The next day, in the silence of the third watch.
Qingwen pushed open the door and said softly:
"My lord, a subordinate from the Embroidered Uniform Guard has come calling in the middle of the night."
"I understand." Jia Huan rose from the bed, and Xue Baochai, beside his pillow, helped him dress.
A moment later, Jia Huan arrived at the Ceremonial Gate.
Water Skimmer paced back and forth, his face clouded with worry.
The moment he saw his chief, he said urgently:
"My lord, disaster has struck Jiangnan!"
"The Jiangnan Kang'an Ward Thousand-Household Guard Station..."
Water Skimmer struggled to move his lips, his voice trembling:
"All one thousand four hundred and eighty-seven of our comrades were slaughtered and beheaded, including Thousand-Household Commander Zhuge. Their heads were hung from the upturned eaves."
Almost instantly, fury surged through Jia Huan, and his gaze turned chillingly cold.
Forcing down his grief and rage, Water Skimmer said bitterly:
"The Jiangnan Imperial Textile Bureau was burned to the ground. The eunuchs there met horrific ends."
"The White Lotus Cult Leader declared that unless the Central Court jointly strips you of your authority, he will drown Jiangnan in blood, leaving not even a chicken or dog alive."
Towering fury shrouded Jia Huan's face. He stared up at the night sky for a long time before restraining his emotions and slowly calming down.
He knew anger alone was utterly meaningless. What he needed to do was cut that snarling, barking dog into a thousand pieces!
"Chief." Water Skimmer's eyes were heavy with gloom as he said quietly:
"The court will receive the urgent report by morning at the latest. Public opinion will boil over then."
Only three days had passed since the Grand Court Audience where he had donned the Golden Flying Fish Uniform. Officials from