Chapter 776
Penalty
The topic was successfully changed.
The Empress Dowager laughed as well: "Pan Yun? Is she the junior sister of Yin Song, the Summer Official of the Imperial Observatory?"
The emperor was taken aback: "How did you know?"
When people mention Pan Yun, their first impression is that she is Pan Hong's daughter, then she is a Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, and only then do people remember that she is Yin Song's junior sister.
Few people would put Yin Song's junior sister in their first impression.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Yin Song is very accurate in fortune telling. The palace maids and eunuchs in the harem all like to have their fortunes told by him. I have also heard that these cultivators can really fly and escape into the earth. Some people in the palace have seen them fly into the air and fight with a demon bird."
Wang Zhen's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled and said, "I have also heard that the five officials of Spring, Summer, Mid-Autumn and Winter all made a move. The five of them are highly skilled and can fly in the air, which is very powerful. However, they were still no match for the demon bird. Pan Jun was in the Imperial Prison at the time. When he saw that they were no match for the demon bird, he immediately flew out of the window of the Imperial Prison."
The Empress Dowager listened with great interest. These stories had been circulating in the palace for some time, but few people would mention them in front of her, let alone tell them with such relish.
"In the end, it was Master Zhang from the palace who stepped in and drove the demon bird out of the capital," Wang Zhen sighed. "It's a pity that Master Zhang wasn't in the capital at the time, and Deputy Supervisor Qi Bo was also ineffective. Otherwise, they would have stopped or killed the demon bird before it entered the capital, and there wouldn't have been the subsequent discussions among the people."
After the demonic bird attacked the capital, it was witnessed by many people, not only officials but also many ordinary citizens. In addition, the demonic bird overturned many roofs. Afterwards, rumors circulated in the capital that the emperor was immoral, which led to the strange phenomena and the rampage of demons.
"Beasts act without any order; who could have known that a demonic bird would attack the capital?" The Empress Dowager quickly patted the Emperor's hand, comforting him: "There are always ignorant people among the common people; how could they know how many strange and wonderful things exist in the world? Your Majesty need not take it to heart."
The emperor twitched the corners of his mouth, but a surge of anger rose within him. He asked Wang Zhen, "Has Master Zhang not yet returned to the capital?"
Wang Zhen bowed and replied, "Yes, Master Zhang returned to Longhu Mountain in June to go into seclusion and has not emerged since."
The emperor then said, "Since Master Zhang is so busy with his cultivation, who will take responsibility for the duties of the Director of the Imperial Observatory?"
Wang Zhen said, "The matter was handled by two deputy supervisors and five officials. However, with so many people and differing opinions, it was difficult to make a decision. I only learned later that the deputy supervisor Peng Deqing had divined the matter of the demon bird attacking the capital, but the deputy supervisor Qi Bo did not take it to heart. At that time, the official in charge of summer, Yin Song, was focused on rescuing Pan Yun in the imperial prison, so he did not report it, which almost led to a disaster."
The emperor murmured, "Peng Deqing?"
"This person is extremely skilled in divination and astronomy, but he is mild-mannered and too honest and gentle, unlike Yin Song who is good at pleasing people."
But what the emperor hated most was collusion between the court and the harem, especially officials in the Imperial Observatory. If they were to engage in divination and fortune-telling in the harem, they might be suspected of disrupting the court.
The emperor did not speak at the time, but later summoned Peng Deqing for a meeting.
Peng Deqing was indeed a gentle middle-aged man. The emperor asked him if he had divined the arrival of the demonic bird before it attacked the capital.
Peng Deqing was slightly confused. Had he figured it out or not?
He subconsciously glanced at Wang Zhen, and finally decided to deceive people as usual: "There are indeed strange phenomena, and a demon has invaded the capital, but please forgive my lack of knowledge and skills. I failed to calculate that it was a demon bird, let alone the time and place when it entered the capital, which has disturbed Your Majesty."
So much time has passed, the emperor certainly wouldn't blame him. On the contrary, he thought it was amazing that he could foresee the arrival of a demon before the demon bird entered the capital.
A few days later, the emperor issued an edict to appease the Celestial Master's Mansion and then dismissed Zhang Maocheng from his post as Director of the Imperial Observatory, instructing him to focus on cultivation, praying for the country, managing the Taoist priests throughout the land, and developing the Taoist tradition.
Then Peng Deqing was appointed as the Director of the Imperial Observatory.
Deputy Supervisor Qi Bo and Wu Guanzheng were reprimanded for failing to protect the capital when the demon bird attacked, and were fined three months' salary.
The six who received the imperial decree: ...
Deputy warden Qi Bo slowly got up, packed up his things, picked them up, and left.
The official in charge of the Spring Palace instinctively grabbed him: "Lord Qi, where are you going?"
Qi Bo: "It's almost Chinese New Year, so I'm taking some things home."
The official in charge of spring was filled with worry: "You're not thinking of resigning, are you?"
Qi Bo said quietly, "I want to resign, but do I dare to resign at this time?"
The emperor punished him, and he resigned immediately. Was he afraid the emperor wouldn't know he resigned because he was angry?
This might have been acceptable in the Tang and Song dynasties, but in this dynasty, he wouldn't dare to do such a thing.
Because although he is carefree, he cherishes his life. If the emperor says that he resents the monarch and is accused of "disrespecting the proper conduct of a subject," how can he live?
Even if he were to resign, he should wait until things had calmed down. Only then did the official release his grip.
Yin Song sighed and got up to go back to his seat to pack his things.
The official was turning his head to stare at him.
Yin Song said quietly, "It's almost Chinese New Year, and I'm broke. I'll go out and earn some extra money."
Upon hearing this, the others immediately got up, packed their things, and followed them out of the palace.
Yes, their salaries are already low, and their expenses during the Lunar New Year are high. Now they've lost three months' salary...
They did the math and realized they had no salary for December, January, and February... It was a truly disastrous situation.
The Minister of Winter Affairs was about to stay in the palace on duty when he saw them picking up their utensils and preparing to leave. He belatedly realized, "What about our New Year's gifts?"
Qi Bo: "I asked, and there's no answer."
The four of them then quickened their pace in packing their things.
When the imperial court opened that day, the officials of the Imperial Observatory were the first to rush out of the imperial city. Their speed was so great that even the imperial guards at the gate couldn't help but take a second look.
"Yin Song, why don't you go to the harem and make money off the palace maids and eunuchs?"
Yin Song: "Do you think I'm a fortune teller? I'm a Taoist doctor!"
Upon reflection, everyone realized it was true; all the palace maids and eunuchs who came to Yin Song for divination were unwell.
They said they came to have their fortune told, but actually they came to seek medical treatment.
Unfortunately, due to the palace system, it was difficult for young palace maids and eunuchs to receive effective medical treatment when they fell ill, so they had to resort to other means to save themselves.
Going to Yin Song is the lowest-cost and most effective way.
The money given to the palace maids and eunuchs was very limited, barely enough for Yin Song to buy medicine and make pills for them. How could he possibly make a profit?
The five men were unaware that they were being punished because Wang Zhen had slandered them on this matter, causing the emperor to harbor resentment.
At this moment, all they could think about was making money, making money!
Half an hour later, Taoist priests dressed in robes and carrying banners began to appear all over the capital, wandering around telling fortunes and treating illnesses.
Yin Song would occasionally run into Zhongguan Zheng, then turn around and walk away in the opposite direction.
Sigh, it's not good that they live too close together.
Yin Song walked for a while and saw a good spot. Just as he was about to sit down, a man holding a banner sat down before him.
The two met and couldn't help but look at each other.
Yin Song: "Lord Xu?"
Xu Cheng: "Master Yin?"
Yin Song looked at him with a complicated expression: "Lord Xu, you're here to tell fortunes too?"
Xu Cheng smiled sheepishly: "The New Year is almost here, and I'm short on cash, so I'm out here to earn some extra money."
Yin Song sighed, "Indeed." (End of Chapter)