Chapter 20: Hair in Disarray
The words "responsibility and the distant horizon" were Chen Changsheng's true feelings, but they did not remain only in his heart.
As he thought of these things, he also spoke them aloud.
An Hua did not fully understand his meaning, but she knew he would not leave, and her spirits lifted considerably.
Just then, Tang Thirty-Six emerged from the hall, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
An Hua's gaze toward him was somewhat off. After hesitating for a moment, she said softly, "Young Master Tang, this is not appropriate."
The Papal Palace was not a place just anyone could enter, let alone sleep in.
If they encountered those rigid disciplinary priests, they might well accuse Tang Thirty-Six of disrespect.
Tang Thirty-Six shook his head and said, "Don't worry. With a stone bed that hard, I won't be sleeping here again."
After the two had washed up briefly, several simple dishes were placed on the plain square table.
Tang Thirty-Six looked at the thin congee and modest side dishes, naturally recalling his first meeting with Chen Changsheng at the Plum Garden Inn all those years ago. Then he remembered the pitiful, bland food that Ouyang Po had made in the early days of the Orthodox Academy. He couldn't help but sigh and set down his chopsticks.
Setting down one's chopsticks and not eating might be because the food was not good enough, or because one's mood was not good enough—perhaps because one was worrying about something.
He looked into Chen Changsheng's eyes and asked, "You still haven't answered my question from yesterday."
Chen Changsheng ignored him and continued his breakfast.
Tang Thirty-Six kept staring at him.
After who knows how long, Chen Changsheng finally finished his meal. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, took the wet cloth An Hua handed him, carefully wiped his face and hands twice, then picked up the cup of precious rock tea, took a sip, and spat it into the shallow copper spittoon.
Watching this scene, Tang Thirty-Six clicked his tongue twice, his mockery unmistakable.
Chen Changsheng said, "Such sounds really shouldn't come from your mouth."
Tang Thirty-Six came from a wealthy family and had lived a life of luxury since childhood that was unimaginable to ordinary people. Even the Princess Pingguo in the palace probably couldn't compare to him in this regard. If anyone was to mock Chen Changsheng's life as the Pope, it shouldn't be him.
"I feel like you're trying to say 'a dog's mouth can't spit out ivory,'" Tang Thirty-Six said.
Chen Changsheng replied seriously, "You misunderstand."
Tang Thirty-Six was quite exasperated. "Can you tell me now?"
Chen Changsheng asked, "Xu Yourong and Prince Chenliu have known each other since childhood in the palace. It's rare for him to come to the capital, so arranging a meeting is perfectly normal."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "I've warned you many times to be wary of Prince Chenliu."
In the past few years in the capital, Prince Chenliu had given Chen Changsheng and the Orthodox Academy much help and the earliest, most precious goodwill. So Chen Changsheng had a very good impression of this imperial grandson, and he had never been able to think of any reason Prince Chenliu would target him.
But now, it seemed that reason was already quite sufficient.
Because he might become the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
If Yu Ren were to die.
Chen Changsheng understood Tang Thirty-Six's vigilance and unease.
But how could his master let anything happen to his senior brother?
"You should be able to guess Xu Yourong's purpose in entering the palace last night. As long as Shang Xingzhou becomes suspicious, the situation will naturally fall into chaos."
Tang Thirty-Six used the most direct words to shatter the calm that Chen Changsheng had disguised with silence.
Chen Changsheng looked out the window at the dim sky and said, "But why would she do this?"
Tang Thirty-Six said, "I believe Mo Yu has already warned you."
Chen Changsheng thought of what Mo Yu had said to him that night.
Was Xu Yourong doing all this to avenge the Heavenly Sea Saintess?
Even if it meant floods overwhelming the heavens, even if it meant the sky shattering and the earth cracking, even if it meant countless lives perishing?
"It's not like that. At least, it's not that simple."
Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze and looked at Tang Thirty-Six. "She told me that if she was going to do anything, she would tell me."
After breakfast, Tang Thirty-Six left for the Orthodox Academy. He needed to contact the Wenshui forces as soon as possible to deal with the sudden turmoil in the capital.
Xu Yourong arrived at the Li Palace.
Watching the beautiful woman who arrived with the gradually brightening sky, Chen Changsheng suddenly felt a bit nervous.
"I talked with your senior brother all night last night. I'm a little tired."
Xu Yourong covered her mouth with her hand and yawned carefully.
Chen Changsheng noticed the lingering fatigue between her clear brows and couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
"Then you should rest for a while."
Xu Yourong looked at him with a faint, teasing smile. "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Chen Changsheng said, "If you're willing to tell me, you'll naturally speak."
Xu Yourong smiled and said, "So let's go for a walk outside and see if it can lift our spirits."
Last night, Luoyang had been exceptionally cold. The cold wave had swept from east to west with the wind, and this morning the capital had also experienced a sharp drop in temperature, with another snowfall.
Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong walked through the snow-covered Li Palace. The priests and deacons kept their distance, giving them a wide berth.
On the vast square, only their footprints remained, giving the scene a somewhat desolate feel.
Xu Yourong walked with her hands behind her back, wandering casually among the halls and looking around with evident interest.
In terms of demeanor, she looked like a retired old official who had returned to the countryside and, on a whim, decided to go buy groceries.
Chen Changsheng found this amusing, then endearing, and then he remembered that the Heavenly Sea Saintess also liked to walk like this.
Xu Yourong stopped, reached out, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear, then smiled.
Chen Changsheng had a mild case of mysophobia and was always meticulous in his actions. His black hair was never out of place. Such a thing rarely happened.
It could only mean that his mind was also somewhat unsettled today.
"Yesterday, I made an appointment with Prince Chenliu to meet at the Orthodox Academy. I had planned to meet him with you, but you were busy, so I saw him alone."
Xu Yourong said, "I told him that I planned to enter the palace at night and hoped he would seize this opportunity."
Chen Changsheng hadn't expected the topic to be broached so abruptly. He asked instinctively, "Opportunity?"
"For him and Prince Xiang, the rift between you and Shang Xingzhou is their only chance."
Xu Yourong said, "But our strength isn't enough to throw the situation into chaos, so they won't act rashly."
Chen Changsheng said, "Unless you can convince my senior brother to side with us."
Xu Yourong said, "Yes. So he will definitely go to Luoyang to discuss this with Shang Xingzhou. He might even help me accomplish this task—convincing your senior brother to stand with us, or at least convincing Shang Xingzhou to believe that your senior brother will stand with us."
Chen Changsheng said, "If we fail, that will be his and Prince Xiang's opportunity."
Xu Yourong said, "Correct. And that is also our opportunity."
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, "This will cause many deaths."
"The Saintess once said, 'Fight for peace, and peace will endure.'"
Xu Yourong said, "What I seek is the method that sheds the least blood."
From deep within the Li Palace, a distant bell tolled, interrupting her words.
Several red geese broke through the wind and snow, flying off into the distance.
At the far end of the hall, the priests and deacons who had been respectfully watching them looked around. Upon hearing something, their faces suddenly lit up with joy.