Nightfall

The Cold Autumn Palace

Upon learning of the death of Imperial Astronomer, Mr. Miao, the officials from the Ministry of Rites left in a hurry with unreadable expressions.

The chief eunuch motioned for Xu Liangshou to follow him into the room. He sat down and said with a dark expression, “Do you know what to do next?”

Xu Liangshou said respectfully, “Please give me some pointers, sir.”

The chief eunuch tapped the table lightly and said, “We don’t know how to read the stars. We will listen to you.”

Xu Liangshou said after a brief moment of silence, “Sir, do you really want me to write it?”

The chief eunuch was already very impatient, and he shouted, “What are you waiting for? Get this done quickly!”

Xu Liangshou stopped his prevarication and went to the desk and wrote down eight words.

“The dark moon invades, unrest befalls the country!”

Many years ago, the Tang Imperial Astronomer noticed that the starry night had darkened and wrote eight words. Many years later, the moon appeared in the night sky. The officials in the Imperial Observatory did not even look at it before writing another set of eight words.

The chief eunuch’s expression darkened so much that it felt as if it was about to rain. His eyes flamed angrily as he gritted his teeth and said, “Lord Xu, what do you mean by this?”

Xu Liangshou said calmly, “I am just the deputy of the Imperial Observatory. After His Honor passed, I have taken his position according to the laws of the Tang Empire. We do not need to discuss this with the court. Since you want me to write, I have done so. How is this inappropriate?”

The chief eunuch laughed in anger. He laughed dryly, pointing at Xu Liangshou, “You’re good, Lord Xu.”

Xu Liangshou looked up sternly and knocked the eunuch’s thin fingers away. He yelled, “I called you sir and asked for pointers. I spoke to you humbly to show my respect to the nobles in the palace! I am a fourth-grade official, and you are just a eunuch. How dare you be so disrespectful!”

“How dare you! Such impudence!” The chief eunuch shook in anger. “Do you want to die?”

Xu Liangshou’s expression was cold as he yelled, “Die? Do you really think the laws of the Tang Empire are for show? Tell the noble backing you that I am not Mr. Miao. I don’t have naughty disciples who have accidentally killed someone in a street brawl and neither do I have corrupt relatives! I am all alone! It’s not that easy to kill me! Get out of here!”

With that, he slapped the eunuch forcefully. The slap rang in the air.

The Tang Empire Imperial Center Administration managed cultivators on behalf of the imperial court. To the ordinary folk or ordinary officials, this center was very mysterious.

However, the yamen in the Imperial Center Administration was not mysterious, but rather remote. It was located in a small building four miles east of the Vermilion Bird Avenue across the garden of the military department.

Judging by the skies, it did not look like it was going to rain again in a short period of time after the incessant rain stopped. However, there was a yellow paper umbrella on the desk found on the third floor of the Imperial Center Administration. The surface of the umbrella was slightly wet.

He Mingchi took a piece of white silk cloth and carefully and slowly wiped the water off the umbrella’s surface. It was as if he did not see the sweat on Zhuge Wuren’s forehead opposite him.

Zhuge Wuren was the chief official of the Tang Empire Imperial Center Administration. Everyone knew he was loyal to the Empress. When the new Emperor ascended to the throne, his position naturally became precarious.