Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 424 - 419 Brothers United

Chapter 424: Chapter 419 Brothers United

The Emperor was delighted to hear this and approved the Second Prince’s request. The Second Prince had set off to the Sacrificial Palace before the palace gates were locked today.

Nines Prince got the news only after he had left.

Blood sacrifice, a scary-sounding ritual where one cuts their wrist with a knife during a sacrifice, drops a bit of blood into a wine bowl, and then pours the wine into the ground, symbolizing an offering to the god of heavens.

Ninth Prince was also aware of Master Wu Zhi’s prophecy, ’Snow quickly ends as the year ends, clears as the month ends’, and suspected whether the Second Prince knew the exact time when the snow would stop. He immediately went to request the Emperor, expressing his regret for the people’s suffering and the Emperor’s hard work, and wished to conduct the blood sacrifice alongside Second Prince. After permission was granted, he hurriedly followed to the Sacrificial palace.

The reason why the Second Prince planned the time so tightly was definitely to prevent other princes from imitating him. If the other princes learned about the news tomorrow morning and went there, they wouldn’t be able to abstain for three days, and thus wouldn’t be able to participate in the sacrifice on New Year’s eve.

In the end, Marquis Chu said, "There’s no benefit the Second Prince won’t get up early for, this time he even wants to perform a blood sacrifice. Why would he do this? Does Master Wu Zhi’s prophecy in the brocade bag truly predict that the heavy snow will stop on New Year’s eve? Whether it will stop or not, Ninth Royal Highness’s choice to perform the sacrifice is definitely the correct one. Even if it doesn’t stop, they’ve put their effort in. If it does stop, their merit will be great. However, even if the Ninth Royal Highness goes, they are already at a disadvantage compared to the Second Prince."

Mr. Chu said, "Second Prince has been recruiting strange and eccentric people for years, it’s not impossible that someone has figured out a more accurate time. The prophecy in Master’s brocade bag mentioned two things, one of them must be this one."

Marquis Chu said, "Could there really be a transcendent being more powerful than Master Wu Zhi?"

Marquis Chu said, "There are always people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens, you never know." Then he turned to Chen Afu and said, "You are a clever boy and have interacted with Master Wu Zhi the most. What do you think?"

Having heard this, Chen Afu had completely affirmed that the Second Prince was a reborn person, who knew the exact time when the disaster would stop. He’s doing this, so it must be clear the day will be fine. Ancient people believed in superstitions. If this great merit was taken by him alone, there’s a possibility that the Emperor would consider him a favored person by the heavens, and might even change his original intention to pass the throne to him.

He anxiously said, "Father, I also believe that the Second Prince may indeed know the exact time when the disaster will stop. The last day of the month is the end of the month, which also matches the ’end of the month’ time period. Master Wu Zhi could give us a prophecy, perhaps there’s an even more impressive talented person giving a prophecy to Second Prince."

Mr. Chu furrowed his eyebrows and said, "If the snow disaster really stops after the blood sacrifice, Second Prince’s merit will be great. Not to mention, the Emperor will rely on him more, court officials and the people would also praise him more. Even if the Ninth Prince goes to perform the blood sacrifice, he is merely following suit, and nowhere near as distinguished and praiseworthy as the Second Prince who proposed the blood sacrifice and led by example."

The faces of everyone in the room became even more solemn.

Chen Afu fell silent for a moment, then said, "Let’s find a way to ask Prince Rui to enter the palace and advise the Emperor that all ... adult princes should participate in the sacrifice, it would be more likely to move the heavens..." He initially wanted to say all the princes, but thinking about Shiyi in Dingzhou, he amended it to adult princes.

Marquis Chu was overjoyed when he heard this, and nodded his head, "This is an excellent move. Starting tomorrow, let the officials write the reports, praising the Emperor’s excellent teaching methods, and that the princes can put aside their differences, band together, show unity in times of national crisis and the suffering of the people, and jointly sacrifice to the heavens... In any case, guide the ’blood sacrifice to the heavens’ matter towards princes working together, as the Emperor would rather see deep brotherly affection moving the heavens."

Mr. Chu laughed heartily, "Excellent! The Emperor is also a father, and like all fathers in the world, he hopes for brotherly unity which could break gold. All adult princes sacrificing together and the disaster ending would much more likely make the Emperor pleased than the Second Prince sacrificing alone."

Marquis Chu laughed heartily, "In this way, all problems are solved. The Second Prince will certainly gain favor from the Emperor through this incident, but it is not enough for the Emperor to credit this merit to him alone, nor is it enough to change the Emperor’s stubbornness of many years."

Everyone laughed when they thought of the anger the Second Prince would feel when he saw all the adult princes assembled at the Sacrificial Palace.

After discussing, Mr. Chu went to the Royal Rui mansion to persuade Prince Rui. He must persuade him in the shortest possible time. It was already the wee hours of the night, if it got any later, even if he persuaded the Emperor, it would be useless. If the princes arrived at the Abstinence Palace past midnight, they would not be able to participate in the abstinence ritual. He quickly got up and hurried off.

Before Marquis Chu left, he gave a satisfied nod to Chen Afu.

After he left, Chen Afu respectfully saw off the two elders before heading to the Inner Courtyard. She looked at the heavy snowfall under the faint light; the endless whiteness of it was like a fairy tale world from some ancient movies. Fairy tale worlds are beautiful, but the real world is cruel, taking away countless innocent lives. If the snow stops on the thirtieth, the disaster will soon be over.

She took a deep breath, it should be soon!

After breakfast the next day, Chen Afu hurriedly took her two sleeping children to Anrong Hall to find out the situation. She had barely slept all night due to her eagerness to know the outcome.

Mrs. Li was unwilling, grumbling for a long time, saying that it was too early and the children might catch a cold. Chen Afu ignored her and just took her children out anyway.

Outside, it was still a raging snowstorm, and the sky was slightly dark. The two children were bundled up tightly and held in their mother’s arms, with a little girl holding an umbrella. Chen Afu was also bundled up tightly as she arrived at Anrong Hall.

In the side room, a lamp was still lit. The third wife was sitting on the bed with a serious look on her face. She was wearing a half-worn skirt and her hair was casually rolled up on top of her head. She had completely lost her usual exuberant aura.

Chen Afu was startled. She had the children placed on the bed and sent the servant away. Speaking softly, she asked, "Did the plan not work?"

The third wife shook her head and replied, "It worked. My husband went to see Prince Rui last night, and Prince Rui went straight to the palace after hearing it. He said when brothers unite, their power can break gold. He suggested that all adult princes should sacrifice together; doing this might be more able to move the gods and end the disaster. The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately approved his request. The princes rushed to the Abstinence Palace overnight..."

Chen Afu was secretly delighted. Several princes going would ruin the Second Prince’s plan. He must be furious, right?

Seeing the third wife’s worried expression, she said, "Third Aunt is so unhappy. I was afraid Prince Rui did not go to see the Emperor, or the Emperor did not agree. Since this matter has been accomplished, Third Aunt should be happy."

The third wife let out a deep sigh, and said, "I’m worried that if the snow does stop on the thirtieth, it would further verify that Master Wu Zhi’s prophesy is accurate. I don’t know what kind of trouble my husband will run into. I’m very worried. He is in charge of the Northern Army, he can’t not go to the North, right?"