Chapter 893
Bewitching
Zhu Qiyu stepped out from behind the screen, saw Sui Shu, looked her up and down for a moment, and asked in surprise, "What's so special about her?"
Pan Yun resolved all doubts with a single sentence: "Her birth chart is the most auspicious for His Majesty."
Zhu Qiyu's eyes lit up. He stopped asking about the reason and only asked for her birth date and time.
Sui Shu's heart pounded as she answered respectfully.
Zhu Qiyu calculated with his fingers and found that the other party was thirty-two years old. He couldn't see where her birth chart was auspicious for him, but since the Imperial Advisor said so, then it must be auspicious.
Pan Yun said, "She brings good fortune to His Majesty, and His Majesty in turn benefits the entire nation."
Zhu Qiyu was overjoyed and immediately ordered Sui Shu to hold the incense. From then on, Sui Shu's job was moved from Empress Qian's West Palace to the Imperial Observatory, where he was specifically responsible for holding the incense when the emperor came to offer incense.
The Imperial Astronomical Bureau, which was originally dedicated to observing celestial phenomena and calculating the calendar, has been transformed into a feudal superstition site resembling a Taoist temple.
Peng Deqing, the director of the Imperial Observatory, was helpless, but he had no say in the matter.
He survived the expedition by sheer luck.
But living is worse than being dead.
He was trembling with fear and apprehension, living in constant anxiety, terrified that one day the court and the Empress Dowager would settle scores with him.
He had no objection to Pan Yun occupying the Imperial Observatory and even making the emperor offer incense there; in fact, he wished she would be even more arrogant and smug so that she could attract everyone's attention and prevent anyone from noticing him.
But soon, reality told him that his wish had not come true.
After Emperor Yingzong's funeral, Zhu Qiyu finally had time to deal with the recent military campaign.
Zhu Qiyu tried his best to protect important officials like Cao Nai, demoting or sending them to remote posts, thus saving their lives and official positions.
Meanwhile, many of Wang Zhen's cronies were purged, including Peng Deqing.
His crimes were not only related to his crony Wang Zhen, but also to his choice of the date for the personal expedition and his poor weather forecasting.
If he hadn't answered the emperor's call, the emperor wouldn't have rushed off to war. The entire army had only prepared for two days, and they wouldn't have encountered the torrential rain, leading to his death before the campaign even began...
Therefore, Peng Deqing's crime was the most serious.
Not to mention the new emperor, even the empress dowager hated him to the core. And so, Peng Deqing was imprisoned in the imperial prison.
Empress Dowager Sun chose to leave the palace late at night when all was quiet.
There is a small door in the palace; once opened, one can pass through a narrow passageway to reach the imperial prison.
However, this door is rarely opened, simply for the sake of the palace's security.
Empress Dowager Sun was covered from head to toe by a cloak. The prison was quiet tonight. A deputy commander of the Imperial Guard was waiting at the door. When he saw two people carrying lanterns and escorting the nobleman, he only dared to look up once before lowering his eyes and bowing respectfully to escort the person inside.
Upon entering the prison, they found that the cells on both sides were empty, with only one person huddled in the middle cell.
The deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard respectfully handed the key to the eunuch, bowed, and withdrew.
The eunuch carrying a lantern opened the prison door and stood inside to serve the distinguished guest as he entered.
Peng Deqing had been staring at them ever since they entered. When the nobleman lifted his hat, Peng's eyes widened instantly, and he immediately prostrated himself on the ground, kneeling down, "Your Majesty..."
"Shut up," the eunuch hissed, before he and the ladies-in-waiting behind him helped Empress Dowager Sun sit down at the table.
Empress Dowager Sun's face was hidden in the darkness, but Peng Deqing could still tell that she looked very unwell, with dark circles under her eyes.
He was slightly taken aback; Empress Dowager Sun had become so haggard.
Empress Dowager Sun asked in a deep voice, "Peng Deqing, when people die in this world, do they all go to the underworld?"
That's natural.
Peng Deqing's heart began to pound violently. What did Empress Dowager Sun mean by this?
Empress Dowager Sun stared intently at Peng Deqing, determined to get his answer.
Peng Deqing, who was also quite knowledgeable, swallowed hard and said, "If the place where souls go is called the underworld, then it exists."
Empress Dowager Sun leaned forward: "After I die and go to the underworld, will I still be a servant?"
“Of course not,” Peng Deqing said subconsciously. “Once a person dies, everything in their life vanishes like smoke. How could they still be a servant?” Peng Deqing looked at Empress Dowager Sun’s expression and said carefully, “However, a noble person’s destiny is precious. If you are a noble person in this life, you may be reborn as a noble person in the next life.”
Empress Dowager Sun was not comforted much; Pan Yun had not lied to her on either of the two points, which meant that he had not lied to her on the third point either.
In other words, all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty were surrounded by wronged souls once they entered the underworld, since many of their concubines and palace women were buried alive with them.
And her son...
Zhu Qizhen did not have any concubines or palace maids buried with him, but many people died during his personal campaign. Did they resent the emperor?
Empress Dowager Sun, pale-faced, stood up to leave.
Peng Deqing stared at her expectantly. Empress Dowager Sun suddenly turned around and asked in a sinister tone, "Is there any way to stop the wronged souls from seeking revenge in the underworld?"
Peng Deqing looked bewildered: "Huh?"
Empress Dowager Sun indifferently withdrew her gaze: "You can't even predict the weather properly, so how would you know?"
"I know, I know!" Peng Deqing shouted loudly, "If a vengeful spirit is seeking revenge, just disperse it; ghosts can die too!"
Empress Dowager Sun paused slightly.
Peng Deqing hurriedly said, "If we can kill people, why should we be afraid of ghosts? If a ghost comes, we'll just kill it!"
Empress Dowager Sun asked, "What if there are many wronged souls?"
Peng Deqing paused for a moment, then asked, "How many?"
Three, five?
Empress Dowager Sun coldly replied: "All the soldiers, officials, and civilians who died of illness or in battle during the personal expedition."
Peng Deqing's mouth dropped open. This was too audacious, too ruthless...
Seeing that she was about to leave, Peng Deqing quickly said, "I have a way, I have a way! Set up an array! Use the array to kill her!"
Empress Dowager Sun became somewhat tempted and pressed for an answer: "What would be the consequences if they were executed?"
Peng Deqing said, "Naturally, his soul will be scattered and there will be no possibility of reincarnation."
He carefully observed Empress Dowager Sun's expression and said, "If Your Majesty is willing to forgive my sins, I am willing to do everything in my power to relieve Your Majesty's worries and troubles."
Empress Dowager Sun was slightly taken aback and was about to agree when she heard a sigh.
She was startled, and the others in the cell also stared wide-eyed, looking around in terror.
Pan Yun carried Pan Xiaohei out of the darkness and stood where the light could reach. She looked at Empress Dowager Sun with regret and said, "Your Majesty, why did you go to such lengths and create more trouble for others?"
Empress Dowager Sun looked at her with a stern face: "You've been following me!"
Pan Yun shook his head slightly: "I was just observing the stars at night and saw a change in the celestial phenomena. After calculating with my fingers, I realized that the mistake was on Your Majesty's part."
Actually, Pan Xiaohei was just bored and wandering around late at night when he happened to see Empress Dowager Sun, dressed in a cloak, sneaking out of the palace through a small gate.
Pan Yun looked at Empress Dowager Sun with a compassionate expression and sighed, "Does Your Majesty really intend to put the Ming Dynasty in danger for your own selfish reasons?"
"Those are just ghosts, what do they have to do with the Ming Dynasty?"
Pan Yun: "They were either ordinary citizens of the Ming Dynasty or officials and soldiers who died fighting for the Ming Dynasty. The Empress Dowager wanted to make their souls disappear. This injustice would naturally be attributed to the Empress. And the Empress did this for the sake of the late Emperor. The late Emperor was related to the country and the nation, so it would naturally harm the national fortune and the dragon vein."
Pan Yun asked Empress Dowager Sun, "Even so, does Your Majesty still intend to go your own way?"
Empress Dowager Sun remained silent for a long time before asking in a hoarse voice, "Then how can I save the late Emperor? I cannot let him die unjustly and suffer even after death."
Pan Yun said with a sorrowful expression, "This humble Taoist has a way to pray for the late Emperor's well-being, but it requires the Empress Dowager's cooperation."
Pan Yun escorted Empress Dowager Sun back to the palace.
Peng Deqing watched helplessly as Empress Dowager Sun left, and seeing that there was no room for maneuver, he glared resentfully at Pan Yun. (End of Chapter)