After Han Zhengyang finished speaking, he stepped onto Walking the Blue Clouds, turned, and flew toward the Sacred Academy on Upside-Down Peak Mountain.
"See the special envoy off!" Fang Yun called out.
"Farewell, special envoy!" the other officials chorused.
Once Han Zhengyang had risen high into the sky, while still within range of the Temple of Sages' power, Fang Yun grasped his official seal and sent a message.
"When we reach Kong City, I'll offer you a toast in apology."
After reading the message, Han Zhengyang nearly tumbled off Walking the Blue Clouds. He had considered every possibility, but never imagined that Fang Yun was the man behind it all. Although Fang Yun had not admitted it outright, Han Zhengyang was a Grand Academician and naturally understood what those few words meant.
That bastard! Han Zhengyang cursed inwardly. He left without looking back, but pondered Fang Yun's purpose.
After seeing Han Zhengyang off, Fang Yun delivered an impassioned speech to the officials. His main point was that this was an internal affair of the Jing Kingdom and Xiang Prefecture, in which the Hall of Punishment had no right to interfere. He also praised every official present that day, saying that only by remaining united could they make Xiang Prefecture flourish ever more.
Fang Yun rambled on at length. Just as some officials were growing impatient, he suddenly said, "The matter of Xiang Prefecture's supplementary issue gave me a great deal of inspiration. Why did the people clamor to pass it around and read it? Because they needed it! Since the people need it, the government should meet that need, provided it violates neither law nor morality! Just now, I submitted an application to every relevant institution-the Jing Kingdom's Grand Secretariat, the Eastern Sage Pavilion, the Ritual Hall, the Hall of