"The officials at the Observatory have greatly neglected their duties, even the calendar they follow is unreliable, let alone their words," the Emperor said deliberately, "I haven't taken Dai Li's words to heart, and neither should you—"
Dai Li, the Spring Officer of the Astronomy Bureau, is the one who issues the Fire Virtue decree.
The Ministry of Revenue has already submitted a list of names that match the decree to the court, yet the Emperor claims he never took Dai Li's words seriously.
"Just after the earthquake in Xingzhou, marriages are still banned among the people. As the Crown Prince, he should set an example. The matter of taking a bride should not be rushed," he said earnestly.
Some officials opposed this view: "The sooner His Highness the Crown Prince has an heir, the more secure the nation's foundation will be."
