At this moment, Emperor Yong’an was engaged in secret discussions with the Imperial Preceptor.

“Your Majesty, the divination results are not optimistic. If the baleful star is not dealt with within one month, the empire will be in peril.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yong’an’s expression became extremely unpleasant.

He naturally had no doubt whatsoever about the Imperial Preceptor’s abilities.

After some thought, Emperor Yong’an asked, “Imperial Preceptor, do you think the baleful star might be Luo Chi’s daughter?”

Daoist Master Taiguang shook his head slightly. “The baleful star is unpredictable and elusive. This humble Daoist can only divine her birth date and time, but cannot narrow it down to a specific individual. However, looking at the current situation, Luo Chi’s daughter has the greatest possibility of being the baleful star…”

Hearing Daoist Master Taiguang’s words, Emperor Yong’an’s gaze turned terrifyingly cold.

Luo Chi had defected from the capital with his entire family—this household must be eliminated, and his daughter was naturally included. But better to wrongly kill than to let one escape; all the women in the capital who met the conditions had to be eliminated before he could feel at ease.

For the sake of the Wei clan’s empire, he absolutely could not leave behind even a trace of trouble.

After Emperor Yong’an finished conversing with Daoist Master Taiguang, the palace attendant finally dared to announce, “Your Majesty, Princess Changle requests an audience.”

Emperor Yong’an rubbed the space between his brows, revealing a trace of impatience he himself hadn’t noticed. “Summon her.”

Princess Changle walked in quickly. Upon seeing Emperor Yong’an seated behind the dragon desk, she subconsciously slowed her pace.

It was still the familiar arrangement, the familiar person, yet somehow Father Emperor’s expression seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

As if something had quietly changed.

This sudden notion made Princess Changle furrow her brows inwardly.

Was she being overly suspicious, or had Father Emperor become dissatisfied with her due to the influence of the rumors?

Emperor Yong’an’s voice rang out, dispelling Princess Changle’s momentarily chaotic thoughts. “Changle has come. Come sit beside Father Emperor.”

Still so gentle and loving—it made Princess Changle privately laugh at her wild imaginings just now.

It was probably just an illusion.

She walked over and sat down beside Emperor Yong’an. After hearing his inquiry, her eyes reddened. “Father Emperor, have you heard the rumors among the common people?”

Emperor Yong’an started. “What rumors?”

Princess Changle’s eyes were full of anger. “Those lowly commoners actually say that Your Majesty’s true purpose in selecting consorts is to add blessings and longevity to your daughter, and that you intend to kill those women as sacrificial offerings to the gods!”

Emperor Yong’an had of course heard this rumor, but at this moment he put on a reaction as if he’d just learned of it. “Such a thing has occurred?”

“Father Emperor, this rumor is utterly absurd. It has caused your daughter to bear such an evil reputation for no reason. I’m truly furious!”

Emperor Yong’an consoled her gently. “Rumors among the common people come quickly and go quickly as well. It’s not worth getting angry over the words of some ignorant petty commoners. Father Emperor will instruct the Commander of the Jinlin Guard presently and have him properly manage those spreading these tales.”

“Thank you, Father Emperor.” Princess Changle studied Emperor Yong’an’s expression and asked hesitantly, “Father Emperor, why do you think such a rumor suddenly arose?”

Emperor Yong’an laughed coldly. “With the princes in rebellion and people’s hearts in turmoil, demons and monsters emerge. Changle, you need not worry about these matters. Father Emperor will handle them well.”

After dismissing Princess Changle, Emperor Yong’an leaned back against his chair back and closed his eyes to rest.

A series of hurried footsteps came.

“Your Majesty, eight hundred li emergency dispatch!”

Emperor Yong’an’s eyes snapped open. He took the urgent letter Zhou Shan passed to him, and after reading it his face turned ashen.

General Zhu, who had been sent to suppress the rebellion of the Prince of Henan, had died in battle. More than half his soldiers had been lost, the army had collapsed into chaos, the Prefect of Heyang had surrendered to the Prince of Henan, and Heyang City had been taken by the Prince of Henan…

Emperor Yong’an closed his eyes, exerting all his strength to restrain his tumultuous emotions.

How many years had it been? He had thought he had long since cultivated the ability to remain unchanged even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, yet the recent chaotic situation and successive bad news made it difficult for him to remain calm any longer.

The Imperial Preceptor was right—if the baleful star wasn’t eliminated for even one day, the situation would only worsen. The Wei clan’s empire was in peril.

“Summon Li Jing to the palace.”

Li Jing was the new Commander of the Jinlin Guard who had replaced Grand Commander Luo.

Before long, a middle-aged man hurried into the palace. “This humble subject greets Your Majesty.”

“Li Jing, from this day forward you are to lead men to search every household. Any woman born on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year Wuchen is to be taken without exception.”

Li Jing’s heart jumped when he heard this.

The meaning of “taken,” he naturally understood.

“Your Majesty, we’re no longer restricting it to the hour of birth?”

Emperor Yong’an’s tone was bland. “The Ministry of Revenue caught fire, and all the household registration records were completely burned. Now that such rumors have arisen among the common people, those families with daughters born on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year Wuchen won’t admit their daughters were born at the hour of mao—what can be done about it?”

Li Jing was stumped by the question.

Emperor Yong’an’s tone grew slightly heavier. “The hour can be concealed, but the date is not so easy to hide. People celebrate birthdays—even if family members don’t speak, relatives and neighbors will know. Li Jing, this is an important matter. You must be thorough. If you miss even one person—”

Emperor Yong’an didn’t finish the rest of his words, but they made Li Jing’s scalp tingle.

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This humble subject will certainly not miss a single person!”

Emperor Yong’an nodded slightly, his expression easing somewhat.

Indeed, a blade was sharpest when new. Used too long, it grew dull.

Li Jing thought of the increasingly fierce rumors and requested instructions. “Your Majesty, the rumors have not yet subsided. If—”

Before he could finish, Emperor Yong’an said blandly, “The rumors need not be addressed for now. The important matter takes priority.”

Li Jing acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Emperor Yong’an stared at the doorway, his gaze profound.

Originally he had wanted to find and dispose of the women in the capital who met the conditions without anyone knowing, but the household registration records had been destroyed. Acting under the pretext of selecting consorts had produced such rumors instead.

Now he could only take the hard approach. Using rumors to conceal the true reason was actually not a bad thing.

If it aroused popular resentment—Emperor Yong’an thought of Princess Changle, his gaze utterly devoid of warmth.

The common people of the capital suddenly discovered that patrolling officers in the streets had increased, and control at the city gates had become even stricter. It had reached the point where any woman who appeared to be in her teens would be detained.

The Jinlin Guard began searching every household. If they had obtained information about a family’s daughter, they would take her directly. If they couldn’t find anything out, they would investigate from the neighbors in all four directions and eight neighborhoods.

Whether through intimidation or inducement, quite a few women who had escaped detection were ferreted out.

For a time, every household in the capital lived in fear, shrouded in clouds of sorrow and misery. Who knew how many people secretly cursed Princess Changle?

“Sir, in the Qingliu Alley area of the Eastern District, we’ve discovered another woman born on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year Wuchen.”

Hearing his subordinate’s report, Li Jing became greatly enraged. “Wasn’t that area already searched twice before? Why is there still a woman who meets the conditions?”

“It’s like this—that family has always been kind to others and has very good relations with their neighbors. Those who knew concealed it for them…”

“Detestable!” Li Jing slapped the desk heavily, greatly incensed.

His Majesty had warned him—if he missed even one person, he definitely wouldn’t have a good outcome.

Li Jing gave orders. “Send the heads of those several households who knew but didn’t report to the prison to be locked up for a few days. Make an example to warn others!”

“Acknowledged!”

“Furthermore, search again. Bring in all women in the capital who are seventeen years old, without exception. Absolutely do not miss a single person.”

Birth month and day were easy to conceal, but the year couldn’t be hidden—so they might as well just arrest all women who were seventeen years old.