The court hall.
The great ministers of the court had no idea what "Arms of Gold and Jade" signified.
But anyone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with an Ancestral Hall Guardian certainly could not be those two gatekeepers. It had to be one of the terrifying beings in the Inner Hall!
What was most chilling the more they thought about it?
The old White Lotus Cult Leader was still alive!
Were his former subordinates still hiding somewhere in the world, too?
Two entire sets of followers!
In other words, the state had vastly underestimated the White Lotus Cult's destructive power!
Emperor Jingde stared fixedly at the servant from the Directorate of Ceremonial and commanded sternly:
"Speak plainly!"
The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial said cautiously:
"This servant proposes dispatching two Ancestral Hall Guardians to assist Jia Commanding Commissioner in slaying the old White Lotus Cult Leader."
This was also the Retired Emperor's wish.
But only agreement between both emperors could authorize orders to the Ancestral Hall Guardians.
If the Retired Emperor discussed it with him privately, His Majesty would certainly refuse.
Emperor Jingde's expression turned solemn, every word delivered with weight:
"Under the Jiang Family's ancestral precepts, how could an Ancestral Hall Guardian leave the Capital? You dog of a servant, are you asking me to violate Taizu's sacred injunctions? Suggest it again, and I will have you beaten to death!"
"The Ancestral Hall Guardians protect the emperor's safety. They must never leave the Forbidden City! Anyone who dares propose it will be thrown into prison!"
The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial fell silent as a cicada in winter. He hurriedly pressed his forehead to the floor, kowtowing with resounding thuds.
Rage surged into the Retired Emperor's heart, yet he had nowhere to vent it.
If his