The atmosphere inside the Xuange Division's office was somber.
Upon returning from court, Supervisor Shen Zhijie, without even changing his official robes, immediately summoned his subordinates.
He felt a sense of impending doom and knew he had to make preparations in advance to prevent any unforeseen events.
"Left Junior Supervisor, from this moment forward, gather all intelligence from both the northern and southern fronts."
In particular, the movement of the border troops' provisions and weapons was closely monitored by this official.
We absolutely cannot afford any mistakes at this critical juncture.
"yes!"
"Right Junior Supervisor, give the order to the Imperial City Garrison Command to increase the number of guards in each ward and Wuhou Ward for patrols."
Any disturbance or suspicious sign must be reported immediately in each neighborhood.
"yes!"
The two junior supervisors immediately agreed.
The case of cheating in the imperial examinations was so unusual that it's no wonder the Superintendent was so cautious.
Shen Zhijie took a deep breath, his voice deep and resonant:
"In the current situation, we should not seek merit, but only to avoid mistakes."
Everyone responded in unison and immediately carried out the order.
The government office was immediately filled with a flurry of activity.
Footsteps were hurried yet kept as soft as possible, conversations were kept extremely low, and amidst the chaos, there was an order that had been formed over the years.
This tension, however, had little to do with Si Cheng Chen Yuan.
He is mainly in charge of horse administration and is currently in his official residence.
Looking up, I saw Li E's familiar figure appear right on time again.
Chen Yuan couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle:
"You really do show up every single day without fail. I've told you before, you don't need to be so rigid."
Li E stood ramrod straight and smiled upon hearing this:
"It's not good to make things difficult for you."
When things are peaceful, it doesn't matter what you do.
If something unexpected happens and I happen to be away, I'll inevitably be implicated and you'll be dragged into it.
"Heh," Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Is this based on experience? Looks like you got a beating from the military discipline in the Xuanwu Army?"
“Even earlier.” Li E didn’t elaborate, clearly unwilling to discuss it further.
Chen Yuan glanced at the doorway and lowered his voice, "Have you heard about what happened in court today?"
"You mean the imperial examination fraud? That's quite a scandal, but what does it have to do with Xuan Ge Si or me?"
"That being said, it's still better to be cautious. There's nothing else here, you may go ahead."
Li E did not move, but clasped his hands in a fist salute: "There is something I need to discuss."
"The people who were ordered to escort Princess Shuofeng to the capital have finally been allowed to enter Fengjing in three shifts to rest and recuperate."
I brought a group of people with me today, and we are waiting outside the Xuange Division office.
"According to company rules, are they also required to come in for roll call?"
Chen Yuan chuckled: "Yes, it's not easy to come to Fengjing, wouldn't it be a pity not to go into the city for a stroll?"
There's no need for roll call; having you as my superior is enough.
However, according to the rules, the list still needs to be registered for verification. Furthermore,” he said, his expression becoming more serious,”
"Something big has happened in the city today. You can eat, drink, and have fun, but remember to watch your mouth and your legs. Don't get into conflicts with others, and don't gossip."
"Yes, sir, rest assured, I will give them a stern warning. Now... shall we let them in to register?"
"Go."
Li E clasped his hands in a salute, then turned and left the stables office.
At the corner of the alley outside the government office, a sesame seed cake stall was set up, with the stove burning brightly.
A fresh batch of pancakes had just come out of the oven, the aroma of the dough mixed with the caramelized scent of roasted sesame seeds filling the cool air and making one's mouth water.
More than thirty soldiers, some squatting and some standing, were eating sesame cakes with bowls and spoons from the wonton stall.
Upon seeing Li E emerge, he quickly stood up.
"Captain!"
"Hmm," Li E's gaze swept over the rough faces, "Are you all full?"
"We're full!" everyone responded in hushed tones, quickly swallowing the food in their hands.
Someone clicked their tongue and said, "That's why people say Fengjing is so good; even the wonton soup here is fresher and brighter than the ones in the north."
Li E didn't reply, but slowly looked around, his gaze carefully sweeping across each face.
His voice was extremely low, yet carried an undeniable weight: "Is everything ready?"
The leading man nodded emphatically: "Captain, the brothers have been waiting for a long time."
"Alright." Li E took a deep breath. "Follow me!"
In the instant he turned around, his gaze briefly met that of the owner of the sesame seed cake stall.
The other person's kneading motion didn't stop for a moment; only their eyelashes twitched downwards very slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Without further hesitation, Li E led the thirty-odd silent men, taking heavy steps, straight toward the imposing vermilion gate of Xuange Si.
The footsteps echoed dully on the bluestone slabs, conveying a sense of almost tragic resolve.
...
Deep within the palace, Yu Jingheng, a court lady from the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau, walked leisurely along a secluded palace path.
This place is close to the inner palace storehouse, and most of the people who come and go here are low-ranking palace servants and eunuchs.
She happened to encounter a patrol of eunuchs. The one in the lead bowed and greeted her, "Consort Yu."
Yu Jingheng remained calm, nodded slightly, and spoke in a normal tone:
"By imperial decree, inspect whether the lamps, candles, and utensils used for the Thousand Autumns Festival are in order to avoid any mishaps at that time."
She was indeed holding a thick booklet in her hand, which looked like an account list.
The eunuchs respectfully made way for her and watched her leave.
After passing through several palaces, Yu Jingheng stopped in front of an old storeroom where miscellaneous items were stored.
After looking around to make sure no one was there, he quickly unlocked the door and slipped inside.
The warehouse was covered in dust, but she walked to the innermost part with ease, moved a few heavy empty wooden crates, and revealed a very well hidden mechanism on the back wall.
Pressing down hard, accompanied by an almost inaudible soft sound, a stone slab on the ground quietly slid open, revealing a dark and deep hole extending downwards.
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