Yan Jiuchao asked Shadow Thirteen to call the director of the Astronomical Directorate over.
The Director of Astrology was a thin middle-aged man. He was not tall and exuded a scholarly aura.
“Greetings, Young Master.” The Director of Astrology bowed.
“My father once helped you.” Yan Jiuchao did not beat around the bush with him. “I wonder if you still remember my father’s kindness?”
The Director of Astrology said respectfully, “I came from a poor family. On the day of the imperial examination, I was tricked by someone and took the wrong path. Prince Yan has a noble body, yet he doesn’t mind that I’m dirty. He let me take his carriage to the examination hall. If not for Prince Yan, I would have long lost my career.”
He had a seriously ill mother and needed to feed his children. His brothers and sisters-in-law were all burdened by him, but he failed every time. That was his last exam. If he failed again, he would have to return to his hometown to farm with his brothers and sisters-in-law.
It could be said that if Prince Yan had not helped him at the last moment, he would never have his current status.
Prince Yan did not take this matter to heart. It was not good for him to say that he wanted to build a relationship with Prince Yan too, but he had always been grateful to Prince Yan. Unfortunately, Prince Yan died young before he could repay Prince Yan.
How lamentable.
Yan Jiuchao said bluntly, “I didn’t call you here today to reminisce about the past.”
The Director of Astrology cupped his hands and said, “I will do as you wish, Young Master Yan.”
… .
In the next few days, many strange things happened in the Capital. First, the everlasting light of Puji Temple suddenly went out, then the incense in the royal ancestral hall could no longer be lit. After that, the Ferghana horses in the royal garden stopped eating overnight. The rare birds pounced on the bird cages and bled.
Unlucky comments gradually spread among the people. They said that someone in the royal family had gone against the will of the heavens and that the heavens had begun to punish them.
The Emperor naturally knew that these are not to be trusted, but he could not resist the superstition of the commoners. If he still did not think of a way to suppress these rumors, he would be mocked by Nanzhao and the Xiongnu envoys.
On this day, the Emperor summoned the Director of Astrology into the palace.
The Emperor sat behind the screen. This time, no one saw him. The Director of Astrology stood obediently behind the screen.
The Emperor said in a deep voice, “Have you heard the news from the people?”
The Director of Astrology said, “Your Majesty, are you referring to… the wedding of Prince Cheng and the princess of Xiongnu?”
The Emperor frowned.
The Director of Astrology continued, “There are rumors among the people that the heavens sent divine punishment on the royal family because they are dissatisfied with this marriage. The bloodline of the Great Zhou royal family cannot be mixed. Many people petitioned to stop the marriage between the two countries.”
The Emperor cleared his throat. What did this have to do with the marriage? The marriage had been announced to the world a month ago, and the punishment should have been sent down countless times. Why would they wait until he tore Zhou Huai’s testimony?
“Do you think so?” asked the Emperor.
The Director of Astrology shook his head. “I’ve calculated the birth characters of Prince Cheng and the princess of Xiongnu. They’re indeed a match made in heaven. It should be fate that the two of them can be married.”
The Emperor said, “So the divine retribution is nonsense?”
“No.” The Director of Astrology shook his head again. “I observed the stars at night and saw that there were changes to the Ziwei Star. The Ziwei Star is the master of the stars, the Emperor Star.”
The Emperor’s face darkened. “You mean… this punishment is for me?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” The Director of Astrology lifted his hem and knelt down in fear.
The Emperor looked at him deeply. “What if I… ignore it?”
The Director of Astrology raised his head and looked into the Emperor’s eyes without dodging. “Heavenly Dog Eats the Sun.”
The Heavenly Dog Eats the Sun was a great omen, which meant that the Emperor’s morals were lacking. He had provoked the heavens to send a warning. The Emperor had to personally write a decree of self-immolation and sincerely repent to seek forgiveness from the heavens.
The self-immolation decree could not be fabricated, so what should the Emperor write? Should he write that he had wronged Yu Shaoqing or that he had killed his father?
There were some things the Emperor did not dare to bet on.
The Emperor said, “You can leave first. Don’t mention today’s matter to anyone.”
“I understand.” The Director of Astrology bowed piously and left.
The Emperor sat dejectedly at the head of the bed and touched his bald head. He seemed to have aged ten years overnight, and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had deepened.
“Your Majesty, it’s time to eat,” Eunuch Wang reminded softly from outside the screen.
The Emperor was in no mood to eat.
“I don’t believe it,” the Emperor said.
Eunuch Wang paused, wondering if the Emperor was asking him or talking to himself. Then he heard the Emperor say, “Do you believe it too? Do you think my hair fell off because of divine punishment?”
Eunuch Wang shrank his neck. If he said that he believed it now, he would probably be dragged out by the Emperor and beaten to death. However, in his heart, he had long believed that it was the wrath of the heavens. Otherwise, who could avoid the eyes and ears of so many sacrificial soldiers and sneak into the Emperor’s bedchamber without anyone knowing? He even shaved so perfectly and beautifully, as if the Emperor had never grown hair in the first place!
Eunuch Wang coughed lightly and said, “Your Majesty, Prince Cheng and the Princess of Xiongnu are getting married. Take care of yourself and don’t be angry.”
The Emperor said indignantly, “He’s just a centurion. So what if I don’t vindicate him! I’m the Emperor! The Emperor!”
Eunuch Wang said earnestly, “Centurion Yu… saved a hundred thousand citizens of Prefecture You.”
If he had not sent the list in time, Prefecture You would have already been reduced to a dilapidated city. This was not a matter of vindication, but the lives of 100,000 people and 30,000 or even more soldiers of the Great Zhou.
Eunuch Wang stopped there and did not dare to say anything else in case he angered the Emperor.
The room was silent for a while.
Eunuch Wang said, “Your Majesty, I don’t know if I should say this.”
The Emperor said, “Go ahead.”
Eunuch Wang said boldly, “Regardless of whether it’s divine punishment or human act, these things seem to be targeting Yu Shaoqing. If you vindicate him, won’t everything be fine?”
“Hmph!” The Emperor snorted coldly.
Eunuch Wang tried his best to persuade him. “When the limelight passes, Your Majesty can punish him however you want. The most important thing now is not to let the Xiongnu and the envoys of Nanzhao laugh at us. What do you think, Your Majesty?”
… .
On the 20th of May, less than three days away from the wedding of Prince Cheng and the princess of Xiongnu, an imperial edict arrived in Lotus Flower Village.
“By the will of the heavens, the Emperor has decreed…”
Eunuch Wang held the imperial edict in both hands and stood in front of the ancient well of Lotus Flower Village, reading it in a tone.
There was a black mass kneeling on the ground in front of him. The leaders were the village headman and Yu Shaoqing. Behind the two of them was Uncle’s family, Little Bruiser, and the three cute little fatties.
The villagers also came and obediently knelt down to listen to the decree. Yu Wan stayed in the room with Madam Jiang, who was sick and could not get out of bed.
“…Now that the truth is out…”
The little fat brats were bored kneeling. They slipped to Eunuch Wang’s feet and grabbed his horsetail whisk.
Decree! Decree! You’re accepting the decree now!
Could you be more obedient?!
… Oh, so heavy!
The little fatties hugged Eunuch Wang’s arm and kept climbing on him. Eunuch Wang felt that his arm was about to break. He couldn’t care less about his tone and finished reciting more than ten lines in one go. “…You have done a great service to the country and the people. Today, you are conferred the title of Marquis of Zhongyong. That is all—”
