Starting from three days ago, the Emperor of the Great Zhou was no longer the Tianhai Divine Empress, but a young man called Chen Yu.
He was the only son of Emperor Xian and the Divine Empress, and also the Crown Prince Zhaoming who had mysteriously disappeared twenty years ago.
He was the student that the venerable Daoist master of the Orthodoxy, Shang Xingzhou, had painstakingly raised for twenty years. He was the sovereign that fourteen princes of the Chen clan and the Tianhai clan had sworn their support to. What problem could he have?
Chen Changsheng knew that there was a problem in the Imperial Palace, but if the person he was talking to was Tang Thirty-Six, he might have spoken. Otherwise, he would have maintained his silence.
Prince Chen Liu misunderstood his silence. He thought of that young man who had quietly sat on the throne in the Imperial Court, his face devoid of sorrow or joy. He felt his chest become a little stuffy and his voice unconsciously became a little tough. He said to Chen Changsheng, "You should be well aware that his handicap will become an outlet for many people's ambitions."
Chen Changsheng lowered his head and said, "With Master and Eunuch Lin, neither your father nor the Prince of Zhongshan would dare break their promise. Moreover, the Tianhai clan will assuredly support him."
Just because he had not expressed any opinion on the situation in the Imperial Court did not mean that he had not thought about it, did not mean that he had no insight in this aspect.
As His Majesty's maternal family, the Tianhai clan would assuredly play this role. Otherwise, that night when they coldly watched her die would become a joke.
Prince Chen Liu stared into Chen Changsheng's eyes and said, "You are not His Majesty. You cannot understand the pressure he is currently under."
Chen Changsheng replied, "Senior is not a person who likes to be Emperor. His pressure does not come from those ambitious people, but from the throne itself."
Prince Chen Liu thought, there is no one in the world who does not want to be Emperor. Even though Chen Changsheng had experienced the coup of the Mausoleum of Books, he was still rather naive and immature. He couldn't help but sigh. Their conversation had already reached a rather deep level, but Chen Changsheng was still unwilling to respond. He had no choice but to pat Chen Changsheng on the shoulder to comfort him, then he left the Orthodox Academy.
That night, many people died in the royal palace. In the following two days, many people continued to die. Whether it was the head eunuch whose name Chen Chang Sheng still didn't know, or the little palace maids in the Qiu Fang Palace who originally didn't have a name, they all became ghosts. Then, like blood stains that were wiped clean, they were gradually forgotten by everyone.
But even though such a major event had occurred and so many people had died, the Imperial Palace was not thrown into chaos. This was because Shang Xingzhou, who had schemed for many years, had long ago made his preparations. He had invited back many elders of the Imperial Palace. These elders were either attendants of the previous Imperial Palace or old people of Emperor Xian like Eunuch Lin. They had once been forced out of the capital by the Tianhai Divine Empress's might, but now, they had all returned.
Grand Tutor Bai Ying had also returned.
The autumn wind blew in from outside the hall, ruffling his white hair, but not a single wrinkle on his aged face.
He was currently reading through the comments on the dossiers. They were all written in cinnabar red. The characters were rather delicate, but they did not lose their strength of style, and one could faintly see their tenacity. As for the opinions written, they were often only a few simple sentences, but they were extremely insightful and experienced. They left the Imperial Court, the ministers, and even the local officials of the provinces and counties enough space to act.
This was the case for one dossier, and this was the case for ten-some dossiers. Bai Ying could no longer maintain his calm and dignified demeanor. He raised his head and gazed at the desk beside him.
The young Daoist priest of Xining Village had already become the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The change in status had not caused him to change much from before.
He quietly sat behind the desk, calmly flipping through a book. Occasionally, he would take up a cinnabar brush and write something on it.
It was like he was still in Xining Village's old temple, reading the Daoist Canon and writing down what he had learned.
He was reading the dossiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty over the years. What he wanted to do was analyze, judge, and make decisions like the previous emperors. He was following the Grand Tutor in learning how to rule a country.
The Grand Tutor's eyes were slightly moist as he felt boundless sorrow. He thought, the son of Emperor Xian and the Empress is truly extraordinary, a natural-born hero. Alas … his gaze fell on the young emperor's leg, his left sleeve, and that lock of black hair. After a moment of silence, he sighed and thought, how could there be a perfect thing in this world?
Dusk had already arrived. Today's lesson was over, and the Grand Tutor rose to leave.
With the support of a eunuch, the young emperor rose with some difficulty and very properly bowed in the manner of a disciple.
The Grand Tutor withdrew from the hall. The eunuch whispered a few questions, but the young emperor shook his head, his expression warm.
Whether it was the eunuch or the serving maids, they once again let out a sigh of relief.
In the past few days, too many people had died in the Imperial Palace and too much blood had been shed. When they saw that the newly ascended emperor was blind in one eye, missing an arm, and limping as he walked, they truly despaired — they had seen far too many abnormal people and knew that these kinds of people often had violent and terrifying temperaments. Personally serving such an emperor, if they were the slightest bit displeased, they would be severely punished. They had even mentally prepared themselves and their companions to be beaten to death. How could they have imagined that in the past two days, let alone getting angry, His Majesty did not even utter a single harsh word? They had never seen such a gentle master before. Even the young Prince Chen Liu who had been raised in the Imperial Palace would occasionally throw a little tantrum. Those who remembered the Divine Empress in their hearts had to admit that for the Great Zhou to welcome such a sovereign … at least to them, it was the best thing possible.
The young emperor began to eat. There were many dishes, but he only ate the bland ones. He only ate a few chopsticks of greasy food and drank only half a bowl of soup.
At the end of the meal, a young eunuch presented a thick black tea to aid digestion. The emperor shook his head, indicating that drinking some water was fine.
The eunuch obeyed and brought the water, then retreated. Standing in the corridor outside the hall, he thought to himself, just who does His Majesty resemble? Emperor Xian or the Divine Empress?
No, His Majesty's diet and health were very similar to only one person, Chen Chang Sheng.
To be more accurate, Chen Chang Sheng was very similar to him.
In the old temple of Xi Ning Village, for fourteen years, it was always him who cooked. He cooked according to Chen Chang Sheng's preferences and needs.
Chen Chang Sheng's personality, Chen Chang Sheng's preferences, and Chen Chang Sheng's favorite dishes, all came from him.
Chen Chang Sheng had originally been raised by him.
He walked out of the hall, stood on the stone steps, and gazed at the palace walls in the twilight.
He knew that Chen Chang Sheng was there. The distance was actually not far, only a few hundred zhang.
Close in front of him, but far away, because they could not meet. There was naturally a reason why they could not meet.
In the blood-like twilight, Shang Xingzhou's figure seemed to be plated in a strange color. He stood outside a window at the side of the hall for some time, quietly watching the emperor.
The young emperor looked in the direction of the Orthodox Academy in silence for a very long time. Then he turned and bowed to the wooden window.
Shang Xingzhou very seriously returned the bow.
Teacher and student were separated by a window. There was nothing between the window, only emptiness, but this did not mean that there was truly nothing.
They were teacher and student, and also ruler and minister.
… …
… …
The autumn wind blew over the Dew Platform. As the darkness deepened, the Night Pearls on the edge of the platform grew brighter and brighter. Shang Xingzhou stood on the edge of the platform with his hands held behind his back. He gazed at the streets of the capital, at this world that he had not seen for a very long time but was no stranger to. He calmly said, "Last night, the Prince of Zhongshan told Minister Cui that he is also Emperor Taizong's grandson of the first wife."
Today, everyone knew that he was Emperor Taizong's most trusted minister. Everything he did was to fulfill Emperor Taizong's dying wish.
The Prince of Zhongshan's words seemed rather inexplicable and ambiguous, but they were actually very clear.
Since he was also Emperor Taizong's grandson of the first wife, Shang Xingzhou was completely capable of supporting him. There was no need for him to support the young emperor.
"The word 'grandson' cannot be used carelessly." A voice came from behind the Dew Platform.
Shang Xingzhou did not turn around. He indifferently said, "It seems that you have some different thoughts."
That person fell silent for a very long time, then said, "It would be too fake to say that I don't have any thoughts, but I am keenly aware that this is not something that I should be thinking about right now."
Shang Xingzhou's expression did not change, but there was much more satisfaction in his eyes.
This person was very young, dressed in a blue robe with a bright yellow belt tied around his waist. His face was delicate and handsome. It was Prince Chen Liu.
Shang Xingzhou turned around and asked, "Then what do you want to say?"
Prince Chen Liu replied, "Chen Changsheng is preparing to leave."
When the Pope had gone to the Orthodox Academy, he had also believed that Chen Changsheng had already left or was packing his luggage.
Chen Changsheng had not done this, but this did not mean that he had no thoughts of leaving.
Shang Xingzhou fell silent for a very long time, then said, "I will not let him leave."
Prince Chen Liu asked, "Just what is the meaning in Sir's insistence on keeping him in the capital?"
Shang Xingzhou did not directly answer this question. "In my life, there are two things that I must accomplish. The first has already been accomplished."
If the Pope were present, he would know that the first thing he spoke of was to overthrow the Tianhai Divine Empress's rule and the second was to completely defeat the demons.
Prince Chen Liu did not know, so he was even more confused as to why he had suddenly mentioned these things.
At this moment, several extremely clear cracks suddenly appeared in the twilight sky. Soon after, several shrill bird cries resounded through the world.
Ten Red Geese and four Red Falcons had returned from the distant snowy plains of the north. Only three Red Geese and two Red Falcons had returned to the capital.
They brought with them a piece of news that everyone had been perplexed about and had been waiting for.
Xuelao City was still sealed.
The Demon Military Advisor Black Robe and the Demon Commander had joined hands in rebellion.
Great chaos.
The blizzard had become a disaster.
Seven Demon Generals had died.
Nanke had fled into the snowstorm.
The Demon Lord's fate was unknown.
… …
… …
(Tomorrow was rather busy, so there was no update.)
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