Two days later, during the hour of the boar on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, the Deputy Director stood atop the Directorate of Celestial Observations' Star-Observation Tower in Eternal Capital, Great Qiu, studying the stars.
As an exceedingly unusual institution, the Directorate of Celestial Observations possessed a certain mystical air within the imperial court. It was also responsible for compiling the calendar, observing the heavens, and, to some extent, forecasting the weather.
Thus, while its officials might not necessarily enjoy imperial favor, they were invariably learned men, versed in astronomy, astrology, and various other fields of knowledge. These were not posts an ordinary person could readily fill.
Moreover, to catch changes in the heavens, the Directorate usually needed someone to keep watch through the night.
The Star-Observation Tower was a square structure, its brick-and-stone foundation rising three zhang high. Atop this platform stood a sturdy building of brick and timber, while the terrace at its summit had no roof, only a parapet-like barrier around its edges.
Tonight, the Deputy Director was keeping watch at the tower. As the second night watch approached midnight, he had begun to feel somewhat drowsy.
Following a habit formed over many years, the old Deputy Director opened a window to glance at the sky before leaving to sleep. That single glance sent a jolt through his heart.
The overcast sky seemed to be undergoing some sort of change. Its clouds appeared to be dispersing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Fortunately, the old Deputy Director had not yet gone to bed. Instinctively realizing that this celestial phenomenon was highly abnormal, he hurried to the door, opened it, and climbed the exterior stairs to the terrace above.
Once he reached the terrace, the clouds were dispersing even more noticeably. Looking up again,