Chapter 157: Let It End Here
Because of his engagement to Xu Yourong, after the Green Vine Banquet, Chen Changsheng naturally became the focus of the capital. The proclamation made on his behalf by the Archbishop was like pouring oil on a fire. Countless people were inquiring about everything concerning him—his age, his place of origin, his feud with the East Divine General’s Mansion, and his level of cultivation were no longer secrets. Thus, people were shocked, desperate to know what had happened to him in recent days that had allowed his strength to advance by leaps and bounds, enabling him to win four consecutive rounds in the Grand Examination duels and make it into the final list.
Xuanyuan Po stared at Chen Changsheng, his mouth wide open, as if he were looking at a monster. Tang Thirty-Six fixed his eyes on him and asked, “What exactly have you been eating? We eat together every day at the National Academy—have you been sneaking extra meals? Or did you swipe some good stuff from the Hundred Herb Garden and not tell us?”
In the quiet room of the Xichen Pavilion, the big shots were also discussing Chen Changsheng’s performance today.
“Could he have used the complete version of the Yashi Step just now?” someone asked Xu Shiji.
If elders like Fei Dian or Jin Yulu were present, having experienced the great war against the demons, they could clearly identify the elusive footwork Chen Changsheng had displayed earlier. But in this room, only Xue Xingchuan and Xu Shiji, both of whom had been on the northern battlefield, might know.
Xu Shiji’s expression was indifferent as he said, “I never encountered any Yashi clan members on the front lines.”
According to intelligence, over the past few centuries, most of the Yashi clan members in Xuelao City had been recruited into the intelligence agency by that mysterious black-robed figure, rarely appearing in public.
Xue Xingchuan’s troops had once captured two Yashi spies, and the one who had attempted to assassinate Princess Luoluo in the spring was now imprisoned in the imperial guards’ dungeon. Thinking back on Chen Changsheng’s footwork, he shook his head and said, “It wasn’t the complete Yashi Step, but it already had a bit of its essence.”
People understood his meaning. A bit of the essence of the complete Yashi Step, in a battle at the level of the Grand Examination’s young participants, could play a significant role. Xue Xingchuan thought for a moment and added, “He’s pushed speed and body movement to the extreme, and with decent luck in the draw, making it to the top eight is understandable. But I don’t think he can go any further.”
The top eight of the Grand Examination duels had been determined. There were renowned young experts like Gou Hanshi, Zhuang Huanyu, Zhong Hui, and Zhexiu, as well as some unexpected contenders—like an unassuming girl from Saintess Peak and a student from Star-Gathering Academy who had barely caught the attention of the Education Ministry.
The most surprising of all was still Chen Changsheng.
Until now, he hadn’t been eliminated, which had exceeded everyone’s imagination and seemed utterly unreasonable.
“This makes no sense—how is it possible? What right does he have to not be eliminated?”
The list of the final eight in the Grand Examination duels was sent outside the academy, written on the light mirror outside the Zhaowen Hall, and spread among the crowds outside the Li Palace.
By now, dusk was falling. The warm, faint light of the setting sun shone on the stone pillars and also on the capital’s residents, who had come to watch the excitement, and the tourists from afar.
At least several thousand people were gathered outside the Li Palace, their voices a chaotic din. The vendors’ hoarse shouts had long since faded, but now everyone was talking about the same thing, expressing the same emotions: that thing was Chen Changsheng’s four consecutive wins, and that emotion was shock, disbelief, and anger.
The capital’s residents didn’t like Chen Changsheng, but compared to the examinees from the south, they didn’t hate him any more. The reason they were so furious, beyond their shock at his four straight wins, was purely because his performance had cost them a lot of money—some had even lost their shirts.
Yes, aside from the top spot, there were many ways to bet on the Grand Examination. Each round had winners and losers among the examinees, and likewise, after each round, many residents became winners or losers. Because of Chen Changsheng, the vast majority of residents this year were losers.
For each round of the Grand Examination duels, the odds set by the outside world were different, allowing residents to place bets on the fly. In every round, Chen Changsheng’s odds were extremely high, and even now, his odds were still the highest—he had made some people ecstatic today and caused more to lose money, but no one believed he could keep winning.
Tianhai Shengxue sat in a teahouse south of the Li Palace, quietly watching the sea of heads before the palace. Suddenly, he said, “If the Four Workshops are still willing to take it, bet five thousand gold on Chen Changsheng to win in the end.”
The old steward standing beside him was stunned and hesitated, saying, “Young master, there’s no way he can still win, right?”
Tianhai Shengxue said, “In the first round, everyone thought he couldn’t win, but he did. In the second round, no one thought he could win, and he still did. The third round was the same, and the fourth. Before the Grand Examination, who thought he’d make it to the top eight? So why shouldn’t I bet on him?”
The old steward repeatedly agreed.
Tianhai Shengxue suddenly recalled something and said, “If he really does take the top spot, use the winnings to fix the gate of the National Academy.”
The old steward thought to himself, wasn’t it you, young master, who smashed the National Academy’s gate? And the fact that it hasn’t been repaired—everyone in the capital knows what that means. If you fix it for the National Academy, wouldn’t that be admitting defeat? He was very surprised, but believing his young master must have a deeper reason, he dared not say more, though he was puzzled by the details.
“If… I mean, if Chen Changsheng really wins, that’ll be a huge sum of money. Even fixing the National Academy’s gate wouldn’t cost that much.”
Tianhai Shengxue gazed at the Li Palace in the twilight and said calmly, “If he really can win, what harm is there in giving him a white jade gate?”
The old steward grew even more confused. Even if Chen Changsheng took the top spot, that youth was the symbol of the National Academy, a figurehead used by the old faction of the State Church to challenge Her Majesty. There was no way the Tianhai family could take him under their wing. Why would you act this way?
Tianhai Shengxue didn’t explain. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and suddenly found it bland and tasteless.
Qiushan Jun hadn’t come, and Mo Yu was still ahead. The Grand Examination didn’t mean much to him, but giving up like this inevitably left his feelings complicated.
In the quiet flower hall of the East Divine General’s Mansion, Madam Xu looked at the middle-aged woman before her, frowning slightly, and asked, “Granny Hua, are you sure you didn’t mishear? He really made it into the top eight?”
Granny Hua said in a low voice, “It shouldn’t be wrong. The Four Workshops have posted the odds for the next round, and Young Master Chen’s name is indeed on it.”
Madam Xu was stunned into silence, feeling a terrible headache. If that brat really took the top spot in the Grand Examination, what should she do?
She looked at the chairs and the empty tea table in the flower hall, recalling the first time she saw Chen Changsheng in early spring last year.
That young Daoist had been a bit reserved and very clean.
He hadn’t taken a single sip of tea.
Madam Xu’s heart stirred, and she thought of a certain possibility.
In the eastern wing, Shuang’er, who had just received the news, was also astonished.
She remembered the first time she saw Chen Changsheng in the back garden.
She couldn’t imagine that that reserved, country-boy Daoist, that waste who couldn’t cultivate, had actually made it into the top eight of the Grand Examination duels. Based on the rumors of his performance at the Green Vine Banquet, his written exam results must have been excellent. Didn’t that mean he was just one step away from the top list?
Yes, if Chen Changsheng could win just one more round in the duels and enter the top four, combined with his written exam scores, he would very likely make the top list.
The question was, could he keep going? Or would it end here?
Deep within the imperial palace, there was a small side hall, very cold and desolate, like a cold palace.
The black sheep stared at the green fruit on the tree by the stone steps, hesitating for a long time about whether to eat it. It remembered clearly that last time in the Hundred Herb Garden, the fruit that youth had fed it tasted good. But now it couldn’t confirm whether that was the fruit’s own flavor or because his scent lingered on the peel.
Granny Ning passed by it silently and said in a low voice, “Young Master Shengxue has withdrawn.”
The Saintess Empress held a piece of fragrant wood, its edge burning. Above the curling smoke, a medicinal pill hovered.
Her fingers slowly twisted the fragrant wood, the smoke from its burning gently swirling, driving the pill to rotate slowly.
Hearing this, her fingers paused slightly, and the pill froze in midair.
Her expression shifted slightly. After a moment, she understood and said with emotion, “The children of the Tianhai family do have promise after all.”
This was a good thing, but also not a good thing.
The more promising the Tianhai family’s children were, the less she could fully let go, and the Great Zhou dynasty couldn’t escape that big problem.
But still, she felt some comfort.
Granny Ning hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Chen Changsheng of the National Academy has made it into the top eight.”
The Saintess Empress’s brows slowly rose.
Granny Ning was a bit nervous. She liked that child Chen Changsheng very much and was worried Her Majesty might be displeased.
The Saintess Empress said nothing.
The next moment, she appeared in the pitch-black underground.
She lightly flicked her sleeve, and thousands of night pearls on the dome lit up.
The cold white light fell on the frost-covered ground, illuminating everything.
A young girl in black with a snow-white face lay weakly prostrate.
The Saintess Empress flicked her finger, and the pill landed before the girl.
“Chen Changsheng hasn’t been eliminated yet, so your blood is still somewhat useful.”
The young girl in black lifted her head with difficulty, staring at the Saintess Empress without fear, only disgust, and said, “What kind of ghost medicine is this?”
The Saintess Empress said calmly, “Motherwort paste.”
The young girl in black knew that a terrifying human like the Saintess Empress had countless ways to torment her if she wished and wouldn’t bother tampering with a single pill. Without hesitation, she swallowed it.
“Can Chen Changsheng take the top spot?” she asked the Saintess Empress, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
“Let it end here,” the Saintess Empress said indifferently.
The next moment, she appeared by the abandoned well at Beixin Bridge, hands behind her back, gazing at the stars in the night sky, silent for a long time, lost in thought.
(That’s it for today. I thought of Yixiu, and then I thought of it again… See you all tomorrow.)