Chapter 683: Core Team
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.
Li Ruoshui summoned Shi Bingyun and Qi Xuansu to discuss three main matters.
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.
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 tasks.
But now, Li Ruoshui was going with the flow and suggested that Qi Xuansu continue the reform, arguing that he was more familiar with the circumstances and had already shown results. For a moment, Shi Bingyun found it hard to object, feeling somewhat like she had shot herself in the foot.
Seeing Shi Bingyun remain silent, Li Ruoshui took the opportunity to finalize the matter. “Since Deputy Mansion Master Shi has no objections, then it’s settled. To prevent another situation like Gao Mingyin, I’ve also assigned a deputy to assist Superintendent Qi, one of my own superintendents.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Shi Bingyun declined politely.
Li Ruoshui smiled. “The Imperial Capital is unlike any other place. It’s full of a mixed crowd and extremely complex dynamics. It’s inevitable that some bold and reckless individuals will emerge. For Superintendent Qi to handle it alone would be too strenuous, so I believe more support is necessary. In addition to the deputy, I’ll assign another 300 Spirit Guards to Superintendent Qi, bringing the total to 700, all equipped with firearms. They will be enough to suppress even Heavenly Beings.”
If it had only been the addition of a Superintendent, Shi Bingyun would have had much to say. But with the extra 300 Spirit Guards, the addition of a deputy now seemed reasonable.
In a sense, this indirectly increased Qi Xuansu’s power to a level nearly comparable to that of a less influential Deputy Mansion Master. It was a calculated mix of reward and authority.
Shi Bingyun no longer objected but emphasized that Qi Xuansu must remain the primary lead.