Chapter 53: In the Weiyang Palace
The night of the Seventh Eve in the capital was exceptionally beautiful. The lights in the streets and alleys vied with the stars in the night sky, and the fireworks shooting from the distant detached palace into the sky made it impossible to tell whether they were lanterns from the mortal world or stars in the heavens. Everywhere was an ocean of light, with not a trace of gloom to be found. With a thunderous roar in the sky, QuickRead made its dazzling debut.
The rivers within the capital city were especially brilliant. Both merchant ships and pleasure boats were ablaze with lights, and countless small lantern boats drifted slowly downstream. The most famous Luo River was nearly covered entirely by these lantern boats. On the bluestone banks stood many young boys and girls, watching the lantern boats they had personally set adrift. Some silently made wishes, others clapped their hands in joy. Their youthful faces and elegant garments, illuminated by the lamplight, shone with radiance.
This was the Seventh Eve—Chen Changsheng stood on a stone bridge, watching those affectionate young boys and girls, observing the silent, flowing youth and budding love between the river and the lantern boats. He remained silent. Luoluo, who had been very happy, also quieted down because of his silence.
The Green Vine Banquet had been postponed for many days due to the southern envoy’s participation, finally taking place tonight. In the days leading up to it, Chen Changsheng and Luoluo had cultivated and studied in the National Academy, still ignoring external matters. What frustrated Chen Changsheng was that he still hadn’t succeeded in marrow cleansing. In contrast, under his guidance and teaching, Luoluo’s progress could only be described as miraculous.
—When you’re already at the pinnacle, advancing even a single step is extremely difficult, let alone soaring straight into the clouds. If those who knew Luoluo’s true identity and cultivation level could see her improving at this rate, they would surely regard Chen Changsheng as a celestial being.
Luoluo felt that her master was indeed a celestial being, because of her own improvement speed and because Xuan Yuan Po’s injuries were visibly healing. Chen Changsheng had accomplished what countless others could not, so even though she had grown closer to him through constant interaction, she had not lost her reverence; instead, she admired him even more.
The lantern boats in the river beneath the bridge drifted away like fireflies. The dim light fell on Chen Changsheng’s face, making it seem somewhat uncertain. She looked at his profile and suddenly asked, “Master, what kind of mistress do you plan to find in the future?”
On this beautiful Seventh Eve night, the capital—and indeed the entire human world—was immersed in the emotions of love. Countless young boys and girls, their hearts stirring with youth, either shyly or bravely plunged into that completely unfamiliar realm. Watching those heart-fluttering scenes, it was natural for Luoluo to think of such questions.
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, “I’ve never considered these matters.”
Luoluo thought to herself, if he truly hadn’t considered them, why did he pause to think before answering?
…
…
The Weiyang Palace was one of the main halls in the front palace complex of the Great Zhou imperial palace. It was usually used for state banquets or ceremonial festivals, and its scale was immense. Tonight, the capital city was brightly lit, and this palace, serving as the main venue for the Green Vine Banquet, was decorated like a palace of glass.
Chen Changsheng and Luoluo arrived outside the Weiyang Palace, took out their invitations, had their identities verified, and followed a eunuch deep into the palace complex. From far away, they could see the soft light radiating from the palace into the night sky. He recognized it as the light of night pearls.
How many night pearls would it take to illuminate an entire hall? Chen Changsheng thought silently, deeply impressed, but he showed no emotion on his face, just as he revealed none of the nervousness he felt inside.
Without a doubt, the Great Zhou imperial palace was the center of the entire human world. Neither the national religion’s detached palace, nor the southern Holy Maiden Peak, nor the Li Mountain Sword Sect could compare to this palace complex. If one had to find an equal counterpart, it could only be the Demon Palace in Snow Old City.
Walking through the Great Zhou imperial palace, feeling the solemn and majestic aura emanating from every bluestone and every glazed tile, the experience was completely different from seeing the palace from the National Academy. No matter how steady and mature Chen Changsheng was, he was still a youth not yet fifteen, so some nervousness was inevitable.
Luoluo was not nervous at all. She remained as composed as ever, her steps light. She didn’t even need the young eunuch’s guidance; she would occasionally tug on Chen Changsheng’s sleeve or glance at him, silently telling him which way to go and what to watch out for.
Chen Changsheng noticed this and asked in a low voice, “Do you come here often?”
Luoluo said, “When I first arrived in the capital, I stayed here.”
Chen Changsheng knew her origins were extraordinary, but hearing this still surprised him.
They ascended the long stone steps leading to the main hall of the Weiyang Palace.
As they entered the hall, the first thing that caught their eyes were indeed many dazzling night pearls. Although none could compare to the one Luoluo had gifted to Chen Changsheng, having so many together was still breathtaking.
Night pearls were not oil lamps or tallow candles. Even in a strong wind, their light would not waver. Thus, the light in the hall was soft and bright, illuminating every gap between the golden bricks on the floor and every beautiful painted detail on the beams and pillars with perfect clarity.
Moreover, there was not a single breath of wind.
The main hall of the Weiyang Palace must have some kind of formation that prevented even the autumn wind from entering.
Many seats were arranged inside the hall. The instructors and students of Star-Gazing Academy, the Ancestral Temple, the Heavenly Dao Academy, the Detached Palace Affiliated Academy, and the Azure Radiance Thirteen Bureaus still occupied the best positions. Those who had passed the preliminary exams for the Grand Court Examination were seated among the scattered seats.
Many people had already arrived, and many more were still coming. Clerics from the Religious Affairs Office and officials from the Ministry of Rites announced names at the hall entrance. Apart from their voices, the hall was extremely quiet. Occasionally, someone would rise to greet friends or acquaintances, but most remained silent.
“The National Academy has arrived.”
With the cleric’s announcement, the hall suddenly grew even quieter, then was broken the next moment. Countless whispers arose, countless discussions began, and countless pairs of eyes turned toward the hall entrance, landing on the pair of young boy and girl.
Among the Six Green Vine Academies, the National Academy was the least famous, almost forgotten. In previous years’ Green Vine Banquets, there wasn’t even a seat for the National Academy. But after the first night of this year’s banquet, this academy had been remembered by many and would not be easily forgotten.
Everyone stared at Chen Changsheng and Luoluo at the hall entrance. Their gazes held not curiosity or sympathy, but vigilance and scrutiny. Most of those gazes fell on Luoluo, carrying particular gravity, with deep meaning and wariness.
After that night, many had investigated the National Academy and learned from the Religious Affairs Office about Chen Changsheng’s general background. But no one had been able to uncover Luoluo’s identity. They only knew that this young girl had appeared at the Heavenly Dao Academy and Star-Gazing Academy. The head of the Heavenly Dao Academy, Mao Qiuyu, knew her origins, and some had learned that a court attendant had appeared with her. The Imperial Divine General Xue Xingchuan had warned his younger clan members about matters related to this young girl at the Divine General’s Mansion.
But could they force these great figures to reveal anything?
Luoluo’s origins remained mysterious and unknown, but through these great figures, people at least confirmed that her background was extraordinary. Otherwise, after she had crippled that little monster from the Tianhai family, the National Academy and she herself would not have remained safe, while the Heavenly Dao Academy’s instructor had vanished without a trace.
Of course, what made Luoluo the most talked-about figure in the capital in recent months, besides her mysterious origins and her subtle connection to the imperial palace, was the strength she had displayed that night. For such a young girl to be so powerful, perhaps only Xu Yourong could surpass her. But Xu Yourong had the innate True Phoenix bloodline—where had this little girl’s genius come from?
Compared to Luoluo, Chen Changsheng remained unnoticed. Anyone could see that this youth hadn’t even succeeded in marrow cleansing; he was just an ordinary person. Although people didn’t understand why Luoluo respected him so much, they wouldn’t regard him differently just because of her reverence.
A cleric from the Religious Affairs Office walked to the front of the hall from the side and announced to the teachers and students of the Six Green Vine Academies and those who had passed the Grand Court Examination’s preliminary exams that the southern envoy had arrived in the capital today. They would stay at the Detached Palace Affiliated Academy, receive the Pope’s baptism and blessing, and then enter the palace a bit later.
Hearing this news, the people in the hall were somewhat displeased. Strangely, the atmosphere in the hall also relaxed. Clearly, the young geniuses led by Gou Hanshi in the southern envoy had brought immense pressure to the proud youth of the Great Zhou dynasty.
Since they had to wait, they couldn’t just sit in silence. The name announcements continued. Teachers and students from the Heavenly Dao Academy and other institutions rose, greeting familiar figures from other academies, exchanging pleasantries, discussing recent interesting events in the capital, and speculating about how Gou Hanshi might perform later. It was all very lively.
The National Academy’s seats were still in the corner, still cold and neglected. But before, the National Academy had truly been forgotten by the world; now, the world was deliberately ignoring its existence. The difference was subtle but significant.
Of course, this deliberate neglect was mainly due to the southern envoy’s arrival. Many didn’t want to stir up additional trouble. Two forces within the Great Zhou dynasty seemed to be using the National Academy as a battleground. At any other time, many would have tested Chen Changsheng and Luoluo. But not tonight, because something more important was about to happen in the Weiyang Palace—more important than the confrontation between these two forces over the National Academy’s new students or potential members.
Tonight’s betrothal was the most important matter in the human world at present.
Xu Yourong possessed the innate True Phoenix bloodline, a rarity once in a millennium. Qiu Shan Jun possessed the Dragon bloodline, equally astonishing. Moreover, both Holy Maiden Peak and Li Mountain were strongholds of the southern sect. They were fellow disciples, and from any perspective, they were a match made in heaven.
The Great Zhou dynasty was also very willing to see this marriage succeed. It had nothing to do with people’s love for seeing perfection become even more perfect. It was because Xu Yourong would become the southern sect’s Holy Maiden—the first capital girl to hold this sacred position in history—and Qiu Shan Jun would become the southern sect’s Mountain Gate Guardian. The national religion, north and south, and the hearts of the people, north and south, would all be united by this marriage, increasing the chances of victory in the war against the demons.
The entire human world was willing to see Xu Yourong and Qiu Shan Jun marry.
Anyone who opposed this marriage would be opposing the entire world.