As soon as news of Daoist Gao's escape was reported, those above reacted swiftly-or rather, the emperor reacted fiercely. The entire Capital City was placed under martial law.
In a sense, Gao Hongqing was the last straw the emperor could clutch at for a certain hope, and his escape had left the emperor beside himself with fury.
And this martial law was not aimed solely at Daoist Gao and his people. Any mages, disciples, or other associated persons previously registered with the Directorate of Celestial Observations who had fled without permission were to be arrested on sight.
The emperor's thunderous rage in the palace terrified many people, foremost among them the officials of the Directorate of Celestial Observations. Its chief, Sima Xiao, however, had escaped facing that fury directly because he had already been escorted to the Heavenly Prison.
Palace Guards and Imperial Guards escorted Sima Xiao into the Heavenly Prison.
The jailers, who had seen more than their share, understood at once from this display that he was a high court official who had offended the emperor.
Then, while registering him, they asked one of the Imperial Guards who he was. Well, well-the director of the Directorate of Celestial Observations himself.
The jailers and head jailer immediately understood. Stories of a Heavenly God descending to vanquish evil had spread like wildfire throughout Heaven-Bearing Prefecture. The men coming in to relieve them had already brought the news to the Heavenly Prison, and during the earlier raging wind and rain, those on duty had indeed heard some unusual sounds.
After an incident like that, it was only natural for an official of the Directorate of Celestial Observations to be imprisoned. They reckoned this lord would not live long before the emperor ordered his execution.
There had been plenty of such cases