The Director of the Imperial Observatory arrived quickly. He had already learned the general situation on the way. Now, looking at Mingjue's unmoved appearance, he was speechless.
You, a monk, instead of staying in the temple to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and wait to collect your money, you come to the palace and spout nonsense to the emperor.
Besides, the Director of the Imperial Observatory is truly capable. If a celestial omen were to actually appear, would it be necessary for a monk to warn the Emperor? It would make the Imperial Observatory seem like they're all useless.
Just as he was about to refute Master Mingjue, the supervisor felt a death stare. He subconsciously looked up and saw the Emperor staring at him.
In that instant, the supervisor felt he had realized that the emperor wanted a harbinger of disaster to descend upon the world, and he and Master Mingjue had put on a show together.
Thinking this way, Jian Zheng also felt a sense of crisis. There were people who could replace him in his professional field and do it even better. This was unacceptable.
So the supervisor quoted extensively from classical texts, speaking in a mysterious and esoteric manner, but in short, he got to the point.
He believed that Master Mingjue's words made sense, and he deeply felt that he was not knowledgeable enough and wanted to study further with Master Mingjue.
"Does the master have a solution?" Yinzhen asked with some worry.
"I have come here to answer Your Majesty's questions. The ancient texts left by my master recorded that evil stars are exceptionally wicked and cannot be harmed by ordinary methods. One can seek help from heavenly fire and draw heavenly lightning to strike them, thus annihilating them completely, body and soul, and making them cease to exist," Master Mingjue said calmly.
Zhang Tingyu wanted to say "absurd." Putting aside what the demon star was, the method of summoning lightning sounded more like a street stunt. Now, to openly discuss this in the Hall of Mental Cultivation would make Confucius turn in his grave.
But he didn't say anything. It was obvious to everyone that this was a play written and directed by the Emperor himself; they were just passive spectators, their job being simply to observe.
"Very well, since the master has a solution, then I will await good news. The Imperial Observatory will fully cooperate with you. I will give you seven days. Within seven days, you must see the demon star fall!" Yinzhen made the final decision.
Mingjue calculated with his fingers and said, "Your Majesty, I have just calculated that it will not take seven days. The outcome will be clear at noon three days from now."
"Very well, then I would like to invite all my ministers to come together in three days to bear witness!"
"Master, your Buddhist teachings are profound, and you are highly regarded by Father Emperor. I also have complete faith in your words, and I hope you will not let me down!" After saying this earnestly, Yinzhen waved his hand to dismiss everyone.
Zhang Tingyu approached the Ninth and Thirteenth Princes: "Your Excellencies, I wonder what kind of show His Majesty is going to put on? Please give me a sneak peek so I can cooperate."
Thirteen smiled and replied, "You and I are just bystanders, so naturally we don't need to do anything."
"I was being too lenient," Zhang Tingyu nodded. "How is Ninth Prince's health? I recently left a century-old ginseng for you, and I'll send it to your residence later."
"Thank you, Prime Minister." Yinzhen did not refuse.
******
This farce about the "demon star" spread from the previous dynasty to the inner palace.
Since the last incident involving the rag doll, the Empress Dowager had become disheartened and began to truly practice vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting.
As long as she doesn't cause trouble, Yihua is willing to serve her with the respect due to a mother-in-law.
That day, the Empress Dowager suddenly spoke up: "Empress, I know that whatever I say now will be disliked by the Emperor, but I have no choice but to speak."
"Now the palace is in a state of panic. Even I can hear the palace maids and eunuchs talking about how a monstrous star has descended to earth and will bring disaster to the country and its people."
"This is your dereliction of duty."
"It is easier to dam a river than to silence the people's voices; once the royal reputation is tarnished, it is difficult to salvage."
"The Emperor's mind is unpredictable, and nowadays he can only listen to a little of what you say."
Yi Hua nodded: "Your Majesty, I will obey your decree and do my best to advise you."
"Fine, I'm just saying a few words, whether you listen or not is up to you."
"Green Granny, escort Her Majesty the Empress back. It's time for me to collect the Buddha's rice."
With a smile, Granny Green saw her off. Yi Hua looked at the old palace with complicated feelings. The Empress Dowager was truly the strangest mother she had ever met. Whenever Yinzhen was threatened by the outside world, she could always react and express her attitude of protecting her child.
Conversely, without a united enemy, the mother and son turned into wild beasts fighting each other.
They always had a strange, unspoken understanding about these things.
Regarding the "demon star," Yihua asked Yinzhen, who simply blinked and said, "It's a secret. It's no fun if the mystery is revealed too early. I'll definitely show you a good show in three days."
Since Yinzhen wasn't really insane, Yihua lifted her hand and stopped asking questions.
Guo Luoluo was very uneasy. She had also heard the rumors in the palace: "My lord, our plan has worked. It's all over the palace now. They say that Master Mingjue predicted that a demon star will be born in the palace."
"It's a few days earlier than I estimated, probably because they paid enough money," Guo Luoluo said uncertainly.
Old Eight remained silent for a long while, then looked at the woman in front of him with a complicated expression: "Can you still contact people outside?"
Guo Luoluo shook her head. The palace they lived in seemed to be completely isolated from the world. Apart from the guards bringing them meals, there wasn't a single living person around.
Guo Luoluo served the Eighth Prince's every need, so in just a few days, her hands became rougher from washing clothes, and her face also looked haggard from keeping watch.
"Thank you for your hard work." The eighth prince is now starting to think that Guo Luoluo's entry into the palace was a mistake. Now the two of them are trapped in the siege, and they can't rely on Hongwang at all. Neither of them wants to start with Hongwang. They subconsciously want to give Hongwang a clean future.
"If we fail this time, I will give you a letter of divorce. Then you can stay far away from the capital, find an honest man to marry, have two well-behaved children, and live happily ever after, taking my share with you," Lao Ba said calmly, as if he were talking about what to have for dinner.
“I have 100,000 taels of silver deposited at Wanfang Pawnshop in the northeast corner of the capital. You can withdraw it by taking the token I gave you. This is the last thing I can do for you.”
"My lord, why are you saying all this? Now that I've married you, I belong to you in life and in death. I don't want money, I just want you to stay with me." Guo Luoluo couldn't help but shed tears.
"I was wrong to you before. I made you sad by having another woman." Eighth Master wanted to wipe away Guo Luoluo's tears, but as he raised his hand, the veins bulged and he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Don't move." Guo Luoluo wiped the Eighth Prince's body. "It's still uncertain who will win. You can't give up now."
Eighth Master smiled. Guo Luoluo didn't understand. His game with Fourth Brother was like playing Go. A slight difference could lead to a huge difference in outcome. He could already foresee his own fate.
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