"Your previous assignments were handled well, and you dealt with the Divine Shrines fairly well too. I am pleased." Just as the Empress was pondering this, she heard the Emperor smilingly ask Prince Dai, "What are your plans going forward?"
Prince Dai bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I believe the foremost matter is to uphold the dignity and authority of the court and the royal clans. As for those in the Divine Shrines suspected of attacking Prince Qi, your grandson-subject has already ordered their arrest without exception. Shuntian Prefecture has been very cooperative as well; nearly all have been taken into custody. They must be punished according to the law, leaving not a single one behind."
"Well said. Not only must such criminals all be put to death, their Lineages must be hunted down as well!" The Emperor was fairly satisfied. Prince Dai had not set himself against Prince Qi; their disagreement lay only in this matter, which showed he still possessed some sense of the greater picture.
"Secondly, all the Divine Shrines have submitted to the court. Many among them are shrines of Orthodox Gods. How they should be handled is not something your grandson-subject would dare decide on his own; I ask Your Majesty for an imperial directive." Su Ziji hastily laid out, item by item, everything he had recently done, explaining the circumstances of quite a few Divine Shrines as well.
"And what do you think?" The Emperor did not answer, instead asking Su Ziji in return.
Su Ziji said gravely, "Your Majesty, the divine way uses teachings to guide the people, originally to soothe their hearts. Moreover, ghosts and gods possess spirits; this matter cannot be handled carelessly."
"Your grandson-subject believes that first, the Ministry of Rites should distinguish between Orthodox Worship and Illicit Worship. For