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The Mingjing Pagoda was entirely white and built on the summit of Mount Danxia outside the Daming Palace, making it the highest point in Taiping Prefecture. Beside the pagoda was a large maple forest, which was lush and green in midsummer. When autumn arrived, the entire mountain would be covered in red maples, a sight of rare and breathtaking beauty.
Zhong Xu, led by a procession of palace attendants and guards, entered the main gate of the Mingjing Pagoda.
Inside the pagoda, a large group of monks, all disciples of Master Xianshen, knelt. When they saw Zhong Xu, they immediately bowed their heads and shouted, “Disciples respectfully welcome the new Imperial Preceptor.”
Zhong Xu was clearly unaccustomed to such a display. He nodded awkwardly, then walked past them.
The body of the Mingjing Pagoda was stacked with various scriptures. The stairs spiraled up the pagoda, and as he ascended, he could browse through many of the scrolls.
Zhong Xu casually pulled out a few books as he walked, and saw that they were the manuscripts of the first Imperial Preceptor, Master Wuzhen, documenting the astrological fortunes and misfortunes of the Xuánwǔ Kingdom over the years. He got a rough idea of what the Imperial Preceptor’s duties were and returned the books to their place. He then slowly walked up to the top of the pagoda.
The top of the Mingjing Pagoda had a platform three zhang wide, used for observing the stars at night. From here, one could see the magnificent palace walls of the imperial city and the 110 li-fang blocks of Taiping Prefecture, spread out like a chessboard. The scenery was breathtaking and grand.
To the east of the pagoda was a cluster of houses with red walls and green tiles. Zhong Xu pointed to them and asked the disciple beside him, “What is that place for?”
The disciple bowed and replied, “Your Reverence, that is your residence.”
Zhong Xu was surprised to see such a large area of buildings. A quick estimation told him it was probably larger than fifty coffin shops combined.
“Is it just for me?” Zhong Xu asked, uncertainly.
The disciple nodded. “That is correct, Your Reverence.”
“Then where do you all live?”
The disciple turned and pointed to a section of palace walls on the western hill. “Your Reverence, the disciples live there.”
Zhong Xu looked to the western hill and saw a large expanse of buildings among the trees, a scale comparable to a hundred coffin shops. He opened his mouth in astonishment, his face filled with shock.
Zhong Xu had some personal matters to attend to at his coffin shop. Still in shock, he hastily left the Mingjing Pagoda with five or six attendants.
After Zhong Xu left, the disciples immediately started buzzing with excitement, crowding around the disciple who had just followed Zhong Xu. “What’s the new Imperial Preceptor like?”
The head disciple, Hongyuan, laughed and replied, “He’s someone who hasn’t seen the world. He’s easy to fool.”
The disciples let out a collective sigh of relief, finally putting their minds at ease.
________________________________________
Back at the coffin shop, Zhong Xu was dressed in a snow-white robe and a white jade hair ornament. He looked completely different from his previous unkempt and shabby appearance. The only thing that remained the same was the Tai xiao Sword wrapped in burlap in his hand.
Wenyao saw Zhong Xu and clicked his tongue repeatedly. “Master Zhong, are you going on a blind date?”
Changsheng’s eyes widened, and he followed up with a question. “Which girl’s family is it?”
Shuxiang stroked his chin and said thoughtfully, “It must be a rich young lady, otherwise you wouldn’t be dressed so formally.”
Wu Ruian smiled, glanced around, and said to Di Jiang, “What do you think?”
Di Jiang nodded as she spoke. “I agree with Shuxiang.”
Zhong Xu pursed his lips and his face went blank. He was trying to figure out how to explain the situation to everyone.
But before Zhong Xu could speak, one of his attendants shouted, “How dare you! Not only do you not bow to the Imperial Preceptor, but you also speak so frivolously! What crime is this?”
Wenyao, Changsheng, and Shuxiang all flinched.
Even Di Jiang’s mouth was half-open in disbelief. “Imperial Preceptor?”
“It’s the Great Imperial Preceptor!” the attendant frowned and emphasized again. “Hurry up and kneel down to pay your respects!”
The attendant’s shout was heard by everyone on the street. Fortunately, there weren’t many people in the alley at the end of South Street, just the few of them. Hearing this, Di Jiang immediately took Shuxiang and Wenyao and bowed.
Di Jiang’s knees were slightly bent, and just as she was about to kneel, Zhong Xu quickly stepped forward, held her elbow, and said, “Doctor Di, please don’t joke with me.” His face was a little red, as if he was still in a dream.
Seeing this, Wu Ruian also immediately helped Di Jiang up and said, “You are my fiancée, how can you bow to Zhong Xu? No matter how bad I am, I’m still the Sixth Prince.” As he spoke, he discreetly brushed Zhong Xu’s hand away, taking a possessive stance over Di Jiang, as if to say, “Keep away.”
Seeing their interaction, Zhong Xu said nothing. He simply smiled faintly and led his attendants and Changsheng into the coffin shop to pack.
Wu Ruian returned to the pharmacy and told Di Jiang and her servants about the events of the previous night.
The three of them were all a little nervous after hearing it.
Although Wu Ruian’s description was simple, they could sense the danger from his words. Especially when Empress Chen vomited the black liquid, they knew that if Wu Ruian had been a quarter of an hour later, Empress Chen would have been beyond help.
Di Jiang asked, “Where is the former Imperial Preceptor, Master Xianshen, now?”
“My mother sent him to Chongling Temple to grow vegetables.”
“He wasn’t punished with a crime?”
“He wasn’t severely punished out of respect for Gongsun Miao.”
Di Jiang nodded, thought for a moment, and said, “He won’t be content to fade away.”
“I think so too, but with Zhong Xu there, he shouldn’t be able to cause any more trouble in Taiping Prefecture.”
“I hope so,” Di Jiang said with some worry, looking at the coffin shop across the street.
Zhong Xu put some necessary books in the cart and hung some shabby-looking tools on the side. Then he handed the coffin shop keys to Changsheng. “From now on, the coffin shop is in your hands. You must make sure to pay back the money owed to Doctor Di.”
Changsheng nodded heavily, his eyes red. “I understand, Master.”
Zhong Xu patted Changsheng’s head and smiled. “I’ll come back often. You don’t have to worry.”
Changsheng sniffled but couldn’t hold back his tears. He wiped them away and gave Zhong Xu a cheerful smile. “Your apprentice will miss you, Master.”
“I know.”
That day, after having lunch with Di Jiang, Wu Ruian, and the others, Zhong Xu officially took his new post. But just as Di Jiang had predicted, a strange event occurred on his second day in office.
On the 17th of July, a gigantic turtle was retrieved from the pond in the imperial garden.
The turtle was half a man’s height and did not look like a normal turtle. Its appearance was similar to an alligator’s, with a large head, a short, thick neck, and huge, crimson eyes. Its tail was pointed and long, with ridges on both sides and fleshy protrusions on the ridges. Two-thirds of the way down its back was a scaly, raised ridge with serrated edges. There were three rows of black spikes on its shell, surrounded by scattered yellow markings.
The entire turtle looked ferocious and not at all like an auspicious creature.
After being informed by her servants, the female official An Suyun immediately ordered the malevolent turtle to be killed. But no matter how they tried to kill it—by dropping it, beating it, or cutting it—the turtle remained motionless, invulnerable to blades and completely unharmed.
The matter was ultimately classified as a supernatural event and fell to Zhong Xu to handle.
Left Chancellor Gongsun Miao received the news and issued an order to Zhong Xu. “If this matter is not handled properly, how can you be worthy of the position of Imperial Preceptor?”
His meaning was clear: if the malicious turtle did not die, then neither should Zhong Xu be the Imperial Preceptor.
It was clearly a challenge letter. After receiving it, Zhong Xu looked at the malicious turtle for a moment and said, “This position of Imperial Preceptor is not worth having.”
Then, Zhong Xu took off his white robe, left the Mingjing Pagoda, and ran back to the coffin shop.
In the coffin shop, Wu Ruian was holding a pile of paper money for stacking yuanbao, humbly asking Changsheng for instructions on how to fold them.
He wasn’t joking when he said he would watch over the shop for Zhong Xu.
Di Jiang watched the two of them with a smile on her face, thinking that Wu Ruian had truly changed a great deal after “dying” once. He was hardworking and willing to be scolded, never saying no to anything asked of him.
Just as Wu Ruian finished folding his thirteenth yuanbao, he looked up and saw Zhong Xu standing at the entrance of the shop.
He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t mistaken, then asked in astonishment, “Why are you back?”
Hearing this, Di Jiang and Changsheng both looked up, their faces also filled with surprise.
Zhong Xu walked in, took a sip of water, and said calmly, “Gongsun Miao gave me a task that would harm the heavens and violate justice. I didn’t want to do it, so I came back.”
Zhong Xu then explained the specific details of the incident, and everyone’s faces grew solemn.
“Can’t you kill that malicious turtle either?” Wu Ruian asked, confused.
Zhong Xu shook his head and said, “The method to kill the turtle is very simple, but the turtle doesn’t need to die.”
“Why?”
“That turtle is a several-hundred-year-old turtle that was placed under a spell to make it look ugly. If I were to kill it for my own selfish gain, wouldn’t that be a sin? I am unwilling to harm an innocent creature.”
“Can’t you break the spell?” Wu Ruian asked.
Zhong Xu shook his head again. “The spell is a curse. Breaking it will also kill the turtle.”
Wu Ruian’s mouth was slightly agape, looking incredibly surprised.
At that moment, Di Jiang smiled softly. “Take me to see it. Maybe I can find a way?”
Zhong Xu was silent for a moment. “Forget it, this Imperial Preceptor position is not a good one. I might as well not have it.”
“If you don’t take it, there will be thousands of others who will take your place. But they will surely not have a heart like yours. Do you have the heart to hand this important responsibility to someone with ill intentions?” Di Jiang said with a smile. “That would be a much greater sin than killing a single turtle.”
Zhong Xu thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright, I’ll take you.”
________________________________________
The old turtle was kept in an iron cage on the platform in front of the Mingjing Pagoda. Its eyes were crimson, and its expression was fierce, with a snarl on its face and sharp spikes on its back.
This was the ugly appearance that ordinary people saw.
But in Di Jiang’s eyes, the old turtle was simply an ancient creature with a thick shell, unfocused, triangular eyes, and an old, weary appearance. Aside from its enormous size, it was no different from a normal turtle.
Just as Zhong Xu had said, it was a several-hundred-year-old ordinary turtle. Nothing more.
“Let’s cook it,” Di Jiang said calmly.
“What?” Wu Ruian and Zhong Xu both gave Di Jiang a look of disbelief.
Di Jiang looked at Zhong Xu and smiled. “Do you believe me or not?”
“...” Zhong Xu was silent for a moment, and finally nodded. “I believe you.”
A large pot was quickly set up in front of the Mingjing Pagoda, and the old turtle, along with its iron cage, was thrown into it.
As the water temperature gradually rose, the old turtle in the pot seemed to be enjoying it immensely.
It’s lips curled up, and it slowly closed its eyes.
The firewood crackled and burned, and the pot began to boil, emitting thick white steam that obscured the view inside.
Half an hour later, the firewood was all gone, and the water in the pot had boiled away.
Everyone gathered around, only to see a gigantic turtle shell left in the pot. The shell was empty.
Upon seeing this, the others immediately knelt on the ground, cheering like a tsunami. “The Great Imperial Preceptor is wise and mighty, and his magic is powerful.”
“Where did it go?” Wu Ruian stood beside Zhong Xu and Di Jiang, confused.
“It has become an immortal,” Di Jiang said with a slight smile. “It lived for so long, and all it needed was an opportunity. It was time for it to shed its mortal coil and ascend to immortality.”
“...”
Wu Ruian and Zhong Xu exchanged glances, not saying a word, assuming Di Jiang was telling another joke.
________________________________________
That night, Di Jiang and Zhong Xu had the same dream.
In the dream, a white-bearded old man was sitting on a cloud, smiling at them and saying, “Thank you.”
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