Due to the occurrence of the solar eclipse, various government offices were in a state of panic, unable to focus on their work.
After the court dismissed, Minister Gu didn’t even return to his office, heading straight back to the Gu residence instead.
At this moment, the Gu household was also unsettled.
The solar eclipse not only affected the imperial court but also had a significant impact on ordinary citizens.
A solar eclipse was considered an inauspicious omen, foretelling the occurrence of disasters, be they natural calamities man-made catastrophes, or even dynastic changes.
Better to be a dog in peaceful times than a human in chaotic ones.
For the common folk accustomed to the prosperity and stability of the capital, it was no wonder they felt fear.
Minister Gu returned to his room and gulped down half a pot of cold tea before color returned to his face.
“My lord, why have you returned at this hour?” Madam Gu asked, her face pale.
Minister Gu wiped away his sweat, glanced at his wife, and sighed, “I nearly caused a great disaster.”
“What happened?” Madam Gu asked, her face tense.
Minister Gu shook his head, “Matters of the court, you needn’t inquire further.”
It was truly a blessing in disguise that the solar eclipse occurred at such a timely moment. Had it been even a moment later, he would have uttered those words of remonstrance.
That would have been disastrous!
Seeing this, Madam Gu didn’t press further and gently comforted him, “It’s good that nothing happened. Have you had breakfast, my lord?”
For officials attending court, meals were provided in the palace, but they usually ate after the court dismissed. Seeing Minister Gu return so early, and considering the inauspicious event of the solar eclipse, Madam Gu worried that in the chaos, no one had remembered to eat, hence her question.
“Not yet.”
“Then I’ll have the kitchen send some food.”
“I have no appetite,” Minister Gu refused, but then changed his mind, “Never mind, have the kitchen send over some braised pork knuckle and steamed meat.”
Madam Gu was stunned.
Wasn’t this change too sudden? He had just said he had no appetite, and now he wanted braised pork knuckle?
“My lord, it’s hot weather, eating such—”
Minister Gu gave Madam Gu a deep look and said meaningfully, “Don’t ask about matters outside. Just have it brought.”
Braised pork knuckles and steamed meat were delicacies. It was said that the Crown Prince had gotten diarrhea from eating these.
Madam Gu left in confusion to instruct the servants, lost in deep thought: her husband must have encountered something significant, otherwise why would he speak so incoherently? She had merely mentioned the hot weather being unsuitable for braised pork knuckle, how did that relate to matters outside?
On this day after the court dismissed, many officials, having calmed down, began to marvel at Yu Jin’s good fortune. Rumors started to spread that the new Crown Prince was chosen by heaven.
Coincidentally, many households’ dinner tables suddenly featured several similar dishes: braised pork knuckle, steamed meat, stewed pig’s trotters…
Zhu Duohuan, the Five Offices Spiritual Terrace Lang, had been in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau for over a decade without any notable achievements. Now that he had died, even the formidable Imperial Guard couldn’t uncover any clues in such a short time.
Emperor Jingming, having just issued an edict of self-reproach, was naturally in no good mood. After kicking over his footstool several times, he asked Pan Hai, “Has the Crown Prince’s condition improved?”
Pan Hai quickly responded, “Your Majesty, news from Prince Yan’s mansion indicates that the Crown Prince has fully recovered.”
Emperor Jingming’s eyes flickered slightly.
Falling ill during the solar eclipse and recovering quickly afterward—this boy was indeed fortunate.
“Summon the Crown Prince to the palace.”
Before long, Yu Jin stood before Emperor Jingming: “Your son pays his respects to Father Emperor.”
Emperor Jingming looked Yu Jin over and said gently, “You’ve lost some weight.”
Yu Jin’s mouth twitched.
Having diarrhea over a dozen times a day, how could he not lose weight? Even now, his bottom still hurts.
As the saying goes, heaven assigns great tasks to those it wishes to test first through hardship. Being Crown Prince was indeed no easy task, but fortunately, he had prepared himself for hardship, considering it a way to share the burdens of his father and brothers.
“Your son has been unfilial, causing you to worry.”
“There was a concern, indeed, but losing weight is good,” Emperor Jingming exhaled slowly.
Perhaps due to encountering too many unfortunate events, seeing his lucky seventh son somehow lifted his spirits.
This Crown Prince’s choice shouldn’t be wrong.
“The auspicious date for the formal investiture will be determined after a new Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is selected. There’s no need to rush.”
Yu Jin quickly responded, “Your son is not in a hurry. Everything will be as Father Emperor arranges.”
Emperor Jingming nodded, “Then you may return.”
“Your son takes his leave.”
After Yu Jin left, Emperor Jingming asked Pan Hai, “Do you think the Crown Prince’s avoidance of this calamity might be related to General Xiaotian?”
He had pondered over this for the past two days. Rather than coincidentally falling ill, it was more likely that Er’niu had given the seventh prince a warning.
After all, Er’niu was a divine dog capable of predicting earthquakes.
However, regardless of the reason, Er’niu belonged to the seventh prince, which ultimately meant the seventh prince was fortunate.
Without waiting for Pan Hai’s response, Emperor Jingming walked over to Jixiang, the cat curled up in the corner, and looked down at the white feline, heaving a deep sigh.
Why had his pampered cat shown no unusual behavior that day?
Jixiang looked up blankly, a small dried fish in its mouth.
Man and cat stared at each other for a while before Jixiang swallowed the dried fish and turned away, leaving behind a haughty back.
Emperor Jingming rubbed his nose sheepishly.
Well, no matter how good Er’niu was, it wasn’t his pet. Only Jixiang was truly his own.
But with Er’niu moving into the Eastern Palace soon, it would be convenient to see him. Perhaps he could set up a dog house next to Jixiang’s bed, allowing Jixiang to bask in some of that divine aura.
Emperor Jingming couldn’t help but look forward to Er’niu’s impending move to the Eastern Palace.
After Yu Jin publicly announced his recovery, Jiang Si went to the Yining Marquis’s mansion. Having dealt with Grand Uncle Su and others, she entered the inner chambers to converse with the Old Madam of the Yining Marquis.
“Has the Crown Prince improved?”
“Thanks to Maternal Great-grandmother’s blessings, Ah Jin has fully recovered.”
The Old Madam of the Yining Marquis smiled, “The Crown Prince is deeply blessed. How could it be due to the blessings of an old woman like me?”
Jiang Si pursed her lips and sighed lightly, “Although Ah Jin becoming Crown Prince indeed shows he is blessed, even the greatest fortune cannot prevent those lurking in the shadows from repeatedly scheming against him.”
The Old Madam’s expression changed slightly, “Si’er, what do you mean?”
Jiang Si decided to be straightforward, looking into the Old Madam’s eyes, “Maternal Great-grandmother, you surely didn’t think I was merely curious when I inquired about past events?”
The Old Madam’s eyes flickered.
Jiang Si’s tone grew heavier, “I shouldn’t be saying such things to worry my elders, but with Ah Jin now Crown Prince, even the slightest carelessness could lead to mortal danger. I have no choice but to speak frankly. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau setting the day of the solar eclipse as the auspicious date for establishing the Crown Prince was no coincidence. Someone intended to push Ah Jin into an abyss of no return.”
The Old Madam’s expression jolted.
Jiang Si lowered her gaze and smiled bitterly, “Ah Jin and I are one in marriage. If anything were to happen to him, how could I possibly remain uninvolved? If it were just the two of us, so be it, but we have Ah Huan, and you, our family. When the nest falls, how can the eggs remain unbroken… Maternal Great-grandmother, please help your great-granddaughter.”
The Old Madam’s expression fluctuated continuously. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally heaved a deep sigh, “Ask what you will.”
Jiang Si’s heart leaped with joy, and she immediately posed the question she had long pondered, “I want to know the reason for the enmity between Maternal Great-grandmother and the Empress Dowager.”