Chapter 280: Discovering Dragon Bones, An Auspicious Omen?
Lin Beifan was equally pleased. He understood better than anyone that the Sect Master of Tianmen and the Prince of Northern Hebei were actually working together. This event was akin to causing them to harm each other, and it was likely that Prince of Northern Hebei was fuming behind the scenes.
Now, over three months had passed since the beginning of the year. Lin Beifan had already dealt with the three major opposing factions and given the ambitious Great Xia Dynasty a lesson. All internal and external forces had settled down.
As a result, Lin Beifan shifted his focus back to the capital.
Comparing the city’s development now to a year ago, it could be described as day and night. The politics were transparent, the watchdogs were silent at night, the people were prosperous, and commerce was flourishing.
Development was progressing remarkably!
Everyone believed that the future would be even better!
Everything was on track, making Lin Beifan’s management easier by the day.
On this day, he rode an official boat, touring and inspecting the farmlands around the capital.
Seeing the lush green rice paddies, vegetable fields, and orchards, Lin Beifan felt gratified. His heart was brimming with a sense of accomplishment, and he smiled, “This year will definitely yield a good harvest!”
“Yes, Lord Prefect!” Inside the fields, an elderly farmer who was puffing on a dried tobacco pipe chuckled, “Since the beginning of spring, the weather has been fair and the conditions balanced. We rely on the heavens for our sustenance. When the weather is good, the crops thrive!”
“Indeed, good weather brings good fortune,” Lin Beifan replied with a faint smile.
In ancient agriculture, much depended on favorable weather.
Therefore, Lin Beifan often utilized the Flowing Six Void Technique to improve the environment and weather around the capital.
As a result, the harvests naturally improved.
“Of course, the most significant credit goes to Lord Prefect!”
The elderly farmer stood up, respectfully cupping his hands, “If it weren’t for your Agricultural Eight Methods and the improved planting techniques, the development of agriculture! Expanding water resources and irrigating fertile lands! Also, the addition of fertilizer varieties to improve soil quality. We wouldn’t have such a good harvest this year! This commoner… thanks you, my lord!”
After saying that, he bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.
Lin Beifan quickly helped him up, “Please rise! You’re an elder, there’s no need for such formalities!”
“Mainly, it’s because this commoner is moved…”
Sitting on the boat, Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuang, Li Yuxin, and others were elated, feeling immensely proud.
Lin Beifan continued his inspection of the farmlands as the boat drifted along.
On the way, he encountered many officials.
“Hello, Lord Lin!”
“Greetings, Lord Prefect!”
…
They were not officials from the capital; they came from other regions. Lin Beifan had achieved remarkable results in the capital, earning praise from the Empress and spreading his achievements far and wide. This led officials from various regions to visit the capital to observe and learn from the advanced urban management experience.
Now, Lin Beifan had lost track of how many batches had come.
In response, Lin Beifan would simply smile and nod.
Unknowingly, it was already noon, and the sun was scorching. Lin Beifan entered the cabin.
Inside, he saw the little princess gazing at a table full of delicious food with drool dripping from her mouth, yet she remained indifferent. Lin Beifan was taken aback and curiously asked, “Princess, why aren’t you eating? Aren’t you usually fond of eating?”
The Little Princess shook her head, speaking earnestly, “I’m not eating. I’m trying to lose weight!”
Lin Beifan laughed mischievously, then playfully extended two fingers to pinch the Little Princess’s plump and supple cheek, saying, “Why try to lose weight? Being a little chubby is adorable!”
The Little Princess swatted away Lin Beifan’s mischievous hand, saying resentfully, “You find chubby people cute because you don’t have extra fat on yourself! Wait until you turn into a pig from overeating, let’s see if you’re still pleased!”
Lin Beifan sat down, spoke with a serious tone, “Princess, don’t suppress your feelings. If you want to eat, then eat! In my eyes, whether you’re chubby or thin, tall or short, you’re beautiful!”
The Little Princess’s heart raced, and she bashfully lowered her head, asking, “Really?”
“Of course it’s true, Princess. I assure you!” Lin Beifan earnestly said, “For women like you, being plump is curvaceous, being thin is graceful, being tall is elegant, and being short is delicate. You’re beautiful no matter how you look!”
The Little Princess and the other women burst into laughter.
“Young Master, you’re so humorous!”
“Husband, you’re quite good at making jokes!”
…
The Little Princess was extremely delighted and declared ambitiously, “Listening to you, I feel enlightened! I will enjoy my meals to the fullest. I’d rather be exquisitely plump than thin and alike!”
Lin Beifan quickly advised, “But don’t overeat either! If a woman weighs 90 jin, she’s called slender. At 100 jin, she’s called sexy. At 120 jin, she’s called curvaceous. If it exceeds 120 jin…”
“What if it exceeds 120 jin?” the Little Princess inquired.
“That’s called fatso!” Lin Beifan replied.
“Annoying!” The Little Princess rolled her eyes.
“Haha…” Everyone continued to laugh heartily as they moved forward.
At that moment, Lin Beifan spotted a massive official ship approaching from a distance. The ship seemed to be carrying an enormous object, filling it to the brim. Numerous soldiers guarded it closely.
On either side, there were two smaller auxiliary ships acting as guards.
Gradually, their ship and the approaching ship met. The commander on the other ship was a fifth-ranked general who saluted Lin Beifan immediately, “Subordinate pays respects to Lord Loyalty and Virtue, Prefect!”
“No need for formalities!” Lin Beifan smiled, “What are you transporting on your ship? Why is the security so tight?”
“Reporting to Lord Prefect, this item was discovered on the shore of the East Sea! After a heavy rain one night, we found a set of bones washed ashore the next day. They appear to be the remains of a formidable beast’s skeletal structure! Due to its rarity, General Wang ordered us to collect it and transport it to the capital for the Majesty’s observation!”
Lin Beifan nodded, “I see! Can you open it up so that I can take a look?”
“Of course, Lord Prefect, please come aboard!”
Lin Beifan jumped onto the other ship and indeed saw a massive set of bones scattered across the deck.
Lin Beifan exclaimed, “This thing is huge! Just the skull alone is like a small house! If the bones were fully arranged, it would be at least over ten zhang in length! I suspect this might be the remains of an extinct ferocious beast!”
“Lord Lin’s words are absolutely correct!” the general next to him nodded.
Lin Beifan’s interest was piqued, and he rubbed his hands together, saying, “Let me take a look and see what I can piece together from it!”
Then, Lin Beifan instructed the nearby soldiers to move the bones.
The skull was placed at the forefront, followed by the vertebral column, hand bones, and tail bones at the back…
Finally, they managed to lay out a colossal creature measuring around ten zhang in length!
With its fierce skull, serpent-like body, claw-like hands, fish-like tail, and a length of about ten zhang…
No matter how you looked at it, it resembled the legendary divine creature!
The general next to him saw it and gasped in astonishment, stuttering, “This… could it be the legendary dragon bones? Bones of a divine dragon?”
“Dragon bones! These are dragon bones!” Everyone around was shocked.
Lin Beifan fell silent for a moment and said, “General Liu and everyone, I suggest not jumping to conclusions too quickly! Although this thing looks like a dragon, but…”
“Dragon bones! These are dragon bones!”
Everyone knelt down one after another, their eyes filled with reverence.
Lin Beifan wisely sealed his lips.
This incident quickly alarmed the court!
Dragon bones found on the shore of the East Sea were on their way to the capital!
Due to the significance of this event, the Empress wasted no time and dispatched a hundred thousand Imperial Guards along with several dozen innate experts to escort the bones to the capital.
That evening, the colossal white bone structure was finally transported into the imperial palace.
The massive white bone framework was gradually arranged within the palace.
With its fearsome and massive skull, serpent-like body, claw bones resembling human hands, and a fish-like tail…
No matter how you looked at it, it brought to mind the legendary divine beast—the dragon!
The Empress and the officials were all exceedingly excited.
“Dragon bones! These are indeed dragon bones!”
“Other than a true dragon, what other ferocious beast could have bones this enormous?”
“This old man always thought that the divine dragon was a legend, but I didn’t expect to see the bones of a divine dragon tonight!”
“It’s not in vain! Truly not in vain!”
…
The Empress looked at the massive skeleton before her, extremely excited, yet still somewhat incredulous. She murmured, “Is this really dragon bones?”
“Your Majesty, the dragon bones are right in front of us, how could they be fake?” Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, said excitedly.
“Yes!” The Empress nodded vigorously.
“Your Majesty, do you know what it means to find dragon bones within our dynasty?” Gao Tianyao continued.
“What does it mean?” The Empress’s heart was racing.
“It means… this is an auspicious sign from the heavens!”
Gao Tianyao exclaimed, “Why would these dragon bones appear within our dynasty, not in the Great Xia Dynasty or the Great Yan Dynasty, not in any other country, but specifically within our dynasty?”
“It shows that the heavens favor the Great Wu, favor Your Majesty, and that’s why this auspicious sign has descended!”
“It shows that Your Majesty is the true Dragon Emperor, the legitimate ruler recognized by heaven and earth, that’s why you are granted the real dragon bones!”
“It shows that under the wise leadership of Your Majesty, the Great Wu will become better and better!”
“Unifying the world is just around the corner!”
The Empress burst into hearty laughter, “These words make perfect sense!”
Lin Beifan glanced at Gao Tianyao, this guy’s cheek was getting thicker, his flattery skills were getting better and better!
He could shamelessly utter such cheesy words!
Meanwhile, the other officials began to chime in.
“Your Majesty, this is truly an auspicious sign from the heavens!”
“Only the true Dragon Emperor could obtain dragon bones!”
“With these dragon bones, what is there to worry about the grand undertaking not succeeding?”
…
The Empress listened with great joy.
Only Lin Beifan’s heart was filled with disdain. They were a bunch of sycophants and corrupt officials, kissing up and brown-nosing!
I’ve lived my life with integrity, unswerving in my principles, and I will absolutely not lower myself to their level!
At this moment, the Empress asked with anticipation, “Minister Lin, do you think what they’re saying is true?”
“Your Majesty, they…” Lin Beifan sneered at them, discreetly creating some distance from this group of corrupt officials. He slightly bowed and said, “They are correct! I have no objections!”
“Haha…” The Empress burst into happy laughter.
