Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Heavenly Dao’s Warning?
Why did the Celestial Thunder issue a warning?
Still deeply shaken by the explosion at the Fengxian Palace, the Empress Dowager had not yet fully registered what was happening.
Upon hearing Inspector Lv’s question, her expression instantly changed.
"Inspector Lv, are you implying that the heavens just sent us a divine warning?"
The Empress Dowager’s voice trembled.
Inspector Lv knelt and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, please reflect on your conduct!"
"Reflect on what? Inspector Lv, choose your words carefully!"
The young emperor’s face turned pale. Was his precious daughter’s kowtow going to force him to issue an edict of self-blame?
The young emperor pressed his forehead, his expression dark and furious.
"Your Majesty! This celestial anomaly is surely a warning from the Celestial Dao."
"The Celestial Dao sent its warning, and the Celestial Thunder struck the Fengxian Palace, not elsewhere. There must be a reason for this."
"I implore Your Majesty to examine yourself, find the cause, correct it, and rectify it. Only then can the wrath of Heaven be appeased!"
The young Emperor actually chuckled. "Inspector Lv, are you saying that today’s Celestial Dao warning is because Zhen has erred in governing?"
Inspector Lv touched his head to the ground. "This servant dares not, Your Majesty..."
"You dare greatly!" the young Emperor roared, cutting off Inspector Lv’s subsequent words.
"Today’s celestial anomaly has other reasons. This matter requires a thorough investigation! Where is the Imperial Astronomical Observatory?"
The young Emperor was quite decisive. Faced with the ministers demanding an explanation, he immediately thought of a countermeasure.
A wizened old man, so thin that his official hat seemed too large for him, stepped forward.
Xiaosuisui observed him. This man possessed a peculiar kind of resonance, a resonance that seemed to represent a certain Dao, one capable of communicating with Heaven and Earth!
She couldn’t quite find the words to describe this little old man, but she instinctively felt he was formidable!
"This servant is here!"
The little old man stepped out and knelt before the Emperor.
"The Celestial Phenomenon was abnormal; there must have been portents beforehand. The Imperial Astronomical Observatory failed to report this in advance. This is your dereliction of duty."
"Zhen orders you all to reflect on yourselves and fines you half a year’s salary. If there is any concealment or failure to report next time, Zhen will punish you severely!"
With a few sharp words, the young Emperor shifted all blame to the Imperial Astronomical Observatory.
This not only stunned Inspector Lv but also astounded those ministers who had hoped to use this opportunity to push their daughters into the Imperial Harem.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing our lives!"
The little old man from the Imperial Astronomical Observatory kowtowed and exclaimed, "Long live my Emperor, ten thousand years!" He then watched as the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Xiaosuisui gradually departed.
Chancellor Song Yuan, his expression unsightly, pointed at Inspector Lv and said, "I say, old Lv, how can you not grasp the main point? We had everything agreed upon! How did it get so messed up in your hands?"
Hearing this, Inspector Lv retorted peevishly, "If you think I messed up, why didn’t you petition His Majesty yourself?"
"This is entirely your blunder! If you hadn’t started with all that rubbish and had directly stated that the Celestial Dao’s warning was because His Majesty has not appointed an Empress or filled the Imperial Harem, thus incurring Heaven’s wrath, then urging His Majesty to appoint an Empress and select consorts would have been the end of it, wouldn’t it? You spouted so much nonsense that His Majesty immediately knew what you were aiming for. See? He found an excuse, gave the Imperial Astronomical Observatory a trivial punishment of a few taels of silver from their salary, and the matter was closed. The appointment of an Empress and selection of consorts has been shelved once more."
Once Chancellor Song finished speaking, all the ministers present nodded one after another, feeling his words were reasonable.
Such a prime opportunity, wasted!
Everything was discussed, and the most suitable person was found. How did it not succeed?
"Grandma! What is ’appointing an Empress and selecting consorts’?"
The Empress Dowager, leading Xiaosuisui towards Cining Palace, paused at her words and asked softly, "My dear treasure, why would you ask Grandma such a question?"