Chapter 6, Little Eight Arms

Chen E smiled a bit awkwardly and said: "Indeed, I have been busy, truly busy. Alas, I have not been informed of your arrival in Beijing by those incompetent clerks; otherwise, I would have visited you long ago to seek your counsel and alleviate my worries. Why wait until today to encounter you at this restaurant? Since you are already aware of the details, I hope you can offer me your assistance."

Liu Jianxian asked Chen E to explain in detail the events leading up to the death of Shen Wansan, so that he could understand the entire process.

Liu Jian remarked: "I see dark energy swirling around the back of your head, which suggests that you may encounter some misfortune recently. After the intercalary seventh month, it will be August. In the months of August and September, there will be occurrences on the fifth and tenth days. It would be best for you to take leave and rest at home, avoiding work." Gao Liang nodded in agreement: "Your Excellency, your foresight is remarkable. I dare not disregard your concern."

When asked about "Xingtai," Liu Jian slightly nodded: "Xingtai is now known as Shunde Prefecture. The Zijinshan Academy in Xingtai specializes in engineering and mathematics. Notable figures such as Liu Bingzhong, Zhang Wenqian, Zhang Yi, Wang Xun, and Guo Shoujing all hail from there. These individuals possess remarkable expertise in astronomy, and it is likely that even Cheng Yibo and the current Yao Shaoshi would find it difficult to match their accomplishments. It is said that when Yuan Shizu invited Liu Bingzhong to come out of retirement to build a city, Liu Bingzhong spent a full eighty-one days surveying the land before he began to draw the plans. He then spent another eighty-one days to complete the basic map. According to his vision, a city dedicated to the eight-armed Nezha must be constructed to subdue the malevolent dragon...

The messenger stared at him until he finished reading the letter, then he finally sighed in relief and said: "No, Master Yao only asked me to deliver a letter to the Ming Mansion and to bring back your message."

Holding the lamp, he understood a small part, but most of it remained unclear. He glanced at the notes he had written earlier and asked again: "As for Liu Bingzhong, Bai Fuquan, 874, Wansui Mountain, as well as the Bitter Sea Youzhou and the Eight-Armed Nezha City, I have a rough understanding, but I still do not know whether the deceased Shen Wansan is indeed the Shen Wansan from the capital. What does finding the sea eye refer to?"

Upon receiving the appointment as the Governor of Shuntian, Chen E arrived in Beijing and dedicated himself to governance, not daring to harbor any thoughts of negligence. As a result, this ancient capital gradually became more prosperous, far surpassing the flourishing days when the Yongle Emperor was the Prince of Yan here. However, since the rumor spread that His Majesty intended to relocate the capital here, Beijing immediately attracted merchants and laborers from all over, leading to a steadily increasing population and an inevitable decline in public order. Chen E often found himself so busy that he would only sleep at three in the morning and rise at four.

Chen E, nicknamed "Loud Scholar," has a naturally booming voice. When he shouted "Help me," the entire tavern resonated with a buzzing sound, drawing everyone's attention. Liu Jian quickly pulled him back to his seat and asked what had happened. Chen E sighed deeply and, trying to lower his voice, said: "My dear brother, there is something serious to discuss. Recently, my office has encountered a major issue..."

Liu Jian found that he could not pull Gao Liang, so he simply withdrew his hand and secretly calculated in his sleeve while asking, "What was the cause of your father's death?" Gao Liang replied, "My father was old, and his legs were not agile. Yesterday afternoon, he accidentally fell into the water ditch in the yard, head down, and could not struggle to get up. It was difficult to fish him out, but it was already too late; even when we called a doctor, he could not be saved."

I dare not, I dare not

Forty-nine days later, Wang Yuanhua suddenly sent someone to find Chen E, stating that the case had been thoroughly investigated. It was confirmed that Shen Wansan indeed used sorcery to deceive the public. Furthermore, he was also planning a rebellion, having buried the gold and silver used for the uprising in eight different locations in Beijing. Wang wanted Chen E to take the black-clad officials and Shen Wansan to excavate the gold and silver, in order to ultimately determine the charges against him

Liu Jian sneered and said: "You seem to know quite a bit. Not to mention that the main southern gate of the Yuan Dadu is called Lizhengmen, Chongwenmen was originally named Wenmingmen, Xuanwumen was originally named Shunchengmen, and Chaoyangmen was originally named Qihuamen... Well, it's pointless to say too much since you won't remember it anyway. Let me just say that the number of gates corresponds to Nezha's head, eyes, and eight arms; it's purely the talk of a swindler, and I have no idea where you heard that from!"

Liu Jian supported the broad shoulder of the man, tugging at it, but could not move him. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the man was in his twenties, tall, broad-shouldered, with a fair face and no beard, looking somewhat familiar. The person holding the lamp beside him also exclaimed: "Weren't you the forward for the Chinese team at the match in the small street that day?"

On that evening, Liu Jian led Peng Deng to the state-run restaurant at the intersection of the small street and Dongzhimen Street for dinner. Along the way, he kept teasing Peng Deng, trying to catch him in a mistake to break their agreement. Peng Deng clenched his teeth tightly, pressed his lips together, and only hummed in response, not daring to reply. Seeing his expression, Liu Jian found it very amusing and became even more playful.

Thus, after a span of seven or eight days without incident, the straw sandals remained locked in the bookcase. Liu Jian never mentioned them, and although Deng Deng thought to inquire several times, he always met with resistance. Before long, it was the fourth day of the intercalary seventh month. In the middle of the day, having eaten and drunk his fill with nothing to do, Liu Jian strolled leisurely into the courtyard to enjoy the coolness.

So, Wang Yuanhua's visit to the Ming residence a few days ago was also for this matter

Liu Jian opened the folding fan in his hand and casually said: "There is no need for the governor to worry too much. A few days ago, I happened to pass by Shuntian Prefecture and unintentionally saw Wang Yuanhua, with whom I exchanged a few words."

Holding the lamp and pointing to the cabinet: "Is that straw sandal meant to summon the Eight-Armed Guardian to protect the capital? What exactly is it? I kindly ask the esteemed master to enlighten me." Liu Jian stretched lazily: "Here you go again. You've been following me all day today; you must be tired. It's best to go to bed early. I've told you everything I can, and I only hope you don't let it go in one ear and out the other. Keep it in mind, ponder it repeatedly, and only then will you make progress. As for the straw sandal, when the opportunity arises, we will discuss it again."

Liu Jian furrowed his brow and asked, "I taught him not to go out before the seventh month, and to stay away from water. Why didn't he listen?" Gao Liang wiped away a tear, hanging his head as he replied, "Father is getting old, with blurred vision and dizziness, and forgot that this year has a leap seventh month. He only mentioned that the seventh month had already passed, and after waiting for several days without seeing the adult come to the residence to report, he thought nothing was wrong. As a result..."

This person is not only Liu Jian, but even the lantern bearer recognizes him. Seeing him perform such a grand gesture, one cannot help but be taken aback. It turns out that although this person is dressed in casual attire, he is actually the governor they had seen from a distance at the back gate of Shuntian Prefecture a few days ago.

These historical events, even when listened to by Deng, were not understood, only prompting the question: "What about Liu Bingzhong?" Liu Jian calculated with his fingers and replied: "He passed away eight years ago—furthermore, regarding these 874 trees, each tree retains water for one month, totaling 72 years and 10 months. The construction of the capital began in the fourth month of the fourth year of the Zhiyuan era, and by the second month of the sixth year of the Zhiyuan era under Emperor Shun, it coincided perfectly with the timeline. In that month, Tuo Tuo initiated a coup, deposing his uncle, Bo Yan. It is said that the root of the rise of various heroes at the end of the Yuan dynasty lies in Tuo Tuo's currency reform and river opening.

Holding the lamp and wanting to smile, he felt that given the recent incident with the highlighter, it would not be very considerate to laugh at this moment. Thus, he bit his lip and, with a serious expression, asked: "Does the esteemed master see the object and think of the person? Is it possible that the calamities here are endless, hence the desire to seek Miss Luo's assistance?"

Liu Jian lightly waved his folding fan and said: "The Eight-Armed Nezha City is full of mysteries, and even I can only glimpse a fragment of it. How could those village men and old folks possibly understand? The so-called Eight-Armed Nezha refers to the palaces and city gates named using terms from the 'I Ching', with eight different objects placed around the capital in a protective formation. I cannot explore each of these eight objects in detail, but I know that Wansui Mountain corresponds to the Northern Star, and Taiyi Pool corresponds to the Western Venus. The saying goes that gold generates beautiful water, hence a large pool must be excavated to the west. Liu Bingzhong also instructed Guo Shoujing to channel the White Floating Spring from Yuyuan Mountain in Changping to regulate the water flow. I cannot explore each of these eight objects in detail, but I know that Wansui Mountain corresponds to the Northern Star, and Taiyi Pool corresponds to the Western Venus. The saying goes that gold generates beautiful water, hence a large pool must be excavated to the west. Liu Bingzhong also instructed Guo Shoujing to channel the White Floating Spring from Yuyuan Mountain in Changping to regulate the water flow. Water generates wood, so the establishment of Wansui Mountain in the north is a facade; there are eight hundred seventy-four trees planted on the mountain, which corresponds to the number for locking water...

On one occasion, Chen E offended Zhu Di, who ordered that a pit be dug outside the Fengtian Gate to bury him, leaving only his head exposed. However, after seven days, Chen E had not died. Zhu Di believed that his life was meant to continue, so he issued a decree to pardon him and restore his official position. Not long after, Chen E again offended Zhu Di and was punished to pay for the repairs of the royal elephant house. However, Chen E's family had no money, so he had to work personally. Upon seeing this, Zhu Di felt pity and spared him once more

"Sir Chen, why do you bestow such a grand gesture? This could overwhelm me greatly." Liu Jian was not as surprised as if he were holding a lamp; he seemed to have already anticipated seven or eight parts of the reason.

Watching Gao Liang depart, Liu Jian let out a long sigh, turned his head, and found that he had long lost the leisure to enjoy the coolness and gaze at the sky. He paid no attention to Deng Deng, who was holding the lamp, and went back into the room by himself. Deng Deng hurriedly held the teapot in one hand and dragged a chair with the other. As soon as he entered the door, he saw the master leaning against the desk, both hands spread open a fan that had been used to dig up a grave, flipping it over and over to examine it—yet it was merely a plain white fan, devoid of any floral or avian designs, and without any inscriptions.

Liu Jian made a noncommittal gesture, signaling the lamp bearer to call in the attendant. This Beijing truly lives up to its reputation as a former capital; even the waitstaff are quite perceptive. Upon seeing these two gentlemen, although dressed in ordinary attire, their demeanor and speech exuded an official air, and in the elegant seating area, they were bowing and exclaiming "Help!" with great awareness, the staff wisely refrained from interrupting. The lamp bearer summoned the attendant, ordered a few seasonal dishes, and requested a large jug of light wine, allowing the two gentlemen to chat leisurely. Noticing that Liu Jian had no intention of dismissing him, the lamp bearer was pleased to stand by and eavesdrop. The lamp bearer summoned the attendant, ordered a few seasonal dishes, and requested a large jug of light wine, allowing the two gentlemen to chat leisurely. Noticing that Liu Jian had no intention of dismissing him, the lamp bearer was pleased to stand by and eavesdrop.

As soon as Chen E captured Shen Wansan, he immediately had him imprisoned. Shortly thereafter, the special commissioner appointed by the young master Yao Guangxiao also arrived, namely Wang Yuanhua, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works. Upon his arrival in Beijing, he promptly sought to conduct a secret interrogation of Shen Wansan. The guards escorting Shen Wansan were personally selected by Wang Yuanhua, all of whom were single men without families. For nearly two months, no information was disclosed to the outside world.

However, during the excavation process, increasingly strange occurrences took place. Shen Wansan resolutely refrained from mentioning rebellion, instead shouting "wronged" with a stiff neck, while the laborers, with red eyes, continued to beat him mercilessly. Chen E attempted several times to urge them to be gentler, but the usually submissive laborers ignored him. When the first ten pits of silver were unearthed, the laborers became even more brutal, ultimately beating Shen Wansan to death.

Liu Jian was at a loss and hurriedly handed the teapot to the person holding the lamp, then stood up and bent down to assist. He then heard the big man crying out: "Your Excellency, my father passed away yesterday..."

"Is this all it takes, just this letter?" Upon hearing this, Liu Jian shook his head with a bitter smile, "It must have been quite a challenge for the magistrate to apprehend this person."

Liu Jian smiled slightly: "Has someone recently died suddenly in the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen?"

Liu Jian sighed lightly: "Indeed, I have encountered misfortune; such is the fate, and it cannot be forced." He then asked Gao Liang: "Has your father ever explained the reasons behind this to you in detail?" Gao Liang gently shook his head: "My father only spoke to me about it yesterday when he was on his deathbed, but he only mentioned that the elders taught him to avoid disasters and did not elaborate on the reasons. He instructed me to inform you and said that it was his own confusion that led to his demise, and that I should apologize to you on his behalf."

The Han man nodded repeatedly with tears in his eyes: "I am indeed a lowly person. My father received your guidance the other day, hiding at home with books and illustrations to avoid disaster and misfortune. Unfortunately, he could only escape for a moment, but ultimately could not escape for a lifetime. Yesterday, at the hour of the monkey, he still passed away..."

Holding the lamp, he wanted to inquire about Shen Wansan and the matter of digging grass shoes, but Liu Jian maintained a stern expression and resolutely refused to elaborate further. The mystery weighed heavily on his mind, making him feel uncomfortable all over; now, he had at least six or seven mysteries lodged within him, each intricately linked to the others, as if a thousand ants were scratching at his heart, and that number might even be an underestimate. Each passing day felt like a month. He tried repeatedly, addressing Liu Jian with terms like "Sir" and "Your Excellency," attempting to probe for information, but Liu Jian grew impatient and dismissively said, "If you can refrain from rambling for a whole month, I will tell you the details."

Liu Jian shook his head and sighed: "What apology is necessary? I was unable to save your father's life, and I feel deeply remorseful about it"

Liu Jian, upon hearing this, suddenly realized, but immediately felt a chill in the sweltering heat and hurriedly asked: "Are you Gao Liang? The old clerk from the Di Bao Copying House outside Anding Gate, could he possibly be your father? What happened to him... Is he dead?!"

This Shuntian governor is named Chen E, courtesy name Kezhong, hailing from Panyu, Guangzhou. He is known for his resolute and decisive nature in handling affairs, earning the favor of the current Yongle Emperor. He previously held the position of a judicial official in Nanjing. One day, before attending court, he encountered Liu Jian at the city gate. Liu Jian, upon observing his countenance, warned him of impending danger and gave him a protective talisman. As fate would have it, during the court session that day, Chen E clashed with the Emperor over the handling of a case. The Yongle Emperor, infuriated, ordered the palace guards to drag him out of the Fengtian Gate, where they dug a pit to bury him, leaving only his head exposed. Thanks to the talisman given by Liu Jian, Chen E miraculously survived for seven days without succumbing, which ultimately led to his pardon. The Yongle Emperor appreciated his tenacity but was also vexed by his frequent defiance, so he promoted him to the position of Shuntian governor and transferred him to Beijing, hoping that distance would ease his irritation.

Upon hearing these words, Chen E finally let out a reluctant sigh of relief, forcing a wry smile as he changed his tone: "My dear brother, do not take offense. This matter involves confidential information, and I must be cautious in my actions. Have you perhaps learned about this matter from Wang Yuanhua?"

"This is not the case," Liu Jian shook his head, "I have been in Beijing for two months now. I have submitted my application and visited the Shuntian Prefecture several times, but they all indicate that the officials are busy and have no time to meet. Therefore, with nothing to do, I can only wander around. I have heard of a few strange occurrences on the streets, and from there, I have vaguely inferred some connections.

While feeling utterly bored and too lazy to move, Liu Jian suddenly heard the sound of footsteps. He slightly lowered his head and saw a monk leading a burly man striding in from the courtyard entrance. The monk pointed and said, "This is Lord Liu." Upon hearing this, the burly man hurriedly took two steps forward, knelt down before Liu Jian, and unexpectedly began to wail and cry.

Chen E hurriedly cupped his hands and replied: "I will report back to my master regarding the matter at hand, and I assure you that I will not fail in my duties."

However, in the courtyard of the Berlin Temple, there were only cypress trees. Liu Jian had no choice but to settle for less, asking the lantern bearer to move a chair under the dappled shade of the trees. He then brewed a pot of fragrant tea, held it in his hands, and sat there gazing up at the sky. In the silence and stillness, he felt it was not much different from taking a nap.

Chen E nodded: "Not only in the yamen, but recently in the past period, there have been many sudden deaths in Beijing, causing the common people to panic and lose their composure, with everyone in danger. I initially thought it was the work of unruly citizens, but the recent deaths of several individuals are quite strange, leading me to suspect that it may be the work of supernatural forces..."

Upon reaching the second floor of the hotel, Liu Jian suddenly heard a long sigh from a nearby table. He glanced sideways and vaguely recognized the person. At that moment, the individual also spotted Liu Jian, his eyes widening in surprise. Suddenly, he rushed over a few steps, bowed deeply, and exclaimed, "Xian Di, save me!"

Liu Jian replied, "Shen Wansan is merely borrowing a name. The Bai Fu Spring greatly benefits the water veins of Beijing, yet those water veins belong to the Hu people and must be blocked to prevent them from flowing into Beijing. However, Beijing is already short of water; if we do not draw from Bai Fu Spring, what else can we draw from? It is said that beneath the Bitter Sea of Youzhou, there are countless underground currents—otherwise, why would it be called the Bitter Sea? When these underground currents emerge to the surface, that is the sea eye. It is said that once the sea eye opens, there will be a great flood. We must divert from Bai Fu Spring and find another sea eye, opening it halfway to avoid disaster, in order to build the new Eight-Armed Nezha City." This Bitter Sea of Youzhou is said to have countless underground currents—otherwise, why would it be called the Bitter Sea? When these underground currents emerge to the surface, that is the sea eye. It is said that once the sea eye opens, there will be a great flood. We must divert from Bai Fu Spring and find another sea eye, opening it halfway to avoid disaster, in order to build the new Eight-Armed Nezha City.

Holding the lamp and shrinking my neck: "The little one heard it from an old man with a white beard in the city... Was it all just nonsense?"

With a "pop," Liu Jian closed his folding fan, feigning an intention to throw it at the lantern holder. The lantern holder instinctively wanted to cover his head with his hands, but since he had not yet set down the teapot and chair, his hands could not be freed. He could only shrink his neck and tilt his head, looking exceedingly comical. Ultimately, Liu Jian did not throw the fan; he couldn't help but let out a chuckle. However, he quickly composed himself, sighed deeply, tossed the fan onto the table, turned his head away, and no longer paid any attention to the lantern holder.

Later, Chen E was promoted to the position of Governor of Shuntian Prefecture (the Shuntian Prefecture was changed from a fifth-rank governor to a fourth-rank governor in the eighth year of the Yongle reign; Chen E had never served as the governor of Shuntian, but for the sake of the novel, he was allowed to assume the position early). Due to his strict enforcement of the law, he incurred the jealousy of the chancellors, who subsequently transferred him to Hubei and Shanxi as an inspector. After the death of Zhu Di, Emperor Hongxi Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne and demoted Chen E to the position of County Magistrate of Haiyan. He was later reassigned as the Chief of Staff for Prince Jing and Deputy Governor of Zhenjiang, with his official rank diminishing progressively until his retirement

The renowned minister of the Yongle era. According to the "History of Ming," Chen E, styled Kezhong, was from Panyu, Guangdong. He had a resolute character and often spoke candidly in admonition. The Yongle Emperor Zhu Di both admired and found him somewhat bothersome. When Chen E served as an official in the Ministry of Justice, his voice was as loud as a bell during court sessions. Zhu Di ordered him to be starved for several days, yet when he returned to the court, he still spoke with full vigor. Zhu Di could only smile wryly and say, "It seems he does not do this intentionally; this man is simply born this way." From then on, he was given the nickname "Loud Scholar."

Mingfu

Holding the lamp, he nodded and said: "No wonder Wang Yuanhua originally held a position in the Water Department. Could it be that Master Yao sent him to find the sea eye?" Liu Jian coldly smiled and replied: "Wang Yuanhua has only a superficial understanding. The graves he constructed were merely an attempt to establish a small Eight-Armed Guardian to assist in protecting Beijing. I fear he might end up making things worse—such a significant matter as finding the sea eye would certainly be overseen personally by Master Yao; Wang Yuanhua is merely a runner handling errands."

Holding the lamp, I suddenly realized: "So it turns out that the eight-seven-four strikes against Shen Wansan are still based on the traditions passed down from the previous dynasty!"

Liu Jian interjected at this moment, asking: "But is it forty-nine days?" Chen E calculated with his fingers and replied: "Twenty-two days, Bing Shen... eleven days, Jia Shen... That's right, it is indeed forty-nine days." Liu Jian nodded, signaling him to continue.

The official nodded slightly, made a bow to Chen E, and directly went out to mount his horse

Chen Eyi said, "God, deities... how did Lord Liu come to know about this matter?" His tone suddenly took on a hint of officialdom.

After reading this letter, Chen E felt a bit puzzled: "May I ask, Your Excellency, does the young master have any other imperial edicts?"

Chen E

Out of the eight locations for gold and silver, only one was excavated. However, when Chen E returned to report to Wang Yuanhua, Wang Yuanhua appeared very satisfied. Chen E increasingly felt that something was amiss, and under his persistent questioning, the other party reluctantly revealed part of the truth

To hold the lamp without speaking is even more uncomfortable than taking his life. However, curiosity is simply too strong; holding the lamp leaves no choice but to speak less and act more. Every day is spent calculating, and finally, after much effort, he has made it to the sixth day of the eighth month, with just one more day until the agreed date. During this time, apart from occasionally starting to say the word "Respect" and quickly stopping himself, he has not spoken carelessly. Liu Jian has begun to feel somewhat unaccustomed to this.

On that night, just as Chen E was lying down, he was called up by the gatekeeper of the government office, who said that an urgent report had arrived from the capital. He hurriedly dressed and came out to greet them. As soon as he reached the outer hall, he saw a messenger wearing a red tassel hat anxiously pacing back and forth in the corridor. Upon seeing Chen E, the messenger immediately unfastened a bundle from his back, held it in his hands, and carefully opened it layer by layer, taking out a wax-sealed letter from inside.

The two men sighed in mutual sympathy. Liu Jian comforted Gao Liang with a few words, and Gao Liang cupped his hands in farewell. Just as he stepped out of the courtyard, Liu Jian, watching his retreating figure, suddenly realized something. He pointed with his folding fan and called out loudly: "Gao Liang, what kind of trade are you engaged in?" Gao Liang turned around and replied: "I am but a tiler."

Chen E opened the fire seal and unfolded the scroll, finding only a few lines written on it: "To the Governor of Shuntian, Chen E: In Beijing, there is a beggar named Shen, who possesses malevolent skills that are detrimental to our great Ming dynasty. I hope you will capture him immediately. After apprehending him, there is no need for an immediate trial; he may be imprisoned. I will appoint another official to handle the matter."

Holding the lamp, someone eagerly said: "This little one has heard of it. The Zhengyang Gate, located directly south of Beijing, is the head of Nezha; the East and West Gates of the city are his ears. The two wells inside the Zhengyang Gate are his eyes. The Chongwen Gate, Chaoyang Gate, Dongzhimen, and Guangxi Gate to the east of Zhengyang Gate represent four arms of Nezha's body; while the Xuanwu Gate, Fucheng Gate, Xizhimen, and Suqing Gate to the west of Zhengyang Gate represent his other four arms..."

Liu Jian lightly tapped the table with his folding fan and slowly said, "Back in the day, Liu Bingzhong stated that the Eight-Armed Nezha City must be clad in heavy armor to ensure the dynasty lasts for ten thousand years. This is what is meant by 'If the prophecy is wrapped in bricks and stones, it will be as long as the Heavenly King's armor and weapons.' Otherwise, his planting of trees and locking of water can only guarantee eight hundred seventy-four months of peace. Unfortunately, at that time, Yuan Shizu had not yet pacified the world, and the treasury was insufficient, so they could only temporarily build walls of earth, intending to replace them with brick walls once the world was peaceful and the treasury was full. Who would have thought that later, Ah He Ma was killed, leading to a great prison incident, and Zhang Yizheng, serving as the Deputy Minister of the Privy Council, was implicated, executed, and his family confiscated. The Zijin Mountain faction thus lost power, and the matter of building walls with bricks fell through... Unfortunately, at that time, Yuan Shizu had not yet pacified the world, and the treasury was insufficient, so they could only temporarily build walls of earth, intending to replace them with brick walls once the world was peaceful and the treasury was full. Who would have thought that later, Ah He Ma was killed, leading to a great prison incident, and Zhang Yizheng, serving as the Deputy Minister of the Privy Council, was implicated, executed, and his family confiscated. The Zijin Mountain faction thus lost power, and the matter of building walls with bricks fell through..."

Indeed, during those days, Beijing was turned upside down by me. Fortunately, after Shen Wansan of the capital was exiled to serve in the military, there were not many who dared to openly mention this name. Although it took an immense effort, I am glad that I did not fail in my mission

As the saying goes, "Not afraid of heaven, not afraid of earth, but afraid of the people from Guangdong speaking Mandarin." When Chen E opened his mouth, Liu Jian felt a headache and couldn't help but perk up his ears to listen carefully. He said to Chen E, "This matter is serious; you need to keep your voice down—everyone can hear it."

"Master Chen, this is a secret order from Master Yao. He instructed me to deliver it to you personally, and you must act according to the order without any mistakes." After saying this, the officer handed over the letter and did not take his leave, merely gazing intently at Chen E.

Chen E was taken aback, staring intently at Liu Jian: "... How, how is it possible? Could it be that my virtuous younger brother has already understood the details?"

The Berlin Temple lives up to its name, with many cypress trees planted in the courtyard. However, in the cold winter months, when everything is desolate, seeing the green pines and cypress trees can be a refreshing sight. In contrast, during the hot summer days, if one wishes to seek shade, the leaves of the cypress trees are insufficient; one would need the larger leaves of poplar and phoenix trees to provide ample shade.