Chapter 1170: Turning Around, She Is There Where the Lantern Lights Are Dim
Xuan Yuan Po let go.
With a dull thud, the heavy broken tree fell to the ground, splashing up a great deal of rainwater.
The Hundred Flowers Lane was completely silent.
The rebel soldiers stared at that imposing figure, their eyes filled with shock.
A hint of a smile, along with some emotion, appeared in Tianhai Shengxue's eyes. The students of the National Teaching Academy behind him were filled with admiration and awe.
Xuan Yuan Po was very famous, more because his deeds were extremely legendary, considered by many to be second only to the Pope, Chen Changsheng.
More than a decade ago, he was a young genius of the demon race, specially cultivated by the Star Plucking Academy. Because his right arm was crippled by Tianhai Ya'er, he insisted on dropping out despite all dissuasion, washing dishes for a living at a night market on the streets of the capital. In the end, he was picked up by Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo and brought back to the National Teaching Academy, even becoming the beginning of the academy's revival before Tang Thirty-Six.
Years later, during the incident at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, when Chen Changsheng and the National Teaching Academy were in a precarious state, Xuan Yuan Po wanted to return to the White Emperor City to seek reinforcements, but ultimately gained nothing. He worked day in and day out in a small tavern in the lower city of White Emperor City, misunderstood by the world, enduring countless cold stares and ridicule, yet never once thought to defend himself.
It wasn't until the Guiyuan Grand Ceremony, when Madam Mu intended to marry Luo Luo to the Demon Lord, that he stepped onto the arena as Xuan Yuan Po of the National Teaching Academy. Starting from the most remote arena in the lower city, he fought continuously, winning nine matches in a row, and fought his way to the final battle. Although he narrowly lost to the Demon Lord, he still shocked both sides of the Red River and the entire continent.
Another ten years had passed since then. The former youngest member of the National Teaching Academy had become a famous general of the demon race. In terms of pure combat power, he was even the strongest. The Thunder Summoning Art taught to him by Chen Changsheng, combined with the fist techniques passed down by Bie Yang Hong, was something even Zhe Xiu could not withstand head-on!
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Everyone thought Xuan Yuan Po should be outside Snow Old City, leading the demon reinforcements in a life-and-death struggle against the demon army. Who would have imagined he would appear at the National Teaching Academy? With just a little thought, one could guess that he must have hidden in the demon race's Pacify North Camp and secretly infiltrated the capital.
Chen Liu Wang thought of a certain possibility, and his face turned even paler. He was about to warn the rebel soldiers on the periphery.
A sword light illuminated the autumn rain, slashing toward Chen Liu Wang.
That sword light was somewhat peculiar. It wasn't the common snow-white color, nor did it feel sharp, nor was it cold. Instead, it carried a hint of summer heat.
Chen Liu Wang's sleeves fluttered as he drew his soft sword, barely managing to block it. His body flew backward, smashing through a stone wall, and he fell unconscious.
Xuan Yuan Po's right arm had long since healed. In his hand, he held a heavy iron sword—it was the Shanhai Sword.
Back then, Chen Liu Wang was a frequent visitor to the National Teaching Academy, so of course he recognized him. Asking who he was was entirely out of anger.
You actually wanted to destroy the National Teaching Academy!
"Anyone who dares to step into the National Teaching Academy will be killed without mercy!"
Tianhai Chengwu walked out of the ruined tavern, the front of his robe stained with patches of blood.
He had originally planned to rescue Chen Liu Wang, but seeing the Shanhai Sword in Xuan Yuan Po's hand, he very decisively changed his mind and led the Tianhai family disciples in a retreat out of the lane.
Just as he was about to exit the Hundred Flowers Lane, Tianhai Chengwu couldn't help but look back at the gate of the National Teaching Academy.
Under the illumination of the torches, through the layers of autumn rain like curtains, Tianhai Shengxue's figure was somewhat blurry.
Tianhai Chengwu sighed inwardly.
He thought he had planned everything flawlessly, ruthless and merciless, pushing the principles of "thick and black" to the extreme, not caring about the infamous reputation of being a turncoat. That way, the Tianhai family would surely continue to survive in the treacherous times. If certain opportunities arose, the Tianhai family under his command might even usher in a second golden age.
But in the end, he had still lost completely and utterly. On the contrary, his cold and proud son had done nothing, simply acting according to his true heart, yet he always ended up on the side of the victors. Could it be that what Auntie had said to him back then was true? That scheming and plotting were all wrong? But why was that?
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The battle between the Pacify North Camp and the rebel forces began outside the National Teaching Academy. The earth-shaking cries of battle did not stop for a long time.
This place was not far from the Imperial Palace, separated only by the National Teaching Academy, or rather, a Hundred Herbs Garden. But whether it was because the woods outside the palace were too dense or because of the protection of a formation, not much of the sounds of slaughter could be heard inside the palace—only faint shouts could be detected.
The Imperial Palace was very desolate tonight. If one looked down from the Sweet Dew Terrace, not a single figure could be seen.
Only by observing carefully could one notice that on those pavilions, in the bushes by the pond, and in the remote corner rooms, many palace maids and eunuchs were hiding.
Those palace maids and eunuchs had pale faces and trembling bodies, terrified to the extreme.
But they were hiding here and not going to the main hall to protect the Emperor, not because of fear, but because they had received orders from their superiors.
The main hall of the Imperial Palace was filled with many night pearls. Though not as many as at the Sweet Dew Terrace or the underground cave at North New Bridge, they were enough to illuminate the hall as bright as day.
The gauze curtains fluttered, and the light from the night pearls scattered like snowflakes dancing endlessly. Unfortunately, no one had the mood to appreciate it at this moment.
The Grand Tutor Bai Ying and the other ministers stared at the figure at the entrance of the hall, their faces filled with shock and anger.
"Governing the world with benevolence and righteousness, the court is also part of the world. My adopted sons understand my intentions and let those poor children hide, sparing them from the harm of tonight's blades and weapons. This can also be considered an act of benevolence and righteousness. If your mother had understood this principle, how could she have ended up buried in the Hundred Herbs Garden, unable to be interred with the late Emperor?"
Eunuch Lin's gaze shifted from Grand Tutor Bai Ying to the ministers and guards, finally resting on the highest point.
Mo Yu and Prince Lou Yang stood there, shielding a person behind them, with a faint hint of imperial yellow visible.
"There might be some problems outside the palace, but that is not important, because this place is the most important in the Great Zhou, and I have lived in this palace for too many years—longer than all of you combined... Stopping the Imperial Chariot Diagram is not too difficult. I hope Your Majesty can understand."
Who would have thought that Eunuch Lin, renowned across the continent for his loyalty to the sovereign and his high moral integrity, would actually become an inside agent for the rebel forces, helping Prince Xiang break the Imperial Chariot Diagram!
Grand Tutor Bai Ying, trembling, took two steps forward and said to Eunuch Lin, "Eunuch Lin, I have served in the same court with you for over two hundred years and know your character well. Even at this moment, you still remember those lowly eunuchs and palace maids, which shows that your reputation is not false. So why would you commit such a heinous act of treason?"
Eunuch Lin said, "When a man of true stature acts, how can he be burdened by his reputation?"
He was a eunuch, yet he always regarded himself as a man of true stature, and no one in the world dared to question this. Even at this moment, it was hard for people to doubt him.
Grand Tutor Bai Ying said in pain, "Are you going to erase your reputation as a loyal minister?"
"Of course I am a loyal minister, but I am loyal to the late Emperor."
Eunuch Lin looked toward the figure at the highest point, separated by the crowd, and said, "Your Majesty, I also respect you, and I have even grown to like you more and more. Unfortunately, you are ultimately that woman's son. The more I respect you, the less I respect myself. The more I like you, the less I like myself. So please forgive this old servant's offense today."
These words were somewhat difficult to understand. Only Mo Yu understood them, because she was a woman, and she let out a mocking laugh.
Eunuch Lin paid no attention to her laughter and took a step forward.
The guards were extremely tense, drawing their iron blades from their sheaths.
Prince Lou Yang's face was pale, covered in sweat, and he kept muttering, "What do we do? What do we do?"
But his outstretched arms never lowered, appearing exceptionally resolute, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, shielding that person behind him.
Mo Yu was irritated by his muttering, but when she caught a glimpse of his expression out of the corner of her eye, her heart softened. She said softly, "When the chaos starts later, take His Majesty and leave first."
Prince Lou Yang was stunned for a moment, then asked her, "The place you mentioned that night?"
Mo Yu said, "You're hopeless. I made you memorize it twenty times, and you still haven't got it?"
Prince Lou Yang suddenly began to cry, saying, "I memorized it, but I don't want to leave you behind."
The Imperial Chariot Diagram had been broken. Prince Xiang and Cao Yunping, both Saint Realm powerhouses, could appear at any moment. The Emperor must leave through the secret passage before then.
Mo Yu would stay behind to hold off Eunuch Lin and divert everyone's attention. The final outcome was easy to imagine.
Mo Yu and Prince Lou Yang's voices were not loud; only they themselves and that one person could hear them.
But at that moment, a commentary on their conversation suddenly sounded from outside the hall door.
"Truly heartfelt, because it is true feelings and true intentions, without any hypocrisy or pretense. Worthy of being personally taught by the Empress Dowager. Miss Mo, I really admire you."
Prince Xiang walked into the hall.
With a look of reminiscence, he said, "Back then, thinking that you and Liu'er grew up together from childhood, I once wrote a letter to the Empress Dowager asking for her to grant a marriage. Unfortunately, she did not agree."
Cao Yunping was behind him, his hands clasped behind his back as he looked around the hall, occasionally saying a few words of approval, like a retired old official from the Ministry of Revenue picking out seed grain in a sweet potato field.
Prince Xiang stopped reminiscing and said, "Eunuch Lin is right. Even if everything outside is lost, what does it matter? As long as we win here, it's fine. As long as I can sit on this throne, whether it's the Li Mountain Sect or the Li Palace, they must respect me. So what do I have to worry about?"
Mo Yu said, "Your Highness, sitting firmly on this throne has never been such a simple matter."
"Haven't you all noticed how much weight I've lost in these ten years?"
Prince Xiang placed his hands on his abdomen, pinching the protruding fat on his belt, and smiled bitterly.
His smile gradually faded as he looked toward the high place behind the crowd and said, "My belt has grown loose, but I have no regrets... Your Majesty... little brother, how about letting me sit on that throne for a while?"
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"Act...ually... I... have... never... thought... about... sitting... on... this... throne."
A voice rang out in the silent main hall.
The first two words the person spoke were very rough, like a baby just learning to speak.
After that, the person's pronunciation improved a lot. It wasn't exactly fluent, but at least it no longer sounded strange, just particularly slow and with occasional pauses.
The reason for this was that this person had not spoken for many years.