On May 13, in Jiangnan Commandery City, at the Eastern Province Martial Discourse Tower.
Though its name included the word "tower," this was actually a complex comprising a main building roughly six stories tall and two three-story halls to the east and west.
In the past, the central building had been the busiest place, with streams of people weaving through its entrance.
Today, however, the atmosphere here was oppressively heavy, utterly silent.
Most rooms in the building stood empty, looking exceptionally deserted.
Even those working inside wore silent expressions and moved gently, avoiding speech and noise as much as possible.
On the fifth and sixth floors, the offices and residence of Wang Chaoyang-the Eastern Province Martial Discourse Tower Master and fourth-grade Divine Secrets Academician-had their doors and windows tightly shut.
The tower's editors and clerks chose to work elsewhere whenever possible.
They walked cautiously and noiselessly, consciously or otherwise avoiding the central building.
Only Xie Zhenqing remained entirely composed throughout the Martial Discourse Tower.
She stood on the third floor of the Eastern Hall, looking toward that six-story main building with a hint of satisfaction and mockery.
"Tell the people below there's no need for this. Just have them work normally. What sort of behavior is it, crowding into the eastern and western halls or taking official work home? Who are they putting this show on for?"
In truth, Xie Zhenqing was quite pleased by the scene before her.
She knew these lower-ranking editors and clerks were putting on a deliberate show for her, expressing their refusal to share the same sky with Wang Chaoyang.
But if this continued for long, it would inevitably slash the Eastern Province Martial Discourse Tower's efficiency.
The problem was that Xie Zhenqing had already received orders from the Vice Minister of Rites to take