Before anyone knew it, the sixth month had arrived.
Over those months, several major events had shaken the political arena of Great Qian's Sacred Capital. The most far-reaching was undoubtedly the official completion of the Deer Terrace, followed by the Grand Empress Dowager's departure from the palace and return of governing power. She had moved to the Deer Terrace to cultivate in seclusion.
She had made that promise herself several years earlier. That she now fulfilled it without the slightest compromise truly came as a surprise.
Undoubtedly, however, this suited the Confucian Ministers perfectly. For a time, songs of praise rang out, washing away some of her infamy as the Demon Empress.
Yet before Yue Dongyang, Lu Yuan, and the others could bask in their triumph, they immediately faced the rise of East Zou and the emergence of a sage king.
They regarded this as a signal that the three Second Sages were setting up a separate hearth of their own. They were intensely wary, yet powerless to stop them.
Other events included Fang Yuan and his companions answering an imperial summons to the capital, as well as renewed stirrings among the Rebel Kings across the land.
These events seemed unrelated, but in truth, all involved either internal conflicts within the Confucian Sect or its clashes with other Dao Paths, particularly the Martial Dao.
That day, in Orchid Pavilion Ward in Sacred Capital City, two ministers invited Hu Ze's Avatar to meet them. First, they wished to thank him for his recent contribution to persuading the Grand Empress Dowager to leave the palace and return governing power. Second, they wished to discuss how to manage the balance among the various academic and political factions within the Sacred Capital going forward.
By now, Hu Ze's Avatar had thoroughly entered their circle