The Imperial City, Jingren Palace.
It was already late autumn, with the chill becoming more pronounced. Coupled with the approaching Demon Extermination Day, the pervasive yin energy had grown heavier. Over the past few days, the temperature had dropped considerably, prompting the Jingren Palace to ignite the underfloor heating system, warming the golden bricks of the imperial kiln.
"Mammy, look, he's sealed off Yuxiu Manor."
The Empress Dowager placed a swiftly delivered memorial from the Directorate of Ceremonial on the desk, pushing it toward the nameless old mammy.
The nameless old mammy took up the document but did not open it. By protocol, she was not qualified to unseal such a dispatch.
