Chapter 1071 – The Head of the Great Clan Who Has Shown Up (2/2)

With the excuse of the Grand Examination, the sects and clans of the south had sent more than two thousand people into the capital. So many people naturally could not be housed in inns, so it was arranged for them to stay in the Li Palace, the Ivy Academies, and all the Daoist churches, big and small, within the capital. Chen Changsheng gave no opinion on the matter, and Hu Thirty-Two handled the matter very properly, with no problems cropping up.

At the start, it was inevitable that both sides felt a little strange around each other, but after a little time getting acquainted, no one was willing to miss out on this hard-sought opportunity for the north and south to interact. In a short time, within the Li Palace, the Ivy Academies, and the Daoist churches, the two sides began to exchange pointers, but they spent most of the time discussing the Dao so as to avoid damaging their relationship.

Wealthy clans like the Mutuo clan and the Wu clan naturally had their own residences in the capital and did not need to be lodged elsewhere. And the members of these clans who were stationed in the capital could also just ask their clan heads… Why were they willing to obey the Holy Maiden's order and enter the capital?

The Old Lady of the Mutuo clan sank her feet into hot water and let out a sigh of exhaustion. She then said, ”The foundations of our clans are in the south, not the north.”

From this standpoint, the decree of Holy Maiden Peak was naturally more important than decrees from the Imperial Court, but the strength of the Mutuo clan meant that even if they ignored Xu Yourong's words, what could she do?

In the eyes of the Mutuo clan's descendants and the people of the capital, Xu Yourong was a shockingly talented Phoenix, was the revered Holy Maiden.

She was not a schemer, so logically speaking, she should not have been skilled in using force, much less more cold-blooded methods. Moreover, she also did not have such an ability.

”None of you know what sort of person the Holy Maiden is.”

The Old Lady of the Mutuo clan seemed to be recalling something, fear appearing in her eyes as she said, ”She's a madwoman.”

In a nearby estate, just as luxurious, the Wu clan head was engaging in a similar conversation with his younger brother, the Assistant Minister of Revenue.

The Wu clan head sighed and said, ”You don't know how scary the Holy Maiden can get once she goes crazy.”

Assistant Minister Wu made a jeering expression, clearly not believing in these words.

The Wu clan head did not explain more. He only ruefully said, ”None of you have the experience, so you naturally won't be afraid, but I really am afraid.”

Assistant Minister Wu had no idea what had happened, but he subconsciously felt a chill. He asked, ”What about the Qiushan clan?”

Many things had happened in Wenshui City and Tang Thirty-Six had left the ancestral hall. Everyone knew that the Tang Old Master had changed his stance.

In the conflict between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng, he had chosen to maintain a neutral stance.

Of the Four Great Clans, only the Qiushan clan's stance was not clear, and the Qiushan clan head had not been spotted amongst the group entering the capital.

”That old fox has it the worst. Normally, he's used to flipping between both sides, but he doesn't even need to make his stance known this time. Everyone already knows which side he'll stand on.”

The Wu clan head suddenly felt a lot better as he jeered, ”No one made him father such a good son.”

……

……

Outside the capital was a Daoist temple called Tanzhe.

In the rear courtyard of this temple was a ginkgo tree, said to have been personally planted by Emperor Taizong a thousand years ago.

It was a flourishing ginkgo tree. In the golden autumn, its leaves would yellow and become a golden waterfall.

Three years ago, when Wang Po entered the capital to kill Zhou Tong, he had spent eleven days beneath this ginkgo tree, quietly comprehending the blade, after which he slew Tie Shu with one stunning strike on the Luo River.

It was early spring, so the leaves of the ginkgo tree were naturally not yellow, nor could Wang Po be found there.

The Qiushan clan head walked out of the Daoist temple and sat on the ice-cold stone chair. He sighed three times.

He had also come to the capital, but he had not entered. Instead, he had gone to Tanzhe Temple.

He wanted to find Wang Po and advise him to go to Luoyang.

In short, he did not want Shang Xingzhou to return to the capital, and he certainly did not want Shang Xingzhou to see him.

Because he was extremely pessimistic on Xu Yourong's chances.

He did not want to be implicated in the aftermath.

”What if… we go back?”

The Qiushan clan Guardian of unfathomable cultivation looked sympathetically at the Qiushan clan head's furrowed brow.

”Even if we didn't come, do you think the Imperial Court would believe that unfilial son?”

The Qiushan clan head sighed. ”Since we've already shown up, let's stay for a few days.”