Imperial Observatory

Capital City · Imperial Observatory

The Dao Register Office oversaw Daoism. Its Director's seal was merely Principal Sixth Rank, yet though the actual rank was low, its authority was weighty. It handled matters of ghosts and gods and was not greatly constrained by the Ministry of Rites. Thus, Xue Ming carried considerable weight.

Great Zheng's Imperial Observatory was likewise a government office that had no need to act according to others' expressions.

Not only was its rank Principal Fifth Rank, but unlike the bustling, ever-rushing Dao Register Office, the Imperial Observatory mainly observed celestial phenomena, calculated the solar terms, and formulated the calendar. Unless some major event occurred, it was ordinarily idle to the point of boredom.

Moreover, because they held secrets, positions in the Imperial Observatory were likewise not obtained through the Imperial Examinations. They all came from families with deep scholarly traditions, with sons and grandsons carrying on the family profession. Without a special imperial decree, they could not be promoted or transferred.

When retirement left vacancies, replacements were promoted step by step from within. In truth, these were hereditary posts.

Yet although they were idle, these officials generally could not simply answer roll call and go home when they had nothing to do. They still had to remain in the office and take turns on duty, lest the Emperor suddenly summon them.

Even at night, someone had to stand watch here. They were truly idle, but truly not free.

On an autumn full-moon night, with the wind whistling bleakly, several officials who could not return home at midnight sat in a courtyard, drinking in the autumn breeze and admiring the moon.

The fragrance of osmanthus wine permeated every corner of the courtyard. After several rounds of drink, the officials, who had originally been rather cautious, had no