Chapter 50: The Prerequisite of All Things
A gentle breeze passed through the ruins, stirring sleeves and gradually carrying a hint of killing intent.
Others could not sense it, but Prince Chenliu was very clear.
He stared into the eyes of Daoist Siyuan and said word by word, “Chen Changsheng will not kill me.”
Nun Huaishu was momentarily stunned before she understood his meaning. She instinctively wanted to step forward to stop him but noticed that her senior sister remained silent.
Nun Huairen gazed toward the southern part of the capital, lost in thought, paying no attention to what was about to happen.
At that moment, a short blade appeared just outside the broken wall of the flower hall, cutting through the chaotic wind and a certain possibility.
When Daoist Siyuan looked over, the short blade had already returned to its owner’s sleeve.
Hu Sanshi’er had finished searching the prince’s mansion.
Daoist Siyuan said expressionlessly, “Sometimes mercy is equivalent to stupidity.”
Hu Sanshi’er replied humbly, “Since it is His Holiness’s will, even error is correct. Stupidity can only be attributed to us.”
It sounded somewhat convoluted, but the meaning was actually very simple.
Even if His Holiness the Pope was wrong, he was still right.
If His Holiness the Pope was truly wrong? Please refer back to the previous sentence.
Daoist Siyuan withdrew his gaze from Prince Chenliu, and the wind beside his sleeve also ceased.
Hu Sanshi’er briefly explained the current situation.
From the collapse of Moshan to the clergy of the Li Palace taking control of the Taiping Sect, many things had happened around the capital, but in reality, the time was very short.
At the Tian Shu Ling, there was still a standoff. Even facing that true legend, Xu Yourong showed no intention of backing down.
Nun Huairen and Nun Huaishu had entered the underground passage since early morning and had no idea what had happened at Tian Shu Ling.
When they learned that even Wang Zhice had appeared, they were naturally very shocked.
“Why would Lord Wang…”
Nun Huaishu was extremely nervous and unable to continue speaking.
Nun Huairen thought to herself that she had sensed something was off to the south earlier. After a moment of deliberation, she said, “Let’s go to Tian Shu Ling and take a look.”
Nun Huaishu’s voice trembled slightly as she said, “But that’s Lord Wang.”
Nun Huairen said calmly, “Even if it is Lord Wang, he cannot issue reckless orders beneath the Holy Maiden Peak.”
With that, she led Nun Huaishu away from the Prince Xiang’s mansion and headed toward Tian Shu Ling.
At such a critical moment, being able to make such a resolute choice greatly increased the clergy’s respect for Nun Huairen, or rather, the Holy Maiden Peak.
Daoist Siyuan paid no attention to these matters. He looked at Prince Chenliu again and said, “If I have the chance, I will still kill you today.”
Hu Sanshi’er listened helplessly but knew there was nothing he could do, because Daoist Siyuan had said “if I have the chance.”
Prince Chenliu said, “You really want to kill me?”
Daoist Siyuan said, “I wanted to kill you many years ago, because even then I thought you were a trouble.”
Back then, he was a young man admired by both Empress Tianhai and His Holiness the Pope, having just become an Archbishop.
Prince Chenliu was the sole representative of the Chen royal family in the capital, holding a very important place in the hearts of the people and officials.
Prince Chenliu said, “Just as Mo Yu said, your killing intent is indeed extremely strong.”
Daoist Siyuan replied, “Why bother trying to sow discord between her and me? Back then, never mind you, even His Holiness the Pope, I once wanted to kill.”
Prince Chenliu knew what he was referring to.
During the siege of the National Academy and the events that followed, Daoist Siyuan often appeared.
Whether drinking tea in the teahouse on Baihua Lane or staring at the ivy-covered courtyard wall in the night.
At that time, Prince Chenliu stood on the opposite side, his task being to protect Chen Changsheng.
But now the situation had reversed.
Hu Sanshi’er led Prince Chenliu out of the mansion.
Looking at the ruined garden and the bodies lying among the debris, Prince Chenliu remained silent.
He did not know where the Li Palace planned to imprison him, whether Daoist Siyuan would find an opportunity to kill him in secret, or whether he should pray for Chen Changsheng’s victory or Shang Xingzhou’s.
From the perspective of his own safety, the former would naturally be preferable.
But that was not the ending he wished to see.
He only knew that no matter whether Shang Xingzhou or Chen Changsheng ultimately won today, he and his father had already lost in advance.
Without even making a real move.
Perhaps it was precisely because he and his father had not truly prepared to act that they had lost so thoroughly and cleanly.
Now it seemed that he, his father, the other princes of the Chen family, and even Shang Xingzhou had all underestimated Chen Changsheng’s boldness.
Indeed, supreme authority was the most corrosive poison. Who could resist such temptation?
……
……
There was no snowfall in the Li Palace, but it still felt very cold—perhaps because it was too desolate.
On the vast square, there were only two people.
Wu Daozi sat on the cold bluestone floor, his hair a mess, his bandages soaked through with blood, looking extremely disheveled.
At this moment, he was furious, wishing he could curse Chen Changsheng’s ancestors for eighteen generations, regardless of whether the Gaozu Emperor was among them.
But he dared not do so, because a woman in white ceremonial robes stood behind him.
An Hua’s delicate face was tense with nervousness.
She gripped a short blade, not looking anywhere else, only staring at the back of Wu Daozi’s neck.
When His Holiness the Pope left, he had made it very clear: if things changed, she was to kill this old man immediately.
The two Archbishops had also taught her very clearly: if you want to kill someone, the best way is to cut off their head.
……
……
Chen Changsheng walked out of the Li Palace.
The instructors and examinees of the Grand Examination were all within the Green Leaf World.
The onlookers had long since dispersed, and the stone pillars were silent.
He thought he was alone, about to face the world, and couldn’t help feeling a bit lonely.
But just as he was about to sigh, he saw Tang Thirty-Six.
This surprised him and also made him a bit embarrassed.
Tang Thirty-Six said, “Since you could write to Guan Bai in advance, you could have told me too.”
When he said this, his voice was calm, but anyone could hear the irritation in it.
Chen Changsheng said, “I know the Tang Clan’s way of doing things—once you act, there’s no turning back. So I didn’t want to involve you.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “If you’re going to move, you have to strike like thunder. Don’t you agree with the Holy Maiden’s approach?”
Chen Changsheng said, “Yourong’s method is the best one possible under these circumstances.”
Threatening someone like Shang Xingzhou with the future of the human race might seem naive, childish, and absurd, but it was not.
Because Shang Xingzhou understood that naivety often meant absolute ruthlessness.
If Wang Zhice hadn’t suddenly appeared today, Xu Yourong might have actually succeeded.
Tang Thirty-Six asked, “What are you planning to do now?”
Chen Changsheng said, “Whether in cultivation or wisdom, I am far inferior to Yourong. But sometimes, I am even more naive.”
Even in such a tense moment, hearing these words, Tang Thirty-Six couldn’t help but want to mock him.
But he didn’t, because he vaguely understood what Chen Changsheng was trying to express.
The more naive, the more ruthless—was that what he meant?
Chen Changsheng knew what he was worried about, patted him on the shoulder, and walked southward.
Tang Thirty-Six stood frozen in place. It took him a moment to snap out of it, and then he chased after him.