Chapter 171 The first prophecy of master and disciple.
“No,” Xie Qingyu said. “In my memory, the name Qiu Wuzhu does not exist in historical records.”
Yue Yining opened her eyes wide as Xie Qingyu hugged her and told her everything in detail.
The Dongxi Dynasty in the novel corresponds to the Dongyuan Dynasty in history, and the period in which the novel is set is the end of the Dongyuan Dynasty.
The history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty records the sudden death of Crown Prince Wei Changqiong, the decline and increasing neglect of the government of the reigning emperor Wei Tianxuan, the confrontation between the two major factions of aristocratic families and commoners in the court, the collapse of local agriculture and the bureaucratic system, the hardship of the people under constant disasters and rampant corruption, the struggle for succession between the third and fourth princes and their court officials, and so on.
In the eyes of Xie Qingyu, who was a historical researcher at the time, the collapse of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty was only a matter of time, given the state of affairs at the end of the dynasty.
Historically, the third prince, Wei Ye, was named crown prince and ascended the throne after the emperor's death. Not long after his ascension, he abdicated in favor of the fourth prince. In the tenth year of the fourth prince's reign, the rebel army captured the capital, and the Eastern Yuan Dynasty came to an end.
Beyond this, the other content is not easy to study because the existing historical materials are disorganized, the timeline is unclear, many ancient texts have not been deciphered and need to be converted into modern texts to be read, and there are not many achievements in the field of history.
Xie Qingyu's research aims to answer the questions surrounding this period of history.
The first remaining point of contention is the reason why the third prince, Wei Ye, was appointed crown prince by the emperor. After all, based on known historical records, the probability of the third prince successfully seizing the throne was extremely low.
When Crown Prince Wei Changqiong passed away, the Third Prince Wei Ye was just an ordinary prince with no reputation. As the son of a palace maid, he had no maternal family to rely on. In contrast, the Fourth Prince Wei Jing's mother was a noble concubine of the court, and her maternal family was the powerful Gu family, which was well-established and held military power.
If it is said that it was because the third prince was exceptionally talented and virtuous, there is not much evidence in historical records to prove this.
One theory is that the Third Prince deliberately concealed his abilities, but in reality he was a shrewd and calculating man. Moreover, as a close advisor to the Crown Prince, he had the support of the Crown Prince's former subordinates in the struggle for the throne.
Another version of the story is that the old emperor, with foresight, saw that the fourth prince was inherently cruel and incompetent, and thus chose to leave the throne to the more clumsy and conservative third prince, which was also a helpless move.
In conclusion, there are clearly many untold stories behind Wei Ye's successful usurpation of the throne.
The second point of contention is the abdication of the third prince.
This action goes against human nature. The Third Prince, having triumphed over the strong with the weak, must be a man of extraordinary character and unwavering will. How could he easily relinquish the throne he had painstakingly obtained and hand it over to someone else?
No matter how you look at it, it seems abnormal, and the prevailing view among historians is that "the fourth prince rewrote history after usurping the throne." Historical records on this aspect are even more vague, and Xie Qingyu, after a long period of research, found no answers and ultimately accepted the mainstream view.
The third point of contention is the cause of death of the former crown prince, Wei Changqiong.
The sudden death of this virtuous and talented former crown prince in the prime of his life directly led to the aggravation of the old emperor's illness. The struggle for succession between the third and fourth princes, as well as the confrontation between the two factions in the court due to the succession struggle, indirectly accelerated the decline and collapse of the Dongyuan Dynasty.
The cause of the crown prince's death remains shrouded in mystery, with historians offering various theories, and no definitive conclusion has been reached to this day.
Because few historical materials from the late Eastern Yuan period have been preserved, and even fewer primary historical materials have been deciphered and organized, there are very few dissenting voices.
What's even stranger is that after the Dongyuan dynasty was destroyed by the peasant uprising, there was a nearly 100-year gap in its history, until the arrival of the next unified dynasty, Beijin.
Apart from some scattered unofficial histories that have been passed down, which can prove that this land was in a state of tripartite division for a hundred years, there is no other way to verify it.
With historical materials from the late Eastern Yuan period as evidence, most scholars have reached a consensus that, judging from the political system of the Eastern Yuan, this land must have experienced a long period of division and war in the following century, with the three kingdoms fighting each other, chaos and suffering everywhere.
However, as Xie Qingyu investigated the truth, she gradually sensed something strange in the details.
From the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty to the early Northern Jin Dynasty, the customs and civilization of this land developed extremely rapidly, with many unreasonable leaps. These leaps seem more like the result of a prosperous era of a unified dynasty than a chaotic world of war.
This was the beginning. From then on, Xie Qingyu felt that the historical materials were becoming increasingly strange, with more and more contradictions. No matter how he hypothesized or constructed them, they could not corroborate his research conclusions, and the research reached a stalemate.
It's like missing a crucial piece of a puzzle; no matter how you deduce the solution afterward, you'll only end up in a dead end.
It wasn't until he read the book "Yining" that he discovered there was such a hypothesis that perfectly matched all the existing clues and historical materials, without any discrepancy.
However, the novel ends abruptly after Yue Yining's death, and he remains clueless about the truth of those hundred years.
As for Qiu Wuzhu—
"The founding emperor of Beijin was wary of divine authority and intentionally suppressed the development of religion. She was your teacher, and perhaps she, like you, was erased from this period of history."
In the historical records of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty, Yingtianmen, as the state religion, had a very weak presence. The history of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty was only half completed before the dynasty collapsed. The second half was completed by the historians of the Beijin Dynasty based on the work of their predecessors. Judging from the part of the truth he now knows, there are obviously some deliberately falsified parts in it.
After hearing Xie Qingyu's words, Yue Yining lowered her eyes: "...I see."
That means I don't know.
If she could know what her master did in his past life, perhaps she could...
Yue Yining shook her head, clearing her mind of all her wild thoughts, and exhaled a breath of stale air.
So be it. What's the point of speculating about what's already destined? It's better to focus on the present and prepare for the storms to come.
Yue Yining said to Xie Qingyu, "My master and I are completely opposite people. Although I have become her disciple, my ideas are contrary to hers."
“I study the art of fortune telling, but I don’t completely believe in fate, while she is an extreme follower of fate, believing that the way of heaven is invincible and cannot be defied.”
“She thought that my attempt to save the world would only result in a tragic death, and that all my efforts would be in vain.” Yue Yining said this, and then suddenly smiled. “...Judging from what you and Yihua told me, she may not be wrong.”
Xie Qingyu suddenly gripped her wrist tightly. Yue Yining looked up at him and saw a shadow passing through his eyes.
He spoke up for her, saying, "Even so, it was too hurtful for her to expel you from the sect and say those farewell words to you. She could have talked to you nicely, but she forced you to bow your head and obey her by making you face a difficult choice. You still respect and love her, but she has never respected you."
Yue Yining smiled, a genuine smile this time, her eyes curving slightly as she looked at him: "That's just how Master is. If she could talk to me properly, she wouldn't be herself. Knowing that's who she is, I won't feel sad."
No matter what the situation is now, Qiu Wuzhu had treated her well enough. Her master wasn't a gentle person, so what? She was still her master, someone who had changed her life and was extremely important to her.
However, the efforts she has made to get to where she is today are not only for herself, nor do they represent only herself, but also for the millions of people who support her.
Even if Qiu Wuzhu personally intervened, Yue Yining would not back down.
After the downfall of Wang, powerful families suffered a severe blow, while those from humble backgrounds gained the upper hand. Now, with the downfall of important officials from humble backgrounds like Zuo Yingfeng, the court has once again become a situation where powerful families have the upper hand.
Because the powerful families and the poor families have been at odds with each other for a long time, both are now exhausted. The Qingliu, which has been secretly accumulating strength and not standing out, is now showing signs of overtaking the others.
Unfortunately, most people now know that the Qingliu faction also supports the eldest princess. Zhou Congyi, a key minister of the Qingliu faction, the most outstanding female official of the younger generation, is also a close minister under Wei Yihua.
Furthermore, Xie Qingyu, as the head of the Xie family, was also showing signs of aligning himself with the eldest princess, causing unrest and uncertainty within the court.
Although the eldest princess had only recently become a candidate for the crown prince, she was already the most supported candidate in the court. In addition, she was of excellent character, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and had outstanding popularity, making her the most popular candidate for the crown prince for a time.
If she were the master, the first step after establishing a foothold in the capital would be to weaken the power she controls.
After pondering for a while, Yue Yining first instructed the guards to arrange a carriage, and then looked at Xie Qingyu: "Do you have any other important matters to attend to later? If not, come with me to see Lord Zhou."
Xie Qingyu said gently, "Of course not, but at your service, Miss."
As the two traveled by carriage to the Zhou residence, the imperial palace was bathed in a soft light, and the deep tolling of bells filled the air.
As usual, the eunuch Luo Hong waited outside the Imperial Study early in the morning. Before long, Emperor Wei Tianxuan appeared at the end of the corridor.
Luo Hong lowered his head, a slight thought stirring in his heart.
Wei Tianxuan walked unsteadily, his face slightly haggard. His eyebrows drooped, and the dark circles under his eyes were particularly noticeable, as if he hadn't slept all night, or as if he had tossed and turned, tormented by a heavy nightmare all night.
"Your Majesty." Luo Hong stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Wei Tianxuan simply responded and walked straight into the imperial study, sitting down on the dragon throne, his gaze fixed on a point in the void. The study was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, yet it couldn't dispel the weariness and gloom that emanated from the emperor's very being.
Luo Hong served warm ginseng tea, stood by with his hands at his sides, his mind racing.
Since Qiu Wuzhu left the Imperial Study yesterday, His Majesty has looked so lost and dejected.
Having served as the emperor's close attendant for many years, he naturally recognized Qiu Wuzhu, one of the Three Venerables, but his acquaintance was only from a single encounter.
Ten years ago, during the sacrificial ceremony, the three Venerables gathered in Yanjing. He caught a glimpse of Qiu Wuzhu's face from afar and was amazed by her inhuman beauty. Years later, only a phantom and blurry impression remained.
Now, when Luo Hong saw her again, he was even more astonished—ten years had passed, yet she looked the same, even younger.
What is the cruelest time for the world is a time of deep affection for her, as if it has been frozen in her life.
Qiu Wuzhu paid her respects to the emperor and calmly explained her purpose: she had come for the fate of the nation.
The throne is in vain and the struggle for succession is in full swing. This is common knowledge in the palace, but no one expected that even the Venerable One, who has always been detached from worldly affairs, would be planning to get involved.
Wei Tianxuan initially did not intend to agree to her offer, but Qiu Wuzhu made a condition that the emperor could not refuse.
Luo Hong still remembers that his first reaction was to freeze in place, his heart filled with shock. When he looked up, he saw the fleeting expression on the emperor's face: desire, anger, joy, numbness, fear... an almost ferocious mix.
The emperor and the venerable one had a private conversation in the inner hall for nearly an hour. After Qiu Wuzhu came out, he was led to the palace. Wei Tianxuan's face was frighteningly ugly.
Luo Hong re-entered the palace and served as usual, but his heart was pounding with anxiety.
After a long silence brewing in the ambergris, Wei Tianxuan finally spoke.
He issued an absurd imperial edict, appointing Qiu Wuzhu as the Imperial Preceptor.
Even Luo Hong, who had served the emperor for many years and considered himself the best at understanding the emperor's intentions, couldn't figure out what the emperor was thinking at that time.
As he was feeling uneasy, Wei Tianxuan suddenly said in a hoarse voice, "Luo Hong."
"This old servant is here."
"Go and invite Qiu... invite the Imperial Advisor over." The Emperor paused, then slowly said, "Tell her that I now want her to fulfill her promise from yesterday."
Luo Hong's heart skipped a beat, but he showed no sign of it on his face and bowed, replying, "Yes."
Luo Hong withdrew from the palace and instructed a young eunuch to fetch Qiu Wuzhu. A short while later, a figure as faint as a moonlit shadow appeared at the end of the vermilion corridor, slowly approaching.
Qiu Wuzhu was still dressed in a mica-colored robe, spotless and her face calm and expressionless. She was beautiful, but not like a living person; she was as cold as the snow on the summit of Kunlun Mountain. She habitually kept her eyes half-closed, and when she occasionally looked directly at someone, it was as if she were looking at an inanimate object, sending chills down one's spine.
"Greetings, Imperial Preceptor," Luo Hong said, bowing respectfully.
Qiu Wuzhu nodded slightly as a greeting, and then walked straight into the Imperial Study.
Luo Hong returned to his original position, still standing to one side, stealing glances at the people in the hall.
The morning light streamed through the window, illuminating Qiu Wuzhu's unusually youthful profile with a translucent glow, like a flawless piece of white jade. If one didn't see it with their own eyes, who would believe that this woman, seemingly in her early twenties, was actually the renowned Venerable of Yingtianmen, already nearing forty?
When Wei Tianxuan saw Qiu Wuzhu, his cloudy eyes flickered, and he leaned forward slightly: "The Imperial Preceptor has arrived."
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Qiu Wuzhu bowed, his voice cold and flat.
"You spoke yesterday of three prophecies concerning the fate of the nation, the first of which should occur soon. Now, tell me, what exactly is that first prophecy?" The emperor's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible urgency.
Qiu Wuzhu raised her eyes. Her eyes were as deep as a cliff, an unfathomable blackness.
She spoke slowly, her voice soft, yet each word clear and distinct, striking the hearts of the two who were holding their breath in suspense:
"The omen is imminent. In March, the selection of scholars will be held, and the path to virtue will be turbid. Some people will disrupt the established order and usurp power. There may be those who act like hens crowing at dawn, causing trouble by leaking exam questions and cheating, interfering in politics and judging the virtuous, bending the law for personal gain, causing bright pearls to be wasted and fish to become dragons."
Wei Tianxuan naturally understood her implication and his expression changed.
"...How can you prove your prediction is true?"
Qiu Wuzhu stood slenderly in the hall, his frail figure seemingly about to break in the wind, yet it was impossible for anyone to look directly at him.
She said, "Heaven's justice is clear and there is no falsehood. Your Majesty only needs to wait seven days to know the truth."
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Author's Note: The battle has begun. By the way, the previously locked chapters have been corrected; everyone can go read them now. I've been deleting so much I'm practically illiterate! [lemon]
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