Chapter 440 Bai Ze Diagram, Face Reading
Rongzhen is in a good mood.
Aside from the fact that during my morning inspection of the Xunyang Grottoes at Shuangfengjian, I noticed that the Donglin Buddha statue, which I hadn't been paying attention to for many days, was progressing well, and that I even started to find a certain handsome chief secretary more pleasing to the eye.
And also because of this golden book right now.
It is called "Bai Ze Tu".
According to ancient pre-Qin texts, during the mythical era of antiquity, the human emperor toured eastward to the sea, ascended Mount Huan, and obtained the Bai Ze divine beast on the seashore. This beast could speak and understood the feelings of all things.
When asked about matters concerning ghosts and spirits, the Emperor learned that since ancient times, spirits and energy have been the basis of things, and wandering souls have been the means of transformation. There were 11,520 such things. Bai Ze spoke of them, and the Emperor ordered them to be depicted in illustrations to be shown to the world. Thus, the "Bai Ze Illustration" was created.
The original version of the legendary "Bai Ze Tu" contained 11,520 kinds of "things that are made of essence and spirits and transformed by wandering souls", which almost encompassed all the five kinds of insects and living beings in the world.
However, later, Yu the Great controlled the floods and cast the Nine Tripods, ending the ancient mythological era. Whether it was mythical creatures or spirits and ghosts, most of them disappeared from the land of China or fled to the North Sea. Now, perhaps only some traces can be found in certain overseas fairy mountains.
Currently, the number of spirits and monsters that still exist in the world by chance is certainly not as many as 11,520; it is far fewer.
Therefore, most of the hidden knowledge about demons and monsters revealed in the "Bai Ze Tu" has become useless esoteric knowledge, with very little that can be used.
Moreover, the ancient classics, though vast and mysterious, were mostly destroyed and lost when passed down to later generations, leaving only some faint and unclear collective memories mixed in with the misty legends.
The original copy of the "Bai Ze Tu" was also lost after a thousand years. The most recent record of it being seen in the archives of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty a thousand years ago.
Rongzhen, using her identity as a female historian, requested to consult the "Bai Ze Tu" (Illustrated Book of Bai Ze) from the Imperial Observatory. This book was a copy produced during the Wei-Jin period when the practice of compiling and editing was prevalent.
Compared to the original "Bai Ze Tu" which records 11,520 kinds of spirits and monsters, it can only be considered a fragment.
Even if it is a replica of this incomplete scroll, there are probably no more than a handful of copies of "Bai Ze Tu" still in existence.
The Imperial Observatory possesses a copy, and the current stringent measures taken by the Observatory to protect it at multiple levels and guard it by designated personnel demonstrate the difficulty in passing down this secret knowledge through generations…
After an afternoon, the cold, palace-dressed girl finally stopped turning the pages of her book, closed it, and let out a soft sigh.
This fragment of the "Bai Ze Tu" scroll looks thick and has many pages, but it doesn't contain much information.
Because each page contains a concise account of the corresponding mysterious creature.
The simple text contains the most important information: the name of the spirit, its shape and abilities, its habitat, and its dangers or effects.
Rong Zhenyu clenched her fist and pressed it on the golden book, then nodded slightly.
She began to understand why so few replicas of the Bai Ze Tu scroll survived, and why this precious fragment from the Imperial Observatory was made of gold, which was fireproof, waterproof, corrosionproof, lightning-proof, and could also ward off evil and disaster.
If she were a spirit or demon from above, and she saw this book while wandering the world, even without any cruel or wicked habits, she would certainly try every means to destroy it, or at least tear out the page about herself.
Their underwear was completely stripped off.
The girl in cold, palace-style attire closed her book, lost in thought, and suppressed her lip movements.
As evening approached, she gracefully rose, placed the "Bai Ze Tu" back into the heavy sandalwood box, sealed it layer by layer, and finally covered it tightly.
Rongzhen carried the box in both hands and walked out of the main hall.
The entrance was quiet, with eight people standing on either side, half men and half women, all with red hair and white clothes.
Among the eight people with red hair, the leader was a man and a woman, both expressionless, with a red dot between their eyebrows. The two stepped forward to greet Rong Zhen.
The male historian with a red dot on his forehead took the sandalwood box from Rong Zhen's hands.
The female historian with a red dot between her eyebrows, Chao Rongzhen, said:
"Rongzhen, the Grand Master of Fate asks you, what do you need the 'Bai Ze Diagram' and the Fang Xiang Face for when you were overseeing the construction of the Donglin Buddha and the developments in Xunyang?"
Rong Zhen's expression remained unchanged: "Investigate the case."
"Just to investigate the theft of fifty inksticks from that small Hanlei Ink Studio?"
"Lady Miaozhen is quite diligent in filing complaints."
Rongzhen nodded, her expression remaining impassive:
"Is this case insignificant? This pawn planted in Xunyang by the Li gang in the Southwest poses a serious threat to the construction of the Donglin Buddha. If we can follow the clues and catch the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower, we can eliminate this threat and ensure that everything is safe. It is by no means insignificant."
The lady with a red mark between her eyebrows frowned and asked:
"Was the case at Hanlei Mozhai the work of the Butterfly Love Flower Master? Does this person have accomplices who are spirits and ghosts? Are you going to follow the clues to find out more?"
Rong Zhen remained noncommittal, saying, "The matter of Xunyang is my responsibility and is not within your jurisdiction."
The female historian, with a red dot between her brows, had a hint of anger in her eyes.
Rong Zhen didn't care. She stretched out a fair hand from her sleeve and gestured to them.
The lady with the red mark between her eyebrows exchanged glances with her companions. After a moment of silence at the doorway, the group put away the "Bai Ze Tu" and took out another sandalwood box.
The female historian with a red dot on her forehead took out a golden mask from the new box.
The mask has a fierce appearance and four eyes.
"If you wear a square mask, you must not look in a mirror, gaze at water, or look at the moon; you will bear the consequences yourself."
The female historian with a red dot on her forehead placed the golden mask in Rongzhen's hand, coldly instructing her, her words as precious as gold.
"I don't need your instruction."
The cold, palace-dressed girl put away her golden mask and walked away.
...
After the autumnal equinox, until the winter solstice, the days become increasingly shorter and the nights longer.
The nights in late autumn are exceptionally long.
With the moon high in the sky, near the city gate in Xingzifang, a shop with a plaque that reads "Hanlei Mozhai" had already closed its doors.
The managers and staff had already finished their shifts and were resting, leaving only two or three gatekeepers to take over the night watch inside the shop.
On the inner warehouse side, the gatekeeper on night duty was also getting old, and he started to doze off after only patrolling for a short while.
However, the old doorman quickly shook off his gray hair, perked up, and went to the inner vault where the ink sticks were stored. He used a key to open the heavily locked doors, went inside, patrolled around with a lantern, and then turned around, closed the door, and left.
Not long ago, the disappearance of fifty rare Hanlei inksticks caused quite a stir. The owner was furious, and the shop assistants and gatekeepers also suffered and were scolded.
We certainly can't slack off on our night watch.
However, given the huge commotion caused by the investigation a few days ago, with a thorough search from top to bottom, the old doorman figured that this ink-stealing thief, whether he was a family member or not, would probably have to behave himself for a while.
Who would commit a series of crimes against the wind? Stealing ink sticks, no less... that's utterly pathetic.
With this thought in mind, the old gatekeeper, carrying a lantern, left with a sense of peace.
As for where this batch of rare inksticks went, no explanation has been found to date.
The constables from the Jiangzhou Grand Court's Judicial Office, along with the court ladies who originally supervised the Donglin Buddha and appeared to be of high status, arrived in droves, conducting round after round of questioning and interrogation.
Making a mountain out of a molehill.
In the end, they even found out that a certain shop assistant had embezzled two coins that a customer had dropped by the counter on a certain day, but they still couldn't catch the thief.
Fifty ink sticks vanished without a trace.
In recent days, the constables and female officials have come less often, and today they have all left. The figure of that seemingly high-ranking and powerful cold palace-dressed girl has not been seen for many days. I wonder if she is tired of investigating cases and too lazy to come.
While getting dinner in the evening, the old gatekeeper overheard the managers whispering among themselves that the case would most likely be left unsolved. The owner of Hanlei Mozhai had gone to see Military Advisor Yan that afternoon to discuss whether the case could be dropped and the matter settled.
It's not that I don't want to catch the thief, but the constant investigation keeps people coming and going in the shop, which disrupts ink making and sales. When customers and passersby see people in government uniforms frequently appearing in the shop, they become suspicious and worried, and rumors start to spread.
So recently, the case has gradually faded from public attention, and no one is investigating it anymore. Inside Hanlei Ink Studio, everything has returned to normal, except that all the locks on the inner treasury doors have been replaced.
At the same time, the ventilation window was also made smaller, and after being blocked, only a vent hole about the size of a fist remained, because the preservation of ink sticks requires ventilation and dehumidification.
The old gatekeeper shook his head and continued his night patrol...
Behind them, in the ink storage chamber, it was pitch black.
By the moonlight filtering through the ventilation holes above, rows of wooden shelves could be vaguely seen inside the warehouse.
On each shelf of the wooden frame, there were neatly arranged boxes of ink.
Hundreds of famous Hanlei inksticks from Jiangnan were carefully packed into these ink boxes.
Made of ebony, the ink box is exquisitely crafted with carved designs. It serves to store and protect Hanlei inksticks, and the fine ink paired with a fine box also enhances its value.
Shortly after the night patrol figure disappeared.
The light inside the warehouse suddenly dimmed as something blocked the silvery moonlight from the fist-sized ventilation hole in the center of the roof. After a moment, the warehouse returned to normal.
Squeak—squeak—squeak—
In the silent air inside the warehouse, some faint sounds suddenly arose.
On a wooden shelf, there was a heavy ink box, as if it had awakened to life and gained legs, and it was slowly moving towards the edge of the shelf.
From a distance, the ink cartridge looks like a slow-moving earthworm, undulating along.
Finally, it reached the edge.
Snap!
A hard object fell to the ground in the darkness, accompanied by the cracking sound of a box breaking open.
It was the ink cartridge that fell.
Incidentally, the well-preserved pine-scented ink stick inside was also revealed.
At the same time, on the wooden shelf directly above the ink cartridge that had been dropped, a small dark figure was crouching on the edge, cautiously peering down.
It turns out that the ink cartridge hadn't come to life; rather, the tiny black shadow had been pushing the ink cartridge with all its might.
Inside the warehouse, the scent of pine resin filled the air.
The small dark figure disappeared on the wooden frame.
After a rustling sound.
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
Inside the dark warehouse, the faint chewing sound of rats gnawing on rice could be heard.
I just don't know whose rat it is, coming to the inkwell instead of the rice bin.
The chewing sound continued for a long time, until the moon outside rose to its highest point in the sky, and a beam of cool moonlight fell on the dark floor through the ventilation hole directly above. After slowly shifting its position, it finally shone on a small, sneaky shadow.
It was vaguely visible that it was only the size of a child's palm, smaller than the inkstone being held in one's arms.
The tiny black figure is a mouse, squatting on the ground, feasting and enjoying its food. It even seems to have a habit of smacking its lips while eating.
The entire Hanlei ink stick, which was even larger than itself, was almost completely consumed in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
It's like a starving ghost reincarnated; I don't know how long I've been fasting, but tonight I finally have a full meal.
"Uh~"
The little black shadow let out a satisfied burp.
Just then, a cold, female voice rang out from the side:
"Are you full?"
From a shadowy spot against the wall in the inner treasury, the figure of a young girl in palace attire with flowing sleeves emerged.
The tiny black shadow jumped up half a foot high in fright.
Crash!
Rongzhen heard sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets coming from all directions.
The rows of ink cartridges neatly stacked on the shelf all spontaneously fell to the ground without any wind.
After the commotion subsided, the inner vault returned to silence.
The small black figure had disappeared, probably escaping in the chaos, leaving behind only a mess of inkstones scattered on the ground.
Rong Zhen remained calm and did not chase after him. Long Xiu walked to the spot where the small black figure had been frantically eating ink sticks.
She lowered her eyes and looked around at the large pile of messy inksticks on the ground.
The girl in palace attire gave a light "scoff," unmoved by the gesture, and took out a golden mask from her sleeve, placing it on her pretty face.
Her face was masked in a fierce manner, her eyes were deep and dark, like black holes that could absorb all the light from the outside world, and at this moment, her eyes were staring straight at a pile of ink ingots on the floor.
Before she could speak, one of the inksticks that had been feigning death suddenly melted into a small black shadow among the chaotic inksticks. After reverting to its original form, it moved like a fly—in a hurry, it used all four legs to run away.
Rong Zhen's figure flashed like a phantom, closing in and stepping on the small shadow. She parted her pink lips slightly:
"You think you can escape?"
"..."
The little creature at her feet begged for mercy in a panic, even managing to speak in human language, looking utterly pitiful.
"Fairy, please spare me! I was wrong, I was wrong, I will never dare to steal your ink again! Waaah, please be gentle with your feet! Ouch, my hair is messed up, it hurts so much! Fairy's feet... Jade, jade feet, please be gentle."
I heard the pitiful, pleading voice of a girl coming from below.
Rongzhen loosened her feet slightly and looked closely.
This shadowy figure, no bigger than a child's palm, turned out to be a tiny person wearing a lotus-shaped Taoist crown, resembling a female Taoist priestess. Originally, she had red lips and white teeth, but the area around her mouth, which she had been chewing on, was stained with ink, like a circle drawn with an ink pen on white paper, which was quite comical.
However, upon closer inspection, it was discovered that in addition to wearing a lotus-shaped Taoist crown, she was also dressed in a dark-colored ancient Confucian robe, holding a golden alms bowl used by monks, and a snow-white whisk.
She was neither a Taoist priest, nor a Confucian scholar, nor a nun; she seemed to dabble in all three religions, which, in Rong Zhen's eyes, made her appear incongruous. She frowned slightly.
"stand up."
The young female Taoist priest in black robes scrambled to her feet, straightened her crooked lotus-shaped Taoist crown, then squatted down to pick up her whisk and golden bowl. She blew off the dust, carefully examined the battle damage, and looked extremely distressed.
"Hand over your real name first," Rong Zhen suddenly ordered coldly.
"Can we not say?" the young nun asked timidly, her head bowed.
She dared not look directly at the golden mask that filled her with a sense of profound terror; its invisible majesty weighed her down, making it impossible for her to lift her head.
Rongzhen was amused, thinking that this little rascal must have lost his mind, trying to bargain.
Is this a newly formed spirit, and has never been beaten before?
Rong Zhen suddenly felt that it was a waste to have specially transferred a forbidden item from Luodu Shen to use on this little monster in front of her.
With this little female Taoist's meager skills, her big eyes revealing a clear stupidity, and her brain not working very well, she could easily deal with her. Preparing so much is making a mountain out of a molehill.
Rong Zhen casually removed Fang Xiang's mask, revealing a cold expression:
"You're welcome to give it a try."
The young nun waved her hand, her eyes darting around, and answered in a firm and resounding voice:
"I won't try anymore, fairy! My name is Huang Xuan!"
(End of this chapter)
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