Chapter 470: The Most Precious Gift in the World
Today's banquet was primarily for Luoluo, but to give her a reason to leave the palace, some accompanying guests were also invited, such as Prince Chenliu, Mao Qiuyu, and the priest Xin. When drafting the guest list, Chen Changsheng hadn't paid much attention to differences in status or sensitive matters; he simply wanted to take the opportunity to thank those who had helped the National Academy. Prince Chenliu came, but Mao Qiuyu did not. The priest Xin arrived, but after surveying the gathering and considering his own position, he left his gift and withdrew early, earning praise from Tang Thirty-Six and confusion from Xuan Yuan Po.
Fine food, fine wine, plum wine, lake breezes, and young people.
Prince Chenliu was the least familiar with the group, but as the only royal clan member who had managed to persist in the capital and the sole junior to earn the appreciation of Her Holiness the Saint Empress, his speech and conduct were exceptionally calm and natural. Before long, he had grown familiar with Chen Changsheng. As the final dish was served, recalling the rumors he had heard on his way here, he asked somewhat uncertainly.
"Is that matter true?"
Luoluo asked curiously, "What matter?"
Prince Chenliu recounted what had happened at Cheng Lake Tower earlier, along with the subsequent events.
Seeing that the matter couldn't be concealed, Chen Changsheng signaled Tang Thirty-Six to bring out those challenge letters and said, "It all feels a bit like child's play."
Prince Chenliu glanced at the challenge letters, shook his head, and said, "The childish games of great figures often carry deeper meaning. Do you need any help from me?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and replied, "After all, it's a matter for the National Academy. We'll handle it ourselves first. If it truly doesn't work out, I might have to go to the Li Palace and seek an audience with His Holiness the Pope."
Luoluo glanced at Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng picked up a piece of fermented tofu with hollow vegetable and placed it on her plate.
Luoluo understood, softly said "Thank you, Master," and continued eating with her head down, saying nothing.
...
...
"Master, why have so many things happened at the National Academy, and you never told me?"
"Are you getting used to living in the palace? Oh, I forgot, when you first came to the capital, you stayed in the palace."
"Master, is that Zhou Ziheng really in the Star Gathering realm? Did you really kill him with just one sword strike?"
"Speaking of which, why does Chief Historian Jin refuse to enter the academy? Just because he dislikes those National Church cavalry outside?"
"Master, is that Tang Tang really that strong now?"
"What do you think of Prince Chenliu? I think he's decent, but as you know, I have very few friends and I'm not great at judging people."
"Master, is Tang Tang stronger than me now? Probably not, right? Since he can achieve twelve consecutive victories, if I represent the National Academy in battle, could I keep winning streak after streak?"
"I don't know why, but Tang Thirty-Six has never liked him."
"Master..."
Of course, it wasn't that they had nothing in common, nor was it deliberate avoidance. Though that had been Chen Changsheng's initial intention, later on, he simply found it amusing. Before entering the Mausoleum of Books, especially before Xuan Yuan Po and Tang Thirty-Six had joined the National Academy, this vast thousand-acre academy had only him and Luoluo. Back then, strolling by the lake at dusk or idling in the big banyan tree, they would also do such interesting things.
Chen Changsheng gazed at the golden ripples on the lake and the distant Li Palace, then reached out and ruffled Luoluo's head.
When he made this move, he didn't look at her, yet his hand landed precisely on her head, because he had done it countless times, and Luoluo always sat in that same spot.
On that night when Meilisha returned to the sea of stars, they had already foreseen the current situation. When they last met, they had discussed it. Everyone has their own responsibilities. The most troublesome thing is that no one can ever be just themselves—everyone has family, friends, classmates, teachers, and even national or ethnic legacies. So you can never make choices or decisions entirely on your own; you always have to consider what lies ahead and what lies behind.
"I never shirk my responsibilities." Luoluo freed herself from under his hand, stood up, and looked with him toward the direction of the Li Palace, saying, "But why didn't you ever consider that I am also a student of the National Academy and need to bear responsibilities here too?"
"Because... first and foremost, you are your father's most beloved daughter, the princess adored by countless demon tribesmen across the eight hundred li of the Red River."
Chen Changsheng looked at her and said, "As for the National Academy, I and Tang Thirty-Six are here. You don't need to worry about anything."
Since returning from Xunyang City, he had found the situation in the capital extremely tense. The Saint Empress and His Holiness the Pope had begun to display their power, and many people were being forced to pick sides. He kept Luoluo away from the National Academy's affairs because he didn't want her to take sides—since, in a sense, Luoluo represented the attitude of the entire demon race.
"But..." Luoluo looked down at the reflection of the big banyan tree and their shadows in the lake water, and said, "I feel very sad."
Chen Changsheng comforted her, "After a while, if the situation becomes a bit clearer, maybe it won't be so sensitive."
After all, he was just a youth from Xining Town. How could he understand that once such things begin, there is no end?
Luoluo was a princess from White Emperor City. Of course, she understood, and so she felt even sadder.
Seeing her expression, Chen Changsheng's heart softened, and he changed the subject: "A few nights ago, Zheshou and the others each picked a sword. You should pick one too. Hmm, there are still many fine swords."
He thought that since every member of the National Academy had a sword from the Sword Pool, Luoluo should be no exception. And if she thought of it as a privilege of being a National Academy student, she might feel happier. As for which sword Luoluo would choose... he didn't pay much attention. The reason he hadn't readily agreed to Mo Yu's request for the Yue Girl Sword wasn't just that he didn't think he owed it to her, but mainly because he had been saving it for Luoluo. Swords like the Yue Girl Sword and the Flowing Light Sword, which were more feminine, had to be kept for her first. Whatever she didn't want could be dealt with later.
Sure enough, upon hearing that every National Academy member had a sword from the Sword Pool, Luoluo brightened a bit. But she didn't immediately choose a sword, only asking Chen Changsheng to keep it for her and decide later.
Chen Changsheng looked at the Falling Rain Whip tied at her waist and suddenly thought that as the demon princess, she even had ten Thousand-Mile Buttons, along with divine weapons like the Falling Rain Whip and the Imperial Fangs from the Hundred Weapons Ranking. She probably wasn't very interested in those once-famous swords.
"Hmm, I've also prepared a small gift for you... if I can finally get my hands on it." Chen Changsheng looked at her, thinking that if he could really enter the Zhou Garden again and learn the methods of Wang Zhice back then, he would turn the Heavenly Book Monuments around the Zhou Mausoleum into small black stones and give one to her.
Giving a Heavenly Book Monument as a gift...
He certainly hadn't considered that if this ever became reality, it would undoubtedly be the most precious gift in all of history.