It’s the evening, but the sky is bright! The birds are flying in a formation towards the house, and once they fly near the house, the birds are separating from the formation and start doing their best to poop on people’s head for some odd reason. That’s not all! I see the grass swaying in synchronization? Are the grasses dancing?
The servants started shrieking as it wasn’t that the grasses were dancing, but that numerous garden snakes were crawling out from the garden! The snakes circled around the house and stood still around the gate as if they were guards. Some of the braver servants picked up their brooms to use as weapons against the snakes in an attempt to chase them away but then the birds started attacking the servants with their poop and they started scampering around the yard.
It’s an amazing sight to behold. the birds protecting the snakes and sending the people into a frenzy. It is also lucky that there are no poisonous snakes around or things would be really bad.
Outside the gate, a carriage with 2 white horses soon arrived and parked at the side. The midwife who was invited to help with the delivery of the baby hastily walked out of the carriage, she greeted Shang Jian Rui along the way with a nod and hastily went into the bedroom. My father is panicking at this point and he can no longer do anything but walk back and forth outside.
It then started raining lightly and butterflies flew out of the garden and soon, a visible rainbow appeared in the sky above the delivery room.
It was a spectacular, messy sight, but also somewhat disgusting since the birds that were pooping all over the place and never seemed to run out of poop.
Also don’t forget the numerous servants who were running in and out of my mother’s bedroom to bring fresh hot water which created a chaotic scene and also the yelling and screaming coming out from the people inside the bedroom.
I cannot but give my approval to everyone for doing their part without messing up in this chaotic scene. Even earth’s TV producers would find it difficult to recreate such an event without a huge budget for CGI to mimic everything that is happening right now.
Thinking back towards all the unnatural events that have occurred, I soon realized that these are all great auspicious omens! There are seven auspicious omens happening in the same place and this can only mean that a person of great destiny is about to be born!
Recalling the words that God said when I met him, it was obvious he sent me here to suffer! Yet I was born into a powerful ancient family with deep roots that even the royal family couldn’t shake without great planning!
My previous scenario of how my sufferings would come from the hands of cultivators seemed to be completely wrong right now! All of my sufferings should start from the birth of my sibling and would eventually help to mould him or her into a great person! Not to mention that his or her life would be at constant risk if the enemies of the Shang Family ever learns of what happened during their birth. My parents and me could also potentially be at risk as we could be used to threaten my sibling!
I feel depressed as It seems like I am not the main character!
As Shang Jian Rui was stunned by all the events that were happening, five old men whom I’ve never seen before flew into the courtyard. The elder flying slightly ahead let out a burst of air and scattered the birds, snakes and butterflies away. He landed at the gate and walked towards my father slowly.
“Jian Rui, is your wife giving birth now?” He asked casually.
Shang Jian Rui clasps his hands to make a greeting and made a slight bow.
“Jian Rui greets the family elders. My wife is currently giving birth to my second child.”
The elders take a quick glance around the courtyard and notice the mess that the birds and servants have caused. A frown starts to form on all 5 of their faces. It’s funny how their long beards don’t get messed up from such drastic changes in their facial expressions.
The elder standing slightly in front of the rest addresses my father, “Jian Rui, these are auspicious omens. The snakes, birds, rainbow and butterflies, It seems like our Shang family will have to be careful for a period of time but will be blessed by the heavens when the child has grown up!”
Jian Rui and the other elders give a slight nod in agreement.
The second elder strokes his beard and with a smile, continues on where the first elder stopped.
“Jian Rui, your contributions to the family have not been forgotten. I heard from the family that you recently asked for spirit stones. Is it for your eldest child?”
“Yes, Elder Yu! Shi er wants to pursue the martial way and intends to join an immortal sect. He requires the spirit stones so that he can cultivate faster and match his peers.”
“Aiming to join the immortal sects is a good thing, the family will award you a hundred spirit stones. After your wife has safely given birth, get a servant to collect the spirit stones from the storehouse. The family will need to strengthen itse-“
Just then, the crying voice of an infant was heard! Everyone’s attention instantly turned towards the source of the crying.
“Waaaa! Waaaa!”
A servant runs out of the room without holding an infant her arms.
Shang Jian Rui is visibly panicked and runs to the servant, asking if mother is fine but the servant bows and raises her voice while saying, “Congratulations master! The madam is still in labour as you have twins! Congratulations master!”
I am still standing at the side of the courtyard looking like an idiot and my jaw just dropped right on to the solid stone floor right now.
The eighth auspicious omen! We are doomed! The entire family will be ruined! Oh my God!
Is this because I cursed God earlier? Please forgive me God! It was an unintentional verbal slip! Please take back all these auspicious omens so my family can live peacefully!
Another servant slowly walks out of the bedroom and she is carrying a baby in her arms this time. She walks over to my father and gives him a slight bow.
“Congratulations master! It is a boy! Please give him a name.” The servant holding the baby excited tells my father.
My father who is holding my brother in his arms gently smiles and says confidently, “I’ve already chosen a name for him; he shall be named Shang Er!”
(2nd. ED here:i think Er means second very original BTW.)
Since my name was given to me by my dad, I am already aware of his naming skills but the five elders standing around him almost puked out blood in shock when they heard my brother’s name.
“Ahem! Ahem! Jian Rui, since the birth of his baby, was accompanied by such auspicious omens; why not let us give him a name?”
“Ah! In that case, I ask elders to give my son a fitting name!”
The elder in front starts stroking his beard again. He starts talking while thinking, “Mmm… Since so many auspicious omens have accompanied his birth, his name should be awe-inspiring. Why not name him after the dragon and as many of the omens present represent wealth, his name shall be Shang Jin Long.” The elder looks towards the other four, who nod their head as well in acknowledge that is it a good name.
My father happily says, “I give my thanks to the family elders for such a wonderful name!”
The elders then gather around Shang Jin Long and talked about how fantastic, cute, handsome and talented he looks already.
…
Soon, a second baby was heard crying in the bedroom. This time, the crying sounds were softer and somewhat gentler. A servant then slowly exited the bedroom and in her arms, was my sister. She slowly walked towards my father and with a slight bow showed him the baby as my father was already holding on to my brother.
“Congratulations master! It is a girl! Please give her a name.” The servant said.
My father happily looks at my sister and says proudly, “Her mother has already decided upon her name. She has always kept the name Qing Shan for a daughter. Therefore her name shall be Shang Qing Shan!”
The five elders nod their heads as the name Shang Qing Shan is indeed a beautiful name for a girl and they seemed relieved that my mother has a much better naming sense when compared to my father.
…
Inside the royal palace, an old man with a beard hurriedly seeks an audience with the Emperor.
He gives a stern look at the court eunuch at the door, which prompts the court eunuch to enter and inform the emperor of his visit.
Two minutes later, the court eunuch comes out of the room and pats his uniform twice.
*pat* *pat*
“The Grand Astrologer seeks an audience!” The court eunuch announces loudly.
The huge doors open slowly with a loud creaking sound that echoes throughout the courtyard and a deep voice echoes throughout the huge study.
“Come in.”
The old man with a beard slowly walks into the room with his head bowed. When he was 10 foot away from the study desk at the end of the room, he knelt down.
“Your majesty, I bear grave tidings! Tonight when I read the stars, I found out that the Emperor star has greatly dimmed and all of its surrounding stars have fallen!”
While the room is dimly lit and the Emperor’s face cannot be seen, it is clear that the Emperor is now frowning.
After a few seconds, the emperor says “Will the Grand Astrologer interpret the meaning of the stars clearly for me?”
The Grand Astrologer replies in a serious tone, “Your Majesty, the Emperor star is the representation of the empire! If it falls, it means that the empire might be lost, but it has merely dimmed and has lost the support of the surrounding stars! This means that while a great catastrophe might fall upon the empire, the empire is able to fight back and survive! However, the state of the empire after the fight might be difficult to estimate as the fight will surely cause great damage to the empire!”
The emperor slowly nods his head in acknowledgement. Astrology is the key to understanding the will of the heavens and the ancestors have relied upon it to secure a strong foundation for the empire.
Despite leaving the throne to the least talented member of the royal family every generation, the royal family has ruled the empire for thousands of years and this only speaks towards the great power they hold in the empire.
“Grand Astrologer, return and perform two divinations. First, determine if there is the need to inform the rest of the family about the circumstances. Second, determine what has caused the stars to change.” The emperor orders with a commanding tone.
“At once! Your Majesty!” The grand Astrologer replies and stands up, keeps his body at a slight bow and hurriedly retreats backwards.
