The Prince of Zhongshan and Tianhai Chenwen were the two people with the highest status present today, so they knew the most inside information. They had even faintly heard that someone in Gaoyang Village had seen a black dragon that night, but for some extremely complicated reasons, they did not believe it. It was only now that they confirmed that the master of the Cinnabar Pill really was Chen Changsheng …
Now that they thought about it, someone had naturally concealed the true circumstances of that night, or perhaps misled them.
In the entire world, who could simultaneously deceive the princes of the Chen clan and the Tianhai clan?
It was naturally the venerable master of the Daoist, Shang Xingzhou, residing deep in the palace.
As it turned out, Shang Xingzhou had set up a killing trap for his student that night.
Zhu Ye, Ning Shiwei, and the others were just blades, just a few pitiful blades of grass by a surging flood.
But probably not even Shang Xingzhou had expected that his good student had not died.
Since Chen Changsheng had not died, many people would die.
Even if Zhu Ye, Ning Shiwei, and the others were already dead, they would probably die again, let alone those who were still alive.
The official from the Grand Court of Revision had an extremely nasty expression. He walked up to An Hua and took the letter with both hands, his voice trembling as he asked, "Does Your Holiness the Pope have any orders?"
An Hua replied, "In the letter, His Holiness the Pope says that Zhu Ye, Ning Shiwei, and the others are conspirators. The specific crimes are to be dealt with by the Imperial Court."
The official breathed a sigh of relief at these words. He thought to himself, it's still a little easier to deal with people who are already dead.
An Hua continued, "His Holiness also wants me to ask how the army selects talents."
She was only an ordinary teacher of the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green, but she was asking questions on behalf of the Pope.
Divine Generals Cheng Tao and Jian Xi came from the two most important armies of the Great Zhou and could be said to represent the Great Zhou Army.
So this question was naturally directed at them.
Cheng Tao and Jian Xi did not dare to sit still. They stood up, slightly lowered their heads, and silently and respectfully listened.
An Hua turned her gaze to the other important personages.
Tianhai Chenwen gave a self-deprecating laugh as he used his hands to support himself on the armrests of his chair and slowly stood up. He seemed particularly exhausted.
The Prince of Zhongshan was an imperial envoy and had an imperial decree on him, so he did not need to stand. However, his expression was still rather solemn.
"His Holiness said that he is very disappointed of the current Great Zhou."
An Hua's voice was still very calm. "From the northern frontier to the Imperial Court, from the Divine Generals to the noble clans, it is all rotten to the core."
His words were forceful and high-pitched.
If it had been an ordinary citizen, these words would have been a complaint, but the one saying these words was the Pope, so they naturally carried a completely different meaning.
The Prince of Zhongshan and Tianhai Chenwen once more stared at each other, the wariness in their eyes growing thicker and thicker. The Pope naturally had the right to say these words, and he could even rain down curses on everyone except the emperor, but this matter involved politics. Other than venting his emotions, what meaning did this have?
In their view, although the Pope was young, he still should not have done such a meaningless thing. There was assuredly a follow-up.
Just as expected, An Hua changed the topic and said, "Only the former commander of Seven Li Xi's roaming cavalry, Chen Chou …"
Chen Chou said nothing this entire time. He was very nervous.
As he watched An Hua calmly speak in front of these important figures, he felt a deep sense of admiration.
He did not expect that he would be mentioned so soon.
Although he had mentally prepared himself, he still felt like his mind was buzzing, and then he could no longer hear what An Hua was saying.
Outstanding military service? Alright, he had indeed made a lot of contributions when he was with that fellow at Seven Li Xi, but wasn't it all suppressed by the military headquarters?
Loving soldiers like their own children? Undressing them and pushing them to eat them? Alright, although I truly do get along well with my subordinates, how could I let them have wine and meat?
Extremely virtuous? Alright, I truly did not hesitate to violate military discipline and leave the Mount Song Army headquarters to save that young array master, but Your Holiness should understand … wasn't that just falling into the enemy's trap?
Chen Chou finally came to his senses, just in time to hear An Hua's last few words.
"His Holiness believes that only a soldier like General Chen Chou can shoulder the heavy responsibility of defeating the demons."
An Hua looked at the important figures in the hall as she spoke.
Divine Generals Cheng Tao and Jian Xi had extremely nasty complexions, while Tianhai Chenwen was even more shocked. He thought, it can't be, right?
He was prepared to interrupt An Hua, but it was already too late.
An Hua concluded, "His Holiness the Pope believes that General Chen Chou should be promoted to Divine General. He is the best candidate to guard the Mount Song Army headquarters."
These words silenced the entire room.
It was even quieter than when they had confirmed that the master of the Cinnabar Pill was Chen Changsheng.
The truth of that bloody night in the snowy mountains was not important to these important figures. The Pope's whereabouts or life or death was not a domain they could touch.
Was their true goal in coming to the Mount Song Army headquarters not the position of Divine General?
What did the Pope mean by this? Did he want to use a single sentence to snatch it away?
The Prince of Zhongshan's complexion grew uglier and uglier.
It was still that deep voice that spoke at just the right time.
At the most crucial moment, the one speaking was still that old fox, Tianhai Chenwen.
"Those who should be punished will be punished, but … not even His Holiness the Pope can interfere in the affairs of the court, let alone military affairs."
An Hua was very calm, showing no reaction.
She had already completed all the tasks that the Pope had ordered her to do.
As for how things would develop later on, she had no idea, but she was confident that the Pope had already made plans, and had assuredly arranged them properly.
Just as she thought, a clamor came from outside the headquarters, and then a voice came in.
"The Li Palace has never interfered in the affairs of the Imperial Court, but since someone in the Imperial Court dares to plot against His Holiness the Pope, an explanation must be given."
"All the officers and soldiers of the Mount Song Army headquarters involved in this case must be captured and handed over to me to be brought back to the capital for interrogation."
"Hanqiu City must be sealed today. No one from the Zhu clan or the Emotion-Severing Sect is allowed to escape."
"As for the Tianhai clan, when I return to the capital, I will naturally pay them a visit."
That voice was extremely gloomy, but it faintly contained boundless ruthlessness. His words were even more unyielding to the extreme.
After only four sentences, the man entered the hall from outside the main gate of the military headquarters.
That person was dressed in a blue Daoist robe and exuded an austere aura.
The Mount Song Army headquarters was heavily guarded, but no one dared to stop him.
Because he was Linghai Zhiwang, the cruelest and most murderous of the Sacred Hall archbishops of the Li Palace.
This was because Archbishop An Lin and Daoist Baishi were right beside him.
Because the cold mountain was angry, and the hoofbeats were like thunder.
The three Prefects of the Orthodoxy arrived at the Mount Song Army headquarters.
Two thousand Papal Cavalrymen were outside Mount Song!
A crow perched on the eaves of a building deep within the headquarters, cawing.
On the mountain peaks even further back, the white snow on the black cliffs stood out in stark contrast.
The cold winter wind howled, stirring up a few wisps of snow and ruffling the black feathers on its body.
Compared to the howling of the wind, the area under the eaves was so quiet that one could even call it a deathly stillness.
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