The Emperor left the soon-to-be incumbent official without a backward glance.
He was on his way to look for the elder ritual wine official.
The elder official hadn't included his address in his letter, but the Emperor was not incapable of finding him.
The messenger who delivered the letter had said he was just running an errand for a guest staying at the Eastward Inn.
Eastward Inn, splendid.
The Emperor personally went to the Eastward Inn, but found that the elder official had already left by the time he arrived.
"When did he leave?" The eunuch by His Majesty's side asked.
The innkeeper replied, "He left a while ago. He goes out every day and only returns late."
"How many days has he been staying here?" The eunuch probed further.
The shopkeeper glanced at his ledger and replied, "Five nights."
The Eastward Inn was an unremarkable inn, one so downtrodden that was scorned even as a lavatory for the Emperor.