she returned to the port one last time shortly before they were to depart , and there was something of a stir , for when she landed outside the pavilion , she said , without even having folded her wings , `` jia zhen , pray ask everyone together at once ; i have a letter from the emperor , for lao-ren-tze , '' so of course everyone had to put down whatever they were doing , and assemble in the courtyard , which a brief discussion established as the most appropriate place , and kowtow to the letter .