Chapter 424: Night Observation of Celestial Phenomena by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau

424. Chapter 424: Night Observation of Celestial Phenomena by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau

What specific omens does the Earth Dragon Reversal have?

Qiao Hushui and the others have heard of it.

They nodded.

Qiao Sheng couldn't attend to the others; she could only try to protect the people she cared about.

Of course, that also includes Feng Qingyang and the others.

Anyway, she said it, and each one dismissed it without caution.

She couldn't do anything about it.

Shi Lin, fully aware of the severity of the Earth Dragon Reversal and fearing that Qiao Sheng's dream might become reality, privately informed the Emperor.

However, he didn't tell the Emperor directly that it was Qiao Sheng who had such a dream.

He said that he himself had had that kind of dream.

The Emperor was stunned in place by what he heard; regaining his composure, he asked, "Have you recently read any documents about this, or perhaps heard about …"

He wanted to say that what one thinks about by day appears in dreams by night.

Shi Lin interrupted him: "No, I have not read any documents on this matter, nor have I heard anything about it. If that were not the case, I could not be telling you this."

If it were true, it would not be a trivial matter.

The Emperor found himself in a dilemma over this; if he issued an edict urging people everywhere to be cautious, and the situation never materialized, how could he explain it later?

Perhaps they sensed the Emperor's difficulty.

Shi Lin suggested: "Your Majesty, I think you could say that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed the night sky, detected possible signs of such an occurrence, and warned everyone to be vigilant, also detailing the omens that precede each Earth Dragon Reversal …"

"Daytime is fine; if it happens at night …"

The Emperor dared not imagine it.

Shi Lin then said, "Otherwise, let the clerks of each Yamen take turns patrolling at night; if any anomaly appears, sound drums to summon the people out. As for the villagers, have their Village Head organize two squads that rotate, since this concerns each person's life and that of their families; surely everyone would take it seriously …"

It can only be done this way.

The Emperor gave the order.

When the news spread, the Imperial Capital soon erupted with discussion.

Qiao Sheng learned of this, and after Shi Lin returned, she said, "Sir, is this really prudent? Could it cause panic among the people, leading to price gouging, or even the selling of children …"

This.

Shi Lin hadn't considered those things.

He skipped dinner and entered the palace.

After hearing his words.

The Emperor immediately issued another edict, prohibiting hoarding of grain, prohibiting price gouging, prohibiting the arbitrary buying and selling of children, with violators punished according to the severity of their offenses.

In the blink of an eye, the date advanced to the twelfth day of the eighth month.

That day.

Qiao Lanhua married Song Beiting.

It was still before the auspicious hour.

Song Beiting rode his horse, leading the bridal procession, clattering all the way to the Qiao household.

They waited here for almost half an hour.

Song Beiting personally went in to receive Qiao Lanhua; he did not carry the sedan chair that had been prepared earlier.

Qiao Lanhua blushed so deeply that her whole face turned red; fortunately she wore a head covering, otherwise everyone would have seen her flushed face and reddened ears.

She watched them depart.

Qiao Sheng and the others only returned home then.

Song Beiting's marriage was also attended by Lü Qi; he escorted Qiao Lanhua back, and said nothing during the wedding ceremony.

Until.

Song Beiting emerged from the bridal chamber.

Lü Qi leaned in and said, "You little brat, I kept asking why you never let me make a move against Qiao Sheng before; so it was because you had set your eyes on that girl's sister."

"Stop spouting nonsense; it's not what you think at all. I only realized later that I fell in love with Lanhua."

Song Beiting finished his explanation and added, "If I had realized earlier that I liked her, would I have returned to the Imperial Capital?"