Chapter 6

In the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, Emperor Xia was still reading the memorials. Among the emperors of past dynasties, the current Emperor Xia might not be considered a wise ruler, but he was undoubtedly the most diligent. However, his indecisive character became his greatest constraint, making his achievements far less than those of his predecessors. The Xia Dynasty had stagnated for thirty years, and in the current turbulent situation, maintaining the status quo was tantamount to failure, and inaction was a fault.

"I cannot be a sinner of the Xia Dynasty!"

Emperor Xia knew his weaknesses, so this time he was determined to send troops to the Northern Plains, no longer tolerating anyone who undermined the dignity of the Great Xia.

However, the will of heaven is unpredictable, and even the Son of Heaven could not fathom the intentions of heaven.

"Empress, is what you said true?" The emperor on the dragon throne looked grave and asked solemnly.

At the age of forty, his hair was already half white. Emperor Xia's life had been one of no great faults and no great achievements, a life of maintaining the status quo, but also a life of hard work. He had single-handedly upheld the vast empire, exhausting his mind and body. Though he was in his forties, he was already on the verge of exhaustion.

"Absolutely true."

Changsun looked at the man who had been by her side for half her life and felt a sense of sorrow. The words of her elders from childhood, the companionship and support, she remembered and acted upon. Love, perhaps, did not belong to the imperial family, and she had never thought about it. Only the premature white hair revealed the ruthlessness of time.

"Summon the Chief Astronomer."

The imperial edict was issued, and a fast horse galloped out of the palace, heading east.

The people in the palace waited silently. Emperor Xia descended from the high platform and came to the front of the hall, looking at the bright heart star of the imperial constellation, beside which a red star was faintly shining, very pale but glaring.

"Jupiter at the heart."

Emperor Xia's face showed bitterness. Was his life destined to bear the name of a foolish ruler?

Changsun did not step forward, remaining silent. The harem should not interfere in politics; she had given her warning, which was enough.

"Your Majesty, the Chief Astronomer is here, waiting outside the hall."

After a while, a eunuch came in to report. The emperor's bitter expression immediately returned to the imperial dignity.

"Admit him."

"遵旨"

At this moment, Changsun also stood up, came to Emperor Xia, and knelt, saying, "Your subject will take her leave first."

"恩"

Emperor Xia nodded in agreement. It was inappropriate for the empress to be present when a minister was being received, especially at this sensitive time.

Changsun left, and the Chief Astronomer Shangguan Yuanming entered the hall, knelt, and waited for the emperor to bid him rise.

However, after a long wait, Shangguan Yuanming did not hear the emperor speak. Suddenly, his body trembled, and cold sweat poured down.

"Shangguan Yuanming," the emperor spoke, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"Your subject is here," Shangguan Yuanming replied, his voice trembling.

"How long have you been the Chief Astronomer?" the emperor continued to ask.

"Ten years and three months," Shangguan Yuanming's fear grew, his face pale, and his body shivering.

"Very well, very well."

The emperor repeated, his calm face suddenly turning fierce, and he slapped the table beside him. "Ten years and three months, I could have tamed a dog by now!"

"Your subject is guilty," Shangguan Yuanming confessed in terror, banging his head on the ground.

"Where is your guilt?" the emperor's fierce expression gradually calmed, and he said coldly.

"Your subject is incompetent and has failed to live up to Your Majesty's trust," Shangguan Yuanming said, his head still on the ground, his voice trembling.

"Incompetent? What a fine excuse!"

Seeing Shangguan Yuanming still hiding the truth, the emperor's anger flared again, and he grabbed the teacup on the table and threw it.

With a "thud," the teacup hit Shangguan Yuanming's head, and blood gushed out, staining the floor of the hall red.

"Speak, who ordered you!" the emperor glared at him, his voice stern.

He was not a fool. The Astronomical Bureau was full of talented people; how could they fail to predict such a crucial celestial event as Jupiter at the heart? It must have been someone behind the scenes deliberately suppressing the news to push for the military campaign.

Jupiter at the heart has always foretold war and disaster. If he launched a military campaign now, he would be seen as a tyrant who provoked war, and the Great Xia would become the target of the world. At that time, the Great Xia would face not just the ancient Mongol court but the condemnation of the entire world, along with the ever-restless Eternal Night Cult. The thousand-year-old foundation of the Great Xia would be utterly destroyed, and he would be the sinner of the Great Xia.

Thinking of this, Emperor Xia's body trembled, and the suppressed fear and anger threatened to erupt again.

"Your subject was not ordered by anyone."

Shangguan Yuanming raised his head, blood streaming down his forehead, staining half his face. At this moment, he became calm and answered solemnly.

"Very well, very well!"

Emperor Xia took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said coldly.

"Bring Shangguan Yuanming to the death cell. Also, send the Imperial Guard to surround his residence. No one is to enter or leave without my command."

"遵旨"

As the words fell, two imperial guards entered the hall and dragged Shangguan Yuanming out. In the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, only Emperor Xia sat on the dragon throne, gazing at the sky ahead, silent and motionless.

After a long time, a sickly flush appeared on Emperor Xia's face, and with a "pu," he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I cannot be the sinner of the Great Xia."

How tragic, how bitter. The emperor who ruled the world, the god who overshadowed the sun and moon, could fight against human hearts but not against the will of heaven. Was it the will of heaven that toyed with people, or the will of heaven that toyed with gods? With this spurt of blood, the truth became clear.

The thousand-year-old imperial dynasty was both a glory and a burden. Emperor Xia bore the thousand-year glory of the Great Xia, and every step he took required careful consideration. Was it caution or hesitation? It was hard to see and hard to distinguish.

On a cold night, a gentle breeze blew. On the cold dragon throne, Emperor Xia sat alone, indifferent to the bloodstains on his imperial robe. Outside the hall, the guards stood watch, not daring to step inside. This was the emperor of the Great Xia, and as long as he sat on the supreme dragon throne, no one dared to defy the will of heaven.

The emperor's ruthlessness was not just towards others but also towards himself. His hair was gray, his body exhausted, and he had been an emperor for twenty years, a man for a hundred years.

"I am not willing, not willing!"

A thousand words turned into a bitter laugh, and in the darkness, the suddenly bright Jupiter at the heart dimmed again, as if mocking the emperor's foolishness.

...

The next morning, in the court, the expected order to send troops was not issued, and the ministers were surprised, all looking at the Three Dukes, the only ones who could change the emperor's mind. However, the Three Dukes remained silent, offering no opinion.

After the court, the ministers left, each with their own thoughts, not showing their joy or worry.

As the Three Dukes were about to leave, Emperor Xia stepped forward and, looking at the Grand Scholar in his green robe, asked solemnly, "Teacher, if I take the wrong path this time, will you intervene?"

The Grand Scholar was silent for a long time before softly saying, "Yes."

This simple answer seemed to give Emperor Xia the greatest confidence, knowing that when he reached a dead end on his imperial path, his teacher would reach out to help him.

The Three Dukes left calmly, and Emperor Xia remained alone in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, silently handling the affairs of the empire as usual.

In the Weiyang Palace, Ning Chen got up early and fiddled with a lock on the door for a long time. Mu Chengxue glanced at it and lost interest. Such a small mechanism could only deal with children.

Ning Chen didn't care about Mu Chengxue's thoughts. After finishing his work and admiring it, he prepared to go eat, looking at Mu Chengxue with a smile before leaving.

"Let's see you be arrogant without food."

In the Weiyang Palace, there was a special place for the palace maids and eunuchs to eat. Ning Chen, now a leisurely person, came just in time for the meal, and the dining hall was still empty.

"This, this, and this."

Ning Chen excitedly pointed at the dishes, and the old eunuch serving the food generously filled his plate, showing that Empress Changsun treated her servants well.

"More of this, and pack it to go," Ning Chen pointed at a pot of braised pork, his eyes shining.

"Hmm?"

As he spoke, Ning Chen looked up and noticed the old eunuch standing still, puzzled, "What's wrong? Can't I have this?"

"What does 'pack it to go' mean?" the old eunuch asked, confused.

This simple question left Ning Chen in a dilemma. Looking at the bowl and spoon in the old eunuch's hand, he was at a loss.

No plastic bags, no takeout boxes, how to pack it, how to pack it, how to pack it!

Ning Chen was in a mess, vaguely holding a steamed bun and carrying three plates, he stumbled out of the dining hall.

"I'll bring the plates back after I finish eating," Ning Chen mumbled to the equally confused old eunuch before leaving.

On the way, he met Qingning, "Qingning, good morning."

Qingning frowned and was also confused.

Fortunately, the people he met afterward were strangers, saving him the trouble of greeting them. He hurried back to his room and kicked the door with his foot, "Open the door."

Inside the room, Mu Chengxue, who had intended to open the door upon hearing Ning Chen's footsteps, stopped when she heard the strange sound.

"Open the door, I have something in my hands."

Ning Chen, carrying the plates in his mouth, felt his cheeks go numb. Seeing Mu Chengxue not opening the door, he became anxious, thinking he would be exhausted to death.

Mu Chengxue paused, confirmed that only Ning Chen was outside, and cautiously opened the door a little.

"Move, move."

Seeing the door finally open, Ning Chen hurried inside, ran a step, and placed the plates and the bun on the table, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

"I'm exhausted."

Ning Chen, realizing he was speaking with a lisp, was startled and rubbed his cheeks hard.

"Your tongue is swollen."

Ning Chen, still speaking with a lisp, couldn't wait to sit down, took out the bun, and prepared to eat.

Mu Chengxue looked at the plates Ning Chen had carried in his mouth and the bun he had held, her eyes flickering, but she finally sat down opposite him.

"The food is pretty good, right?"

Ning Chen happily put a piece of braised pork in his mouth, feeling very satisfied. He had bled and needed to eat something good to replenish himself.

Looking at the content young man, Mu Chengxue was silent for a moment and then asked softly, "Do you really want to learn martial arts?"