Chen Sansi had ceased to inquire about any military or governmental affairs inside or outside of Liangzhou, as if he had truly resolved to leave.
As a result, the servants at the Governor Mansion, unaware of his intentions, were all very despondent.
It wasn't until the dusk of the fourth day.
A sharp cry of an eagle split the golden sky, shattering the calm at the Governor Mansion.
Sitting cross-legged on a small boat on the lake behind the mountains, Chen Sansi abruptly opened his eyes, removed a sealed letter from under the leg of the blue bird, read it, and ignited a flame in his hand to burn the paper.
Just then, an autumn breeze passed, sending the ashes of the letter fluttering about, until they fell into the lake and gradually disappeared.
"Hey, are we going to the Capital or not?"
Fang Qingyun, who was hanging around absorbing Spiritual Energy, couldn't help but ask, "Why do I see that you are not in a hurry at all?"
Chen Sansi looked toward the southern sky, "A wind is coming."
The Great Sheng Dynasty had two Temples, one outside the Capital, and one recently reclaimed at Ziwei Mountain.
The Emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty would retreat to Kunlun Mountain for cultivation. Before his departure, he would conduct a ceremony near the Temple outside the city to pray for blessings for the land and all its people.
Even the ordinary citizens of the Capital had the chance to see the legendary supreme sovereign, Emperor Wan Shou.
The streets and official roads were swarming with crowds, bustling and extraordinarily lively.
The citizens discussed eagerly, all very much looking forward to seeing his majesty.
It was said that the Emperor was successful in his quest for immortality, over a hundred years old yet still bearing black hair, capable of Sword Flight, and had personally eliminated several Ancient Demons two years ago alongside General Chen, resolving a national crisis.
It was also said that the Emperor lived frugally, wearing no more than eight outfits throughout the seasons, and had once written "He worries before the world worries, and delights after the world delights," truly a sage for all ages.
Noise came from the front.
The Emperor had arrived.
No lavish procession or excessive decoration accompanied him.
He was accompanied only by court officials and some Jinyi Guards, who did not rudely displace the citizens. The Emperor's Dragon Chariot was quite plain; to be exact, it barely looked regal at all—it was made of wood without any engravings or gold and silver decorations, and even the Emperor himself wore not a luxurious Dragon Robe but a Taoist robe, sitting cross-legged atop, praying to Heaven for a good harvest for his people.
Truly embodying "He wears no more than eight outfits through the seasons," this was probably the most virtuous Emperor since the founding of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
A mischievous child, unnoticed by his parents, ran into the middle of the street and blocked the Emperor's procession, even throwing a handful of sand at the pale-faced eunuch leading the way.
The eunuch's hat was knocked askew, his face instantly contorting into a sinister expression.
Blocking the imperial procession could be seen as acting like an assassin—a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the offender's family!
The child's parents, already pale with fear, knelt down and kowtowed incessantly on the ground.
But just as the Jinyi Guard prepared to seize the child,
The voice of the Emperor from atop the Dragon Chariot was heard.
Far from scolding the child, he actually ordered someone to lift the child onto the Dragon Chariot, amusing and speaking with the child like a kind-hearted Immortal.
Witnessing this scene,
The citizens once again felt genuine reverence from their hearts, feeling fortunate to have such an enlightened monarch.
A question lingered in their hearts.
If the Emperor was so frugal and benevolent, why were their days becoming harder by the day? Why was every household clean, yet every year without surplus?
As the citizens pondered this,
A figure suddenly appeared on the official road ahead.
It was a Green Robed Scholar, dignified in appearance though showing signs of illness, and his legs were disabled, confining him to a wheelchair.
Behind him followed several officials and some timid-looking men and women.
Someone was truly intending to block the imperial procession!
Chamberlain Huang Hong squinted his eyes, quickly recognizing the person, and spoke, "General Fang, what is this supposed to mean?"
The eunuchs from the West Factory drew their swords one after another.
Fang Qingyun's clear voice echoed for miles around, allowing all the citizens to hear clearly, "Your servant Fang Qingyun, has a petition to present—"
At the very front of the procession, Yan Liang, with drooping eyelids and leaning on a cane, his old age apparent, twitched.
Chamberlain Huang Hong said, "Today is a major sacrifice, whatever matters you have can wait to be discussed at the court meeting another day."
"If I do not speak today, I fear our Great Sheng Dynasty is on the brink of collapse!"
Fang Qingyun made a startling declaration.
Huang Hong signaled the Jinyi Guard to seize him.
At that moment, Emperor Longqing atop the Dragon Chariot spoke sternly, "Let him speak!"
"I have three petitions!"
Fang Qingyun's voice was resolute.
"First, Immortals are heartless, forcing the commoners to cultivate Spiritual Grain, endangering the common folk!"
"Second, Your Majesty is deceived, allowing corrupt officials to disrupt the court."
"This third petition, is to seek justice for the souls of a million beings in Yunzhou and for the nearly lost lives of one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers at Guan Du!"
His voice rang out powerfully.
That day, accompanied by the autumn breeze, resounded through the Capital.
Throughout the Great Sheng's capital and its Thirty-Six States, a "Petition Rain" began, with papers detailing the events of the past ten days in Yunzhou and the true nature of the rebellion at Guan Du.
A storm of "overthrowing Yan" began sweeping across the court and field of the Capital.
August 14th in the seventy-sixth year of Longqing.