"Tell them to be careful. If they make another mistake this time, I will not forgive them again," the emperor said coldly. His voice was not particularly forceful, but Eunuch Zhao shuddered.
"You must send men to keep watch as well. If anything goes wrong again, then even though we have been master and servant all this time, when that moment comes, our bond will count for nothing."
As the emperor spoke, he even wore a faint, wistful smile. Eunuch Zhao did more than shudder: a chill rose from the depths of his heart, sweeping through him until his whole body went rigid. He hurriedly answered, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. If anything goes wrong again, this servant will answer with his head!"
"And do not neglect the search for the seven-aperture exquisite heart," the emperor said mildly.
"Yes, this servant will personally oversee it!"
Myriad Treasures Market
This was a large ward in the Capital City, covering 364 mu. Looking out through the carriage window, one could see that night was approaching and the moon hung high. Outside, the ordinary shops had already closed, though their storefront signs remained dimly visible. The occasional pedestrians were all hurrying on their way.
Three ox carts trundled down a street lined with shops. Apart from the drivers, everyone walked alongside the carts.
Three men in the uniforms of Prince Dai's Residence guards watched their surroundings warily, keeping firm hands on their sabers.
The Wei Code stipulated that private households were forbidden to possess "armor, crossbows, spears, and lances."
In the fifth year of Qingwu, Zheng Taizu had issued a prohibition: "Neither gentry nor commoner households in the Capital City may privately stockpile weapons."
The restrictions had grown even stricter. Outside the army, even constables and yamen runners generally could not carry sabers freely,