Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 361: Chapter 235: All Four Kingdoms Are Shocked by the News Chapter 361: Chapter 235: All Four Kingdoms Are Shocked by the News Great Zhou Imperial Palace.

An elder dressed in a Taoist robe, with his Taoist crown askew and clothes in disarray from being tumbled, hurriedly sprinted on the Imperial Palace’s main road while desperately shouting, “The Director of the Imperial Observatory urgently reports to The Current Emperor, whoever blocks the way shall be killed without mercy!”

“The Director of the Imperial Observatory urgently reports to The Current Emperor, whoever blocks the way shall be killed without mercy!”

“…”

Curiously enough, today’s shift was manned by the Imperial Inner Guards.

The Rookie Guard, with a blank expression, watched the old Taoist stumbling as he ran across the palace road and suddenly, struck by inspiration, he excitedly grabbed the Head of the Imperial Inner Guards, “Boss, today’s intruder isn’t a Secret Guard Lord of His Highness Prince Mu or His Highness Prince Bao; our chance to make a mark has come, let’s catch him!”

Heaven knows, the Secret Guard Lord in front of His Highness Prince Mu had intruded into the palace twice, and His Majesty had erupted in fury twice, severely reprimanding them each time.

His Highness Prince Bao was even more formidable–just as they had feared, he really did lift off the roof of Qiankun Hall!

Although, they had predicted His Majesty would be so enraged by the Secret Guard Lord in front of Prince Mu that he would lift the roof, the fact was somewhat different, but the result was fundamentally the same–the roof of Qiankun Hall was indeed lifted, and after His Highness Prince Bao left, they, due to neglecting their duties, became bricklayers for half a month!

No more than repairing the roof of Qiankun Hall!

Now, even a mere old Taoist dares to storm into the palace, isn’t this a clear opportunity for distinction? One shouldn’t let it go to waste!

Seeing the old Taoist managing to stumble and fall as he ran, the Rookie Guard was absolutely certain that with his meager kung fu skills, he could easily subdue him within minutes!

“Slap!”

A slap landed mercilessly on the back of the Rookie Guard’s head, interrupting his daydreams.

“Boss?” the Rookie Guard asked woefully, rubbing the struck area of his head, confused. The force with which their boss hit him kept increasing, and it hurt!

“Distinction? Distinction, you fool! Do you breathe through your ears? Didn’t you hear what that old Taoist was shouting?” The Head of the Imperial Inner Guards looked at him exasperatedly, his expression clearly spoke volumes: the boy is unteachable!

“What was the old Taoist shouting?” The Rookie Guard pondered blankly for a second, then suddenly realized, “Ah! The Director of the Imperial Observatory urgently reports to The Current Emperor, whoever blocks the way shall be killed without mercy!”

“Lucky you’re not deaf. Do you understand now?” The boss of the Imperial Inner Guards gave him a look that suggested he should have known.

But true to his title, the Rookie Guard really did not understand!

So, with all sincerity, the Rookie Guard looked up and asked, “What does your subordinate understand?”

“Slap!”

Another slap, just as merciless, landed on his forehead, and this time, the boss of the guards was genuinely furious, “How could Uncle Si have sent you, a brainless one, to serve in the palace? Even if you are young and inexperienced, you should at least have some common sense, right?”

“What is the Imperial Observatory? Who in the court, whether civil or military, does not know of it? It is the place responsible for observing celestial phenomena, issuing calendars, and predicting the rise and fall of national fortunes! Anyone who can enter the Imperial Observatory is a skilled and enlightened old master. Those from the Imperial Observatory are all so high and mighty, looking down on others. Normally, you wouldn’t even catch a glimpse of them, and now you want to detain them to make your mark?”

“Let me tell you, the old Taoist who just ran past was the Director of the Imperial Observatory himself. If you dare, try capturing him! His such distressed state and urgent need to see His Majesty must mean there’s a major issue concerning the fate of the nation. Try stopping him! If you’re not afraid of involving your entire extended family, go ahead and stop him! I’ll disown you right here!”

The Head of the Imperial Inner Guards said this, and out of sheer frustration, he threw down his long spear. Heaven help him, his family and the Rookie’s were close friends, also among the extended family!

The Rookie Guard was left agape, realizing now that he truly could not stop anyone from the Imperial Observatory!

Godfather! He now understood that even a place as guarded as the Imperial Palace could still be stormed by many, like the Secret Guard Lord in front of His Highness Prince Mu and His Highness Prince Bao, and now someone from the Imperial Observatory had been added to the list…

The Rookie Guard suddenly felt his limited brain capacity turn into a tangled mess, so messed up, he needed to sort it out…

In the newly repaired Qiankun Hall, Emperor Zhoulin lay over the Dragon Case, examining the Geomancy Map spread before him.

His Imperial Grandson Zhou Mu, disregarding the million-strong army of Southern Fujian, had resolutely dropped everything and returned to Liuzhou. For the time being, he couldn’t think of a better candidate than Li Mufeng.

Under constant pressure from the civil and military officials of the court, only after his Imperial Younger Brother, Prince Bao, had caused an uproar in Capital City did the situation start to calm down somewhat. But as soon as his brother left, those idle civil officials resurrected like phoenixes from the ashes and started another uproar, seemingly determined to crash on the Imperial Court floor if he didn’t discipline Zhou Mu.

Emperor Zhoulin placed his finger on Southern Fujian, tapped it resentfully, then held his aching head with his hand.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! A great calamity has occurred, someone… someone has breached the palace!” Xiao Xizi stumbled into Qiankun Hall, not even bothering to get up from his fall, and knelt on the ground to urgently report.

Qiankun Hall instantly fell into silence, even Han Shan, the Chief Chamberlain standing by the Dragon Case, held his breath and didn’t dare to breathe.

Having waited a long while without a response, Xiao Xizi, puzzled, raised his head to look.

Ah!

There was no sign of Emperor Zhoulin at the dragon case!

But at the moment he stumbled through the door, he had clearly seen a figure in bright yellow prostrate over the dragon case!

Could it be that he had run too hastily, his eyes deceived by a hallucination?

Xiao Xizi blankly made a questioning gesture towards his foster father. In the next moment, Chief Chamberlain Han Shan immediately realized, clear-minded, that it was not His Highness Prince Bao!

But His Majesty, he…

With a twitch in the corner of his eye, Han Shan glanced under the dragon case. His mind raced, and he quickly thought of a plan. Pretending to panic, he shouted and hurried to assist at the dragon case, “Your Majesty, how have you fallen? Is it because you have been overly busy with court affairs recently?”

Seeing his attendant react this way, Emperor Zhoulin immediately understood; it was not his beloved brother!

Once bitten by a snake, one fears the brocade rope for ten years; he had truly become fearful of his brother who feared neither heaven nor earth!

“I am indeed getting old…” Emperor Zhoulin pretended to be frail as he got up with the support of Han Shan, while he sighed.

“Your Majesty is strong and vigorous, far better than those younger fellows. How could you speak of old age?” Han Shan smoothly flattered him.

With such seamless cooperation between the master and servant, they managed to cover up Emperor Zhoulin’s undignified behavior of hiding under the table when he heard someone had forced their way into the palace.

“Cease the panic! Report it at once!” Han Shan gave Xiao Xizi a signal with his eye, and sternly rebuked him.

Xiao Xizi immediately curled up on the ground, trembling as he reported back, “Director of the Imperial Observatory, Xuan Qing the Hermit, has stormed the palace, claiming an urgent need to see His Majesty. It must be…”

As Xiao Xizi was reporting, Xuan Qing the Hermit had already stumbled into Qiankun Hall.

“It must be that he is about to arrive at Qiankun Hall…” Seeing Xuan Qing already entering, Xiao Xizi nervously finished his sentence…

“Your… Your Majesty!” Xuan Qing the Hermit called out once, then collapsed to the ground, beginning to breathe heavily.

“Someone, bring tea!” As soon as Emperor Zhoulin saw that it was Xuan Qing, the anxiety that had just relaxed flared up again, and he hurriedly ordered.

If it had been his beloved brother, it might have merely been his imperial self that suffered, but with Xuan Qing arriving, it must be a grave matter! Otherwise, given Xuan Qing’s cold, proud nature, he would certainly not leave the Astrology Tower, much less in such disarray!

Xuan Qing pushed away the tea offered by the Little Eunuch, gasping heavily, and said, “Your… Your Majesty! It’s terrible news!”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhoulin immediately turned pale and stood up from the Dragon Throne in tension.

Xuan Qing then shook his hand, “No, it’s terrific news!”

With this startling revelation, Emperor Zhoulin suddenly sat down on the chair, his gaze intense as he watched Xuan Qing’s discomposed state, waiting for him to continue.

“Your Majesty, I have been secluded in the Astrology Tower for over a decade. Today I was alarmed to discover an anomaly in the celestial patterns, and I came out especially to wait upon you!”

“Your Majesty, the Female Star of the Occupation Room clashes with Hook Chen. The one who is born as decreed by destiny has arrived!”

Having said this, Xuan Qing again patted his chest and began to breathe heavily.

“The one born as decreed by destiny? How should this celestial phenomenon be interpreted?” Emperor Zhoulin, hearing it was related to the “mandate of heaven,” immediately straightened up.

Xuan Qing caught his breath and excitedly explained, “The Female Star of the Occupation Room covering the Big Dipper, clashing with Hook Chen, is an extraordinary sign indicating the arrival of the one decreed by destiny!”

“This omen means: whoever possesses the Female Star of the Occupation Room will possess the world!”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhoulin also became very excited and quickly asked, “The Female Star of the Occupation Room, what does that mean?”

“Among the Eighty-Eight Constellations, the Female Star of the Occupation Room governs the Eastern Azure Dragon, representing the summoning of a female overseer. Your Majesty, in the land of Hook Chen, a girl has been born. Whoever finds her will possess the world, Your Majesty!”

“A decade ago, I divined the secrets of heaven at the cost of my lifespan. With Antares opposing the Big Dipper, it foretold a major chaos within twenty years. Your Majesty, the one decreed by these chaotic times has now been born! This girl is certainly extraordinary; Your Majesty should immediately send people to find her, Your Majesty!” Xuan Qing said this, his excitement making him almost want to bash his head on the ground.

Emperor Zhoulin too became excited, rubbing his hands as he paced back and forth, “The world is vast, with the Four Kingdoms standing; where exactly within which country does the Female Star of the Occupation Room reside? How would I know which girl is the Female Star of the Occupation Room? I implore you, Master, to dispel my doubts, I…”

Before Emperor Zhoulin could finish speaking, Xuan Qing eagerly interrupted, “The land of Hook Chen where Ying Zhao lies is not in another country, but right here in Great Zhou! And because the Female Star of the Occupation Room’s brilliance shines brightly emerging conspicuously, surely due to her extraordinary nature, those destined by providence are always transcendent of ordinary people, whether they bring auspicious signs or accomplish great deeds…”

“Your Majesty, with this natural phenomenon, surely all capable and extraordinary individuals among the Four Kingdoms could have divined this fate! Now that the Female Star of the Occupation Room manifests in the land of Hook Chen in Great Zhou, this is indeed a great fortune bestowed by heaven…”