When the Court Council convened again in mid-October, Court Executor Zhong once more came before the court.
Being fined and confined to reflect on his mistakes for three months had not only cost him his salary and emoluments; he had also missed three Court Councils and could only learn of the court's affairs from the records afterward.
At this Court Council, Daoist Changsun was, as ever, immersed in secluded cultivation, while Court Executor Chong was still under punishment. Zhong knew that speaking alone would be useless, and with no major matters arising lately, he did not utter a word throughout, merely assenting to the court's decisions.
Near the end of the Court Council, the First Seat Daoist picked up a memorial and said, "Guardian of Rectitude Zhang has submitted a memorial, stating that Cang Lu has guarded Lou Lodge in Western Firmament Heaven for one hundred and sixty-three years and should no longer remain in this position. He advises that the post be reassigned. What do the Court Executors think?"
The moment Daoist Zhong heard that Zhang Yu had submitted the memorial, he immediately paid close attention.
Daoist Yusu spoke up. "Cang Lu has served as guardian for over one hundred and sixty years. That is indeed far too long. By the rules, he should have been reassigned long ago. I believe this proposal may pass."
Daoist Feng, who rarely spoke in court, echoed her words. "Court Executor Yusu is right. For ordinary guardians, even serving a hundred years is already excessive. Cang Lu has guarded that place for so long, and he established no small number of merits in the past, yet even now he remains a guardian stationed at an outer lodge without being promoted. That truly cannot be justified."
Daoist Chao said, "I don't see anything improper