Chapter 54: Within Weiyang Palace

The capital on the night of the Double Seventh Festival was very beautiful. The lanterns in the streets and the stars in the night sky complemented each other well, and with the distant Li Palace shooting fireworks in the air, it was impossible to tell which were the lights of the human world and which were the stars in the night sky. It was an ocean of light and not a single strand of gloom could exist.

The rivers of the capital were even more brightly lit. Both the merchant ships and the pleasure ships were all brightly lit with lanterns, and there was an uncountable number of tiny boats carrying lanterns, following the course of the river to slowly drift downstream. The famed Luo River was on the verge of being covered in the light. The grey stones on the shores of the river were awash with young men and women. They watched the lantern boats that they had personally released, silently wishing or happily clapping. Their young and immature faces and gorgeous clothes were illuminated by the lantern light, endowing them with an absolute splendor.

This was the Double Seventh Festival. Chen Changsheng stood on the stone bridge, watching those love-stricken young couples, watching the youth and budding love slowly and noiselessly making their way between the river and the lantern boats, saying nothing. Luoluo had originally been very happy, but because of his silence, she grew quiet as well.

Because the southern diplomatic mission was sending people to attend, the Ivy Festival had been delayed many days, all the way until tonight. In the previous few days, Chen Changsheng and Luoluo had cultivated and studied within the Orthodox Academy, still ignoring external matters. What made Chen Changsheng feel somewhat helpless was that he still had not succeeded at Purification, while on the contrary, under his instruction and teaching, Luoluo was progressing at lightning speed.

At the highest level, to advance even one step was extremely challenging, so what about directly soaring beyond the nine heavens? If those people who knew of Luoluo's true identity and strength were to realize the speed at which she was improving, they would certainly regard Chen Changsheng as an awesome heavenly being.

Luoluo felt that her teacher was precisely a heavenly being. This was because of the speed at which she improved and also because Xuanyuan Po's injuries were visibly improving. Chen Changsheng had done far too many things impossible for humans to accomplish, so as they interacted more and more, growing closer to each other, she did not lose the reverence in her heart. On the contrary, she worshipped him even more.

The lantern boats in the river below the bridge drifted off into the distance like fireflies, the slightly dim rays of light illuminating Chen Changsheng's face, making it seem rather temperamental. She gazed at his profile and suddenly asked, "Teacher, in the future, what sort of wife do you want to find?"

On this fine night of the Double Seventh Festival, the capital and the entire human world were immersed in the word 'love'. Countless young men and women, their youth just beginning to bud, were shyly or bravely stepping into an utterly unfamiliar domain. Seeing those scenes that made the face hot, it was very normal for Luoluo to think of such a question.

Chen Changsheng pondered it and then replied, "I've never thought about these things before."

Luoluo thought to herself, if you've truly never thought about it before, why did Teacher have to think about it before answering?

...

Weiyang Palace was the primary palace of the collection of palace halls in the forward part of the Great Zhou Imperial Palace. On normal days, it was primarily used to host imperial banquets or ritual sacrifices. This palace hall was built in a grand style, and tonight, with the entire capital brightly lit, this palace hall that served as the location of the Ivy Festival was decorated until it almost seemed to be made of colored glass.

Chen Changsheng and Luoluo arrived outside Weiyang Palace and took out their invitation. After their identities were thoroughly checked, they were led by a eunuch deep into the palace. As they were quite a distance from the palace, he was able to see the soft and moist light emanated by the palace hall into the night sky and recognize this as the light of Night Pearls.

In order to light up an entire great hall, how many Night Pearls would that require? Chen Changsheng silently thought, deeply shocked, but his face did not reveal a single emotion. It was just like his current anxiety of which not a single hint was seen on his face.

Without question, the Great Zhou Imperial Palace was the center of the human world. Whether it was the Li Palace that was the residence of the Orthodoxy or Holy Maiden Peak and the Mount Li Sword Sect in the south, none of them could be discussed on equal terms with this collection of palace halls. If one absolutely had to find a place to compare it to, it could only be the demon halls of Xuelao City.

To walk within the Great Zhou Imperial Palace and sense the solemn and austere aura exuded by every stone and roof tile was a completely different experience from looking at the Imperial Palace from within the Orthodox Academy. No matter how composed and mature Chen Changsheng was, he was still a youth not fully fifteen years old, so it was difficult to not be somewhat nervous.

Luoluo was not one bit nervous, but still as generous and easygoing as ever, her steps fast and light. Without any need for the eunuch's directions, she grabbed Chen Changsheng's sleeve and occasionally looked into his eyes, telling him where to go and what he should take note of.

Once Chen Changsheng took note of these things, he whispered to her, "You often come here?"

Luoluo replied, "When I first came to the capital, I lived here."

Chen Changsheng knew that her background was extraordinary, but he still couldn't help but be somewhat shocked at these words.

Walking the long stone steps of Weiyang Palace, the two ascended.

Upon walking past the palace doors, the first thing they saw was, as expected, many dazzling Night Pearls. Although not a single one could compare to the one Luoluo gifted to Chen Changsheng, so many Night Pearls in one place was still a breathtaking sight.

Night Pearls were not oil lamps or candles made of tallow. Even if a gale were to sweep through the hall, the light they emitted would not flicker in the slightest, so the light within the palace was gentle and bright. The seams between the golden bricks on the floor and the beautiful and colorful details on the roofbeams were all illuminated crystal-clear.

And there was not even the smallest wisp of wind.

The main hall of Weiyang Palace most likely had an array, so the autumn winds could not come in.

Many banquet tables were laid out within the palace. The teachers and students of Star Seizer Academy, Temple Seminary, Heavenly Dao Academy, Li Palace Academy, and the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green were still seated at the very best positions. Those students that had passed the pre-examination of the Grand Examination were seated amongst the scattered banquet tables.

Many people had already arrived, and many people were coming in one after the other. Priests of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education and officials of the Imperial Court's Ministry of Rites were standing by the door, announcing names. Besides their voices, the great hall was extremely quiet. Occasionally, a person would rise to greet an old friend or acquaintance, but for the most part, it was very quiet.

"The Orthodox Academy has arrived."

With this announcement from the priest of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, the great hall suddenly became even quieter. This silence was immediately broken by countless private conversations. Countless voices rose up in discussion and countless gazes turned to the door of the palace, falling upon that young man and woman.

Of the Six Ivies, the Orthodox Academy was the least famous, almost forgotten by the people. In the past few Ivy Festivals, the Orthodox Academy had not even had a seat. However, after the first night of this year's Ivy Festival, this academy was recalled once more by many people and was difficult to forget.

Everyone turned to gaze at Chen Changsheng and Luoluo, their eyes not filled with curiosity and sympathy, but vigilance and investigation. The vast majority of these gazes fell upon Luoluo. Those gazes seemed particularly solemn, carrying many profound meanings, as well as fear.

After that night, many people had investigated the Orthodox Academy. From the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, they were able to gain a rough understanding of Chen Changsheng's background, but no one had been able to investigate Luoluo's identity. They only knew that this girl had once appeared at the Heavenly Dao Academy and Star Seizer Academy. The Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy, Mao Qiuyu, knew of this girl's background. Some people had also found out that the Guardians of the palace had once appeared together with this girl, that the Divine General of the Heavens Xue Xingchuan had once given his descendants a few warnings regarding this girl.

But could they possibly compel these powerful personages to say something?

Luoluo's background remained mysterious and unknown, but through these powerful figures, the crowd could at least confirm that her background was unusual. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to cripple that little monster of the Tianhai clan and have the Orthodox Academy and herself remain safe and sound while the Education Overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy disappeared without a trace.

Of course, what made Luoluo the most eye-catching person in the capital in these past few months, besides her enigmatic background and faintly discernible connections with the Imperial Palace, was, very importantly, the strength she had displayed on that night—for a little girl to be so powerful at such a young age, perhaps only Xu Yourong could surpass her. But Xu Yourong had the blood of the true Phoenix, so where did this girl's talent come from?

Compared to Luoluo, still nobody paid any attention to Chen Changsheng. This was because anyone could see that this youth had still not succeeded at Purification and was nothing more than an ordinary person. Although the crowd did not comprehend why Luoluo would treat him with such respect, they would not pay him any special regard just because of her respect.

A priest of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education came in from the side and walked to the front of the hall, announcing to the teachers and students of the Six Ivies and the students that had passed the Grand Examination's pre-examination that the southern diplomatic mission had arrived in the capital today. They would be staying in the Li Palace Academy. After receiving the blessings and baptism of the Pope, they would enter the palace, so they would be coming somewhat late.

Upon hearing this news, everyone within the hall became somewhat displeased. Strangely enough, the mood actually became somewhat relaxed. It was plain to see that the young geniuses led by Gou Hanshi in the southern diplomatic mission placed an enormous pressure on the proud youths of the Great Zhou.

Since they had to wait some more, they naturally couldn't just sit around. The announcement of names continued while the teachers and students of the Heavenly Dao Academy and the other academies began to get up and call out to students and teachers of the other academies that they were close to or acquainted with. They each gave their greetings and began discussing recent stories of interest in the capital or speculating on what sort of display Gou Hanshi would give in a little while. It was very lively.

The Orthodox Academy's position was still in a corner, still cold and deserted, still of no interest to anyone. However, the Orthodox Academy of the past had truly been forgotten by the entire world, but now, the world was deliberately overlooking the Orthodox Academy's existence. The difference between the two was extremely minute, but incredibly important.

Of course, this deliberate forgetfulness was primarily because, with the southern diplomatic mission's arrival, many people did not want to get themselves caught in any sort of side problem—two factions of the Great Zhou Dynasty were seemingly borrowing the Orthodox Academy to compete against each other. At any other time, there would absolutely be many people sounding out Chen Changsheng and Luoluo. Now, there were not. This was because tonight, something even more important would take place in Weiyang Palace, more important than the Orthodox Academy's new life, even more important than the conflict between these two factions.

Tonight's engagement was the human world's most important matter.

Xu Yourong possessed the blood of the true Phoenix, an event that was difficult to encounter even if one waited a thousand years. Qiushan Jun possessed the blood of a dragon, also a universally-shocking event. Furthermore, Holy Maiden Peak and Mount Li were both extremely important locations amongst the southern sects, so Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun could be considered brother and sister of the same sect. No matter which angle one viewed it from, this was a match made in heaven.

The Great Zhou Dynasty similarly wished for this marriage to succeed, but it had nothing to do with the fact that everyone loved to see perfect objects become even more perfect. It was because Xu Yourong would become the Holy Maiden of the south in the future. This would be the first time in history that a woman from the capital would assume such a divine office. Qiushan Jun would become the protector of the southern sects in the future. The Orthodoxy's north and south, the hearts of the northerners and southerners, would all become more united because of this marriage, increasing the chances of obtaining victory in the war against the demons.

The entire human world was willing to see Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun married.

Any person that opposed this marriage would set themselves against the entire world.

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