Three individuals stood up together, performing a salute: "Your servants follow the imperial edict."
Emperor Xiping pondered for a moment before speaking again, "Direct the Directorate of Ceremonial to draft a decree, to confer the title of State-Protecting Mage upon Zhang Duanrui, the heir of the Heavenly Master's Mansion at Mount Longhu, and promote him to the First Rank as a Grand Master of the Guanglu."
The chief eunuch, who stood at the side, was about to step forward to receive the order when Shen Fa preempted him, saying, "Your Majesty, please reconsider this!"
Emperor Xiping: "Hmm?"
Shen Fa carefully chose his words and solemnly said, "Yang Erlang once mentioned that Zhang Xuansu laid out plans to sever the fate of Zhou Tang due to Emperor Tian De's favoritism towards Buddhism over Taoism... Yet the Chan School still thrives to this day, with offerings and incense burning strong."
Emperor Xiping's eyebrows shot up suddenly, "You mean to say...?"
