Chapter 23: I’ve Come to Pick Someone Up
The small courtyard was deathly silent.
Chen Changsheng had seen Zhou Tong before, and more than once.
But this was the first time he truly saw him.
Saw the real Zhou Tong.
He looked at Zhou Tong’s pale cheeks, his lips as thin as a blade, his blood-red official robe, and felt a terror beyond imagination. The scent of blood grew stronger and stronger, as if it were real.
His gaze finally fell on Zhou Tong’s hands.
Those hands were slender, the nails neatly trimmed, spotless and free of any bloodstains.
But he knew how many members of the Chen imperial clan and loyal officials those hands had killed, and how many eyes and hearts they had gouged out.
Chen Changsheng felt his heartbeat quicken, and then a thought suddenly arose: Zhou Tong’s hands were perfectly suited for holding a sword.
So he replied, “Senior Su Li also taught me swordsmanship on the road.”
A sword is meant to kill. Words are like a sword, breaking the opponent’s momentum.
Chen Changsheng didn’t understand these things, but he responded naturally.
On the tens of thousands of li journey south, the things Su Li had taught him remained in his body, constantly taking effect.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po woke up, their faces wary.
Zhou Tong smiled without speaking.
The remaining flowers on the crabapple tree fell one after another, a few petals landing on Chen Changsheng’s shoulder.
The oppressive, sinister pressure in the small courtyard vanished instantly. The thick scent of blood was gone, replaced by a faint fragrance of blossoms.
No one spoke.
After a moment, Zhou Tong looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “Not greeting this official is discourteous.”
Silence. While Chen Changsheng was still thinking how to respond, Tang Thirty-Six, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. “What rank are you? What status?”
As he asked this, he stared into Zhou Tong’s eyes as if watching a dangerous viper.
Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn’t expected this young master of the Tang clan to have the audacity to question him… and with such discourtesy.
Before he could answer, Tang Thirty-Six continued, “Chen Changsheng is the Dean of the National Academy. By status, within the National Church, he is second only to His Holiness the Pope. And you, sir, are merely the chief of the Qingli Department, a mere second-rank official. Even if Her Holiness the Empress has graced you with a third-rank duke’s title, how can you compare with our Dean? If anyone should offer greetings, it should be you first.”
Zhou Tong looked at Tang Thirty-Six with a half-smile. “Even your father wouldn’t dare speak to me like this.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “That’s why my grandfather said my father isn’t as good as me.”
Zhou Tong said, “So, by that logic, I should be the one to greet first?”
Tang Thirty-Six’s face showed no emotion—neither frivolous, proud, nor smug—only calm and extreme focus. “Naturally.”
Zhou Tong raised an eyebrow. “Then by that logic, you should go first.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “Xuan Yuan Po and I are students, accompanying him.”
Zhou Tong asked, “Accompanying whom?”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “Accompanying the Dean.”
“I am the Dean.” Chen Changsheng finally caught up with their rhythm and introduced himself formally. “I am Chen Changsheng, Dean of the National Academy.”
Zhou Tong was silent for a long time, then gently adjusted his official robe.
The red robe stood out starkly among the falling crabapple blossoms.
Then he clasped his hands and bowed in greeting.
“May I ask what business Dean Chen has here today?”
“Wofu Zhexiu is a student of the National Academy.”
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “I’ve come to take him back.”
The small courtyard was quiet and serene, but the Qingli Department headquarters was already on high alert. Outside North Barracks and Carriage Alley, countless people had gathered.
The entire capital was tense.
Everyone knew why Chen Changsheng had come to see Zhou Tong today.
But probably no one expected Chen Changsheng to state his request so calmly and naturally.
Because he had already confirmed his identity: he was the Dean of the National Academy, and Zhexiu was a student of the National Academy. It was only natural for a dean to care for his student.
So natural that even Zhou Tong sighed, thinking, just how much had that monster Su Li taught this youth?
Then he smiled and said, “I imprisoned Wofu Zhexiu according to the court’s orders. To release him, Dean Chen needs a decree from Her Holiness the Empress, or a final judgment from the Dali Temple or the Ministry of Justice.”
Ever since the Qingli Department was established, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice had become mere decorations, or rather, appendages of the Qingli Department.
Unless Zhou Tong nodded, neither the Dali Temple nor the Ministry of Justice could close any case.
“I have read through the Daoist canon since childhood,” Chen Changsheng suddenly said.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po glanced at him, wondering why he was bringing this up now.
Zhou Tong knew he had more to say and waited quietly.
Chen Changsheng looked at him and continued, “I have confirmed that you, sir, took over the Zhou Garden case directly from the Li Palace. The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple never even filed a case.”
Zhou Tong said, “So what?”
Chen Changsheng said, “I have read through the Daoist canon and can recite the Great Zhou Code backward. I am certain that no law supports your continued detention of Wofu Zhexiu.”
Zhou Tong looked at him and smiled without speaking.
Chen Changsheng said, “Please release him, sir.”
Zhou Tong took a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the corner of his mouth, his movements elegant, but his words mocking.
“Our future Pope is so impatient. This makes one worry for the future of the National Church.”
Whether because of Zhou Tong’s gesture or his words, Tang Thirty-Six’s brow furrowed.
“I promised His Eminence the Bishop to wait two more days, but…” Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, then continued, “He is dead, so I no longer need to wait.”
Zhou Tong looked at him calmly and said, “I think you’ve forgotten one thing. Zhexiu’s crime is colluding with the demons. As long as that charge stands, I can keep him locked up for as long as I want.”
“It seems you, sir, have also forgotten one thing. The three accused of colluding with the demons in the Zhou Garden were Zhexiu, Qijian… and me.”
Chen Changsheng looked at him seriously and said, “If you truly believe Zhexiu would collude with the demons, then the first thing you need to do now is throw me into prison. If not, then you should release him.”
The small courtyard became utterly silent, deathly still.
Only the sound of falling petals and breathing could be heard.
This was the choice he had left for Zhou Tong—release Zhexiu, or arrest him too.
Zhou Tong’s eyes slowly narrowed into slits, like willow leaves, or perhaps like the willow-leaf thin knives he was best at using.
His voice drifted out from between his thin lips, just as sharp, and even colder.
“You… are threatening this official?”
(After a day of rushing around, just sat down now, nearly starving like a ghost in Zhou’s prison.)