Chapter 48

As someone from the Divine General's Mansion invited him, courteous yet cold. Chen Changsheng asked Luo Luo to stay where she was and walked towards the carriage outside the alley. When he approached, he realized that the area around the carriage was eerily quiet, with no one in sight, not even the attendant from the Divine General's Mansion who had invited him.

The warhorse in front of the carriage was tall and mighty, its mane faintly red in the night, clearly not an ordinary breed, possibly mixed with the blood of some strange beast, which was very eye-catching. However, Chen Changsheng did not even glance at it, for he was there to meet the person inside the carriage.

The person did not get out of the carriage but remained seated inside. A red lantern hung on the side of the carriage, its light shining through the window and casting a shadow on the curtain, as clear as if carved by a knife or sword.

Chen Changsheng bowed to the shadow on the window. The shadow was clear, and so was the person inside, but the aura of authority and terrifying solemnity was even more pronounced. Only then did he realize where the pressure he had felt twice at the Qingteng Banquet had come from—his purpose in attending the Qingteng Banquet was to see this person in person, and throughout the banquet, the person's gaze had never lingered on him, yet it turned out that the person had been watching him all along.

"Since you left Xining and came to the capital, a long time has passed. So far, I have not heard any news I did not want to hear, which proves that you are a smart person, acting very prudently. I appreciate this."

Xu Shiji's voice came from inside the carriage, calm and cold, "After entering the National Teaching Academy, you actually learned to leverage your position. I realized that you are even smarter than I imagined, and I must say, I appreciate you more and more."

Chen Changsheng knew he was telling the truth, not mocking or belittling him, because he had no qualifications to make a noble like the Eastern Divine General mock or belittle him, let alone lie. However, he did not feel any joy because he still did not like Xu Shiji's demeanor.

Demeanor was not about bitterness, spiciness, sourness, or sweetness, but a hard-to-describe feeling. The tone Xu Shiji used to speak to him was also a kind of demeanor.

Calm, indifferent, and distant, not deliberately but naturally condescending, and very much like an elder.

Chen Changsheng did not like this at all. If it were not for the marriage contract and the humiliation and oppression that came with it, if the other party truly treated him like an elder, it might have been different, but none of those conditions applied.

Xu Shiji was silent for a moment, perhaps because Chen Changsheng's silence was unexpected, or because he needed to think about something. The night breeze gently blew, and the dim light from the lantern flickered as he asked, "Who is she?"

Yes, this was what he truly cared about. Of course, his concern had nothing to do with the marriage contract. He did not care about Chen Changsheng's interactions with any women because he had never truly considered Chen Changsheng his daughter's fiancé.

From the moment Luo Luo stepped onto the Qingteng Banquet's combat platform, the subordinates of the Eastern Divine General's Mansion had begun to secretly investigate her background. However, even when Xu Shiji left the Heavenly Dao Academy in his carriage, they had found no information.

Xu Shiji was well aware of his subordinates' capabilities, so he was surprised.

The fact that the little girl was with Chen Changsheng made him not only surprised but also wary.

Chen Changsheng did not answer his question because he did not feel the need to answer any of his questions.

The shadow on the window became even clearer, the lines more sharp, as if Xu Shiji had moved closer to the window.

The aura of authority also became more terrifying, the pressure almost tangible.

Chen Changsheng felt a wave of nausea, as if a mountain were pressing down on him.

"Actually, I regret it a little," Xu Shiji's voice came from inside the carriage, devoid of emotion.

"When you first arrived in the capital and no one knew you, I should have killed you. I understand the principle that kindness does not command an army, but your sect has ties with my family, and some people wanted you to live, so I let you live."

Chen Changsheng lowered his head and said nothing.

"The capital in midsummer is a place where it is easy to die... The flood season is hard to predict, but it is certain that the rivers in the capital will rise. When the water level is high, whether it is a floating corpse or ashes, it is easy to be washed away."

Xu Shiji spoke through the window, his tone indifferent.

"For example, Mr. Cao, the preceptor of the Heavenly Dao Academy, after tonight, he might become a floating corpse on the banks of the Lan River Plain, or food for the carp in the Luo River, but in any case, no one will see him again."

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng was shocked and looked up at the window, wondering why the preceptor of the Heavenly Dao Academy would die.

"That little monster is ultimately a member of the Tianhai family... No matter how things develop afterward, the preceptor's actions will make the Empress very unhappy, and when the Empress is unhappy, Lord Zhou Tong will be very angry, and when Lord Zhou Tong is angry... he will suffer worse than death."

"So, the preceptor will definitely commit suicide tonight."

"I truly regret not killing you when I had the chance. Now, it is inconvenient to act directly, but I must warn you that there are many ways to survive that are more terrifying than death. The preceptor understands this, and I hope you do too."

The lantern swayed slightly, the light dim, and a dozen subordinates and aides emerged from the darkness, escorting the carriage as it slowly left the alley and headed towards the Eastern Divine General's Mansion. The tall and mighty warhorse glanced at Chen Changsheng coldly before leaving.

Inside the carriage, Xu Shiji was silent, his eyes filled with countless flickering flames, not fierce but chilling, because he realized that some things were slipping out of his control. Although the letter from the Holy Maiden Peak had always made it difficult for him to control the situation, the current situation seemed even more bizarre.

He was well aware of the reasons behind Chen Changsheng's entry into the National Teaching Academy. Initially, he thought it was not significant, but now it seemed that someone was using this to stir up trouble. The loyalists to the Chen royal family, who had been silent for so long, seemed to have finally found an opportunity to resurface. What impact would this have on the Eastern Divine General's Mansion?

The matter was too significant, and even as the Empress's most trusted general, he dared not get too deeply involved. He had only initially confirmed one thing: if Chen Changsheng was dragged into this mess, the marriage contract must remain a secret, at least for a while longer.

In a few days, a joint delegation from the southern forces would arrive in the capital, and among them would be dozens of students participating in next year's imperial examination. Because of this, the last two nights of the Qingteng Banquet might be postponed.

There was still a long time before next year's imperial examination, but the southerners had broken tradition by arriving in the capital several months early, which had already sparked much speculation. However, he knew that the Empress welcomed the delegation's arrival.

Only a few people in the entire continent knew that the southern delegation's early arrival was because they planned to propose a marriage on the Qixi Festival.

Xu Shiji knew this because the marriage proposal was for his daughter.

He would not allow anyone or anything to disrupt this marriage.

Chen Changsheng could not, the mysterious little girl could not, no one could.

As for the National Teaching Academy, the Heavenly Dao Academy, the old royal family, or the undercurrents in the capital, he did not care about any plots or schemes. If anyone threatened this marriage, he would not hesitate to kill, even those he could not kill.

Because he had a good daughter, and as long as he did not betray the Empress, anything was acceptable.

Of course, if there was a better way to deal with the unstable factors, such as Chen Changsheng and the little girl, that would be ideal. First, he needed to confirm some things and then ask certain people to prepare some matters.

"Go to Xiaojuyuan," he said.

The carriage from the Eastern Divine General's Mansion slowly turned on the street, ignoring the strict curfew in the capital, and headed towards the palace.

Xiaojuyuan was a small estate not far from the palace, with many orange trees, like a rural area.

To have a garden near the palace, planted with inexpensive orange trees, was not something an ordinary person could do.

It was the residence of Miss Moyu.

...

...

Back at the National Teaching Academy, standing under a tree by the lake, Chen Changsheng thought about the shadow on the window earlier and felt rather gloomy. He wanted to shout at the lake but was afraid of startling the people in the Hundred Grass Garden on the other side of the wall. He wanted to curse, but realized that his master and senior brother had never taught him how to swear, and he did not know how to start.

He turned and walked towards the library, passing through the woods by the lake. He saw an orange tree, with many small, green, unripe fruits on its dense branches. Instinctively, he picked one and put it in his mouth, only to wince at the sourness.

"Even you are bullying me?" He kicked the green orange tree, his breathing heavy.

Small green oranges fell like rain, and a soft "ouch" came from behind the tree.

Luo Luo, rubbing her head, walked out, holding a food box in her right hand and covering her mouth with her left, her face full of surprise, as if she had seen something strange.

Chen Changsheng was also surprised and asked, "Didn't you go back to sleep?"

Luo Luo said, "Mother Li prepared some midnight snacks, and I came to share them with Mr. Chen."

Chen Changsheng looked at her expression and asked, puzzled, "Why are you so surprised?"

Luo Luo opened her eyes wide and said seriously, "I didn't expect someone like Mr. Chen to have such a childish side."

Chen Changsheng felt a bit embarrassed and walked towards the library.

A low, almost inaudible voice floated in the woods, tinged with sourness and委屈 (grievance).

"I'm not even fifteen yet, what's wrong with being a little childish..."