Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Beginning three days ago, the Emperor of the Great Zhou was no longer the Tianhai Divine Empress, but a young man called Chen Yu.

He was the only son of Emperor Xian and the Divine Empress, and also the Crown Prince Zhaoming who had mysteriously vanished twenty years ago.

He was the student raised with utmost care for twenty years by Shang Xingzhou—the greatest master of the Dao in the Orthodoxy in this generation—and the monarch that fourteen princes of the Chen clan and the Tianhai clan had sworn their support to. Just what sort of problems could he possibly encounter?

Chen Changsheng knew that there was a problem within the Imperial Palace, but if the person he was speaking to was Tang Thirty-Six, he might say 'Or else?' or he would keep his silence.

Prince Chen Liu misunderstood his silence. When he thought of that young man, his face devoid of both sorrow and joy, quietly sitting upon the imperial throne and presiding over the court, he felt a slight weight upon his chest. His voice subconsciously became somewhat firm as he said to Chen Changsheng, "You should be well aware of how his disability will become the outlet for the ambitions of many people."

Chen Changsheng lowered his head and argued, "Master is there, and Eunuch Lin is there. Neither your father nor the Prince of Zhongshan nor anyone else will dare to break their promise, and also, the Tianhai clan will assuredly support him."

Just because he had never expressed his views of the political situation of the Imperial Court did not mean he had never pondered, had never cast his gaze in that direction.

As His Majesty's family on his mother's side, the Tianhai clan would assuredly play this role well, or else their cold gazes as they watched her die would become a joke.

Prince Chen Liu stared into Chen Changsheng's eyes and rebuked, "You are not His Majesty, and it is impossible for you to experience the pressure he is feeling right now."

Chen Changsheng replied, "Senior is not someone who would like being an emperor. The pressure he feels does not come from those ambitious clans, but from the position of Emperor itself."

Prince Chen Liu thought, just who in the world is not willing to be Emperor? Even after experiencing the coup of the Mausoleum of Books, Chen Changsheng is still rather naive, immature. He could not help but sigh. Their conversation had already reached a rather involved level, but Chen Changsheng was still not willing to accept. Powerless to do more, he patted Chen Changsheng on the shoulder to express his consolation, then left the Orthodox Academy.

On that night, many people had died in the Imperial Palace. In the following two days, many people continued to die, whether it was that chief eunuch whose name even now Chen Changsheng did not know, or those insignificant palace maids of the Palace of Autumn Fragrance who had never had names in the first place. They all became ghosts, and then, like the bloodstains that had been wiped clean, were gradually forgotten by everyone.

But even after such momentous events and the deaths of so many, the Imperial Palace never fell into chaos, because Shang Xingzhou, who had schemed for so many years, had already made the preparations. He had invited many elders back to the Imperial Palace. These elders were either attendants of the last Imperial Palace or old friends of Emperor Xian, such as Eunuch Lin. They had been forced out of the capital by the Tianhai Divine Empress's majesty, and now, they had returned.

Grand Tutor Bai Ying had also returned.

The autumn breeze blew into the palace, brushing his white hair, but was unable to move a single wrinkle on his elderly face.

He was currently reading through a set of remarks on a file. The words had been written in cinnabar red ink, written with grace, but lacking in vigor, imbued with a hidden tenacity. As for the comments in these words, they consisted of a few simple sentences, but they were very insightful and seemed to come from an incredibly experienced individual, giving sufficient leeway for the officials of the Imperial Court and the ministries and local officials of the counties and provinces to act.

This was the case for one file, and so it was for the other ten-odd files. Bai Ying found it impossible to maintain his composure and dignity. He raised his head and turned to the desk beside him.

The young Daoist once of Xining Village had already become the young Emperor of the Great Zhou. His status had changed, but he was still much the same as he was in the past.

He quietly sat behind the desk, quietly flipped through books. As he looked through the books, he would occasionally take up a cinnabar brush and write something on them.

It was like he was still in Xining Village's old temple, reading Daoist scriptures and writing down his insights.

He was reading the files of the Great Zhou Dynasty from years past, and just like the sovereigns of the past, he was tasked with analyzing, judging, and making decisions. He was learning from the Grand Tutor how to rule a country.

The Grand Tutor's eyes grew slightly moist as he became incredibly emotional. He thought to himself, the son of Emperor Xian and the Empress is truly extraordinary, born to be a heroic sovereign, it's just a pity… His gaze fell on the young emperor's leg, his left sleeve, and that strand of black hair. He sighed as he thought, how can anything in the world be perfect?

With the arrival of dusk, today's lessons concluded, and the Grand Tutor rose and requested to withdraw.

With the assistance of a eunuch, the young emperor rose with great difficulty and very properly bowed in the manner of a student.

As the Grand Tutor left the hall, the eunuch whispered a few questions. The young emperor shook his head, his expression warm.

Both the eunuch and the surrounding palace maids once more relaxed.

In the past few days, too many people had died in the palace, too much blood had flowed. Why they saw that the new emperor was unexpectedly blind in one eye, missing an arm, and required a stick to walk, they truly despaired. They had seen far too many deformed people and knew that these kinds of people were often frighteningly cruel. With them having to closely attend upon this emperor, they feared that if he was just slightest bit dissatisfied, they would suffer a heavy punishment. They had even mentally prepared themselves to be beaten to death alongside each other. Unexpectedly, in these two days, not only had this emperor not gotten angry, he hadn't even said any harsh words. They had never met such a mild and gentle master before. Even the young Prince Chen Liu, when he was being raised in the Imperial Palace, would occasionally have a small fit. Those people who were still loyal to the Divine Empress were forced to admit that for the Great Zhou to welcome this sort of sovereign…was, for them at least, the best thing that could happen.

The young emperor began to eat. There were many dishes, but he only chose the lightest to eat. He only took a few bites of the oily foods, and he only drank half a bowl of soup.

After the meal's conclusion, a eunuch proffered a cup of strong red tea to help the emperor digest the meal. The emperor shook his head, indicating that drinking some clear water would be enough.

The eunuch complied and had a cup of water served, then retreated to the gallery outside the hall. As he did so, he thought to himself, just who does His Majesty resemble? Emperor Xian or the Divine Empress?

No, the way the emperor ate and maintained his health only resembled one person, and that person was called Chen Changsheng.

To be more precise, it was Chen Changsheng that was very similar to him.

In Xining Village's old temple, for fourteen years, he had always been the one to cook, and he cooked according to Chen Changsheng's likes and requirements.

Chen Changsheng's personality, Chen Changsheng's likes, Chen Changsheng's favorite foods, had all come from him.

It was him who had raised Chen Changsheng in the first place.

The emperor walked out of the hall and stood on the stone steps, gazing at a particular palace wall in the twilight.

He knew that Chen Changsheng was over there. They actually weren't that far from each other, only several hundred zhang at most.

Close to the eye, yet distant on the horizon, because it was impossible for them to meet. There was naturally a reason for why they could not meet.

The twilight was like blood, plating Shang Xingzhou's figure with a strange color. He stood by a window on the side of the hall. For quite some time, he had been standing there, quietly watching him.

The young emperor stared in silence towards the Orthodox Academy for a very long time. Suddenly, he turned around and bowed to that window.

Shang Xingzhou very earnestly returned the bow.

Teacher and student were separated by the window, and there was nothing in the window, only emptiness, but this did not mean that there was truly nothing between the two.

They were teacher and student, and also lord and minister.

……

……

The autumn wind atop the Dew Platform blew in all directions. As the darkness thickened, the Night Pearls on the edge of the platform gradually brightened. Shang Xingzhou, his hands held behind him, stood on the edge of the platform, gazing at the streets of the capital, at this world that he had not seen for so long yet was still very familiar to him. He calmly spoke, "Last night, the Prince of Zhongshan said to Minister Cui that he was also a grandson of Emperor Taizong's principal wife."

Now, the entire world knew that he was Emperor Taizong's most trusted minister. Everything he did was for the sake of completing Emperor Taizong's unfulfilled wish.

The Prince of Zhongshan's words seemed rather inexplicable, the meaning vague, but the intentions were actually very clear.

Since he was also a grandson of Emperor Taizong's principal wife, it was completely acceptable for Shang Xingzhou to support him. There was no need to support that young emperor.

"The words 'principal wife' can't just be randomly used." A voice came from the back of the Dew Platform.

Without turning around, Shang Xingzhou serenely replied, "It seems that you have a somewhat different view."

This person remained quiet for a very long time, then answered, "It would be too much of a lie if I said that I didn't have a view, but I clearly understand that this is not a matter that I should be thinking of."

Shang Xingzhou's expression did not change, but his eyes showed an expression of deep satisfaction.

This person was very young and had a handsome face. He was dressed in blue and at his waist was a bright-yellow belt. It was Prince Chen Liu.

Shang Xingzhou turned to him and asked, "Then what do you want to say?"

Prince Chen Liu said, "Chen Changsheng is prepared to leave."

When the Pope went to the Orthodox Academy, he believed that Chen Changsheng had already left, or was in the midst of packing his luggage.

Chen Changsheng had not done these things, but this did not mean that he was not thinking about leaving.

Shang Xingzhou fell silent. After a long pause, he declared, "I will not let him leave."

Prince Chen Liu asked, "What does Sir intend by insisting he remain in the capital?"

Shang Xingzhou did not directly answer the question. "In my life, there are two things I must accomplish. The first has already been done."

If the Pope were present, he would know that the first task was to overturn the Tianhai Divine Empress's rule and the second task was to thoroughly defeat the demons.

Prince Chen Liu did not know, so he was even more mystified as to why Shang Xingzhou had suddenly brought this matter up.

Just then, several extremely clear cracks appeared in the dusky sky. Soon after, several shrill bird cries rang out over the world.

Ten Red Geese and four Red Falcons had flown to the distant snowy plains in the north. Only three Red Geese and two Red Falcons had been able to return.

They brought news that people had been perplexed about and had been anticipating for a very long time.

Xuelao City was still sealed.

The Demon Military Advisor Black Robe and the Demon Commander had joined hands in rebellion.

All was in chaos.

The fierce snows wreaked disaster.

Seven Demon Generals had died.

Nanke had escaped, fleeing into the snowstorm.

The status of the Demon Lord was unknown.

……