them were empty-handed, carrying no weapons, and dressed in pale blue-green robes..."

As he spoke, Zhang Lu paused briefly and glanced up at Xiao Jue.

"Exactly like the robes worn by the Duke of Qi's master, Elder Nan Taiping."

Xiao Jue said nothing, merely nodding gently.

"Those young people told the patrol soldiers who arrived that the ship carried twenty million shi of grain. Afterward, following Your Majesty's instructions, the Vice Minister of Revenue requisitioned soldiers from the Capital City and had all twenty million shi transported into the granaries."

Zhang Lu continued.

"Over the next seven days, the Disaster Relief Department will dispatch this grain to the various regions of Great Yan to aid the famine victims."

"Good."

Xiao Jue nodded again.

"Make certain the Disaster Relief Department keeps a close watch. We cannot allow this relief grain to be skimmed away at every level until almost nothing remains by the time it reaches the victims."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Zhang Lu answered.

"Continue."

Xiao Jue spoke.

"There is one other matter, concerning Marquis Jingyuan."

Zhang Lu went on.

"Elder Nan Taiping said he wishes to take Marquis Jingyuan back to the Luoling Sect. Marquis Jingyuan himself has already agreed. All that remains is Your Majesty's personal