"An Evil God is wreaking havoc, and His Majesty's sacred person is unwell. This calamity must have arisen within the palace, where outside forces cannot intervene. Yet I, Hu Ze, have received His Majesty's boundless favor. In these troubled times, I ought not linger abroad. We had best return to court at once and guard the imperial city..."
"Grand Preceptor Hu, our army has just won a great victory. This is precisely the time to press our advantage and pursue the desperate foe. Please reconsider returning to court!"
"Indeed, Prince Ning has fled time and again. Though repeatedly defeated, his forces have never diminished. Sooner or later, he will become a dagger lodged in our heart."
"Say no more. My mind is made up."
"Grand Preceptor, ah..."
Inside the Central Army Tent, Hu Ze's Avatar summoned his subordinates for a discussion. Nie Chen and the others urged Hu Ze not to abandon the pursuit of Prince Ning, but to carry their momentum through and crush the rebel army utterly.
But invoking the duty between sovereign and subject and the need for political stability, Hu Ze decided to return to court.
After some discussion, everyone had no choice but to accept this reality.
Early in the first month, Hu Ze's Avatar hurried back to the Sacred Capital. Before he even entered the city, however, he heard that Emperor Kangping was gravely ill and had urgently summoned his senior ministers.
Hu Ze rushed into the palace and found that the current Grand Tutor, Censor-in-Chief Yue Dongyang, and Chancellor Lu Yuan had all arrived.
The three met Emperor Kangping in his bedchamber. By then, he had wasted away to skin and bones, the very picture of a man whose illness had sunk beyond all remedy. He could only lie on the imperial bed,