Word of the Martial Virtue Star Lord's grand act of placing righteousness above family spread through every department of the Heavenly Court.
He had sent his own son into the Heavenly Prison, then personally bound his two godsons and delivered them to the Discipline Inspection Court.
Such ruthlessness truly opened the eyes of every Immortal.
In public, at least.
Whenever any deity encountered the Martial Virtue Star Lord outside Lingxiao Palace or at the various government offices, they had to stop, raise a thumb, and offer praise they did not mean: "Star Lord, your noble principles, integrity, and incorruptibility truly make you a model for us all!"
The Martial Virtue Star Lord wore an anguished expression, repeatedly waving his hands and lamenting his family's misfortune.
But in private?
The Heavenly Court had more gossip than the Mortal Realm had flies. Behind closed doors, the Immortals circulated an entirely different version: the Discipline Inspection Court wanted to make an example of the Martial Virtue Star Lord, and Chen Wei's ambitions had run wild since his recent advancement to Primordial Unity Golden Immortal.
Rumors and slander seemed to have sprouted wings.
Whoever had deliberately let the rumors loose, every accusation pointed toward Chen Wei and the Discipline Inspection Court. The immediate consequence was that the Censorate, and even all of Tongming Hall, had recently met cold faces everywhere they went on official business.
When they went to the Thunder Department to retrieve case files, they were told the treasury lock was broken.
When they went to the God of Wealth Hall to inspect accounts, they were told the abacus had fallen apart.
Every handover between departments met obstacle after obstacle. Snide remarks flew everywhere, and their efficiency suffered badly.
Of course, when Chen Wei personally dealt with the heads of those departments,