On the tenth day of the first month, in the sixteenth year of Jinghe, at the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Memorials lay piled like mountains upon the Imperial Desk, reaching two feet high.
From the provincial prefectures came New Year reports, year-end assessments, and recommendations for appointments.
All flowed into the Capital like a hundred rivers rushing toward the imperial gates, arriving in one great flood.
Outside the hall, snow was falling thick and fast.
The snow lay only three inches deep. In the distance, a junior eunuch stood on tiptoe, carefully sweeping the snow from the Vermilion Steps.
Inside, Emperor Jing of Zhou reviewed and annotated the memorials. At first, he remained composed.
By the third, however, his brows had drawn together. By the seventh, the Vermilion Brush flew across the pages without pausing.
At last, his expression showed that he could bear no more...
Crack! He flung the Vermilion Brush onto the desk, its sharp report shattering the solemn silence.
"Wang Cheng." The emperor's voice was low and cold, as though thunder lay banked between his teeth.
"Take these memorials and read them aloud to me."
Wang Cheng immediately stepped forward, unfolded the documents one by one, and read in a measured voice:
"Reporting to Your Majesty: Xiangyang Prefecture's annual memorial commends the upright censor Gao Wenjin, declaring his talents fit for great responsibilities.
Yangzhou Prefecture's annual memorial praises the spirit of the Upright Officials, stating that it should spread throughout the realm to set men's hearts right.
Nanchang Prefecture's annual memorial requests that celebrated scholars be summoned to the capital to assist in the new policies and cleanse the path into official service..."
"Enough!" The emperor cut him off, his gaze dark.
"And the ones after those?"
Wang Cheng hesitated briefly, but his voice remained steady.