Chapter 54: A Spring Breeze Comes in the Night
The seats of the National Teaching Academy were tucked away in a corner, ignored by all, desolate and cold, just like on the first night of the Ivy Banquet. Chen Changsheng’s mind was entirely occupied with the upcoming marriage proposal from the southern envoy delegation, so how could he care about such trivial matters? Luoluo, for her part, paid no attention to such minor affairs either. She watched Chen Changsheng’s expression, guessing at his thoughts, occasionally picking up a fruit to feed him, but she didn’t even glance at the tea on the table. To ordinary people, the palace’s tea was naturally considered top-grade, but in her eyes, it was coarse and utterly undrinkable.
A middle-aged palace maid appeared behind the seats of the National Teaching Academy. Her face was expressionless, exuding an air of cold arrogance. She looked like a close attendant of some noble within the palace. But as she approached Luoluo, the coldness on her face transformed entirely into deference and just the right amount of warmth, and she controlled her voice so that only Luoluo and Chen Changsheng could hear.
An invitation from the Princess of Ping? Chen Changsheng was startled. He looked at Luoluo, using his eyes to ask her what this was about.
Luoluo gazed into the depths of the hall, spotting the figures of Grand Secretary Jin and Lady Li in the shadows. She roughly understood what was going on and said to Chen Changsheng with some embarrassment, “Master, it’s been a long time since I entered the palace. I might need to go and see.”
Chen Changsheng had gradually grown accustomed to the surprises Luoluo brought him, even to the point of numbness. He said, “Since it’s an old acquaintance, then go ahead.”
Luoluo glanced at the gazes occasionally drifting toward the National Teaching Academy’s seats from within the hall and said, “Master, rest assured, I’ll be back in a little while.”
Chen Changsheng knew what she was worried about and didn’t feel embarrassed. He smiled and said, “You must come back, though.”
A moment later, another palace attendant came to extend an invitation, this time for Chen Changsheng himself. He looked toward the night outside the side door of the hall, where a figure stood as imposing as a mountain. He was silent for a moment, confirmed that no one inside the hall was paying attention to his movements, then rose and walked over there.
The side door of the hall slowly closed, but the soft glow of the night pearls inside still filtered through the windows, spilling onto Xu Shiji’s body, outlining his form with even greater clarity. Chen Changsheng looked at his back and suddenly felt a sense of awe, but he showed no reaction.
“You didn’t attend the second night of the Ivy Banquet. I thought you wouldn’t show up tonight either.”
Xu Shiji turned around, looking at him coldly, and said, “Why did you come?”
Chen Changsheng himself couldn’t figure out why he had come to the final night of the Ivy Banquet. When the southern envoy delegation’s representative, Qiu Shan Jun, formally proposed marriage to Xu Yourong later, what should he do? But he knew why Xu Shiji wanted to meet him privately outside the hall beforehand.
That reason made him somewhat angry. He looked into Xu Shiji’s eyes and said, “Uncle, I am a student of the National Teaching Academy. I have the right to attend the Ivy Banquet.”
This answer naturally didn’t satisfy Xu Shiji. What displeased him even more was that Chen Changsheng had called him “Uncle.” This form of address, used for an elder, was clearly deliberate, hiding some meaning from the young man—a very deep meaning.
He looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “It seems you don’t intend to keep your promise anymore.”
Chen Changsheng replied, “I never expect everyone to keep their promises, but I will keep my own.”
Ever since he entered the capital, the Eastern Imperial Divine General’s Mansion had repeatedly suppressed him, until, for reasons he still wasn’t sure about, certain influential figures stepped in and got him into the National Teaching Academy, trying to exchange for some promises. But in truth, he had never promised anything.
If we’re talking about promises, the marriage contract made many years ago was the real promise.
The Eastern Imperial Divine General’s Mansion had no intention of fulfilling that promise, so what right did they have to accuse him of breaking his word?
Xu Shiji looked at him calmly and said, “Do you think a mere child like you can change anything?”
Chen Changsheng didn’t respond. He turned and prepared to walk back into the hall.
Xu Shiji smiled faintly and said, “What a naive child.”
Chen Changsheng stopped in his tracks because he suddenly felt his body grow stiff.
With just a simple sentence from Xu Shiji, his heart abruptly tightened, and the blood flow in his veins became terrifyingly fast.
A violent and bloody aura seized control of his mind and body.
An unhealthy, bloody flush spread across Chen Changsheng’s face, and he felt extremely uncomfortable. Only at this moment did he truly realize that a powerhouse of Xu Shiji’s level could kill someone as ordinary as him with the greatest of ease.
He stood at the side door of the hall, looking at the brightness inside.
Though night had fallen, it was still a bright day.
No one dared to kill openly in the palace, especially on such an important night—not even Xu Shiji. But precisely because tonight was so crucial, Xu Shiji certainly wouldn’t just sit idly by and watch him stay in the hall, ready to stand up at any moment and disrupt the feast and the marriage contract that the entire human world was anticipating.
Xu Shiji could seriously injure him, even knock him unconscious. That would certainly bring many troubles, but it would eliminate all variables in advance.
Chen Changsheng knew exactly what Xu Shiji was thinking. If it were him, he might also choose to take the risk. But he didn’t regret leaving the hall to meet Xu Shiji outside, because, just like at the Xu Mansion and outside the Ancestral Temple, he had a clear conscience and therefore no fear.
His right hand gripped the rhinoceros horn button that Luoluo had sewn into his sleeve.
Let it all be exposed under the light of the night pearls.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the night on the other side of the palace.
That voice was incredibly gentle, giving a feeling of warmth and refreshment.
It was like a spring breeze, blowing straight into his face.
“General Xu, what are you doing here?”
A young man emerged from the night, dressed in yellow robes, with neatly combed hair, handsome features, and a gentle expression.
Anyone looking at the scene could clearly see that something was wrong between Xu Shiji and Chen Changsheng, but the young man still asked calmly, so naturally, as if he truly just wanted to greet Xu Shiji, as if it were merely the start of small talk.
A spring breeze came in the night.
That violent and bloody aura vanished instantly.
Chen Changsheng was freed from danger, and his complexion gradually improved.
Xu Shiji looked at the young man, bowed, and said, “Greetings to His Highness, Prince Chenliu. I was attending the Ivy Banquet tonight and happened to meet an old acquaintance, so I exchanged a few words.”
Chen Changsheng was slightly startled, thinking that this must be the legendary Prince Chenliu.
Prince Chenliu looked at him, appearing somewhat surprised, and said, “So it’s you?”
Xu Shiji frowned slightly and asked, “Does Your Highness know him?”
Prince Chenliu smiled faintly and said, “He’s the first student of the National Teaching Academy in recent years. I think it’s hard not to know him.”
Since Her Holiness the Saint Empress ascended the throne, all members of the Chen imperial clan had been sent to remote prefectures and commanderies, with only Prince Chenliu remaining in the capital, raised within the palace.
Prince Chenliu was the sole bloodline of the old imperial family in the capital, and he represented many meanings.
Some days ago, the National Teaching Academy reappeared in the eyes of the world, and in many people’s view, that also represented many meanings.
Coincidentally, the meanings represented by both were the same.