Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 668 – A Eunuch

Whether it was the princes of the Chen clan or those major figures who took great risks in betraying the Tianhai Divine Empress, they should have been very thankful to Chen Changsheng. If not for Chen Changsheng, the Tianhai Divine Empress would not have weakened herself to change his fate. That being the case, no matter how perfect the plans Shang Xingzhou and the rest of them made, it would have been impossible to invite the Tianhai Divine Empress off her sacred altar.

Intentionally or unintentionally, Chen Changsheng had been a deciding factor in their plans, but they would not remember this, intentionally or unintentionally.

The words of the Prince of He County represented the entire world’s stance towards Chen Changsheng.

Tianhai Shengxue was well aware of this. He sneered, “If he wasn’t a descendant of your Chen clan, would the Divine Empress have made the mistake? A bastard? Your Highness, these words are truly too laughable.”

The Prince of He County was somewhat startled at these words. His face quickly turned unsightly as he realized that this might be true.

Just then, the cavalry parted like a tide. An extremely old eunuch seated in a cushioned carriage came through.

Seeing the old eunuch, the Prince of He County raised his brows slightly. Turning to Tianhai Shengxue, he mocked, “It seems that His Majesty does not think as you do.”

This old eunuch came to pass down an imperial decree.

However, even after the official announced their purpose in coming, the Orthodox Academy’s gate still remained tightly shut, slow to be opened.

“It seems that His Majesty has sent people to surround the Orthodox Academy, but thinking about it in another way, isn’t it that the Orthodox Academy isn’t willing to open its doors?”

Tianhai Shengxue smiled, making no attempts to conceal his happiness.

“Worthy nephew, don’t get happy too early…”

The Prince of He County sneered, “They say that Chen Changsheng was schoolmates with His Majesty, but if he offends this eunuch, I’m afraid no friendship will be of any use.”

Tianhai Shengxue’s expression turned slightly gloomy as he replied, “Your Highness, I don’t understand your words.”

The Prince of He County gave a grim smile. “Eunuch Lin was Imperial Father’s foster brother and volunteered to enter the palace to attend to Imperial Father. As he was highly principled and deeply revered, even after Imperial Mother took the throne and found him displeasing, she could only have him retire and return to Zhang Province to convalesce. Now, he has been invited back by Principal Shang to take on the position of Eunuch of the Seal. I truly wish to see just who would dare show him disrespect.”

The elderly eunuch had been lying on the cushioned carriage this entire time, his eyes closed as he napped. Tianhai Shengxue had earlier found it rather strange. Since this eunuch had come to deliver a decree and had even seen the tense atmosphere around the Orthodox Academy, how could he possibly display such behavior? Now that he knew that it was actually that extraordinary Eunuch Lin of the past who had returned, he instantly thought that this was indeed how Eunuch Lin should be acting. His gaze now contained some curiosity and respect from gazing at such a legendary figure. However, he soon after realized that just yesterday, those eunuchs and palace maids in the Imperial Palace loyal to the Divine Empress…including the chief eunuch he had grown close to as a child, had all died. Those deaths were presumably the work of this Eunuch Lin. With this thought, his face turned somewhat pale.

After quite some time, the elderly eunuch slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that the gate to the Orthodox Academy was still shut, he expressionlessly declared, “If it doesn’t open, break it.”

When this old eunuch’s eyes were closed, he looked like a very ordinary person, but when they opened, he seemed to naturally exude a swift and forceful grandeur, like an old spear casting off an old cloth. Wherever his gaze wandered or his words fell, a sharpness would appear.

Growing up in the Imperial Palace, he had cultivated in countless profound and secret methods, so Eunuch Lin naturally possessed an extremely high level of cultivation. However, this swift and forceful grandeur of a spear did not originate from his strength. The sharpness that filled the atmosphere came from his heart and from his eyes through which his heart was expressed. Those two eyes muddied by the passing of time were filled with resolve and righteousness, not stained in the slightest by indecision or lack of confidence.

For Shang Xingzhou to invite Eunuch Lin to return to the Imperial Palace and take up the seal represented a changing of a dynasty, the advent of a new era.

He had come from the Imperial Palace, an imperial decree in hand. His words represented the will of the Great Zhou Imperial Court, so just who would dare defy him now?

Yet after he spoke, the Orthodox Academy remained quiet. No person walked up to break the door, not a single person.

Not the black-armored heavy cavalry, the troops of the City Gate Department, or even the attendants who had escorted Eunuch Lin. They all remained at their original positions.

Many people, intentionally or unintentionally, looked to Tianhai Shengxue.

Two years ago, on a rainy spring morning, this proud son of the Tianhai clan returned from Snowhold Pass and brought the soldiers of his family to destroy the gate of the Orthodox Academy.

On that day, many people in the capital died. For the first time, the Orthodox Academy displayed the strength and resources of its backers, defying all expectations to obtain the final victory. However, the Orthodox Academy did not repair the door, instead allowing the broken academy gate to remain in the winds and rains for a very long time until it almost became a new scenic spot of the capital.

It was only after a long time, when Chen Changsheng obtained first rank of the first banner in the Grand Examination, that the Tianhai clan acknowledged their wrongdoing and built for the Orthodox Academy a most magnificent gate.

This new academy gate was proof of the Orthodox Academy’s strength and also the unwashable humiliation of the Tianhai clan.

From that moment onwards, everyone in the capital knew of one thing: the gate of the Orthodox Academy was not easy to break. If one wanted to break it, people would die, would be humiliated to death.

……

……

“I’ve lived too long in my hometown. I actually didn’t know how lively it was in the capital in these past two years.”

After hearing the whispered explanation from an accompanying eunuch, Eunuch Lin turned to the distant Tianhai Shengxue and waved to call him over.

Tianhai Shengxue walked over.

Eunuch Lin quietly looked at him for a very long time. Finally, he commented, “When you were just born, I was still in the capital. Back then, I said to your father that the Tianhai clan was nothing but a group of idiots and trash, that only your mother was a decent lady, and that I hoped that she would raise a decent child. It seems to me now that my words weren’t wrong.”

Tianhai Shengxue knew of this matter from the past, sincerely replying, “The Lord Eunuch praises me too much.”

Eunuch Lin no longer brought up these matters of old. He asked, “I hear that you were once humiliated here?”

Tianhai Shengxue looked to the tightly shut gate of the Orthodox Academy and replied, “That was just this junior seeking out humiliation for himself.”

Eunuch Lin was rather surprised at this statement. With a calm gaze, he said, “In this case, you are not prepared to seek it back?”

To seek back a humiliation that one once received was not seeking humiliation but openly taking revenge. For instance, he could destroy the Orthodox Academy again.

Tianhai Shengxue used silence to show his intentions.

Eunuch Lin smirked as he asked, “Could it be that everyone in the Tianhai clan is like you, intentions infirm?”

Tianhai Shengxue felt his body go cold at these words. It must be known that the current situation was very sensitive and tense. With just the words ‘intentions infirm’, the Tianhai clan might attract a great trouble. However, his intentions were firm enough, allowing him to reject Eunuch Lin’s clearly very generous proposal. At this time, why would he regret it?

“Lord Eunuch earlier said that my mother was decent and that I was also a decent child, so in my view, I have to show some reason.”

Tianhai Shengxue took a deep breath, and his words became as frigid and sharp as ice. “Moreover, Lord Eunuch’s earlier words were not appropriate. Principal Chen has accomplished great merit for the human race and is also the future Pope. Let alone an imperial decree, even if His Majesty personally came, he presumably would not act too firmly, and he would certainly not destroy the academy gate.”

“Is that so?” Eunuch Lin suddenly began to laugh.

In the next moment, the laughter vanished and the look on his face became even colder than Tianhai Shengxue’s, becoming extremely unyielding. Cupping his fist and raising it to the sky, he said, “Taizu’s descendants have finally been able to take back the world, causing the entire world to celebrate. Now, the Orthodox Academy actually dares to refuse the decree, a truly puzzling matter. Could it be that all this is fake? To not even dare destroy an academy gate, how can they claim to rule the world?”

These words were very heavy, very frightening.

Not waiting for Tianhai Shengxue’s response, the Prince of He County came to his senses. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his whip and lashed it on the backs of his own troops, yelling, “Hurry and take apart the academy gate!”

With this order, those silent attendants and soldiers of the City Gate Department finally began to move, beginning preparations to clear the area.

Several hundred black-armored heavy cavalry were making preparations to act as vanguard, the heavy armor on the bodies of the soldiers and their warhorses gleaming with a cold light, giving off a stifling feeling of oppression.

No matter how magnificent the gate of the Orthodox Academy, no matter how durable, it would also be rendered into pieces by the weapons of the black-armored heavy cavalry.

At that time, just what sort of end would the people within the Orthodox Academy face?