Chapter 634 – A Map of the Capital (2/2)
”Of the experts of the Divine Domain in the current era, he and His Holiness the Pope are the two oldest. Since they are unable to achieve Concealed Divinity, they cannot escape the four words of 'birth', 'aging', 'illness', and 'death'.”
The Tang Second Master continued walking as he calmly spoke. ”In Mount Han, when he attempted to seal the Demon Lord, he was injured, quickening the process.”
Tang Thirty-Six followed, asking, ”Then what of the Divine Empress? Are all of you so sure that she will lose?”
The Tang Second Master explained, ”The Tianhai Empress's strength relies on her ruthless heart. Chen Changsheng entered the capital two years ago, yet she never once moved. Even if she wants to kill him now, it's already too late.”
The heavy iron door behind the pair slowly closed, cutting off the capital behind them.
The underground space here was very large but not at all gloomy, as there were Night Pearls and jade fire placed everywhere for light. It wasn't tranquil and serene either, as there were people everywhere.
Several hundred accountants were at their tables, copying something, calculating something. The table in front of each person was piled high with files.
”What are they doing?” Tang Thirty-Six asked.
The Tang Second Master replied, ”What should our Tang clan most revere?”
Tang Thirty-Six could not think of an answer.
The Wenshui Tang clan was the wealthiest in the entire continent, with not even the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets being able to surpass them. Before the Chen Imperial clan established the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Tang clan was already the Tang clan. The Tang clan was involved in every sort of business: military weapons, magical artifacts, rations and fodder, crystals, mines…if there was one thing that they most revered, could it be money?
They walked towards the room in the deepest part of this underground space. The three chief stewards of the Heavenly Fragrance Market here looked at Tang Thirty-Six behind the Tang Second Master, the looks on their faces rather unnatural.
They had been working on this matter for more than a year, but had never revealed it to him.
This was the Heavenly Fragrance Market, an opening that Tang Thirty-Six had torn open in the capital for his clan last autumn by borrowing the momentum of the Orthodox Academy's rebirth.
His clan had long since taken over everything in secret while he remained completely unaware.
He was busy handling the affairs of the Orthodox Academy, so to manage the Heavenly Fragrance Market, he naturally used the stewards sent by his clan, thus the Heavenly Fragrance Market very naturally became his clan's property.
Yes, he was the most pampered grandson of the Wenshui Tangs, yet during a major event like this, he still had no right to speak.
However, to these stewards, many years later, Tang Thirty-Six would inevitably become the master of the Tang clan. Although what they were doing now was not betrayal, it wasn't much different, so they couldn't but feel somewhat uneasy.
”The Tang clan is forever the Tang clan's Tang clan, not any one person's Tang clan.”
The Tang Second Master lifted the teapot on the table and took a drink from it, then he walked in front of the wall and said with his backs turned towards the three stewards, ”Do this matter well and the Tang clan will not treat you all unfairly.”
The three chief stewards glanced at Tang Thirty-Six and then softly affirmed.
The Tang Second Master lightly flicked the teapot and a map seven feet tall and wide dropped down from above to hang in front of the wall.
This map was constructed from the most durable golden silk and drawn with the most finely ground Southern Water Ink, the ink most likely mixed with some charcoal. Under the light of the Night Pearls and jade fire, it was exceptionally clear.
This was a map of the capital, drawn with the most meticulous detail. Whether it was the Imperial Palace, the Li Palace, or the most ordinary house, nothing was excluded.
The Tang Second Master carried the teapot in his left hand while he examined the map. His face revealed a satisfied expression. ”Report.”
The three chief stewards lined up in order, took out thick files from their bosoms, and began to report.
”The Capital Garden of Harmony has been confirmed. Its strength has weakened by three-two-three.”
”South Red House Street has been confirmed, its strength is at its starting number.”
”North Li of Achieving Merit is impossible to confirm. On the day of Taizong's death, too many palace maids were buried with him. The Yin Qi might cause perturbations.”
”White Paper District is confirmed, the strength has been increased by one-four-one.”
……