A storm was coming

Luoyang City, the capital of Great Chen, had largely retained the architectural scale and style of the preceding Great Liang dynasty.

The Imperial City surrounded and guarded the Imperial Palace. To its west lay Jiacheng, to its south the Luo River, to its east the Eastern City, and to its north the Round Wall and the fortified walls of Radiant Ceremony. Within the Palace City, impregnable as a fortress of metal and boiling moats, stood more than fifty halls, terraces, and lodges.

Halls faced one another, and towers and terraces rose like a forest: Zhenguan Hall, Luocheng Hall, Wucheng Hall, Longevity Hall, Gathered Immortals Hall, Jade Light Hall, Beautiful Spring Terrace, One Heart Pavilion, Spring Ascension Pavilion, and many more. Most faced south with their backs to the north, their varying heights arranged along the central axis in orderly, graceful tiers. At the very center of the Palace City stood Heaven's Mandate Gate.

Outside Heaven's Mandate Gate lay the headquarters of the Six Fan Gate. Before the window of one office, the fiery red blossoms on several flourishing guava trees had already scattered, leaving a few little lantern-like fruits hanging amid the lush branches. Through the dense foliage, one could see high walls of red brick and green tiles and a corner of sky, dark and thick with clouds.

Chief Constable Su Qiu sat by the window, studying the case files in hand, and fell into thought. Yesterday, Zhang Bailing, the head constable of Luo River County, had arrived escorting Tan Song's body, and the Six Fan Gate had worked through the night to compile the files. There were few useful clues. The assassin had again worn black and wielded the Curved Long Saber. This was already the eleventh Dao Integration Realm expert assassinated by Unknown Island.

Su Qiu looked up through the window. Guava leaves rustled and fell, dark clouds rolled across the sky, and the light grew dimmer and dimmer. Rain seemed imminent.

Su Qiu sank back into thought. Eight years ago, the organization known as Unknown Island had appeared mysteriously and assassinated Yu Tongshu, the former Minister of Justice. The files on the attempted assassination of the Eldest Prince had also vanished inexplicably from a secret chamber in the Ministry of Justice. The emperor had flown into a thunderous rage, shaking court and country alike. Suspecting that someone in the ministry had stolen what they were entrusted to guard, the emperor had ordered the Six Fan Gate to take over the case. Tan Song had been the man assigned to it. He had spent years investigating the matter. Had he discovered something this time and brought assassination upon himself?

Su Qiu was deep in thought when a servant suddenly announced that Shi Li, Vice Minister of Justice, had requested an audience, interrupting the chief constable's reflections.

Shi Li, Vice Minister of Justice, had a face like polished jade, three long strands of beard, and a dignified bearing. After exchanging greetings with Su Qiu, he dispensed with pleasantries and came straight to the point. "Our Minister of Justice has reported to His Majesty, and His Majesty has approved the ministry's takeover of Tan Song's case. This case may have arisen from the theft of our files all those years ago. Now that we are taking charge, we shall part the clouds to reveal the sun and investigate until the waters recede and the rocks emerge. Chief Constable Su, please hand over the files and all items pertaining to the case..."

After Su Qiu had read the emperor's handwritten decree, Shi Li had his men take charge of Zhang Bailing, Tan Song's body, and the files. He was about to take his leave when a muffled thunderclap sounded outside the window. A violent gust shook the guava trees without cease, their leaves rustling loudly.

Standing by the window, Su Qiu watched the wind fill the tower before the mountain rain arrived and could not help sighing inwardly. The Ministry of Justice had moved so quickly. Clearly, this was no ordinary case. Like severed lotus roots still joined by silken threads, all these cases remained inextricably connected to Unknown Island's assassins.

Unknown Island, Unknown Island... Who knew how many people this mysterious organization actually had, or how many had secretly infiltrated Great Chen Kingdom and lain hidden? Undercurrents were surging through the court now. These waters ran too deep. Some things were beyond the power of a mere Six Fan Gate constable to influence...

Su Qiu sighed and was about to close the window when another muffled thunderclap sounded and rain came pouring down. It fell harder and harder, beating the leaves outside with sharp slaps. In the distance, the sky became a blur of mist and rain, and nothing could be seen clearly...

Inside Purple Dawn Hall, Emperor Chen was discussing affairs of state with his ministers. Today's regular court session had already lasted more than four hours. He had just heard the report of Jiang Huairen, Inspector of Ji Province. Another severe drought had struck the province that year, and the autumn harvest had yielded not a single grain. Emperor Chen decreed that Ji Province's taxes be remitted for a year, ordered the Ministry of Revenue to allocate funds, and instructed the local authorities to open the granaries and distribute grain to the disaster victims.

Amid a chorus of praise from his ministers, Emperor Chen was preparing to dismiss court when Cui Yingtai, Director of the Imperial College, stepped out of the ranks to present a memorial. "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report. The patriarch of the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery is grateful for Your Majesty's boundless grace and wishes to establish an academy to cultivate worthy men for the nation. The Cui Family will bear all expenses required for its establishment."

The moment Cui Yingtai finished speaking, a buzzing murmur spread through the court.

"The Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery? They're wealthy. I hear they run banks and silk businesses, with branches all across the country even during the previous dynasty..."

"Indeed. I hear that when the late emperor raised his army, the Cui Family supported him with all their might, buying warhorses and provisions and supplying vast quantities of goods..."

"The late emperor treated them generously, too. Many sons of the Cui Family entered official service..."

"Cui Yingtai, Director of the Imperial College, belongs to the Cui Family of Fanyang..."

"They say Empress Cui also came from the Cui Family of Fanyang..."

"Shh-shh, silence!"

Emperor Chen surveyed his ministers, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. Resting his palm on the dragon desk, he bent two fingers and tapped lightly, neither approving nor rejecting the proposal.

Cui Yingtai bowed and continued, "Your Majesty, if the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery establishes an academy, our Great Chen Kingdom will have another Capital Grand Academy. Then the Knowledge and Practice Institute and the Cui Household Academy will shine upon each other, advancing civil governance and educating the people of Great Chen. This would be a tremendous blessing, bringing order to the nation, peace to its people, and benefits to ten thousand generations!"

At this, Emperor Chen's expression softened slightly. He said in a deep voice, "I... approve. It shall be in the Southern Suburbs... I shall order the Ministry of Works to survey and verify the land and requisition four hundred mu of farmland and four hundred mu of state land, eight hundred mu in total, for the academy's construction."

Without even waiting for the ministers below to discuss it, Emperor Chen settled the matter with the swiftness of thunder and wind.

For a moment, some faces in the court showed shock, some brows furrowed in thought, some beamed with delight, and some heads lowered in silence. Soon, the buzzing discussions rose again...

Cui Yingtai, Director of the Imperial College, bowed once more. "Your Majesty, the Old Patriarch of the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery has long admired Your Majesty's mighty talents and grand vision, and your diligence in governing for the people. He arrived in the capital the day before yesterday with one hundred and eight elders of his clan. They are now outside the palace gates, hoping to gaze reverently upon Your Majesty's countenance and your manifest wisdom. I beg Your Majesty to grant them permission."

Emperor Chen was now greatly pleased. Sweeping his broad sleeve, he said, "Such sincere devotion is rare. Summon them into the palace for an audience!"

"Summon the one thousand eight hundred and eight members of the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery into the palace for an audience!"

As several attendant eunuchs relayed the summons, a great crowd of venerable scholars and elders from the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery supported one another as they poured into Purple Dawn Hall. At their head, Old Patriarch Cui leaned on a dragon-headed cane. He wore a red, round-collared silk jacket that fastened down the front, embroidered with pines and cranes symbolizing longevity. His hair and beard were entirely white, yet he remained hale and spirited, grinning broadly and showing the gaps in his teeth.

Leading the crowd of white-haired old men, he finally made his way before the throne and paid his respects to Emperor Chen. Old Patriarch Cui bowed and said, "We have long heard of Your Majesty's mighty talents and grand vision, your diligence in government, your love for the people, and your tireless efforts to bring order and prosperity. Today, in our Great Chen, heaven and earth shine beneath the sun and moon, and peace reigns across the four seas. Your Majesty's civil achievements and martial governance soothe the distant reaches of our land, and their glory fills the world..."

The old patriarch was missing two front teeth, so air escaped when he spoke. Emperor Chen struggled to make out his words and could not help frowning slightly.

Seeing that all the Cui Family elders below had graying beards and were advanced in years, he ordered the hall guards to bring several brocade-covered stools so they could sit while speaking. Old Patriarch Cui and the others were instantly overwhelmed by the favor.

The ministers in the hall had originally stood in two parallel ranks, civil and military, arranged according to the seniority of their offices. Now these one hundred and eight elders poured in as a great throng. With their unsteady legs and failing eyesight, they shuffled slowly along, jostling one another, and the immensely spacious Purple Dawn Hall suddenly seemed unbearably crowded. The ministers hastily made way for these precious old souls, completely disrupting their once-orderly ranks.

A Central Guard Grandee of the Subordinate Fifth Rank was even squeezed in front of Wang Daolun, a second-rank Six Ministries Minister. Tong Huan, the Grand Commandant, who had originally stood at the very front, seized the opportunity to pound his lower back and slip toward the hall doors for some air.

Qin Lie, the Censor-in-Chief, was pushed to the rear of the ranks and sneezed while holding his court tablet. He had caught a slight chill in the cold, dew-heavy autumn night, and the crowd's bustling movements had stirred up dust in the hall, leaving his nose very uncomfortable. Rising onto his toes, he looked ahead, only to see a dense sea of hats with long wings jutting out. All he could catch was Old Patriarch Cui's voice drifting faintly back.

This Cui Family is no ordinary clan... Heh, this old fellow is quite the bootlicker, too! Qin Lie thought. But doesn't this give the Knowledge and Practice Institute another rival? What does His Majesty intend by this? Where does that leave the Imperial Preceptor?

Old Patriarch Cui poured forth a torrent of praise for Emperor Chen. Although his missing teeth made his speech airy and the emperor had great difficulty following him, he could only listen patiently. At long last, the patriarch reached the matter of establishing the academy. Emperor Chen said, "I have already ordered the Ministry of Works to survey and verify eight hundred mu of land for the academy's construction. As for its name, Elder Cui... have you discussed and settled upon one?"