Chapter 10: The pitiful empty seat at midnight

The eldest son, Beru, appeared to be in his twenties, with a square and straight face. He had thin lips adorned with two faint wisps of facial hair, and his eyes, though warm, carried a hint of fatigue

Zhao Yang clapped his hands, and his three sons entered, kneeling in order beneath the mat.

Zhongxin is a graceful gentleman, wearing a tall hat and a flowing robe, adorned with a white jade ornament. While others are arrogant due to their talents, he possesses only pride. In his discourse, he attempts to emulate the sages of antiquity, yet fails to achieve this and instead resembles a dog rather than a tiger, being overly rigid and conservative

Gubu Ziqing stroked his beard, shook his head vigorously, and said, "Hehe, how could the army come to this? In my view, the Zhao family is far from being at the end of their rope."

Gu Buziqing was secretly observing from behind the curtain, fully aware that he was not as extraordinary as others claimed. The so-called physiognomy is not as mysterious as the divination in the Book of Changes; in simple terms, it involves making a general judgment about a person's future based on their words and actions. It is just that Gu Buziqing is skilled at recognizing people, which is why he has earned the esteemed reputation of being infallible in his assessments.

What should I do! Is it possible that the Zhao family's century-old foundation will be destroyed in an instant after me

Zhao Yang was not only an enterprising sovereign but also a devout believer in divine will and divination, and these two aspects are not inherently contradictory

At least skilled enough to make him unable to discern the depth.

Zhao Wuxu seemed to sense something; he focused his attention once more and indeed saw the rare white female deer lying amidst the densely woven reeds

Before long, after the three sons had withdrawn, Zhao Yang leaned forward in his seat and sincerely bowed to Gu Buziqing, asking, "Sir, can you discern which of my three sons is capable of taking on great responsibilities?"

... ...

He sternly rebuked Duke Jing of Jin: "Unrighteous and tyrannical ruler! What sins have my descendants committed? You are unkind and unjust, wantonly killing the innocent. I have already appealed to the Supreme Deity in Heaven regarding this grievance, and now I have come to take your life"

Moreover, upon closer inspection, the slightly bulging abdomen of this white doe clearly indicated that she was carrying fawns, making it even more difficult for him to take action

After exterminating the Zhao clan, Duke Jing of Jin had a dream in which he encountered a terrifying ghost. It was said to be tall and imposing, with long hair cascading down, striking its chest with its hands and jumping violently on the ground, presenting a very fearsome appearance

Let Mu Xia stay in place to watch over the horses and prey, while he searches in the direction indicated by Gu Buziqing

Zhao Yang would naturally not explain the truth to them, but rather inquired, whether intentionally or unintentionally, about the hunting gains of the three sons

As night falls, beneath the brilliantly lit high platform, the hunters of the Zhao clan return one after another, presenting their catches to Zhao Yang. These mountain delicacies will be used to feast the guests and to "supply the lord's kitchen," while the remaining portions will be preserved and dried in preparation for the sacrificial rites in the twelfth month of winter

At that time, in a place called Sangtian near Jiangdu, there was a shaman who could divine matters concerning ghosts and deities. Duke Jing summoned the shaman to the palace, and the shaman's divination was completely in line with Duke Jing's dream. The shaman stated that the vengeful spirit was the manifestation of the Zhao family's meritorious subjects from previous generations, coming to avenge Duke Jing's extermination of the Zhao family lineage.

Zhao Wuxu was overjoyed, truly having searched high and low without success, yet obtaining it effortlessly

"General, do you not have another son who has not yet arrived?"

The last image that flashed by was of the kind-hearted Ji Ying, her delicate brows slightly furrowed

The more Duke Jing thought about it, the more fearful he became. Moreover, Han Jue, a close ally of the Zhao family, happened to speak on their behalf. Taking advantage of the situation, Duke Jing issued an order that very day to reinstate Zhao Wu, allowing him to inherit the fief of the Zhao family

Gu Bizi Qing predicted that this child will one day be outsmarted by his own cleverness

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yang moved forward again and said, "I am ignorant, please teach me, sir"

He was about to turn around when a gentle evening breeze swept through the forest, causing the dense blades of grass to sway in the wind, yet it appeared somewhat unnatural

Alas, it is due to my inadequate hospitality that such an oversight has occurred. I have long heard of your esteemed name, but unfortunately, I have not had the honor of meeting you.

The uncle Qi, with a face devoid of beard, bore an expression akin to that of a hawk or a wolf. It was evident that every word he uttered had been meticulously calculated, yet his gaze towards his father and brothers was tinged with a chilling and unfriendly demeanor, as if every person in the world were merely a part of his schemes

During the Spring and Autumn period, the development of nature was not extensive. In later generations, where in the Jin Nan Basin can one still find such a primitive ecological environment? This region has been cultivated for two thousand years by the people of the Tang, Yu, Xia, Shang, Zhou, and the Five Dynasties, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world at that time. It is conceivable that the current wild lands of Chu and Yue are even more filled with swamps and primeval forests, where one can witness the magnificent sight of herds of rhinoceroses.

Zhao Yang stroked his beautiful beard, inspecting them with a distracted mind, yet he could not let go of the fleeting beauty of the white deer.

The superstitious Zhao Yang's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he momentarily lost his composure

Indeed, the doe's black eyes, imbued with a hint of spirit, resemble those of his sister Ji Ying, who was equally filled with fear and unease on the day their mother, Madam Jin Juan, suddenly passed away

Failed to capture the white elk, and wasted more than half a day; this hunt is unlikely to secure first place. I only hope that, along with that unfortunate black bear, we do not end up at the bottom among the four brothers.

After speaking, he lunged directly at Duke Jing, who was greatly frightened and fled towards the inner palace. The great ghost destroyed the main gate and entered. Duke Jing, terrified, hid inside with the * map * and * book *, but the great ghost broke through the door and pursued him into the inner chamber. In this relentless chase, Duke Jing was filled with terror, threw off the quilt, and called out to wake himself, but he fell ill from that moment on and never recovered.

The forest grew denser as he walked, and without hesitation, he had to draw his short sword to slash through the thorns, continuing down the rugged path with determination

After all, the history of the Zhao clan is filled with numerous supernatural occurrences. For instance, after the calamity in the lower palace, the reason why the Zhao orphans, who had lost everything, were able to regain their territory was largely due to the words of a mysterious shaman.

After the pleasantries, the main event commenced

Indeed, Duke Jing of Jin's illness ultimately did not improve. As predicted by the oracle, he died suddenly during the wheat harvest season, becoming the only monarch in history to die by choking in a toilet, leaving a legacy of laughter for a thousand years

Thus, Zhao Yang set his mind at ease, slightly bowing to Gu Buziqing. "I am over forty years old, and I can see that old age is approaching. My sons are of mediocre talent, and none particularly pleases me. Therefore, I have not yet determined the position of the heir, leading to a void in the lineage and instability among the people. Today, I dare to ask you, sir, to examine the appearances of my sons and see who may be fit to lead."

As dusk approached, Zhao Wuxu stopped in his tracks, gazing at the patch of withered yellow grass ahead, which was about half a person's height. He wondered whether it concealed any venomous snakes or insects. For safety reasons, he had to leave the woods before nightfall

Moreover, this individual has already made significant contributions: he has verified the remarkable utility of riding alone on horseback and has also assisted Zhao Yang in locating the missing Gu Buziqing. Although the initial disheveled appearance of this renowned diviner caused both Zhao Yang and Le Qi to stifle their laughter.

At this moment, Zhao Yang had prepared a banquet on the high platform. During the time of changing clothes, he sent someone to invite Gu Buziqing to the back room of the guesthouse. After changing into his regular attire, they sat facing each other.

It was as if he had touched the only soft spot in his heart, and Zhao Wuxu's raised right arm trembled slightly, yet the bronze short sword was firmly gripped in his hand, unable to strike down.

What Gu Bizi and others are referring to is the present moment, he said mysteriously

The white deer seems to be injured, with a rope tied around its leg and a broken hoof. It appears to have fallen into a trap set by some nameless hunter, which has inadvertently benefited Zhao Wuxu

Another voice in his heart urged him to take decisive action: as long as he offered this deer, he would surely win Zhao Yang's favor and emerge victorious in the competition for the title of heir apparent

He is probably the one who resembles his great-grandfather Zhao Wenzi the most, appearing so submissive in front of his father that he seems unable to bear the weight of his clothing, speaking in a soft and gentle manner as if he is not making any sound. It is evident that he is a kind-hearted and virtuous gentleman, but in the competitive environment of the six ministers vying for power in the State of Jin, how can such a person survive for long

This gaze seemed familiar to Zhao Wuxu, yet he could not recall where he had seen it before, perhaps it belonged to the memories of this lifetime

After a prolonged struggle between heaven and man, Zhao Wuxu finally let out a sigh and swung his short sword down fiercely

To become the heir of the family naturally means to succeed the position of the noble clan. This is the proficient business of the nobleman Gu Buzik, especially since the lord he currently serves, the Grand Minister of State Le Qi of the Song Dynasty, also intends to establish a good relationship with the Zhao family. He readily agreed and swore an oath to the deity Taiyi, vowing not to disclose the circumstances to others

Gu Biziqing pondered for a moment and ultimately decided to speak frankly: "Alas, in my opinion, among the three sons of the general, none is capable of inheriting the position of a nobleman."

Given that the family has such a mysterious experience of revival, it is not surprising that Zhao Yang is superstitious about ghosts and divination; this is also the normal belief of most people during the Spring and Autumn period

Zhao Yang and Gu Buzi Qing first discussed the techniques and skills of divination using tortoise shells, and then inquired about insights on studying the "I Ching". After a slight probing, he realized that Gu Buzi Qing indeed possessed considerable expertise in this area

The second son, Zhongxin, and the third son, Shuqi, are of similar age, both having just reached adulthood.

Zhao Wuxu murmured to himself in a self-comforting manner: "In the methods of hunting, one should not kill pregnant mother beasts, nor harm the young that have not yet matured. During encirclement hunts, one must leave a way out, allowing for some leeway..."

Seeing Gu Buziqing's assertive demeanor, Zhao Wuxu did not dare to completely disbelieve him. After all, he had already experienced the unscientific phenomenon of soul transference. Now, he could only adopt Confucius's attitude: to respect the spirits and deities while keeping a distance from them.

Seeing the young knight who had been pursuing him all the way approaching with a gleaming bronze short sword, the white deer seemed to sense the impending danger. It raised its head and stared blankly at Wuxu, as if pleading for his mercy

However, when Gu Buzhiqing bathed and changed clothes, and dressed neatly again, he transformed into a refined gentleman with an ethereal demeanor, evoking a sense of reverence in those who beheld him

However, today can be considered a gain. Upon thinking of this, Zhao Wuxu revealed a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. The diviner named Gu Buziqing has probably returned to the Mianshang residence by now; he would certainly not speak ill of his benefactor in front of Zhao Yang

The foreign minister of the State of Song, Gu Biziqing, met with the general of the upper army... If it were not for the rescue of the young gentleman today, Biziqing would have nearly lost his life at the jaws of a bear

The three brothers, Beru, Zhongxin, and Shuqin, have returned, but the youngest son, Wuxu, is nowhere to be found. However, according to his scrawny attendant, Wuxu is still searching for the traces of the white deer in the forest, and perhaps at any moment, good news will arrive

I said, if this could be calculated accurately, then Gu Buzhiqing would truly be a master of divination

If it can be captured... does it not mean that my Zhao family will rise?