"Wontons! Wontons for sale! Piping-hot wontons!"
Dawn had barely broken over Winter Offices Street in the Sacred Capital. A white-haired old man stood before his carrying pole, hawking his wares at the top of his voice as hot broth churned in the pot and steam billowed upward.
People bustled around him, and small-time vendors lined the street, filling it with the lively atmosphere of everyday city life.
Suddenly, the metallic clatter of armor drifted over, mingled with the rumble of carriage wheels.
Everyone turned to look, surprise and uncertainty appearing on their faces.
"So many soldiers. Which household has gotten into trouble this time?"
"Huh? They seem to be coming out of that residence halfway down the street. Isn't that temporary lodging for officials from outside the capital?"
Pedestrians hurried out of the way. As they watched the soldiers escort the servants and trusted disciples from Fang Yuan's residence westward, they pointed and began to gossip.
Han Li sat astride a tall horse, turning a deaf ear to their chatter.
All she knew was that she had come on her master's orders to arrest the offending official's servants and disciples on Winter Offices Street.
Inside the prison wagons, the servants and disciples Fang Yuan had brought with him looked miserable, but they were also utterly bewildered.
Even now, they still had no idea what had happened.
The officials at every level of the Great Qian Dynasty were just as bewildered.
Yue Dongyang and Lu Yuan had only learned of the matter that morning. When they arrived at court for roll call and deliberations, the three regents gathered, and Hu Ze's Avatar personally informed them.
"Fang Yuan tried to assassinate His Majesty? How is that possible?"
The words that burst from Yue Dongyang's mouth showed that, from the bottom of his