fifth form

Chapter 3523 Sima Xiangru Accepts Bribes

When Zhu Jiuyin was defeated, the strongest demon king among the three holy lands of Beiju Luzhou was Jiuling Yuansheng, and Jiuling Yuansheng found it difficult to charge into the imperial palace of Chang'an City alone.

The demon-revealing mirror placed in Changmen Garden was sealed off by the new emperor, and Zhang Xuezhou's Imperial Shuttle also entered the palace's back garden while falling rapidly.

The dull drumbeats sounded, and the new emperor gave an awkward smile.

"Even though Zifu is about to give birth, they still want to beat drums and gongs. They've been tinkering around for half a year but still haven't been able to make a horse drum!"

"What drum!"

"This is a drumbeat that makes horses run fast after hearing it, allowing our cavalry to catch up with, or even surpass, the speed of the Xiongnu cavalry!"

"feasible!"

"You also think it's feasible?"

The drumbeats in the boudoir had little effect. As the new emperor moved forward, he saw the restless horses, and Chen Zhang and others kept reining them in to prevent a stampede.

"Sima Xiangru is back too!"

"Yes, he was accused of accepting bribes by Tang Meng's people and was immediately dismissed from his post and left idle. Zifu has been calling him over frequently lately to study the drum!"

The one beating the drum was not Wei Zifu, but Sima Xiangru, whom Zhang Xuezhou had not seen for a long time.

With a pair of pearl-polished lenses now on Sima Xiangru's head, Zhang Xuezhou immediately understood why Sima Xiangru had accepted bribes.

"Those lenses are good, aren't they!"

Zhang Xuezhou called out from a distance, which immediately made Sima Xiangru stand up. He squinted hard before he could make out the person.

"I heard you died," Sima Xiangru said.

"Correct!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded in agreement. Sima Xiangru shook his head, feeling that Zhang Xuezhou's response was a bit too straightforward, while the new emperor was slightly embarrassed.

“That’s all in the past, let’s not talk about it,” the new emperor said.

“His Majesty said he won’t mention your bribery to buy pearls anymore,” Zhang Xuezhou exclaimed.

"Your Majesty's grace is boundless!"

Sima Xiangru bowed deeply, which left the new emperor speechless. He felt that these guys were not at all awkward when they met, and they became very familiar with each other after just a few words. He even had to do them a favor.

After this incident, Zhang Xuezhou and Sima Xiangru quickly hit it off and started chatting, while the new emperor went to the boudoir to visit Wei Zifu.

"His Majesty has always favored you, yet you were still accused of bribery and lost your position by Tang Meng. Don't even mention that you only got these two lenses. What benefits do you have for me?"

Zhang Xuezhou squeezed next to Sima Xiangru, took a drumstick and tapped it twice, then winked and made faces at Sima Xiangru.

Sima Xiangru was exceptionally capable to be a contemporary and partner of Dong Zhongshu.

If Sima Xiangru hadn't been blinded by Zhu Jiuyin, causing him to wander in darkness for over a decade, his cultivation would certainly not have been inferior to Dong Zhongshu's, given any fortuitous circumstances.

Zhang Xuezhou wasn't speaking carelessly; rather, Sima Xiangru was insightful and capable, and it was highly likely that he had acquired a valuable treasure. Especially since Tang Meng had turned against him and ordered people to impeach him, the item involved must have been quite valuable.

He was the first to exonerate Sima Xiangru, and now it was convenient for him to speak up.

"There's nothing particularly special about it. I just took a piece of Sun Star Stone," Sima Xiangru said in a low voice.

"What is the sun and stars?" Zhang Xuezhou asked curiously.

"This is an item used by ancient emperors to offer sacrifices to Heaven. It receives the blessings of Heaven and can protect one's safety if worn on one's person," Sima Xiangru said. "I was powerless and blind in Bashu, relying solely on His Majesty's decree to carry out my duties. It's hard to say that this treasure was not the reason I was able to return alive!"

"Really?" Zhang Xuezhou asked doubtfully.

"That must be true, I was just exonerated!"

Sima Xiangru reached to his side and pulled out a round stone disc.

The round stone disc is not large, only about the size of a palm. There is a circle in the middle of the disc, and several human figures are carved. It looks old and not very exquisite.

"Tell me if this thing is useful or not," Sima Xiangru said proudly. "I'm not just talking about it these past years. I've really been through wind and rain, and I've been nearly assassinated and killed dozens of times. It was all thanks to the Sun Star that I avoided these calamities!"

"Impressive!" Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

"It's yours!"

Sima Xiangru handed over the round stone plate, and then solemnly passed it on.

"No, you should take it yourself," Zhang Xuezhou refused. "If you have anything good to eat or use, I might as well join in the fun, but this kind of talisman is valuable and I can't just take it!"

"I've returned from Sichuan and Chongqing. I don't need to serve as an official in the court anymore, so I'm free from any risks," Sima Xiangru said. "If you have any urgent or risky matters, you can take the Sun Star with you for now, and return it to me after you've ensured your safety!"

"If that's what you mean, then I really will have to borrow it for a while!"

Zhang Xuezhou thought about the Void Heaven Palace and the Investiture of the Gods text, and felt that whether it was from the heart or from the truth, there was nothing wrong with him holding this round stone plate.

"Have you really been having a lot of bad luck lately?" Sima Xiangru asked.

“I’m already being held a funeral, I’m sure I’ll suffer misfortune,” Zhang Xuezhou nodded in agreement.

"I hate being around jinxes the most, so get away from me right now!"

Zhang Xuezhou answered sincerely, but he soon encountered Sima Xiangru's disdain.

Perhaps because he had experienced some misery in recent years, Sima Xiangru was very unwilling to be with people who brought him trouble.

His urging left Zhang Xuezhou speechless. He felt that Sima Xiangru was a pragmatic fellow, but when he thought about how Sima Xiangru had given him the Sun Star Stone, he realized that Sima Xiangru might have some fear of disaster and could understand it.

He cupped his hands in greeting, and without waiting for the new emperor to come out of the study, he took the lead and left the area.

"Everyone thinks I made a fortune in Sichuan and Chongqing, and I've been on guard against you guys trying to take advantage of me!"

Once Zhang Xuezhou was out of sight, Sima Xiangru let out a low hum, rummaged through his pouch, and hung a cone-shaped conch shell on his waist, waiting for the next shameless opportunist.

These things of his have no special effects or magical abilities, but they are perfectly fine as feng shui items to bring peace and good fortune.

"Xiangru~"

Sima Xiangru made some small movements for a while, and was about to strike the drum again to find the rhythm of the horses when he saw the new emperor stride in. He adjusted the glasses on his nose, looked at the emperor a few times, and then quickly stood up.

"There's no need for formalities between us in our private meetings," the new emperor said, leaning closer and asking in a low voice, "I'm also curious why you accepted such a large sum of money in Bashu, and what treasures you bought with that money?"

"Your Majesty, all I did in Bashu was treat people to food, drinks, and other necessities," Sima Xiangru replied sheepishly. "Human nature is driven by self-interest. I used money to pave the way for problems I couldn't solve, which made things go smoothly in Bashu!"

“I have sharp ears. You didn’t say that to Dongfang Shuo. You even gave him a sun-shaped amulet to ward off disaster.” The new emperor said, “I won’t take advantage of you for nothing. I certainly won’t treat you unfairly!”

"Your Majesty's abilities are superb, and I admire you greatly. I have already presented Dongfang Shuo with the Sun Star and prepared a true sacrificial offering for Your Majesty!"

"Oh?"

"Your Majesty, please look at this Ziwei Imperial Star. Ziwei Doushu (a form of Chinese astrology) encompasses the heavens and the earth. This star chart is full of infinite wonders. When Your Majesty carries it, your imperial aura will be abundant. Wearing it will have the effect of warding off all evil!"

Sima Xiangru touched the conch shell at his waist, then reached for his pouch.

A few seconds later, he took another old, palm-sized round stone plate.

Unlike the sun and star disc he gifted to Zhang Xuezhou, this stone disc has the Big Dipper carved by ancient people.

After some fussing, the new emperor nodded repeatedly and actually took the stone plate from him, then took the rope and hung it around his waist. His actions were so swift and decisive that even Sima Xiangru was somewhat surprised.

"Has His Majesty also recently suffered misfortune?"

Sima Xiangru's heart skipped a beat, realizing that talking nonsense about the current emperor was somewhat inappropriate.

As he was filled with anxiety and speculation, he heard the new emperor give him an order.

"Xiangru, you are a man of exceptional literary talent. Compile a sacrificial text for me to offer to Heaven. When I recite it, it must resonate with the people's will and stand on the highest moral ground, leaving no room for argument!"

"Ok!"

Sima Xiangru gave a low "hmm" in agreement, but his heart sank.

If he wasn't mistaken, the new emperor was likely to use this sacrificial text to target someone, and this targeting would inevitably be a condescending judgment, thus trapping the targeted person in an inescapable dead end.