Chapter Thirty-Three: The White Fox Brings Auspicious Tidings

Chapter Thirty-Three: The White Fox Brings Auspiciousness

There was no change in nature; the pears on the tree did not sway, and so there was no such thing as an earth dragon stirring. Yet soon it became clear that the thing which terrified the fox had indeed come from the dragon.

Iron Heart Source had always believed that something like an aura was merely illusory. Now, at last, he understood—it truly was a tangible force, at least for the fox, who could sense it.

The palace resounded with faint, drifting cries that chilled the bone. From the deep voices of the guards atop the walls, the true origin of the dread became known: the emperor had lost an unborn child—a prince.

The furious emperor had executed eleven palace attendants with the rod...

Come morning, the palace gates did not open. The civil and military officials waited for some time before receiving the imperial decree: the emperor would not hold court today.

Thus, all of Tokyo City grew somber; even the household dogs, if they barked too much, were beaten with sticks.

A city turned by the joys, angers, sorrows, and delights of a single man.

The majesty of the monarch—once Iron Heart Source had thought it a mere joke. Yet, after arriving in Great Song and experiencing it firsthand, he saw that power was a terrifying thing.

If a beggar was angry, at most he could smash a hated neighbor’s window with a brick.

If a commoner was angry, at most he vented his ire on his wife and children.

If an emperor was angry, the very wind and clouds seemed to change color...

In the taverns, the voices of scholars ceased their lofty debates; in the pleasure quarters, the music of silk and bamboo instruments was silenced.

Emperor Zhao Zhen reclined half-upright on a soft beauty’s chair, his robe partly undone. In the corridor below, the “Gathering Mulberry Dance” swirled with seductive grace, steam curling from the cup in his hand.

The air was stifling, yet his heart seemed plunged into a frozen cellar.

Wang Jian’s eyes had lost their usual sycophancy; now they were edged with violence and coldness, hawk-like as he watched the dancing palace maidens below. He was ever prepared: should any of them provoke the emperor’s wrath again, he was ready to kill with his own hands.

He stole a glance at the emperor; Zhao Zhen’s eyes glowed red like burning coals.

The “Gathering Mulberry Dance” had been performed thrice. Musicians and dancers alike dared not stop, though sweat soaked their gauze skirts; none dared relax for a moment.

The empress stood at the palace gate, cast a look at the emperor, sighed, and led her attendants away, taking with her a freshly prepared bowl of tremella and lotus seed soup, said to soothe the heart and lungs.

But for an emperor who had just lost hope, such a soup could not quench the fire in his heart.

The cries of a fox drew the emperor’s attention. Through the flower-paned window, he saw a white fox perched atop a tall ornamental rock, gazing at him.

Wang Jian immediately pushed open the flower window to allow emperor and fox to look upon each other.

“Are you here to comfort me?” Zhao Zhen asked, his eyes hazy with wine.

The fox picked up a roll of mulberry-bark paper, carefully approached the window, then leaped onto the sill and set the paper down.

A faint smile crossed Zhao Zhen’s face. Pointing at the fox, he said, “What have you found now? My mood is foul; a mere trinket will not lift it.”

The fox sat, looking up at the emperor. Wang Jian hurriedly placed a plate of lamb before the fox. After a bite, the fox raised its head again and cried toward the emperor.

Baffled, Wang Jian took the roll of mulberry-bark paper, glanced at it, then abruptly closed it, his face turning pale as he knelt before the emperor: “Your Majesty, the white fox brings auspiciousness!”

Zhao Zhen paused, about to speak, when he saw Wang Jian rudely drive away the exhausted palace maidens, as well as the musicians, guards, and eunuchs who attended the emperor.

Zhao Zhen looked at Wang Jian coldly; if the man had no suitable explanation, he would not be spared today.

Wang Jian hurried to the emperor’s side. “Your Majesty, the white fox brings auspiciousness!”

Zhao Zhen glanced curiously at the fox, who was busy eating lamb, and snatched the mulberry-bark paper from Wang Jian’s hands. Unrolling it, he muttered, “Divine Arm Crossbow?”

Wang Jian whispered, “Your Majesty, if this device is verified, then the white fox has rendered a great service to Great Song. The western bandit Li Yuanhao has relied on this very weapon to dominate the northwest frontier, invincible. I have heard that the Western Xia Divine Arm Bow is made of catalpa for the body, sandalwood for the bow, iron for the shaft, bronze for the mechanism, and hemp cord for the string. At three hundred paces, it can pierce heavy armor, unmatched in open field battle. I have sent spies many times into the bandit’s territory, offering vast sums for the Divine Arm Bow, but could never obtain it. Yet now, in your darkest hour, the white fox has brought it to you.”

Zhao Zhen glanced at the jubilant Wang Jian, then unrolled the paper fully. It was covered in detailed diagrams, each annotated with measurements. Having seen the Ministry of Works’ technical drawings, Zhao Zhen immediately sensed its authenticity.

He set aside the papers, seized the fox’s food bowl, and the fox promptly bit the hem of his robe, feigning death. This was hardly the manner of a spiritual beast.

Returning the food to the fox, Zhao Zhen said to Wang Jian, “Did you arrange this, dog, to lift my spirits in my sorrow? If so, I won’t blame you. Once the Grand Artificer Li Dui from the Works Bureau confirms it, report the names of those who contributed; I will reward them accordingly.”

Wang Jian nearly venerated the fox as an ancestor, streaming delicacies from the emperor’s table for it, even feeding it fresh cheese mouthful by mouthful.

Hearing the emperor’s question, Wang Jian was tempted to claim the credit, but recalling Zhao Zhen’s hatred of deception, he quickly slid closer and said, “Your Majesty, I swear before heaven, I truly knew nothing of this. The fox brought it.”

Zhao Zhen believed he could discern if Wang Jian was hiding something. If not him, could it have been the granddaughter of Wang Dan?

Wang Jian, familiar with the emperor’s ways, hurried to explain, “Your Majesty, it cannot be Iron Wang’s family. I have investigated: after being condemned by Xia Song, Iron Wang’s daughter remained unmarried for years, eventually driven by gossip to leave home and attempted suicide by drowning. Unexpectedly, Iron Ah Seven from Iron Family Village rescued her, and the two wed. Since then, Iron Wang’s daughter has had no contact with the Wang family. Even after the flood six years ago, she never set foot in the Wang mansion; she is but an ordinary woman.”

Zhao Zhen laughed, patting the fox who was devouring its meal. “I have never believed in ghosts and spirits. Could this be an exception? Impossible. Wang Jian, thoroughly investigate the origin of the mulberry-bark paper. The fox is fond of collecting things; perhaps it simply picked it up somewhere. I suspect the range is not large.”

Wang Jian quickly agreed, sneaking a glance and noticing the emperor’s fierce red eyes had softened somewhat. He added, “Your Majesty, today’s gentle breeze is most pleasant. Would you care for an outing?”

Zhao Zhen looked up at the clear sky, sighing deeply. “Is every drink and morsel decreed by heaven? Sometimes I truly wish to see what heaven and earth are really like.”

Wang Jian immediately knelt to remonstrate, “Your Majesty, you must not speak thus. It is said that King Zhou of Yin once disrespected Lady Earth, and thus the realm was ruined…”

Zhao Zhen irritably waved his sleeve. “I know. You’re obeying ancestral custom in your remonstrance. I cannot blame you. Get up; let us take a walk.”

Upon hearing that the emperor had left his chambers, everyone in the palace breathed a long sigh of relief. All knew it was thanks to the fox; the emperor’s mood had improved, so wherever the fox went, it was warmly welcomed.

Iron Heart Source waited three days before word arrived that the fox had received a royal reward. Wang Rouhua was bewildered by the wealth Wang Jian delivered, while Iron Heart Source played the fool.

Wang Jian, having found nothing useful from Iron Wang’s mother and son, left the heap of rewards and quickly departed. These two were merely fortunate to have raised a spirit fox; otherwise, their status was unworthy of his personal visit.

The reward was, naturally, for the fox. Wang Jian, executing the emperor’s orders tirelessly, at last found the fox’s treasure trove—a hidden tunnel within the palace.

When he discovered it, sweat poured from him. Had the tunnel not been ancient and its exit collapsed, he would be culpable.

The fox’s hoard lay within the tunnel: besides unknown jars and bottles, countless worthless shiny trinkets, mostly lost by eunuchs and palace maids.

Wang Jian left the fox’s treasure untouched, quietly inspected it, and reported his findings to the emperor.

“So, the Divine Arm Bow’s blueprint originated in the palace?” Zhao Zhen asked coldly.

Wang Jian nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I have examined the mulberry-bark paper; it comes only from Ganliang Road and differs greatly from the paper in the capital. The fox’s hoard is dry, but preserving mulberry-bark paper perfectly there is impossible. I deduce the roll was a recent find; otherwise, insects and rats would have destroyed it.”

“Excellent. Such a vital military device, right here in the palace, yet we could not obtain it. If not for the fox, Great Song would have been deprived of it. Hmph. Human hearts are treacherous. After years of supporting the harem, their loyalty is less than that of a fox.

The fox, seeing my sorrow, brings treasures to cheer me, while those people hide priceless things deep in the palace, preferring to see Song’s armies suffer losses rather than offer them up. Humans are not as good as foxes.”

Wang Jian cautiously echoed, “Your Majesty still obtained the Divine Arm Bow; this is evidence of Your Majesty’s great fortune…”