Chapter 690 – Thoughts without Evil (1/2)
Chapter 690 – Thoughts without Evil
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by : Michyrr
The once-deserted gate and courtyard of the Xue Estate were still not very lively, but at least some people had visited, and they had all been important figures. In front of the coffin, the Prince of Zhongshan had just very casually nodded and then left. On the other hand, the Minister of Rites had very seriously lit a stick of incense and then whispered a few words. No one knew what he had said.
In the eastern courtyard, a quiet room had been set up. Chen Changsheng, Su Moyu, Prince Chen Liu, and Tianhai Shengxue were seated in chairs within this room.
The four of them were all very young. Tianhai Shengxue, the oldest, was only thirty-some years old.
Chen Changsheng looked at the wound on Tianhai Shengxue's face and wanted to say something.
Tianhai Shengxue spoke first.
After that year's Grand Examination, the grudge between the Orthodox Academy and Tianhai Shengxue had been resolved. In private, they had even formed a mutual understanding unbeknownst to anyone else. That mutual understanding and the promise made back then now seemed very frail against the grand backdrop of the coup of the Mausoleum of Books, unable to withstand a single blow. Nevertheless, the two sides had once had a mutual understanding.
Moreover, just as was said before, they were all still young.
Youths spoke to each other with far fewer platitudes, spoke much more directly.
”You should also be well aware that these important figures that came to the Xue Estate today wish to use your momentum to probe at or confirm things in the Imperial Court.”
Tianhai Shengxue continued, ”The master of the Dao holds supreme authority in the Imperial Court and requires Zhou Tong's survival as proof. At least up until this point, no one had dared to challenge this, but I believe that with the passage of time, our fathers will not be so willing to remain this obedient.”
His father was Tianhai Chenwu and Prince Chen Liu's father was the Prince of Xiang, both truly powerful figures of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Chen Changsheng understood his meaning. After a period of silence, he said, ”Nobody knows how long such a time would be.”
”You can't randomly step on a path when you don't know what it looks like ahead. It's easy to walk into crossroads this way.”
Prince Chen Liu saw his expression and earnestly advised, ”Any matter must consider the general situation first. Your becoming Pope is the general situation more important than anything else, is worthy of patiently waiting for.”
Chen Changsheng did not speak. He had a different opinion of this matter.
He understood his teacher more than anyone else, including the Pope.
He had lived in Xining Village's old temple for fourteen years. The middle-aged Daoist had been both teacher and father to him, but now that he carefully thought about it, neither he nor Yu Ren had ever seen the true colors of the middle-aged Daoist. They had only seen the corner of a peak through the thick mist, a thin sliver of blue sky on an overcast day, a single flower growing by a stream.
Now that he had experienced so many things, these many sights and fragments of memory gradually began to take shape. These seemingly objectiveless details—the flower by the stream, the mountain in the mist, the blue sky behind the clouds, the Daoist scriptures within the temple—had actually contained details overflowing with information and were now forming into a true picture: his teacher, Shang Xingzhou.
The Pope wished to pass the Orthodoxy into Chen Changsheng's hands. He believed that he could use the might of the Li Palace and his own awe-inspiring reputation to ensure that at least no one within the Orthodoxy would oppose this matter after he returned to the sea of stars. Thus, as long as the Orthodoxy was internally stable and united, the Imperial Court could not meddle in this affair.
But Chen Changsheng knew that this matter would assuredly not develop in this fashion. He was extremely sure that the day his martial uncle the Pope returned to the sea of stars would be the same day that his teacher moved against him. He might be killed, or, like the little Black Dragon, he would be imprisoned forever in an abyss that would never see the light of day.
Regardless of the result, it was not a result he desired.
Tianhai Shengxue seemed to sense something and said, ”If you really think that something big will occur, you should start making preparations now.”
Chen Changsheng shook his head. ”All preparations are rather meaningless.”
It was just like that night—after the Imperial Design had lost effectiveness, the entire situation in the capital hinged on the outcome of the battle on the Mausoleum of Books.
The history of the continent had always been decided by the experts of the Divine Domain.
Between the Divine and the mortal was a gorge that could not be crossed.
No matter how incredible Chen Changsheng's talent in cultivation, it was impossible for him to cross this gorge in the short span of several dozen days.
”You should leave.”
Prince Chen Liu had a different opinion than Tianhai Shengxue. ”Take advantage of the fact that His Holiness is compelling your teacher not to move…this is your best and final opportunity.”
Su Moyu glanced at Chen Changsheng.
In the Orthodox Academy, he had once made a similar proposal.
Chen Changsheng did not reply. He knew that it was impossible for him to leave.
Tianhai Shengxue departed, but before he left the room, he said, ”In a few more days, the celebration will begin.”
Many events had taken place this autumn. The Tianhai Empress had returned to the sea of stars and the Demon Lord had descended to his death in the abyss.
Some other events were about to take place. The only one that could be discussed on an equal level with the previous two was the confluence of the north and south.
After a few days, the celebration over the confluence of the north and south would begin. Based on what was discussed in the spring, the White Emperor couple might come to preside over the festivities.