Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I have never been a believer in ghosts or gods.

But now, I have no choice but to believe.

The night was deep, and the bright moon hung like a hook.

The Chief Astrologer of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had been kneeling in the hall for four hours.

“Say that again. What do you mean by ‘Twin Emperor Omens’?”

The man looked up slightly, stealing a cautious glance at me.

“Your Majesty, according to the celestial signs, the Ziwei Star has been fluctuating frequently of late. One star, two shadows… it is a sign of the Twin Emperor Omens.”

I fell silent for a moment.

“Speak plainly.”

The Chief Astrologer kowtowed heavily, his sleeves trembling as if caught in a phantom wind. Finally, he steeled himself and spoke through gritted teeth.

“It means two Emperor Stars have appeared, overlapping one another-one bright, one dark.”

Having said this, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength and slumped slightly onto the floor.

“I beg Your Majesty’s punishment.”

I looked at him, utterly perplexed. “Punish you for what? Do you have the power to control the stars in the sky?”

Seeing that I truly intended no blame, he breathed a sigh of relief and spoke hesitantly.

“Your Majesty, I indeed lack the power to control the stars, but all celestial phenomena correspond to earthly matters. Human effort can change things; nothing is set in stone.”

“…”

I really couldn’t stand the way he talked.

I never used to believe in such things, so I rarely summoned them, and they were unfamiliar with my temperament.

“Can you speak normally? Stop talking in circles.”

The man wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Yes. What I mean is, celestial readings can only provide a general prediction. Fate is shaped by human action. As long as we prepare a counter-strategy in advance, everything is subject to change.”

“The Twin Emperor Omens must be the result of a villain working in the shadows to create this dark reflection. Though I am but a humble servant, I am willing to help Your Majesty eliminate this threat as soon as possible.”

I stared intently toward the north for a long time.

I stared until my eyes ached, yet I couldn’t see the ‘double shadow’ the Imperial Astronomical Bureau spoke of.

Forget it. Professional matters should be left to professionals.

When I turned back, I saw the man kneeling on the ground suddenly straighten his back, staring at me with burning eyes.

“Your Majesty, I will surely devote everything I have learned in my life to help Your Majesty remove the threat of the dark shadow and protect the eternal peace of our Great Xia!”

He spoke with such impassioned fervor that it seemed as if he were about to charge onto a battlefield the very next moment.

I raised my hand, signaling him to come closer.

Greatly excited, he hurried forward.

I glanced toward the secret chamber, then pointed toward the northern sky and asked him, “Is there a way to make that bright one disappear, and then make the dark one turn bright?”