Chapter 172: Clear Day Chapter 150: Senior Sister, I've Figured It Out

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Where does such great joy come from?

Could it be that the Zheng clan rebellion in Huaiyang State has been quelled? Calculating it, it shouldn't be this fast...

While everyone was thinking briefly, the eunuch lying on the ground spoke with incomparable excitement: "The Imperial Guard came on horseback from outside the city to report that yesterday, the soldiers who rescued the Sixth Prince and Tai Puzhe Jiang Tai Zhu, following the guidance, near the deep valley where the Sixth Prince and Tai Puzhe were rescued, searched for two days and one night, and at one time unit ago, found a secluded dark water!"

Inside the inner hall, silence fell; the emperor leaning against the bed suddenly sat upright and asked: "How long is the water, how deep is it?"

The eunuch could not answer, and the dust-covered Imperial Guard who came to report soon entered, knelt on one knee, and clasped his hands heavily: "Reporting to Your Majesty, that dark water is hidden in a closed deep valley, half-concealed in a valley cave, and its full appearance cannot be seen for now. We only saw the water dark as an abyss, the water quality clear, cold, and settled, the depth still immeasurable! The others are still searching at this moment; this subordinate only returned to the city first to congratulate Your Majesty!"

The emperor's originally dim eyes suddenly brightened—water dark as an abyss, worthy of being a great omen.

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly surged; Guo Shi knelt first, bowed his head to report joy: "Congratulations to Your Majesty! Heaven blesses Great Qian! Your Majesty's supreme virtue moves heaven, so heaven sends this auspicious sign to respond to a wise ruler!"

By the end of his words, he was even weeping with joy.

Liu Cheng just came to his senses and also quickly knelt down; the officials, including Rui Ze, all followed suit.

"The Red Fiend wrought havoc, Your Majesty's sincerity moved the spirits, the earth veins revealed an omen!"

"If the water truly accumulates like an abyss, it is likely a thousand-year ancient spring left behind, appearing in the world today; it can surely irrigate fields for a thousand li and save tens of thousands of people... truly a blessing for the state!"

Underground water circulation is unfathomable; dark water gathers more easily in deep mountains and low valleys. Some water sources are protected by rocks above and below, even unaffected by rain and drought, but the common people cannot explain such phenomena and regard them as miracles.

No monarch could refuse to be connected with such a miracle worthy of being recorded in history. A glimmer of light appeared on the emperor's originally sallow face; the entire inner hall seemed washed by the divine spring, and the previous despondency and tension vanished completely.

The significance of the dark water's appearance was not limited to alleviating the capital's disaster. Besides calming the people's hearts, it could also deter those voices inciting civil unrest using the Chang'an drought. Now that heaven bestows an auspicious sign, the bewitching rumors of the court's lost virtue would naturally collapse without attack.

The emperor's gaze was sharp as he looked at the reporting Imperial Guard: "You followed the guidance to find water; what exactly was the guidance?"

"We found the Sixth Prince and Tai Puzhe Jiang Tai Zhu. The Sixth Prince said there were traces of underground water nearby. Before Jiang Tai Zhu fell into a coma, he pointed directly to the left mountain barrier, firmly stating that the dark water was hidden in that closed deep valley!"

"We spent two days and one night to find an extremely hidden entrance. After descending into the valley, we indeed found the abyss of dark water!"

The emperor's gaze settled, and he said: "Good, this is a great merit; all will be heavily rewarded!"

Guo Shi, kneeling with his head bowed, closed his eyes and kowtowed again.

While Rui Ze silently gritted his teeth and held his breath, he couldn't help but feel a suffocation. Although he hadn't seen the dark water yet, it was as if he had already fallen into it.

What virtue and ability did that limping brat have? Not only did he escape death, but he also encountered such luck that comes once in a hundred years! This merit that originally didn't exist was actually snatched by him!

Amidst the ministers' varied emotions, they only heard the emperor say: "Come, prepare the carriage. I will personally go to the Nanshan Divine Spring to thank the Mountain God and earth spirits!"

Although the proposal was stirring, a minister immediately advised against it: "Your Majesty's dragon body has not yet healed, and Nanshan just had an assassination by death warriors. How can a body worth ten thousand gold face danger?"

"Accepting auspicious signs and thanking the spirits is the ritual of heaven and earth. I am the Son of Heaven; there is no place I cannot go." The emperor said: "Moreover, my son and the Wu God have already explored the path for me and purged the evil. Should I still fear a mere rat?"

These heroic words showed the emperor's mind was made. A large number of Imperial Guards searched the mountain; the death warriors had long vanished. Even if they dared to appear, their blood would rightly be used by the emperor for demonstration.

The emperor's action showed his spirit had been rekindled, intending to display might and comfort the people's hearts.

Yan Mian stepped back to advise. To be absolutely safe, departing after dawn the next day was not too late.

Liu Cheng noticed his uncle's hint and, along with Xiang Gong Yan, also advised, and actively requested to accompany as an attendant.

The emperor nodded: "You are the Crown Prince; you should naturally accompany me."

The next day, the sky was not yet fully bright. The palace gates opened one after another, and the city gates moved slowly, emitting a heavy, muffled sound.

Before setting out, the emperor first summoned the Sixth Prince Liu Qi into the palace to inquire about the process of discovering the dark water, then ordered him to accompany the carriage to Nanshan to thank the spirits.

As one of the meritorious officials who discovered the dark water, accompanying the carriage to thank the spirits was both reasonable and the highest honor. However, after bathing and changing clothes, Liu Qi sat in the high carriage, feeling a vague anxiety like summer heat in his heart.

Compared to the imperial decree he had to obey, the Mountain Lord's command was more valued by him. He had people search everywhere day and night, seemingly to take revenge on enemies, but actually to find the person and thing she wanted to find as soon as possible—that was the true priority.

Liu Qi considered himself not an impatient person, and although he had temporarily left, his subordinates were still watching. Yet he still felt his important matters were being delayed, and couldn't help but think: if she heard he went to thank some god, wouldn't she be so anxious she couldn't lie down properly or even faint?

His obstruction was arsenic to others. Rui Ze, who was also allowed to accompany, looked at the carriage ahead and simply could not calm his mind.

For Rui Ze, the trouble Liu Qi would bring, besides the threat of his own existence, was another influence that could not be ignored.

Besides Crown Prince Cheng and Liu Qi, setting aside the deceased Ling Taizi and other princes, the emperor now had two other sons.

One was the Fourth Prince Liu Jie. His birth mother was precisely the Chifei who once used the Previous Great Wu God's curse to curse Ling Taizi. When this matter was exposed, the Chifei was ordered to die. Liu Jie was foolish and straightforward; to protect his birth mother, he spoke rudely to his imperial father and was henceforth disliked by the emperor. Only because Ling Empress later made peace and took charge, Liu Jie was still made Prince of Guangling.

Liu Jie had lived in Guangling State for many years, with a lukewarm relationship with the court. The emperor did not want to mention him, and he was happy to be at ease. He indulged in wine and women, had no other achievements, but had eight or nine children.

Then there was the youngest Seventh Prince Liu Bing, just ten years old this year, still reading and writing. Probably because the emperor was taking elixirs when this child was born, Liu Bing's health was not good, and he did not often appear before people. However, his mother Lady Yu had been somewhat restless these past two years.

Liu Qi acted without scruple, stirring up wind and rain. Rui Ze feared that even if this person had no chance at the Crown Prince position, he would stir up the situation, shake Crown Prince Cheng's status, and instead let that big one and small one become the fishermen who profit.

However, despite years of guarding against everything, they still couldn't kill this brat. Today, he even got the merit of finding the dark water for nothing. That ghostly auspicious name probably could not be easily removed.

Regardless of differing hearts and a hundred turning thoughts, the holy procession to Nanshan still set out of the city mightily.

The emperor intended to display might to the traitors hiding in the dark, using this to boost morale. The procession was majestic like a long dragon, heading toward that once ferocious land.

Wherever the procession passed, the news that the Great Wu God and the Sixth Prince discovered the dark water spread along with it.

The news spread like a vigorous vine growing wildly, soon climbing up Lingxing Mountain.

The Daoists and Imperial Guards in Lingxing Palace discussed this matter, looked up at the still high-hanging sun, and then looked at the tightly closed palace doors.

Less than three days remained... In these short three days, could they really pray for rain?

At this moment, the palace door being watched was opened from inside by two Daoists.

A figure in a black robe slowly walked out. The people waiting outside hurriedly withdrew their gazes.

The black shadow passed slowly, without sorrow or joy, without anxiety or panic. It was the supreme demeanor of an attained one that people of the time could imagine, making people couldn't help but think again: Could such a Red Yang Immortal Master really be the reincarnation of the Red Fiend?

Red Yang would leave the Prayer Blessing Hall sooner or later, ascend the high platform to observe celestial phenomena.

Standing on the Lingxing Gaotai overlooking the mountains, the black robe fluttered in the mountain wind.

Red Yang looked toward the southern mountains, saw nothing, but heard everything.

Surviving the great calamity, he found the Dark Water, triggered a variable, and drew all eyes.

From Changling Tomb to the wild mountain forests, every time he emerged alive, he was like one reborn through fire, growing against the wind.

Looking back now, he clearly had become her tempering fire, her stepping-stone to the heavens.

Chiyang's eyes held a self-mocking look as he gazed at the endless mountain forests, chuckled once, and said: "Shixiong, I was wrong. Wrong from the very beginning... I fell into your savior's trap once again from the very beginning."

"Though everyone knows your mouth is full of lies, you are still the one most skilled at deceiving heaven and earth... Just as you seem pitiful, yet possess the most ruthless heart in this world."

"You schemed against me, making me use these worldly blades, spears, swords, and halberds to help that fearless, formless, stubborn stone grow strong."

His voice was slow, but his enunciation was like gnashing teeth; by the end, he instead laughed softly.

"But it's not too late. It's not too late to see through your trap now..." Chiyang slightly raised his chin, slowly turned his head, facing the direction of the Imperial City, his snow-white eyelids narrowing: "I've been thinking—if external force truly cannot harm her, what should I do, Shixiong..."

The mountain wind grew stronger and stronger, his increasingly thin figure seeming as if it might fall from the high platform at any moment, the blazing sun dizzying.

A person with snow-white skin and hair slowly revealed a smile beneath the blazing sun and wild wind, speaking softly: "Shixiong, I think I should be able to think of a way."

His gaze slowly shifted to look at the endless mountain forests, his voice already somewhat dazed: "Do you see these mountains stretching endlessly connected? Don't they resemble Qilianshan?"

After speaking these dazed words, Chiyang suddenly laughed out loud again, muttering: "Shixiong, do you see? You are just this skilled at becoming others' heart demons... Then watch well, watch well what your disciple will become."

Thinking of that scene, he laughed soundlessly, his eyes bursting with brilliant anticipation.

Unknown how long passed, his face slowly recovered calm in the wind, showing neither joy nor sorrow, gazing afar at the common people, like a statue of an enlightened deity.

At the summit of the high mountain, plants and trees swayed in the wind.

Within Shen Ci, human figures came and went, also forming wind.

The person the Emperor sent to offer congratulations, the person the Empress sent to send greetings, the person the Crown Prince sent to show concern... The Taichang Temple Minister was only short of personally serving soup and medicine to the Flower Fox, so she could wake up sooner.

Yu Si Wu already felt somewhat dazed: whose good fox suffered an assassination, and in frantic running, ran to the Dark Water place?

When the Sixth Prince was summoned into the Imperial City this morning, he had already publicly explained in detail the process of seeking the Dark Water: initially it was the Flower Fox leading the way, and it was also the Flower Fox who proposed seeking water to quench thirst, so the two people only then accidentally entered that immortal valley treasure land.

He had not the slightest conduct of occupying more merit and fame while the Flower Fox had not yet woken; regarding the merit of someone he disdained, he disdained to occupy it, which was also another kind of magnanimous disdain.

Yu Si Wu only hoped this Sixth Prince would take care of himself, and after this matter treat the Flower Fox with more respect, which could be considered not failing the grace of his previous borrowing of glory and auspiciousness from behind.

Through the Sixth Prince's words, the matter that the Flower Fox occupied the greatest merit was already beyond doubt; if not for the Flower Fox intermittently unconscious, today she would surely also accompany the procession.

The Flower Fox did not go out, yet also had various admiring gazes gathering around her.

The Flower Fox, who intermittently feigned unconsciousness and had been eavesdropping all along, lay on the bed curtained with gauze, only feeling the figures and words coming and going around her were like incense smoke offered by believers, endless; she did not need to be fed but had inhaled enough, her whole person feeling light and floating.

This time it was not deceiving people too much; what was found by relying on the Dark Water was not a prophet, so she could accept this praise with a clear conscience.

This time feigning unconsciousness: first, to make the act complete, not appearing too impervious to blades and spears, strong as an ox. Second, to observe and delay—observe Chiyang's reaction, delay Rui Ze's questioning, and then formulate lies to deceive him based on developments.

The Flower Fox, having overheard that Rui Ze had also left the city and could no longer feign unconsciousness, made a prompt decision to wake up one day early.

Having decided, hearing that the Spider Woman was coming to administer needles, and thinking of keeping the fat water from flowing to outsiders' fields, when the Spider Woman administered the first needle, Shaowei suddenly opened her eyes, demonstrating the miraculous effect of her needle technique.

Hu Li thus sat up; the Spider Woman was flattered and surprised, and everyone gathered around.

Amidst many gazes, Shaowei noticed one gaze was especially different; earlier she had also secretly narrowed her eyes to look at that newcomer from inside the tent.

The newcomer was Liu Ming.

After briefly responding to everyone, Shaowei said she had a headache; after everyone had mostly withdrawn, she spoke: "Commandery Princess, if you have matters, stay and explain in detail."

She privately did things and spoke without any system, not observing order; now with incense smoke upon her, doing anything seemed to have its own reason, and she no longer needed to worry about trivial details.

Only two Wu Nu remained inside the house; Liu Ming knelt on the straw mat by the bed, his face haggard, speaking with a hoarse voice: "This trip, though I had the intention to visit, I also harbored a private thought; but just now Jiang Tai Zhu woke up, and I..."

Shaowei, sitting with unbound hair on the bed, interrupted her ashamed words: "Speak, I am listening."

Liu Ming's eyes turned red for no reason; enduring the sourness in his nose, he said: "I came for my younger brother... My younger brother has been missing for over half a month; though the Brocade Cloth Guards searched everywhere, there has been no news to this day."

"This time the Sixth Prince searched the city, and could also search for him at the same time, but..." Liu Ming's eyes twitched, and finally tears fell: "Last night I dreamed of my younger brother; he said it was very dark and very cold there, and begged me to quickly take him home."

Shaowei was stunned, not knowing how to comfort her; while Liu Ming needed no comfort, actually having the courage to speak through tears: "Even if he is no longer in the world of the living, I must still find Chuntian's corpse and bring him back to Zhao Guo, to ask forgiveness from my royal father..."

Liu Ming wept, bowed with hands clasped: "Because Tai Puzhe understands ghost and spirit matters, Liu Ming dares to ask Tai Puzhe for help!"

Liu Ming's speculation was not without reason; a child missing for over half a month, and no one had used this to threaten and demand anything; the Brocade Cloth Guards could not find any news either...

And Shaowei knew clearly that those searching for the person were not only the Brocade Cloth Guards, but also Liu Qi's people, and even her own people in the city, all with no results.

She had no ghost and spirit power, nor any heart to comfort, but she said: "Alright, I will do my best."

Liu Ming raised his tearful eyes; gazes met; facing this young Tai Puzhe who had saved him at the banquet on the fifth night of the fifth month, and even indirectly saved Chuntian once, Liu Ming choked up but solemnly said: "Tai Puzhe's righteousness, Liu Ming will surely remember."

After the Wu Nu sent Liu Ming away from Shen Ci, Shaowei proposed to return to Jiang Zhai to rest.

Earlier she had been unconscious and should naturally be cared for; now she had woken up, the Emperor was not in the city and could not grant an audience, so where to go was entirely up to her; Yu Si Wu soon sent her back to the mansion.

Xiao Yu jumped three feet high, and her words piled up three feet high.

"Young Master, you have finally returned!"

"Is Young Master's injury serious?"

"Do you need medicine? What would you like to eat?"

Shaowei sent Yong Er away, went straight back to her own bedroom, and said to Xiao Yu: "I want to go out."

Xiao Yu immediately understood, ran to find a set of clothing to deceive people's eyes and ears, and held it out before the Young Master.

?? Good night everyone!

? (Regarding the discovery of spring eyes and Dark Water during droughts, references mainly come from the Song Dynasty "Yi Jian Zhi" mentioning the Jiangzhou Ancient Pile Spring in Jiangzhou that could irrigate tens of thousands of mu of fields during droughts (possibly exaggerated), and the Northern Song "Yongshou County Local Gazetteer" recording that the local county magistrate discovered two springs at the Fen Shui Ridge, thus cutting through the mountain to make a channel, drawing water into the city, etc.)