Outside the grand hall, the spring rain wailed bitterly.
Rain lashed against the glazed tiles, each drop drumming upon the heart.
The crimson-robed nobles and high officials filling the court all stood like clay statues and wooden carvings.
Before them, Cheng Buxiu stood drenched through, his cloak plastered to his body, his hairpin-bound locks disheveled. Not a trace remained of a Mountain-Viewing Martial Venerable's bearing.
There was no need for words.
Merely seeing Cheng Buxiu's present state, everyone had already guessed the outcome.
Five Immortals Mountain had not left Great Tang this way out.
Had they merely refused to intervene, it would have been one thing...
But making him bark like a dog, toying with him—
Then driving him down the mountain gate like a stray dog...
How was that merely an insult to Cheng Buxiu alone?
It was clearly a slap across the Emperor's face, across the faces of every civil and military official in court, and across Great Tang's eight hundred years of imperial fortune!
"Your Majesty..."
After a long while.
Someone finally broke the silence.
The man who stepped forth wore purple robes and a jade belt, his bearing calm and dignified.
He was Liu Xingyun of the Liu Clan, the Vice Director of the Chancellery.
"Attendant Cheng endured humiliation for Great Tang without regard for himself. Heaven and earth bear witness to such loyalty and righteousness. We ministers... feel it deeply as well."
"However, in this minister's view, now is not the time for outrage."
The moment those words fell, the atmosphere turned somewhat delicate.
Yet Liu Xingyun seemed not to notice. Straightening, he said slowly, "Since Five Immortals Mountain has shut its gates against us, even using such means to humiliate Attendant Cheng, their intentions are already clear. They are determined to stand by and