Chapter 10 Divine Miracles Revealed

Chapter 10: A Divine Revelation

Chu Jiubian opened the system interface, and indeed, the Faith Points counter now gleamed with "58" points!

Disbelieving, he exited and re-entered, only to see the points had already climbed to "59."

What had happened overnight?

Chu Jiubian pondered for a moment and quickly pieced together most of the puzzle.

It must have been the two poems he wrote yesterday that had spread. Qin Xiao hadn't concealed his identity, and thanks to the esteemed poets Li Bai and Li Qingzhao, Chu Jiubian’s reputation had truly taken off.

Moreover, many people must have believed in his "immortal" status, which explained the rapid surge in Faith Points.

A knowing smile flickered in Chu Jiubian’s eyes.

To have accumulated so many Faith Points in just one night, it must have been from those who were well-informed.

When morning broke and more people learned about the two poems, the Faith Points would surely continue to rise.

If that were the case, the system’s prediction that Faith Points might surpass one hundred today seemed very likely.

Waking up to such a pleasant surprise, Chu Jiubian’s mood was, needless to say, excellent.

However, for the two poems to have reached so many ears overnight, Qin Xiao must have been actively promoting them behind the scenes.

Regardless of Qin Xiao’s motives, given that he had inadvertently helped him, Chu Jiubian felt less reluctant about sharing the knowledge of using saltpeter to create fire-starters and fireworks.

With this thought, he rose to get dressed and wash up, planning to check if the saltpeter had cooled properly.

Hearing movement inside the room, Xiao Jinzi, who was guarding outside the bedchamber, immediately bowed and asked, "Is the young master awake? May this servant come in to assist you?"

After their interactions the previous day, everyone in Yaotai Residence knew that Chu Jiubian was not a demanding master. He preferred to handle many tasks himself and rarely relied on servants.

Chu Jiubian had already put on his outer robe and replied, "Please bring me a basin of water."

"Yes."

Shortly after, Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi entered together—one carrying a bucket of water, the other holding soap pods for washing and a dental twig for brushing.

The dental twig was a willow branch, which one chews to clean teeth.

Having acted in several historical dramas and possessing a keen interest in various subjects, Chu Jiubian had researched these items and was adept at using them.

While effective, they couldn't compare to toothbrushes or modern soap.

It seemed he would need to find a way to create daily necessities like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap.

However, he had to proceed cautiously, avoiding giving Qin Xiao the impression that he was too eager, lest he be underestimated or treated as a mere tool.

After washing up, he casually tied up his long hair and went to check on the saltpeter he had left to dry the day before.

Xiao Xiangzi was also awake and followed him energetically.

Chu Jiubian carefully inspected the refined saltpeter powder and, confirming it was ready, said to Xiao Xiangzi, "Please invite your master over after the morning court session."

"Yes," Xiao Xiangzi nodded. "Is there anything else I can do?"

Chu Jiubian paused and glanced at him.

Xiao Xiangzi smiled even more warmly, his dimples deepening.

He was quite an endearing young man.

Shuiqing and Shuiyun brought a tray from the kitchen to the front courtyard, carrying a rather substantial breakfast.

"Young master, breakfast is ready," they said in unison, bowing to Chu Jiubian.

Chu Jiubian nodded. "Let’s eat in the courtyard."

Though the courtyard was not large, it had some pleasant features, including a small pavilion with a round stone table and four stone stools.

Shuiqing and Shuiyun complied, setting the breakfast on the table before standing nearby.

Chu Jiubian walked over and sat down. Xiao Xiangzi immediately offered him chopsticks.

Chu Jiubian accepted them and casually asked, "Have you all eaten?"

"We servants have already eaten," Xiao Xiangzi replied.

They had indeed washed up and eaten before Chu Jiubian woke up, ensuring they could serve him properly.

Chu Jiubian glanced at the three of them and then toward the main room, where Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi were cleaning.

These five were his household staff, with whom he would interact frequently. Although they were Qin Xiao’s people, if he and Qin Xiao were to become openly united, perhaps he could use them to learn about outside matters.

A brief glint flashed in Chu Jiubian’s eyes.

After finishing breakfast, he strolled leisurely around the courtyard.

Xiao Xiangzi stood nearby, while Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi trimmed the plants and pulled weeds. Shuiqing and Shuiyun, after returning the breakfast dishes to the kitchen, also came to the main courtyard and stood quietly under the eaves.

Chu Jiubian narrowed his eyes at the rising sun, listening to the occasional chirping of birds.

It was a good day to get to know his attendants better.

Just then, the five attendants, who had been watching him, heard him sigh softly.

They turned to look and saw the morning sunlight casting a glow on the otherworldly young master. Dressed in a navy blue robe with a red inner collar, his pale skin appeared even more translucent and delicate.

His light-colored pupils gazed wistfully in the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, as if burdened by unspeakable sorrow.

*Flowers fall, water flows; one longing, two places of idle sorrow.*

*This feeling cannot be dispelled; no sooner does it leave the brows than it enters the heart.*

Almost simultaneously, these lines of poetry surfaced in their minds, and Chu Jiubian before them seemed to embody the poem’s pining lover.

Shui Yun, being the most sentimental, felt a twinge of sadness and couldn’t help asking, "Young master, do you have something on your mind?"

Realizing she might have spoken out of turn, she quickly bowed in apology.

Chu Jiubian waved it off. "It’s alright."

Then he sighed deeply again.

This time, even Xiao Xiangzi couldn’t hold back. "Young master, if there’s anything troubling you, please share it with me. I will do my utmost to help."

Chu Jiubian looked at him and then at the others before saying, "It’s nothing serious. I’m just missing your master a little."

"Longing... longing..." Xiao Xiangzi struggled to say, "Our master?"

Chu Jiubian lowered his gaze and said no more, standing there with a solitary figure as if lost in his own thoughts, leaving the others with endless imagination.

Never underestimate human imagination; unrestrained speculation and imagination are far more captivating than any story Chu Jiubian could make up himself.

Sure enough, the five people in the courtyard other than Chu Jiubian exchanged glances, their eyes full of astonishment and disbelief.

Xiao Yinzi felt an unbearable itch of curiosity and couldn't help but quietly rise and slip out of the courtyard.

They actually knew little about Chu Jiubian, only that he seemed to be a mysterious figure who appeared out of nowhere during the coronation ceremony and could predict rainfall.

But none of these accounts matched the idea of "Chu Jiubian missing Qin Xiao."

Xiao Yinzi quickly left Yaotai Residence, heading straight for the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a clear purpose. He intended to ask the eunuchs there; he had to get to the bottom of this, or he truly wouldn't be able to eat or sleep.

Chu Jiubian naturally noticed him but acted unaware.

Go on, go ask around. He must eventually bring back the story of the "tribulation of love."

Suddenly, a prompt sounded in his mind again: "Congratulations, Host. Your Faith Points have reached 80 and are expected to break 100 by noon. Please keep up the good work."

Chu Jiubian's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Meanwhile, at the Vice Minister of Personnel's residence, unmarried daughters from high-ranking families had gathered in the back garden, numbering twelve or thirteen, plus their personal maids, making over thirty people in total.

The girls, all in their prime, were each lovely and charming, though the colors of their dresses were limited and somewhat dull—bright colors like pink or yellow were nowhere to be seen.

This wasn't because the girls disliked such colors; rather, dyeing methods were limited at the time, and only a few colors could be produced.

A young woman in a simple white long dress stood in the pavilion, gently fanning herself with a round fan. Her bright, clear voice laughed as she said, "I love the line, 'Who from the clouds sends a letter? When the wild geese return, the moonlit western tower.' It’s truly beautiful."

"Second Miss Su, do you love the beauty of the moonlit western tower, or the 'brocade letter' sent by someone?" another young lady hinted teasingly.

The girls broke into giggles.

Su Xier immediately turned red, embarrassed and flustered: "What nonsense! Stop laughing!"

The girls laughed even more heartily, making Su Xier quickly sit down and hide behind another young lady.

This young lady was Zhao Xi, the Third Miss of the Vice Minister of Personnel's household. She also laughed but shielded the person behind her, saying, "Alright, alright, stop teasing her. Let's return to discussing the poem seriously."

Another young lady then stood up and recited her favorite line, and everyone finally left behind the previous topic.

Zhao Xi then turned back to look at Su Xier beside her and, seeing her face still flushed, couldn't help but smile again.

Su Xier became even shyer: "You're teasing me too."

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Zhao Xi said, holding her hand and leaning closer to whisper in her ear, "I heard that Commander An has been quite favored recently. Your father should think better of him now."

Su Xier's face grew even hotter. She instinctively glanced around to ensure no one was listening to their conversation before feeling slightly relieved.

Mentioning her crush, she couldn't resist confiding in her friend and pulled her up to go elsewhere.

Zhao Xi simply took her to her own courtyard, where they could talk in private.

"Father indeed no longer glares at him lately," Su Xier said, her eyes full of joy. "But Father can't bear to see me marry too young, and he worries that as a soldier, he might not know how to be gentle."

Zhao Xi immediately replied, "Who says soldiers can't be gentle? I think Commander An is a young hero, different from other military men. Besides, if you marry him, it would be marrying down, but his household has no elders, so you’d surely live freely."

"Mother thinks so too," Su Xier said, though a trace of melancholy appeared on her face. "But so far, I’ve only met him twice. Perhaps it’s just my one-sided affection—he might not even know who I am."

"How could that be? You’re beautiful, kind, and from a good family..." Zhao Xi lowered her voice before continuing, "Besides, your father is a loyal minister, exactly the kind Prince Ning needs to befriend, and Commander An is under Prince Ning’s command. As long as you’re willing, this marriage will surely happen."

The complex web of connections in the capital was intricate, with most nobles connected to the Four Great Families or various vassal princes. However, Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue, was different. His ancestors had fought with Emperor Wu to establish the empire, and subsequent generations had stayed loyal to the royal family.

Now, Qin Xiao represented Baili Hong and the royal family, so no one would find it amiss for Su Sheng to associate with him.

Su Xier knew this made sense, but as a young girl with a crush, she couldn’t help but wish for her feelings to be returned.

In another residence in the capital, young wives had also gathered, appreciating the same poem "A Twig of Mume Blossoms."

Unlike the unmarried girls, although these wives laughed and chatted merrily, there seemed to be an invisible barrier between them.

As they discussed poetry, the conversation gradually turned to people.

From the two Immortal Poet and Resident of Yi’an, who were popular among the capital's scholarly circles, to the mysterious "Ninth Young Master."

"That Ninth Young Master actually knows poems written by immortals—could he truly be a descended celestial being?"

"I think it’s highly likely. Otherwise, how could he appear silently at the coronation, which was so heavily guarded? Even the most skilled martial arts masters couldn’t have managed it."

"To think there really are immortals in this world—somehow, it makes me feel uneasy."

"I couldn’t sleep last night either and came to see all of you first thing this morning. How about we go to Lingjue Temple this afternoon and ask the monks to chant sutras for us? It might bring some peace."

"Exactly, let’s decide on that," the hostess said. "We’ll have lunch here, rest a bit, and then go to the temple."

The wives promptly sent their maids back to inform their households and prepare carriages.

They had always believed in tales of gods and spirits and often visited temples to pray. But now that a "celestial being" seemed to be right before their eyes, they felt anxious and fearful, though they couldn’t pinpoint what exactly they were afraid of.

However, this sense of awe was excellent for Chu Jiubian, the "celestial being."

In just one morning, he watched his Faith Points soar to a high of "98." Just two more points, and he could unlock the Divine Realm!

In this excited state, he met Qin Xiao, who had rushed over after the morning court session, and the young emperor walking half a step ahead of him.

Xiao Xiangzi and the others immediately knelt to pay their respects.

By rights, Chu Jiubian’s current status was that of a "commoner," and an undocumented one at that, but he had no intention of kneeling.

Acting was one thing, but actually kneeling to someone made him uncomfortable, especially to a three-year-old child.

Moreover, he had given himself the identity of a "celestial being"—why should he follow human rules?

Perhaps because his attitude was so natural, no one thought his standing was disrespectful; instead, it seemed fitting.

Even Qin Xiao had never asked Chu Jiubian to pay respects to him.

Baili Hong’s short legs moved quite quickly, almost eagerly bringing him before Chu Jiubian. He looked up at him, his eyes bright and shining.

Perhaps because of the heat, his face was flushed and his forehead damp, even though he had been carried in a palanquin.

This was the male lead as a child.

Seeing him top-heavy and unsteady, Chu Jiubian feared he might topple backward and crouched down.

He offered a friendly smile and spoke first: "Hello, Your Majesty."

Qin Xiao stood two steps behind Baili Hong, not too close, yet not too far—the perfect distance to not make him feel pressured, but also to protect Baili Hong immediately if danger arose.

Recognizing Chu Jiubian's friendly demeanor, Baili Hong flashed a grin, showing his little white teeth, and said, "Hello, Chu Jiubian."

Being called by his full name by a kid this young, Chu Jiubian found it amusing.

"Chu Jiubian," Baili Hong asked eagerly, "where's the fun thing you mentioned?"

Chu Jiubian looked over at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao appeared calm and even smiled back at him.

*Fun thing? That scheming Qin Xiao is playing games again.*

*If he didn't come up with something cool, would the little emperor be disappointed?*

*Would that count as 'deceiving the emperor'?*

*Would he end up in prison again?*

Keeping his cool, Chu Jiubian stood up and said, "Follow me."

With that, he headed toward the main room.

About an hour earlier, anticipating the end of the morning court session, Chu Jiubian had begun making ice.

Given the hot weather, the process would take longer, but over an hour was plenty of time.

Sure enough, as he pushed open the door to the main room, a rush of cool air hit him.

Success.

He walked in and glanced back at the doorway.

The little emperor and Qin Xiao also followed him in, and their expressions instantly changed.

Qin Xiao frowned unconsciously, while Baili Hong exclaimed excitedly, "Chu Jiubian, your room feels amazing!"

Chu Jiubian smiled and pointed to the large wooden barrel in the center of the room. "Your Majesty, that's what's so fun."

Baili Hong didn’t rush over immediately but instead looked up at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao’s gaze fixed on the barrel, and he had a good idea what was inside. His heart began to race uncontrollably.

If it really was...

His laid-back attitude instantly disappeared. He strode quickly to the barrel and peered inside.

The next moment, it was as if a string in his mind suddenly snapped.

It really was ice!