Chapter 442: An Yaluoshan! (1/2)
Chapter 442: An Yaluoshan!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Astrology had occupied an extremely important role in every dynasty.
And the star observation platform, as the place where astrology was performed, had a transcendent status and was highly regarded by every sovereign. Let alone the princes and princesses, not even the consorts and concubines of the harem could approach this place.
In the entirety of the Imperial Palace, the Star Observation Platform was the only place that was allowed to be north of the Emperor's living chambers.
It was no easy task to construct a star observation platform. It required the right time, geography, and the unity of the people.
Only those places where man interacted with the heavens, where the laws and principles of the world could be felt, were suitable for a star observation platform. Only astrologers could construct a star observation platform. And only in a year when the energies of the world were most favorable for carrying out projects would one be able to construct a star observation platform.
And it was a one in ten thousand chance to fulfill all three conditions at once.
Thus, a thousand years ago, even though Shi Huangdi was known as a supreme sovereign who began the tradition of Emperors in the Central Plains, and though his empire and army were unprecedentedly powerful, a hundred astrologers had still failed to build a star observation platform, even though they had used several decades.
The Great Han had only managed to construct their own star observation platform by using the foundation established by the Qin.
When the Great Tang was occupying the capital of the Sui, the first place they occupied and put under their protection was this star observation platform.
The will of the heavens was vast and difficult to fathom.
But one could observe the heavenly phenomena. One could recognize a leopard from seeing its spot through a tube, and a single leaf was enough to know that autumn was coming!
True astrologers using the star observation platform might not be able to see the entirety of the will of the heavens, but they could glimpse a corner of fate.
”A star is falling to the west, an incredibly inauspicious sign! The heavens are changing over the Great Tang!”
As the winds howled, the white-haired elder sat on the star observation platform, a great agitation on his chest.
As the chief of the palace astrologers, he had seen all sorts of inauspicious signs, but he had never seen one so inauspicious as a star falling to the west.
Amongst the imperial astrologers, one had to look back at least three hundred years for any similar records, when the Sui was in its final days!
The elder hurriedly stood up, his concern growing. Finally, he rushed off into the depths of the Imperial Palace.
This matter could not be underestimated. It concerned the fate of the empire, so he had to report it to the Sage Emperor as quickly as possible.
……
The capital, the Huang Clan.
”I'm full. The rest of you can continue eating!”
Huang Qian-er was seated at the table, a large silver sword at her back. The moment she received Wang Chong's message, she pushed away from the table, stood up, and, under the confused gazes of the rest of the Huang Clan, swiftly left through the main gate.
No one knew what had happened, but Huang Qian-er clearly remembered the agreement she had come to with Wang Chong before leaving. She had been allowed to return to the Huang Clan for one month, during which Wang Chong would not summon her beforehand.
Huang Qian-er didn't know what had happened, but she knew that something must have happened to Wang Chong!
Gallop!
Mounting a warhorse, Huang Qian-er needed only a few moments to vanish from the sight of the Huang Clan.
And at this same moment, in a place extremely far from the capital, a carrier pigeon flapped across the sky. On the official road, a one-armed expert riding a horse raised his hand to receive the carrier pigeon.
”This… What in the world happened in the capital?”
Steel Arms gawked at the urgent missive in his hand, an astonished look on his face.
It had been a very long time since he had left the capital to carry out Wang Chong's secret mission. Wang Chong should have known he basically had no spare time.
Moreover, this order wasn't like the one sent out during the Dragon Bandits suppression. The order that time had said that if he could help, he should, but if he couldn't, that was fine.