Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

"I just found out that the Princess of Ping is the Empress's adopted daughter, but I would presume that many people, especially the people of the capital, long knew of this fact. As for the rest, neither the Prince of Xiang's line nor the Prince of Zhongshan's is related by blood to the Empress and she has no descendant of her own, and so these legends about her defying the heavens and changing fate started being spread around."

Chen Changsheng gazed at the beautiful rivers and mountains, calmly continuing, "But people have forgotten one very important matter. If that legend is true, then as long as Crown Prince Zhaoming is still alive, the Empress's changing of fate has not succeeded, or at the very least has not concluded."

Xu Yourong thought of the strange movements in the capital over these past few years and the case that the chief eunuch in the Imperial Palace had always been investigating in secret. Her graceful brows slightly creased as she said, "That doesn't make sense."

Chen Changsheng knew what she meant. The Divine Empress had already ruled for more than two hundred years. If her changing of fate had not succeeded, how could she have ascended to the imperial throne?

"If defying the heavens and changing fate is not an immediate event, but a long process akin to a river, then it does make sense. The Divine Empress might have a hidden danger that no one else knows about. To her, the existence of Crown Prince Zhaoming is the greatest danger."

Chen Changsheng looked at her and said, "If I am Crown Prince Zhaoming, then my existence is the most perilous matter to the Empress, so she would naturally want to kill me."

Xu Yourong's skill in deduction was extremely strong, so she would naturally not miss out on the slightest area of doubt. She asked, "If you really are Crown Prince Zhaoming, why did Principal Shang send you off to the capital? Could it be that he was not concerned that the Divine Empress would realize your identity? He and the Pope seemed to not even attempt to conceal your identity, as if they deliberately wanted the Empress to know of your existence."

Any sort of problem could not stand against scrutiny, and even there being no problem whatsoever would stir up its own storm of questions. Chen Changsheng uncertainly said, "Because I'm much younger than Crown Prince Zhaoming, so…"

This was a very powerful reason, yet also very much like an excuse, because only the three people of Xining Village's old temple knew exactly just how old he was. He knew that it would be difficult to convince anyone with this reason, so after a moment of silence, he said, "If I'm still alive when we return to the capital, I will directly ask Martial Uncle."

Xu Yourong examined his face but detected not the slightest hint of anxiety or fear. When she thought about how he had also carried out this conversation with such composure, she thought to herself, to be able to act so calmly in the face of death, the person I love truly is an exceptional person. Her heart moved according to her desires, and her actions moved according to her heart. She leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "You will definitely live."

A faint fragrance drifted over with her hair. Chen Changsheng gazed at her, thinking, if we could just keep leaning against each other like this, it would also be a very happy thing, but things have never proceeded according to one's desire. Once the Elder of Heavenly Secrets sends news to the capital, the Divine Empress will assuredly send someone to kill me and won't let me return to the capital alive.

Xu Yourong did not turn her head to look at his face but could still clearly sense his unease. "Unless the Empress personally moves, who can kill you?"

Mao Qiuyu and Linghai Zhiwang's carriage was behind them. Mao Qiuyu would definitely not allow Chen Changsheng to die, and while Linghai Zhiwang did wish for Chen Changsheng to die, he could not play the part of the helpless spectator under the eyes of so many. With these two peak Star Condensation Prefects of the Orthodoxy at his side, the most powerful of assassins would find it hard to approach. But Chen Changsheng was keenly aware that if the Divine Empress had decided to kill him, she would send not merely a few assassins, but an army personally commanded by a Divine General. No matter how strong Mao Qiuyu was, how could he possibly protect him?

Just as he was thinking of these things, he suddenly spotted a red flower amidst the green plains. The red flower gently swayed against those green branches, sometimes still and sometimes moving. It seemed to have stopped on the plains, yet it never left his sight. It was actually moving forward along with the galloping carriage.

It was already long past dawn and the grasses and plants of the plains were all bereft of dew, yet the red flower was covered in dew. Under the beautiful luster of the sunlight, the splendor of the red was intimidating.

Somewhat surprised, he turned to Xu Yourong and said uncertainly, "Bie Yanghong?"

Xu Yourong nodded and gazed to that wasteland in the distance, noting, "Guan Xingke should be walking a hundred li out."

Chen Changsheng was somewhat shocked.

A few days ago when the Demon Lord had entered Mount Han, the Elder of Heavenly Secrets had notified various places in the world. Guan Xingke, who was the closest, and Bie Yanghong, who was the fastest, were the first to arrive.

Contrary to Chen Changsheng's expectations, after the Demon Lord retreated to the snowy plains, these two powerful figures not only did not depart Mount Han, but also seemed to be sending him back to the capital.

Bie Yanghong and Guan Xingke were not ordinary experts, they were supreme experts of the Divine Domain, members of the Storms of the Eight Directions. Even though Chen Changsheng was the future Pope, he was not worthy of being escorted by them. Their appearance and escort were primarily to display the intimidating strength of the Orthodoxy's conservative faction and the Imperial clan, a declaration to the world.

"The Empress has always had many enemies," Xu Yourong said as she gazed at the red flower in the plains.

Chen Changsheng thought, it seems to me that I should now be the enemy that the Empress most desires to eliminate.

……

……

With two of the Eight Storms as escort, no army that the Great Zhou Imperial Court could move would be able to menace Chen Changsheng's life. Just as Xu Yourong had said, unless the Divine Empress personally stepped out, Chen Changsheng would be able to very peacefully return to the capital. Of course, he also had to ensure that the state of his body would not take a sudden downturn.

The current situation was very complicated, with many unsolved riddles contained within and also many dangers. In set intervals, Xu Yourong would use her Sacred Light technique on Chen Changsheng to ensure that the scent of blood within his body did not emerge. As a result, she consumed enormous amounts of spiritual sense, causing her face to increasingly pale.

Even so, she did not rest, calmly but vigilantly looking at the scenery along the road.

She arranged to keep Chen Changsheng close to herself on her imperial carriage, not permitting Chen Changsheng to take one step out of it. Whether it was eating, treating his wounds, resting, or even washing his face, it was all carried out on the carriage.

At the same time, she permitted no one else to enter the carriage. Anything related to Chen Changsheng, she personally handled. What to eat and what to drink, when to eat and when to drink, when he should sleep, when he should rise, and even whom he should meet. It must be known that even Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu could only come over when it was time to rest and chat with Chen Changsheng from several zhang outside the carriage.

At dusk on a certain day, Tang Thirty-Six came to the imperial carriage. Just like the days before, he anxiously waited for quite some time until the curtain was finally lifted. After he had barely talked with Chen Changsheng for a few moments, Xu Yourong came bearing a bowl of lotus seed porridge, indicating that the South Stream Temple disciples should bring down the curtain again.

Through the curtain, it was faintly possible to see Xu Yourong feeding Chen Changsheng the porridge. Tang Thirty-Six was furious and yelled within, "Are you raising a child! It's not like you're his mother!"

The expressions of the South Stream Temple disciples suddenly changed, followed by the clattering of swords from all around.

Tang Thirty-Six naturally did not have the courage to pit himself against South Stream Temple's sword array. He resentfully turned and headed back to the Orthodox Academy's carriage.

On the first few days, Zhexiu had still accompanied him every day to take a look at Chen Changsheng. Later on, after seeing that there were no problems with Chen Changsheng, he had little patience for interacting with those women of South Stream Temple, nor did he wish to see those scenes in the imperial carriage, so he no longer went. Now, after seeing Tang Thirty-Six so angrily returning and asking for the reason, he did not speak.

"Don't you think it's very strange?" Tang Thirty-Six asked.

Zhexiu said nothing. He naturally knew that there was something problematic about this matter, but as Chen Changsheng trusted in Xu Yourong so much, he could only keep watch on the side.

Many people felt that it was very strange, felt it problematic. After leaving Mount Han, many gazes had never left the imperial carriage.

They all had rather strange expressions as they thought, just what is going on here?

It had already been many days, and the Holy Maiden and Chen Changsheng had been in that carriage from morning to night. Just what were they doing?

At this point, many people had already vaguely guessed that they had been together since a long time ago, but they still found it impossible to accept that they were together at every moment.

It had nothing to do with factions or stance.

They could not accept that the spotlessly pure Holy Maiden was keeping a repulsive man by her side every day. It was truly somewhat unsightly.

The South Stream Temple disciples would occasionally be able to see her bringing Chen Changsheng tea or water, and a female disciple had even personally seen her wash Chen Changsheng's body.

Even if they were together, even if he was injured, did it warrant the Holy Maiden personally serving him?

Because of these matters, the mood hanging over the convoy was constantly rather weird and the South Stream Temple disciples felt rather oppressed.

Because Xu Yourong was their temple master, because she was the most respected and adored Holy Maiden that they treated as a god.

On the night of the same day, South Stream Temple disciple Ye Xiaolian carried a letter written by Chen Changsheng to the Orthodox Academy's carriage.