Ji County, to the North

Fang Yun left the Academy and walked step by step toward its gates.

Whenever he encountered students along the way, he merely nodded lightly in response to their greetings. Apart from a touch more chill on his face than usual, little had changed.

After walking for a while, he saw the Fang Household's carriage.

The coachman was dozing with a straw hat over his face. Fang Yun walked over and lightly tapped the carriage shaft with his index finger, producing a series of thuds.

He knocked for more than a dozen breaths before the coachman finally reached up, removed his hat, and hurriedly jumped down.

"Master, forgive... forgive me..." The coachman was utterly flustered. When he noticed that Fang Yun's expression was off, he grew even more terrified.

Fang Yun smiled calmly. "Do not panic. I left the Academy early. Take me to the imperial palace."

"Yes, Master." The coachman hurriedly got moving.

As Fang Yun listened to the unceasing shouts and curses rising from the capital, he stepped into the carriage.

His Official Seal rang without pause as transmission letters kept arriving.

Fang Yun continued resting with his eyes closed.

After quite some time, Fang Yun suddenly opened his eyes and spoke. It was as though he were merely conversing with someone nearby, yet his voice instantly reached the Temple of Sages within the Academy. Then, with the Academy's Temple of Sages as its hub, it instantly arrived at the Official Seals of every Seventh Rank official and above throughout the Jing Kingdom.

Ji County.

The newly appointed County Magistrate Duan was reading official documents and approving them with meticulous formality.

After finishing one page, County Magistrate Duan stretched his somewhat weary wrist, rose, and walked out of his study, taking a gentle stroll through the county office's rear