Chapter 1066 – The Personnel Arrangements of the Li Palace (1/2)

Chapter 1066 – The Personnel Arrangements of the Li Palace

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

With the conclusion of the Prince of Louyang and Mo Yu's marriage, the people of the capital began to cast their gazes towards another marriage.

At present the Imperial Court could be considered as being divided into two factions. The old ministers represented by Eunuch Lin naturally could be considered part of the young emperor's group, and now, Mo Yu and the Prince of Louyang added to their number. Meanwhile, the Prince of Xiang, the Prince of Zhongshan, the other Chen princes, and the generals personally taught by Chen Guansong represented the other faction. The Tianhai clan, on the other hand, continued to waver between the factions. With the death of the Divine Empress, the Tianhai clan had naturally come under extreme pressure, but as a clan that had influenced the Imperial Court for two centuries, it still had resources and strength to pull. No one could disregard its existence.

The marriage between Prince Chen Liu and the Princess of Ping was, from a certain perspective, an alliance between the Prince of Xiang's estate and the Tianhai clan. As the emperor's relations on his mother's side, it was only right that the Tianhai clan stand on his side. But they had no intention of delaying this wedding. On the contrary, after Xu Yourong entered the palace, they moved the marriage up.

Tianhai Chenwu appeared much older than he was three years ago. It seemed that a cultivation level that was only half a step from the Divine was not enough to resist the power of time.

He looked at his son and ruefully sighed, ”Perhaps you were right back then, but at this point, we can no longer turn back.”

Tianhai Shengxue slightly frowned and said, ”His Majesty will still require our strength.”

”But once this matter is concluded?”

A derisive smile appeared on Tianhai Chenwu's face.

”If His Majesty really does want to ally with Chen Changsheng, it means that he will come into conflict with the venerable Daoist. What reason do you think he will use?”

Tianhai Shengxue fell silent, making no attempts to persuade his father otherwise.

Every matter required a suitable reason, which gave rise to the saying, 'a sufficient reason is needed to send the troops'.

If the young emperor really did do this, and if he won, then those who betrayed the Tianhai Divine Empress at the critical moment back then would assuredly be punished.

As for the Tianhai clan, they would undoubtedly be the first to be purged.

……

……

This year's winter was particularly cold and seemed like it would never end.

But one day, the snow suddenly stopped and sun tore through the clouds, bathing the capital, the mountains, and the rivers in its light. The world instantly warmed as spring suddenly descended.

Spring had come and everything began to renew. Just like how the Luo River outside the capital began to flow once more, many matters that had been paused began to restart.

With the Pope returned to the capital, neither the Li Palace nor the Imperial Court had any reason to not hold the Grand Examination.

This grand occasion which had been halted for three years now instantly attracted the attention of the entire continent.

Just like the arrival of spring, the news of the Grand Examination's revival was also rather sudden. There was naturally no time for any pre-examination, nor was there any Ivy Festival.

The teachers and students of the Six Ivies and the students from the various provincial academies quickly plunged themselves into study and cultivation. The disciples of the distant sects in the south, on the other hand, had already begun to prepare their luggage. The Longevity Sect was already waning, but there were still forty-some sects sending disciples to participate in this year's Grand Examination, including South Stream Temple, Scholartree Manor, and the Mount Li Sword Sect. Fortunately, there were no geniuses like the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws this time, nor was there anyone like Scholartree Manor's Zhong Hui, so the Ivy Academies felt less pressure than in the past.

But this was the first Grand Examination since the ascension of the young Emperor and the Pope, so no one dared to take it lightly.

The Orthodoxy cavalry continuously patrolled around the walls of the Orthodox Academy and the peddlers were driven out of Hundred Flowers Lane. Those restaurants with rather significant backing had also been requested to limit their opening hours.

In the quiet Orthodox Academy, the only sounds to be heard were those of reading and clashing swords. Su Moyu was guiding the students taking part in the Grand Examination through the final preparations, and even Tang Thirty-Six stopped going to the Li Palace. He spent all day in the Orthodox Academy, keeping an eye on those students and occasionally delivering a harsh reprimand.

Chen Changsheng still held the post of Principal of the Orthodox Academy, but his status prevented him from doing anything, or even saying anything.