If the food really was too salty, then one needed to drink water, not compose oneself—it was just a short sentence, only ten words, yet Chen Changsheng had already made a mess of it. Of course, the food was not very salty at all, but his mind truly did require some time to compose itself so as to not continue being so messy.
He walked to the lake and stood under the great banyan tree. His feet tread on the slightly bent branches, his two hands propped against his waist. He looked in the distance, beyond the academy's walls, thinking that the farther the better, but he didn't know if he should look in the direction of Xining Village or in the direction of the south.
After a moment, he took from his waist a small item made of bamboo and placed it in his bosom, telling himself in the future to no longer bring it out. Back when he was staying at the inn, he had removed this bamboo item and placed it in the depths of his luggage, but for some reason, he had taken it out again.
The southern diplomatic mission was coming to the capital to propose. Xu Yourong was going to be engaged to Qiushan Jun, and even if she should not be married off in such a short time span, she would still be married off in the end.
Chen Changsheng had always believed that something like love posed no interest to him and that he had no opinion about Xu Yourong. He had come to the capital to end the engagement and even now still thought this way, so he did not understand why, after hearing of this matter, he felt so upset, even somewhat sad.
These sorts of emotions were very alien to him. He didn't like them, so he was displeased.
Perhaps it wasn't because she was going to get married off but for some other reason?
Chen Changsheng consoled himself this way, and then he thought of a reason that he could convince himself with: he and Xu Yourong had an engagement. Lawfully and reasonably, he was her fiancé, she was his fiancée. Without having formally ended the engagement, for his fiancée to marry someone else was naturally not correct.
It was only right that he be unhappy.
Yes, it was precisely because of this fact.
The Divine General of the East's estate and Xu Yourong had been too disrespectful with him over this matter, so he was very angry.
He silently said to himself.
Tang Thirty-Six walked to the lake shore and stood beside him, saying, "Has the problem between you and the Divine General of the East's estate been resolved? It truly is rather troublesome. The Divine Empress has always trusted Xu Shiji, and if Xu Yourong is married off to Qiushan Jun, there will be no one in all of the Great Zhou that can shake his position."
Luoluo worriedly gazed at his profile, asking, "Teacher, are you okay?"
Chen Changsheng's reaction just a moment ago had been very strange, which naturally could not escape the gazes of Luoluo and Tang Thirty-Six. Moreover, they both knew that a grudge existed between Chen Changsheng and the Divine General of the East's estate. It was just that they could never possibly have imagined that he was Xu Yourong's fiancé, so they naturally could not comfort or soothe him.
Just as Shuang'er had said in the Divine General of the East's estate, the entire world believed Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun to be a match made in heaven—even Luoluo and Tang Thirty-Six thought this way. Not a single person could imagine that a person like Chen Changsheng also existed.
"It's nothing, I just feel rather nervous for some reason." Chen Changsheng turned to the two of them and said, "I hear that the sects of the south have a lot of geniuses, so I don't know what the situation will be in next year's Grand Examination."
Tang Thirty-Six knew of Chen Changsheng's goal in participating in the Grand Examination and he felt it was right to be nervous. He commented, "Holy Maiden Peak, Mount Li…these sects of the south are naturally formidable, and if the young experts of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws participate in the Grand Examination, it truly won't be easy to defeat them."
Chen Changsheng asked, "I hear that Zhuang Huanyu was ranked tenth on the Proclamation of Azure Sky because he obtained victory over one of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws?"
"He defeated Qi Jian, the youngest and also weakest of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws."
When mentioning the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, even the proud Tang Thirty-Six put on a solemn expression. "This time, the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws will be sending four people to attend the Ivy Festival. Presumably, they will also participate in the Grand Examination. The leader should be Gou Hanshi."
"And…what about Qiushan Jun?" Chen Changsheng asked.
"The proposal is naturally being managed by his elders and assisted by his fellow disciples. How could Qiushan Jun come to the capital? As for whether he will participate in next year's Grand Examination, that's not too clear. But you shouldn't underestimate Gou Hanshi, as he's truly an outstanding person."
Tang Thirty-Six was a very proud person. It had nothing to do with his thirty-sixth rank on the Proclamation of Azure Sky, it was purely a problem of his personality. His only thought upon entering the Heavenly Dao Academy was to step on the tenth-ranked Zhuang Huanyu. Although there might have been other reasons, this was proof enough that he didn't think much of Zhuang Huanyu.
The people that he did regard highly were few in number, like Xu Yourong, Qiushan Jun, or that wolf cub in the north, and also that mysterious girl ranked in front of Zhuang Huanyu. And there was also the weirdo that was Chen Changsheng. Now that he was admitting that this person called Gou Hanshi was an outstanding person, this person truly must be very outstanding.
"He's the second of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, only beneath Qiushan Jun."
Luoluo knew that Chen Changsheng did not have much understanding of the cultivation world, so she explained, "I hear that this person's knowledge is broad and deep, that he's well-versed in the Daoist Canon. Amongst the young generation of Mount Li's disciples, and even amongst the disciples of other sects, he has an extremely high status. He's essentially the brains of the Seven Laws."
Chen Changsheng asked, "So just where is he outstanding?"
Tang Thirty-Six was rather speechless, asking incredulously, "To be well-versed in the Daoist Canon, isn't that outstanding enough?"
Hearing the words 'well-versed in the Daoist Canon', Chen Changsheng very naturally thought of his senior brother and himself and wondered, just what's so outstanding about that?But he also knew that if he were to say this aloud, Luoluo would probably not care, and Tang Thirty-Six would assuredly tease him as putting on airs, so he could only change the subject.
"Who else will be coming from the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws?"
"The fourth-ranked Guan Feibai who also just so happens to be fourth-ranked on the Proclamation of Azure Sky. It's said that he's a very proud person."
When he mentioned this name, no admiration could be seen on Tang Thirty-Six's face, but his eyes seemed to blaze. "On this third night of the Ivy Festival, Zhuang Huanyu's target is assuredly him. I have to think of a method to snatch it away."
Chen Changsheng counted with his fingers, then said, "He's fourth, and you're thirty-sixth. There are thirty-two people between the two of you."
Tang Thirty-Six's complexion seemed to grow a little gloomy. "What do you mean?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "My meaning is that you shouldn't always think of getting fat in one bite, of wanting to run before you've learned how to walk. You should always do things in sequence, gradually progressing, proceeding in a systematic and orderly fashion. You absolutely cannot seek quick success and instant benefits. Those matters about pulling up plants by the roots to help them grow are not proper. There's also a saying…"
"Continue. You've got quite a lot of sayings," Tang Thirty-Six sneered.
Seeing the unpleasant expression on his face, Chen Changsheng smiled and stopped.
Tang Thirty-Six said, "If we calculate everything based on rank, what meaning is there in the Ivy Festival and the Grand Examination? With Xu Yourong's and Qiushan Jun's talent and blood, I naturally can't beat them, but though that wolf cub and that girl that can't be offended are not ranked higher than Guan Feibai, if you were to ask him, would he dare say that he was stronger than those two?"
Chen Changsheng thought to himself that this truly was very reasonable, but just who was that wolf cub who'd been mentioned several times now? And who was that girl that couldn't be offended?
Tang Thirty-Six recalled that sturdy and tall demi-human youth he had seen in the library and asked, "That guy also entered the Orthodox Academy?"
"Yeah, he no longer wants to remain in Star Seizer Academy."
"I heard that Star Seizer Academy's display on the first night was very disgusting. Besides that guy, not a single other person dared to stand up…but that guy was so heavily injured by Tianhai Ya'er that he really might be crippled. You're sure you want to pick him up?"
"I haven't even succeeded at Purification, so aren't I even more of a cripple?"
Tang Thirty-Six sneered, "What sort of cripple would dare say that they wanted to get first rank of the first banner in the Grand Examination?"
"My teacher will certainly get first rank of the first banner," Luoluo said as if it was only natural, the gaze she aimed at Chen Changsheng brimming with admiration.
Tang Thirty-Six was somewhat startled, asking, "What's going on here?"
He knew that Luoluo was not an ordinary person and he found her respectful display towards Chen Changsheng rather puzzling. Now, seeing her address Chen Changsheng as 'teacher' and her expression of near-worship, he was even more bewildered, not understanding just what was going on between the two of them.
Chen Changsheng didn't know how to explain.
Luoluo very generously introduced, "I am Teacher's student."
"Ah?"
Tang Thirty-Six was very surprised, looking at Chen Changsheng and asking, "Aren't you only fourteen?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "She insisted on taking me as a teacher—there was nothing I could do."
Tang Thirty-Six thought it over and then said, "But you do act like an old man, seeming much older than your actual age, so there's no harm in it."
Luoluo unhappily said, "Teacher is mature and steady, or do you think everyone is like you?"
Tang Thirty-Six did not want to argue with this girl. Patting his clothes, he prepared to leave. Before leaving, he asked, "Are you going to the last night?"
Luoluo thought to herself, with Teacher's personality, it should be like last night where he chose not to go.
Chen Changsheng pondered the question, finally saying, "It's fine to go and take a look."
...
...
Because the southern diplomatic mission needed to arrive, the final night of the Ivy Festival was delayed for quite a few days. In addition, its location had been moved from the Heavenly Dao Academy to Weiyang Palace. Weiyang Palace was part of the Imperial Palace. From this detail, one could see the importance with which the Imperial Court regarded this matter.
(TN: Weiyang Palace, literally translated as 'the Endless Palace', was a palace complex located in Chang'an, capital of the Tang Dynasty.)
If the southern diplomatic mission's proposal succeeded, the relationship between the humans of the north and south would grow closer. Xu Yourong might become the first Holy Maiden of the south in history to be born in the north, so the Great Zhou Dynasty's influence on the south would grow much more powerful. The Divine Empress would naturally be pleased at the proposal's success.
Logically speaking, there was no person or faction who could prevent this matter from occurring.
Even the demons that were least willing to see this marriage succeed were powerless to do anything.
In the entire world, only a select few people knew of the sole variable in this marriage.
This variable lay within the run-down Orthodox Academy.
It was a youth called Chen Changsheng.
In the early autumn, the night was as cool as water, but it was not cold.
Tonight, the capital was brightly lit by lanterns. It was the Double Seventh Festival.
Chen Changsheng and Luoluo exited the Orthodox Academy, emerging from the depths of Hundred Flowers Lane to mingle amongst the bustling and excited crowds.
The pair walked towards the nearby Weiyang Palace.
Even now, he still did not know what he was going for, what he should do when the southerners proposed to the Xu Estate.
He had not made a decision, he just wanted to go and see.
He simply had no idea what would occur tonight.
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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