The silver-and-black banners of the Hall of Heavenly Scrutiny were not carried by soldiers. They were borne by fifty senior clerks wearing square jade glasses and carrying matched sets of copper ledger-scales.
At their head marched Inspector Cui Heng, his midnight-blue robes billowing as he strode through the numbed ranks of the Iron Guard without sparing a single glance at the frozen warriors.
Behind him marched a dozen armed court guards of the High Court. Their bronze scrolls shone in the amber lantern light.
“Halt!”
From the upper gallery, a cohort of high-born judges—the leftover civilian leadership of the Ninth Court—rushed down the iron stairs. He was flanked by private bodyguards. At their front was Chief Magistrate Lei Wen, nephew of Lord Lei Qian. His purple silk robes shook with righteous fury.
“Cui Heng!” Lei Wen screamed, pointing a trembling, bejeweled finger at the ombudsman. “You dare bring the Scrutiny Office into the sovereign working domain of the Ministry of Thunder? You’re colluding with lower-realm demonic insurrectionists! You have conspired to immobilize the Imperial Iron Guard! Guards, arrest this rogue clerk on charges of high treason!”
Cui Heng didn’t break stride. He reached the bottom of the ramp, adjusted his jade glasses with a single finger. Then he raised his eight-inch royal jade ruler.
