Chapter 670: An Old Eunuch
Whether it was the princes of the Chen family or those high-ranking figures who had risked everything to betray the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress, they all truly owed a debt of gratitude to Chen Changsheng. If not for him, the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress would not have weakened herself by defying heaven to alter his fate. No matter how perfect a plan Shang Xingzhou and the others devised, they might never have been able to pull the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress down from her divine pedestal.
Whether intentionally or not, Chen Changsheng had played a decisive role in their scheme. But they would not remember this—just as, whether intentionally or not, they would not acknowledge it.
The words of the He Commandery Prince represented the world’s current attitude toward Chen Changsheng.
Tianhai Shengxue understood this all too well. He sneered, “If he weren’t a descendant of your Chen family, would Her Holiness the Empress have admitted her mistake? A bastard? Your Highness’s words are truly laughable.”
The He Commandery Prince was momentarily stunned, then his face quickly darkened, because he realized this might very well be the truth.
Just then, the cavalry parted like a tide, and an extremely aged eunuch approached, seated on a soft palanquin.
Seeing the old eunuch, the He Commandery Prince raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to Tianhai Shengxue with a cold laugh. “It seems His Majesty doesn’t share your view.”
That old eunuch had come to deliver an imperial edict.
Yet, after the accompanying officials announced their purpose, the gates of the National Academy remained tightly shut, refusing to open for a long time.
“It looks like His Majesty sent us to surround the National Academy,” Tianhai Shengxue said with a smile, not bothering to hide his delight. “But from another perspective, isn’t it the National Academy that doesn’t want to open its doors?”
“Nephew, don’t celebrate too soon…” The He Commandery Prince sneered. “It’s said that Chen Changsheng and His Majesty were classmates, but if he offends this old eunuch, I’m afraid no friendship will save him.”
Tianhai Shengxue’s expression darkened. “Your Highness, I don’t understand what you mean.”
The He Commandery Prince laughed coldly. “Eunuch Qiu was originally the milk brother of the late Emperor. He willingly entered the palace to serve him, deeply understanding righteousness and earning great respect. Even when the Empress Dowager took power, no matter how much she disliked him, she could only send him into retirement to recuperate in Zhangzhou. Now, Dean Shang has invited him back to take the seal as the chief eunuch. I’d like to see who dares to show him disrespect.”
The aged eunuch had been lying on the soft palanquin with his eyes closed, feigning sleep. Tianhai Shengxue had found this strange earlier—since he was a eunuch delivering an imperial edict and had witnessed the tense atmosphere before the National Academy, how could he dare to act so casually? Only now did he realize that this was the legendary Eunuch Lin, returned. Instinctively, he thought that Eunuch Lin should indeed act this way. As he looked over, his gaze unconsciously carried a hint of curiosity and respect for the legendary figure. But then he remembered that just yesterday, those eunuchs and palace maids loyal to the Holy Empress in the palace—including the eunuch leader he had known since childhood—had all died. Those deaths were surely the work of this old Eunuch Lin. At this thought, his face turned pale.
After an unknown length of time, the aged eunuch slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the still-closed gates of the National Academy and said expressionlessly, “If they don’t open, break them down.”
When the old eunuch had his eyes closed, he seemed like an ordinary person. But when he opened them, a sharp aura naturally emanated from him, like an iron spear breaking free from old cloth. Wherever his gaze fell, wherever his words landed, a cutting edge appeared.
Having grown up in the palace and cultivated countless profound secret techniques, Eunuch Lin’s realm and strength were naturally extremely high. But this sharp spear-like aura did not come from his power. That omnipresent edge came more from his heart, and the eyes that reflected it—those eyes, slightly clouded by age, were filled with unwavering righteousness and certainty, without a trace of hesitation or self-doubt.
Shang Xingzhou had invited Eunuch Lin back to the palace to reclaim the seal, which itself signified a change of dynasty, or rather, the return of the legitimate line.
He came from the palace, holding the imperial edict. His words represented the will of the entire Great Zhou court. Who would dare to oppose him now?
Yet, after hearing his words, the area outside the National Academy remained utterly silent. No one stepped forward to break down the gates—not a single person.
Whether it was the black-armored heavy cavalry, the troops of the City Gate Command, or even the guards escorting Eunuch Lin, all remained rooted in place.
Many eyes deliberately or inadvertently fell on Tianhai Shengxue.
In the spring morning rain two years ago, it was this pride of the Tianhai family who had returned from the Yongxue Pass with his household troops and directly destroyed the gates of the National Academy.
That day, many people died in the capital. The National Academy had shown its background, depth, and strength for the first time, achieving an unexpected final victory. But the National Academy did not repair its gates, leaving the ruined entrance to endure wind and rain for a long time, even becoming a new landmark in the capital.
It was only much later, after Chen Changsheng won first place in the Grand Examination, that the Tianhai family admitted their mistake and built an incredibly magnificent new gate for the National Academy.
That new gate became proof of the National Academy’s power and an indelible humiliation for the Tianhai family.
From then on, everyone in the capital knew one thing: the gates of the National Academy were not so easy to break. Trying to break them meant death—and disgrace.
……
……
“I’ve been living in the countryside for so long that I didn’t know the capital had been this lively these past two years.”
After hearing the attendant eunuch’s low explanation, Eunuch Lin looked at Tianhai Shengxue in the distance and beckoned him over.
Tianhai Shengxue approached.
Eunuch Lin gazed at him silently for a long time, then said, “When you were born, I was still in the capital. I told your father then that the Tianhai family was full of idiots and wastes, but your mother was a fine woman. I hoped she would raise a fine child. It seems I wasn’t wrong.”
Tianhai Shengxue knew this story and said sincerely, “You flatter me, Eunuch.”
Eunuch Lin did not dwell on the past. “I heard you were once humiliated here?”
Tianhai Shengxue looked at the tightly shut gates of the National Academy. “That was me bringing shame upon myself.”
Hearing these four words, Eunuch Lin was somewhat surprised. He gazed at him quietly and said, “So, you don’t plan to take it back yourself?”
Taking back the humiliation suffered—not bringing shame upon oneself again, but seeking righteous revenge—for example, smashing the gates of the National Academy once more.
Tianhai Shengxue’s silence revealed his intent.
Eunuch Lin looked at him with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Are all the people of the Tianhai family as weak-willed as you are now?”
Hearing this, Tianhai Shengxue felt a chill run through his body. Given the tense and sensitive situation, the mere words “weak-willed” could bring great trouble to the Tianhai family. Yet his resolve was firm enough that he had refused Eunuch Lin’s earlier, seemingly well-intentioned suggestion. How could he back down now?
“Eunuch, you said earlier that my mother was a fine woman and I am a fine child. So I think I should show some principle.”
Tianhai Shengxue took a deep breath, his tone as cold as ice and snow. “Moreover, your words earlier were inappropriate. Dean Chen has rendered great service to the human race and is the future Pope. Even if it’s an imperial edict, let alone His Majesty himself coming in person, it wouldn’t be proper to be too forceful—let alone destroy the gates.”
“Is that so?” Eunuch Lin suddenly laughed.
The next moment, his laughter abruptly ceased. His expression turned even colder and more forceful than Tianhai Shengxue’s. He clasped his fists toward the sky and said, “The descendants of the Founding Emperor have finally reclaimed the realm, and the whole world celebrates. Now the National Academy dares to defy the edict and refuse to receive it. This is truly baffling. Could it all be a lie? If you can’t even destroy a gate, how can you claim to govern the world?”
These words were heavy and terrifying.
Before Tianhai Shengxue could react, the He Commandery Prince came to his senses. Gritting his teeth, he lashed his whip across the back of his own trusted general and roared, “Hurry up and smash that gate open!”
At the command, the silent guards and City Gate Command soldiers finally moved, beginning to clear the area.
Hundreds of black-armored heavy cavalry prepared to charge. The heavy armor covering both riders and horses gleamed with a cold light, exuding a suffocating pressure.
No matter how magnificent or sturdy the gates of the National Academy were, they would surely be crushed into fragments by the iron tide of the black-armored heavy cavalry.
And then, what fate awaited those inside the National Academy?