The atmosphere in the Golden Throne Hall was rigid as iron.
Emperor Jingde swept his hand outward in a display of imperial favor.
"Grant seats to the grand secretaries and the Nine Ministers."
Moments later, eunuchs brought in brocade stools.
After bowing in thanks, the senior officials of the Central Court took their seats, spared the torment of aching backs and legs.
The remaining officials could only stand.
A long silence settled over the court, broken only by faint stray noises.
The Retired Emperor leaned weakly against the Imperial Throne, three thoughts flashing through his mind.
First, his beloved minister Jia was buying time. Perhaps he had discovered traces of the two successive White Lotus Cult Leaders and urgently needed command of Jiangnan's troops.
Second, the two demons, master and disciple, had used doubles to prepare for a thunderous strike, and his beloved minister Jia had captured those doubles.
Third, his beloved minister Jia had truly done it.
The Retired Emperor quickly dismissed the third possibility.
In his eyes, the Ancestral Hall Guardian might be deficient in other respects, but his judgments on martial arts were resplendent sacred pronouncements. There could not possibly be the slightest error.
The aged emperor, nearing the end of his days, knitted his brows deeply as he considered his response.
Emperor Jingde's crown sat perfectly straight, and he was full of vigor. He was even writing on the Xuan paper atop the Imperial Desk, his brush strokes soaring like dragons and dancing like phoenixes.
Time slipped slowly past. While the Golden Throne Hall remained silent, the officials in the Court Assembly Square had long since begun sighing and groaning in misery.
It was nearly noon.
Two eunuchs in purple python robes hurried over from the Duan Gate.
Countless officials watched them.
They climbed the long