296 Besiege the Alley (1/2)
Chapter 296: Besiege the Alley
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
”I heard that they're playing chess.”
”The game had been over since twilight.”
”But I've to let you continue our chess game with me.”
”Your Majesty, the chess game always has an end.”
”Since I can't fall asleep tonight, I have to figure out some ways to kill time.”
Inside the imperial study deep in the palace, Li Zhongyi, the emperor of the Tang Empire, was angrily saying as he looked at the chessboard in front of him. The game had been on since daytime, but it wasn't even halfway through in the late night. Thus, the situation indeed made him impatient.
Monk Huang Yang helpless smiled and replied, ”His Majesty, the men like the Divine Priest of Light and Master Yan Se, are considered supermundane figures. No matter how we are wary of and respond to it, few things will change there.”
The atmosphere of Chang'an this evening was nervous and depressive. Other than the shop in Lin 47th Street, the imperial palace was naturally the most heavily guarded place. In accordance with the rules, since the Nation Master Li Qingshan wasn't by the emperor now, Monk Huang Yang, the younger brother of the emperor, would accompany His Majesty at every moment.
His Majesty scattered the chess pieces in front of him with his hand and walked out of the imperial study. He stood beside the trees, flowers, and snow. As he quietly looked at the city under darkness, he suddenly said, ”Do you believe the tale about the invasion of Underworld?”
Monk Huang Yang put his palms together in silence and shook his head.
After a gust of night wind, His Majesty began coughing and the sound became louder and louder. At last, the emperor painfully bent his waist due to the continuous coughing. He waved his hand and drove away the eunuchs and palace maids who came to him because of his coughing. After gently rubbing the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, he looked at the darkness and said, ”I only hope it will come earlier if it isn't just a tale.”
Monk Huang Yang recognized the ominous meaning hidden behind the emperor's words. Both his statement and the previous coughing made him frown. He looked at the emperor's and worriedly said, ”His Majesty is suffering from a cold disease now, so it's better to go back to the room.”
The emperor slowly shook his head and said, ”The Headmaster of Academy once said the cold disease inside my body isn't very serious. As long as I can suppress it, it's unable to threaten me. If I fail, that will be my fate.”
Huang Yang was the Younger brother of emperor of Tang dynasty, but he wasn't like the Nation Master Li Qingshan, who had been with His Majesty for so many years. Thus, he didn't know those old stories. For example, he didn't know the story between the emperor of Tang and the young girl of Devil's Doctrine. Listening to the emperor's words, he felt worried and confused. Could it be that even the Headmaster of Academy was incapable of completely curing the cold disease inside the emperor's body?
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When Chen Pipi walked out of the door, the burning color in the Lin 47th Street instantly disappeared, leaving behind only a tall ancient hat left. Covering his head, he just walked in that direction and politely stood behind the owner of the hat.
Looking at the closed door of Old Brush Pen Shop, Second Brother's expression was aloof and peaceful. However, his eyes were loomingly full of exciting fire, just like his tall hat that looked as if it was burning in the dusk.
There was no one in the alley, and the doors of that fake antique shop and grocery store were all closed. A square stool somehow appeared by the grey-white wall below the winter tree. Second Brother seated stiffly on it, as steady as a pine on the cliff. What's more, that young and cute little boy was quietly accompanying him on one side, just like a white stone below the pine.
Looking at the closed door, Second Brother suddenly asked, ”They still haven't fought yet?”
Chen Pipi lowered his head and politely replied, ”They are reminiscing their old days.”
There were some unpleasant expressions appearing on Second Brother's serious face. He said, ”Old men always conduct things in a dilatory way. Since both of them insist on their own standpoints, the result will depend on their fists and strength in the end. There's no need to spend such a long time reminiscing. They don't deserve to be called ”Gentlemen” due to their dilatory style.”
Chen Pipi rubbed his cold sweat left on his forehead and daren't say a word.
Second Brother's absolutely straight eyebrow suddenly frowned. He gently raised the front part of his gown and then flapped it. After adjusting his ancient hat which actually didn't move a bit, he said, ”They still aren't fighting. Do I have to wait the entire night for it?”
Noticing Second Brother's movement, Chen Pipi knew that his impatient Second Brother wouldn't like to spend time on the meaningless wait and was ready to enter Old Brush Pen Shop. Chen Pipi was instantly shocked and sweat immediately wet his clothes again.
In the Old Brush Pen Shop at present, two terrific figures, Great Divine Priest of Light and Master Yan Se, were at a deadlock. If Second Brother were to join in, who would know what the fight destructions would occur and what it would do to damage the street?
Thinking about the situation, Chen Pipi, regardless of his regular reverence to Second Brother and Second Brother's habit of keeping dressing neat, grasped Second Brother's sleeve tightly. With a trembling and slightly hoarse voice, he sincerely begged, ”Senior Brother, please don't enter there.”
Having a glance at his crumpled sleeve corner, Second Brother asked expressionlessly, ”Those two men can enter, why can't I?”
According to the real thought in Chen Pipi's deep heart, wind, rain, light, and color could enter Old Brush Pen Shop, but Second Brother couldn't. The reason was very simple. Though the two elders in the shop had ever killed many people, at least the current situation was peaceful. Chang'an would be in a peaceful state if they could think twice before making a decision. However, if Second Brother entered Old Brush Pen Shop, he, who was inflexible in etiquette and raring for a fight, an earth-shaking battle would definitely happen in the shop!
Besides, Chen Pipi had witnessed the excitingly burning fire in Second Brother's eyes, though Second Brother pretended to be serious and solemn. Actually, Second Brother had gathered a lot of desire to fight inside his body, because he was suppressed by Headmaster of Academy and Eldest Brother all the time and he had to preside over affairs of the Academy these two years. Today, the God of Light was a matched opponent for him, so how could he let the great opportunity escape?
However, what Chen Pipi thought and knew wasn't important. He knew that if he advised Second Brother in this way, he would definitely be heavily bullied and Second Brother would still enter Old Brush Pen Shop in the end. Therefore, with his cute flesh on the face shaking, Chen Pipi advised in earnest, ”Dilatoriness isn't a fault. When Eldest Brother does something slowly, we still have no choice but to wait.”
Second Brother unhappily said, ”How could other people compete with our Senior Brother?”
Noticing that the mention of Eldest Brother still didn't work, Chen Pipi heavily and tightly grasped Second Brother's sleeve and said two sentences in a low voice. (Notes)
Second Brother slightly frowned and waved his hand signalizing his cute serving boy, who was silently waiting beside him all the time, to return to the Academy. After adjusting his ancient hat and clothes, he just closed his eyes and peacefully waited in silence on the stool below the tree.
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From dusk to midnight, many people came outside the Lin 47th Street.
General Huaihua, who looked impressive and strong, came representing the representing Tang's military ministry. A tough-looking Censor, on behalf of the imperial court, was on the spot. In addition, the Nation Master Li Qingshan, whose face was a little pale, also arrived.
These figures representing different forces of Tang Empire gathered here only for one purpose. In other words, they came here for the rickety old man in Old Brush Pen Shop, for those bloody cases in Chang'an and Yan territory caused by the old man that year, as well as for the treason case of Xuanwei General many years ago.
For more than ten years, the empire didn't delve deeply into that thing because its involvement was too deep and wide. It was relative to the prince and General Xiahou, even to the West-Hill Divine Palace and some more mysterious origins.
However, the Divine Priest of Light, who schemed the plan that year, had betrayed the Divine Hall now and arrived in Chang'an in person. How could the emperor and officials of Tang allow him to leave Chang'an safely?
In the big occasion like today, the men of Chang'an Local Government and Fish-dragon Gang even had no right to appear.