The news of Baixiao Pavilion offloading large quantities of properties in Mangshan Manor reached the Duke of Chu's Mansion at once.
Lady Jiang the Younger was overjoyed: "Is this true? I’ve approached them several times about those estates, and they wouldn’t budge on the price. Now they’re willing to sell at half?"
"Madam, it’s true. This servant confirmed it multiple times—"
"Then why hesitate? Buy them all!" Just as Lady Jiang the Younger gave the order, Nanny Zhang rushed in anxiously. "Madam, you mustn’t! The Duke just sent word—something major is about to happen in Mangshan. He’s ordered the household to stay away for the next few days!"
Lady Jiang the Younger froze. "Something major? What could it be?"
Nanny Zhang dismissed the others and whispered, "From what I gathered, it sounds like... an earth dragon stirring."
"What?!"
An earth dragon was a terrifying force!
A single shift could shake mountains and blot out the sun. No wonder Baixiao Pavilion was suddenly dumping its assets!
"Is this confirmed? Where did the news come from?"
"They say it was the sister of the Director of the Imperial Astrology Bureau who discovered it by chance while out with the daughter of the Marquis of Chengen and... the eldest young lady of our household."
Lady Jiang the Younger narrowed her eyes instantly. "Chu Ruoyan? That little wretch was there too?"
Nanny Zhang nodded. After a moment of contemplation, her mistress suddenly smiled. "Ah, I see now. No wonder such rumors of an earth dragon stirring have surfaced—it’s her doing! Think about it. Mangshan is the resting place of the late Emperor’s mausoleum! A site chosen by the finest geomancers—how could it possibly be unstable?"
Nanny Zhang saw the logic. "Then Baixiao Pavilion’s offer—"
"Buy it! Every last plot! That land was barely worth a hundred or two taels two years ago, and now it’s nearing a thousand. Once we acquire it, we’ll flip it to the nobility in the capital for a tidy profit!"
"Madam is brilliant!"
Nanny Zhang hurried off to carry out the orders, but the mood in the palace was far from optimistic.
In the imperial study, the Emperor frowned deeply, nearly crushing the memorial submitted by Jiang Buyi in his grip.
Chancellor Gu, who had just been summoned, spoke bluntly: "Director Jiang, this is no joking matter. That is the resting place of the late Emperor! If an earth dragon truly stirs there, what will the people think?"
The late Emperor had, after all, seized the throne from the previous dynasty’s Emperor Yunning.
If such an omen occurred, wouldn’t it imply that the Murong Family’s claim to the throne was illegitimate?
This was a matter that could shake the very foundation of their ancestors’ legacy!
Chu Huaishan added, "Indeed, Director Jiang. I heard it was your sister who discovered this. Could it be—"
"No." Jiang Buyi cut in firmly. "The son of the Marquis of Pingjing and your own daughter were also present. If His Majesty doubts it, he may summon them to the palace for questioning!"
"But Your Majesty, the urgent matter is not verifying the truth. Earth dragons move without warning and strike like lightning. If the signs are already visible, ancient texts suggest it could happen within a day or two!"
"Thus, this humble official dares to request Your Majesty order the Imperial Astrology Bureau to post notices immediately, evacuate the people of Mangshan, have the Ministry of War increase patrols, and the Ministry of Revenue prepare supplies—just in case!"
The plan was methodical, but the Emperor only shook his head and turned to Murong Jin. "Ninth Brother, what do you think?"
Murong Jin, lounging in his chair, asked instead, "Director Jiang, you mentioned the Duke of Chu’s daughter was present?"
Jiang Buyi confirmed, "Yes."
Murong Jin chuckled. "Imperial Brother, this is quite interesting. Do you recall how the Marchioness of Anning recently changed the Yan Family’s burial date, citing a dream from the Grand General?"
The room fell silent.
He continued leisurely, "If I’m not mistaken, the Yan Family’s burial site is in Mangshan, and the rescheduled burial... is tomorrow?"
How could it be such a coincidence?
Chu Huaishan broke into a cold sweat. "Your Majesty, Prince Qin, my daughter must have stumbled upon this by accident!"
Jiang Buyi added, "There has never been a precedent for predicting an earth dragon’s movement. I do not believe the Marchioness of Anning possesses such ability."
Murong Jin smiled at their nervousness. "You misunderstand, gentlemen. What I mean is—if Yan Xu could appear in a dream to alter the burial date, perhaps..."
He trailed off meaningfully, and the Emperor grasped his implication.
"Prince Qin is right. The omen of the earth dragon stirring is a warning from the Grand General to the realm!"
"Director Jiang, issue an edict at once, proclaiming this throughout the capital!"
That night, the Imperial Astrology Bureau plastered notices about the earth dragon’s stirring across the city.
When Steward Fang rushed back to the mansion in a panic with a notice in hand, he found Yan Zheng already holding one.
The man’s face was half-shadowed, his expression unreadable.
After a long silence, he let out a low chuckle. "What a scheme."
If an earth dragon stirred and was ignored, countless lives would be lost—it could even destabilize the empire!
But if it were a false alarm, panic would still spread.
The best solution, of course, was to pin it on a dead man.
If it happened, a few more praises would suffice. If not, the imperial family bore no blame...
Meng Yang cursed outright, "Those beasts! Too cowardly to take responsibility, so they exploit the dead!"
Steward Fang urged, "My Lord, you must go to the palace at once! If—if nothing happens, the Grand General’s legacy will be ruined!"
Yan Zheng rubbed the jade thumb ring on his hand. "The notices are already up. What difference would it make now?"
The room was thick with tension.
Then came a knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"It’s me. I’ve prepared some chicken soup for the Marquis."
The study fell silent again.
At a time like this, who had the leisure for soup?
Yet Yan Zheng, still toying with his ring, said, "Enter."
Chu Ruoyan stepped in with a food box—not just soup, but a few light dishes as well.
"The kitchen said the Marquis hadn’t eaten tonight, so I made something simple. Please try it."
Yan Zheng studied her face, calm and flawless, revealing nothing.
"Third Young Madam, you—ah!" Steward Fang sighed heavily.
Meng Yang bit back his words.
Yan Zheng dismissed them. "Leave us."
Soon, only the two remained in the study.
The flickering candlelight cast a rosy hue on Chu Ruoyan’s pale face.
After a long silence, Yan Zheng asked quietly, "Have you nothing to say?"
Chu Ruoyan lowered her head. "The soup will cool. Please taste it first, my Lord."
Yan Zheng took a sip.
The woman lifted her gaze, her dark eyes gleaming. "My Lord, I’ve come to confess my fault. This soup is my apology."
Yan Zheng paused.
She bowed her slender neck. "If I hadn’t spoken recklessly about my father-in-law’s dream, His Majesty wouldn’t have been inspired to pin the earth dragon’s stirring on him."
Her words sounded earnest.
Yet Yan Zheng sensed she wasn’t being entirely truthful. "And?"
"And... now that you’ve drunk the soup, does that mean you forgive me?"
