Chapter 909: Chapter 531: The Empress Logs Off! Zhao Gou Returns to the City!
Xu Zhenguan straightened her face, a slight sigh of relief in her heart.
Afterward, the two finished settling the bill and walked out of the restaurant, one after the other, leaving behind a crowd of diners with faces of shock, jealousy, and a tinge of regret.
Their conversation was not loud, so in the eyes of many, it seemed Zhao Douan approached, said a few words, didn’t even bother eating, and just took the beautiful woman away...
"Why? If I’d known it was that easy, I could’ve done it too." Countless people secretly regretted, lamenting repeatedly.
Outside the restaurant.
Zhao Douan felt the night breeze, didn’t hail a cab, gestured towards a distant direction, hands in his pockets, and began walking along the quiet road.
Xu Zhenguan followed several steps behind, eyes alertly watching him, as her sandals struck the ground, emitting a crisp "tap tap" sound.
For some reason, she felt this Chapter exuded an inexplicable, indescribable peculiarity. However, although she had lost her cultivation, she could exit meditation at any time and wasn’t afraid of any danger.
"Miss Xu doesn’t have to be so wary of me. Ah, speaking of which, where is Miss Xu from? How long have you been here? Do you live nearby?"
Zhao Douan casually asked, attempting to probe the situation.
Xu Zhenguan’s beautiful eyes held hostility, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
...
...
Capital, Astronomical Observatory.
Established at the founding of Yu Country to specifically record astronomical phenomena and weather, the Astronomical Observatory was located in a corner of the Capital, considered a Qingshui Government Office.
Yet it possessed the tallest building within the Capital... ah, the Heavenly Master Mansion’s grand bell tower doesn’t count.
On the top floor of this building named "Observatory Platform," numerous intricate and complex observation instruments were displayed, not only for observing but also for storing books and bamboo slips. The three walls were covered with bookshelves that reached several feet high, necessitating numerous ladders for access.
At this moment, it was afternoon, thin clouds veiled the sun in the sky, casting large shadows over this vast upper floor, where several officials wearing special Astronomical Observatory uniforms stood guard.
Suddenly, several officials simultaneously stood, bowing towards the entrance below: "Lord Supervisor."
A white-haired, slightly hunched, elderly man, already showing signs of senility, with one eye covered due to extensive stargazing damage in younger years, entered. He wore an official robe and had a scroll tucked under his arm.
Beside him, followed a young attendant student of about ten years old.
The old man was the Supervisor of the Astronomical Observatory, nominally third-rank, but held no real power, only a ceremonial title. Ever since the Grand Ancestor Emperor decreed throughout numerous dynasties that Star Officials must be separated from court officials, even during the Xuanmen Coup and subsequent political upheavals, the Astronomical Observatory was never implicated.
Over the years, the old man rarely attended court or visited the palace, being an often forgotten presence.
The old man waved the officials away, descending the stairs. He carefully crossed the line between light and shadow on the ground, reaching a large semicircular platform made of Han White Jade, protruding from the wall, resembling half a star disk.
In the night, the stars scatter; here one can capture the galaxy.
Even during sunny days, when stars are veiled, the vast apparatus can assist in observing celestial phenomena.
"Lord Supervisor, why have you personally taken shifts during these times, braving the wind and sun? There are so many personnel at the government office to help you; your eyesight isn’t good, why toil?" The attendant student helped the elder to sit, then sat on the edge of the high platform, opening a sunshade umbrella.
The old man caressed the cannon-like instrument mounted on the Han White Jade, smiling, "In my youth, since I was your age, I’ve been observing the stars, during the day and night. Had it not been for this routine, I wouldn’t have lost an eye, yet with this loss, I’ve gained a lifetime of peace and prosperity. Countless people vie for this privilege."
Pausing for a moment, the elder became serious again, saying, "When the previous dynasty fell, a great fire destroyed their astronomical records. Since the reconstruction of the Astronomical Observatory, generations of Star Officials documented celestial changes for six hundred years, exploring patterns applicable, while occasionally not. According to the oldest records in the observatory, currently the world is chaotic, smoke rises everywhere, perhaps soon there will be relevant celestial phenomena."
The attendant student shrugged, dismissively, "I thought everyone observed celestial patterns to predict calamity and fortune, but observing calamity and fortune to find stars seems reversed?"
The old man chuckled, "Oh, young one, you’ll learn—like historians keeping records of emperors’ lives, we too document celestial phenomena. Regardless of the commitment to truthful recording, human interference is inevitable—as if when an emperor drunkenly speaks, requesting editing from historians. If unchanged, those historians might lose heads, similarly for us star officials."
The attendant listened, half-understanding, curious: "Lord Supervisor, according to what you say, are six hundred years of astronomical records fabricated? Who would dare forge them? Aren’t they afraid of the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s laws and punishment?"
The old man replied with deep meaning, "You certainly know it’s by the Grand Ancestor’s laws."
He did not continue but instead operated the cannon-like observation instrument, slowly aligning the lens tube with his remaining eye.
At this moment, the old man abruptly trembled, his expression suddenly turning extremely serious, deftly operating the instrument.
"Lord Supervisor? What’s wrong?" The attendant student was shocked.
The one-eyed old supervisor who had been leisurely all his life suddenly stood, rapidly spread his arm-held scroll, turning to a densely written page, murmuring with distracted hand movements.
He paused, muttering, "It’s matched."
Then, the supervisor sluggishly stood, a weighty demeanor, and walked downstairs, shouting: "Prepare the carriage! I must enter the palace and meet the Emperor!"
...
...
"What’s wrong?" Zhao Douan heard the footsteps halt, turned around, looking at Xu Zhenguan dressed as a city woman.
The Empress stared at him, coldly stating, "I dislike people prying into my affairs. Also, I have... ah, as you’ve here put it, a fiancé. My visit is just to inquire about ’Father.’"
Yes, although merely fictitious figures in a painting, the empress’s domineering nature made her unfond of questioning. Her softer, feminine side was only shown to very few, most of whom had since passed. Besides Mo Chou and Sun Lianying who served her since childhood, only Zhao Douan remained.
Also, possibly due to hints provided by the Taiqing Palace temple priest, she was annoyed by character relationships arranged for her within this painting.
Coincidentally, Zhao Douan’s gaze made her uncomfortable, making her feel "seen through"—as if this "character outside the painting" had no secrets before him...
Considering this, she decided to clarify and draw a boundary.
Yes, precisely that waste-like gaze... the flavor was just right... Zhao Douan didn’t get angry after hearing this, instead, his smile deepened, intriguingly stating, "Miss Xu seems to misunderstand; I merely wished to be a hospitable host. After all... in some ways, I have ties with Uncle Xu."
"That’s good." Xu Zhenguan nodded, satisfied.
Suddenly, Zhao Douan asked, "Speaking of which, Miss Xu being an outstanding lady, her fiancé should be quite remarkable, right?"
Xu Zhenguan didn’t expect the conversation to turn this way, thought for a moment, remembering something that made her cheeks redden slightly, grinding her teeth, "He’s an absolute jerk."
Zhao Douan’s expression froze—no, I meant "remarkable" in a different sense...
Then, suddenly Xu Zhenguan’s complexion changed slightly, as if sensing something, she looked up at the night sky, murmuring, "Is it time?"
"What?" Zhao Douan blinked.
Xu Zhenguan merely glanced at him, saying, "It’s nothing, I... I must leave, I’ll visit again when I have time."
Saying this, her figure gradually disintegrated into a cluster of starlight, soaring into the night sky.
The Empress went offline!
Zhao Douan was stunned for a moment, slightly disappointed, but then, as he stared at the night sky’s residual star trail, he pondered.
So is this how those practicing visualization exit?
Is the remaining star trail the mark of departure?
Curiously, he reached out to touch the star trail ahead, and an unexpected event occurred!
Zhao Douan’s hand penetrated the star trail, as if... this star trail was a crack on the canvas...
The next second, a pull force suddenly emerged, Zhao Douan plunged into the crack.
Disappeared!
...
Capital, deep within the Imperial Palace, in the depths of the Martial Arts Hall, Zhao Douan abruptly emerged from a wall painting!