Chapter 239

Chapter 239

The Purple Star, also known as the Emperor Star, its every shift heralds a major event in the world.

Qing Xuan was not proficient in astronomy, but he had learned the basics of the Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions from his master, who taught him hand in hand.

In the past two days, feeling a stir in his heart, he observed the night sky and spotted a strange star suddenly appearing near the Purple Star Enclosure, its brilliance dimming another star.

The Purple Star Enclosure, located at the center of the northern sky, also known as the Central Palace, governs power and authority, and people often mirror it with the earthly emperor.

The meaning of the Purple Star's shift was self-evident.

"The dynasty..." he murmured almost inaudibly, his fragmented words crushed by the night wind and scattered in the deep night, "turmoil."

Qing Xuan stroked the little tiger cub coiled around his neck. As winter set in, the well-fed little feline felt like a fine piece of fur around his neck, warding off the cold and warming his whole body.

"Meow~" The tiger cub drooped its eyelids and let out a lazy cry.

Qing Xuan withdrew his gaze, looked down at the villagers lying scattered on the ground asleep, paused, grabbed the tiger cub from his neck into his arms, and with one hand behind his head, settled directly on the tree to rest.

He wasn't sure if what he observed was accurate.

But so what? What difference did it make if it was or wasn't? Whether the empire changed emperors, or whoever took the throne, it made no difference to him, nor had it anything to do with him.

He was just a young Taoist, an orphan with no parents, no interest, and no pursuit in the grand affairs of the world.

...

The capital, the Astronomy Bureau.

Stumbling footsteps sounded from outside the door, accompanied by clumsy collisions, heavy breaths mixed with a hint of panic. The newcomer seemed extremely anxious, tripped over the threshold as he entered, and his thin body hit the ground hard.

Ignoring his dignity, the man propped himself up with one hand, the other trembling as he pointed toward the starry night sky outside. He looked up at the director seated above, panic-stricken: "Director, the star, it moved, the Purple, Purple..."

"Purple what? I see you've fallen so badly your face is bruised purple." The director of the Astronomy Bureau glanced lightly at his subordinate, who was struggling to get up, his expression unchanged, tone calm. "At your age, still so careless. Be careful not to make a fool of yourself in front of outsiders."

"Director, I have urgent matters to report..." The man couldn't care less about embarrassment and hurriedly spoke.

The director interrupted him with a faint smile: "Deputy Director Zhao, if I recall correctly, you just welcomed a new grandson? At your age, you should enjoy the joy of holding your grandchild, have a few peaceful days, and stop worrying about things that aren't your concern."

He then glanced sideways outside, feigning surprise: "What time is it now? I think it's well past the end of duty. Deputy Director Zhao, your little grandson is waiting for you. Time to go home."

Deputy Director Zhao had just struggled to his feet, and upon hearing these words, stood frozen on the spot.

"Hmm?" The director looked at him, his usually smiling face now expressionless.

Seeing this, Deputy Director Zhao felt a chill instantly crawl up his spine, extinguishing the fervor in his heart.

As the director said, he was already old. He was among the most senior in the entire Astronomy Bureau, having toiled for most of his life, barely earning the position of deputy director on the eve of his sixtieth year. Though it was a sixth-rank official, in the court—no, even within the Astronomy Bureau—he meant little. Colleagues called him Deputy Director Zhao to his face, but behind his back, they said he was an old stump occupying a spot, long overdue to go home and babysit, yet stubbornly clinging to his post.

Drawing a salary from the court, he prided himself on diligence, never slacking off for a single day for the sake of the emperor and his robes. In the past two days, his eyelids had been twitching badly, his heart palpitating, leaving him restless.

That night, observing the stars, he found the Emperor Star dim and lackluster, as if on the verge of extinction!

Terrified and disoriented, he rushed to the director's quarters. However, before he could report, the director spoke first.

Having worked together for years, they knew each other's temperaments well. Given the director's demeanor, Deputy Director Zhao quickly pieced it together. His hands and feet turned cold and weak, uncertain whether it was from the fall or something else.

Steeped in officialdom, regardless of rank, who wasn't a shrewd operator?

Fools long drowned in the treacherous currents of court politics, not even leaving behind a complete corpse.

The director looked at his subordinate, who stood with head bowed, then past him through the night sky where stars intertwined. The Emperor Star hadn't started dimming just today...

His gaze flickered slightly, his tone gentle, as if speaking to the man below or to himself: "Deputy Director Zhao, what happened tonight?"

Deputy Director Zhao's lips moved, his eyelashes fluttering violently, clearly in inner torment and fierce struggle.

The director sighed heavily, saying gloomily, "Deputy Director Zhao must be well aware of the current state of the court. Now is not a good time to stick one's neck out, especially concerning..." He left the words unsaid, but any smart person would understand.

Concerning the realm, concerning the emperor. If this matter were leaked, the consequences of the emperor's wrath were something none of them could bear.

To put it bluntly, the Astronomy Bureau's existence was solely to report auspicious and joyful events. Pleasant words soothe the heart; harsh truths, even if loyal, few can accept.

If common fools felt this way, the one sitting on the dragon throne certainly would.

Any misstep could bring death, not to mention the risk of implicating the entire family and being executed to the ninth degree of kinship.

Did the director have ulterior motives?

No.

But he was merely a fifth-rank official, utterly insignificant in court. The heavens had long changed, and no single person could turn the tide. Since he couldn't change it, why sacrifice himself and harm his family?

The room fell silent for a long time.

Deputy Director Zhao's back suddenly slumped, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. His throat moved several times before he choked out, "Nothing... happened."

"Mm." The director closed his eyes slightly, lightly waved the hand resting on the armrest, and said softly, "Time to end your shift."

"...Yes."

...

Across the land, countless wise men looked up at the night sky.

For a time, some rejoiced, others worried.

In Qingzhou Prefecture, the mansion of Prince Cheng was ablaze with lanterns, the sound of lavish music and song lingering endlessly.

Slender maids carried trays along the winding corridors, while dancers swayed their hips, their water sleeves brushing the faces of generals and strategists holding wine bowls. At the head of the table, a dignified man propped his head on his hand, a smile on his lips, taking in everyone's demeanor.

"Your Highness, I toast to you!"

"If not for Your Highness's order to open the granaries and relieve the disaster, countless would have died in Qingzhou's drought this year! Your Highness is benevolent; not only are the people grateful, but Qian Chong is also deeply impressed." A young general in armor raised his wine bowl, toasted upward, then drained it heartily. Wiping his mouth, he laughed heartily, "To follow Your Highness is the fortune of three lifetimes. From now on, I vow to serve you, through fire and water, even unto death!"

"I too swear loyalty!"

"And I!"

Many in the room snapped back to clarity from the haze of wine and women, shaking their heads to clear the dizziness, pledging allegiance repeatedly.

The man seated at the high seat smiled, his gaze sweeping over everyone, saying nothing.

A burly man sitting third from the left suddenly stood up, facing the others, and spoke in a rough official tone with a Suyang accent: "Everyone here is one of us. I'm a straightforward man; I can't keep things bottled up. Let me say what's on my mind—"

With discontent and disdain, he shouted angrily: "The world is in chaos now, the court is incompetent. Those cats and dogs from nowhere wave flags of pacification to wreak havoc, making one king in the east, another in the west, stirring up the people's lives until they're barely livable. It's as if anyone can proclaim themselves 'king'—the height of absurdity!"

"Now the people of Qingzhou Prefecture and the fiefdom privately call Your Highness 'His Majesty.' So why not go along with the people's wishes and make this title official? Let those pretending to be dragons while wearing snake skins see who is the true sovereign!"

He cupped his hands toward the throne above and said with earnest sincerity, "The heavens are displeased with the emperor in the capital, which is why they send down calamities year after year as warnings to the world."

"Since Your Highness took command in Qingzhou Prefecture, first pacifying the unrest and then providing disaster relief, you have already won the hearts of the people. You are of royal blood, a true son of the late emperor, the legitimate heir. It is precisely now that you should stand forth, eliminate heretics, restore order, and bring peace back to the realm!"

"I have heard that Fengchuan Prefecture suffered great floods some days ago. How many common folk have perished in this heavenly disaster? How many have lost their homes? How many elderly have no one to rely on, and how many young children have lost their parents and kin, wandering homeless and destitute?"

As he spoke with emotion, he wiped the corners of his eyes, though no tears were there. His rough voice brimmed with emotion, so heartfelt that those listening could not help but be drawn into his words, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

"Although Fengchuan Prefecture is separated from Qingzhou by Wuling Mountain, all under heaven is the king's land. Though the journey is difficult and relief efforts face obstacles, if we can wipe out the bandits on Wuling Mountain and then spread word of disaster relief to take in refugees, I believe that with Your Highness stationed here, the people will feel a sense of belonging. It will also allow those who fled Qingzhou due to the earlier drought to return to their roots, and restore the prefecture to its former prosperity and glory."

After these several battles in Qingzhou, eighty percent of the conscripts recruited earlier had died. Although the roads were blocked to prevent residents from fleeing and exposing the rear, many had still managed to escape.

Now, not only was Qingzhou short of people, but in truth, everywhere was recruiting talent and taking in refugees.

But when the discussion turned to Fengchuan Prefecture, many of those present fell silent, exchanging knowing looks at the speaker.

It was hard to say whether his flattery was so skillful that it hit the exact sweet spot for the prince above, or whether he was simply foolish to bring up Fengchuan Prefecture at such a time...

Fengchuan Prefecture's floods had drowned half the downstream population. From the reports they had received, the officials there were too overwhelmed to even collect the corpses floating in the river, and the city was showing signs of an imminent plague outbreak. It might well have already become a plague-ridden dead city.

Not to mention anything else, no matter how badly Qingzhou needed people, it was impossible to extend its hand to Fengchuan right now. Only someone with a self-destructive mindset would propose such a plan that costs us a thousand to wound the enemy by eight hundred.

However, the bandits on Wuling Mountain indeed needed to be eliminated...

They could buy time during the bandit suppression, waiting for the chaos in Fengchuan to pass. Then they would open the city gates wide and welcome all homeless refugees.

The common people were ignorant. As long as they spread news of disaster relief and grain distribution, no matter how far the journey or how arduous the road, they would swarm in with gratitude in their hearts.

With this thought in mind, many turned their gaze to the throne. The officials in the capital only bow to the legitimate ruler, but who was legitimate was never decided by mere words—strength was the ultimate truth. Qingzhou Prefecture had vast stores of grain and could afford the finest soldiers. Their fief possessed gold and iron mines, and the newly conquered Puhe County had a salt lake. The emperor was without virtue, and his full-blooded brother—the prince—was now the most honored figure in the realm. There was more than one Imperial Astrology Bureau in this world. The Purple Star has shifted; a new sovereign star has descended. To declare oneself emperor now is both to answer the people's call and to obey heaven's mandate!