Chapter 67 After finishing her makeup, the guest star asked her husband in a low voice.
Taihuang Temple is perched on the mountainside. Going up, the carved stone steps lead directly to the summit, where a solid observatory with a huge stone base stands.
A multi-story tower was built on a stone base for the observatory.
Yan Tianshu, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory Director, sat on a high platform, his robes fluttering in the mountain breeze. He looked up at the stars, silently calculating the celestial secrets contained in the changes of the stars.
The night was as dark as ink, with countless stars scattered across the clear sky.
The bronze armillary sphere, simplified armillary sphere, and other astronomical instruments gleamed with an ancient light under the starlight. All around was quiet, save for the whispers of the wind and the low murmurs of the officials discussing their matters.
"The main star is dim and fading."
"The guest star is in the south, is that right?"
...
The floods in Zhudong and the major epidemics in Linxia and Li'an had become a major concern for Xie Yuan. Therefore, he ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to observe the celestial phenomena at night to try to understand the will of Heaven. Yan Tianshu's astrological and divination skills failed to find the reason. He placed himself on the observatory for many days without washing or changing his clothes, and finally glimpsed a clue.
Yan Tianshu entered the palace that very night and reported: "Your Majesty, the Ziwei star is weak, and a guest star has appeared around it, its brilliance already shining brightly. I observe its star path, and this star is getting closer and closer to the Ziwei star, showing signs of usurping the host and driving out the main star. Therefore, Heaven has sent down calamity upon Dalin as a warning."
The celestial phenomena of major disaster years need to be recorded by historians, copied by the Hanlin Academy and archived in the Imperial Archives, and several copies are made and distributed to various departments.
The Imperial Observatory's words were quickly deciphered by clever minds.
As soon as the sound faded, a clamor arose.
Before the Hanlin Academy could even copy it, the next day it caused a huge uproar in the court, with the officials arguing endlessly. Multiple differing opinions clamored on, and although the court session should have ended at dawn, the debate continued until noon before they finally managed to roughly interpret the two meanings.
Firstly, the retired emperor resides in the Nanyuan Palace, located south of the imperial palace. The Ziwei star symbolizes the emperor, and Emperor Xuanyuan has abdicated. Now, the star points to the new emperor. Emperor Xuanyuan has retired to the "guest star" but still interferes in court affairs, overshadowing the new emperor and weakening the Ziwei star.
Secondly, the new dynasty established girls' academies in various regions, allowing women to enter the Imperial Academy after passing the imperial examinations. Rumors circulated that the imperial examinations the following spring might be opened to women, allowing them to take the exams, which was tantamount to a hen crowing at dawn, reversing the roles of primary and secondary officials.
The first academy to teach women was the Hanhong Academy in Cangnan.
Besides Hanhong Academy, Yongdu also has a large-scale academy that integrates girls' schools and academies. Because Lingjiu Mountain can be seen from the academy, it is named Lingjiu Academy. It is also located in the south of Shangyong City.
The court was thrown into turmoil, and unrest spread throughout the country.
After the court session ended, piles of memorials flooded into the Chongzheng Hall, forcing Xie Yuan to change the government's policies, abolish girls' schools and colleges, and make the main star remain constant while the guest star retreats.
Xie Yuan stared at the endless stream of memorials, lost in thought for a long time without saying a word.
Zheng Hechuan stood by, removing the bright yellow cups and saucers from in front of Xie Yuan and serving him a fresh cup of hot tea.
"I just don't understand. What's wrong with letting women study? Will it cause plagues and floods? They avoid plagues like the plague, and the floods in Zhuodong are being managed by the widow of the Marquis of Wu'an and a lame man. All the agricultural work in the country is being done by Jiang Ning alone, and none of them have stepped forward to share my burdens! Now they're fixated on such a trivial matter as whether or not people can study. Where do they put their faces?"
Xie Yuan was furious, his lips and tongue burning. He had just picked up the imperial cup to take a sip of tea when his fingertips, as if burned by fire, abruptly withdrew. "Zheng Hechuan!"
Zheng Hechuan trembled with fear and knelt down, saying, "This servant deserves to die! Your Majesty, Lord Cheng Lingdian has been waiting outside for a long time. Please see Lord Cheng before punishing this servant for his crime."
Xie Yuan simply stopped drinking his tea: "Summon! Summon! Summon! Come back! Is Jiang Ning still in the Eastern Palace?"
Zheng Hechuan replied, "Your Majesty, the Princess was at the Xuanping Marquis's residence last night and the night before last."
Xie Yuan asked, "What was she doing at the Marquis of Xuanping's residence?"
Zheng Hechuan said, "General Chen is ill, so the Princess is going to visit him."
"Oh!" Xie Yuan pondered for a moment. "She's ill? Go to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence later to deliver the imperial decree and find out who the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital are, and bring them along."
Zheng Hechuan said, "Her Majesty the Empress has already sent the imperial physician to see him. It's just a common fever. The General is perfectly healthy and lively. Yesterday, he even rode his horse to the palace gate to pick up Military Advisor Yan."
Xie Yuan said, "She's not picking up people; she's preparing to ask Nan Yuan Palace for people."
Zheng Hechuan said, "Your Majesty, this servant is foolish; aren't they all the same?"
Xie Yuan said, "It's better to be a little dull. If you were too clever, I wouldn't be able to keep you by my side. Summon Cheng Lingdian."
Cheng Lingdian held the memorial in both hands, but before he could kneel, Xie Yuan angrily said to him, "If you are here to see me for matters concerning the academy, just like them, then there's no need to say anything more. I already have a whole bunch here!"
Cheng Lingdian was surprised for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I did not do this."
Xie Yuan's expression softened slightly. "Then what brings you here?"
Cheng Lingdian said, "Your Majesty, I request that the Yanzhi Mountain Palace be repaired again."
Xie Yuan wished he could pick up that cup of scalding tea and smash it over Cheng Lingdian's head; his face, which had just calmed down, was even darker than before.
He looked up to the sky and roared, "Where would I get any money?!"
Cheng Lingdian said, "Your Majesty, this matter must be done even without money." He presented the memorial in his hand to Xie Yuan's desk and waited for Xie Yuan to read it.
Xie Yuan frowned, picked up the memorial, and said, "You'd better explain yourself, or I will punish you!"
He read on with a grim face, the anger in his eyes gradually subsiding. Every word in Cheng Lingdian's memorial was like a gentle spring breeze, extinguishing Xie Yuan's fury.
Xie Yuan said, "Minister Cheng, please take a seat."
The clamor in the main hall of the imperial palace had been boiling since dawn, but the Xuanping Marquis's residence in the southwest of the imperial city remained undisturbed, and the Liangyuan Garden was quiet.
Chen Liangyu had a recurring low-grade fever, which only began to subside by this morning. The familiar scent that had lingered around her all night was still beside her. When she opened her eyes, Xie Wenjun was indeed still asleep beside her.
She lay on her side in the brocade quilt, her face serene, her long black hair flowing freely across the pillow, with a few strands occasionally draped over her snow-white neck, like a closed water lily in a green pond.
The peach-pink hue that Chen Liangyu had been sucking was faintly visible.
Chen Liangyu licked her dry lips. She had drunk wine the day before, and her lips were parched and her tongue was dry. She disliked drinking, partly because after drinking heavily, she would wake up the next day feeling as parched and cracked as parched earth, desperately needing water.
She closed her eyes discreetly, wanting to linger a little longer.
For a moment, she couldn't help but secretly open her eyes slightly.
Upon closer inspection, a distinct dark line was visible on Xie Wenjun's neck, a mark left from her tireless work patrolling the fields and enduring the sun's rays. The woman beside her on the bed remained as meticulous and attentive as ever, even in her sleep.
"Awake?" Xie Wenjun asked.
The voice, half-awake and indistinct, carried a languid air, as if coming through a veil.
Even the slightest sound, like licking her lips, was enough to wake her.
Chen Liangyu's voice also had a slight nasal tone, "Mmm."
While still half-asleep, she habitually got up to practice her swordplay. As if sensing her presence, the person beside her deftly reached out from under the quilt and pulled her back into their arms.
Xie Wenjun, still sleepy-eyed, said, "I'm sick, I'll sleep a little longer."
The hand that pulled her back naturally rested on her shoulder, seemingly with no intention of moving away.
Chen Liangyu followed her and lay on her back.
"Have the people from Liangxi City been called back?" Xie Wenjun's voice no longer betrayed much sleepiness.
Chen Liangyu said, "Not so fast. Has Your Highness discovered something?"
Xie Wenjun pressed her face close to his, "Want to know?"
His arms restlessly wrapped around her neck, encircling her.
Chen Liangyu said, "Your Highness, was it not enough that you teased me yesterday? Do you want to continue today?"
Xie Wenjun covered her ears.
Chen Liangyu: "...Where has Your Highness chosen to locate the Princess's residence?"
Xie Wenjun said, "South of the city, the former residence of Prince Hui."
The former residence of Emperor Xuanyuan.
Yuan Rong's voice came from outside, "Your Highness, it's time. Should we get up early?"
Chen Liangyu asked, "What time is it? Does Your Highness have other matters to attend to?"
Xie Wenjun stretched her back, and the palace maids filed in carrying toiletries. The peace talks between the two countries were a major event, and everyone had to dress formally to maintain appearances. She sat in front of her dressing table and said, "The envoy from Dongyin came to negotiate peace with our dynasty, but fell into a whirlwind of pleasure. What a romantic affair."
Chen Liangyu said, "Did you set a trap for Dongyin?"
Daiqing picked up the copper ink, about to draw Xie Wenjun's eyebrows, when Chen Liangyu snatched it from Daiqing's hand, saying, "Let me do it."
Chen Liangyu leaned forward slightly and slowly outlined the shape of her brow bone.
"Your Highness?"
Xie Wenjun said, "The Lingxiao Manor in Liangxi City wasn't done by Xun Xian, but by the You family of Dongyin. The You family rose to power and prominence by using the assassination technique 'Soul Separation Technique.' When the old patriarch of Lingxiao Manor went to Dongyin for study, he heard some rumors about the You family's rise to power and decided to imitate them. In order to erase their past crimes and not leave any handle for their political enemies, the You family searched everywhere for people who knew the Soul Separation Technique. Once they found them, they fabricated charges to silence them. Since Lingxiao Manor didn't belong to Dongyin, they couldn't frame them, so they could only bribe some desperate people in the martial arts world to kill the entire family."
"It all stems from the lust for power."
As Chen Liangyu listened to her speak, his gaze fell on Xie Wenjun's nose, then down to her lips, which were still red and lustrous even without lipstick.
Her lips were cherry red.
It looks soft. And it is.
After her eyebrows were drawn, they resembled delicate spring mountains veiled in mist. Chen Liangyu drew closer and closer. A line of poetry came to mind, and she unconsciously recited it aloud, only half of it: "Is the depth of my eyebrow makeup fashionable?"
Xie Wenjun raised an eyebrow.
Chen Liangyu was shocked to realize how rash her words were, but Xie Wenjun had already filled in the missing part of the sentence: "After finishing her makeup, she asked her husband in a low voice?"
Chen Liangyu put the copper ink back into her makeup box, feeling a slight stirring in her heart. Hearing the word "husband" suddenly come from Xie Wenjun's mouth, Chen Liangyu felt a pang of regret as she faced her.
She witnessed the years sculpting her and slowly growing into her, and she also saw her establish her own household and choose a husband. If she was fortunate enough, she would also witness her children and grandchildren surrounding her. If she were lucky enough to be in dire straits one day, she could also take up her sword and fight for her without hesitation amidst the chaos.
The phrase "deeply scheming and unapproachable" is not a fitting description of her.
She wished her well, hoping she would strategize and make decisions from afar!
Chen Liangyu said, "My husband, let me ask you, you didn't intend to take the life of the Dongyin envoy, did you?"
After being teased multiple times, Chen Liangyu finally remained unmoved and cunningly followed her words with a clever joke, thinking he had won back the score.
Xie Wenjun said, "What use is his life? The You family is richer than princes in Dongyin. I want the money of the Dongyin Imperial Court, and I also want the money of the You family."
A palace maid brought over a set of palace attire, and Yuanrong and Daiqing came forward to help her change.
Chen Liangyu looked away, turned her back, and teased, "So greedy?"
Xie Wenjun said, "I am very poor."
Author's Note: Emperor Xuanyuan: "Do you think it's possible that the guest star isn't your father, but your sister?"
Xie Yuan: "Father, I think it's you."
Jiang Ning: "Dad, whether the scapegoat is you or me, it has to be you!"
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