Chapter 1267: Chapter 1234: Physiognomy (Happy Birthday to Mo Yan)
Zhao Cheng thought so too, and he found Yuan Li, with his facial scar, to be even more agreeable in appearance. He wasn’t an Imperial Physician, so he spoke candidly, saying what he thought.
Because Zhao Cheng shared the Zhao surname, Yuan Li found him particularly agreeable, and explained gently, "I don’t think the facial scar is unattractive, but Vice Minister Zhao said the scar could bring financial misfortune, so I want it repaired."
Yuan Li was recently organizing the Posthouse Minister’s Office, and having just started, he was finding a shortage of money everywhere—for both public and private matters.
With the New Year approaching and the war finished, colleagues and peers were eager to start families.
During the busiest times, he attended three wedding banquets in a day, especially these days as the court was closed, everyone scheduled their wedding banquets during this period, and now the invitations were piling up until the sixteenth of the first month.
It’s frightening to think about, as he had to offer at least two thousand coins at each banquet.
If not for the war spoils he could convert into money, relying solely on court salaries, he would be penniless just from attending these banquets.
He did not believe this was a matter of timing; instead, he firmly believed it was due to his facial scar.
Zhao Shen was quite capable.
Thus, he desperately wanted the scars on his face healed.
Upon hearing this, Guo Pu looked up at his face. Initially, he intended to remain silent, but seeing Yuan Li take Zhao Shen’s words as gospel, he couldn’t help but say, "His skills are not yet mature."
This comment was sudden, causing all three present to be silent for a moment, until Zhao Hanzhang reacted first and called Yuan Li, "Aren’t you going to quickly thank Mr. Guo for his guidance?"
Yuan Li promptly stood up and bowed deeply to Guo Pu.
Guo Pu accepted the bow, then said once he was finished, "The scar on your face does indeed signify financial misfortune, yet it grants you longevity and honor."
"Your violent tendencies are all gathered in your brows; before the scar, the lines of your life palace were chaotic, indicating future death by punishment," Guo Pu paused and continued, "This matches your status, your violent methods lead to brutal punishments, so you may die from brutal punishments, which is called karma."
"Yet the scar on your face appears as one, but is actually two wounds. One wound affects your fortune and affinity for children, while the other breaks your predicament," Guo Pu said, "If I were you, I wouldn’t repair it, money is good, but it’s not more important than life."
"Besides, keeping the scar allows you to enjoy honor, and aside from having less money, there’s no regret."
Zhao Hanzhang was curious, "A disfiguring scar has benefits?"
Guo Pu replied, "Everything in this world has pros and cons; nothing is perfect with only benefits and no drawbacks, just as nothing is entirely detrimental with no benefits."
"Like him, it is clear he has poor inherent fortune; if he doesn’t meet a wise ruler, he’ll remain a servant and underprivileged for life, unable to bear heirs. Yet, should he meet a wise ruler, he can gain power, but rising high means falling hard, causing fortune and demise in quick succession. But he’s lucky; the scars on his face broke his inherent fate, balancing it a bit."
"Though lacking immediate wealth, he can live a long and honorable life, which is better than dramatic ups and downs, isn’t it?"
Those present weren’t foolish and instantly thought of the origin of his facial scar.
With this scar, Zhao Hanzhang might even soften before cutting him?
The court officials might tolerate him a bit more too.
Not a scar, but rather a badge of merit and honor on his face.
Yuan Li’s mind raced, and he quickly made a decision—he wouldn’t heal it!
He found the scar quite handsome, thinking no real man should bother to heal it.
Lacking money isn’t a problem; as his fortune assures him honor, he won’t lack significantly, at most not as wealthy as his peers.
Yuan Li considered much in an instant, but did not show it outwardly; instead, he said, "But with such a scar, it’s hard to find a wife; I ask the lady to be my matchmaker and select a virtuous woman as my wife."
Even if it means financial loss, marriage is a good way to offset it.
Zhao Hanzhang was taken aback, unsure where to find him a wife; she wasn’t familiar with such a business.
"Is there someone you fancy?"
Yuan Li lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, "Miss Ting He by your side is excellent. I wonder if I could be fortunate..."
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "You’re good at choosing, but don’t get your hopes too high. Ting He shares my tastes, and marriage should be agreed upon by both parties."
Yuan Li responded, "If Miss Ting He isn’t interested, anyone else around you will do. I think those around you have more insight than others, even learning a bit from you makes them very virtuous."
Zhao Hanzhang felt proud but modestly replied, "I’m inadequate, but my people are indeed virtuous."
Zhao Cheng directly turned his head aside, uninterested in watching the two further. This glance revealed a diagram with mathematical calculations he barely understood.
Though unfamiliar with calculations, the diagram displayed four sets of shapes. One set depicted a square overlapped by a semicircle, and three spherical objects aligned, with one sphere encasing another. He recognized it because the two sets—the squares with semicircles and large circle with small—were clear examples of the longstanding debate over the Earth Star and the Heavenly Sphere theories.
Believing it unimportant due to its casual placement amid papers, Zhao Cheng casually picked it up and asked Guo Pu, "Mr. Guo, what is this calculation for?"
Guo Pu was startled upon seeing the item Zhao Cheng pulled out, hastily grabbing it to put away, saying, "It’s not yet finalized; it can’t be taken."
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at it, her gaze passing over familiar calculations, slightly furrowing her brows, "Will there be a solar eclipse?"
Guo Pu was surprised, his eyes shining brightly, "The Great General can also calculate?"
Zhao Hanzhang reached out, accepted it, and examined it, saying, "I watched Ting Han calculate, so I learned a bit from him. I had studied it previously... it is nearly the same."
During her time as a music teacher, she extensively explored music and literature. Later, as a librarian, she perused numerous philosophical works, occasionally reading on economics. But the astronomical work involving vast geometric calculations, she rarely encountered.
Though she had forgotten much, the diagrams coupled with familiar calculations allowed her to roughly understand. She furrowed her brows slightly, "Solar eclipse?"
She rapidly recalled the Wei Jin era books she had "read" before. Although history differed greatly from the texts, human culture may shift, yet astronomy and natural climate likely haven’t changed much.
She only knew that March would bring devastating rains next year; had the late emperor lived, next year would be the sixth year of Yongjia...
The sixth year of Yongjia... the sixth year of Yongjia...
"Can you calculate when the solar eclipse will occur?"
Guo Pu: "It’s merely a guess; not yet verified. This formula was computed by Minister Fu before leaving, but we disagreed and argued, so now I’m calculating on my own, without his method."
Zhao Hanzhang was curious, "Why did you argue?"
Guo Pu: "He insisted the Earth Star is completely round; our beliefs diverged, so we couldn’t collaborate."
Zhao Hanzhang humbly asked for guidance, "So what does Mr. Guo believe?"
Guo Pu sighed, "Naturally, I hold the same view as my mentor, Zhang Pingzi, otherwise I wouldn’t have collaborated with Fu Tinghan on this Heavenly Sphere, yet the Earth-centered theory persists, remaining mainstream to this day."
"Initially, our assertion of a round Earth existed in the margins, but he further insisted the outer sphere is merely a shell of air, not substantial, so our collaboration fell apart."
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