The clouds dissipated and the rain ceased in the sky, and the starlight of myriad stars once again descended.

　　At this time, it was nearly five watches.

　　Seeing dawn break, Emperor Wanli, his fright from the night somewhat settled, did not plan to return to sleep. The grand secretaries asked him where he wanted to go, and Emperor Wanli said he would wait for the people from the Northern Garrison Office.

　　After waiting for a while, the people from the Northern Garrison Office entered the Forbidden City. The celestial beings and gods had to receive Emperor Wanli's permission to enter the Forbidden City, even to use their magic power, and of course, they also needed a token to mobilize them. This token was both a summons and a suppressor.

　　At this moment, the morning bell resounded.

　　“Dang…

　　Ji Xiang watched Zhu Changluo being escorted away. The remaining matters were no longer his to decide. In any case, it could be considered revenge taken, and the three incense sticks were not offered in vain.

　　Emperor Wanli watched Zhu Changluo being escorted away. He did not speak, and after a while, he issued a vague order, turning his head away, no longer looking at fate, but recalling if he had been too talkative and enfeoffed any lousy temples.

　　"Investigate what happened. How could an evil god cause trouble in the Forbidden City... Take all that rotten meat back... And those fire spirits..."

　　"Tear down the Fire God Temple at Shichahai for me. It must be completely torn down today! Whether you use cannons to blast it or chop it with knives and axes, go and do it now!"

　　"Also, send people to the Gate of Divine Might to see why the Zhongliu (gods of inner courtyard) Gods guarding the gate of Divine Might didn't stop that Fire Lord?"

　　The Heavenly Officers guarding the Gate of Divine Might were Zhongliu Gods, a kind of deity that protected residences.

　　At the same time, the fire spirits that Ji Xiang had captured, as well as the one caught by the two junior officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, were handed over to the Northern Garrison Office. The two junior officers from the Southern Garrison looked at these heavenly soldiers and generals with envy in their eyes.

　　Ji Xiang then remembered the matter of the Golden Cudgel. Now that the heavenly soldiers and generals had come to protect the Emperor, the Golden Cudgel had to be returned. Consort Shang had said it was a reward, but Ji Xiang felt that the thing was too hot to handle.

　　"Consort Shang gave you a magic tool, from the time of Emperor Shizong?"

　　Emperor Wanli listened to Ji Xiang's explanation, looked at the Golden Cudgel, thought for a moment, and said, "Since it was given to you by Consort Shang, then it's yours. Keep it."

　　Consort Shang was a very strange person, the last consort of the Jiajing Emperor, who had once been the most favored in the world. It was said that the Jiajing Emperor had taught her Daoist methods.

　　Emperor Wanli had not met her many times, only knowing that his own mother, Empress Dowager Li, held her in great awe.

　　The grand secretaries of the Inner Cabinet also had complex expressions. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, they could not help but ask if they should return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation or go to the Longde Hall.

　　Emperor Wanli pondered for a long time, sighed, and felt complicated. After a 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 homebody nature.

　　Ji Xiang was about to say that he would return to the Longde Hall, thinking about submitting his resignation to the Emperor in a couple of days. He had caused such a big incident, he certainly couldn't stay in the palace, and this was a good opportunity to run away, but Emperor Wanli stopped Ji Xiang:

　　"I am going to court! Ji Xiang, you don't need to go back either. You have performed such a great service, and I will reward you handsomely."

　　In an instant, Ji Xiang felt that he had been simultaneously placed under the scrutiny of the three grand secretaries.