Zheng Yi was a person who cherished his own life.
Ever since accidents happened to Li Mao and Liu Fang, no matter how stupid he was, he would have realized that he was not in a safe environment. Additionally, Zheng Yi was not at all stupid.
After Zheng Yi submitted his medical leave to the Imperial Court, he refused to even attend the courtly debate. For the entire day, he remained in his house attending to his garden, reading, and writing.
Several days passed, as the Lantern Festival drew near, his family left to watch the lanterns. Zheng Yi felt bored at home, but he was stopped by his family the few times he tried to leave. He withdrew himself from attending even the banquet at the manor of Prince Qin in the capital.
In the end, something happened at Prince Qin's manor.
Zheng Yi was fortunate, and no longer dared to take his life for granted. He immediately hid in his study, refusing to leave no matter who had summoned him.
Qin Miaoyu didn't know whether Zheng Yi had any relations with the enemy that she didn't know of, but she was afraid that showing herself would alert the enemy. So she could only carry out her protective duties as she followed him in the dark, practically not sleeping at all and dared not to slack off.
She could not have thought that, even if all precautions were taken, what she was afraid might happen did happen in the end.
The eclipse that showed up just moments ago had shaken the capital and sent the common people into disarray. The Zheng Manor was in primal chaos; after Zheng Yi heard of the news, he ran out from his home with a change of expression as he mumbled to himself, saying that he wished to see His Holiness. His family couldn't hold him back, and so they could only deliver him on a horse carriage into the palace.
It was the first time Qin Miaoyu saw this phenomenon from the legends. She lost her thought for a moment and neglected to follow Zheng Yi as he got up his horse carriage.
But it was too late, Zheng Yi's horse carriage stopped midway on the road.
The driver said that his master had a stomachache. He got down the carriage at the last minute to lend a bathroom to avoid embarrassing himself when he entered the palace. Seeing a tofu seller's stall, he headed over to the bathroom, but who could have known that that would be the last time he was seen.
Once Qin Miaoyu barged into the inside to take a look, as she'd expected, Zheng Yi was dead.
"There are no wounds on him. The coroner hasn't taken a look, no one knows whether he died of poisoning."
"The Zheng Family said that he suffered old diseases from the heart, perhaps he died from a heart attack after being scared by the eclipse."
"I think, there would be no coincidence such as this."
"It's my fault for being impotent and allowing Zheng Yi to be killed. Please grant me my punishment, Commander Cui!"
Qin Miaoyu's words lingered in the air.
Although she was not a member of the Zuoyue Bureau, this time Feng Xiao had allowed them to assist Cui Buqu while he was in prison. In reality, it was equivalent to letting the Jiejian Bureau obey Cui Buqu.
Qin Miaoyu thought that, had it not been for her negligence, Zheng Yi could have avoided death.
First, there was an eclipse, then Zheng Yi's death followed. Some people would use this to create stories of the present Emperor.
Presently, everything was in chaos, and madness reigned; even the officials of the Imperial Court might be mumbling among themselves. Ever since the beginning of Kaihuang, upsurges came one after the last.
There were even people who began discussing changing the dynasty's name.
Before one upsurge quelled, another came.
Had it been before, Qin Miaoyu would have scoffed at the talk about changing the dynasty, but now she wasn't so sure.
This was a great disaster brought by the power of rumours.
If even Qin Miaoyu could think in such a way, then there was no need to ask the common people.
Cui Buqu expressed nothing and turned to the bright moon.
Ming Yue sighed. "It's much more complicated on my side."
Just as he was going to beg an audience with the Emperor, he ran into the eclipse.
Nevermind the common people. During that time, even the palace was in a frenzy.
But the Emperor, in the end, was still the Emperor. In the midst of fright and fury, he thought of the very same question Cui Buqu had thought of, which was that the Astronomical Bureau had severely neglected their duties on the eclipse.
He immediately sent for someone to arrest the Grand Astrologer, but very quickly he received news that he had died in his own home, poisoned to death.
To predict the eclipse was part of the Astronomical Bureau's job.
But, for such a grave matter, one must immediately report to the Emperor.
If the Emperor was informed earlier, the Imperial Court could have prepared themselves. At the very least, the officials could think of a method against it.
Among the Astronomical Bureau, other than the Grand Astrologer, there were also the Deputy Grand Astrologers, the Registrar, and Observers, as well as numerous other positions.
This also meant that, with just the Grand Astrologer alone, it was impossible for him to conceal such shocking news.
According to all the people in the Astronomical Bureau, it was the Registrar Li Xin who was in charge of watching the skies. His set of skills in watching the stars were the best among the Astronomical Bureau, for even the Grand Astrologer himself was more inferior.
Once the person whom the Emperor sent to ask about Li Xin returned, Li Xin was already scared stiff. He swore to the skies that he had already told Hong Yuan about it, but Hong Yuan had said that he would report it to the Emperor in secret and wanted Li Xin to not tell anyone about it, keeping it shut.
Li Xin too knew that this was a grave matter that should not be spread, and so he compliantly did not get involved, keeping it in his heart and telling no one at all.
According to what he said, after a few days, Hong Yuan told him that he'd reported it to the Emperor. Once Li Xin heard of this, he was reassured and did not have any second thoughts. After all, Hong Yuan was his superior.
The great events of the state lie in state-level sacrificial rituals. After the Qin and Han Dynasties, the task of observing the stars and predicting the country's fate was gradually dispersed, and the rank of its officials became less valued.
A place like the Astrological Bureau was naturally important, but on usual days there weren't many things to do, and the bureau was simply empty. Not many people would ask about them.
Who could have known that such a huge incident would happen today; only then did Li Xin figure out that Hong Yuan had never reported this matter in the first place.
Ming Yue knew that this matter was pressing; ever since he parted his lips to speak, he had only stopped to take a breath now.
"Hong Yuan hanged himself in his own home. He left a note saying that he himself deserved it, and is willing to die as punishment. He begged His Majesty to spare his family."
Cui Buqu raised a brow. "His family."
Everyone belonged to investigation bureaus; Ming Yue immediately knew what he meant, and what he wanted to ask.
"His wife died early and only left him with a son. This son went missing a few months ago. Hong Yuan told his neighbours that his son had gone on an educational trip. Hong Yuan was a little of a loner; he had no friends in the Imperial Court, so it appears that no one had taken notice of him. However, speaking of it, in order to avoid suspicions, normal people would not get too close with members of the Astrological Bureau."
Ming Yue no longer continued. The incident happened too abruptly and he came in a hurry, so this was all the information that he had.
Cui Buqu remained silent, unspeaking.
Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu didn't bother him.
Everyone could see that the situation at hand was not very bright.
The question lied in how the enemy was hiding, while the Great Sui was out in the open, like a sitting duck.
In these few years, the Emperor placed his full focus on solving the issue with Göktürks; both sides attacked one another with swords and spears a few times. The Great Sui had paid a hefty cost to welcome Göktürks bending the knee.
This was an achievement that had never been done before. Even the Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou from the former dynasty had to welcome a Göktürk Princess as his legal wife to form good relations with their neighbours.
However, even if the Great Sui was not afraid of starting a war, and the Göktürks had no chances of winning on the surface, all sorts of underhanded techniques had begun to surface repetitively.
The Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai strived for something big. Xiao Lu was not from the Sui Dynasty, neither did he have a hometown he loved, so naturally, he had no concerns when working together with Göktürk.
An arrow shot from ambush is something difficult to guard against; so let alone that the enemy had wanted to use a phenomenon to send the hearts of people into a frenzy.
A chess piece like Hong Yuan had already been placed a long time ago.
No matter how smart Cui Buqu was, he could not have expected the enemy to make use of Hong Yuan.
At this moment, he could be on the road rushing to the City of Six Crafts to discuss a secret alliance with an envoy of Göktürk.
As for Xiao Lu, he was probably already scheming for a chaos that will take place after a while.
With the way matters have progressed, granting punishments and seeking responsibilities were only secondary. The led has already been broken here.
It's difficult to find the truth within one or two days, and tomorrow, it will already be the festival of the Buddha's Birthday.
The Buddha's Birthday will be held in the Daxingshan Temple.
There were many Buddhist believers in the North. Daxingshan Temple was named after the Sui Emperor before he ascended the throne, as well as had the support of the Imperial Court.
As the Emperor would be attending the festival of the Buddha's Birthday in person, the inside and outside of the temple has been sealed off since yesterday. All the monks were not permitted to leave the temple. Inside out, the entire place was secured by the royal guards into an iron bucket.
After the eclipse, Daxingshan Temple's security would only become tighter; they must not allow any flaws to be taken advantage of.
Although every detail had been thought through and arranged, Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu had a feeling that the enemy will make sure that something will happen tomorrow.
Who shall be the winner who takes it all, would all depend on that day.
Although one might not know how the enemy will attack, nothing can be made of it.
Qin Miaoyu was afraid. She could not resist saying: "Commander Cui, why don't you persuade His Majesty to put off the festival of the Buddha's Birthday tomorrow? Or maybe find His Majesty a body double…"
There was no need for Cui Buqu to answer. Ming Yue declined her suggestion: "We cannot. If the eclipse hadn't happened, perhaps we could still put off the festival of the Buddha's Birthday, but now, whether it's to pacify the hearts of the people, or beg for blessings for past sins, this festival cannot be put off!"
The enemy who is hidden in the dark had perhaps used myriads of methods to ensure that the festival of the Buddha's Birthday will carry on.
Qin Miaoyu also knew that her suggestion cannot work.
"Consider me imprudent; may I know how both of you think the enemy will be attacking? We should also be prepared."
Ming Yue said, "The Daxingshan Temple must be the key location. However, a few days ago, Commander Cui had already reported it to His Majesty to investigate all the monks within the temple at least once, to restrict access to the people. If one didn't have an order in hand, they would not be permitted into the temple. All corners in the temple had also been searched to ensure that no murder weapon or explosives are hidden in there."
Qin Miaoyu thought for a while, "It's very well-rounded."
She could not think of any ways it could go wrong.
Cui Buqu shook his head. "It's still not enough.
Both of them looked at him.
Cui Buqu only said, "Ming Yue, I need you to help me do two things."
....
Normal people would not even have one chance of going into the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
Those who came in, however, would already be eternally grateful if they didn't need to face interrogation or punishment.
But Feng Xiao was very displeased.
Wailings and cries came from a distance; one wouldn't know whether there were even ghosts in this place.
Wet breaths reached his nose; that was the smell of moulded grass that hasn't seen the sunlight for a long time.
Feng Xiao immediately went into mediation. If he couldn't see it, his heart wouldn't be troubled by it!
Once a practitioner of the martial arts enters a world where they become unconscious of the boundary between oneself and the external world, they could completely draw a line to stop the outside world from disturbing them. Feng Xiao shut down his five senses on purpose, no longer paying attention to any scent or movements.
At this moment, qi was protecting his body. If someone wished to cause him harm, unless they have reached Xiao Lu's level of martial arts, they would be just shooting themselves in the foot.
But once he finished regulating his breaths and came back from his mediation, he felt a strong stench surging at him that practically made him vomit!
Feng Xiao: What happened?!