Envoys from the court, Lady Xie's whereabouts

News of the uprising in Wenning County reached the prefectural seat of Ci Prefecture almost immediately.

Naturally, the news did not come from the panic-stricken magistrate of Wenning County. Nearby Imperial Demon Hunters had sent it back to the Imperial Demon Hunters Office.

Shi Chibao wasted no time. He immediately had copies of the report sent to the Cizhou Branch Censorate and to Su Che, the Deputy Judicial Thousand-Householder, who was recuperating at home.

The report's wording displayed the Imperial Demon Hunters' customary precision, using the term "popular uprising" rather than "rebellion."

A popular uprising could be a large matter or a small one. Once the word "rebellion" was used, however, there was only one road left: heads would have to roll.

Either the rebels' heads would roll, or those of the imperial court would. There was no middle ground.

For the moment, though, Shi Chibao had no time to bother with a little place like Wenning County.

The captain had more important work on his hands.

Perhaps the Langya Wang Clan had exerted its influence at court, or perhaps the Duling Su Clan had played a part. Whatever the reason, the court had finally decided how to handle the Prince of Wuling's disappearance.

Circuit Inspectors would be dispatched to Ci Prefecture to investigate the matter and establish the respective responsibility of the Circuit Censorate, the Imperial Demon Hunters, and the other parties involved.

Two Circuit Inspectors were coming, both with fifth-grade reverted elixir cultivation. Given how quickly reverted elixir experts could travel, Shi Chibao suspected they might already have reached his doorstep by the time the news arrived.

Upon receiving word, Shi Chibao immediately arranged for his men to organize the case files and agree on a single account, taking into consideration the role Su Che might have played.