Neither Zhang Xing nor Li Ding, clever men both, could come up with an idea. Bai Yousi was nowhere to be found, and Qin Bao could only continue watching developments with a certain unease.
And afterward, events indeed grew increasingly skewed and intense.
No one could withstand the Sage's wrath. Or rather, everyone understood the price of the Sage's wrath, just as Zhang and Li did, and none wanted to become that price themselves-which inevitably led to excessive torture in the search for the rumors' source, followed, naturally enough, by implicating and framing others.
Inevitably, some Northern Office eunuchs also took it upon themselves to be especially zealous-they truly believed the rumors were aimed at people like them.
For a time, everyone in the Western Inspection Tour entourage feared for their own safety. Who knew how many were dismissed and investigated, or how many palace servants, guards, and soldiers were discharged, even imprisoned or executed?
Under these circumstances, even Zhang Xing, shielded from the Northern Office by the mantle of the Jing'an Directorate, was summoned by some eunuchs "on imperial orders" for "spreading rumors." Instead, he unexpectedly escaped disaster because Duke Niu appeared at the scene and rebuked them.
One could only say that, by comparison, Duke Niu's breadth of vision showed itself.
The enormous entourage halted at the foot of Mount Li, only a few dozen li from Daxing, yet could not advance an inch. The Southern Office chancellors and Guanzhong regional commanders and commanders-general, who had already entered Daxing to prepare the imperial welcome, were utterly bewildered. They hastily sent Chancellor Sima Changying and Chancellor Yu Changji to inquire, only to receive an unequivocal declaration from the Sage: until this matter was thoroughly investigated, he would not set out. He would wait right there at Mount Li.
Everyone