Although the Daoist Order had intentionally designed a tripartite power structure within the local Daoist mansions to serve as a check on the Mansion Master, in situations where the justification was sufficient, the Mansion Master still held the highest authority in the local Daoist Mansion and retained final decision-making power.0

Li Ruoshui summoned Shi Bingyun and Qi Xuansu to discuss three main matters.0

First, she congratulated Qi Xuansu on clearing his name and offered a few words of encouragement. Second, she brought up the incident that occurred in South City the previous night, which was to be handled by the Chief Deputy Mansion Master Zhou Jiaoxian. Third, she emphasized that they must not abandon the effort to reform the Imperial Capital’s public morality, intending for Qi Xuansu to continue overseeing it, for which she sought Shi Bingyun’s opinion.0

The reform initiative was originally proposed by Shi Bingyun, and it was also with her strong backing that Qi Xuansu was placed in charge. Her initial intent was to let Qi Xuansu become familiar with the situation in the Imperial Capital. Once he was sufficiently acclimated, someone else would take over so that he could move on to more important...0