As the Emperor's tour to the south approached, the atmosphere in the Imperial Capital grew restless. Although the imperial court had managed to trick many citizens into believing that the Heavenly Tribulation was merely a hoax, their influence was diminishing among the people within the court system.
The higher the positions, the more influential and richer the officials were, and the more they understood the intention behind the imperial court trying to cover up the impending Heavenly Tribulation. Some of them were even the driving force behind the lie. Therefore, it was only natural that they wouldn't be tricked.
The influential clans, high officials, and nobles started leaving the Imperial Capital. It was after these people left that the imperial court began issuing travel passes to citizens who wished to leave and started saying that the Heavenly Tribulation was a hoax.
