Unable to obtain an audience with His Majesty, Kou Yuan could only return to his residence.
Before his carriage had even come to a complete stop outside the Kou Residence, a crowd had already gathered in front of it.
They were all upright officials who had left their duties early-Censors, Court Gentlemen, Department Secretaries-a dark, teeming mass filling half the street.
The carriage curtain lifted. Kou Yuan stepped down, and everyone surged toward him, their voices tumbling over one another into a bubbling pot of porridge.
"Grand Secretary, how did your audience go?"
"What did His Majesty say? Can Censor Luo be released?"
"What exactly happened? On what grounds did Chief Censor Yao arrest him?"
"Grand Secretary, was there any word from the Palace? Could His Majesty truly be moving against us upright officials?"
"Yes, Grand Secretary! Censor Luo merely submitted a few impeachment memorials. Why should that land him in prison?"
"Grand Secretary, please say something!"
"Grand Secretary, should we make arrangements with the Three Judicial Offices?"
"Grand Secretary, should we submit memorials as well?"
"Grand Secretary!"
"Grand Secretary!!"
Voice piled upon voice, words drowned out words, like startled sparrows chirping in chaos.
Kou Yuan stood beneath the carriage shaft, listening to the buzzing all around him, his expression darkening by degrees.
"What are you panicking for?!"
His sharp shout drowned out the clamor filling the street, and everyone fell silent.
Kou Yuan slowly swept his gaze across them. His voice was not loud, but every word struck like a nail. "Only when winter turns bitter do we learn that the pine and cypress are the last to wither."
"This wind blowing through the court has not even reached you, yet you have already withered?!
"You have spent half your lives reading the Books of the Sages, yet you