Chapter 52: Attending the Banquet
If the dish is truly salty, one needs water, not quiet contemplation—Chen Changsheng's short sentence of nine words had caused such chaos. So the dish wasn't truly salty, but his heart truly needed quiet contemplation, only then could it stop being so unsettled.
Walking to the lakeside, he stood beneath the large banyan tree, stepping on the slightly raised roots on the ground. He placed his hands on his waist and gazed far into the distance beyond the courtyard wall, wanting only to look as far as possible, yet not knowing whether he should look toward the direction of Xining Town or the south.
After a moment, he took a small bamboo object from his waist and put it into his bosom, telling himself not to take it out again. Back then at the inn, he had unfastened this small bamboo object and placed it deep in his luggage, but somehow he had taken it out again.
The Southern envoy was coming to the capital to propose marriage. Xu Yourong was to be betrothed to Qiushan Jun. Even if she wouldn't marry soon, she would eventually become someone's wife.
Chen Changsheng had always thought that matters of love held no attraction for him, and he had even less interest in Xu Yourong. He had come to the capital to annul the engagement, and he still thought that way now. So he couldn't understand why, upon hearing this news, he had become so restless, even somewhat sad.
This emotion made him very uncomfortable, very displeased, and thus somewhat irritable.
Or perhaps it wasn't because she was getting married, but for another reason?
Chen Changsheng comforted himself like this, then thought of a reason that could convince himself—after all, he and Xu Yourong were engaged. Whether by law or by reason, he was her fiancé, and she was his fiancée. Before the engagement was formally annulled, for his fiancée to marry another man was certainly wrong.
Of course he should be unhappy.
Yes, that was it.
The Eastern Divine General's Mansion and Xu Yourong, in this matter, had shown me too little respect, so I am very angry.
He silently said this to himself in his heart.
Tang Thirty-Six walked to the lakeside and stood beside him, saying, "The problem between you and the Eastern Divine General's Mansion hasn't been resolved yet? That is indeed troublesome. Her Holiness the Empress has always trusted Xu Shiji. If Xu Yourong marries Qiushan Jun, no one in the Great Zhou Dynasty will be able to shake his position."
Luo Luo looked at his profile with some concern and asked, "Teacher, are you alright?"
Chen Changsheng's earlier reaction had been strange, naturally not escaping the eyes of Luo Luo and Tang Thirty-Six. Moreover, they both knew that there was enmity between Chen Changsheng and the Eastern Divine General's Mansion. But no matter how they thought about it, they couldn't imagine that he was Xu Yourong's fiancé, so naturally they had no way to comfort or explain.
Just as Shuang'er had said back then in the Eastern Divine General's Mansion, the whole world believed that Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun were a match made in heaven. Even Luo Luo and Tang Thirty-Six only thought this way. No one could imagine that someone like Chen Changsheng existed.
"It's nothing. I just don't know why I feel a bit nervous." Chen Changsheng turned to look at the two of them and said, "I've heard that there are many geniuses in those Southern sects. I wonder what the situation will be like during next year's Grand Examination."
Tang Thirty-Six knew his goal for the Grand Examination and thought he should indeed be nervous. He said, "Holy Maiden Peak, Li Mountain... those Southern sect schools are naturally powerful. If young experts like the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom come to participate in the Grand Examination, it won't be easy to surpass them."
Chen Changsheng said, "I heard that Zhuang Huanyu ranked tenth on the Azure Cloud List by defeating one of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom?"
"He defeated Qi Jian, the youngest and weakest of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom."
Mentioning the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, even the proud Tang Thirty-Six's expression became serious. "This time, four of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom will come to participate in the Ivy Banquet. They will likely also join the Grand Examination. The leader should be Gou Hanshi. Would Zhuang Huanyu dare to challenge him?"
"What about... Qiushan Jun?" Chen Changsheng asked.
"For a marriage proposal, naturally the elders preside and fellow disciples assist. How could Qiushan Jun come to the capital? As for whether he will participate in next year's Grand Examination, that's unclear. But don't underestimate Gou Hanshi. He is truly an extraordinary person."
Tang Thirty-Six was a very proud person. This had nothing to do with his ranking thirty-sixth on the Azure Cloud List; it was purely a matter of character. After entering the Heavenly Dao Academy, his only thought was to trample Zhuang Huanyu, who ranked tenth, underfoot. Although there were other reasons, it at least showed that he didn't think much of Zhuang Huanyu.
There were very few people he respected: Xu Yourong, Qiushan Jun, the wolf cub of the demon race, that mysterious girl ranked above Zhuang Huanyu, and then Chen Changsheng as an outlier. Now he admitted that this person named Gou Hanshi was truly extraordinary, so that person must indeed be extraordinary.
"Second among the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, only below Qiushan Jun."
Luo Luo knew that Chen Changsheng had little understanding of the cultivation world and explained, "I've heard that this man is erudite and well-read, having thoroughly studied the Daoist Canon. He holds an extremely high status among the younger disciples of Li Mountain and even among young disciples of other sects. He's considered a brain-like figure."
Chen Changsheng asked, "So what makes him extraordinary?"
Tang Thirty-Six was somewhat speechless and said, "Having thoroughly studied the Daoist Canon—isn't that extraordinary enough?"
Hearing the phrase "thoroughly studied the Daoist Canon," Chen Changsheng naturally thought of his senior brother and himself, wondering what was so extraordinary about that. But he knew that if he said this, Luo Luo probably wouldn't care, but Tang Thirty-Six would definitely mock him for putting on airs, so he changed the subject.
"Who else from the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom is coming?"
"Guan Feibai, ranked fourth, also happens to be ranked fourth on the Azure Cloud List. I've heard he's a very proud person."
Mentioning this person's name, Tang Thirty-Six's face showed no admiration; instead, his eyes burned with intensity. He said, "On the third night of this Ivy Banquet, Zhuang Huanyu's target will definitely be him. I need to find a way to snatch that opportunity."
Chen Changsheng counted on his fingers and said, "He's fourth, you're thirty-sixth. There are thirty-two people between you."
Tang Thirty-Six's expression darkened slightly. "What do you mean?"
Chen Changsheng said, "What I mean is, don't always try to swallow a fat melon in one bite. Haste makes waste. One should proceed step by step to be methodical, never seek quick success. Avoid doing things that are like pulling up seedlings to help them grow. As the saying goes..."
"Go on." Tang Thirty-Six sneered. "You've got quite a lot of words."
Seeing his unfriendly expression, Chen Changsheng smiled and stopped.
Tang Thirty-Six said, "If everything were decided by rankings, what would be the point of the Ivy Banquet and the Grand Examination? I naturally can't beat Xu Yourong and Qiushan Jun with their innate bloodlines. That wolf cub and that untouchable girl aren't ahead of Guan Feibai, but ask Guan Feibai if he dares to claim he's stronger than those two?"
Chen Changsheng thought this was indeed reasonable, but who was this wolf cub he had heard mentioned several times? And who was this untouchable girl?
Tang Thirty-Six remembered the burly demon youth he had seen in the library earlier and asked, "That guy also entered the National Teaching Academy?"
"Yes, he didn't want to stay at the Star Picking Academy anymore."
"I heard about it. The first night of the Ivy Banquet, the Star Picking Academy performed disgustingly. Besides that guy, no one dared to step forward... But that guy was severely wounded by Tianhai Ya'er like that. He's probably crippled. Are you sure you want to pick him up?"
"I haven't even passed the Marrow Cleansing stage. Wouldn't that make me even more of a waste?"
Tang Thirty-Six sneered, "Which waste dares to claim they want to take first place in the Grand Examination?"
Hearing this, Luo Luo's eyes instantly lit up.
This was the first time she had heard of this. She had always believed that Chen Changsheng was hiding his true abilities and had absolute confidence in him. But since he never showed his hand, as his student, she couldn't help feeling a bit stifled, always thinking he should act more dashing and bold.
First place in the Grand Examination—that was the position Teacher should hold!
"Teacher, you really know how to keep your composure."
Luo Luo looked at him, her big eyes full of admiration.
Tang Thirty-Six was slightly stunned and asked, "What's going on here?"
He knew Luo Luo was no ordinary person. Seeing her respectful demeanor toward Chen Changsheng earlier had already puzzled him. Now hearing her call him Teacher with such closeness and reverence, he was even more confused, unable to understand the relationship between the two.
Chen Changsheng didn't know how to explain.
Luo Luo introduced herself generously, "I am Teacher's student."
"Ah?"
Tang Thirty-Six was very surprised, looking at Chen Changsheng and saying, "Aren't you only fourteen?"
Chen Changsheng said, "She insisted on becoming my disciple. I had no choice."
Tang Thirty-Six thought for a moment and said, "But you do look older than your age with that mature demeanor, so it's probably fine."
Luo Luo said displeasedly, "Teacher is mature and steady. Who do you think you are?"
Tang Thirty-Six didn't want to argue with a young girl. He patted his clothes and prepared to leave, asking one last question, "Are you going on the last night?"
Luo Luo thought that with Teacher's temperament, he probably wouldn't go, just like last night.
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "It might be good to go and take a look."
...
...
Because they were waiting for the Southern envoy, the last night of the Ivy Banquet had been postponed for several days, and the venue had been moved from the Heavenly Dao Academy to the Weiming Palace. The Weiming Palace was part of the imperial palace, and this detail showed how important the court considered this matter.
If the Southern envoy's marriage proposal succeeded, the relationship between the human north and south would become closer. Xu Yourong might become the first Holy Maiden of the Southern Sect from the capital. The Great Zhou Dynasty's influence over the south would be greatly strengthened. Her Holiness the Empress would naturally be pleased with this outcome.
Logically, no person or force could prevent this from happening.
Even the demon race, which least wanted to see this marriage succeed, had no way to stop it.
Only a very few people in the entire world knew that there was one variable in this marriage.
That variable was in the dilapidated National Teaching Academy.
It was a young man named Chen Changsheng.
Early autumn, the night was cool as water, yet without chill.
Tonight, the capital city was brightly lit; it was the Qixi Festival.
Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo walked out of the National Teaching Academy, emerging from the depths of Baihua Alley back into the bustling, lively human world.
The two walked toward the nearby Weiyang Palace.
Until this moment, he didn't know what he was going to do, what he should do when the Southerners proposed marriage to the Xu Mansion.
He hadn't made a decision. He just wanted to go and see.
He had no idea what would happen tonight.