Fang Yun's convoy and private troops changed direction and headed toward Yueyang Tower.
The Qing Lord's and Gu Lord's convoys remained at Three-Li Pavilion, while officials from both kingdoms gathered to discuss a response. Some nearly began arguing over their differences. Had this not been such a sensitive location, they would certainly have launched into a heated debate as though they were at court.
Neither the Qing Kingdom nor the Gu Kingdom was entirely united; each had its own factions.
Nie Changju had fainted, the Qing Lord had lost face, and Fang Yun had departed. With the spectacle over, many people gradually dispersed, either to wait beneath Yueyang Tower for the literary assembly to begin or to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves in Baling City while learning about the local customs.
However, tens of thousands still stood outside the eastern city gate.
The officials of the Qing Kingdom and Gu Kingdom discussed matters for a full half hour before reaching an agreement. The two sovereigns boarded their carriages. Rather than going to the Qing Lord's former temporary palace, which the Jing Kingdom had arranged for their lodging, their convoys headed straight toward Yueyang Tower.
Sitting in his carriage and feeling its jolts, the Qing Lord sighed softly, his brow tightly furrowed.
Before coming, the Qing Lord had been highly confident of victory. He would damage Fang Yun's literary reputation, then coordinate with Liu Shan from outside and within to impeach Fang Yun, stripping him of his position as governor-general of the two prefectures and forcing him north to fight the Grass Barbarians.
The Qing Kingdom's senior ministers had even repeatedly worked through the precise steps for forcing Fang Yun north. Once he resigned as governor-general of the two prefectures, they were absolutely certain they could force him to head north