The small courtyard was deathly still.
Chen Changsheng had seen Zhou Tong before, and not just once.
But this was his first time truly seeing Zhou Tong.
He saw the real Zhou Tong.
He saw Zhou Tong's pale face, his lips as thin as knives, and his crimson official's robe as red as blood. He sensed an unimaginably terrifying Qi, and the stench of blood grew thicker and thicker, as if it was real.
His gaze finally fell on Zhou Tong's hands.
Those hands were very slender and their fingernails were very clean. There was not a speck of dirt, much less blood.
But he knew that these hands had killed countless members of the Chen Imperial clan and officials loyal to the Imperial clan, and had even dug out the eyes and hearts of countless people.
Chen Changsheng felt his heart beat faster and faster, and then he suddenly had a thought: Zhou Tong's hands were very suitable for wielding swords.
So he replied, "Senior Su Li even taught me the sword on the road."
The sword was used to kill. Words were like swords, breaking through the opponent's power.
Chen Changsheng did not understand these things, but he very naturally responded.
On the tens of thousands of li journey back south, the things Su Li had taught him had always remained in his body, constantly displaying their effects.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuanyuan Po woke up, their faces vigilant.
Zhou Tong silently smiled.
The remnant blossoms on the crabapple tree began to fall, a few of them landing on Chen Changsheng's shoulder.
The sinister pressure in the small courtyard instantly vanished without a trace, and the thick stench of blood disappeared, leaving behind only the faint fragrance of flowers.
No one said anything.
After a while, Zhou Tong looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "Not greeting this official is being rude."
Silence. Just as Chen Changsheng was thinking about how to respond, the silent Tang Thirty-Six suddenly spoke, "What is your identity, what is your status?"
As he asked this question, he stared into Zhou Tong's eyes like he was staring at a dangerous viper.
Zhou Tong slightly narrowed his eyes. He had not expected that this young master of the Tang clan would actually have the courage to question him, and … be so rude.
Not waiting for his reply, Tang Thirty-Six continued, "Chen Changsheng is the Principal of the Orthodox Academy. In terms of status, he is only below His Holiness the Pope in the Orthodoxy, and His Excellency is only a chief official of the Department for Purging Officials, a trifling second rank. Even if the Divine Empress bestowed kindness upon His Excellency and bestowed the title of Duke of the Third Rank, how could His Excellency be mentioned on the same level as my Principal? If there is a need to greet, it should be Milord first. "
Zhou Tong looked at Tang Thirty-Six and said with a faint smile, "Even your father does not dare to speak to me like this."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "That's why grandpa said that my father is not as good as me."
Zhou Tong said, "If that's the case, shouldn't I be the one to greet first?"
There was no emotion on Tang Thirty Six's face. He was not frivolous, not proud, not proud. He was just extremely calm and focused. He said, "Of course."
Zhou Tong raised his brows and said, "If that's the case, it should be you first."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Xuanyuan and I are his students, we are accompanying him."
Zhou Tong asked, "With whom?"
Tang Thirty Six said, "Follow the headmaster."
"I am the dean." Chen Chang Sheng finally caught up to the rhythm of the two and very formally introduced himself: "I am the principal of the Tradition Academy, Chen Chang Sheng."
Zhou Tong was silent for a very long time, and then he lightly tidied his official robe.
The red official robe was particularly eye-catching among the fragrant crabapple flowers.
Then, he clasped his hands in greeting and asked.
"Dean Chen, what business do you have here today?"
"Wofu Zhexiu is a student of the Tradition Academy."
Chen Chang Sheng looked at him and said, "I have come to take him back."
The small courtyard was quiet and secluded, while the government office of the Department for Purging Officials was already heavily guarded. Countless people had already gathered outside the alley to the north.
The entire capital was in a tense mood.
Everyone knew why Chen Chang Sheng had come to see Zhou Tong today.
But probably no one could have imagined that Chen Chang Sheng would so calmly and naturally state his request.
Because he had already confirmed his identity. He was the Principal of the Tradition Academy and Zhexiu was a student of the Tradition Academy. For the principal to care for his own student was a matter of heaven and earth.
It was a matter of heaven and earth that even Zhou Tong sighed, thinking, just how many things has that monster Su Li taught this youth?
Then he smiled and said, "According to the Imperial Court's request, I have imprisoned Wofu Zhexiu. In order to release him, Dean Chen requires the Divine Empress's decree or the documents from the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice."
Ever since the Department for Purging Officials appeared, the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice had become decorations, or perhaps vassals of the Department for Purging Officials.
As long as Zhou Tong did not nod his head, the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice could not close any case.
"I have been well-versed in the Daoist Canon since I was a child," Chen Chang Sheng suddenly said.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuanyuan Po glanced at him, thinking, why is he saying this now?
Zhou Tong knew that he still had something to say, so he quietly waited.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at him and continued, "I have confirmed that Your Excellency directly took over the case of the Garden of Zhou from the Li Palace. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review simply did not file it."
Zhou Tong asked, "So what?"
Chen Chang Sheng replied, "I am well-versed in the Daoist Canon and know the laws of the Great Zhou like the back of my hand. I am very sure that there is no law that supports Your Excellency's continued imprisonment of Wofu Zhexiu."
Zhou Tong silently smiled at him.
Chen Chang Sheng said, "Your Excellency, please release him."
Zhou Tong took out a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve and lightly wiped the corner of his mouth. His movements were very elegant, but his words were very taunting.
"Our future Pope is actually so impatient. One cannot help but worry for the future of the Orthodoxy."
Whether it was because of Zhou Tong's actions or because of those words, Tang Thirty-Six's brow creased.
"I promised Your Eminence that I would wait another two days, but …" Chen Chang Sheng fell silent for a while, then continued, "He's dead, so I don't need to wait any longer."
Zhou Tong calmly looked at him and said, "I think you have forgotten one thing. Zhexiu's crime is colluding with the demons. As long as I have this crime, I can imprison him for as long as I want."
"Your Excellency seems to have also forgotten one thing. The people accused of colluding with the demons in the Garden of Zhou are three: Zhexiu, Qi Jian … and me."
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said seriously, "If Milord really believes that Zhexiu is colluding with the demons, then the first thing Milord needs to do right now is to imprison me. If not, then you should release him."
The small courtyard became incomparably quiet, even deathly still.
Only the sound of falling flowers and breathing could be heard.
This was the choice he had left Zhou Tong — release Zhexiu, or capture him as well.
Zhou Tong's eyes slowly narrowed, gradually turning into willow leaves. It also seemed like the willow leaf blade that he was most proficient in.
His voice drifted out from his thin lips. It was the same, and it was even colder.
"You … are you threatening this official?"
… …
… …
(After a day of running, I've just sat down, and I'm almost as hungry as a ghost in Zhou Prison.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
