Yuan Rutan’s lips tightened, his round eyes nearly blazing with fire. He raised his hand, and in an instant, the earth’s beams shifted.
The paddy field belonging to Yuan Rutan suddenly expanded, while the neighboring field of Li Yuqian was squeezed into a long, thin strip.
With the yellow weasel at his side, Yuan Rutan inspected every inch of his land. As expected, the boundaries of several of his fields had been encroached upon.
His breathing deepened, anyone who had taken even a sliver of his land would have to pay back double.
Yuan Rutan rarely used spells in Songjia Village, but today his fury broke that restraint.
Within the span of a single breath, every crooked boundary marker shifted position. Some of them even landed heavily atop their neighbors’ rice stalks.
The yellow weasel sucked in a sharp breath. It too could move objects, but not with the effortless precision Yuan Rutan displayed.
So many beams moved at once, yet his aura didn’t waver in the slightest. The creature’s body hunched smaller, its reverence for him deepening.
Yuan Rutan then placed a barrier over his fields, and any disturbance would immediately alert him.
His chest heaved as he exhaled. When he finally returned home, he was so angry he ate two fragrant peach crystal cakes in one sitting.
That night, he clutched the dragon-shaped wooden carving in his arms, staring into the dark until deep past midnight before he finally drifted into a restless sleep.
The night was damp and cold, mist wetting the straw thatched over rooftops. A chill wind swept through, the bright moon serene and luminous and that same moonlight, thousands of miles away in the imperial capital, shone just as clearly.
The light fell upon a wasteland of rubble.
The roof tiles that once adorned the eaves were now shattered fragments lying silently on the ground.
This was the capital that once symbolized glory.
Yet seven days ago, a violent tremor from beneath the earth had turned half of it into ruins, splitting the ground into deep, terrifying fissures that swallowed countless innocent lives.
For three days and nights, wails and cries echoed through the city.
Though the imperial court had sent officials and money for relief, whispers of anger spread through the surviving alleys, Curses against the man sitting on the throne.
“The one who wears the dragon crown is a false dragon!” someone cried. “He usurped the true one’s throne, and Heaven now punishes the Great Xuan for it!”
“King Li seized the throne unjustly, consumed by greed and ambition. For his selfish desires, he has cast all of Great Xuan into misery!”
King Li, once the title of the current emperor before his ascension.
An old man, hair white as frost, fell to his knees, slamming his head into the ground as tears and snot streamed down his face.
“Heaven would see our Great Xuan destroyed! Look to the neighboring Ling Kingdom, though small, its lands are prosperous and its skies gentle. When the Crown Prince of Ling was born, the heavens shone with five-colored clouds, divine lions guarded his cradle, and black cranes flew above his palace! Yet look at us, famine, flood, calamity one after another! Heaven has forsaken us! Forsaken us!”
His cries echoed into the night, rousing those huddled beneath the ruins. The refugees stirred, their dark eyes hollow yet sharp, their hands clenched tight as bitter smiles curved their lips.
Suddenly, the clatter of armor filled the air.
“Seize him!” someone barked. Metal clashed; the old man groaned once, then went silent.
A young general, armored and expressionless, stood before the ragged shelter, watching as the old man was gagged, bound, and dragged away by the Imperial Guard.
He turned, his gaze sweeping over the trembling refugees. A cold laugh escaped him.
“This man is likely a spy. Remember, before you open your mouths to shout nonsense, think. What crime has His Majesty committed against the people of Great Xuan? Don’t be like fools who parrot others’ words.”
His voice dropped, growing heavy with disdain. “I spend my nights hunting down rats with you people, if you get caught, you deserve it. Keep your heads clear. Fools only bring ruin.”
The refugees bowed their heads at once, teeth clenched, barely daring to breathe.
The general strode off with his men, their boots fading into the dark. An hour later, the streets filled with the creak of carriage wheels. Officials, under cover of night, made their way toward the imperial palace for the morning court assembly.
Inside the grand Golden Luan Hall, solemnity weighed the air. The ministers, faces pale and eyes shadowed with exhaustion, forced themselves to stay upright.
For months now, the court had been in turmoil.
The drought in Yanzhou had thrown everything into chaos, the Ministry of Revenue nearly burned through their ledgers scraping together enough funds for relief.
Yet of the five hundred thousand taels sent out, more than four hundred thousand were swallowed by corrupt officials.
Barely a tenth ever reached the suffering people.
The emperor’s wrath was swift and merciless.
He had sent Lord Li Yin, the Duke of Anguo, bearing the imperial sword, to execute every one of those worms.
When the investigation spread, entire chains of officials were uprooted, leaving half the court seats empty.
The Ministry of Personnel scrambled to fill the gaps, while the Ministry of Rites had to prepare for yet another imperial examination.
Since ascending the throne seven years ago, His Majesty had already opened four special examinations, an act of rare benevolence.
For half a year now, the ministers had been burning their oil lamps deep into the night.
Nine officials of the fourth rank or higher had dropped dead from overwork, and those who remained pulled their hair out in fistfuls.
A month ago, word came that Yanzhou had finally received rain. When the court heard the news, many wept with joy. Not only was the drought eased, but it also felt like a sign, perhaps Heaven was finally showing mercy to Great Xuan.
Lord Wang and Lord Li reported that the thunder over Yanzhou had rolled for more than ten days, yet the rain waited until all soldiers and laborers were ready before it fell.
Even the emperor, known for his unshakable composure, had smiled faintly at the news.
He rewarded the ministers with a month’s extra salary from his private treasury and granted them three days of rest from court.
Many believed the tide had turned at last, until seven days ago, when the earth dragon turned beneath the capital, shattering their fragile faith.
These past few days, the ministers once again worked through sleepless nights. When they assembled that morning, their steps were unsteady, their hands clutching jade tablets that trembled faintly.
Yet exhaustion was the least of their concerns, the suffocating tension in the Golden Luan Hall was far worse.
Finally, the Grand Chancellor stepped forward, falling to his knees with a thud that echoed through the hall.
His voice cracked with age and desperation, “Your Majesty, we implore you to hold a Grand Rite of Heaven, pray to the gods above and beg their forgiveness!”
His plea rang through the hall, and soon, the other Grand Scholars followed, kneeling behind him, “We beg Your Majesty to hold a Heavenly Sacrifice to protect Great Xuan’s peace!”
One by one, the sea of ministers dropped to their knees, voices rising in unison, “We beg Your Majesty to hold the Rite of Heaven! May Great Xuan endure in safety!”
From the dragon throne, the emperor sat unmoving. The strings of jade beads hanging from his crown swayed lightly before his eyes as he gazed down upon the kneeling officials. His hand, veins bulging, clenched the dragon-carved armrest.
After a long silence, he lowered his eyes and let out a low, heavy laugh, “So, my loyal ministers,” he said softly, “you would have me write a decree of repentance?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Little DragonChapter 2 · Selling FishChapter 3 · DraughtChapter 4 · Giving LifeChapter 5 · MeritsChapter 6 · Dragon can summon Rain?!Chapter 7 · Wicked Dragon?Chapter 8 · Dragon likes sweetChapter 9 · Dragon WineChapter 10 · Snow Mountain ElixirChapter 11 · The official forced the dragon to rebelChapter 12 · Ministers kneel down and confess their sinsChapter 13 · Court struggle, faith is the dragonChapter 14 · Why do others have auspicious signs, but I don’t?Chapter 15 · Corrupt officialsChapter 16 · The dark side of officialdomChapter 17 Part 1 · Transforming into a golden dragon in full view of all!Chapter 17 Part 2 · Transforming into a golden dragon in full view of all!Chapter 18 · Wrath of the True DragonChapter 19 · Give him a ninth-rank official position!Chapter 20 · The days of being loved by Longlong have begunChapter 21 · Pamper the little dragon, finally full!Chapter 22 · It’s perfectly normal for humans to like dragonsChapter 23 · Avenge Longlong against corrupt officialsChapter 24 · Is being an official like the Dragon King difficult?Chapter 25 · Dragon-shaped woodChapter 26 · Emperor felt the vibrancy of lifeChapter 27 · Do you like the obedient and affectionate little dragon?Chapter 28 · Your Majesty’s PastChapter 29 · A ray of light in a noisy worldChapter 30 · Let’s give the dragon a lake!Chapter 31 · Dragon, don’t run aroundChapter 32 · YaunBaoChapter 33 · Recruiting soldiers and buying horsesChapter 34 · Expand Dragon armyChapter 35 · Longlong is in a dilemmaChapter 36 · Being a king is difficultChapter 37 · Attended the morning court session.Chapter 38 · Secretly feeding the dragonChapter 39 · The restless little golden dragonChapter 40 · Your Majesty foreshadowed thisChapter 41 · Fostering teacher student bondsChapter 42 · Now that the dragon has an official positionChapter 43 · If a dragon wants to become an official, why not touch it?Chapter 44 · Longlong enters officialdomChapter 45 · The Emperor’s disciple?Chapter 46 · Long day’s laborChapter 47 · Being a dragon is comfortableChapter 48 · Thank you, YuanbaoChapter 49 · Very sleepyChapter 50 · The Dragon Who Saves the WorldChapter 51 · Strange storiesChapter 52 · Dragon God saying it wanted to eat peach crystal cakesChapter 53 · The tree is aliveChapter 54 · We can just hold a family feastChapter 55 · What kind of worship?Chapter 56 · Don’t be naughtyChapter 57 · Why does Teacher always avoid my human formChapter 58 · I will be an indifferent learning machineChapter 59 · Jinlong made a fortuneChapter 60 · Ten thousand taelsChapter 61 · FamilyChapter 62 · Will you accompany the dragon?Chapter 63 · What did you hunt, sir?Chapter 64 · From fifth rank to proper fourth rankChapter 65 · Orange PeelChapter 66 · Great Xuan may have enough to eatChapter 67 · Poisoned GrainsChapter 68 · The balance of the mortal world is about to changeChapter 69 · Teacher’s lap truly was very comfortable.Chapter 70 · Caught the little dragonChapter 71 · Only he alone could see that golden lightChapter 72 · Great King must not declineChapter 73 · The top scholarChapter 74 · I do not like other defying meChapter 75 · Great Xuan truly has quite a number of martial expertsChapter 76 · What was there to fear?Chapter 77 · Then Teacher can raise the dragonChapter 78 · Little Dragon Steals Peaches.Chapter 79 · Resentment and Poison.Chapter 80 · Male PartnerChapter 81 · How about choosing a human?Chapter 82 · Young Lord Zhen has a friendChapter 83 · Morning DewChapter 84 · Earth DragonsChapter 85 · Greetings, Your MajestyChapter 86 · Then what am I allowed to do?Chapter 87 · What exactly Happened?Chapter 88 · Praise The golden Dragon!Chapter 89 · ComplexionChapter 90 · Gift is almost readyChapter 91 · Surely Sir would no longer refuse himChapter 92 · Seven YearsChapter 93 · She is really just a childChapter 94 · Good YuanbaoChapter 95 · Ten Thousand year old JadeChapter 96 · They were overwhelmed with griefChapter 97 · Villain: So what if I use magic?Chapter 98 · The Dragon Clan MeetingChapter 99 · The Big reveal!Chapter 100 · The prototype of His MajestyChapter 101 · Autumn HuntChapter 102 · This painting was created by the Emperor’s consortChapter 103 · They gave themselves away and caught the plush rabbit doctor.Chapter 104 · The Rabbit gangChapter 105 · The scars on the fox spirit’s handsChapter 106 · Wang JinzhongChapter 107 · I don’t believe the White Tiger doesn’t protect its foodChapter 108 · Karmic SinChapter 109 · Yuanbao, would you take me a thousand li away?Chapter 110 · Pear FrostChapter 111 · If Yuanbao ever loses sight of the road ahead, then come find meChapter 112 · Let’s take a step at a time..Chapter 113 · The imperial marriage was announced to the public.Chapter 114 · The army, navy, and air force are preparing to attack the Yujing River.Chapter 115 · The attack on Yujing River-humans should not spread rumors!Chapter 116 · King Golden Dragon ascends the throneChapter 117 · Sir, would you like a bowl of dragon soup?Chapter 118 · Wedding celebrationChapter 119 · Establish the Demon RealmChapter 120 · Lord of the Demon RealmChapter 121 · Flourishing and decliningChapter 122 · The Ling Dynasty was defeated, and father and son fought amongst themselvesChapter 123 · The gentleman’s is dragon-themedChapter 124 · People from HeavenChapter 125 · The truth behind the White TigerChapter 126 · Azure Dragon, WarChapter 127 · A great war is about to break outChapter 128 · Victory in the great battleChapter 129 · Side Story (1)Chapter 130 · Side Story (2)Chapter 131 · Side Story (3)Chapter 132 · Side Story (4)Chapter 133 · Side Story (4)Chapter 134 · Side Story (5)Chapter 135 · Side Story (6)Chapter 136 · Side story (7)Chapter 137 · Side Story (8)Chapter 138 · Side Story (9)Chapter 139 · Side Story (10)Chapter 140 · Side Story (11)Chapter 141 · Side Story (12)Chapter 142 · Side Story (13)Chapter 143 · Side Story (14)Chapter 144 · Side Story (15)Chapter 145 · Side Story (16)Chapter 146 · Side Story (17)Chapter 147 · Side Story (18)Chapter 148 · Side Story (19)Chapter 149 · Side Story (20)Chapter 150 · Side Story (21)Chapter 151 · Side Story (22)