WK Chapter 10

As life in Ju’an Hall gradually improved, some people became restless.

 

The Astrology Bureau was located in the northeast of the imperial city, with a nine-story wooden tower at its center.

 

Three palaces surrounded the wooden tower, representing the extreme number of three times nine.

 

The founder of the Astrology Bureau was Zhang Shuchuan, an expert in celestial calculations under the founding emperor. Later, Zhang Shuchuan passed on the art of star observation to his family members.

 

The department had one head and one deputy head, always taken over by Zhang family descendants. There were also ten star observation officials recruited from among the common people.

 

This was the only place where both men and women could enter. As long as one had talent, they could be granted an official position.

 

The Astrology Bureau held a special status in Great Zhou. When the emperor valued star observation, the department’s status was high; when not valued, it was no different from being invisible.

 

At this time, in the leftmost palace, Zhang Chansi, the deputy head of the Astrology Bureau, was quietly sitting at a table brewing tea. Her movements were fluid, and the tea’s fragrance filled the air.

 

She spoke softly: “Uncle has gone out?”

 

“Reporting to the Deputy Head, a while ago an inconspicuous little eunuch came looking for the Head. Soon after, the Head left, heading in the direction of Qianji Palace.”

 

Zhang Chansi took a sip of tea.

 

“Uncle is becoming more confused with age. It seems he has completely forgotten the teachings of our ancestors.”

 

The subordinate hesitated, “Deputy Head, if we go to stop him now, we might still make it in time.”

 

“We can stop him once, but not a second time,” Zhang Chansi shook her head. “Besides, we didn’t stop him the first time. The cause and effect have already been set in motion. Let nature take its course.”

 

She sighed softly, looking out the window towards the courtyard.

 

On the stone tablet of the Astrology Bureau, thin snow remained, inscribed with the ancestral teachings of founder Zhang Shuchuan:

 

Observing stars is not peering into ghosts, gods, or demons,

Calculations only look at fortune and misfortune, auspiciousness and calamity.

If there exists a heart to harm others, disaster will eventually come.

 

–

 

Zichen Palace.

 

Head Eunuch Yu came in to announce, “Your Majesty, the Head of the Astrology Bureau seeks an audience.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao paused slightly.

 

In the dream, the place where that black disaster star fell was the Astrology Bureau. He hadn’t deliberately mentioned this, nor had he summoned the Astrology Bureau to inquire. He didn’t expect them to come on their own today.

 

His eyes deepened slightly, “Let him in.”

 

The succession of the Astrology Bureau was slow. It had only reached the second generation with the current head, Zhang Fanming.

 

The current emperor ruled strictly and didn’t believe in witchcraft, so naturally, the Astrology Bureau had been neglected. It was only after Consort Yun’s death and the prophecy about the reincarnated sinner came true that the department’s treatment improved somewhat.

 

Zhang Fanming knelt and greeted, “Long live Your Majesty.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Zhang Fanming raised his head with a serious expression, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s about Consort Yun.”

 

At the mention of Consort Yun, Head Eunuch Yu’s eyelid twitched first.

 

These two words had become almost taboo!

 

Zichen Palace was silent for a long time, long enough for Zhang Fanming to break out in a cold sweat, before he heard a “Speak.”

 

Zhang Fanming: “There’s still half a year until the young prince’s third birthday. This is the crucial period for Consort Yun’s peaceful reincarnation. This subject observed the stars at night and discovered that the sinful energy from the young prince’s previous life has greatly increased, subtly affecting Consort Yun’s peaceful next life.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao, however, recalled the scene in his dream where Yueqing asked about their child’s appearance. He rubbed the emerald ring on his thumb.

 

“What should I do to ensure Consort Yun’s peaceful reincarnation?”

 

“Although the young prince’s current location in Ju’an Hall is far enough from Your Majesty, the blood relation still exists, and that sinful energy inevitably absorbs imperial qi. No big action is needed. Just for the next half year, the young prince needs to be moved a bit further away.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Further away?”

 

Zhang Fanming: “Outside the imperial city, to a detached palace.”

 

Another moment of silence.

 

Emperor Chongzhao looked at Zhang Fanming’s official-capped head, and the scene of the black disaster star falling on the Astrology Bureau in his dream became clearer.

 

He didn’t agree or refuse, just waved his hand, “You may go. I understand.”

 

Zhang Fanming left Zichen Palace, belatedly realizing he had broken out in a sweat despite the cold weather.

 

Ju’an Hall was already far enough. That young prince hadn’t seen His Majesty for over two years, how much father-son affection could there be? Neither the eldest nor a legitimate son, he hadn’t even established a firm position and couldn’t threaten the status of other princes.

 

He didn’t know why that person suddenly asked him to move Consort Yun’s child even further away.

 

Zhang Fanming rubbed his twitching eyelids, looking up at the gloomy sky. Since the moment he made his choice over two years ago, he had no room to retreat.

 

The tea by Emperor Chongzhao’s side had grown colder.

 

As Head Eunuch Yu was about to replace it, Emperor Chongzhao picked it up and took two sips.

 

“It’s deep winter now. The detached palace must be very cold, right?”

 

Head Eunuch Yu cautiously replied: “The detached palace is desolate, lacking in clothes and food. It must be cold indeed.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao twirled the teacup in his fingers, “Change the tea set. This cup is too bright for winter use.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

That Astrology Bureau Head was truly bold, daring to mention Consort Yun in front of His Majesty.

 

He pondered, what exactly did His Majesty mean? He only asked if the detached palace was cold. The young prince’s future rested entirely on His Majesty’s whim.

 

After the Astrology Bureau Head left, Emperor Chongzhao sat silently in the hall until late at night, twirling his ring, lost in thought.

 

Head Eunuch Yu bent over to change the lamp for him.

 

“Tell me, should I really send that child to the detached palace?”

 

“I don’t even know what he looks like.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu wasn’t surprised, sighing at Consort Yun’s influence on His Majesty. He softly said: “This servant dares not comment.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao’s fingers unconsciously tapped on the table.

 

He should have sent that child away. There was still half a year left of the three-year period, just the final crucial stage. But that recurring dream made Emperor Chongzhao unusually hesitant.

 

He leaned back, the chair making a slight creaking sound as it shifted. The faint candlelight flickered, bringing him back to his senses.

 

“Leave.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu complied, gesturing to the small eunuchs standing in the hall to leave together.

 

Emperor Chongzhao tapped his fingers on the table, one long, two short, one long.

 

A shadow appeared in the dim corner, kneeling on one knee, silent.

 

Emperor Chongzhao said: “Choose one from the Yi Division, someone meticulous, to go to Ju’an Hall.”

 

To see what the child looks like, what he does every day.

 

So that if he enters the dream again, he won’t be unable to answer Yueqing’s questions.

 

The lamplight flickered, and the shadow disappeared, never having made a sound, as if it had been an illusion.

 

–

 

Night enveloped the entire imperial city.

 

The emperor’s shadow guards were named after the Ten Heavenly Stems, each with their own strengths. Each stem had twelve shadow guards, with the strongest being the branch leader.

 

Among them, the Yi Division that Emperor Chongzhao assigned excelled in tracking, memory, and imitation.

 

If His Majesty or the leader didn’t specify someone, the shadow guards would have an internal duel. The loser would be sent to do the unpleasant overtime work.

 

Yi Shi’er[mfn]Shi’er = 12[/mfn], black-clad and expressionless, with a bruised face, carried paper and pen in his chest. The Yi Division leader had thrown him to Ju’an Hall to watch the young prince.

 

He landed on the bare elm tree in the courtyard, taking in the scene outside the palace.

 

Only the main sleeping chamber of the entire palace still had a faint light. The side halls were empty.

 

Under the elm tree were two clotheslines, one drying blue eunuch robes, the other drying children’s clothes, presumably the young prince’s.

 

He silently approached the sleeping chamber, drawing near the window emitting light.

 

Faint sounds of laughter came from inside.

 

“…The pictures we three drew are all so ugly, really so ugly, hahaha!”

 

Qu Dubian displayed the pictures they had drawn.

 

His own drawing with his right hand was already ugly enough, but he didn’t expect Ye Banban and Xiaochun’s to be even uglier.

 

The three’s drawings were ugly in myriad ways. Qu Dubian couldn’t help laughing as he looked: “But mine is the prettiest of the ugly ones.”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan smiled, and even the usually quiet Wen Xiaochun’s mouth curved upward.

 

“Yes, Your Highness’s drawing is the best-looking.”

 

Actually, they originally didn’t want to waste paper on drawing, but His Highness said drawing helps with future brush control, and it’s more fun to draw together.

 

They couldn’t refuse and had to join in drawing.

 

Qu Dubian yawned. Being young was like this, especially since the original owner had been malnourished, leaving him somewhat deficient inside. With weak blood and energy, he was laughing one moment and drowsy the next.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan swiftly lifted him from the table: “It’s time for Your Highness to sleep.”

 

Qu Dubian struggled a bit, then gave up on walking himself.

 

Ye Banban was always stubborn at certain times, like worrying he might bump himself or fall if he climbed into bed alone. So he never let him climb into bed by himself.

 

Qu Dubian quickly took off his clothes and burrowed into the blankets. It wasn’t cold inside; a hot water bottle made it very warm.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun didn’t leave. His Highness wouldn’t let them sleep in the cold side halls, instead having them sleep with blankets by his bedside.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun initially disagreed, saying servants shouldn’t sleep in the master’s room except when on night watch.

 

But when the young prince, red-eyed and pitiful, said, “I don’t want you to get sick from the cold. What if there’s no one to keep me company later?” they surrendered.

 

Naturally, that fellow Wen Xiaochun’s facial expressions weren’t very obvious.

 

But Ye Xiaoyuan clearly saw him sweeping more vigorously the next day, as if trying to sweep away any pebble that might trip the young prince.

 

“Does Your Highness still want to hear a story?” Qu Dubian was half-embraced by Ye Xiaoyuan, his cheeks rosy from the hot water bottle, his hands and feet warm.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Alright, then Your Highness close your eyes.”

 

Wen Xiaochun laid out the bedding by the bedside. After arranging it, he sat on it hugging his knees, chin resting on his knees, leaning against the nearby coal basin, listening to Ye Xiaoyuan tell the story.

 

Today’s story was about Ye Xiaoyuan’s great battle with Eunuch Fu.

 

That small manager of food distribution in the Imperial Kitchen who was dismissed, Ye Xiaoyuan had always tried to get more good things from him, using thirty-six strategies and seventy-two different techniques.

 

In his telling, Eunuch Fu became a villain from a storybook, and he was the hero who defeated the villain to obtain food. He vividly described Eunuch Fu’s sour and mean face, making it lively and amusing. The young prince loved it.

 

However, Wen Xiaochun knew that getting food under the Imperial Kitchen’s difficulties was not as easy and fun as Ye Xiaoyuan described.

 

But now that the hard times had passed, they could look back and laugh, turning it into a story to tell.

 

None of this mattered, though.

 

Having fled all the way to the capital and then being sold into the palace as a eunuch, Wen Xiaochun was used to days of bullying and wandering. Now, as he looked out at the darkness, his empty heart felt a sense of belonging and security.

 

The palace was peaceful and warm, becoming even more tranquil in the soft storytelling voice.

 

Wen Xiaochun thought to himself.

 

No matter how unrealistic things were, as long as it could make His Highness happy, anything could become an interesting story from a storybook.

 

When the story ended, Qu Dubian’s breathing was even. Ye Xiaoyuan waited a while longer before laying him down flat and quietly getting into the bedding next to Wen Xiaochun.

 

“Sleep now.”

 

“Mm.”

 

After some rustling, the two quickly fell silent, maintaining a state of light sleep.

 

Qu Dubian wasn’t actually asleep yet. He was just maintaining the original owner’s habit of falling asleep to stories, but he himself wasn’t used to having someone by his side lulling him to sleep.

 

After several minutes of preparation, he hugged the cotton cloth tiger that Ye Banban had sewn for him, his consciousness gradually sinking into darkness.

 

Yi Shi’er flipped through the window, landing silently.

 

The next second.

 

[Potential friendly character: Yi Shi’er

Favorability: 0]

 

A cold prompt sounded in Qu Dubian’s mind, instantly dispelling all his drowsiness.

 

 

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