Chapter 307: No One May See White Hair in the Mortal World

I don't understand.

Fucouzi really couldn't figure it out.

However, things have come to this point, and it's a rare opportunity, so he certainly won't waste time here pondering it carefully.

The Void Silence was deathly still, clouds and mist heavy, no sound heard between heaven and earth.

Fucouzi's soul body drifted, insubstantial and formless, only a remnant of consciousness clung to the spirit platform.

After a brief hesitation, Fucouzi's soul stirred; a strand of hue far deeper and heavier than ordinary heavenly secret patterns of purple Qi slowly seeped out, bearing utmost solemnity, and slowly fell onto the Mysterious Mirror's surface, condensing a faint yet clear pattern, standing in for writing characters to inquire of fate——

【As recorded by the Minor Dao, I once asked the Mysterious Mirror to tell me: after the Empress's demise, who will succeed in a hundred years?】

【This time, why do you avoid answering?】

After the Mysterious Mirror, even gods and ghosts are unknown; Fucouzi indeed harbors doubts about this.

When seeing people, speak human words; when seeing ghosts, speak ghost words; moreover, keep three parts in reserve.

This is what his master told him while still alive; although he never learned it well, now that he has many doubts, clarifying them is never wrong.

Otherwise, if the other party never answers, one always feels......

As if hiding something?

At the instant the purple Qi pattern settled, the Mysterious Mirror's faint light surged, the old characters faded, new characters remained blank for several breaths, then slowly emerged with the answer——

【I know what you're guessing...... However, Yuan Long is not a ruler, but a traitorous minister.

This person occupies the court, outwardly respectful and solemn, inwardly harboring malicious intent, for years secretly colluding with the court's flatterers, privately forming factions and secretly accumulating power.....

Finally, he even dared to defy heavenly mandate, attempting to seize the throne from the eldest son born of the Empress and the Young Emperor!

Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao has its own measure; adverse fortune cannot last long.

This person, together with the faction led by Chen Weifang, was ultimately all subdued and slain on Mysterious Feather Mountain; the rebellion collapsed, his reputation ruined, with no chance of redemption.

The characters on the mirror's surface extended layer by layer, laying out the complete heavenly secret's cause and effect.

Fucouzi stared at the mirror, and for the first time couldn't utter a single word.

Didn't know what to say.

Really didn't know what to say.

Although since entering the Dao lineage, the master has said that one must act for all beings under heaven.

But when he had not yet seen a child born, he already learned of its death......

Still, his heart felt some tremor.

He remained dazed for several breaths before realizing he must not waste time, then prompted another strand of purple Qi to fall as characters, inquiring about the destiny of the imperial lineage:

【In the future, to whom will the realm ultimately belong?】

Whether it's because this time they didn't use carving but instead drove the purple Qi with divine sense, the Mysterious Mirror took an unusually long time to give its answer.

Fucouzi waited patiently, even thinking several times of returning to retrain, before the Mysterious Mirror finally turned its characters again:

【The one who will someday ascend the throne is the third son born of the Emperor and Empress, Shuyi.

In the past, the Empress, to pacify the various feudal lords, adopted five nominal sons; together with her two biological sons, she had seven sons in total, each granted a title, the first characters of which are——

Yuan, Zhong, Shu, Fu, Ya, Zhi, Ji.

Shuyi bears the pure imperial lineage, highest in status; from birth, he had five nominal sons assisting in governance.

Yet he is neither arrogant nor impatient, by nature gentle and tolerant, utterly lacking the emperor's harsh cruelty, suspicion, and scheming.

Humble and benevolent, he cherishes all peoples; even at a young age he understands sympathizing with the masses and tolerating officials.

When he ascends, he will abolish harsh policies, keep away treacherous ministers, practice benevolent governance, soothe the scattered hearts of the people, restore orderly administration, make court and realm clear, and win the people's hearts; he will be a legitimate enlightened ruler who can stabilize the state and bless the world.

Shuyi......

Shuyi......

Is it the 'Yi' that means 'standing firm'?

The character is fine, but it really lacks any imperial aura......

Fucouzi silently repeated it several times, memorizing the name exactly, then again felt doubtful and said:

【What is Shuyi's personal name...... No, please have the Mysterious Mirror directly tell this child's future temple name and posthumous name.

Even if one knows the Emperor's personal name and birth characters, the histories might not record it, might not dare to record it; separated by dynasties, the Mysterious Mirror might not know.

But temple names and posthumous names cannot be deceived.

Take temple names as an example——

Grand Progenitor, the founder of a dynasty, usually the first emperor of a dynasty.

Grand Ancestor, usually given to the second emperor of a dynasty, who creates a flourishing age, perfects institutions, and consolidates the realm.

Accomplished Progenitor/Sage Ancestor, given to a monarch who reunites after a break, greatly expands territory, relocates the capital and changes dynasties—equivalent to a second founding, not the original, but with the merit of recreation.

Sage Sovereign/High Ancestor, usually when a dynasty's power peaks, territory, economy, and culture reach their zenith, reign is long, and the ruler enacts reforms and revitalizes the dynasty.

All of the above are top-tier good temple names; below come the mixed-repute temple names such as Heroic Ancestor and Divine Ancestor.

Heroic Ancestor, often a mediocre maintainer, acceptable early on but later muddled, frequently encountering major national crises.

Divine Ancestor, often of extreme temperament, with frequent internal turmoil and severe court factionalism.

Further down......

Bright Ancestor, Thoughtful Ancestor, Mourning Ancestor, Cherishing Ancestor.

Needless to say, when governance collapses, many are doomed rulers.

Therefore, temple names indeed can reveal much.

As long as one gives him a temple name and then glances once more at the heavenly secret, one can roughly match a period from the Yin Dynasty's fate, then use that period to infer how the reigning monarch governed.

As for posthumous names, their function is similar to temple names, but better in that they are usually two characters, allowing more inferences. For example——

Wen: the finest posthumous name, governing with education, light taxes and levies, emphasizing civil culture.

Martial: expanding territory and conquering land, military achievements strong and prosperous.

Ming: skilled at employing people, with clear and bright governance.

In short, the more conclusions one has, the more verification there is.

Fuzouzi had made up his mind; although personally executing the still‑immature rebels, it was truly somewhat ruthless.

But if Shuyi becomes the ruler after his parents, the people of the world could finally find peace......

Everything is worth it.

Certainly, everything is worth it.

However, however.

Fuzouzi stared wide‑eyed and waited for half a day, yet got not even a hint of movement in return.

Xuanjian's face was utterly calm, without a ripple, as if he were silent.

Fuzouzi's thoughts gradually shifted from worry and tension to a growing suspicion.

Why is there no movement?

Xuanjian used to give news extremely quickly, didn't he?

Why is he replying so slowly this time? It's just like how he used to act in front of his master before.

Back then, he took advantage of his master's closed‑door retreat, sneaked down the mountain to buy candied haws, and only after eating them and returning to the mountain gate did he discover that his master had actually emerged early from seclusion!

His master asked where he had gone, and he hemmed and hawed for a good while before finally fabricating a lie......

Wait a moment.

Wait a moment.

A lie?!

Fuzouzi jerked his head up with such force that even the visage of his soul twisted for an instant——

I remember now.

I remember now!

What faces Xuanjian is certainly not the Heavenly Dao, nor even a wandering ghost.

But rather, but rather, a person who claims to be the mother of the Young Emperor!

A person!

Being human means having a weak point!

Since the other party is wholeheartedly for her son, how could she speak well of anyone else?

The other party long refused to tell him the temple name and posthumous title—is it because she doesn't know, dares not say, or......

Or perhaps she simply cannot say it?

After all, is it that after Shuyi's accession the temple name is terrible, placing him among the foolish rulers, yet his grandmother still pities the child and wishes him to inherit the throne?

Or perhaps the later empress's several children are locked in fierce internal strife, and she wants to draw his attention to 'Shuyi', but the one who ultimately secures the throne is definitely not this child?

I've seen a ghost.

Indeed, I have seen a ghost.

Fortunately he asked that extra question!

Otherwise, such a smart and capable person would almost have been deceived!

Fuzouzi pondered left and right, nearly breaking out in a cold sweat——

Even if one's Dao reaches the heavens, there are still heavens beyond heaven.

This Xuanjian—just how true or false were those words he just spoke?

With his lingering alarm not yet gone, Fuzouzi resolved not to converse with Xuanjian tonight, lest he be led by the nose.

He has made up his mind.

Clearly, he has made up his mind.

However, however.

Just as Fuzouzi reached out, intending to brush away the characters on Xuanjian, the belatedly arriving Xuanjian once again slowly surfaced a line of text——

【Daoist priest, I know that separated by Xuanjian, we lack mutual trust......】

【However, I still wish to advise you to hear me out: do not stake everything on Yuanlong, do not repeat the mistake.】

【After all, this child died long ago.】

【In later ages, I can see far more than you imagine. Not only do I know this child died early, I also know——】

【After the rebel forces collapsed like a mountain, Yuanlong, on his last breath, held the hand of his household slave, his final words being that he still wished to drink another mouthful of cow's milk.】

【At that time, the rebel troops had long besieged Mysterious Feather Mountain; the land lay under frost, and provisions and supplies were completely cut off......】

【This child had already starved to death.】

?? No‑reward question: Who is the 'household slave' that Xuanjian spoke of in this chapter?

? Alas, this is the first time I feel so awful......