708 Wei, Ism Worried (2/2)

”Lord Li said something earlier that I think is the main point. Our nation is in a critical situation and all disputes should be settled within the court sessions. We are the ministers of the Tang Empire and should face the issue with a united front.”

The Minister of Rites looked at everyone and said that earnestly.

Someone said worriedly, ”But when will the Empress and the Sixth Prince return to Chang'an?”

The meeting at the Building of Pines and Cranes ended quickly. The officials from the Queen's faction finally decided to stay calm for the time being. They would discuss all other things after the danger passed.

However, it was evident that everyone, from the Emperor to the officials, to the citizens all felt that the Tang Empire would not fail even though they were sad and angry at the defeat at Capital Cheng. This could be seen from the attitudes of the officials, arrangements made by the imperial court to fill the gaps in the Eastern Border defense, as well as the anger of the citizens in Chang'an.

Zhuge Wuren had resigned from his position as director of the Imperial Center Administration. He had also attended the gathering at the Building of Pines and Cranes. However, he was usually sinister and cruel in his dealings, so many were unwilling to deal with him. Now that he had resigned from his position, he had only been invited because of his relationship with the Empress. Who else would say anything more to him?

Zhuge Wuren knew clearly how the other officials thought of him. He did not show any anger but was more silent than usual.

To him, the other officials only knew how to boast, and they did not know what was truly important.

Why did the Tang Army fail? How did the nation fall into such a dangerous state?

It was because of the stupid pair of siblings in the palace who had ascended the throne through deplorable means. If they could welcome the Queen and the Sixth Prince back to the Tang Empire, the empire would enjoy peace once more and every problem would be solved.

Zhuge Wuren did not return home after leaving the Building of Pines and Cranes. Instead, he went towards the royal city. He knew that the cultivators from the Southern Gate Temple were still following him after he had resigned. That was why he had not deliberately tried to hide his tracks. Furthermore, not everyone could enter where he was going anyway.

He was going to the palace's Bodyguard Office.

Xu Chongshan was now the head of the Tang Empire's Bodyguard office. The calm old man who had crossed paths many times with Ning Que was just as affable as before until he saw Zhuge Wuren's face which was like that of a poisonous snake.

”Zhuge, isn't it inappropriate for you to appear here now?”

Xu Chongshan said to Zhuge Wuren, his expression heavily guarded.

Zhuge Wuren replied, ”I thought, that no matter how inappropriate it is, it wouldn't be as inappropriate as your presence here.”

Xu Chongshan frowned and said, ”I don't know what nonsense you're babbling about.”

Zhuge Wuren smiled and replied, ”I'm saying, there's nothing weirder than a Devil's Doctrine powerhouse being the director of the Bodyguard Office in the Tang palace.”

Xu Chongshan squinted slightly as a trace of coldness flashed in them.

Zhuge Wuren walked to a chair and sat down as if he had not seen the other man's reaction. He swept the dust off the front of his robe and said calmly, ”Sometimes, when I think about it, I can't help but admire you guys. You have plainly cultivated in the powers of the Devil's Doctrine, how have you all managed to hide it from so many and become a powerhouse in Martial Arts cultivation? General Xia Hou seemed to have gained a certain power from the West-Hill Divine Palace back then. Have you learned that too?”

Xu Chongshan had calmed down by then. He poured a cup of tea and drank it slowly, ignoring the other man.

Zhuge Wuren looked at him and continued his exaltation, ”The Devil's Doctrine is really impressive. They've been trashed by Mr. Ke, and then hunted down by the West-Hill Divine Palace around the world. Yet, so many of them have managed to survive...The person who had crafted this plan must have been the legendary Divine Lord Lotus. Gee, if this bigwig could have lived until now, or if General Xia Hou hadn't been killed by Ning Que, then wouldn't the Tang palace be completely controlled by you guys?”

Xu Chongshan smiled lightly and said, ”You know that no one in Chang'an would believe you no matter what you say now. So you can just tell me why you came.”

Zhuge Wuren slowly gathered his smile, stood up, stared into Xu Chongshan's eyes and said, ”I don't know what the Empress has to do with the Devil's Doctrine, but I am sure that both you and Xiahou are loyal to her. And I am also loyal to her, so we should work together to do something.”

Xu Chongshan said, after a moment of silence, ”What is it that you want to do?”

Zhuge Wuren replied, ”Since you are loyal to the Empress, then...you should know what to do.”

Xu Chongshan said softly, ”You want me to die?”

Zhuge Wuren replied, ”The Desolate are about to go extinct. If the Tang Empire goes down, then there will be nowhere else in the world that will harbor those from the Devil's Doctrine. Since you have to die anyway, why not go down meaningfully?”

Ma Shixiang stood on the wall and watched the skies.

The sky in the wilderness was very gloomy. It had been like this for many days, as if it was about to rain. However, it never did.

The reports of the Northeast Border Military's downfall at the Yan border had long spread to the City of Wei. The coffin of the deceased emperor was still in Helan city while it was unknown when the Empress and the little prince would return to Chang'an. The entire Tang Empire was enshrouded in dark clouds, and like the City of Wei, it was unknown when the storm would arrive.

Ma Shixiang looked grave, but it was not because of the difficult situation that the Tang Empire was facing. He was no one but just one of the most ordinary and lowest-ranking generals at the frontier fortress. He was not qualified and had no reason to worry about the empire.

He was ordered to stay in the City of Wei, so all he needed to worry about was the City of Wei.