Yes, with such a major incident, it's no wonder they didn't get wind of it, since His Majesty had sealed the news, keeping it secret all along.
But what they didn't know was how Zhao Zhong had come to know of it?
Under his official robe, Zhao Zhong's clothes were already soaked through. He steadied himself and recalled the previously prepared script, "Yesterday, as your servant happened to stop at a tavern for a drink, I encountered a youth with a peculiar expression, carrying a bundle and sneaking into a pawnshop to pledge it. Sensing something amiss, I discreetly paid attention and saw the youth carefully remove a few items from his bosom, and at a glance, I recognized them as items made by imperial command in the palace. I was greatly shocked and had the person arrested and taken away."
