On the Second Day of the Seventh Month, at the midpoint of Mao Hour.
Shen Duan's carriage quietly arrived at the Feng Residence.
Less than a quarter of an hour after entering, he boarded his carriage and left.
That day, Feng Yan fell critically ill.
As the news spread, court and country trembled.
The Crown Prince even visited the Feng Residence three times, on the Second, Fifth, and Seventh Days, to inquire after his health.
Three visits from the Heir Apparent drew the eyes of the entire court.
The deputy director of the Imperial Medical Academy entered at Mao Hour and left at You Hour.
Outside the Feng Residence, blue-cloth sedan chairs, Vermilion-Wheeled Carriages, and fine horses with carved saddles lined up from the mouth of the lane to the middle of the street, day after day without end.
A man who had held high office through three reigns could no longer be sure of surviving from morning to evening.
From now on, Lord Feng's words would belong to whoever spoke them.
On the Eighth Day of the Seventh Month, the Cabinet Council convened once more in the Hall of Literary Depths.
All four windows stood wide open, yet the summer heat was like steam.
Shen Duan occupied the eastern seat, dressed in a purple robe and jade belt, his expression unchanged.
Song Yue, Kou Yuan, and Fang Qi sat on either side, while a Secretariat Drafter stood in attendance, brush in hand.
Shen Duan spoke first. "Gentlemen, today's deliberations must end in a decisive ruling."
"On the Ningxia Command Change, I previously urged 'delay' because Zhou Quan was unfamiliar with both the men and the territory. I feared he would be unable to keep the military clans of the frontier garrisons in check."
He paused. "But over these