Ze Tian Ji

Edited by: Michyrr

The gate to the Orthodox Academy had been tightly shut this entire time, not a single noise emerging from within. Even when the troops of the Imperial Court encircled it or the old eunuch came bearing an imperial decree, nothing changed. It remained a still and quiet place. Anyone would think that there was nobody behind this thick academy gate.

In reality, there had always been people behind the gate of the Orthodox Academy.

Behind the academy gate, two yellow poplar trees had been planted. With the coming of autumn, the leaves on these two trees had been greatly reduced. The clear and cold light from the sun passed through the branches and fell upon the face of a young girl.

This girl had a beautiful and elegant appearance, still suffused with a childish air. She was still very young and under the sunlight, she seemed even more charming. However, the apprehension and exhaustion on her face also became more visible.

Ye Xiaolian, inner sect disciple of South Stream Temple.

Su Moyu stood by her side.

Several dozen South Stream Temple disciples stood behind the pair.

Their swords had long since been unsheathed.

The clear autumn sunlight could fall upon their faces, but it could not fall upon their swords, because those swords were too sharp, their glows too bright.

They had been standing guard behind the Orthodox Academy’s gate this entire time.

The sword array of South Stream Temple had already guarded this place for three days and three nights.

At present, the female disciples of South Stream Temple were extremely tired. When faint voices came from beyond the walls, their expressions began to shift.

The black-armored heavy cavalry of the Great Zhou were unmatched in the world. If they charged in like this, not even the sword array of South Stream Temple would be able to resist.

"What do we do?" Ye Xiaolian turned to Su Moyu, her elegant face covered in anxiety.

Su Moyu turned his head in the direction of the library, thinking of the fellow who had remained uncommunicative ever since he returned from the Mausoleum of Books, who still had not made a decision.

"That’s Eunuch Lin! What are all of you still thinking about! Just open the academy gate and receive the decree."

A student of the Orthodox Academy looked at the people in front of the academy gate, his face a picture of fright as he yelled, "Don’t tell me you’re really preparing to defy the decree! I’m certainly not going to accompany you all in death!"

Hearing this person’s words, the crowd of teachers and students grew somewhat restless. Conversations could be heard, and someone even got into an intense quarrel.

Su Moyu looked at the student and recalled that he was the son of some wealthy merchant on Henan Road. He silently noted down the student’s name in his memory.

Ye Xiaolian watched where he was looking and thought that he was beginning to waver. She turned to the teachers and students, and yelled, "The Holy Maiden made a decree that the South Stream Temple disciples must ensure the safety of Principal Chen! If the craven and cowardly are present, then leave from the back gate. Cease babbling nonsense, or don’t blame the temple’s sword for being merciless!"

The merchant’s son from Henan Road instantly changed expression upon hearing this threat. He was very angry but did not dare to say anything more, walking out from the crowd.

Soon after, ten-odd Orthodox Academy students and several lecturers left the crowd, all making their way to the back gate.

Seeing this sight, those remaining couldn’t help but shout abuse. After seeing the gazes of the female disciples of the South Stream Temple, they felt thoroughly ashamed and only increased their abuse.

Su Moyu said nothing, only silently noted down the names of the people that had left in his mind.

At this point, Ye Xiaolian realized that his silence did not mean that he was wavering. Somewhat puzzled, she asked, "What are you thinking?"

Su Moyu calmly explained, "I was thinking, if the Orthodox Academy is able to be preserved, just what sort of method I should use to get back at those people."

Ye Xiaolian was a little taken aback, thinking to herself, when did that Su Moyu of the Li Palace Academy famed for maintaining courtesy and keeping aloof change personality?

She did not say it, but Su Moyu knew what she was thinking. He looked at the beautiful autumn scenery of the Orthodox Academy, a look of nostalgia on his face. "This is an interesting place. Anyone who stays here for too long will change somewhat."

If this interesting Orthodox Academy could be preserved, that would naturally be excellent. But ’if’ had always been the most unreliable of words.

Or else why was he already beginning to feel sorrow, beginning to reminisce?

......

......

Hundred Flowers Lane had already been cleared. The buildings across the lane had even been pushed over, leaving only the tea house.

In the gradually rising dust, this tea house that had watched dozens of exhibition matches seemed very lonely. On the other hand, the figures of the several hundred black-armored heavy cavalry were just as frightening.

The Orthodox Academy’s gate was still tightly shut.

"To actually be so bold, truly worthy of the Orthodox Academy built up by Principal Shang, worthy of His Majesty’s junior brother."

Eunuch Lin suddenly began to laugh, his smile filled with emotion.

The elderly man’s voice was somewhat muddied, somewhat soft. Other than those young attendants close to him, no one else could hear it.

However, his following sentence could be heard by everyone present.

Eunuch Lin gazed at the tightly shut gate of the Orthodox Academy, his smile fading as he slowly spoke, "Principal Chen is a solitary man, but the professors and students in the Orthodox Academy...they have families."

With this statement, a noise finally came from the Orthodox Academy, an unrest similarly stirring on the street.

Countless gazes turned to the elderly Eunuch of the Seal.

Tianhai Shengxue’s complexion paled even more.

He had absolutely not expected that Eunuch Lin was completely at odds with his honest and unswerving reputation, actually using such unyielding and despicable methods!

......

......

They did not know if they had heard incorrectly.

It seemed that a voice had come from the depths of the Orthodox Academy.

Then, the front gate of the Orthodox Academy that had remained shut for three days and nights finally began to slowly open.

A cold and forceful sword glow assailed those outside, and two-hundred-odd teachers and students of the Orthodox Academy emerged.

They were clearly no match, yet they still maintained the tight array and waited.

At this sight, both the Prince of He County and the black-armored cavalry subtly reacted.

Eunuch Lin was very calm. He even seemed to give the impression that he was rather pleased at this display.

Su Moyu had not slept these past three days and was exhausted, but his eyes and voice were both clear.

Standing on the stone steps, he looked at Eunuch Lin and said, "Only one person is needed to proclaim a decree."

An imperial decree had come, but the Orthodox Academy had not opened wide its gate, laid out incense and prostrated themselves on the ground. Instead, they had even gone so far as to permit only Eunuch Lin to enter. This attitude was still extremely disrespectful.

Eunuch Lin was not angered. Smiling, he said, "If I need to kill him, a single decree and myself is enough."

Saying this, he walked into the Orthodox Academy. As he brushed past Su Moyu, he lightly patted him on the shoulder.

Ye Xiaolian’s expression suddenly turned cold, the hand gripping her sword slightly tightening.

Nothing had happened.

Su Moyu did not vomit blood and fall dead to the floor.

Eunuch Lin only wished to convey to Su Moyu the admiration and regard he felt for him.

In this major undertaking, Wuqiong Bi and Bie Yanghong, these two experts of the Divine Domain, especially the latter, had performed an extraordinary service.

Su Moyu was Bie Yanghong’s nephew, yet he remained in the Orthodox Academy after the event and did not leave. In the eyes of the common people, this was very foolish, but to Eunuch Lin, who had acted the fool his entire life, this was truly outstanding.

......

......

The door to the library was open. The sunlight fell upon the glossy black floorboards, which were so shiny that one could see one’s own reflection in them.

Chen Changsheng sat by the window. He was not looking out the window at the autumn sights. His head was lowered and he seemed to be thinking of something.

Eunuch Lin quietly gazed at him, gazed at him for a very long time.

Chen Changsheng did not move, did not speak. His head remained lowered.

Eunuch Lin suddenly understood that he was looking at his reflection in the floorboards.

Chen Changsheng was looking at himself.