Chapter 9

Changsun was very clear that she could not return to the Changsun Manor now. Since the assassin knew about his departure from the palace, they would certainly be waiting for her on the way back to the Changsun Manor.

It was hard to believe that the forces behind the assassin had already infiltrated the imperial city and even the palace. The consecutive assassinations were becoming increasingly perilous. This time, if it weren't for Qingning's selfless protection, she would surely have been unable to escape death.

Ningchen and Qingning were still unconscious. Changsun had always felt that Ningchen was a very special child. From the first time they met, she had this feeling. They say that the higher one stands, the colder it gets. Since she became Empress Xia, she had been constantly experiencing this feeling. Even her closest family members began to show a hint of respect when facing her, though she wasn't sure when this started.

Qingning was raised by her, and they were very close. However, due to this relationship, Qingning's attitude towards her was more respectful than intimate. If there were any other feelings, perhaps it was more gratitude.

The first time she met Ningchen, she saw a robust young boy chasing something. Out of curiosity, she didn't interrupt him. Who knew that the boy would suddenly run into her arms, and it turned out he was just chasing a copper coin.

From Ningchen's eyes, she didn't see the flattery, hypocrisy, or even fear that everyone else showed when they met her. Although he seemed a bit embarrassed, it was clear that he was awkward because he had bumped into her. When she took his copper coin, this little guy even wanted to ask for it back.

Later, she had Qingning bring Ningchen to the Weiyang Palace. She knew that such a child would surely cause trouble if left elsewhere. However, to her surprise, Ningchen seemed ungrateful. The reluctant look on his face when she saw him again was still very clear in her mind.

The event of Mars occupying the Heart Star was even more unexpected. For this, she specially summoned Ningchen to confirm the truth. She had met countless people in her life, and if it were a seasoned old man, he might have been able to deceive her, but Ningchen was just a teenager of fifteen or sixteen. She could tell if he was lying at a glance.

Mars occupying the Heart Star was not a big deal in itself, but it was a significant event given the current delicate timing. Emperor Xia had already decided to launch a military campaign, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, knowing that the Mars phenomenon was imminent, chose to conceal it. The purpose behind this was even more chilling.

Today, when she left the palace to return to the Changsun Manor, Qingning even brought Ningchen along. She was just surprised and didn't ask anything.

What truly surprised her was Ningchen's performance today. From the moment he pulled her to escape to the calmness he showed when he asked the pharmacist for sulfur and saltpeter to make something unknown, which later turned out to have caused a massive explosion that destroyed half a street, and the discovery of shattered bones and blood on the ground when the soldiers arrived.

Ningchen's continuous surprising performances made her increasingly astonished. Regarding the blood transfusion for Qingning, she had specifically asked the pharmacist, but he clearly stated that there had never been a record of blood transfusions being used to treat or heal injuries in medical books. However, regardless of whether she believed it or not, Qingning's pulse was gradually stabilizing, indicating that he had passed the critical point.

However, this time, Changsun decided to keep Ningchen's rescue a secret and downplay his earlier warning about Mars. This was not to suppress him but to protect him. After all, his roots were too shallow, and suddenly achieving such a great feat could easily make him a target of jealousy and sabotage.

She thought that news of her assassination attempt had already reached the palace. Ningchen had taken her to escape into the crowd amidst the chaos and then rescued Qingning. This meant that their whereabouts were unknown.

She had considered having the pharmacist report to the Changsun Manor, but then dismissed the idea. If someone with ulterior motives noticed, the pharmacist would likely be followed to the Changsun Manor.

Actually, the best person to report to the Changsun Manor was Ningchen. His face was unfamiliar, unlike the pharmacist, who was known to many as the owner of Duanan Pharmacy. Even if someone noticed him, they wouldn't guess their location.

"Thirsty"

At this moment, Ningchen half-opened his eyes and mumbled.

Hearing Ningchen's voice, Changsun snapped back to reality. She went to the table, poured a glass of water, and walked to the bed, carefully helping Ningchen sit up and handing him the glass.

In his daze, Ningchen didn't realize that the person in front of him was the very Changsun he feared. He slightly raised his body, drank a few sips of water, then pushed the glass away and turned to continue sleeping.

Changsun smiled helplessly. This was the first time in her life that she had served someone, even Emperor Xia hadn't had this privilege.

On the other side, Qingning still showed no signs of waking up. Given the severity of his injuries, it would take some time for him to recover. Fortunately, they were in a pharmacy, and with all the necessary herbs, he would eventually recover as long as he was out of danger.

Unconsciously, the sky had turned dark, and night had fallen. Changsun, concerned about the Mars phenomenon, walked to the window and waited for the moment to arrive.

At the same time, in the Tianyu Hall of the Xia Imperial Palace, Emperor Xia stood alone, looking up at the sky. His dragon robe fluttered in the night wind, and the cold night air was heavy, but no one dared to remind him.

In the southern sky, the Heart Star was as brilliant as ever, while Mars remained as dim as the previous night, seemingly unchanged. However, those who observed closely noticed that the distance between the two stars had truly decreased.

In the western part of the Xia Dynasty, in an unknown desolate temple, a young man who looked ordinary walked out. With just one ordinary step, he seemed to have traveled a great distance. However, the moment he stepped out of the temple, the desolate area disappeared as if it had never existed.

The world did not know that the disappeared temple was the first hall of the Eternal Night Cult, nor did they know that the young man who walked out was the Cult's Divine Son.

Mars occupying the Heart Star, a century of dark night!

This was the omen of the Eternal Night. Similar omens appeared in the ancient Mongol court in the north, the Duer Temple in the southwest, and the Tiancang Academy in the Xia Dynasty.

At this moment, the sky finally showed the most astonishing change. The dim Mars star suddenly became bright, and the two stars shone together, filling the sky with red.

"Heaven's will"

In the Taishi Gong's residence, the Imperial Tutor looked at the sky and sighed. The ominous star's influence foretold the arrival of great calamity, and this time, the Xia Dynasty might not be spared.

"Taishi, you're too serious!"

With a slightly mocking tone, a figure of unparalleled beauty walked over. He looked to be around thirty, with a face like a jade crown, and was none other than Xiyu Gong, one of the three dukes.

"Friend, you didn't come here just to mock Taishi, did you?" the Imperial Tutor looked at him and said calmly.

"I knew that tonight, my friend would be in a bad mood, so I came to keep you company and ease your mind," Xiyu Gong replied with a light laugh.

"Oh? Then I should thank you!" the Imperial Tutor said.

"Heh, no need to be so formal," Xiyu Gong accepted the thanks with a smile.

"You're nearly a hundred years old, and you're still so shameless," the Imperial Tutor said sarcastically.

"Thanks for the compliment," Xiyu Gong replied with a smile.

That night, the world was in chaos, and everyone's attention was drawn to the two red stars in the sky. In the Tianyu Hall, Emperor Xia felt a wave of weakness. Observers noticed that the unshakable true dragon aura above the Xia Imperial Palace was rapidly weakening. The once invincible Xia Dynasty was no longer unbreakable, and the heavens of the神州 (神州 can be translated as "神州" or "the land of the divine") were truly changing.

Fortune, a force that is difficult to describe, had once led to the Xia Dynasty's rise. During the division of the神州, wars broke out, and the Xia Dynasty emerged, sweeping across the land and establishing a thousand-year unbreakable imperial power. The once invincible Xia Dynasty, with its peak fortune, even forced the Eternal Night Cult, which had existed for countless ages, to retreat into the darkness. This thousand years was indeed the thousand years of the Xia Dynasty, without any doubt or controversy.

However, the Xia Dynasty's fortune was now truly weakening, and what did this mean?

The wise men of the world knew that this meant the Xia Dynasty was no longer invincible and no longer unshakable.

Fortunately, very few people in the world could see this. After all, the number of true wise men could be counted on one hand.

"Such beautiful stars!"

In the inner courtyard of Duanan Pharmacy, as Changsun furrowed her brow, thinking about the future, Ningchen, who should have been lying in bed, secretly checked on Qingning's condition, then, bored, wrapped himself in a blanket and leaned against the window, leisurely watching the stars.

Changsun immediately felt a headache. Only this guy could say such a thing at this moment.

However, Changsun had to admit that, ignoring the significance of Mars occupying the Heart Star, the current scene of the two stars shining together, filling the sky with red, was indeed beautiful.

Changsun suddenly remembered that yesterday, Ningchen had climbed onto Qingning's roof to watch the stars, which led to his coincidental warning about Mars. This boy seemed to have a great love for watching stars.

"Chenchen, do you like watching stars?" Changsun asked out of curiosity, having nothing better to do.

"Yes," Ningchen answered while counting the stars.

"Are you not yet sixteen this year?"

"Yes."

"Your home is not in the imperial city, right?"

"Yes."

"Yesterday, when I asked you about the high-ranking person you mentioned, you made that up, didn't you?"

"Yes... No," Ningchen realized his mistake and turned to look at Changsun, feeling very frustrated. Experience truly comes with age, and his skills were not even enough to warm up compared to Changsun's.

Changsun glanced at the embarrassed Ningchen and slowly said, "Considering that you saved this palace and Qingning today, I won't hold this against you. You have done two significant deeds, and I can consider granting you a few requests."

"Really? How many?" Ningchen's eyes lit up with excitement.

"How many do you want?" Changsun asked, amused.

Ningchen hesitated for a moment, then cautiously held up a hand, but quickly retracted three fingers when he saw Changsun's dangerous look.

"Two, is that okay?"

"Go ahead," Changsun nodded.

"I don't want to be a eunuch, and I want to leave the palace," Ningchen blurted out, his eyes shining. After so much preparation, he finally had a chance to escape.

Changsun was taken aback. She hadn't expected Ningchen's request to be this. After some thought, she shook her head, "No."

Ningchen was in a panic, jumping out of bed and arguing, "A gentleman's word is a promise, Your Majesty. As the Empress, you can't go back on your word."

Changsun, not angry at Ningchen's impertinence, replied calmly, "I am a woman, not a gentleman. Besides, I said I would consider it, not that I would definitely agree."

Ningchen's face turned white with anger, and he plopped back onto the bed, sulking.

"This one is invalid. You still have one more chance to make a request," Changsun reminded him.

"No more," Ningchen said, his mood sour, turning and burying his head under the blanket.

"Don't worry, if you think of something, you can tell me later," Changsun said, feeling quite pleased at Ningchen's frustration.

"Ugh, ugh," came two muffled sounds from under the blanket, which seemed to be a response but more like a silent protest...

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