Martial Cultivator

After leaving the workshop, Chen Chao and Song Lian walked side by side along the street. The two martial artists, who had known each other for a long time, remained silent for a while.

After quite some time, Chen Chao finally asked, “His Highness’ marriage, has it been set for the beginning of next month?”

Song Lian nodded. This matter was already known throughout the imperial court. The Ministry of Rites was pressed for time, and it was said that the old minister there had been cursing quite a bit in private.

Chen Chao calculated the days; at most half a month remained. After thinking for a moment, he nodded. “That’s fine. Handle this matter first to settle the hearts of the court officials. Once the great war begins, none of these things will be possible.”

Song Lian looked at Chen Chao and reminded him, “These days, the palace has been asking about your return. Should you make a trip to the palace?”

Chen Chao thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I already know His Highness’ intentions, but there are some things I cannot do.”

Song Lian sighed.

Chen Chao smiled. “It’s already good enough that His Highness has such intentions.”

After saying this, Chen Chao had Song Lian leave first, while he himself walked slowly alone along the long street.

After some thought, Chen Chao decided to make a trip to the academy. Though that woman was no longer there, it would still be good to take a look at the small courtyard where she had once lived.

Passing by the southern lakeside again, looking at the willows that had not changed much, Chen Chao gazed from afar at the small pavilion in the middle of the lake, feeling a bit sentimental. Though only a few short years had passed, it seemed as if things had already changed and people were no longer the same.

The Dean was gone. That scholar Wei Xu was also gone.

Xie Nandu was naturally not there either.

This was what Chen Chao cared about the most.

In truth, from his own selfish perspective, he did not really want Xie Nandu to go to the Northern Frontier. He would rather the girl he liked remain in the academy. That way, after he finished running about everywhere with his duties, he could return to that small courtyard, roast something for her, and talk about the dust and hardships he had gone through.

But for some things, how he felt did not matter at all.

When you like someone, the worst thing is to confine her, to make her world contain only yourself, like a bird in a cage.

Chen Chao arrived at the small lakeside courtyard. The courtyard gate was not locked. He pushed the door open and entered, and there he saw an old acquaintance.

The maidservant, Liu Ye.

This maidservant, who had served Xie Nandu in earlier years, had returned to the Xie Family after Xie Nandu went to the Northern Frontier.

Seeing Liu Ye again, she was sweeping the courtyard. Upon hearing the noise, she raised her head to look at Chen Chao, and Chen Chao smiled at her as well.

Liu Ye quickly lowered her head and gave a respectful bow. “Greetings, Lord Warden Commander.”

At first, she had not had a good impression of Chen Chao, but after so many things had happened, it was difficult for her to harbor any ill feelings toward this extraordinary man of the present era.

Chen Chao smiled and gestured for her to continue with her work, while he himself brought out the stove, found a few items, and placed them on top.

Liu Ye could not help but ask, “Lord Warden Commander, how is Miss?”

Although news of Xie Nandu in the Northern Frontier was often sent back to the Divine Capital, no one had informed her, after all, she was just an ordinary maid.

Chen Chao sat on a chair and smiled. “Very well. In a while, she might even become Great Liang Dynasty’s female Great General.”

Hearing this, Liu Ye also laughed. “I knew Miss could do it. Someone like Miss can accomplish anything she wants to do.”

Chen Chao turned what was on the stove, nodding in agreement. “Yes. A woman like her, what is there that she cannot accomplish?”

The stove was lit, and the warmth made Chen Chao feel incredibly comfortable. It quickly made him drowsy. Sitting in front of the stove, he grew sleepy, and before long, the sound of light snoring could be heard.

He was truly a bit too tired.

It wasn’t that this trip had been particularly exhausting, but rather that over these past years, he had done far too many things.

When Chen Chao opened his eyes, the sky had already grown dim, yet the fire in the stove had not gone out. A man was sitting there, eating with great relish.

Chen Chao looked at him and said helplessly, “Did I say this was for you to eat? You’re a dignified Saint, and you have no shame at all?”

The man replied matter-of-factly, “Chen Chao, don’t put on that official tone with Your Father. Your Father is the acting dean now, eve the academy is Your Father’s. Can’t Your Father eat a few of yours?”

Chen Chao spat, but did not truly argue with him.

Zhou Gouqi tossed the peels into the stove, wiped his mouth, and said seriously, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Chen Chao raised his brows.

Zhou Gouqi got straight to the point. “Right now in the Divine Capital, it’s being said that for His Highness the Crown Prince’s wedding, the one to bestow the ceremonial regalia, they want you to take that role.”

Chen Chao shook his head. “That does not accord with ancestral regulations.”

Zhou Gouqi nodded. “It is troublesome. If it really is you, both court and common circles will criticize it. Those old ministers might even jump out and start cursing. Of course, it’s not that you can’t take the role, it’s that your merits are too great. You’re already the number one powerful minister of this dynasty. They’re all afraid that one day you might truly harbor ambitions over the state.”

Chen Chao gave a self-mocking smile. He naturally understood this point. His identity had always been problematic, and after he had cut down his own imperial elder brother in the palace with a single stroke, his reputation among the civil officials was destined to be poor.

“However...” Zhou Gouqi changed his tone and said softly, “However, His Highness the Crown Prince is very insistent. In his view, no matter how others see you, in his eyes, you are simply his elder brother, nothing more.”

Zhou Gouqi sighed. “A young man who has only just come of age, getting married with neither of his parents present, of course he feels disappointed. Now he has an elder brother who treats him very well, yet even then, he cannot have you act as the witness of his marriage, as common folk would say. Do you think he wouldn’t feel upset?”

Chen Chao wanted to speak but swallowed the words back.

Zhou Gouqi said bluntly, “Anyway, His Highness the Crown Prince has already come to me. I understand his intentions, so I came to speak plainly to you. This dynasty is actually an anomaly. Since ancient times, the imperial family has had no true kinship, that’s not just talk. His Majesty rose in rebellion to seize the throne, so it’s not surprising. After all, when it comes to that seat, what can’t be cast aside - parents, brothers?” ”But His Majesty is also a very particular kind of emperor. Though he does not show much affection toward his own offspring, he is deeply devoted to the Empress. And toward you, someone from the lineage of the deposed emperor, who by all rights should have been eliminate, he has shown exceptional protection.”

”Your identity should have made you intolerable to the world. Yet somehow, not only did you not die, you even became the number one powerful minister of the current dynasty. Just this alone, search through all the historical records, can you find even half a similar case?” ”I still remember what happened back then. The Second Prince schemed like that, and in the end, all he got from His Majesty was indifference. Since things began this way, with two successive emperors placing no suspicion on you, then I think many matters need not be judged by common sense. Things never before seen in the historical records have appeared in our Great Liang Dynasty. Thinking about it, damn it, that’s quite remarkable!”

”When future histories record this, later generations will look at Great Liang and understand why it flourished, why it was different, precisely because it was different. Our Great Liang Dynasty is one never seen before in history, and one that future generations will find hard to imitate.”

”So I’ve already decided, I’ll help you fight for this matter. Those court officials want to argue? That’s laughable. When it comes to arguing, do you think Your Father, a scholar, is any worse than them?”

Zhou Gouqi took a deep breath. “Chen Chao, whether it’s you, His Majesty, or His Highness the Crown Prince, you are all rare people. Since that’s the case, just keep going as you are. Why worry about all that nonsense?”

Chen Chao did not speak.

But just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open again.

A man and a woman walked in.

His Highness the Crown Prince held Wu Xinyue’s hand and said softly, “Elder Brother, please officiate my marriage.”

Wu Xinyue also gave a respectful bow and said gently, “Elder Brother, if you’re going to do a good deed, do it all the way.”

Chen Chao stood up, remaining silent for a long time.