vstars Chapter 190 Under Song Jing's Divine Eyes, the Puzzle of Wei Yuanzhong's Fate
Chapter 190 Under Song Jing's Divine Eyes, the Puzzle of Wei Yuanzhong's Fate
In the third year of Chang'an, which is 703 AD, the city of Chang'an seemed to have its mouth and nose covered by an invisible hand, and even breathing felt stuffy.
Even the sunlight seemed to shrink back in fear of this oppressive atmosphere, sparingly casting down a few rays of light. An indescribable sense of unease permeated the streets and alleys, as if everyone was waiting for a sudden storm.
But what the rain carries is the fear and uncertainty of the unknown, making people inexplicably panicked.
Censor-in-Chief Wei Yuanzhong, a famously upright man in the court, became a thorn in the side of Wu Zetian's favorite ministers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong.
These two men were like venomous snakes lurking in the depths of the night, their cold eyes fixed on Wei Yuanzhong, plotting day and night how to crush him completely.
They were convinced that they were manipulating the game of power, but they were completely unaware that they had long since become pawns in the hands of the saint who had once been possessed by "Mei Xiaosi," and that every move they made was under his invisible control.
The vortex of power is like a giant dye vat, making their jealousy and ambition even more intense, and Wei Yuanzhong is nothing more than a stepping stone they casually trample on as they climb up the ladder.
Zhang Yizhi hated Wei Yuanzhong to the core and was determined to kill him.
The streets and alleys of Chang'an were filled with the rumors he spread, which portrayed Wei Yuanzhong as an unpardonable sinner.
He even took out a large amount of gold and silver treasures to bribe Zhang Yue, the Fengge Sheren, in an attempt to recruit him as an accomplice in his conspiracy.
Standing at this crossroads where power and money intertwine, Zhang felt as if his heart was being gnawed at by countless ants.
If you agree to give false testimony, then wealth and honor will be as easy as taking candy from a baby.
But if he refused, he knew that he would be plunged into endless darkness, with storms raging at any moment.
Zhen Xiaosi, as Zhang Shuo's daughter-in-law, lived a very cautious life after marrying into the Zhang family because of her humble origins. She dared not even make a loud noise when she walked, for fear of disturbing some "Arhat" in this deep mansion.
Upon hearing that her father-in-law had been caught up in this terrible turmoil, her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an icy hand, and she felt a sharp pain.
During those days, she often saw Zhang Shuo sitting alone in his study, his brows furrowed in a knot, his sighs like heavy drumbeats striking her heart.
She was filled with worry, but because of her lowly status, she could only watch from afar, anxiously waiting, without even having the courage to go up and ask.
Upon learning of this, Song Jing, who was also a Fengge Sheren, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
He rushed to Zhang Yue's residence, and upon seeing Zhang Yue, he looked intently at him and spoke earnestly:
"In one's life, reputation and integrity are like a cinnabar mark on the tip of one's heart, something that must never be given up. If one destroys this cinnabar mark by one's own hands for the sake of a temporary survival, one's heart will likely feel empty and filled with regret in the days to come."
Falsely accusing an innocent person is a sinful act. Even if you are exiled or demoted for it, your noble character will be remembered and revered by future generations, like the brightest star in the night sky.
If danger truly befalls me, I will risk my life to beg the Emperor for a pardon, even if it means dying alongside you.
We must uphold justice; this is a matter of great importance, concerning future generations!
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Jing's "Pure Heart Divine Eyes" flashed slightly. The light, like a righteous light that had traveled from ancient times, carried endless power and faith and pierced straight into Zhang Shuo's heart.
Zhang Tinggui, the Imperial Censor, and Liu Zhiji, the Left Historian, also rushed over. Their words, like the warm sun in winter, warmed Zhang Shuo's heart and encouraged him to stay true to himself.
Zhen Xiaosi served tea to the side, listening quietly to their conversation. She felt great admiration for these righteous people and secretly hoped that her father-in-law would make the right choice, like hoping for a glimmer of dawn in the darkness.
She hesitated for a long time before finally mustering her courage and, when Zhang was alone, tiptoed closer, her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum.
“Father-in-law, your daughter-in-law doesn’t understand the intricacies of court politics, but she knows that one must live with one’s conscience. If you do something against your conscience for the sake of temporary power, you will probably never be able to sleep peacefully again, and you will always have a knot in your heart.”
Looking at his usually taciturn daughter-in-law, Zhang felt a sudden tremor in his heart, as if long-sealed memories were being quietly unlocked, and forgotten justice and conscience were gradually awakening at this moment.
Encouraged, on the day of the court debate, Zhang Shuo stood in the imperial court, looked at Zhang Yizhi's smug and extremely ugly face, took a deep breath, and exposed Zhang Yizhi and his gang's conspiracy all at once.
At that moment, the imperial court erupted in chaos, and Wei Yuanzhong temporarily escaped disaster.
However, although Wu Zetian knew in her heart that Wei Yuanzhong was wronged, she still issued an edict to demote Wei Yuanzhong to the position of county magistrate of Gaoyao County, Duanzhou, because of Zhang Changzong.
When Wang Jun, the Imperial Censor of the Palace, heard about this, he was furious. He couldn't swallow this insult and felt that justice should not be trampled on like this.
Therefore, he resolutely submitted a memorial to the throne to defend Wei Yuanzhong.
Song Jing advised, "Lord Wei has already been spared his life by sheer luck. If you act in this way, won't you anger the Emperor and bring trouble upon yourself?"
Wang Jun straightened his back and responded with righteous indignation: "Lord Wei is loyal and selfless, yet he has suffered such an unjust punishment. I stood up for justice, and even if I am forced to become a fugitive because of it, I will never regret it!"
Upon hearing this, Song Jing lowered his head in shame and murmured to himself, "It is I, Song Jing, who failed to thoroughly clarify the injustice suffered by Duke Wei. I have truly let down the court."
After that, Song Jing, with his "clear mind and divine eyes," repeatedly saw through the conspiracies and schemes of treacherous officials in the subsequent court disputes.
Whenever the forces of darkness try to stir up trouble, the mysterious "Pure Heart Divine Eye" will shine, like a sharp sword in the darkness, silently contributing to the upholding of justice.
Zhen Xiaosi witnessed all of this and was filled with emotion.
That day, as if by some twist of fate, Zi'an and Zhen Xiaosi found themselves together. Once they started talking, they began reminiscing about past events in the court, some deep, some shallow, all carrying a sense of antiquity.
Zi'an spoke first, her voice carrying a hint of sighing for the past:
“Zhen Xiaosi, do you know that Prime Minister Wei Yuanzhong and Minister of Rites Zheng Weizhong both come from Songcheng? From a young age, they were both exceptionally talented and their friendship was as deep as the roots of an old tree, intertwined and inseparable.”
Zhen Xiaosi's eyes lit up instantly, filled with curiosity, and she asked eagerly, "Is that so? What happened next? How did they manage to stand out in this treacherous court?"
Zi'an gently picked up the teacup, took a small sip, as if trying to soothe the vicissitudes of her memories with the warmth, and slowly said:
"At that time, they were both approaching thirty, yet still had not achieved fame or success. The gears of fate quietly turned, and a man skilled in physiognomy spotted them at a glance, his eyes like those of someone who had found a rare treasure in a vast sea of people."
The man first said to Wei Yuanzhong, "There is an old saying that birds of a feather flock together, and that is certainly true."
Official Wei will surely rise to the highest ranks of officialdom and gain widespread renown. The way of being an official lies in integrity; one must not be tainted by any evil or corrupt practices. He will surely become a pillar of the nation and a key figure in the court.
Your face exudes nobility, but your fate is fraught with hardship and worries. However, these are merely trials before ascending to the position of prime minister; there's no need to fret too much. Whenever you encounter a situation, act decisively and respond immediately to any orders given.
Zhen Xiaosi listened intently and couldn't wait to ask, "What else did you say to Zheng Weizhong?"
Zi'an put down his teacup, his eyes revealing a sense of uncertainty about fate, and continued:
The fortune teller said to Zheng Weizhong, "You will surely enjoy high office and great wealth in the future, and live a long and prosperous life."
He was able to rise to the rank of a third-grade official and also be among the eight most important ministers. His official career was smooth and unobstructed, with no fear of demotion, and his lifespan was also long.
Zhen Xiaosi then asked, "What happened to Wei Yuanzhong afterward? Did he believe the fortune teller's words?"
Zi An nodded slightly, his expression reflecting a thoughtful contemplation of fate.
"Wei Yuanzhong immediately asked the fortune teller when he would receive his salary and where his official career would end."
The fortune teller replied, "If you submit a memorial to the Emperor this year, your salary will be secured."
So, in that year, Wei Yuanzhong carefully wrote a memorial at Liang Palace and presented it, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, and there was no response for a long time.
Having run out of money, he had no choice but to begin his journey home.
But fate loves to play tricks on people. He happened to meet an acquaintance on the way, who gave him some silk, so he turned back to Liang Palace.
And wouldn't you say it, at that very moment, an imperial edict arrived, summoning him to the palace and appointing him as a proofreader, later changing his position to Grand Master of the Palace.
Zhen Xiaosi looked puzzled, her expression full of bewilderment at the ups and downs of fate: "It sounds smooth, so what happened next?"
Zi An's expression turned serious, and his tone carried a hint of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret, sorrow, and a touch of melancholy) about the capriciousness of fate:
"After that, he disagreed with the emperor and offended powerful officials, and was punished many times and imprisoned."
Whenever I feel desperate and contemplate suicide, I recall the fortune teller's words and use them to comfort myself.
He became increasingly outspoken in his criticism of current affairs, his ambition never wavered, and his words were never restrained.
After many twists and turns, he finally escaped disaster and ascended to the position of prime minister.
Later, Wei Yuanzhong was demoted from his position as Minister of Works and sent to Nanjun as governor.
During his inspection tour along the river, he fell seriously ill within a few days.
He muttered to himself, 'Am I going to die here?' And guess what?
He actually died there…
After listening, Zhen Xiaosi couldn't help but sigh softly and said with emotion:
"Life is but an unpredictable dream, full of ups and downs, and nothing is ever the same."
Zi'an and Zhen Xiaosi were chatting animatedly when Zhen Xiaosi suddenly changed the subject:
"Hey, Zi'an, you said that everyone in the court and the public praises Song Jing as 'a man with legs like spring,' do you think it's possible to calculate his birth date and time?"
Zi'an scratched his head and said with a smile:
"This is a bit of a challenge for me, but I can try to figure it out."
Think about it, this "spring breeze with feet" means that he is a person who brings life and warmth wherever he goes.
If you ask me, he's definitely someone with a strong wood element in his Five Elements chart, like trees in spring—full of vitality and bringing hope. He might even have been born in spring, meaning his Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches likely contain many wood-related elements.
Zi'an continued:
“I’ve observed these astrological signs in his destiny, and they might even have some connection to Song Jing’s divine eyes.”
Song Jing of the Great Chong Dynasty, once his divine eyes are opened, can see into people's hearts and understand the secrets of heaven.
The twists and turns Wei Yuanzhong faced back then were perhaps foreshadowed by the Divine Eye.
Zhen Xiaosi instinctively hugged her arms tightly, her voice trembling involuntarily: "This is too bizarre. Is the Divine Eye really that magical?"
Zi'an was slightly bewildered:
"Absolutely true. I still remember that time when Wei Yuanzhong was in dire straits and his life was in danger, Song Jing activated his Divine Eye to see the way forward for him."
Since then, those calamities that would have condemned him to eternal damnation have always miraculously turned into safe passages.
Just when everyone thought he was out of danger and ready for a meteoric rise in his career, he was demoted to Nanjun and his invisible divine eyes were destroyed.
"This... How is this possible?" Zhen Xiaosi's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zi'an's forehead, and his expression was solemn.
"What's even stranger is that on the eve of his death, someone saw a strange light appear beside him, exactly the same light that Song Jing's Divine Eyes emitted when they were activated."
The area covered by this divine eye seemed to be paving a path to justice and glory for loyal ministers and generals, so why did Wei Yuanzhong ultimately meet such an end?
Is it a mysterious force that protects justice in the imperial court, or is it hiding a huge, unknown conspiracy?
No sooner had he finished speaking than a gust of chilling wind rushed into the room, causing the candlelight to flicker violently, threatening to go out at any moment...
The two figures were indistinct in the dim light.