Chapter 668 – A Eunuch (1/2)
Chapter 668 – A Eunuch
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Whether it was the princes of the Chen clan or those major figures who took great risks in betraying the Tianhai Divine Empress, they should have been very thankful to Chen Changsheng. If not for Chen Changsheng, the Tianhai Divine Empress would not have weakened herself to change his fate. That being the case, no matter how perfect the plans Shang Xingzhou and the rest of them made, it would have been impossible to invite the Tianhai Divine Empress off her sacred altar.
Intentionally or unintentionally, Chen Changsheng had been a deciding factor in their plans, but they would not remember this, intentionally or unintentionally.
The words of the Prince of He County represented the entire world's stance towards Chen Changsheng.
Tianhai Shengxue was well aware of this. He sneered, ”If he wasn't a descendant of your Chen clan, would the Divine Empress have made the mistake? A bastard? Your Highness, these words are truly too laughable.”
The Prince of He County was somewhat startled at these words. His face quickly turned unsightly as he realized that this might be true.
Just then, the cavalry parted like a tide. An extremely old eunuch seated in a cushioned carriage came through.
Seeing the old eunuch, the Prince of He County raised his brows slightly. Turning to Tianhai Shengxue, he mocked, ”It seems that His Majesty does not think as you do.”
This old eunuch came to pass down an imperial decree.
However, even after the official announced their purpose in coming, the Orthodox Academy's gate still remained tightly shut, slow to be opened.
”It seems that His Majesty has sent people to surround the Orthodox Academy, but thinking about it in another way, isn't it that the Orthodox Academy isn't willing to open its doors?”
Tianhai Shengxue smiled, making no attempts to conceal his happiness.
”Worthy nephew, don't get happy too early…”
The Prince of He County sneered, ”They say that Chen Changsheng was schoolmates with His Majesty, but if he offends this eunuch, I'm afraid no friendship will be of any use.”
Tianhai Shengxue's expression turned slightly gloomy as he replied, ”Your Highness, I don't understand your words.”
The Prince of He County gave a grim smile. ”Eunuch Lin was Imperial Father's foster brother and volunteered to enter the palace to attend to Imperial Father. As he was highly principled and deeply revered, even after Imperial Mother took the throne and found him displeasing, she could only have him retire and return to Zhang Province to convalesce. Now, he has been invited back by Principal Shang to take on the position of Eunuch of the Seal. I truly wish to see just who would dare show him disrespect.”
The elderly eunuch had been lying on the cushioned carriage this entire time, his eyes closed as he napped. Tianhai Shengxue had earlier found it rather strange. Since this eunuch had come to deliver a decree and had even seen the tense atmosphere around the Orthodox Academy, how could he possibly display such behavior? Now that he knew that it was actually that extraordinary Eunuch Lin of the past who had returned, he instantly thought that this was indeed how Eunuch Lin should be acting. His gaze now contained some curiosity and respect from gazing at such a legendary figure. However, he soon after realized that just yesterday, those eunuchs and palace maids in the Imperial Palace loyal to the Divine Empress…including the chief eunuch he had grown close to as a child, had all died. Those deaths were presumably the work of this Eunuch Lin. With this thought, his face turned somewhat pale.
After quite some time, the elderly eunuch slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that the gate to the Orthodox Academy was still shut, he expressionlessly declared, ”If it doesn't open, break it.”
When this old eunuch's eyes were closed, he looked like a very ordinary person, but when they opened, he seemed to naturally exude a swift and forceful grandeur, like an old spear casting off an old cloth. Wherever his gaze wandered or his words fell, a sharpness would appear.
Growing up in the Imperial Palace, he had cultivated in countless profound and secret methods, so Eunuch Lin naturally possessed an extremely high level of cultivation. However, this swift and forceful grandeur of a spear did not originate from his strength. The sharpness that filled the atmosphere came from his heart and from his eyes through which his heart was expressed. Those two eyes muddied by the passing of time were filled with resolve and righteousness, not stained in the slightest by indecision or lack of confidence.
For Shang Xingzhou to invite Eunuch Lin to return to the Imperial Palace and take up the seal represented a changing of a dynasty, the advent of a new era.
He had come from the Imperial Palace, an imperial decree in hand. His words represented the will of the Great Zhou Imperial Court, so just who would dare defy him now?
Yet after he spoke, the Orthodox Academy remained quiet. No person walked up to break the door, not a single person.
Not the black-armored heavy cavalry, the troops of the City Gate Department, or even the attendants who had escorted Eunuch Lin. They all remained at their original positions.
Many people, intentionally or unintentionally, looked to Tianhai Shengxue.
Two years ago, on a rainy spring morning, this proud son of the Tianhai clan returned from Snowhold Pass and brought the soldiers of his family to destroy the gate of the Orthodox Academy.