Chapter 55

The seats of the National Teaching Academy were in a corner, ignored by everyone, very cold and quiet, just like the first night of the Qingteng Banquet. Chen Changsheng was preoccupied with the proposal from the Southern delegation that would happen later, and he had no time to care about these things. Lu Luo paid even less attention to such trivial matters. She observed Chen Changsheng's expression, guessing what he was thinking, occasionally picking a fruit to feed him, but she didn't even glance at the tea on the table. To ordinary people, the tea in the palace was naturally of the highest quality, but in her eyes, it was extremely coarse and could not be consumed.

A middle-aged palace maid appeared behind the seats of the National Teaching Academy, her face devoid of emotion, appearing particularly cold and proud. She looked like a close attendant of some noble in the palace. However, when she approached Lu Luo, the coldness on her face turned into respect and appropriate warmth, and her voice was controlled so well that only Lu Luo and Chen Changsheng could hear it.

"Princess Pingguo invites you," Chen Changsheng was somewhat surprised and looked at Lu Luo, asking with his eyes what was going on.

Lu Luo looked into the depths of the hall and saw the figures of Jin Changshi and Li Nushi in the shadows. She roughly knew what was happening and said to Chen Changsheng somewhat embarrassedly, "Sir, I haven't been to the palace for a long time. I might need to go and check things out."

Chen Changsheng had gradually become accustomed to the surprises Lu Luo brought him, even to the point of numbness. He said, "If it's an old friend, then go ahead."

Lu Luo looked at the occasional glances directed at the National Teaching Academy's seats and said, "Sir, don't worry, I'll be back soon."

Chen Changsheng knew what she was worried about and didn't feel embarrassed. He smiled and said, "Make sure you come back."

A moment later, another palace attendant came to invite Chen Changsheng himself. He looked at the majestic figure in the night outside the side door of the hall, remained silent for a moment, confirmed that no one in the hall was paying attention to his movements, and then got up and walked over.

The side door of the hall slowly closed, and the soft light from the night pearls in the hall still spilled out through the windows, illuminating Xu Shiji's body, making his silhouette even clearer. Chen Changsheng looked at his back and suddenly felt a sense of awe, but he had no reaction.

"You didn't attend the second night of the Qingteng Banquet. I thought you wouldn't show up tonight either."

Xu Shiji turned around and looked at him coldly, saying, "Why did you come?"

Chen Changsheng himself couldn't understand why he had come to the last night of the Qingteng Banquet. He didn't know what he should do when the Southern delegation's representative, Qiushan Jun, formally proposed to Xu Yourong later, but he knew why Xu Shiji had asked to meet him privately outside the hall beforehand.

The reason made him a bit angry. He looked into Xu Shiji's eyes and said, "Uncle, I am a student of the National Teaching Academy. I have the right to attend the Qingteng Banquet."

This answer naturally did not satisfy Xu Shiji. What made him even more dissatisfied was that Chen Changsheng called him "Uncle," a term of respect for elders, which was clearly deliberate and carried deep meaning.

He looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "It seems you don't intend to keep your promise."

Chen Changsheng said, "I never expected everyone to keep their promises, but I will do so myself."

Since he entered the capital, the Eastern Divine General's Mansion had repeatedly suppressed him. It was only because of some reasons he still didn't confirm that some important figures intervened, allowing him to enter the National Teaching Academy, hoping to exchange for some promises. But in fact, he had never made any promises.

If there was a promise, it was the marriage contract set many years ago, which was the true promise.

The Eastern Divine General's Mansion had no intention of fulfilling this promise, so what right did they have to accuse him of not keeping his promise?

Xu Shiji looked at him calmly and said, "Do you think a child like you can change anything?"

Chen Changsheng didn't respond, turned around, and prepared to walk back into the hall.

Xu Shiji smiled and said, "What a naive child."

Chen Changsheng stopped, because he suddenly felt his body become stiff.

Xu Shiji's simple words made his heart suddenly tighten, and the blood in his veins flowed at an extremely terrifying speed.

A violent and bloody aura controlled his mind and body.

Chen Changsheng's face turned an unhealthy, sickly red, and he felt very uncomfortable. Only at this moment did he truly realize that for someone at Xu Shiji's level, killing an ordinary person like him was incredibly easy.

He stood by the side door of the hall, looking at the light inside.

Even though it was night, it was still broad daylight.

No one dared to kill in the palace, especially on such an important night. Even Xu Shiji wouldn't dare. But because this night was so important, Xu Shiji wouldn't just stand by and watch him sit in the hall, ready to stand up at any moment and disrupt the grand banquet and the marriage contract that the entire human world was eagerly awaiting.

Xu Shiji could severely injure him or even make him unconscious. This would cause a lot of trouble, but it would eliminate all variables in advance.

Chen Changsheng clearly understood what Xu Shiji was thinking. If he were in Xu Shiji's position, he might also choose to take the risk. But he didn't regret coming out to meet Xu Shiji, because, like at the Xu Mansion and outside the Zongsi Temple, he had a clear conscience and was fearless.

He held the rhinoceros horn button that Lu Luo had sewn into his sleeve.

Let everything be exposed under the light of the night pearls.

At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded from the night on the palace side.

The voice was incredibly gentle, giving a sense of warmth and freshness.

It was like a spring breeze, blowing in his face.

"General Xu, what are you doing here?"

A young man walked out of the night, wearing a yellow robe, with a neat hairstyle, clear and handsome features, and a gentle expression.

Anyone looking at the scene could clearly see that there was a problem between Xu Shiji and Chen Changsheng, but this young man still calmly asked, as if he was just greeting Xu Shiji and starting a casual conversation.

A spring breeze entered the night.

The violent and bloody aura disappeared instantly.

Chen Changsheng was freed from danger, and his complexion gradually improved.

Xu Shiji looked at the young man and bowed, saying, "I greet Prince Chenliu. I am here to observe the Qingteng Banquet tonight and happened to meet an old friend, so we chatted for a moment."

Chen Changsheng was slightly surprised, thinking this must be the legendary Prince Chenliu.

Prince Chenliu looked at him, somewhat surprised, and said, "It's you?"

Xu Shiji frowned slightly and said, "Does Your Highness know him?"

Prince Chenliu smiled and said, "The first student of the National Teaching Academy in recent years, it would be hard not to know him."

Since Empress Dowager Sheng ascended the throne, the Chen royal family had been exiled to remote areas of various states, with only Prince Chenliu remaining in the capital and growing up in the palace.

Prince Chenliu was the only remaining bloodline of the old royal family in the capital, representing many meanings.

Recently, the National Teaching Academy reappeared in the public eye, and to many people, it also represented many meanings.

Coincidentally, the meanings represented by both were the same.