Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

"Don't worry, boss, I'll take good care of you." After saying this, the young man ran towards where his brother was hiding without looking back.

The leader sighed deeply, looking in the direction the young man had left. He shook his head bitterly. He knew the young man's temperament, so he couldn't help feeling a little sad. The leader looked up at the blue sky above him, then turned his gaze back to the direction Wen Long and Han Hu had gone.

"Young Master Wenlong... I hope... these things won't happen."

"Your Highness, it seems that the group of assassins behind us is gone." After driving for a while, Han Hu suddenly felt that something was missing behind him.

"Ignore them, let's keep going. They always come and go without a trace, and we can't say for sure what they're preparing, so we can't let our guard down yet." Wen Long pulled himself out of his reverie after hearing Han Hu's words, turned his head slightly and glanced casually out the car window before speaking dismissively.

"Your Highness, when do you think we should let these horses graze to replenish their energy?"

"After we get past this place, there's a spot ahead where we can stop and rest," Wenlong said, peeking out to look at the sky and then at the surroundings.

In the stillness of the night, on the imperial palace's observatory, an old man with a weathered face and white hair was observing the day's celestial phenomena.

This handsome old man was calmly closing his eyes and counting on his fingers. Suddenly, his expression changed, and the walnut he was playing with fell to the ground.

This sudden turn of events left the lovable old man in a state of panic. The wrinkles on his face were tightly knitted together, and the wrinkles on his brows, like the bark of an old tree, told the story of his age.

However, for people in this industry, having god-like talent is not enough; they also need sufficient experience and the wisdom of an old tree.

Experience is the greatest teacher for an astrologer! Moreover, a qualified astrologer should not only possess superb skills, but also the most basic survival skills, such as how to live peacefully under the emperor's nose.

As the saying goes, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. To them, the existence of these people was simply a huge international joke. Even if they witnessed something terrible, they couldn't openly speak of it, unless it was something that could bring about the destruction of a nation.

For example, there was once an astrologer who saw a slight dimming of the Ziwei star. This foolish man calculated with his fingers and predicted that a coup might occur in the royal family soon. Without even thinking for a second, this silly boy rushed to the emperor and excitedly said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A terrible thing will happen soon!"

How could the emperor, sitting on the dragon throne with his eyes closed, enjoying the service of his maids, easily wake up to listen to a man's rambling nonsense!

This emperor wasn't someone who liked superstition. He really didn't understand why he was wasting his food and money to keep such a bunch of stupid pigs in his palace, where they just ate and did nothing.

This emperor was touching the buttocks of the maid on his left with his left hand and the breast of the maid on his right with his right. Most bizarrely, he was feeding the maid on his upper right, like a crow feeding its young, with bites of fruit. Such extravagance could only exist in the royal family!

"Tell me! What are you doing here in such a hurry, rushing over like you're being reincarnated?" The emperor's brows were already furrowed.

Looking at the astrologer was like looking at a dead rat; he was very unhappy! And, most terrifyingly, the astrologer hadn't noticed this at all, and was still panting and shouting, "Your Majesty! This humble subject observed the stars last night and saw that the Purple Star is slightly dimmed, and the Red Phoenix Star is in conflict. This is not a good thing for the royal family. Your Majesty, you must be most wary of the princes in the palace, otherwise, it could endanger your empire!"

This astrologer is like a fool, completely lacking in emotional intelligence. He doesn't consider the situation or the occasion when he says these things, and he doesn't even think about whether it's appropriate to say them!

Moreover, he has committed a major taboo, which is to investigate matters concerning the royal family. Even if this matter is truly related to the royal family, you cannot speak of it, because if you utter a single word, whether right or wrong, you will be beheaded!

Moreover, offending anyone in the royal family would bring them no benefit. The palace intrigues within the royal family are a terrifying prospect for any ordinary official.

After all, you're not a god, how could you possibly know which random prince will be the next king?

This astrologer, who lives like an old tree, not only has a wealth of experience, but also an outrageous level of emotional intelligence!

After all, if you didn't have such abilities, could Mina have survived for so long in this chaotic palace?

However, I really need to discuss this matter with the Emperor tonight. Because if I don't take this seriously, my life will be in danger!

What's more, he had just had a big, healthy grandson. He was an old man who was about to die, but his grandson was just getting started. Was he, as the grandfather, going to ruin his own grandson?

A grandson is the hope of one's family; to harm one's grandson? Absolutely impossible! Never in this lifetime! But how can this terrible matter be described in a tactful way that conveys its severity while still letting the emperor know?

This is a skill in itself. The old man suddenly had a flash of inspiration!

"Have it!"

Before long, the old man had arrived at the emperor's gate! After obtaining the emperor's permission, the old man knelt down and said loudly, "Your Majesty! This old minister observed the celestial phenomena last night and suddenly discovered that the night sky tonight is somewhat unusual!"

"Based on my more than sixty years of experience, I have suddenly realized that something big may happen in our country soon!"

The emperor, who was initially startled and furious, was about to punish the old man when he heard his words. After that, the emperor's curiosity was piqued!

"Tell me, what might happen recently? Tell me." After the emperor asked this question, the old man immediately began to lie.

"It seems our country is about to experience a turning point in its destiny. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for us! However, it depends on how we seize it!"

"However, this turning point could very well be lost if the investment isn't handled properly..."

The old man stopped speaking halfway through his sentence, his expression hesitant.

The emperor asked, "What's possible? Tell me!"

Chapter 1259 Writing

“If this is not handled properly, our country could very well become a casualty of this tragedy.” As he spoke, the astrologer, who had been kneeling on the ground, slowly lowered his head, and his voice grew softer and softer.

Upon hearing the astrologer's words, the emperor, who had been reclining on the bed, gradually became serious. He slowly sat up straight, remaining silent as he quietly looked at the astrologer kneeling before him.

"Hahaha, you astrologer, spouting nonsense again. What's wrong? Do you feel your life is perfect now that you've just had a big, fat grandson? Or are you feeling you've been in this position for too long and want to get a turn? Huh? Who gave you the audacity to spout nonsense in front of me!"

Suddenly, the emperor burst into laughter, waving his hand dismissively. But then, the scene abruptly changed. The emperor slammed his hand hard on his bed, loudly questioning the kneeling astronomer. Upon hearing the emperor's words, the astronomer shuddered, large beads of sweat appearing on his face.

The astrologer moved his lips, wanting to persuade the emperor and try again, but in the end, he didn't say anything. He just lowered his head and remained silent, not daring to breathe.

"You won't talk, huh? Then what do you mean... can I take that as you admitting that your actions were instigated by someone?" The emperor chuckled coldly, stood up from his bed, and paced back and forth beside it.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty dares not." After taking a few deep breaths upon hearing the emperor's words, the astrologer stammered a reply, his head bowed even lower.

"Hmph! Alright, I'll let your aunt go this time because you're a veteran minister. But! If you dare to say these baseless things to me again, don't blame me for not showing you any mercy then." The emperor gave a heavy snort, then softened his tone slightly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty." The astrologer breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the emperor's words and quickly nodded in agreement. However, there were still some things in his heart that he didn't know how to say to the emperor, so he couldn't help but feel a little restless.

"Alright, get up. It's been quite a while since I've seen you write any calligraphy or paintings for me. Come on, write me two pieces to atone for your sins." The emperor waved his hand and walked towards the desk beside him.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Upon hearing the emperor's words, the astrologer hurriedly agreed, then stood up somewhat flusteredly and followed behind the emperor.

Besides being a diviner serving the royal family, the astrologer was also a renowned calligrapher and painter. Any piece of his calligraphy or painting that circulated in the outside world could fetch an astronomical price. The emperor forgave the astrologer not only because of his contributions to the country but also because of his great appreciation for the astrologer's art.

Soon, the astrologer and the emperor were standing by the desk. The astrologer quickly arranged the paper, ink, brush, and inkstone on the desk, then picked up a brush from the brush holder, lightly dipped it in the ink, and looked up at the emperor who was standing to the side.

"I wonder what Your Majesty would like this old minister to write?" the astrologer asked, then picked up his brush and quietly awaited the emperor's reply. The emperor, however, seemed lost in thought, not immediately giving the astrologer an answer. Instead, he frowned and stared at the pristine white Xuan paper on the table for a long while.

Time passed second by second, and soon the ink on the brush that had been suspended in mid-air gathered together. With a "plop," it fell onto the snow-white Xuan paper. The astrologer, coming back to his senses, stared blankly at the ink spot on the paper in front of him. Just as he was about to put down the brush and replace the paper, the emperor spoke.

"Don't touch that paper, just leave it as is."

The astrologer paused for a moment, but quickly stopped, looked up at the emperor standing to the side, and waited for him to continue.

"Since I ascended the throne at a young age, I have made many contributions to the country. Although I cannot compare with the great achievements of my predecessors, I have not accomplished nothing. But as I grow older, I can no longer do much for the country." The emperor stared blankly at the black dot on the Xuan paper and spoke calmly.

"I've seen many of your beautiful essays and landscape paintings. This time, I'd like you to write something about me. You're an astrologer, so why don't you take this opportunity to see what the heavens and our ancestors in the sky think of me? What do you say?" With that, the emperor withdrew his gaze and looked up at the astrologer who had been watching him.

When the astrologer met the emperor's gaze, he was suddenly startled, but quickly suppressed the feeling. After the emperor nodded, he turned his gaze to the sheet of Xuan paper in front of him. At this moment, the astrologer quietly observed the black dot on the paper for a while, and then, a thought struck him. He dipped his brush in ink again.

"In the prosperous and idyllic era, the bluebirds sing their praises in all directions. The sleeping dragon lies coiled on the green hill, and the clouds over the spiritual sea shift and change in all directions." The astrologer raised his brush and wrote in one go on the Xuan paper in front of him. Then he straightened up, looked at what he had written, nodded slightly, carefully placed his brush back on the brush holder, bowed slightly to the emperor who had been watching him, and stepped aside.

The emperor stared at the inscription, seemingly lost in thought, muttering "Bluebird, Spirit Sea" to himself. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, pointing at the astrologer and shaking his head repeatedly, speechless for a moment.

"You, you're still the same. Look at you, so much time has passed, and your calligraphy and painting haven't improved at all." The emperor laughed for a while, then finally calmed down, pointing at the astrologer with a hint of helplessness.

"Alas, it's true, it's my fault. If I hadn't summoned you to the palace to write and paint for me alone, I think... your achievements now would be more than a hundred times greater than if you were stuck here in the palace. The country is so vast, with so many mountains and rivers, and your skills are so good. As for me, I was short-sighted." The emperor sighed, shook his head with a bitter smile, walked to his desk, and carefully examined the calligraphy with his hands behind his back.

The astrologer stood silently behind the emperor, head bowed. After a long while, the emperor finally looked up from the painting and turned to face the astrologer who had been waiting behind him. He then raised his hand, smiled, and gently patted the astrologer's shoulder. The astrologer instinctively bent his waist even lower.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back now. Remember what I said today: if there's a next time, I won't let it go. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand," the astrologer replied with his head bowed, saying nothing more.

"Alright, go ahead, I'm a little tired." After hearing the astrologer's reply, the emperor nodded slightly, withdrew his hand from the astrologer's shoulder, rubbed his temples, then turned around, walked around the desk and towards his bedside, no longer looking at or paying attention to the astrologer.

"This old minister takes his leave." The astrologer slightly raised his head to glance at the emperor's departing figure, then lowered his head again, responded in a deep voice, and walked quickly toward the door with his head down.

After the astrologer left the emperor's palace and closed the door, he stopped and turned back to look at the magnificent and exquisite palace before him. Overwhelmed with emotion, he let out a long sigh. After a brief pause, the astrologer regained his composure, turned, and walked down the steps, no longer looking at the palace behind him.

"My lord, someone else has gone to see the emperor." Not long after, a man dressed in a close-fitting outfit appeared in an equally imposing courtyard, bowing and addressing a serious-looking middle-aged man sitting in front of him.

"How did it end?" The middle-aged man, with a serious expression, didn't immediately respond to the other man's question. Instead, he looked at the teacup beside him, picked it up, and took a careful sniff before speaking.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, according to the news that came back, the Emperor was very dissatisfied with the astrologer's words and ordered that if he were to say anything unfounded again, he would not be lenient. This time, considering his hard work and great contributions to the country, he will not be held accountable." The man in black did not dare to be ambiguous and immediately answered the middle-aged man's words.

"Yes, there's more." The middle-aged man took a small sip of the steaming tea in his cup, gesturing for the man in black to continue.

"There's another matter. His Majesty asked that astrologer to write a calligraphy or painting for him. The content is already written on this piece of paper." As he spoke, the man in black took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, then took two steps forward and held the paper up with both hands, handing it to the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man slightly raised his eyelids to glance at the paper in front of him, then slowly put down his teacup and casually took the paper from the man in black. After the middle-aged man took the paper, the man in black immediately took two steps back, returning to his previous position, head bowed, and remained silent.

The middle-aged man took the paper but did not open it immediately. Instead, he glanced at the man in black before slowly unfolding the paper in his hand. It contained the words that the astrologer had written in the emperor's bedroom not long ago.

"In this prosperous and idyllic era, the bluebirds sing their praises in all directions. A dragon lies coiled on the green hills, and the clouds over the spiritual sea shift and change in all directions." The middle-aged man read the contents of the note aloud, then let out a cold laugh. He tore the note to shreds and threw it aside.

"Astrologer, astrologer. This emperor doesn't even listen to the astrologer anymore. What's wrong with him? Does he think he's been sitting on his throne for too long and wants to move around a bit?" The middle-aged man sneered as he picked up the teacup that had been sitting to the side and slowly smelled it.

"Go, pass on the order. Everyone, begin operations according to the original plan. Then, speed up the pace of the operation. I need to see satisfactory results within a month, otherwise, you all know the consequences." The middle-aged man glared, his eyes gleaming, and quickly relayed his orders to the man in black standing in front of him.

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's order, the man in black trembled slightly. He knew that this man was a man of his word, despite his unusually kind and friendly demeanor in public. Those who truly knew him knew that it was all just a facade.

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys." The man in black dared not hesitate. He immediately cupped his hands, bowed his head, and bent over to the middle-aged man. He then turned and ran out to relay the middle-aged man's orders.

"Astrologer, Emperor, Dynasty, Palace. Sigh... Tell me, such a great dynasty, having weathered so many storms over the years, don't you think it's time to step down and rest for a while? Constantly occupying this position is detrimental. It's bad for the country, bad for the family... Why bother?" The middle-aged man's gaze remained fixed on the direction the man in black had left, his eyes never wavering.

"Alas... What a troubled time, what a troubled time!" After a while, the middle-aged man put down his teacup, stood up, put his hands behind his back, and sighed.

Chapter 1260 The Turmoil of the Dynasty

Another day passed, and on this morning, all the officials were in the court.

"Speak if you have something to say, otherwise the court is adjourned!" the eunuch beside the emperor shouted in a high-pitched voice.

The ministers below remained silent, as if the country had been peaceful and nothing major had happened.

"Report...!" A loud shout, sounding both tired and urgent, broke the silence in the hall, as if opening the vocal cords of the ministers, who began to whisper among themselves about what might be happening.

A short while later, a soldier in armor rushed in, knelt on the ground, and said, "Your Majesty, the border is in dire need of help. The Gan Yue people have attacked. They planned this in advance. Please send reinforcements." After saying this, the soldier fainted.

"Someone, summon the imperial physician and wake him up," the emperor ordered with a grim face.