Chapter 38: Blind Chess
Shang Xingzhou asked, "Why him?"
Xu Yourong replied, "Because he will be the new emperor."
This war was jointly initiated by her and Yu Ren. If Shang Xingzhou's side ultimately won, the emperor would inevitably be replaced.
The Prince of Chenliu was the most suitable candidate, and also the one Shang Xingzhou had already selected.
Shang Xingzhou did not deny it. He said calmly, "Indeed, among Emperor Taizong's descendants, he is the most outstanding, though still not as good as His Majesty."
Xu Yourong said, "I am very curious. You devoted your heart and soul, educating His Majesty for over twenty years. Are you truly willing to let him go?"
Shang Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "If His Majesty is truly swayed by you, then I have no choice but to let him go."
Xu Yourong asked, "Have you considered that my visit to the palace that night might have been a mere illusion?"
Shang Xingzhou said, "His Majesty did not send a letter to Luoyang."
Many days had passed, enough time to write a very heartfelt letter.
But he had not received one.
Xu Yourong understood his meaning.
This was exactly the outcome she had wanted to see.
Therefore, the Prince of Chenliu must die.
If he died, even if Shang Xingzhou won this war, who would become emperor?
Those princes of the Chen family, each with their own ambitions, would inevitably drag the human race into chaos.
What meaning would there be in Shang Xingzhou fighting this war?
Though it was early spring, the wind carried a slight chill, offering no warmth.
In the Mausoleum of Books, green trees stretched in a continuous line, but the shrubs on both sides of the sacred path were covered in dust, looking listless.
Shang Xingzhou looked out beyond the Mausoleum of Books, watching several rising dust dragons, and knew the heavy-armored cavalry would arrive in half an hour. His expression remained composed.
"He is an outstanding young man; it won't be easy for him to die."
"I have known him since I was very young. I know he is extremely cautious and habitually leaves himself a way out in everything he does."
"Indeed, where he still falls far short of Emperor Taizong is that, at certain critical moments, he lacks the courage to face bloodshed."
Shang Xingzhou turned to Xu Yourong and said, "And you have already found his escape route?"
Xu Yourong said softly, "Yes."
The gentle wind threaded through the streets and alleys. The buildings, laden with the dust of history, had long since learned not to be moved by so-called great events.
The mansions on both sides of the Avenue of Supreme Peace were very quiet, perhaps because their masters had gone to the Mausoleum of Books.
The Prince of Chenliu had not gone. He stayed behind, sitting in the mansion's flower hall, quietly sipping tea.
The figures of the mansion's experts flashed past the windows.
The tea in the porcelain bowl gradually cooled, just like the fingers holding the bowl.
He gently placed the tea bowl back on the table and cast an imperceptible glance beneath the window.
The floor there was paved with green bricks, one of which was slightly smoother than the others.
An escape route was not a back door; on the contrary, at times like this, the back door was often the most dangerous place.
The escape route the Prince of Chenliu had arranged for himself was beneath that brick—a tunnel leading to the Luo Canal.
Since the previous dynasty, the Avenue of Supreme Peace had been where the nobility resided. Those nobles, clinging to power and fearing accidents, had dug countless tunnels.
After Zhou Tong took charge of the Ministry of Rites, he had dug many more tunnels.
Those tunnels were as dense as a spider's web. No one but Zhou Tong himself could fully understand them.
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"And Mo Yu."
Shang Xingzhou said to Xu Yourong, "So-called escape routes can easily become dead ends."
Xu Yourong said, "Yes, so the Prince of Chenliu will surely die."
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Three years ago, when snow and wind filled the capital, Chen Changsheng charged into the Northern Military Command Alley, and Zhou Tong hid in the underground prison.
While talking with Xue He, he was poisoned by Zhe Xiu.
He barely escaped through the underground passage to a hidden residence on the Avenue of Supreme Peace, but still couldn't shake off Zhe Xiu's pursuit.
But what truly drove him to despair was the beautiful woman in a palace dress waiting for him at that residence.
Mo Yu knew everything about him—both the hidden residence on the Avenue of Supreme Peace and those incredibly complex tunnels.
Today, someone was also waiting for the Prince of Chenliu in the tunnels.
The ones waiting for the Prince of Chenliu were two Taoist nuns.
Descending from the rockery of the Prince of Luling's mansion, there was a tunnel that turned westward.
The tunnel from the Prince of Xiang's mansion to the Luo Canal intersected with this tunnel.
The two Taoist nuns sat cross-legged there.
One nun had a serene expression, appearing gentle and frail.
The other nun had fierce, raised brows, her eyes flashing with thunderous anger.
They were the two highest-ranking and most accomplished grand-aunts of Nanxi Zhai: Huai Ren and Huai Shu.
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"I have always wondered why you brought Huai Ren and Huai Shu to the capital, and where you planned to use them..."
Shang Xingzhou looked at Xu Yourong and said, "So it was here."
Xu Yourong realized that the arrival of her two grand-aunts had not escaped his notice. She said, "Since it is the first kill, we must ensure success."
Shang Xingzhou shook his head and said, "In my view, this kill cannot succeed."
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"Please, have some tea."
The Prince of Chenliu lifted the teapot, filled three teacups, and gently pushed them forward, observing all the formalities.
The tea in his own bowl had gone cold, but the tea in the cups had to be hot, as a sign of respect.
Sitting opposite him were three Taoist priests in blue robes. Their eyes held a restrained brilliance, appearing ordinary, but occasionally, when their sleeves moved slightly, a sharp sword intent emanated, revealing their extraordinary cultivation.
Especially the white-haired old Taoist, who seemed dull and silent, yet gave off an unfathomable aura.
Few people knew that when Shang Xingzhou was at the National Academy in the capital or in seclusion in Xining, this old Taoist had presided over the Changchun Temple in Luoyang.
The Prince of Chenliu only learned this today, and also discovered that the followers of the Dao Venerable were more powerful than he had imagined.
With this half-saintly old Taoist by his side, along with the other two Taoists from Changchun Temple, and all the experts in the mansion, he suddenly felt he might have been overly cautious.
Of course, if things went wrong at the Mausoleum of Books and the other side gained the upper hand, he would still have to leave.
The Prince of Chenliu's gaze once again fell on that green brick beneath the window.
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"You placed your strongest person by the Prince of Chenliu's side. It seems you truly value him."
Shang Xingzhou did not continue, but Xu Yourong understood his meaning. She said calmly, "Then he must die all the more."
Shang Xingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised, because Xu Yourong's expression had not changed at all; she remained as calm as ever.
It was not feigned calm. At this point in the game, any attempt to conceal emotions was meaningless and unnecessary.
Xu Yourong was truly calm.
Because she was absolutely certain that today, the Prince of Chenliu would die.
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The Prince of Xiang's mansion was very quiet. The indifferent-faced experts vigilantly watched their surroundings, shifting positions from time to time, their footsteps making no sound.
In the garden behind the flower hall, two formation masters were intently studying a sand table, ready to adjust their defensive measures at any moment.
A man in blue robes stood by the wall, his shoulders slumped, his eyes half-closed, as if asleep.
He looked very ordinary, with a plain sword loosely tied to his belt.
But those who knew him understood that the sword was tied loosely for easy drawing, and his slumped shoulders were also for the same purpose.
The former was a habit he had maintained since he first entered the martial world; the latter was a change he made after seeing Wang Po in Xunyang City.
From his stance to his breathing to his attire, every detail was optimized for drawing his sword.
Thus, in this world, he was the fastest to draw his sword.