Yet, the Ziwei Enclosure also departed from its usual reticence; since the pacification of Zhen state, Lord Xinling, who, often marginalized due to his royal kinship and typically idling at home indulging in pleasures, has now become the sole reliable force outside the palace that the royal family can trust. He frequently receives imperial edicts and goes in and out of the Ziwei Enclosure to pay his respects.
On the other hand, Lord Shouyang, who had made significant contributions to the stabilization of the realm, has seldom attended court after his triumph. He often excuses himself for martial cultivation retreats, secluding himself within the Grand Tutor's mansion.
Moreover, the number of masters from Xuanmen arriving at the Three Enclosures and Cloud Platform Peak is growing. It's still uncertain which side Xuanmen stands on, but even a dog in Jingji could sense the undercurrents stirring—it's once again a time where a storm seems imminent, and the air is filled with tension.
