"Also, Su Province has suffered a snow disaster, while Southern Yue, Tang Province, and other regions have been struck by droughts unseen in a century. As many as a million people have been affected. Rumors are now flying everywhere, with everyone offering a different explanation."
Yue Lang paused as he spoke.
The others' expressions grew even darker.
Taken together with the mysterious cases in the Capital City, someone was clearly stirring up waves behind the scenes.
"My lord, the rumors in the Capital City are growing worse. Some merchants from other regions and even foreign countries have already packed up and left," Yue Lang said.
"Because of the monsters?" Zhao Feng asked.
"Yes."
"More importantly, His Majesty will hold a Shangyuan Festival court assembly on the fifteenth day of the first month. Envoys, merchants, and visitors from every country will come to the Upper Capital. His Majesty has therefore given our Martial Suppression Bureau a deadline: we must solve the case within ten days, reassure the people, and dispel the rumors," Zhao Feng said.
Great Yan's advance deep into the Northern Barbarians' heartland had already proved to other countries and its own people that it was the strongest power in the region. This Shangyuan Festival court assembly was intended to further display Great Yan's renewed vigor and national strength, drawing more countries into its camp.
It was also a crucial moment for fully cementing Emperor Jing's position.
Viewed in that light, the monster incidents that had broken out in the few days since New Year's Eve were undoubtedly man-made. Their ultimate aim was to ruin this court assembly, damage Great Yan's image in the eyes of foreign envoys, and, above all, shake Emperor Jing's newly consolidated position.
Hearing that His Majesty had ordered the Martial Suppression Bureau to solve the