Chapter 127 Dragon Pattern Transforms into Snake Pattern
The emperor continued, "Father was furious back then. He took in so many concubines, and they gave birth to so many of us brothers. He killed every concubine who gave birth, and threw every child he gave birth to. Some were even thrown to death... all because none of us had dragon patterns on our bodies."
The Grand Master remained silent. He had heard the emperor say the same thing many times in the past few years, and he knew very well that what the emperor wanted was not feedback, but just a way to vent.
"He kept giving birth, and giving birth, until he could no longer bear children, and then he finally accepted his fate." The emperor snorted, "Until his death, he never gave birth to a son with the dragon pattern. Even until his death, he said that the Helian family lineage ended with him."
"He always says we are useless, why doesn't he think that it's his own problem!"
"When he finally passed the throne to me, he was so reluctant, as if I was unworthy of it!"
"I also thought that these dragon patterns would disappear after my generation, but I didn't expect... Xiao Yu was born with these patterns, but not a dragon, but a snake! How can a snake rule the world? How can a snake be the son of God!"
The emperor grew increasingly frustrated with his failure: "If only one person hadn't come, I would have let it go, but you had to send such a strange one! Are you trying to tell me that I don't deserve the dragon mark, and that I don't even deserve to have children?"
"I really hope his snake pattern can turn into a dragon pattern, ah."
After the emperor had finished venting his anger, the Grand Master spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, you must know that whether it's a dragon pattern or a snake pattern, or even nothing at all, it doesn't affect your status as a wise ruler. The fact that you've developed the Xia Dynasty to its present prosperity has proven that you are truly a true dragon emperor, so there's no need to worry about it."
The emperor felt relieved after hearing this: "Grand Master, you are right. Fortunately, I have you by my side all these years."
…
The two chatted for a while, and then another official came to report official business, so the Grand Master took his leave first.
It was already past the time for dismissal, but he did not return to his residence. Instead, he leisurely went to the Imperial Observatory.
At this time, most of the officials of the Imperial Observatory had already left, and only his disciple Shen Zhaozhi was still waiting in the yamen.
"How is it, Master, did you meet Young Master Xiao on your trip to see the Emperor?" Chen Zhaozhi asked.
The Grand Master laughed when he saw Chen Zhaozhi: "Yes, he saw it. He even took advantage of the emperor's concern to check on his condition. As expected of my disciple Zhaozhi, he is so good at predicting things. He guessed that Xiao Yu would come to the palace to see the emperor at this time."
"Master, you are too kind. Xiao Yu has been so slow to return to the capital since receiving the imperial edict. Now that he has returned, he has not yet come to see the emperor in time. This is really unacceptable." Chen Zhaozhi said calmly, "Master, have you found any reason?"
"The golden-scaled anaconda markings on Xiao Yu's body are still there, showing no sign of disappearing. As long as the golden-scaled anaconda is there, his illness will never be cured." The Grand Master stroked his beard in confusion. "He doesn't have any medicine in his body that can suppress the symptoms... What's going on?"
Chen Zhaozhi frowned upon hearing this: "Could it be the influence of external factors?"
"External objects..." The Grand Master sat down and thought carefully.
After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Didn't they say a while ago that Shao Mingjie, the young man from the Shao family, went to a large tomb in Tailing County and seized a batch of burial objects? Was Xiao Yu also in Tailing at that time?"
"That's true." Chen Zhao said.
"That's a coincidence." The Grand Master narrowed his eyes.
"Could there be some treasure in the tomb that can cure this strange disease?"
"It's not about curing illness," the Grand Master explained. "If everything goes as expected, the tomb belongs to Prince Zheng of the previous dynasty. Prince Zheng was buried with a piece of blood-stained bronze that can suppress a person's fate."
"As long as you wear the bronze, no matter how good or bad your fate is, it won't be affected. Xiao Yu must have obtained this treasure, so he won't get sick again. But the bronze hasn't seen the world for hundreds of years, so who told him it has such an effect?"
The two looked at each other and both responded with the answer.
"Well, I'll handle the Bloodstained Bronze." The Grand Master instructed, "You should proceed according to the original plan."
"Yes, Master." Chen Zhaozhi responded.
…
When Xiao Yu returned home, it was time for dinner.
Although he had told Xu Chuchu to wait for him to come back for dinner before he left, the servants in the mansion didn't know when he would return, and they prepared the meal early for fear of neglecting Xu Chuchu.
Xu Chuchu also sat at the dining table early and waited, snatching bites of food from time to time. The taste was indeed no worse than the restaurant's signature dish at noon.
I really don’t know how Xiao Yu manages to stay healthy in this environment.
Xu Chuchu felt that if she continued to eat like this, her face would become round.
"How does it taste?" Xiao Yu pushed the door open and walked in, still carrying some of the cold air from outside.
Xu Chuchu quickly put down her chopsticks, a large lump of food in her mouth, and blurted out, "No, I'm waiting!"
Xiao Yu couldn't help laughing when he saw her puffed up cheeks: "No need to wait for me, just eat first."
Xu Chuchu quickly swallowed the food and asked, "How are you? Did the emperor give you any trouble?"
"Don't worry, no." Xiao Yu recounted the whole incident lightly, including the Grand Master examining his body and him hiding the copper piece.
He added, "They seem particularly interested in my illness and fate, but I'm still unsure whether they are friend or foe."
"You said that the Grand Master channeled spiritual power into your body, and then the pattern of the brocade-scaled boa appeared?" Xu Chuchu asked.
"Good. Will there be any problem?" Xiao Yu asked vigilantly.
"No." Xu Chuchu shook her head, "He definitely knows that your illness is not cured."
Xiao Yu thought again: "Is it possible that he doesn't know that my illness is caused by the Jin-Scaled Anaconda fate?"
"Impossible." Xu Chuchu answered firmly, "Since he knows how to manifest your brocade-scaled anaconda, he must know its function."
"So that's how it is." Xiao Yu began to wonder why the Grand Master had concealed his illness from the Emperor.
"Is the copper piece still there?" Xu Chuchu asked.
"Of course." Xiao Yu took out the blood-stained bronze from his neck and showed it to her.
The red thread that had been cut off has been tied together again by him.
Xu Chuchu touched the copper sheet. It felt smooth and warm, with a hint of Xiao Yu's body temperature.
This was originally a piece of metal stripped from a dead person, dirty and rough. Later, it must have been frequently and carefully wiped by someone, and only then did it return to its original normal appearance.
To be honest, it looks quite ugly overall and is not worthy of being worn around the neck as a necklace. However, after wiping it clean, the exquisitely carved patterns on it are revealed, and it reflects bright light under the candlelight, which shows its value.
"Keep it safe." Xu Chuchu let go of the copper piece and clenched her chopsticks. "If the Grand Master is in cahoots with the tomb robbers, he might guess that you're able to suppress your illness because of this copper piece. If they want to harm you, they might send someone to steal it."
"Don't worry." Xiao Yu smiled, "No one has ever been able to steal anything from me."
Xu Chuchu was still worried: "I think this thread is worn out and will break at any time. You can change it for a stronger one later."
The red thread used to tie the copper piece was originally obtained by Xu Chuchu from the proprietress at the inn at the foot of the mountain. It was originally a thin thread for sewing clothes, and it was very difficult for it to last until today.
"But I'm not good at picking." Xiao Yu said shamelessly, "How about... you come instead."
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