Chapter 266: Looking for Something

"National Teacher, may I ask, why does the fourth plum among these twenty‑one plums lack a stem?"

Chen Yan stifled a laugh, pointing at the illustration of the second image in the Tui Bei Tu, and asked, "And why twenty‑one plums? Does it have any meaning?"

"That depends on how you interpret it," Yuan Tiangang finally showed a hint of a smile. "Since ancient times, anyone who reveals heavenly secrets meets a bad end. That I can do this at all is already difficult; whether you truly grasp it is none of my business."

"Tch!" Chen Yan pursed his lips. "Isn't it just creating mystery to boost one's aura?"

"Has anyone ever told you that speaking like that, only halfway, makes you easy to get beaten?"

Li Chunfeng laughed at that moment: "Why not let Mr. Chen make a guess? After all, this illustrated book has already lost its purpose. If Mr. Chen can't guess, we can answer for him, what do you think?"

"Fine."

Chen Yan readily agreed, leaving Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang a little stunned.

They had thought Chen Yan wouldn't agree, but to their surprise, he actually intended to interpret their Tui Bei Tu first.

"Then let's start with the second image. The first image contains no prophecy; it's more like a preface or outline, merely expressing the National Teacher's partial understanding of heaven, the universe, and history."

At those words, Yuan Tiangang's complexion changed instantly.

Li Chunfeng also assumed a serious demeanor.

"The second image, hmm… heh heh," Chen Yan chuckled as he looked at the picture. It depicted a small plate holding twenty‑one plums; twenty of them have stems, but if you look closely, the fourth plum lacks a stem.

And the prophetic verse below…

"A multitude of massive fruits, their number unknowable!"

"One fruit, one kernel—both new and old!"

"The ode says: All things are born from the earth; twenty‑nine become solid first!"

"Unification settles the Central Plains; yin flourishes while yang wanes first…"

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward: "National Teacher, your skill is remarkable—being able to calculate that the Tang Dynasty spanned eighteen generations and twenty‑one emperors."

Depriving Yuan Tiangang of a chance to speak, Chen Yan turned the Tui Bei Tu to the third image.

The illustration showed a woman dressed in imperial robes, holding a sword.

"Sun and moon high in the sky, shining upon the earth below."

"Mysterious and unfathomable, neither civil nor martial."

Chen Yan, upon seeing this, couldn't help adding a note of awe: "'Sun and moon high' refers to 'Zhao'. 'Mysterious and unfathomable, neither civil nor martial' breaks convention and also highlights the character 'Wu'."

"Sss~ I recall the previous picture; the fourth plum indeed lacked a stem. The National Teacher was saying the Tang Dynasty will produce a female emperor named Wu…"

"Don't say it!!!" Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng, hearing this, instantly panicked.

Li Chunfeng hurriedly lunged forward, clamping his hand over Chen Yan's mouth, while Yuan Tiangang rushed to the doorway, stealthily scouting outside; seeing no one, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then both turned their gaze to Chen Yan, their eyes full of shock.

"No, buddy!"

"You really know how to do it?"

"Living father, you really are a living father!" Li Chunfeng's heart pounded, clearly frightened, and he lowered his voice:

"It's one thing you noticed, but can you actually say such a thing?"

"You don't need a brain, I still want one!"

"What does this have to do with me?" Chen Yan said innocently. "The Tui Bei Tu wasn't made by me; I was merely answering according to the Grand Historian's and National Teacher's requests. Is that wrong?"

"Mr. Chen, I'm convinced, truly convinced. Please stop messing with us, okay?" Li Chunfeng's temper was all over the place.

"It has nothing to do with you, does it?"

"Sigh, never mind, Brother Li." Yuan Tiangang walked over and sat down again. "Since this picture is already useless, as long as it isn't leaked, there should be no problem."

"Why is it not a problem?" Chen Yan interjected suddenly. "National Teacher, could you have forgotten how you became National Teacher?"

"Hmm?"

Yuan Tiangang, puzzled, asked, "What does this have to do with me becoming National Teacher?"

"Hmph, you stubborn Tiangang, you won't admit it, huh?" Chen Yan said cryptically. "I recall His Majesty once told me, when he asked you when the Tang Dynasty would fall, you answered 'when a sow climbs a tree.'"

"His Majesty was delighted, because how could a sow ever climb a tree?"

"Thus His Majesty thought you were saying the Tang Dynasty would never perish, was pleased, and appointed you National Teacher."

"Now look, you're in this Tui Bei Tu…"

"Living father, Brother Li is right, you truly are…" Yuan Tiangang also panicked, hurriedly covering Chen Yan's mouth.

"Wuwu… betraying the ruler… you wuwu, this is betraying the ruler!"

"I wouldn't even betray the ruler!" Yuan Tiangang glared. "Then tell me, in that situation, if you were in my shoes, what would you say?"

"Of course I'd speak the truth!" Chen Yan pulled away Yuan Tiangang's hand, declaring confidently.

"As a law‑abiding citizen of the Tang Dynasty, how could I commit such betrayal of the ruler?"

"Even if it angers His Majesty, so what?"

"The Tang Dynasty is my home; patriotism depends on everyone! You lie, I lie—when will the Tang ever flourish?"

"You evade, you evade—when will the Tang rise?"

"Enough, just call me Chen the Eldest, who loves speaking the truth!"

"Anyway, I will never deceive His Majesty!"

Yuan Tiangang: "......"

Li Chunfeng: "......"

Both were on the verge of laughing in anger.

You don't betray the ruler, you don't lie, you don't brag?

You think you haven't deceived enough?

And what about that damn 'law‑abiding Tang citizen' who beats Princess Gao Yang, cons Princess Changle, and strolls the brothels with the Crown Prince—why didn't you claim to be a law‑abiding citizen then?

Damn, I really want to hammer you to death!

"Stop the nonsense, just tell me what you want to do. What's the point of babbling?" Yuan Tiangang's veins bulged as he growled low: "Even though I've only known you a short while, I've already seen what kind of bird‑person you are."

Li Chunfeng: "Mr. Chen, this diagram has never been disclosed outside, and you yourself are no ordinary person; His Majesty also knows that."

"I, a humble monk, advise you to think clearly before speaking; otherwise, we will claim that this diagram was jointly deduced by you and the two of us."

"Anyway, when we arrived today, many people outside saw it; even if you jump into the Yellow River, you can't wash it away."

What the hell?

Chen Yan was dumbfounded.

How the hell can you still do this?

Yuan Tiangang: "Brother Li, you're impressive!"

"You're flattering me!"

"It's a shame that you two are Grand Historian and National Teacher, yet so despicable, trying to cheat, to ambush me, a child over two hundred months old!" Chen Yan shouted angrily.

Li Chunfeng: "My apologies, Mr. Chen, I have embarrassed you."

Chen Yan: "......"

"Fine, fine, I concede. If you agree to one condition, I'll team up with you, okay?"

"Mr. Chen, where does that come from?" Yuan Tiangang said seriously: "Weren't we already teaming up?"

Li Chunfeng almost couldn't hold back his laugh at the words, looked at Chen Yan and said: "Mr. Chen, you speak."

"You two old crooks!"

Chen Yan rolled his eyes, then became serious, and said in a deep voice: "I want you to take Xue Li and find an item."

"No matter the cost, no matter how much time it takes, you must find it and bring it back!!"

"......"