Ze Tian Ji

Edited by: Michyrr

’Responsibility’ and ’farther places’ were Chen Changsheng’s thoughts, but they did not exist only in his mind.

As he thought about these things, he also voiced them.

An Hua did not particularly understand his meaning, but upon learning that he was not leaving, she became much happier.

At this moment, Tang Thirty-Six, rubbing his drowsy eyes, walked into the hall.

An Hua felt that something was wrong about his gaze. After hesitating for a while, she softly said, "Young Master Tang, this is not appropriate."

No one could just waltz into the Pope’s palace, much less sleep there.

Some old-fashioned and strict priests might have even accused Tang Thirty-Six of disrespect.

Tang Thirty-Six shook his head and said, "Relax. With such a hard stone bed, I certainly won’t be sleeping here anymore."

After the two washed up, they partook of a very simple meal.

Tang Thirty-Six looked at the plain porridge and appetizers, and naturally began to think about his meeting with Chen Changsheng all those years ago in the Plum Garden Inn. He then recalled the pitiful and tasteless foods Xuanyuan Po had made early on in the Orthodox Academy. He couldn’t help but sigh as he put down his chopsticks.

Putting down one’s chopsticks could be because the food was not good enough, and it could also be because one was not in a good enough mood, perhaps because one was worried about something.

He looked into Chen Changsheng’s eyes and said, "You still have not answered my question from yesterday."

Chen Changsheng ignored him and continued to eat.

Tang Thirty-Six continued to stare.

After some time, Chen Changsheng finally finished his meal. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, took a wet towel from An Hua, and then washed his face and hands twice. He then took a sip of precious rock tea1 and then spit it out into a shallow plate of copper.

Tang Thirty-Six clicked his tongue, giving off an indescribable derision.

Chen Changsheng commented, "Such a noise really shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth."

Tang Thirty-Six had been born in a wealthy family and had lived a childhood so luxurious that a normal person would find it unimaginable. Even the Princess of Ping, who had grown up in the palace, was probably inferior in this aspect. Even if Chen Changsheng should be derided for the life he lived as Pope, it was not Tang Thirty-Six’s place to speak.

"Why do I feel like you want to say that good words never come out of a scoundrel’s mouth?"

Chen Changsheng earnestly replied, "You misunderstand."

Tang Thirty-Six felt rather helpless. He said, "Can we finally talk now?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "Yourong and Prince Chen Liu grew up in the palace together. Since she rarely returns to the capital, it’s very normal for them to arrange to meet."

Tang Thirty-Six said, "I’ve warned you many times to be vigilant about Prince Chen Liu."

In the past, Prince Chen Liu had assisted Chen Changsheng and the Orthodox Academy in many ways, and at its earliest period, had shown a most precious kindness. Consequently, Chen Changsheng had a very good impression of this descendant of the Imperial clan. Moreover, he had never been able to think of a reason that Prince Chen Liu would target him.

But it now seemed that there were ample reasons.

Because he had a chance of becoming Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

If Yuren died.

Chen Changsheng understood Tang Thirty-Six’s wariness and unease.

But how could his master let something happen to his senior brother?

"You can probably think of Xu Yourong’s goal last night in going to the Imperial Palace. As long as Shang Xingzhou begins to doubt, the situation will fall into disorder."

Tang Thirty-Six used the most straightforward of words to shatter the calm that Chen Changsheng feigned through silence.

Chen Changsheng looked out the window at the gloomy day and asked, "But why does she want to do this?"

Tang Thirty-Six said, "I trust that Mo Yu has already warned you."

Chen Changsheng recalled the words Mo Yu had said to him that night.

Was Yourong doing these things to take revenge for the Tianhai Divine Empress?

Even if the floodwaters washed over the world, the sky fell and the earth cracked, and the people were plunged into the abyss of misery?

"It’s not like this. At least, it’s not this simple."

Chen Changsheng drew back his gaze and said to Tang Thirty-Six, "She said to me that if she really planned to do something, she would tell me."

After breakfast, Tang Thirty-Six returned to the Orthodox Academy. He needed to communicate with Wenshui as quickly as possible so as to make arrangements for if the capital suddenly fell into chaos.

Xu Yourong came to the Li Palace.

As he watched the beautiful woman arrive with the gradually brightening day, Chen Changsheng suddenly felt nervous.

"I spent the entire night talking with your senior. I’m a little tired."

Xu Yourong covered her lips and carefully yawned.

Chen Changsheng noticed the hint of undispellable fatigue on her face and felt a little heartache.

"Then you should quickly rest."

Xu Yourong smirked at him. "Is there nothing that you want to ask me?"

Chen Changsheng answered, "If you’re willing to tell me, you’ll naturally tell me."

Xu Yourong smiled and said, "So let’s take a walk outside and see if it can energize my spirit."

......

......

Last night, Luoyang had been abnormally cold. The chilling tide traveled along the winds, traveling from east to west, and so this morning, the temperature in the capital rapidly dropped and snow began to fall once more.

Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong walked through the snow-shrouded Li Palace, with priests and deacons keeping a fair distance from them.

Their footprints were the only ones in the massive plaza, and the picture seemed rather cold and deserted.

Her hands held behind her, Xu Yourong casually strolled amongst the halls, avidly examining them.

In terms of temperament, she was like a retired minister who had gone back to their hometown and had suddenly had the idea to go to the market.

Chen Changsheng felt it rather amusing, and then he felt it rather cute, and then he remembered that the Tianhai Divine Empress also liked to walk around like this.

Xu Yourong stopped. She stretched out her hand and pushed a disorderly strand of his hair back behind his ear, and then she laughed.

Chen Changsheng had a slight obsession with cleanliness and always performed his tasks seriously. His head of black hair was always impeccably combed, so this sort of sight was a rare occurrence.

This could only mean that his mood today was also somewhat disorderly.

"Yesterday, I arranged to meet Prince Chen Liu in the Orthodox Academy because I wanted you to meet him with me, but you had something to do back then, so I met him alone."

Xu Yourong said, "I said to him that I was going into the palace tonight and I hoped that he could seize this opportunity."

Chen Changsheng had not expected that this topic would be brought up so suddenly. He subconsciously asked, "Opportunity?"

"To him and the Prince of Xiang, the rift between you and Shang Xingzhou is their only opportunity."

Xu Yourong continued, "But your and my strength alone is not enough to make the situation fall into chaos, so they will not act recklessly."

Chen Changsheng noted, "Unless you can convince Senior to stand on our side."

Xu Yourong replied, "Yes, so he will definitely go to Luoyang and find Shang Xingzhou to speak of this matter, perhaps even help me complete this task and have your senior brother stand on our side. At the very least, he can convince Shang Xingzhou that your senior brother will stand on our side."

Chen Changsheng said, "If we fail, he and the Prince of Xiang will have their opportunity."

Xu Yourong agreed. "Correct, and this will also be our opportunity."

Chen Changsheng was quiet for a while, then said, "Many people will die like this."

"The Empress once said that only by seeking peace through war can peace exist."

Xu Yourong said, "What I seek is the method that will spill the least blood."

The sudden ringing of a bell from deep within the Li Palace interrupted her words.

Several Red Geese flew through snow and into the distance.

The priests and deacons who were deferentially watching the pair from a distance looked around. They seemed to hear something and broke into joyful expressions.

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1. Rock tea is a particular kind of tea where the tea is grown on the mountainside, limiting the number of tea leaves that can be produced and making the product very costly.