Chapter 505 – The Divine Empresss Teachings (2/2)
”Martial Uncle Su wanted me to say to the Empress…” Xu Yourong glanced at her, then continued, ”To live a solitary life is no good. What need is there to force yourself to do it?”
Hearing these words of Su Li, the Divine Empress fell silent for a very long time. Suddenly, she began to laugh, her laugh brimming with openness and scorn.
”Empress, you also shouldn't blame Master. For her to persuade Martial Uncle Su to travel with her around the world is already not easy.”
Last year at the beginning of autumn, both the Great Zhou Dynasty and the various powers of the south began to make their preparations as if the confluence of the north and south was inevitable. At the time, many people, including such important figures as Xue Xingchuan who were involved in executing this matter, were puzzled as to why the Saints were pushing this matter when Su Li was still clearly at Mount Li. Yet not one pondered Su Li's attitude.
As it turned out, it had been because the Holy Maiden had persuaded Su Li to travel away with her from the grudges and quarrels of the secular world and to no longer care about these things.
The Divine Empress had said that the Holy Maiden of the south had failed to overcome the temptation of love. In truth, Su Li had also failed to overcome it.
The word 'love' had served as a restraint, as the prerequisite for the confluence of north and south.
The Divine Empress felt quite strongly on this matter, so her words were extremely tough and derisive. ”The finest years of your master's life were spent pent up in Holy Maiden Peak, while he was outside, eating, drinking and being merry. For so many years, he lived such a free and happy life, finding a Demon Princess for a lover and even having a daughter. Nothing was delayed for him, and finally, after he got tired of playing around, he turned his head back to find her again, and then went once more to watch the sunset in the twilight! Tell me, how beautiful is that! Everyone says that ruling the country is like playing Go, but even if it is, I wouldn't take such an exchange with my enemy. It just isn't worth it.”
In this world, the number of people of the same sex as her that she could communicate with in the spiritual world was just two. Just like that, there was now one less, and it was even because of a man, the reason that she found the most impossible to accept.
Xu Yourong did not respond because it was her elder that was being discussed, and also because…there were truthfully times when she felt the same.
”She just left like this, leaving a little girl like you behind. Could she not be worried?”
The Divine Empress gazed at Xu Yourong and arched her brows. ”Ultimately, isn't it up to me to be concerned? Truly, one turns stupid after getting with a man. In comparison, there's no one smarter than me.”
Xu Yourong smiled. ”In any case, I was also taught by the Empress. It's also fine if the Empress teaches me for a few more years.”
”Not teach, exchange.”
The Divine Empress nodded her head at her. This was a sign of respect.
Xu Yourong was shocked, but quickly calmed down and returned the nod.
She was not a Saint, but she was already the Holy Maiden of the south.
From this moment on, she and the Empress conversed on equal levels, even if only on the surface.
”Since you're the Holy Maiden of the south, you must think for the sake of the southerners, as this is your true foundation, even if…you must oppose me in the future.”
”I understand.”
”Just as I said in the beginning, men cannot stand seeing us standing so high above. As a result, all the Holy Maidens before your master would basically rarely leave South Stream Temple. On the surface, they studied the Heavenly Tome Monolithsand forgot worldly affairs. In reality, they all clearly understood that to guarantee their continued existence was good, but that they also couldn't let their existence grow too strong. If you don't wish to become a sacred idol, you cannot act this way.”
”Then how should I act?”
”Men do not like to see us standing so high above, so we must stand high above, and we have to step on them until they can't even speak or even dare to respond.”
The Divine Empress expressionlessly declared.
Xu Yourong knew that these seemingly crude and simple words were the Empress's will, a warning concerning her future life as Holy Maiden, but…it was even more a demand for the battle that was soon to come.
She could not lose to Chen Changsheng.
……
……
Chen Changsheng sat by the Orthodox Academy lake, in a daze.
The White Crane stood next to him, also in a daze.
Tiny snowflakes flew down from the sky and fell upon the White Crane, increasing its sacred aura. They fell upon his body, making it seem like his hair had gone white from worry.
”What should I do?” Depressed, he looked to the White Crane and asked, ”If I really can't avoid it, if I really have to fight her, how should I fight?”
The White Crane slightly tilted its head and looked at him. It was like it was saying, ”You should be asking this of her, not me.”
He thought it over for a very long time. Ultimately, he softly whispered to himself, ”If it's really no good, then I should just lose to her?”
……
……
In the shower of snow, Xu Yourong walked amongst the streets of the capital, an umbrella in her hand.
There was no South Stream Temple disciple at her side, nor was there any priest of the Li Palace or bodyguard from the Imperial Palace. She walked alone.
For some reason, even though she had not changed her appearance, elegant and beautiful as a fairy, she attracted the gaze of no one and no one realized her identity.
The people in the food stalls by the streets, the workers eating noodles on their doorsteps—it was like none of them could see her under the umbrella.
Perhaps it was because of the strange fringe of the umbrella in her hand. The umbrella was rather old and covered in dust. It was the Yellow Paper Umbrella.