Chapter 39: Please Do Not Repeat Last Night’s Story
“I had forgotten about Liu Qing.”
Shang Xingzhou remarked with a sigh, “If you hadn’t brought him up, I wouldn’t even recall his name.”
Even though he was now the de facto foremost person in the world, he could not afford to ignore a terrifying assassin like Liu Qing. So forgetting truly meant forgetting, not a display of contempt or indifference.
Xu Yourong said, “He is indeed easy to forget.”
“The best assassins should be exactly like that,” Shang Xingzhou said with a hint of admiration. “After Su Li and that one left, he improved a great deal.”
Xu Yourong knew that the “that one” he referred to was not her teacher but the legendary leader of the assassins. She replied, “Yes, which is why I am certain that Prince Chenliu will die.”
Shang Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, “I imagine you have similar arrangements in many other places?”
Xu Yourong said, “The plans elsewhere are much rougher. Guan Bai, the new Archbishop of Yinghua Hall, will return to the Academy of Heavenly Dao shortly, but I’m not sure what happens next.”
Shang Xingzhou nodded and said, “Zhuang Zhihuan is quite displeased about this. If the situation becomes unstable, he might make a move against Guan Bai.”
Xu Yourong said, “That’s what I think too. Then Guan Bai will die.”
Even as she spoke of the death of an important figure on their side, her expression remained as calm as if she were narrating something entirely unrelated to her.
Shang Xingzhou gazed at her quietly, then suddenly laughed.
It was only at this moment that he truly regarded her as an opponent.
“And then what?”
“All sorts of deaths.”
“How will they die?”
“Just you killing me, me killing you… like that night.”
Xu Yourong’s gaze grew distant, as if she were looking at a faraway place or a time long past. She had not witnessed that night three years ago, when she and Mo Yu were sent out of the capital by the Holy Empress.
…
…
More than a dozen red geese took flight, some landing, others flying off to more distant places. News from the Mausoleum of Books gradually spread through the streets and alleys of the capital, and the dust growing closer across the early spring fields confirmed those rumors.
The crowd before the palace stirred restlessly and quickly dispersed, but the Grand Court Examination continued. Bishops and deacons hurried back and forth in front of the halls, figures dashed along the Sacred Path, and the guardian cavalry had already set out, the atmosphere thick with tension.
King of Linghai looked at Chen Changsheng with a grave expression and said, “It’s about to begin.”
Chen Changsheng walked to the door of the hall and said, “If…”
King of Linghai and Hu Sanshier and the others looked over, tense.
Chen Changsheng had been ignoring worldly affairs for many days. If this was part of some tacit understanding with Xu Yourong, or if he was preparing some hidden card, then today would be the time to reveal it.
“…I mean, if,” Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, then turned to face them and said, “Never mind, there is no if. Just follow what’s on the paper.”
With that, he took a paper dragonfly from his sleeve and handed it over.
King of Linghai and the others unfolded the paper dragonfly, glanced over it hastily, and were immediately stunned.
They had no idea what absurd decree Chen Changsheng had given, but they had to carry it out.
…
…
Clear water spilled over the edges of the stone pool, then flowed out of the hall along the bluestone path, silent and soundless. Only when the pool water was stirred did it make a crisp sound like a sword’s ring.
Chen Changsheng scooped up a ladle of water.
Green Leaf was not there, so the water was naturally not for watering it.
He raised it to his lips and drank it slowly.
Tang Thirty-Six stared into his eyes and asked, “What exactly are you trying to do?”
Chen Changsheng wiped the water stains from his face with his sleeve and said, “Drinking clear water might clear the mind.”
Tang Thirty-Six said seriously, “You never drink water that hasn’t been boiled, let alone wipe your mouth with your sleeve.”
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “Haven’t you noticed that I’ve changed a lot?”
Tang Thirty-Six asked, “What part of you has changed?”
Chen Changsheng replied earnestly, “I live more freely, more casually now.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at his bright eyes and serious expression, and felt a surge of irritation. He said, “You should go look in a mirror.”
Chen Changsheng clearly didn’t understand what he meant and looked confused.
Tang Thirty-Six listened to the commotion outside the hall, frowned slightly, and said, “Aren’t you really worried?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, “Since there won’t be a fight, why worry?”
Tang Thirty-Six asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”
Chen Changsheng turned and looked toward the stone chamber. For some reason, his emotions were complicated.
“I know my master better than You Rong does. When he isn’t prepared, he will never give the other side any chance to start a war.”
Now that both sides were locked in a standoff at the Mausoleum of Books, Tang Thirty-Six couldn’t believe Chen Changsheng’s judgment and could only see it as self-comfort. Chen Changsheng had not been present when he handed the paper dragonfly to King of Linghai and the others.
“Are you really not going to use the Imperial Carriage Diagram?” He looked into Chen Changsheng’s eyes and asked, his expression more serious and solemn than ever before.
Chen Changsheng remained silent.
Tang Thirty-Six said, “If you’re certain that His Majesty the Emperor will stand by your side at the most critical moment, then today is the best opportunity.”
The Lingyan Pavilion had been destroyed by the Holy Empress Tianhai with the Frost Remnant Divine Spear, but the central hub of the Imperial Carriage Diagram was still in the palace. And although Old Master Tang remained neutral, the eldest branch of the Tang family was gradually taking power. The eldest master had sent many stewards into the capital, now stationed in various shops and guilds, ready to follow Tang Thirty-Six’s orders at any time.
With the help of the Tang family, Yu Ren could activate the Imperial Carriage Diagram at any moment. At that time, even if the armies controlled by the various princes marched into the capital, they would be no match for the two brothers.
This was not the first time Tang Thirty-Six had brought this up to Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng still remained silent.
Tang Thirty-Six finally understood: he wasn’t hesitating; he was using silence to convey his decision.
Chen Changsheng believed that if it truly came to the brink of the abyss, his senior brother would surely protect him. But for some reason, he didn’t want to use the Imperial Carriage Diagram.
“Why?” Tang Thirty-Six stared into his eyes and asked.
“If I use the Imperial Carriage Diagram, it will be too much like that night three years ago.” Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, then continued, “And I would be too much like my master.”
Tang Thirty-Six understood what he meant. After a moment of silence, he reached out and patted him on the shoulder, offering support and comfort, then walked out of the hall.
Chen Changsheng returned to the stone chamber.
These past few days, he had been practicing his sword in this chamber.
The chamber was simply furnished, so plain it was almost shabby—nothing but a meditation cushion on the floor.
But now, a person had suddenly appeared in the chamber.
When had this person arrived? How had he evaded the eyes of the thousands of clergy in the palace?
It was an old man with white hair, holding an undried brush in his right hand and a paint palette in his left. The paint on the palette was gray, and the old man’s clothes were also gray. His hair and eyebrows, which should have been white, were stained gray, matching the color of the stone chamber’s walls.
Could it be that this old man had painted himself into the stone chamber’s wall?
If that were true, what kind of miraculous painting skill was this?
The old man looked at Chen Changsheng with some satisfaction and said, “At least you understand the principle of putting the world first.”
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, “Actually, I don’t really understand it very well.”