The sky was clear of clouds and rain, and the starlight once again descended.
It was now close to the fifth watch.
Seeing that dawn was breaking, and the night's terror had somewhat subsided, Emperor Wanli had no intention of returning to sleep. When the Grand Secretaries asked where he was going, Emperor Wanli said he would wait for the people from the Northern Bureau of Investigation.
After a while, the people from the Northern Bureau of Investigation entered the Forbidden City. The celestial beings and gods had to obtain Emperor Wanli's permission to enter the Forbidden City, let alone use their powers. Of course, they also needed tokens for mobilization, which served as both summons and seals.
Just then, the morning bell struck.
"Dong—"
The vast bell sound echoed throughout Shuntian Prefecture. After the ringing of seventy-six bronze bells concluded, the underworld returned to its posts, and the celestial officials set out. Within the imperial city, the "torch-mouthed ghost" that had escaped the Forbidden City earlier had already been apprehended by the celestial officials. They would await daylight to report to the esteemed officials of the Forbidden City, inquiring how this entity had escaped and how it should be dealt with...
Ji Xiang saw the people from the Northern Bureau of Investigation. Zheng Guotai, the brother of Consort Zheng, led the way. As a Commander of the second rank, he was a blockhead. Seeing the Emperor's miserable state, he was greatly frightened and, without a word, knelt down and kowtowed several times with utmost sincerity.
Behind him followed a group of people from the Northern Bureau of Investigation. These individuals did not kneel and kowtow like Zheng Guotai. They only knelt on one knee. Their appearances were varied, and only the divine beasts manifested from the imperial might on their bodies could prove they were indeed the superiors of the Northern Bureau of Investigation.
One Commander Tongzhi, three Commander Qianshi, and two Commander Envoy.
Because of an incident in the Embroidered Uniform Guard a few years prior, the Commander and one Commander Tongzhi had lost their positions and were dismissed. Therefore, the highest rank in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was now a Commander Tongzhi, with no Commander.
Zheng Guotai, the brother of Consort Zheng, was the Commander, the overall superior, but nominally held an honorary title and belonged to the Directorate of Ceremonial. Due to the dismissal of the former Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he concurrently managed the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Furthermore, because the ministers had fiercely criticized him as a useless brute who relied on his sister to get ahead, he, a dignified second-rank official, possessed no divine position and was merely a mortal.
The one Commander Tongzhi, in a crimson robe, was entwined with a large crimson divine python.
The three Commander Qianshi, in deep yellow robes, wore qilin robes and had qilin phantoms around them.
The two Commander Envoy of the Northern Bureau of Investigation, in white and crimson robes, both had flying fish phantoms on their bodies.
Behind these superiors of the Northern Bureau of Investigation followed those entwined with snakes, a red-haired eight-foot-tall man, an armored figure wielding a long axe, a beast-headed human, and a giant figure carrying a lantern.
Within Ji Xiang's inner vision, blank divine tablets reflected the names of countless celestial beings and gods!
[Lord of Zhenxing: True God, Ruler of All Celestial Phenomena! Thirteenth Rank of the Minor Celestial Positions! Tai Sui is in Jia Yin, Zhenxing is in Dong Bi, patrolling the Twenty-Eight Mansions of the Three Heavens!]
[Three Generals of the Heavenly Gate: True Gods, Celestial Generals! Seventeenth Rank of the Minor Celestial Positions in the Celestial Department! Fu Ling Hou presides over celestial might and punishment, Wei Ling Hou presides over earthly laws and sentencing, Jia Ling Hou presides over water laws and executions!]
[Grand Unity Messenger: True God, Celestial Official! Twenty-ninth Rank of the Middle Celestial Positions in the Human Department, in white robes, transmitting the decrees of the Celestial Venerables!]
[Grand Unity Patrol Envoy: True God, Celestial Official! Twenty-ninth Rank of the Middle Celestial Positions in the Human Department, in crimson robes, patrolling all gods and ghosts under heaven!]
There were also the Green Snake God, Thunder Ghost, Flying Celestial Soldier, She Ji, Bi Xie, and the Lord of Night.
The Emperor had twenty-six Imperial Guards, of which the Embroidered Uniform Guard was only one. The Northern Bureau of Investigation was merely an agency within the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Due to their responsibilities, the divine positions most frequently invoked by the Northern Bureau of Investigation were those related to warfare, judgment, patrol, and execution.
Ji Xiang's eyes were opened.
These were the heavenly soldiers and generals! Did the Fire Lord's intrusion into the palace last night and his burning of the Forbidden City amount to wreaking havoc in the Heavenly Palace?
Alas, he had the ambition of Sun Wukong but not his abilities. Ten years of preparation for one minute of arrogance.
Emperor Wanli pointed at Zhu Changluo: "Imprison him in the Imperial Prison, but do not mistreat him... Henceforth, await my judgment!"
The Northern Bureau of Investigation acted without hesitation. If the Emperor wished to arrest a prince, then arrest him!
Four Thunder Ghosts approached, crossing their thunderous bone clubs, encircling him. Two Flying Celestial Soldiers approached, holding chains, and bound Zhu Changluo tightly, their crossed double axes placed at his neck.
The eyes of the Three Generals of the Heavenly Gate fell upon Zhu Changluo. The Earth General, Wei Ling Hou, stepped forward and placed a palm on Zhu Changluo. Then, a giant character for "Sin" burned away his clothes and was branded onto his skin.
With the mark of sin upon him, he would be unable to use any magical artifacts or spells. This was the suppression and forbidden art of the Northern Bureau of Investigation.
The heavenly soldiers escorted Zhu Changluo away. Ji Xiang mused that the three incense sticks he had offered in the hall earlier, which he thought were for Song Wuji, turned out to be for the Fire Lord, and unexpectedly, these three incense sticks were ultimately for Zhu Changluo.
Zhu Changluo's eyes tried to look towards the heavens, and he simply smiled, saying nothing.
Ji Xiang watched Zhu Changluo being escorted away. The remaining matters were no longer within his control. In any case, his great revenge had been achieved, and the three incense sticks had not been offered in vain.
Emperor Wanli watched Zhu Changluo being taken away without speaking. After a while, he issued a vague command, turning his head away, no longer looking in that direction, but instead recalling if he had been too garrulous and sealed any other insignificant temples.
"Investigate what happened. How could an evil god cause trouble in the Forbidden City... Take all that rotten flesh away... and those fire spirits..."
"The Fire God Temple in Shichahai, tear it down! Tear it down completely today! Whether you use cannons to blast it, or swords and axes to chop it, go and do it now!"
"Also, send someone to Shenwu Gate and see why the Zhongliu gods guarding Shenwu Gate did not stop that Fire Lord?"
The celestial officials guarding Shenwu Gate were Zhongliu gods, deities who protected residences.
At the same time, the fire spirits that Ji Xiang had subdued, along with the one captured by the two junior officers of the Southern Bureau of Investigation, were handed over to the Northern Bureau of Investigation. The two junior officers of the Southern Bureau of Investigation looked at these heavenly soldiers and generals with envy.
Ji Xiang, however, remembered the matter of the Golden Cicada. Now that the heavenly soldiers and generals had come to protect the Emperor, the Golden Cicada had to be returned. Although Consort Dowager Shang said it was a gift, Ji Xiang felt that holding onto it was like holding a hot potato.
"The magical artifact given to you by Consort Dowager Shang, from Emperor Shizong?"
Emperor Wanli heard Ji Xiang's explanation, looked at the Golden Cicada, and after some thought, said, "Since Consort Dowager gave it to you, it is yours. You may keep it."
Consort Dowager Shang was a peculiar person, the last consort of Emperor Jiajing. She had once been greatly favored throughout the empire, and it was said that Emperor Jiajing had taught her Daoist magic.
Emperor Wanli had met her only a few times, and he only knew that his mother, Empress Dowager Li, regarded her with awe.
The Grand Secretaries also had complex expressions. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, they could not help but inquire whether they should return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation or proceed to the Hall of Virtuous Cultivation.
Emperor Wanli pondered for a long time, sighed, his mood complicated. After a considerable while, he looked at the sky.
The morning bell had rung, and the sky had brightened. At this moment, he made a decision that went against his reclusive nature.
Ji Xiang was about to say that he would return to the Hall of Virtuous Cultivation, contemplating finding the Emperor to submit his resignation in a couple of days. After causing such a major incident, he certainly could not stay in the imperial palace, and this would be a natural way to escape. However, Emperor Wanli called out to Ji Xiang:
"I am going to hold court! Ji Xiang, you do not return either. You have rendered such great service, and I shall reward you handsomely."
In an instant, Ji Xiang felt the attention of the three Grand Secretaries focused on him.