Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 553: Chapter 550 Study Abroad

Xu Jingwen bowed deeply.

He then clasped his hands towards Ma Tianhe and said, ”Lord Ma, thank you for your trouble.”

Ma Tianhe shook his head and sighed, ”Lord Xu, before the handover, you can still change your mind.”

He truly felt that Xu Jingwen was unwise, muddled, and momentarily blinded by his emotions.

Xu Jingwen shook his head, ”After all these years, I just want to rest now, I’m too tired and weary.”

”Alright then.” Ma Tianhe was helpless.

He didn’t know if the Princely Heir could indeed protect Xu Jingwen, or if there would be anyone foolish enough to target him.

However, with Xu Jingwen’s skills, once he was free, it would be very difficult for outsiders to find him if he decided to hide his identity.

Xu Jingwen turned and bowed deeply to Chu Zhiyuan again, then turned and floated away.

Being a grandmaster in the Perfect Realm with profound cultivation, he was also adept at concealment techniques.

Once Xu Jingwen’s figure disappeared, Ma Tianhe looked towards Chu Zhiyuan, ”Princely Heir...”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”A person driven by love, yet holding such a high position; such cases are rare in the world.”

As age increases, the mind becomes closed off, wrapped in layer upon layer of shells, making it difficult to move it.

Especially for court officials, constantly scheming and maneuvering, negative emotions entangle them, almost extinguishing the goodness and beauty in their hearts.

”Old Xu is merely muddled for the moment.” Ma Tianhe said, ”Once he wakes up, he will surely regret it.”

”Muddled for the moment?” Chu Zhiyuan glanced at him and shook his head.

Ma Tianhe was puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Do you think he truly doesn’t know the identity of his woman?”

”Old Xu knew long ago that woman was from the Phoenix Sword Sect?”

”What do you think?”

”That Old Xu!” Ma Tianhe was stunned and shook his head, ”So he had long intended to retreat?”

”He made his choice long ago; previously pretending ignorance must be some way to protect himself, if truly forced too tightly, he might as well throw his lot in with Da Meng.”

”Old Xu wouldn’t go that far.” Ma Tianhe quickly said.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”A person driven by love, what wouldn’t he do?”

He would never underestimate anyone, especially someone as high-ranking and influential as Xu Jingwen.

If pushed to his limits, the destruction he could cause would be devastating.

Instead, it would be better to let him succeed.

For to arrest and punish someone simply for loving a disciple of the Phoenix Sword Sect could chill the hearts of those in the Inspection Department.

Law should not exceed compassion.

This merciful approach seems fraught with troubles, yet it can minimize the trouble.

Wishing for swift and ruthless resolution brings true troubles and could lead to adverse effects, causing divisions within the Inspection Department.

Ma Tianhe looked serious.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Our Da Jing Court must not chill the hearts of those with merit.”

”Yes!” Ma Tianhe solemnly replied, ”I will handle the handover with Old Xu properly.”

”After the handover with Lord Xu, the first order of business is to investigate that formidable figure from the Rain Listening Platform.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Rain Listening Platform was already formidable, and with such a person, it’s like adding wings to a tiger, we must be wary.”

”Yes.” Ma Tianhe replied solemnly.

His shoulders felt a sudden heavy weight, yet a sense of unexplainable excitement arose within him.

Chu Zhiyuan stood with his hands behind his back, silently gazing in the direction of the manor.

Ma Tianhe waited quietly.

——

Xu Jingwen returned to the manor, gracefully entered his courtyard.

A graceful middle-aged woman was sitting in the pavilion within the courtyard.

She slightly furrowed her brows and softly said, ”Elder brother...”

Xu Jingwen smiled, ”Xuan’er, it’s alright.”

”Was it Da Jing that came looking for you?”

”Yes, it was the Fourth Prince.” Xu Jingwen said, ”The Fourth Prince is not an ordinary person, I knew I couldn’t hide it from him.”

”Then...?”

”The Fourth Prince is merciful, permitting me to step down.”

”Do you really think they’ll let you go, elder brother?”

”The Fourth Prince wouldn’t lie to me.” Xu Jingwen shook his head, ”Those of imperial blood have their pride, if they truly wish not to let me go, they wouldn’t be so tactful.”

”Even if the Fourth Prince lets go, I’m afraid the Inspection Department won’t.”

”The Fourth Prince currently has great prestige, since he agreed to let me go, the Inspection Department won’t act rashly.”

”Sigh...” The graceful woman lightly sighed, ”Let’s hope so.”

Xu Jingwen laughed, ”Xuan’er, you need not worry, just pretend you know nothing.”

The graceful woman said, ”There’s no issue on Da Jing’s side now, but I’m afraid I can’t hide it from within the sect.”

”My identity has no problems, the Phoenix Sword Sect won’t find anything unusual.”

”A formidable figure has emerged from the Wuxiang Sect, I worry he might trace things back to you.”

”Once I resign, even if they want to trace me, they can’t find me.”

”It’s best to resign quickly then.”

”In the next couple of days,” Xu Jingwen smiled, ”With the Fourth Prince around, I feel much more at ease.”

”If that guy from the Wuxiang Sect catches up, what can the Fourth Prince do?”

Xu Jingwen said, ”Just hide with the Fourth Prince, and everything will be fine.”

”Do we need to return to the city?”

”Yes, we can’t stay here, we’ll move closer to the Four Directions Pavilion.”

”Okay.”

...

Chu Zhiyuan saw this, shook his head.

This Xu Jingwen is truly deeply in love, and so is that female disciple from the Phoenix Sword Sect.

Two fools.

In truth, the wisest course would be to separate and forget each other in the world.

The affairs of the world do not solely reside in love, there are many other important matters.

But the two of them are obstinate, insisting on a path to the end.

They are no longer young; both are in middle age, with mature minds, and experienced in worldly affairs.

Yet to be able to see through worldly matters and still choose this path is akin to an old house catching fire.

”Let’s go, return.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Tomorrow, let’s meet with Xu Jingwen again for the work handover.”

”Yes.” Ma Tianhe solemnly answered.

——

At dusk, Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling left the Four Directions Pavilion, walking the streets of Tianjing City.

This Ruyi Street runs east to west, similar to Phoenix Boulevard in Yujing City.

The street is lined with shops on both sides, displaying various goods, bustling with pedestrians and very lively.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling strolled leisurely.

Guo Chi and four guards were in the innermost layer, outside them were the guards of Da Jing, and the outermost layer was the Imperial Guard of Da Meng.

Chu Zhiyuan wore a blue robe; Xiao Ruoling wore a white outfit as white as snow, her face veiled with white gauze, obscuring her stunning beauty.

The two would often stop to buy small items.

While purchasing, Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”The fact that those two could refrain from following us is quite impressive.”

Shen Hanyue and Xu Yingying both enjoyed bustling scenes, yet today they didn’t come along.

The two have made considerable progress, learning to read the room and knowing when not to interrupt their private time.

”They held back with all their might.” Xiao Ruoling smiled, ”Probably this will be the only time they manage.”

To miss such a bustling scene feels worse for them than death, they’ll surely join next time without a doubt.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Then let’s take the opportunity to enjoy ourselves and return a bit later.”

”Okay.” Xiao Ruoling chuckled softly.

The later they return, the deeper the grievance those two will feel, venting it out fully upon their return after dinner.

The two continued along the street, as the sun was about to set, the sky was awash with afterglow.

Tall taverns on either side of the street had already lit their lanterns.

This made the street even more lively.

They took a turn around and selected a bustling tavern, sat on the most lively floor, ordered some dishes, and listened to the discussions around them.

This place is closest to the life of the common folk, feeling the real life of Da Meng’s citizens.

At the same time, they could hear some rumors, even matters of the court.

One piece of information caught Chu Zhiyuan’s attention.

”Have you heard? Today, thirty-two students from Da Lie entered the Imperial College.”

”Da Lie? That small country to the east? Da Lie citizens in our Imperial College?”

”The students Da Lie sent to the Imperial College are wealthy and noble, some even destined to become officials in our court.”

”Is it really necessary?”

”To win over Da Lie, to counter Da Jing, of course.”

”An insignificant place, surely Da Jing doesn’t care?”

”It must be useful, our new Emperor is more skilled.”

After listening to this, Chu Zhiyuan frowned.