T/N: I’ve noticed this novel is actually written based on historical facts e.g. actual names of official positions, palace names etc so I've been reading chapters in parts and doing more research >.<
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Zhao Jin Yu felt there was something off during the night, as if there was the sound of a stone knocking on wood, just now she started thinking she was just mishearing things, who knew that sound would not stop at all, annoying her awake and aware, she grudgingly opened her eyes yawning, there was already nothing of value in the house, ever since her daddy had an accident the property that could be sold off were all pawned by mother, even though some old things remained in the house, however they were ancient, the lacquer on the furniture were almost bare, the wood used were also very common, and was even more out of the question of being precious, therefore even if a thief entered, once they see there was nothing of value they would leave uninterested, let alone she had closed the door lock securely before sleeping, a common thief could not come in!
If it wasn’t a thief could it be a mouse? With this one thought she couldn’t sleep, there was only a little bit of rice in the rice jar in the house, it wouldn’t be good if the mouse ate it up.
Just as Zhao Jin Yu stepped out from her quilt cover she felt the piercing cold attack her, early yesterday morning it had started snowing, right up to the present it had snowed intermittently without stopping, it made the originally shabby house seem even more cold, she couldn’t help shudder, placing her hands against her mouth she blew out a warm breath, again reaching out to wrap a cotton clothing around her before getting up to leave.
Zhao Jin Yu had just walked to the outer room before hearing a thudding sound from her dressing table, she looked carefully whilst there was moonlight, oh my! Surprisingly it was white Yuhua stone bouncing in the half open jewellery box, that stone appeared to be alive, continuously bouncing, very evilly.
Zhao Jin Yu at first was somewhat frantic, thinking this must be haunted? Maybe it’s some sort of witchcraft? Immediately she thought better of it, again feeling there was nothing scary, didn’t she pass through time from the future to here, from that little point, in this world there are always things you can never understand, however just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s scary, it was just like her, in some aspect wasn’t she also a strange thing? With such a thought she was extremely relieved, watching that moving lustrous stone she didn’t feel much fear, she directly extended her hand holding the stone in her hand…, this Yunhua stone was only a little bigger than a quail egg, it was ice-cold in her hand, just now it was still jumping around with such vigour, now it was truly no different from a common stone, Zhao Jin Yu’s heart immediately felt at ease, thinking to herself, look, it really is just like this, increasingly thinking this was a trivial matter, thinking she ought to hurry back to bed, conveniently throwing the stone out, then turning around she wrapped herself in the quilt and went back to bed, her movement was neat and tidy not at all sloppy.
Many years later Zhao Jin Yu thought of that night, thinking her heart was so big that the entire world could be placed in it, which other lady when coming across such a matter would not either weep endlessly or screeching in fear again and again? Only she would pay no attention and throw that stone out, afterwards turn around like it was nothing and going back to sleep, and have that sort of dispute with that person.
Certainly, the Zhao Jin Yu at that time did not know these things, she only felt a matter which disturbed her sleep was finally resolved, it was scarily cold outside, she really was somewhat impatient to get back into her quilt and sleep.
Lying in her warm quilt, Zhoa Jin Yu contently released a breath, very quickly she closed her eyes.
Emperor Wuling had a dizzy spell, waiting until it settled did he then discover he had been thrown outside, it was snowing very heavily outside, he immediately bore through the layers of snow to the bottom.
Yes that’s right, this bouncing Yuhua stone was the Hanzhen dynasty’s most respected His Majesty the emperor, emperor Wuling, he also didn’t know what was going on, after he entered a dream-state he became a Yuhua stone.
Now, cold, hungry, suffering from pent-up frustrations of becoming a stone mysteriously, it was only natural, also the insult of being tossed aside casually made the emperor burn in anger, if he was still in his body at this moment, he would definitely make known to Zhao Jin Yu the price of despising him, after all emperor Wuling was not a tolerant master, only unfortunately, however angry he was, flying into a rage in whatever way, after gasping in anger and jumping around tens of times he then finally became accepting, even if he could jump, that wouldn’t obliterate the fact that he was a stone ，= =.
The snow was very thick, the emperor was repeatedly buried in the snow in the middle of the night and was unable to come out from under it. = =。
***
Rui Fu felt the emperor was a little strange today, because he woke up an hour later than usual.
Rui Fu was soon to be forty years old this year, he has been serving the emperor since he was fifteen, watching the very small child change into the eminent and unapproachable monarch of today, therefore he was the most familiar with the emperor’s habits, he could still remember the emperor when he was barely five years old, he woke up merely fifteen minutes late and he was punished to kneel in the busy corridor by the empress, being pointed out by people, that was also during a snowy winter, the ground covered in thick snow, breathing out the air was chilly, the emperor stubbornly and indifferently was distinct in that snow filled sky.
Since then he never again saw the emperor wake late.
In any case Rui Fu felt something had happened, but the emperor didn’t say anything and he didn’t dare ask, making the servants come in to freshen up and change the emperor’s clothes, afterwards while remaining calm and collected he sized up the emperor’s complexion, apart from his dark complexion he also had slight bags under his eyes, this was clearly a symptom of not sleeping well…
Waiting until he finished freshening up, the emperor sat on the kang beneath the window, under the slight sunlight passing through, his handsome and iron face emitted a gloomy and frightening aura, making the palace eunuchs and maids serving upon him tremble with fear, he jitterily pushed away the somewhat irritating teacup, saying to Rui Fu who had been sizing him up continuously solemnly and cautiously, “Pass on our decree, today’s morning court will be excused, immediately summon great master Hui Zhen into the palace.”
Morning court is excused?
Rui Fu couldn’t help be shocked in his mind, the emperor since he ascended the throne apart from that year when he was too ill to go outside, he has never delayed a single morning court over these years, the emperor giving such a decree now, certainly something bad has happened, he thought these in a moment, even if Rui Fu had multiple train of thoughts, but his face nevertheless did not show it, at once he replied, “This slave will go issue the decree.”
“Wait, also summon the left and right Embroidered Uniform Guards here!”
Rui Fu lowered his head even more, respectfully saying, “This slave will obey the Emperor’s decree.” In his mind however he was thinking, something big must have happened! The Embroidered Uniform Guards were the emperor’s trusted servants, especially the left and right Embroidered Uniform Guards command as the emperor’s left and right arms, if he remembered those two people, one was in Hangzhou investigating and handling a case of corrupt high officials, another had been sent to ferret out the traitor in the Xibeida battalion, calling them back so abruptly at this time, clearly there was something even more important to do here!
Waiting until Rui Fu had withdrawn, the emperor fingers clenched into a fist, his gaze as sharp as a knife, with the beautiful sound of a precious stone yet also cold and cheerless with an apparent evilness which caused fear in people, he said, “Don’t let us hold you here, how about, we have a thousand methods to make you live but better off dead!”
Great master Hui Zhen was the head of the Fahua Buddhist temple, he had just turned twenty-two this year, but he had grown up in the temple, that year he turned twelve he suddenly had a moment of enlightenment, at that time the head monk great master Xu Yun and Hui Zhen discussed the Buddhism way, afterwards he suddenly decided to hand the position of head monk over, saying Hui Zhen was the reincarnation of luohan, it was also strange, the then only twelve years old Hui Zhen surprising also did not decline, just like this the youngest head monk since the beginning of history was born in Fahua temple.
Many people thought of Hui Zhen as a joke, in the end they never thought after ten years, Hui Zhen’s reputation was more resounding day by day, so much so it exceeded the capital’s number one Buddhist temple Huguo temple, he also became the emperor’s honoured guest, often called upon to discuss Buddhism.
Rui Fu personally went, who knew just as he reached the Fahua temple’s gate he would see a young monk waiting at the door, seeing Rui Fu he said, “Amitabha Buddha, benefactor, our head monk has already been waiting for a long time.”
Rui Fui’s heart was shocked, he always felt great master Hui Zhen was not normal, his heart was also filled with extreme admiration, now seeing Hui Zhen this prophet foreseeing he would come made him feel even more incomparably venerated, his manner was even more respectful somewhat than usual, kindly he said to the young monk, “Thank you young master.”
The young monk took Rui Fu to the head monk’s house, before he entered he saw a young monk wearing a red kasaya come out to welcome him, he had delicate features, greatly magnificent manners, especially his eyes, extremely beautiful, clear as a babbling creek river, making a person looking at them feel their heart somewhat lighted, “Benefactor, you’ve come.”
Rui Fu did not dare to think too much, he hurriedly greeted him.
Hui Zhen however directly and efficiently said, “There’s no time to lose, let us hurry on our way.”
After all Fahua temple was on the outskirt, even if riding on the fastest carriage by the time great master Hui Zhen arrived at the palace it would already be noon.
“Your Majesty, great master Hui Zhen has arrived.”
The emperor was resting against the pillow behind him, his slender and beautiful fingers were braced on the table on the kang, all kinds of books were placed in a mess around him, his eyes were profound, there was a kind of natural dignity and power, since he was the most respected emperor, he nevertheless could not conceal his as picturesque as a mountain range handsome appearance.
Great master Hui Zhen followed behind Rui Fu, lightly sweeping his gaze, it fell on the books tossed by the emperor’s side, many of them were about ghosts and evil beings, such as Zhong Kui’s Conquering Demons, Classics of Mountain and Sea, Tale of King Mu Son of Heaven, Records of Diverse Matters, Xuanguailu, Yimenglu, Chaohai Xinwen Yijianxuzhi, unaware his eyes showed a clear understanding, as expected it was like this.
The emperor however looked like he did not hear Rui Fu’s words, unhurriedly he turned a piece of paper, his expression remaining unmoved.
Rui Fu awkwardly shot a glance at the great master Hui Zhen, and did not dare to announce once more
Time passed little by little, it was completely peaceful in the room, only every now and then the sound of the emperor turning the page could be heard, the palace maids who served the emperor also felt a really strange atmosphere, even the atmosphere didn’t dare to make a noise, afraid of angering the emperor, rigidly standing straight.
Rui Fu really felt he was old, if before, he wouldn’t feel tired if he stood like this for several hours, now however he felt someone unable to support himself up, early in the morning he had gone to Fahua temple as fast as possible, again without rest he had returned, he hadn’t had lunch either, he truly somewhat couldn’t bear it…, he slightly glanced at the great master Hui Zhen, seeing he still looked as calm as usual, not a single trace of indifference was seen on his face, his mind admired him even more, thinking as expected of a great master, always standing out from the masses.
The emperor looked somewhere unknown for a while, all of a sudden grabbing hold of a book he threw it on the floor, the atmosphere in the room changed, there was a dense chilliness, making everyone shiver coldly. “All of you get lost!”
Rui Fu heart thumped once, his face not daring to show any objection, glancing at the great master Hui Zhen with sympathy, he left at once.
Waiting until there were only two of them in the room, the emperor walked to face the great master Hui Zhen, strict meanings flashing through his face, lifting his leg he kicked the great master Hui Zhen in the stomach, waiting until he stumbled onto the ground, he again stood on the back of the great master Hui Zhen’s hand, ruthlessly crushing it.
“Did you already long ago knew we would have such a calamity?” The voice through the gaps of his teeth was gloomy as if it was the cold wind from hell.
Hui Zhen face was deathly white, cold sweat on his forehead, thinking the bones in his hand might be broken, he really couldn’t stand pain, yet merely with the same neither servile nor overbearing manner as before, he said, “Your Majesty, this poor monk had said before if Your Majesty continues to carry out massacres, there will be a calamity, clearly this time…ah!” Along with the feeling the pain of losing feelings in his hand, great master Hui Zhen finally screamed aloud.
“We only ask you, can it be defused?” The emperor’s eyes were profound, like a bottomless abyss, tightly pursing his lips, his deeply cold voice held an invisible pressure on people.
Hui Zhen painfully creased his face, only feeling he was only half conscious, but still persisted in saying, “There’s no cure, unless Your Majesty…”
Another painful shout flowing from the depth of one’s soul echoed in the room, scaring the Rui Fu who was guarding outside that his heart almost jumped out of his heart.