Chapter 934: Shang Xingzhou's Letter
Watching this scene, Tang Thirty-Six felt a slight unease—even if Chen Changsheng was the Pope, and even if this prince was timid and cowardly, why would he go so far as to perform such a grand bow?
Chen Changsheng looked at the Prince of Louyang's somewhat clumsy movements and heavy frame, momentarily lost in thought. He seemed to be thinking of something, and did not immediately tell the other to rise.
Tang Thirty-Six again sensed something was off. It was clear that Chen Changsheng's attitude, or rather his mindset, toward this prince was problematic.
Among the various princes of the Chen clan, the Prince of Louyang could be considered the most low-key and honest. No matter how fierce the disputes between the imperial court and the state religion became, he had always been respectful toward the Li Palace. The scene just now had proven this. Logically speaking, given Chen Changsheng's temperament and conduct, even if he wasn't particularly warm toward this prince, he shouldn't have been so cold.
Not hearing Chen Changsheng's voice, the Prince of Louyang's expression grew extremely uneasy. Sweat poured down his face, and he cast a pitiful glance at Tang Thirty-Six.
Tang Thirty-Six lightly poked Chen Changsheng's back with his finger. Chen Changsheng finally snapped out of his daze and quickly asked the Prince of Louyang to rise.
The Prince of Louyang clearly breathed a huge sigh of relief. He hastily took a very thin letter from his bosom and, as if holding a family heirloom, carefully and reverently handed it to Chen Changsheng.
Hu Thirty-Two looked at the envelope of that letter, confirming it was not one of the usual letters or those from this morning. So who had written this one?
The window grilles were intricate, seeming almost real. The daylight coming in from outside was greatly dimmed, making the room somewhat gloomy.
Chen Changsheng looked at the talisman seal on the envelope, paused for a moment, then skillfully tore it open.
The handwriting on the letter paper had not been seen for many years, but it was still familiar, just like the person who had written it.
The strokes were smooth and flowing, like a stream outside a town. They appeared delicate and graceful on the surface, but in truth, they contained hidden strength, like a solitary peak shrouded in mist.
Chen Changsheng saw the first line of text, and his expression darkened.
What was said in the letter he had received that morning was indeed true.
He furrowed his brow and never relaxed it again.
Tang Thirty-Six and Hu Thirty-Two looked at him, their eyes asking the question.
"This is a letter my teacher wrote to me," Chen Changsheng said.
Hearing this answer, the two were stunned into silence. The Prince of Louyang kept wiping his cold sweat. The room was quiet, and the entire Prince of Runan's residence was devoid of any sound.
Between the imperial court and the Li Palace, between Shang Xingzhou and his student Chen Changsheng, they had been locked in a stalemate for several years, the situation extremely tense.
Suddenly, Shang Xingzhou sends a personal letter. What was he trying to do?
Of course, it couldn't be because he drank two jugs of wine last night and wanted to see the moon over the northern demons, so he decided to bury the hatchet with his student.
This could only mean that something of great importance had happened on the continent.
Something even more important than the war between the state religion and the imperial court.
So important that even a figure as powerful and aloof as Shang Xingzhou had to temporarily set aside his issues with Chen Changsheng, even seek his help.
Shang Xingzhou's letter was very concise. Chen Changsheng finished reading it quickly and said to the Prince of Louyang, "You have worked hard."
The Prince of Louyang was very pleased, but didn't know what to do next. He stood there dumbly.
Tang Thirty-Six gave him a look.
The Prince of Louyang caught on and quickly bowed before taking his leave.
After he left, Tang Thirty-Six immediately asked, "What exactly happened?"
Chen Changsheng said, "White Emperor City is going to hold the Celestial Selection Ceremony."
Tang Thirty-Six felt the name "Celestial Selection Ceremony" was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it or what it meant.
Hu Thirty-Two's expression changed drastically. He said sternly, "How outrageous! What are the demons thinking?"
Only after hearing Hu Thirty-Two's explanation did Tang Thirty-Six understand the meaning of the Celestial Selection Ceremony. His expression also turned grave.
"So the person Princess Luoluo is betrothed to will be the next White Emperor?"
"Correct."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "Didn't you fix her meridians? Why can't she still inherit the position of White Emperor?"
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment before saying, "Naturally, there are those who don't want her to become the next White Emperor."
Tang Thirty-Six knew who he was talking about and asked in confusion, "Lady Mu is her biological mother. What benefit is there for her in doing this?"
Hu Thirty-Two was concerned about another issue: "Who does Lady Mu plan to have Princess Luoluo marry?"
Chen Changsheng thought about the contents of the morning letter and said, "There are many rumors in White Emperor City. Right now, it seems it will be the Second Prince of the Western Isles."
"The royal family of the Western Isles truly never gives up their ambitions," Hu Thirty-Two said in a deep voice. "The Azure-robed Visitor only died the day before yesterday, and now they're using such tactics again."
"Lady Mu has been married to the White Emperor for several hundred years. It's said the two have always been in love. Who would have thought she still favors her own family, even wanting to take away her own daughter's benefits. In the past, I only thought such foolish women existed in those backward, remote villages..."
Tang Thirty-Six was filled with disgust.
Hu Thirty-Two asked in confusion, "Would the White Emperor agree to her doing this?"
Chen Changsheng said, "His Majesty the White Emperor is in seclusion and hasn't come out. No one knows his stance."
Tang Thirty-Six suddenly felt something was off about this whole affair.
The recent schemes of the Western Isles clearly had the shadow of the imperial court and Shang Xingzhou behind them.
In other words, this was originally an attempt by Shang Xingzhou and Lady Mu to join forces and eliminate Chen Changsheng.
If Lady Mu wanted to use this marriage alliance to let the Western Isles' royal family successfully land on the continent, Shang Xingzhou should have been happy to see it happen. Why was he opposing it so vehemently?
Shang Xingzhou writing to Chen Changsheng was naturally a hope that he would disrupt this Celestial Selection Ceremony.
To stop the marriage alliance between White Emperor City and the Western Isles, Chen Changsheng was certainly the best candidate. His status was noble enough, and his relationship with the demon race was very special.
In this matter, he could play a greater role than Shang Xingzhou.
The problem was that Shang Xingzhou was effectively the number one person under heaven, and Chen Changsheng was the student he most wanted to kill. The relationship between the two was exceptionally complex. For him to write this letter to Chen Changsheng must have required a long period of thought and was very difficult. And the more difficult it was, the more it showed how intense his stance on this matter was. Why was his stance so intense that he would even seek help from his own student, even if it meant he might have to make some concessions to his student afterward?
"The Black Robe is not in Snow Old City right now," Chen Changsheng said. "Moreover, more than twenty days ago, a Starry Sky Sacrifice was held in the demon palace. The commotion was very large, but it's unclear what it was about."
Hearing this, Hu Thirty-Two understood. His face turned somewhat pale.
Tang Thirty-Six's expression also became exceptionally grave.
If Shang Xingzhou's judgment was correct, humanity would face the most dangerous situation since the Siege of Luoyang a thousand years ago.
Everyone was saying that Luoluo might marry the Second Prince of the Western Isles. But what if that wasn't the case?
What if the one forming the marriage alliance with White Emperor City was someone else?
What if that someone came from the north?