Chương 53: Chapter 53: Because You Are the Favourite of the Current Emperor.
"Good news! Good news! The 300,000 Dragon-Leopard Cavalry of Zhenyao (Demon-Suppressing) City has breached the border city of the Wanxiang Demon Kingdom!"
"Three hundred thousand Dragon-Leopard Cavalry killed 200,000 enemies! The enemy's of Yacheng has been razed by over half!"
"Xu Xue Nuo of Wu Kingdom has sharpened her life-bound flying sword, Qingming, stepped into the Sea Observation realm, and ranks eighth on the Qingyun List!"
"Zhou Shu! Zhou Shu! The imperial exam system has been reformed! Any individual, regardless of background, can now participate in the exams!"
"Regardless of class or status—legitimate or illegitimate—everyone is eligible to take the exams! Only talent matters!"
On the streets of Wudu, young "newsboys" ran tirelessly, selling copies of Zhou Shu, their faces brimming with pride and excitement.
Whether it was teahouses, inns, or even brothels, the news sparked cheers and applause. The Wanxiang Demon Kingdom dared to commit an assassination in Wudu? Naturally, Wu Kingdom would respond with thunderous retaliation!
Wu Kingdom doesn't hold grudges overnight! Do they think the men of Wu Kingdom lack the courage to avenge themselves?
Besides the triumph in Zhenyao City, Xu Xue Nuo's achievement brought shared pride to the people of Wu Kingdom.
Qin Qing Wan ranks ninth on the Qing Yun List, and now Xu Xue Nuo has secured the eighth spot! The Qing Yun List includes both humans and demons. In this vast world, Wu Kingdom has claimed two spots in the top ten—how could this not delight the people?
Beyond the victory at Zhenyao City and Xu Xue Nuo's ranking—both reasons to down a celebratory drink—what captured the most discussion was the reform of the imperial examination system, something closely tied to the people's lives.
For those with lofty aspirations but previously barred from the exams, the reform was undoubtedly the greatest of blessings. But for those who already had the privilege of taking the exams, it brought unease.
They could already foresee the massive turnout for next year's Tongshi. How intense would the competition be? How much harder would it be to stand out in future exams?
Officials from the reformist faction on the Wu Kingdom court were drinking with abandon, hardly concerned.
"What's competition to us? If you can't outdo others, do you have the nerve to complain about it? Wu Kingdom's scholarly tradition will surely thrive in the future! And besides, your failure isn't our problem. We've already made it to shore!"
While the reformist officials gathered merrily at a brothel, their leader sat alone, quietly drinking in a different place.
On the top floor of Drunken Blossom Tower, a man named Su Zihong approached with a jug of wine in hand.
Leaning against the railing stood Xiao Mo Chi, clad in a simple Confucian green robe, holding a wine jug as he gazed at the lively streets of Wudu.
"You never did take to brothels," Xiao Mo Chi said with a shake of his head.
Su Zihong leaned back against the railing, arms outstretched, turning his head to look at Xiao Mo Chi. "You mean to say you've never been to a brothel your whole life?"
Xiao Mo Chi simply smiled and did not refute the claim.
"You, ah…" Su Zihong sighed. "I heard she got engaged."
Xiao Mo Chi's hand tightened slightly around the wine jug, his breath catching for a moment. But in the end, he merely smiled again, raised the jug, and took a sip. "That's good for her."
"Good my ass!" Su Zihong snatched the jug from his hand. "Back at White Deer Academy, wasn't she already plenty forward with you? She even invited you to Qi Kingdom, didn't she? And what did you do?"
"Zihong," Xiao Mo Chi looked up and smiled, "this is my country."
"Fine, fine, your country!" Su Zihong snapped, frustrated. "But when she wanted to come with you to Wu Kingdom, why did you refuse?"
"She shouldn't have to give up everything for me," Xiao Mo Chi replied, his hand gently tracing the wine-red dragon carvings on the railing. "Besides, the path I've chosen… it's not one that ends well."
He turned his head, a faint smile curling at his lips. "And, Zihong, do you know why those old fossils in the court are so afraid of me?"
Su Zihong rolled his eyes. "Because you're a gentleman of White Deer Academy. Because you're the Emperor's favorite."
"Not entirely," Xiao Mo Chi shook his head.
He continued, "My sister is the current Empress, my father holds the North Desolation in check, and my mother passed away long ago. I live independently, alone. I have no wife, no children, no weaknesses. That's why they fear me! Because they know—
I have nothing to hold me back.
I can utterly destroy them, without hesitation or remorse."
"You…" Su Zihong pointed a trembling finger at Xiao Mo Chi, but it eventually fell, and he didn't know what else to say.
"Forget it! Forget it! I won't bother talking to you anymore. Since we were kids, you've been unbelievably stubborn! Damn it!" Su Zihong cursed loudly and spat over the railing.
The spit landed squarely on the head of a passerby below. The man touched his head, looked up angrily, but when he saw the jade belt at Su Zihong's waist, he could only grumble to himself and walk away.
"Then don't talk about it anymore," Xiao Mo Chi chuckled, reclaiming his wine jug and clinking it against Su Zihong's. "Today's a day for celebration, full of good news."
Su Zihong turned and leaned on the railing beside Xiao Mo Chi, mimicking his posture. "About that Dead Dog Disaster Hound and the assassination attempt on Zhu Cici a while back—there's been some progress."
Xiao Mo Chi nodded slightly. "What's the word?"
Su Zihong said, "It seems the Wanxiang Demon Kingdom, the White Fox Demon Kingdom, the Heavenly Bird Demon Kingdom, and the Ten-Thousand Serpents Kingdom are trying to summon something. This… thing requires five types of sacred constitutions, and Zhu Cici's innate literary spirit is one of them."
Xiao Mo Chi's brow furrowed. "What kind of entity could they be trying to summon, one that would make the Wanxiang Demon Kingdom risk retaliation from both Wu Kingdom and Qi Kingdom?"
Su Zihong shook his head. "We don't know yet. Still investigating."
Xiao Mo Chi pondered for a moment. "You said five sacred constitutions. What are the other four?"
Su Zihong replied, "The Sword Bone of the Innate Sword Constitution, the heart of the Innate Sacred Body, the eyes of the Ten-Thousand Paths Heavy Pupil, and the spirit root of the Eternal Spirit Root. The Ten-Thousand Paths Heavy Pupil is in the Northern Desolation. As for the Innate Sword Constitution and the Innate Sacred Body, we have both in Wu Kingdom."
Xiao Mo Chi's gaze remained fixed on the bustling streets below, his expression calm yet focused. "Draft a letter to the Wanjian Sect and Tianxuan Sect."
Su Zihong rolled his eyes. "Xu Xue Nuo is Jiang Luoyu's personal disciple, and Qin Qing Wan is Wang Xuan's protégé. Who'd dare touch them?"
Xiao Mo Chi exhaled slowly. "Better safe than sorry. By the way, where is this Eternal Spirit Root?"
Su Zihong shrugged. "The Eternal Spirit Root hasn't been seen in ten thousand years. But if it's part of their ritual, then it must exist. They couldn't summon something out of thin air. It's just that the Eternal Spirit Root hasn't been discovered yet."
"Understood." Xiao Mo Chi nodded.
"There's one more thing," Su Zihong added.
"Can you just say it all at once?" Xiao Mo Chi muttered in exasperation.
"This is the last one, I swear."
Su Zihong leaned closer to Xiao Mo Chi, lowering his voice as they both watched the streets of Wudu.
"There's news from Tianji City. A hundred and fifty years ago, the fifth prince, Prince Shan, had two descendants who survived. They're in Wu Kingdom."
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