Hot flashes

Beijing.

Qianqing Palace.

Xiao Jue was reviewing memorials when Chen Shen's secret report was delivered.

He opened it and took a look.

The pen in my hand stopped moving.

He then put down the secret report and continued reviewing memorials.

After approving one memorial, he went on to approve another. He spent half an hour approving all the memorials on his desk.

He put down his pen.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the crackling of the charcoal fire.

Xiao Jue sat there, motionless.

After a long silence, he spoke.

"Someone come here."

The eunuch entered from outside, bowing his head and awaiting orders.

"Shen Du is hereby summoned."

Shen Du is the commander of the secret guards and Chen Shen's superior. He rarely shows his face.

He arrived very quickly.

Xiao Jue looked at him and asked a question.

"You know about what happened in Jiangling?"

Shen Du nodded.

Xiao Jue asked, "Have you found out who did it?"

Shen Du said, "We've found out. It's Xie Cong, the second young master of the Xie family."

Xiao Jue nodded without saying anything.

He just sat there.

Shen Du had followed him for over a decade and had never seen him like this before.

After a long while, Xiao Jue spoke.

"The Xie family," he said, "it's time to clean house."

Shen Du's heart skipped a beat.

Xiao Jue asked, "Have the arrangements been made regarding the celestial phenomena?"

Shen Du nodded.

"The people from the Imperial Observatory are our own people. They can come anytime."

Xiao Jue nodded.

"Then let's get ready."

Shen Du agreed and turned to leave.

"etc."

Shen Du stopped.

Xiao Jue looked at him.

"Let people see the Xie family's clothes. Especially Xie Xun and Xie Cong's."

Shen Du was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

"Yes."

He withdrew.

Xiao Jue sat alone in the hall.

Outside the window, it was already dark.

He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

A cold wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker.

Looking at the pitch-black night outside, he suddenly remembered something from many years ago.

Back then, he wasn't the emperor. Back then, all he had was a knife and a heart full of hatred. Back then, whoever touched his people, he would kill. No reason needed, no excuse needed, no waiting for any opportune moment.

Now he is the emperor.

The emperor cannot do that. The emperor must abide by the rules, reason, and earn the respect of the people.

But he never wanted to be a wise ruler.

If someone has crossed you, why wait for some ridiculous opportunity or investigate any evidence?

He doesn't want to be that kind of person.

Zhou Heng wanted him to take the position, so he gave it a try.

But now it seems he can't do it.

Outside the window, a palace attendant hurried past, his footsteps very light, as if afraid of startling him.

Xiao Jue looked at the dark figures and suddenly smiled.

Three days later, a major event occurred in the capital.

Eclipse.

It should have been noon, but suddenly the sky darkened. The sun was gradually obscured until only a dark ring remained hanging in the sky. Birds returned to their nests, chickens and dogs were in an uproar, and people on the street knelt on the ground.

After the eclipse ended, the officials of the Imperial Observatory handed over a folded document.

The folding slip says that a solar eclipse is a celestial warning. The sun represents the ruler, and if it is obscured, it means that the ruler and his subjects are deceiving him. According to celestial interpretations, there should be an omen of "the gentry obscuring the sun."

This folded paper was copied countless times and spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

The teahouses and taverns were buzzing with discussion.

"The aristocratic class blocking out the sun? What does that mean?"

"So you're saying that some ministers are keeping His Majesty in the dark."

Who is it?

"Who else could it be? The powerful families in the capital, of course. From Jiangnan to Jiangbei, which one doesn't have connections everywhere?"

"But can you just say things like that?"

"It wasn't me who said it, it was the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

Xie Mansion.

Xie Xun was reading in his study when Xie Cong hurried in.

"Father, have you heard?"

Xie Xun raised his head.

"About the solar eclipse?"

Xie Cong nodded and told him about the folding tablet from the Imperial Observatory.

After listening, Xie Xun remained silent for a while before walking to the window.

"A solar eclipse is a celestial phenomenon, and celestial phenomena don't target anyone in particular. But if someone wants a celestial phenomenon to target someone, then the celestial phenomenon can target that person."

Xie Cong's expression changed.

"Father means..."

Xie Xun remained silent.

He looked out the window for a long time.

"The Xie family," he said, "is facing a great calamity."

Xie Cong did not believe it.

"Father, it's just a solar eclipse, what does it prove? Who usually takes those people at the Imperial Observatory seriously?"

Xie Xun turned around and looked at him.

"Don't you understand?"

Xie Cong was stunned. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

Two days later, Xie Cong went out to meet guests.

He wore a newly made robe, dark blue with subtle embroidery, which looked very respectable. The robe was made by the best tailor in the capital and cost more than a hundred taels of silver.

He sat in the teahouse for half an hour, met a friend, and then got up to go home.

As soon as I stepped out of the teahouse, I was stopped by someone.

The man who stopped him was middle-aged and dressed in ordinary clothes, but his gaze and posture clearly indicated that he was not an ordinary person.

The man stared at his robe for several moments.

Xie Cong felt uneasy under that gaze and was about to speak when the man suddenly smiled.

"Thank you, Second Young Master," he said, "your robe is truly beautiful."

Xie Cong was taken aback.

The man cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and left.

Xie Cong stood there, completely bewildered.

He looked down at his robe; there was nothing special about it.

He shook his head and continued walking.

The Xie residence was besieged early the next morning.

The team was led by Shen Du.

He stood at the entrance of the Xie residence, surrounded by hundreds of imperial guards.

Xie Xun was led out from inside, and upon seeing the scene, his expression remained calm.

"Commander Shen," he said, "what does this mean?"

Shen Du looked at him, his gaze calm.

"Master Xie," he said, "someone has reported that you are hiding something in your residence that you shouldn't be hiding."

Xie Xun was taken aback.

"What is it?"

Shen Du did not answer.

He waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards rushed in.