Like Pearl and Jade

Chapter 7

On the way home, Gu Ru Jiu observed carefully. She found that the mice and dogs were restless, and even the birds and beasts in the woods seemed exceptionally lively. On the way home, snakes and rabbits would suddenly jump out of the grass and made people feel even more nervous.

Gu Chang Ling, who was born in an aristocratic family, did not detect anything wrong. He only felt the situation was not right when he saw a fish jump out of the water in the field to the shore to kill itself.

He was a scholar. When something unusual happened, he would not assume that this was a punishment from the heavens like ignorant women and children would. He guessed that this was caused by the hot weather.

Today, it was exceptionally hot, as though people were in steamers. Otherwise, he would not have taken his children to the manor. Who knew that the manor was not cool either, and they even had to endure the ear-piercing barks of dogs.

Gu Zhi Yu, who was half a horse length behind Gu Chang Ling, frowned even deeper. Ever since he was born, he had never seen something this strange, and he couldn't help but have suspicions.

"Father..." When he saw some more grey mice run out, he couldn't help but speak up.

"We will return and talk." Gu Chang Ling's expression was grim. He tapped the horse under him with the horse crop. "We will speed up."

Gu Ru Jiu sensed the acceleration of the carriage and felt faintly worried but also relieved. Fortunately, her father and brothers sensed something was wrong, and she would have an easier time speaking up when they returned home.

At the start, she suspected a mouse plague, but Jing had not had a water disaster or a drought disaster. Because this was the gathering place of the aristocratic families and the imperial family, each year, there would be preventative measures against illness. So if something like a plague happened, she would not be too worried.

What really made her worry wasn't a plague but an earthquake.

While the "Records of Geography" did not have any records of earthquakes in Jing, the movement of tectonic plates and their collisions would sometimes take thousands and even tens of thousands of years. Who knew if the city of Jing was in a seismic zone?

But she could not talk about an "seismic zone" to her father. Even more importantly, if she guessed incorrectly and it wasn't an earthquake? Who would dare to go out and speak about this kind of event that could easily cause mass panic?

Gu Chang Ling led his children hurriedly back to their home. Just as they entered the inner courtyard, he was called by his daughter.

"Daddy." Gu Ru Jiu pulled Gu Chang Ling's sleeve, her gaze puzzled. "I once read in the 'Record of Fantasies' that when birds do not fly back to their nests, when mice flee in terror, when fish boil in the water, dogs bark and birds fly, it is a forewarning of the earth dragon turning. Today, I saw on the road..."

"Record of Fantasies..." Gu Chang Ling looked at his adorable daughter, his mind shocked. The "Record of Fantasies" did have such a description. Wasn't what he saw today exactly the same as the description?

The "Record of Fantasies" was one of the books that the Gu Family had collected. The contents described many strange matters. The turning of the earth dragon was one of them.

He hurriedly found the "Record of Fantasies" and searched for the content regarding the earth dragon turning. Gu Chang Ling, who was usually happy, had a grim expression. If he knew of this matter and didn't report it, no one would know. But if the earth really moved, he feared he would not be at peace for the rest of his life. But if he reported, causing panic among the people of Jing, and the earth did not move, then the Gu Family would be in dire straits.