Painter

Chapter 201 Fifty: Stargazing

Sitianjian's carriage stayed in Guangzhaifang for two hours, and then returned to Sitianjian. Li Guanqi went back to the house, sat cross-legged on the futon, closed his eyes and meditated, recalling the chess game just now.

The office is busy with affairs, everyone is watching astronomy, calculating the calendar, and is also busy making new engravings.In the coming year, each state will replace the engravings with new ones, and these engravings will be sent to all parts of the Dayong Kingdom in a few days.

The sky was getting dark, and at Xu time, the Qiao Tower of Sitianjian sounded more drums, accompanied by the singing of the rooster man, which spread throughout the Yujing City.

At this time, all the government offices in the imperial city had closed their work, but the lights in the Sitianjian were brightly lit.

It was a day when the moon was dim and the stars were bright. On the Star Observation Building, a giant cast in bronze was slowly turning, and the lights illuminated the four characters "Dividing the sky and setting the hour".This Fen Tian Ding Chen Yi is shaped like a copper ball and can accommodate dozens of people. It is a magic weapon used by Si Tianjian to observe astronomy.The nine-layer copper shell and the ring axis rotate endlessly, silently, and the hollowed-out star positions on the spherical shell occasionally overlap, and then light up a transparent silver light.

Si Chen put his face on the peeping tube to observe the celestial phenomena, and the occupant took notes with a pen, and then reported the celestial phenomena to the governor.The governor collected the celestial phenomena observed by the officials in the Tianding Chenyi one by one, and sent them to the bottom of the star-gazing building.

Now Si Tianjian Supervisor Yuan Shuo and Young Supervisor Xu Ruowang drove west with the Emperor, the remaining two Young Supervisors, six Si Cheng and many subordinate officials gathered together.Liu Wenqian, the young supervisor, passed the astronomical book sent by the governor, and reported the mysterious phenomenon of the Nine Heavens to everyone.Paper and pens were placed in front of everyone, and according to the celestial phenomena in the books, they calculated the calendar for the coming year.

The formulation of the calendar is a major national event, ranging from farming in various states, the construction of city canals, to the details of the people's daily life and daily necessities, rice, oil and salt, all must be followed according to the calendar.All the officials are busy, Li Guanqi is also among them.This young man is a commoner, as a student, he stays in the Si Tian Jian, but he can be regarded as one of the pillars of the Si Tian Jian. Even if he is old and pedantic, he will ask Li Guanqi for confirmation when he encounters doubts during the calculation.

Tonight Li Guanqi still had a somewhat foolish demeanor, but he was a little absent-minded, and made two rare calculation mistakes.Young supervisor Liu Wenqian looked at Li Guanqi in surprise, thought for a while, put down his pen, got up and patted the governor.The governor was startled, Liu Wenqian was already walking towards the gate, so he followed.

The two left the star observatory, Liu Wenqian looked up at the stars in the sky, and took a deep breath of the cold air at night.When the governor came out, he said with emotion: "Si Tianjian is responsible for predicting the good and bad for the people of the world. It's a pity that we mediocre people can't see God's will clearly. Now disasters and demons are everywhere, and it's our fault." what."

The governor also looked up at the stars and sighed: "The stars in the sky are the will of heaven arranged by the immortals. It's just that although this clear will of heaven is fully shown to people, because of the stupidity of all living beings, few can understand it. If you can see the leopard , that would be great luck.”

Liu Wenqian said: "A hundred years ago, the will of heaven was not so difficult to calculate. At that time, the celestial phenomena were orderly, and there was no need to recalculate the calendar every year." He turned his gaze to the west and saw the dimly shining demon star in the west, "Since this demon star In this world, the celestial phenomena are in chaos. In today’s world, the only person who can really understand the celestial phenomena is Yuan Jianzheng. Yuan Jianzheng’s health is getting worse year by year. I remember when I first arrived Si Tianjian, he is still full of black hair, but now he has to be helped up the steps, and now he is traveling west with the emperor, I don't know if he can withstand the bumpy road."

The governor turned his head and looked at the dumb boy in the Star Observatory, "Fortunately, Yuan Jianzheng has found a successor."

Liu Wenqian smiled gratifiedly, and showed a worried look, "A few months ago, the Dayan Sword was shaking, and watching chess was reckless. That Dayan Sword is one of the natal swords of the founder of Qingque Palace, Lu Zijing, and he dared to calculate the cause and effect. After a few months of recuperation, his body has recovered, but after looking at him tonight, he still hasn't calmed down. If this demon can't get over it, the Spring Examination of Qianyuan Academy is approaching, I'm afraid..."

"He is indeed a little distracted tonight." The governor hesitated, "However, Guanqi left the customs today, so he calculated Yuan Jianzheng's return date. I saw that when he used the Tiangang finger to calculate, he still deduced very carefully, but he did not He seems to be so restless tonight. Speaking of which, after he left the customs today, he left Si Tianjian and went out for a while."

"Oh?" Liu Wenqian raised his eyebrows, pondered for a while, and asked, "Where did he go today?"

"I've already asked the coachman." The governor said, "I went to Daxiangguo Temple first. Master Yuance of Daxiangguo Temple is his chess friend. I probably went to talk to him to watch chess, but Master Yuance is not here. Jing, watching chess for some reason, went to Quguangzhaifang, and stayed at Li Dan's house for almost two hours."

"Li Dan?" Liu Wenqian frowned, not having any impression of the name.

"A native of Qingling in Lizhou, he is also planning to take the exam for the Qianyuan Academy recently." The governor said, "He had some fame recently, but it was only a flash in the pan. This person has only been in Yujing for more than two months, and he is also a stranger to watch chess. However, the house he lives in is the abandoned garden of the General's Mansion, Yuan Jianzheng once visited it in the past, and said it was a crime."

"The abandoned garden of the General's Mansion..." Liu Wenqian subconsciously bent his fingers thoughtfully.This young supervisor of the Sitian Supervisor is proficient in the big Liuren, and it is easy to calculate the cause and effect with little interference.However, Li Guanqi is also proficient in spells, and if someone calculates it, he will feel it. After all, Liu Wenqian's thumb did not touch the middle finger, and he only asked: "Master Yuan Ce is not here. Guanqi went to other places, probably looking for someone to play chess with." , In that abandoned garden, there was originally an endgame, I heard it occasionally. I probably went to watch the chess for this, and I feel restless tonight, as if... I have suffered some setbacks."

Speaking of this, Liu Wenqian himself didn't believe it. Although the young man in the Observation Tower looked stupid, his chess skills were among the best in the entire Dayong Kingdom.Moreover, chess masters are like military strategists, victory and defeat are commonplace.Li Guanqi is not a character who can't afford to lose, who can make him frustrated?
How could the young supervisor of Si Tianjian know that his chess strength is as strong as Li Guanqi, he went out today and lost to a white cat of unknown origin, he asked: "Then Li Dan is also proficient in chess?"

"I've never heard of it." The governor shook his head, "Should I ask someone to go to Guangzhaifang and ask Li Dan about it? Qianyuan Academy's spring exam is approaching, watching chess is already hurting my mind, if something goes wrong again..."

Liu Wenqian pondered, and looked back into the building. Li Guanqi was sitting at the table, although he was facing the almanac, he was clearly out of his mind.Seeing that stupid expression, the young prisoner remembered that the dumb boy had fought with other children of the same age, and the dumb boy was weak, so naturally he lost, so he danced every day to hear the chicken.After the winner was reprimanded, he apologized, but the dumb boy didn't let go of his knot. Instead, he got worse and got up earlier.

Liu Wenqian's expression was shaken, but finally he sighed, shook his head and said, "No need."

(End of this chapter)