In March at Zhongnan Mountain, willow catkins flew about, and the flowers were splendidly clustered.
In the mountains, nurtured by the ethereal beauty of Zhongnan, the realm had experienced upheavals due to the conflicts between the top two factions within the country last year but had gradually stabilized.
Last spring.
The new Family Head of the Lanxi Lin family, returning from Siqi Academy, challenged the then State Preceptor of Zhongnan Country during the Emperor's spring sacrificial rites.
For many of the country's people, that scene is still vividly etched in their minds.
The struggle that ensued for over half a year was brought to a definitive conclusion after a nationally watched debate between Confucianism and Daoism.
The Chongxu Temple, which had stood as the Supreme Emperor of Zhongnan Country for thousands of years, spectacularly fell from power.
The great fire on Taibai Mountain burned for three days and nights, yet failed to consume all the remnants of the temple.
