Chapter 96

This remark stirred the curiosity of several people present.

How could there be a note inside a fish’s belly?

The fat scholar seemed pleased with the effect he had caused and continued: “Last night’s heavy rain washed away the western slope of Ming Mountain, and a stone tablet was swept out. Can you guess what it said?”

“Stone tablet? Stone stele!” The crowd grew even more astonished.

The fat scholar smiled triumphantly and said: “You’ll never guess—it’s connected to Lu Chen, the Junior Protector who dwells in Mount Zhongnan.”

“Connected to that Junior Protector who dwells in Mount Zhongnan?”

At these words, the white-robed woman lifted her gaze.

The beautiful matron on the bench also turned to look.

Seeing this, the fat scholar felt a swell of pride and cleared his throat.

The sword-bearing man by the door was also curious—what could possibly relate to Junior Protector Lu Chen?

The old man stroked his beard and urged: “Young friend, stop teasing us.”

The two had just been playing chess, and during idle chatter, everyone had learned the two scholars were licentiates from a neighboring prefecture, traveling to the capital to prepare for the imperial examination. It was late summer, early autumn, and they planned to tour along the way—plenty of time remained.

The old man’s surname was Zou; he had once held office in the capital but retired years ago. He had returned now because His Majesty wished to compile the Great Qing State Annals, and as a great Confucian scholar, he had been warmly invited by the court.

You too felt a flicker of curiosity—what could possibly concern you?

The fat scholar spoke calmly: “Rumor has it the stone tablet incident has already alarmed the Censorate. It was rushed to the capital overnight, but the news has been sealed.”

“Yet the whispers still spread without legs.”

The white-robed woman recalled: today on the Yuetangjiang, many horsemen rode past, among them several clad in fish-dragon robes.

The Censorate wears fish-dragon robes and has authority to inspect all officials.

Could this matter be connected to the stone tablet?

The green-skirted woman asked the fat scholar curiously: “How did you learn of this?”

The two women were no ordinary folk, especially in the Yuetangjiang region.

The thin scholar undercut him: “Brother, since arriving here you’ve been lost in the arms of pleasure. That place is a hub where the martial world and court gossip meet.”

The fat scholar flushed—pleasure quarters, of course, meant brothels.

The group shared a knowing laugh; even the sword-bearing man chuckled.

The fat scholar smiled awkwardly, trying to shift the subject.

He glanced around and saw all were listening intently; he solemnly spoke word by word:

“The note bore six characters.”

“Lu Chen, King. All under heaven one.”

At these words, silence fell over the temple.

You paused slightly upon hearing it.

Lu Yu’s lips curled into a faint smile.

The white-robed woman tightened her brows.

The beautiful matron softly repeated: “Lu Chen, King. All under heaven one.”

The green-skirted woman laughed lightly and joked: “This can’t mean Junior Protector Lu Chen seeks the throne, can it?”

Though her tone was light, everyone understood this was no idle jest.

The founding Emperor of Great Qing had a legend: “He slew the three-headed serpent and established the realm.”

Such omens were often seen as signs of Heaven’s will.

Folk tales, once repeated by three, become tigers—truly terrifying.

The old man had previously been interested in Junior Protector Lu Chen’s affairs, but upon hearing this, he silently shook his head.

He understood: these six characters clearly pointed to Junior Protector Lu Chen ascending as king, unifying all under heaven—an outright act of rebellion. If spread among the people, the consequences would be grave.

If such an omen and rumor were exploited by schemers and reached His Majesty’s ears, the outcome would be unimaginable.

“This is no good!” sighed the thin scholar, still playing chess.

At that moment, the handsome youth picked up a piece and placed it gently on the

The thin scholar’s face darkened slightly, clearly resentful of his defeat in the game. He still strained to find any possible variation, hoping to turn the tide, while the handsome youth appeared effortlessly at ease—his skill clearly far superior.

The old man glanced at the board and sighed, “No way to save it now.”

The handsome youth looked up and asked, “What’s written on the stone tablet?”

The Zou elder sharply interrupted, “Zong Xian—don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”

Hearing this, the handsome youth remembered how much his uncle revered the Shaobao, and fell silent.

He pushed the pieces aside, readying for another game, only to realize the white-robed woman seemed lost in thought, having not noticed his “great victory”—a quiet disappointment settled in his chest.

The green-dressed woman smiled at the elder and said, “Old sir, we’re not talking state affairs—just curious.”

“Besides, there’s no one else in this temple.”

At this moment, the green-dressed woman seemed to glance at you a little longer.

The fat scholar spread his hands and continued, “Old sir, even I’ve heard this news—it’s surely spread far and wide by now. Before long, the entire Yuetangjiang City will know.”

The Zou elder sighed and said no more.

Seeing this, the fat scholar went on, vividly:

“They say a few villagers from Mingshan, in the third watch of the night, heard a sharp crack overhead—like silk tearing. Thunder rumbled, and a ball of fire fell from the sky, landing in the south.”

“Braving the heavy rain, the villagers went to investigate and found a stone tablet over two zhang tall—it seemed to have fallen from heaven, or perhaps been washed there by floodwaters. Both faces of the tablet were inscribed with characters: dragon-script and phoenix-seal, ancient Kedou script, obscure and incomprehensible to all.”

“The next day, a wandering Daoist happened to pass through. After studying the tablet closely, he declared it an omen of good fortune.”

According to him, the front bore twelve lines of heavenly script, the back sixteen—totaling twenty-eight lines, corresponding precisely to the twenty-eight celestial mansions.”

“The twenty-eight celestial mansions descended to earth—a great auspicious sign.”

“When the villagers heard it was an omen, they joyfully carried it to the Yuetangjiang Prefectural Office to claim a reward. But can you guess what happened next?” The fat scholar paused dramatically, stoking everyone’s curiosity.

The green-dressed woman growled, “You’re insufferable. If you keep telling stories like this in the alleys, you’ll be beaten to death.”

“Just tell us! Hurry up!”

The others were curious too; even the sword-wielding giant turned to look.

The fat scholar grinned and continued, “They sent it to the prefectural office, and our Yuetangjiang Prefect was overjoyed—he rewarded those villagers handsomely.”

“This year happens to be the great year when the Empress gave birth to a prince. At the Autumn Equinox, there will be a general amnesty, and auspicious omens from all corners have been pouring in, with rewards never ceasing.”

“If you please the Empress, the rewards will be beyond measure.”

“Our Prefect, seeing such a gift fall right into his lap, was ecstatic. He penned a letter that very night and dispatched the marvel to the capital.”

“But imagine!”

“The next day, the Censorate, the Bureau of Astronomy, even the Dalisi arrived—the Prefect was immediately arrested by the Censorate.”

Everyone was puzzled: how could an auspicious offering lead to such a fate?

The fat scholar spoke slowly, “They say the astronomers of the Bureau of Astronomy examined the inscriptions and found them written entirely in ancient Daoist script—unintelligible to ordinary people.”

“The first line translated from the tablet read:”

“The Emperor’s Star wavers; Mars rises high.”

A bit late, thank you all—tomorrow I’ll try harder!

Goodnight, Masters!



(End of Chapter)