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5.48% Way of Choices / Chapter 65: Ask the World

Chapter 65: Ask the World

Many people were kneeling on the floor of this side palace, a calm sea. As the middle-aged woman indifferently walked by, the sea naturally parted, light waves over its surface. A chief eunuch gave two light coughs, at which those kneeling Guardians, palace maids, and eunuchs rose so quickly it seemed that they had all been issued an amnesty, and noiselessly exited the palace.

This chief eunuch seemed extremely old, his face covered in wrinkles, yet he very carefully held the middle-aged woman's hands as he spoke in a low and humble voice. "Even if that youth's background is somewhat problematic, there is no need for the Empress to go through such trouble."

The middle-aged woman was the Divine Empress. Hearing the old eunuch's words, she replied with an indifferent expression, "If he were just an ordinary person, there would naturally be no need for the trouble."

The chief eunuch knew that when the Empress spoke of 'ordinary', she naturally was not referring to the trivial matter of not cultivating. After muttering to himself for a moment, the eunuch said, "The recommendation letter was checked, and there's no problem with it. It truly is the one His Holiness the Pope left for Lady Mo Yu and the Princess of Ping to play with…news has come from the Li Palace, His Holiness probably does not know of this matter. That youth was probably drawn into this matter by chance. Although his engagement with the Xu Estate is truly beyond expectations, this old servant truly cannot see anything special about him."

The Divine Empress stopped and gazed at the deep darkness behind the side palace. After a pause, she asked, "Have you met someone who isn't afraid of death?"

The chief eunuch knew that this question of the Empress's must have an extremely profound meaning, so he began to seriously recollect.

Everyone said those heroes could disregard death and treat departing with indifference, but only those who had experienced countless deaths and departures understood that this disregard and indifference were just borrowing a formidable will to conquer the fear of death, but that fear was always there.

This chief eunuch had lived in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace for several centuries and possessed immense power. Almost twenty years ago when Emperor Xian died, the dukes of the Imperial clan opposed the Empress taking the throne and attempted to break into the palace and start a rebellion. That the Empress was able to so easily stabilize the situation, besides the Pope's firm support, was also because of the critical role this eunuch had played.

He was a person who had experienced countless deaths and departures, and he was very sure that no one was unafraid of death. Even a great like Emperor Taizong was unable to remain calm when facing death on his sickbed. His two eyes had stared up into the night sky at the multitudinous sky of stars, filled to the brim with reluctance and fear.

He had been at the emperor's side, so he could see it very clearly.

"No person is unafraid of death," he replied.

"Just then, for an instant, that youth was truly not afraid of death, so he is not an ordinary person." The Divine Empress recalled the words the youth had said before the Black Dragon, and then continued, "I've always believed that only the child of the Qiushan clan could match up to that girl, but now it seems…that might not be the case."

The chief eunuch was slightly apprehensive, thinking, could the Empress be changing her position on this matter?

The side palace fell silent once more.

The breeze caressed the flower pot on the balcony, causing the plant within to rustle. In the distant forest, the squirrel ran even faster across the tree branches.

"Tonight is the Double Seventh Festival and it's certain to be very lively outside the palace. I'm prepared to go out and see."

"Empress…I believed that you were going to remain in the palace to wait for the results of the Ivy Festival."

"Wait for what? To see which student of which academy is most promising? I certainly have no interest in that."

The chief eunuch was puzzled, replying, "Could Empress not wish to know whether the proposal will succeed or not?"

The Divine Empress replied, "Whether the Xu Estate will enter into a marriage alliance with the Qiushan clan, or fulfill that promise from back then and take in Chen Changsheng as their son-in-law, is not for them to decide."

The chief eunuch slightly bent his body, declaring, "Everything in the world obeys the Empress's will."

The Divine Empress calmly replied, "You're wrong again. This matter is also not something I am able to decide."

The chief eunuch was a little shocked, thinking, besides Empress, who can decide the direction of this marriage?

"The person being married off is Yourong, so whether she wants to marry, who she wants to marry, all depends on her position."

The Divine Empress concluded, "That girl has plans of her own, so what meaning do the efforts of anyone else have? Just making themselves more of a joke, that's all."

...

...

South of the Imperial Palace was a street. Different from the other brightly lit places of the capital on this night of the Double Seventh Festival, this place was a little colder and deserted. Perhaps it was because it was too close to the Imperial City, or it could also be because vast quantities of ice were transported out of here during day, leaving many traces of water on the road at night, the serious moisture and cold deterring anyone from setting up a stall here.

This place was called New North Bridge, but there was no bridge. To be more precise, the arched bridge made of gray stone was fake—the Luo River wound around the Imperial City, flowing through the city along seven causeways, yet it avoided this place, so not a single drop of water could be found under this bridge.

Not far from New North Bridge was a well that exuded a chill in all directions. It was like it was not water in this well, but an ice that would never melt. At this late hour, the lights of the Imperial City could not shine upon this place. The willow branches were like brushes drenched in ink, lightly shaking around the well.

The Divine Empress stood at the well, in her hands a Night Pearl that she had removed from the Dew Platform. She placed her hand over the well and let go. The Night Pearl instantly illuminated the walls of the well and then swiftly descended until, gradually, it was swallowed by the darkness.

After quite some time had passed, a hum came from the depths of the well. Because the distance was too great, the sound was not very loud. It was like the waters of the well splashing against its walls, but she knew that this was not the sound of the water. It was the Black Dragon's low and angry roars.

The Black Dragon was very angry because it had once more been deceived by humans. You clearly agreed to give one Night Pearl, and that youth took one away, so you should give me two Night Pearls! Even if you're a woman I can't provoke, you can't bully me like this!

The Divine Empress was rather displeased. "Evil creature, that one was originally his. When you were small, did that old dragon not teach you arithmetic?"

...

...

Chen Changsheng was very good at arithmetic. To be more precise, as long as it was related to studying, he was very good at it. However, his skill in finding the way was not very good. After leaving the side palace and entering the palace shrouded in darkness, he very quickly realized that he was lost.

With the many stars in the sky and the lantern light before, he knew which direction was north, so naturally could confirm which direction was south. He could even faintly make out the lights of Weiyang Palace, but the Imperial Palace had many flowers and trees, its paths twisting and turning. Worried about encountering Imperial Guards, he didn't dare take the main avenues, so he didn't know how he could reach Weiyang Palace.

Just then, an extremely soft sound came from a dark imperial garden.

A Black Goat noiselessly walked out from the darkness as if its very self was a part of the darkness.

At the Orthodox Academy, Chen Changsheng had met it. Previously outside Weiyang Palace, he had also met it. For some reason, he was very sure that this Black Goat meant him no ill will. After thinking for a few moments, he asked, "You…want to help me?"

The Black Goat calmly gazed at him, and then turned to walk back into the darkness.

Chen Changsheng hurried to catch up, not daring to delay. Before following, he glanced south in the direction of Weiyang Palace. That place was still brightly lit, but the sound of ceremonial music had already ceased. Just which step had the proposal of the southern diplomatic mission reached? Was he still in time?

...

...

The Ivy Festival had reached its middle segment, so the southern diplomatic mission began to formally propose.

There were many important figures within Weiyang Palace, including the Mount Li Elder, Xiao Songgong, the woman from Holy Maiden Peak, Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy Mao Qiuyu, Xu Shiji, Prince Chen Liu, and Mo Yu. Over the course of the marriage proposal, they all played different roles.

There were participants, presiders, and witnesses.

The exquisite dance and music in the hall had just concluded, the fine alcohol and wine had not yet grown cold, but no person raised up their chopsticks to eat. Everyone watched the stage with smiles on their faces.

The Qiushan clan head stood up and began the ceremony. Mo Yu, as representative of the Divine Empress, expressed her gratitude, saying that the Great Zhou Dynasty was extremely pleased to see this marriage, and even hoped that humanity could use this marriage to grow closer in unity so that they could better resist the demons.

The woman from Holy Maiden Peak was Xu Yourong's martial aunt, and she represented the Holy Maiden of the south in expressing agreement towards this marriage. Right after, Xu Shiji stood up and welcomed all the guests from the south. To this marriage, he gave his reserved agreement. Of course, everyone knew that this reservation of his was feigned.

How could a marriage be considered a success?

The marriage proposal was the beginning, to bow was the ceremony, and the terms were concluded in a marriage contract. This was to get engaged.

The heavens and earth, the sovereign, the parents, the teacher.

At present, the Divine Empress had agreed to the marriage, Xu Shiji had agreed to the marriage, and the Holy Maiden of the south had agreed to the marriage.

The heavens and earth could not speak, and the present sovereign, parents, and teachers all agreed to the marriage. In everyone's view, this marriage had naturally succeeded. No one had ever imagined what sort of attitude Xu Yourong herself had to this marriage. Of course, no one thought that Xu Yourong might ever object.

As the most dazzling and radiant couple of this continent's generation of youth, a marriage between Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun was considered by all to be a match made in heaven. The story between the two had been circulating throughout the world for a very long time, and everyone believed it to be a most beautiful story.

Soon after came the final ask of the marriage proposal ceremony's Three Asks.

The rites of the Great Zhou Dynasty were not at all complex. They primarily came from the related scriptures of the Orthodoxy. As the Orthodoxy flourished, the rites of the Zhou gradually spread to the south. Tonight's marriage proposal from the southern diplomatic mission was completely in accordance with the rites of Zhou not purely out of respect for the bride, but because they also practiced the same rites.

The so-called Three Asks were to ask the heavens and earth, ask the relatives, and ask the sovereign and teachers. As for who might oppose this marriage, the final ask was to ask the world.

The reason the rites of Zhou contained the Three Asks, especially the final ask, was nominally to give the people of the world a final chance to bring up any hidden problems with regards to the bride or groom, but in reality, this was a very rare occurrence. It was more to give the bride and groom a final chance to back out.

Under normal circumstances, it was rare for someone to object during the marriage proposal ceremony, because this was tantamount to offending the bride and groom. Tonight, it was very obvious that both sides of the marriage would not back out, so the final asking of the world was naturally just a formality.

Prince Chen Liu stood at the front of the hall, looking out at the several hundred people within. Smiling, he asked, "Qiushan Jun desires to become husband and wife with Xu Yourong. Does anyone object?"

The hall was absolutely silent, but the mood was not oppressive. Everyone had smiles on their faces. At this beautiful moment, they were all thinking about blessings, about how after Prince Chen Liu finished speaking, they would stand up and toast to the two sides of the marriage in celebration.

In the Orthodox Academy's seating area in the corner, Luoluo's small face had no smile, only a pale complexion from shock. She had already opened the silk bag in her sleeve and seen the somewhat yellowed marriage contract within. Only after seeing the two names on the marriage contract did she understand that her joke from that day had actually been true. Only then did she finally understand what the grudge was between her teacher and the Divine General of the East's estate. Only then did she know why Mo Yu and those other people had done all they could to prevent her teacher from being present…

The world needed to be asked three times.

Prince Chen Liu gently smiled and asked once more, "Does anyone object?"

The hall remained silent, the faces of the crowd brimming with well-wishing smiles. The world was incomparably beautiful.

Prince Chen Liu glanced at Xu Shiji, smiling to show his congratulations.

Xu Shiji lightly stroked his short beard, no longer feigning reservation. He nodded in acknowledgment.

Prince Chen Liu then turned to the Qiushan clan head, smiling as he nodded.

The Qiushan clan head smiled in silence, clearly extremely happy.

Prince Chen Liu turned back to the hall and asked for the final time, "Is there anyone who objects?"

To this marriage, the entire world agreed. No one objected.

Thus, the entire world was very quiet, very beautiful, every person waiting.

In the corner, Luoluo suddenly stood up.

No one noticed her.

Just then, a voice came from outside the hall.

"I object."

A youth walked in through the doors of the hall.

His body was drenched, his hair a mess, his clothes torn up. All in all, it was a completely wretched figure.

He looked around at the crowd within the hall, his eyes bright, his expression firm.

The hall instantly turned silent.


Chapter 66: She is My Fiancée

The voice was not deliberately raised or intentionally impassioned. It was a very calm and particularly clear voice that seemed to be speaking on some trivial matter. The two words it spoke were extremely distinct, so much so that even though everyone within the hall hoped to convince themselves that they had heard wrongly, they could find no reason to think so.

Thus, those two words plunged the entirety of Weiyang Palace into silence.

It was different from that beautiful and expectant silence from before. The silence now was true silence, bringing with it a bizarre atmosphere.

In the next moment, the silence was shattered as the crowd erupted into a clamor.

The countless voices almost jolted apart the roof of the great hall!

A person objected?

A person actually objected to this marriage!

In the depths of the hall, Xu Shiji suddenly stood up and stared towards the door at Chen Changsheng, his complexion extremely nasty. Prince Chen Liu was somewhat startled, mystified as to what had just happened. Mo Yu also slowly stood up, her face displaying no expression, but a layer of frost seemed to gradually form on her face.

The reaction from the southern diplomatic mission was naturally even greater. The Qiushan clan head stared at the youth standing at the door but didn't know who he was. Only after forcing himself to take a few deep breaths was he able to suppress his fury. However, those youths in the group attending next year's Grand Examination had none of his sophistication. They could barely restrain their rage, especially Guan Feibai and the other two members from the Mount Li Sword Sect. They all had extremely frosty expressions, and stared at Chen Changsheng as if he was a corpse.

Qiushan Jun was their most esteemed eldest brother. They knew how much importance their eldest brother viewed this marriage with, knew the level to which their eldest brother cared for and cherished Xu Yourong, but just when a beautiful companion was about to become a member of the family, the important moment when their eldest brother's desire was about to come true, somebody dared to make trouble!

Wasn't this seeking death?

At any other place, these three young experts of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws would have immediately sent out their chilling sword glows and killed Chen Changsheng. However, this was the Great Zhou Imperial Palace and they were southerners, so they could only endure it for the moment and wait for the Zhou people to handle the matter first.

The handling came very quickly. Xu Shiji stared at Chen Changsheng with a gloomy look on his face and coldly shouted, "Where did this scoundrel come from! He dares to cause a ruckus within the palace! Somebody come and escort this person out!"

After being transferred back to the capital from the frontlines, due to the trust the Divine Empress had in him, he and Xue Xingchuan jointly took charge of the Imperial City's defense, one on the inside and one on the outside. The Imperial Guards within the Imperial Palace were all his direct subordinates, so when they heard this call, ten-odd Imperial Guards surrounded Chen Changsheng.

Xu Shiji stared at Chen Changsheng, his eyes extremely unkind, brimming with warning and an unconcealed killing intent—he would not give Chen Changsheng a single chance to speak. If he really was forced to that step, he would order those Imperial Guards to kill Chen Changsheng.

Many people within the hall noticed his killing intent, but they didn't associate it with anything else. After all, he was Xu Yourong's father, and if they were in his place and someone dared to cause trouble at their daughter's engagement feast, they would probably also have the urge to kill that person.

Those Imperial Guards did not take Chen Changsheng into custody, because someone stood in front of Chen Changsheng. At some point, Luoluo had left the Orthodox Academy's seating area. With the Falling Rain Whip in hand, she looked right past those Imperial Guards and stared deep into the hall at Mo Yu.

Soon after, another person stood in front of Chen Changsheng.

Tang Thirty-Six.

Earlier, when both Chen Changsheng and Luoluo had just left the hall, Tang Thirty-Six had just arrived at Weiyang Palace, so he had not seen the two of them. Moreover, all his attention had been on the Fourth Law of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, Guan Feibai. Only after Luoluo returned to Weiyang Palace and he still failed to see any sign of Chen Changsheng did he begin to feel that something was strange.

He didn't know why Chen Changsheng wanted to object to the engagement between the Xu Estate and the Qiushan clan, he only knew that Chen Changsheng had a grudge with the Xu Estate. But regardless, he was too lazy to think about these questions. Since someone wanted to oppose Chen Changsheng, he naturally had to stand up.

Xu Shiji's expression became even gloomier. Staring at Luoluo and Tang Thirty-Six, he said, "I don't care who you two are or what your background is, but tonight, this general is going to arrest this criminal, and if anyone dares obstruct me, don't blame me for being merciless."

"Criminal?" An elderly voice, rather at a loss, came from Xu Shiji's side.

The speaker was the Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education.

The elder had just opened his eyes and truly seemed at a loss, like he had just woken up.

He looked all around and then asked Xu Shiji, "Where's the criminal?"

He clearly knew the answer and yet still asked, causing Xu Shiji to have an extremely ugly expression.

The archbishop followed the gazes of the crowd towards the hall's doors. Seeing Chen Changsheng, he seemed to finally understand. "This little fellow is a student of the Orthodox Academy. I personally signed and issued the register, so I can't be wrong. Even if he's now somewhat late, he can't be considered a criminal, no?"

The Imperial Guards at the door turned to Xu Shiji.

Xu Shiji's face was even uglier. He had finally confirmed where the archbishop stood.

Prince Chen Liu was somewhat helpless, explaining to the archbishop, "Just a moment ago, he was saying that he objected to this marriage."

The archbishop looked at the people in the hall and smiled. "Since we have this step of asking the world, we naturally have to allow people to object. If we don't allow people to object, what need was there for His Highness to ask? If even laws do not need to be respected, then if you want to make an engagement, make an engagement—is there any need to come to my Great Zhou to propose?"

From a purely logical standpoint, these words could not be refuted.

Consequently, the people of the southern diplomatic mission only grew more furious. Many people aimed angry gazes at the archbishop, but the elder closed his eyes once more as if continuing his sleep, simply not caring for those gazes that were either as sharp as swords or cold as ice.

The archbishop continued to close his eyes and rest, but his words had set the tone for this matter. At least on the surface, these words represented the stance of the Orthodoxy.

There were not many people who had the right to question these words. Mo Yu was naturally one of them, but she did nothing. She slowly sat back down, her expression rather surprised. Just a moment ago, she had noticed that when Chen Changsheng had walked in through the doors, the Black Goat had simultaneously vanished back into the darkness outside the palace.

She naturally knew what the Black Goat signified.

The Black Goat had brought Chen Changsheng to Weiyang Palace. What did this mean?

Prince Chen Liu had not expected her to maintain silence and couldn't help but be surprised.

Just then, Mount Li Elder Xiao Songgong stood up and asked, "Your Highness, just what is going on here?"

This marriage between Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun had long since ceased being a simple marriage alliance between the Divine General of the East's estate and the Qiushan clan. Before tonight, the Great Zhou Imperial Court and the various factions and sects of the south had engaged in many negotiations. Only when all sides had agreed did the southern diplomatic mission come to propose.

The so-called marriage proposal was out of respect for etiquette and laws, a necessary procedure, and so no person had imagined that anything out of the ordinary would occur. Xiao Songgong's question naturally had a basis. As this was the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, as the two sides had already reached an agreement, it was only right that the people of Zhou give an explanation.

Prince Chen Liu gave a bitter and silent smile, thinking, when the Divine Empress had me supervise tonight's matter, she truly didn't say anything. You come to me seeking an explanation, but who can I ask? His Eminence the archbishop has gone back to sleep and Principal Mao Qiuyu has lowered his head and is drinking. These old guys…are truly going too far.

After racking his brains, he could only ask those involved. "This…what's the circumstance?"

Prince Chen Liu gazed towards the door at Chen Changsheng, spreading his arms apart, looking very innocent.

From this detail, it could be seen that he truly held some kindness towards Chen Changsheng, or else he would not have allowed him to give an explanation.

"Just now when I was outside the hall, I heard Your Highness ask, 'Qiushan Jun desires to become husband and wife with Xu Yourong; does anyone object?'"

Chen Changsheng paused here, then continued, "So I said, I object."

This answer was not an answer, only a reaffirmation.

He did not make his tone any more serious, yet when those two words appeared once more, they oppressed the mood in the hall even more.

His stance was very clear: I object to the marriage of Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun.

...

...

"Why do you object?"

"For what reason do you object?"

Two voices simultaneously rose up within the hall. One of these voices was Prince Chen Liu's. He creased his brow, somewhat puzzled and somewhat concerned. The other voice belonged to Elder Xiao Songgong. He arched his brow, extremely angry and incredibly unyielding.

These two questions were questions that everyone in the hall wished to ask.

Xu Yourong possessed the blood of the true Phoenix, Qiushan Jun the blood of the true Dragon. The two possessed a talent and potential rarely seen in a thousand years and had been selected by the human world as candidates to lead the resistance against the demons in the future. And they had even cultivated and studied together in the south, belonging to the same sect and interacting with each other at all times, so they could be considered childhood sweethearts. Let alone the fact that this marriage was critical to the unification of the northern and southern sects. In brief, there were countless reasons for them to be married, yet not a single reason could be found for why they should not.

What was a pair of immortal companions? This young man and woman were regarded by the world as a pair of immortal companions.

This utterly drenched youth with an almost unbearably wretched appearance actually objected to this marriage.

Why? For what reason?

Chen Changsheng used only sentence to simultaneously answer both questions.

"I have an engagement with Xu Yourong."

He said, "She is my fiancée, so she naturally can't be married off to anyone else."

The hall was once more in the grip of a deathly stillness.

Engagement?

He said that Xu Yourong was his fiancée?

Preposterous!

The people within the hall were all too shocked to speak. They stared at Chen Changsheng, not daring to believe, thinking to themselves, this must be false!

Xu Shiji stared at Chen Changsheng, his face a little pale, his two hands hanging by his side faintly trembling.

He said it, this kid that should have died really…finally…said it!

He was overcome with limitless regret. At the very start, he should have killed him, rendered him into ash, and then spread the ashes into the Luo River!

After tonight, the Divine General of the East's estate would become a joke!

The people of the southern diplomatic mission were as furious as Xu Shiji, but they simply didn't believe Chen Changsheng's words to be true. They just thought that this youth had been incited by some factions to intentionally cause trouble, to humiliate the Mount Li Sword Sect and all the southern sects.

The Qiushan clan head had an extremely ugly complexion while the female disciples of Holy Maiden Peak frowned in silence. The anger of the youths of the Mount Li Sword Sect was written all over their faces, and Guan Feibai was so furious that his face had gone somewhat pale, his right hand already gripping the hilt of his sword!

"Impudent! Where did such a shameless student come from that he dares humiliate my Mount Li!"

Xiao Songgong suddenly turned around and looked to Mo Yu. "Why haven't you expelled this mad student from the palace! Just what do the people of Zhou want to do!"

How could this youth be Xu Yourong's fiancé!

Many people within the hall finally began to react, furiously rising up one after the other to incessantly hurl shouts of abuse at Chen Changsheng.


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