Chapter 18: When Two Stars Align

“Let him in.”

The chief astronomer of the Imperial Observatory appeared to be over fifty, his hair tied up with a cloth, streaked with black and white, as was his beard.

When the chief astronomer entered, he initially intended to present his report directly, but upon catching sight of Qin Duoye sitting nearby, his words faltered and were swallowed.

After a long silence, Qin Xuanxiao put down the memorial he was reviewing with a vermilion brush and, with a hint of impatience, said, “What is it? Report quickly.”

The chief astronomer hurriedly knelt and spoke solemnly, “We observed the night sky, tracing the stars. The moon is in the Pleiades constellation; heavy rain is imminent…”

Before he could finish, Qin Xuanxiao lightly tapped the paperweight on the table, producing a sharp click.

“Speak plainly.”

The chief astronomer hurriedly cut the latter half of his words and said anxiously, “There will be heavy rain at the beginning of next month, followed by several days of clear weather. Thus, the seventh day of the tenth month is suitable for the autumn hunt.”

Qin Xuanxiao suddenly asked, “When will General Lin return to the capital?”

Gou Hongyang, standing nearby, stepped forward and replied, “If we factor in the rain, he could return by the fifth day of the tenth month.”

“That’s good. For the autumn hunt, go discuss arrangements with the Ministry of Rites,” Qin Xuanxiao nodded.

“Yes,” the chief astronomer cupped his hands in acknowledgment but did not immediately leave. Instead, he hesitated, casting a glance at Qin Duoye, and said tentatively, “Your Majesty… there is one more matter…”

Qin Duoye stopped grinding ink, watching the chief astronomer with interest, showing no intention of leaving quietly.

He understood, having guessed what the chief astronomer intended to say next.

Qin Xuanxiao said, “If there’s something to say, speak up.”

The chief astronomer whispered, “Your Majesty, what I am about to say must be spoken in private.” His eyes flicked again toward Qin Duoye, the implication clear.

How amusing—after a hundred years, I have become an outsider in my own palace.

Qin Duoye gently put down the vermilion ink, straightened his posture, and stayed.

Only then did Qin Xuanxiao put down the memorial, glanced at the chief astronomer, then at Qin Duoye, and said to the chief astronomer, “Wenqing is not an outsider; just say what you have to say.”

The chief astronomer frowned, realizing he could not persuade the emperor, and with a loud thud, kowtowed deeply, “May Your Majesty have clear insight!”

“The heavens are out of order. Six days ago, an unknown guest star appeared suddenly, shining unusually bright, gradually approaching the North Star. Tonight, we observe that the guest star has arrived beside the North Star; the omen of twin stars is complete.”

As he spoke, his voice rose sharply, near tears, “Your Majesty! Twin stars portend two things: one, the emperor’s line will end; two, a minister is usurping power and causing chaos!”

After finishing, the chief astronomer struck his head hard on the ground again, pleading, “I beg Your Majesty to discern wisely, strike down the guest star, and preserve the great Wei dynasty!”

Qin Duoye understood the absurdity of this spectacle.

The North Star symbolizes the emperor.

A guest star is an unheralded bright star that appears suddenly, moving off its usual path.

The event occurred around the emperor, specifying six days ago, hinting at the minister’s usurpation.

The guest star was clearly a veiled accusation aimed at Qin Duoye himself.

He couldn’t help but smile.

How many interests had his recent actions disrupted to provoke such a frantic desire for his demise?

“Wenqing,” Qin Xuanxiao suddenly turned to Qin Duoye, “he calls you the guest star, wanting me to kill you.”

Qin Duoye nodded calmly, “Yes, Your Majesty, I heard it clearly.”

The chief astronomer was left speechless.

---

In Hanzhang Palace, the chief astronomer was shocked to overhear the exchange.

What?! They are openly discussing this?

Qin Xuanxiao paid no mind to the chief astronomer’s reaction; his gaze remained fixed on Qin Duoye, who appeared calm and composed, as if effortlessly navigating any crisis. He ground his teeth in frustration.

Moreover, with an outsider present, the chief astronomer had restrained himself and even resumed addressing the emperor formally as “Your Majesty.”

This aloofness stirred a wild frustration in Qin Xuanxiao’s heart.

“Then, my dear minister,” Qin Xuanxiao leaned in close to Qin Duoye’s ear and whispered softly, “do you want me to act?”

The warm breath brushed against Qin Duoye’s ear, causing him to recoil slightly, uncomfortable, and rub his ear.

His earlobe was warm.

He leaned closer in turn, smiling faintly, and whispered, “Then Your Majesty would be missing out on having a fine blade.”

Hearing this, Qin Xuanxiao nodded.

“Guards! The chief astronomer has spread falsehoods and slandered a loyal minister. Drag him away and behead him.”

“Your Majesty?” The chief astronomer was stunned, kneeling dumbfounded, barely believing his own ears.

A question mark appeared over Qin Duoye’s head as he tilted it in confusion.

A black-clad guard burst in, grabbed the chief astronomer by the collar, and began to drag him out.

The chief astronomer scrambled, clawing at the ground, kowtowing wildly, “Your Majesty! Every word I said is true! There is no deceit! If you do not believe me, come with me to the observatory to witness the stars!”

Qin Xuanxiao waved him off without a word, signaling the guards to hurry.

Desperate, the chief astronomer turned and glared fiercely at Qin Duoye, as though he alone was the cause of his doom.

“Your Majesty, do not be deceived by the guest star!”

“Too noisy! Black-clad guard, unhinge his jaw.”

“Wait!”

Qin Duoye suddenly slammed his hands on the table, stood, and shouted. The black-clad guard paused, looking toward Qin Xuanxiao, awaiting orders.

“Your Majesty, no,” Qin Duoye grasped Qin Xuanxiao’s wrist gently, looking at him.

“No?” Qin Xuanxiao repeated coldly, a sneer on his lips. “If it weren’t for you two sitting here, he might have succeeded.”

“Your Majesty… he is indeed guilty of deceiving you, sowing discord, but his crime does not warrant death,” Qin Duoye said softly.

“Hah, Wenqing, look at you—deceiving the emperor, yet not worthy of death?” Qin Xuanxiao seemed amused, twisting Qin Duoye’s hand, his thumb rubbing the inner wrist slowly. “Don’t be too soft-hearted, my dear minister.”

Qin Duoye frowned slightly and met Qin Xuanxiao’s eyes. His phoenix-like pupils gleamed with cold, ruthless light—sharp and predatory—revealing his true nature beneath the fragile façade he had shown earlier in the inner chambers.

“Wenqing, sit down, and know your place. Do not try to persuade me.”

The black-clad guards resumed dragging the chief astronomer away as he continued wailing.

Just as they neared the door, Qin Duoye suddenly raised his voice with undeniable authority, as if accustomed to commanding from a high position, “Black-clad guard! Stop!”

The guard instinctively halted.

But Qin Xuanxiao’s expression darkened; his gaze grew cold as he stared at Qin Duoye, squeezing his wrist so hard the skin reddened.

“Twice,” Qin Xuanxiao’s voice was icy, “Wenqing, you have defied me twice… you’ve ordered the guards against my command. What, do you intend to be emperor?”

Qin Duoye endured the pain, expression unchanged. His fingers clenched tightly inside his sleeve.

He lowered his gaze, realizing he must devise a way to win the emperor back.

---

If the chief astronomer died today, rumors would genuinely erupt.

Both the common people and historians would record this as the emperor’s folly—an unwise, tyrannical ruler who, for the sake of indulging his favorites, ruthlessly executed his ministers who dared to advise him.

That would be the true blow to the emperor’s reputation.

Why couldn’t this boy understand this?

When a minister stands on the side of justice, they can accuse the emperor without restraint, forcing him to act according to their agenda, swaying the entire realm’s opinion.

Then, the emperor would be seen as favoring treacherous ministers, abducting them into the palace as favorites, leading to the end of his lineage; ministers usurping their roles; and the observatory’s star predictions coming true.

What would you do, fool? Qin Duoye wished he could shake Qin Xuanxiao by the forehead and ears to make him see sense.

But alas, the trust Qin Xuanxiao had expressed today was likely mere indulgence, not permission for Qin Duoye to “teach the emperor how to govern.”

This child’s grip was painfully strong, clutching his wrist so hard it hurt. “I’m thinking of you; please be less stubborn!” Qin Duoye wanted to say.

Truly exasperating—more effort than ruling the empire himself.

Yet, no matter what, the chief astronomer must not die today.

“I acknowledge my mistake and will be careful in the future,” Qin Duoye bowed his head, sighing inwardly, and followed Qin Xuanxiao’s intention. “Your Majesty is wise and should punish the chief astronomer severely, but may I dare request that his life be spared?”

Spare his life—so that when public opinion intensifies later, there remains some hope.

Simply accuse the chief astronomer of misleading Your Majesty with superstition; Your Majesty, in benevolence, pardons him.

“Agreed.”

Qin Xuanxiao nodded unexpectedly, much sooner than Qin Duoye anticipated.

Qin Duoye’s eyes brightened.

The chief astronomer, kneeling in the hall, stopped clawing at the floor and looked at Qin Duoye with hope and gratitude in this moment of crisis.

He had thought, given the emperor’s temperament, he would surely die tonight. But now, the very person he had targeted was speaking up on his behalf, striving to save his life.

“However…” Qin Xuanxiao suddenly tugged down sharply on Qin Duoye’s hand. Unprepared, Qin Duoye stumbled and fell onto him.

Qin Xuanxiao looked at the man so close to him, lowering his voice with a cold, amused smile, holding Qin Duoye’s hand as it gradually slid downward.

Qin Duoye, puzzled, lowered his gaze, allowing Qin Xuanxiao’s hand to roam.

The fingers halted, and Qin Duoye suddenly realized something. He shot up his head to meet that suggestive, intense gaze.

Like a snake, like an abyss, like blazing fire.

A collision of souls.

Suddenly everything became clear.

He felt as if burned, jerking his hand away sharply.

In all his past lives, this was the first time Emperor Chenglie had been so terrified.

What on earth was that? What was this child thinking? What had he let his ancestor come into contact with?

Qin Duoye’s pupils trembled. He stared at Qin Xuanxiao’s half-smiling, half-smirking eyes and suddenly felt the future of the Great Wei was utterly dark.

Amid the buzzing in his mind, he heard the little rascal say:

“If you want me to agree to your request, you might have to fulfill your duties as a favored companion.”