Chapter 24: Personnel Arrangements of the Divine Temple
After the wedding of Prince Louyang and Mo Yu, the attention of the capital's populace shifted to the other wedding.
In the current imperial court, two factions had subtly formed. The old court officials, represented by Eunuch Lin, naturally formed the young Emperor's faction, now joined by Mo Yu and Prince Louyang. The other faction consisted of Prince Xiang, Prince Zhongshan, and other Chen clan princes, along with the military forces represented by Chen Guansong's direct line. The Tianhai family wavered between the two sides. After the death of the Saint Empress, the Tianhai family naturally suffered significant suppression, but this clan had influenced the court for two hundred years; its foundation and strength remained, and no one could ignore its existence.
The wedding of Prince Chenliu and Pingguo, in a sense, represented an alliance between Prince Xiang's mansion and the Tianhai family. As the maternal family of His Majesty the Emperor, the Tianhai family should have stood by his side. However, they showed no intention of postponing this wedding. On the contrary, after Xu Yourong entered the palace, the wedding date was even moved forward.
Tianhai Chengwu looked much older than he had three years ago. It seemed that the cultivation realm of half-step sanctity could not resist the power of time.
Looking at his son, he said with emotion, "Perhaps you were right initially, but now, we can no longer turn back."
Tianhai Shengxue frowned slightly and said, "His Majesty will also need our strength."
"But after this matter concludes?"
A self-mocking smile appeared on Tianhai Chengwu's face.
"If His Majesty truly intends to join forces with Chen Changsheng, it means he will fall out with the Dao Venerable. Under what pretext would he do that?"
Tianhai Shengxue fell silent and no longer tried to persuade him.
Everything required a suitable pretext—this was the principle of having a just cause for action.
If the young Emperor truly did this and succeeded, then those who had betrayed the Saint Empress at the critical moment back then would inevitably face punishment.
As for the Tianhai family, they would undoubtedly be the first to be purged.
...
...
That winter was exceptionally cold, as if it would never end.
But one day, the wind and snow suddenly stopped. Sunlight tore through the thick clouds, falling upon the capital and the mountains and rivers. The world instantly grew warm, and spring arrived abruptly.
Spring had come, and all things revived. Just like the Luo River outside the capital, which began to flow again, many stagnant matters also needed to restart.
The Divine Pope had returned to the capital. Neither the Divine Temple nor the court could find any reason to continue postponing the Grand Examination.
This grand event, suspended for three years, immediately captured the attention of the entire continent.
Just as spring had arrived suddenly, the news of the Grand Examination also came abruptly. Naturally, there was no time for preparatory exams or the Ivy Banquet.
The instructors and students of the Six Ivies, along with students from various prefectural academies, quickly threw themselves into study and cultivation. Disciples from sectarian mountain gates in the distant south had already begun preparing their luggage. The Longevity Sect had already withered, but including the Southern Creek Nunnery, the Locust Tree Academy, and the Lishan Sword Sect, over forty sects were preparing to send disciples to participate in this year's Grand Examination. Fortunately, there were no geniuses like the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom this time, nor figures like Zhong Hui of the Locust Tree Academy, so the pressure on the various Ivies was much lighter than in previous years.
But this was the first Grand Examination since the young Emperor and the Divine Pope had ascended their thrones. No one dared to take it lightly.
The Guardian Cavalry constantly patrolled outside the walls of the National Academy. Street vendors were driven out to Hundred Flowers Alley, and even taverns with significant backing were required to operate only during restricted hours.
Within the quiet National Academy, only the sounds of reading and sword testing could be heard. Su Moyu was leading the students participating in the Grand Examination through their final preparations. Even Tang Thirty-Six no longer went to the Divine Temple, staying in the National Academy all day to supervise the students, occasionally issuing harsh reprimands.
Chen Changsheng also held the position of Dean of the National Academy, but due to his status, he could not do much, nor even say a word.
...
...
Seven days before the Grand Examination, Tang Thirty-Six entered the Divine Temple.
The Divine Temple did not prohibit clergy from entering or leaving, but it remained as desolate as it had been over the past three years.
Perhaps this was because half of the six halls—such as the Grass Moon Hall and the Moss Hall—were now empty.
The positions of Archbishops Mao Qiuyu, White Stone Daoist, and Mu Jiushi had yet to be filled.
Hu Sanshi'er, who had replaced Mu Jiushi's position, now had no energy to manage the affairs of the Xuanwen Hall, handling the daily operations of the Divine Temple comprehensively. Linghai Zhiwang led the black-robed deacons of the Heavenly Judgment Hall, keeping an eye on the court's movements. After Chen Changsheng returned to the capital, Siyuan Daoist quickly left the Zhechong Hall to carry out the most important missionary work in various prefectures. And just ten days ago, An Hua, along with hundreds of the most fervent clergy and believers, also joined this missionary effort.
Tang Thirty-Six asked, "Who will take over the position of Archbishop of the Sacred Edict?"
Chen Changsheng said, "Three years from now, she will return to preside over the affairs of the Wenhua Hall."
The "she" in this sentence referred to Archbishop Anlin.
Tang Thirty-Six was somewhat surprised, but after thinking it over, he felt this was the best choice.
Archbishop Anlin had ultimately not committed any serious violation of religious law; she merely lacked trust in Chen Changsheng.
Leaving the capital for three years of ascetic cultivation should be enough to offset her mistakes. As a graduate of the Azure Thirteen Divisions, she was indeed more suitable to take charge of the Wenhua Hall.
Of course, he also knew that Chen Changsheng's arrangement was, to some extent, due to An Hua.
"Then what about the Archbishop of the Sacred Edict?"
"Hmm, I want to leave it for Luoluo... After she ascends the throne, we'll make further plans."
Tang Thirty-Six praised, "Brilliant!"
Back then, Mu Jiushi, as the princess of the Western Continent, had served as Archbishop of the Wenhua Hall because humanity needed the friendship of the Western Continent. Humanity needed the alliance of the demon race even more. As the princess of the demon race, Luoluo, serving concurrently as Archbishop of the Sacred Edict from eighty thousand li away—who could object?
Tang Thirty-Six then asked, "What about Dean Mao's side?"
Chen Changsheng said, "He recommended Zhuang Zhihuan, but I did not agree."
Tang Thirty-Six was stunned.
Mao Qiuyu's departure was not due to any mistake but because he had broken through to the sacred realm. If compared to the imperial court, this was a promotion.
Before leaving, it was only natural for him to recommend a successor for the Yinghua Hall, and such recommendations were usually not rejected.
Chen Changsheng's refusal was a significant slight to Mao Qiuyu and the Heavenly Academy, and one could imagine how Zhuang Zhihuan felt.
Tang Thirty-Six understood the reason Chen Changsheng did not agree to Zhuang Zhihuan. He did not plead on his behalf, but he found the matter quite troublesome. The position of the Yinghua Hall was very special. Compared to Zhuang Zhihuan, whether it was the Archbishop of the Ancestral Temple, the Archbishop of the Divine Temple's Affiliated Academy, or the Archbishop of the Azure Thirteen Divisions, none would easily command respect. As for him and Su Moyu, who came from the National Academy, they could not even be considered—Chen Changsheng could not leave the believers of the world with an image of nepotism, and their qualifications were far too shallow.
So who would take over as Archbishop of the Yinghua Hall?
Chen Changsheng uttered an unexpected name.
Guan Bai.