The Palace of Young Brilliance was located one thousand, nine hundred and forty zhang from the Imperial Palace's Gate of the Southern Sun. From the Gate of the Southern Sun to Weiyang Palace was a distance of seven-hundred-some zhang. With her speed, and taking care to not alarm the Guardians of the palace, how long would it take to get from here to Weiyang Palace? What part had the music coming out of the darkness reached?
The southern diplomatic mission had certainly already arrived, and were probably even seated. The Ivy Festival is on the verge of beginning and if I can hurry over soon, I probably won't be too late. First, I must obtain the reason. Luoluo thought of these matters in silence, her small face seeming to be covered in a sheet of ice, so much so that the entire palace hall seemed to be rather chilly.
Fortunately, besides a single female official, there was no one else in this hall but her and the master of the hall, so no one would criticize her for discourtesy.
The Palace of Young Brilliance was the quietest palace in all of the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, yet it was also the most lavish. This was because here resided the Divine Empress's most beloved and only daughter, the Princess of Ping. The girl sitting at the master's seat had a gorgeous complexion. She did not look very old, but she had a natural grace about her that seemed inerasable.
Confronting this Princess of Ping who collected the adoration of the countless people of the Great Zhou in a single body, who normal people would not even dare to breathe too heavily while near, Luoluo displayed utter discourtesy, her tone even faintly carrying a hint of criticism. "Ping, you've tricked me here and won't let me attend the Ivy Festival. Are you not even giving me an explanation?"
Previously, that female official had come up, representing the Princess of Ping in inviting her to the Palace of Young Brilliance. Unexpectedly, when she reached the Palace of Young Brilliance, the female official constantly delayed for time. Only after she began to react did the Princess of Ping finally appear, but a long time had already passed.
She was clearly aware that the Princess of Ping was doing this because she had been entrusted with it by someone, that it assuredly had something to do with the Ivy Festival, but she was only thinking about those followers of the Divine Empress who were watching the Orthodox Academy like tigers eying their prey. Yet she had not imagined that their gazes had always been on Chen Changsheng.
The Princess of Ping was not angry at Luoluo's inquiry. Smiling, she explained, "It was just that we hadn't met in several months and I heard that you were playing the part of an obedient student in the Orthodox Academy, so I was somewhat interested. That's right, just what sort of person is that person you acknowledged as a teacher?"
Luoluo ignored the question, staring into her eyes and asking once more, "Why?"
"Mo Yu knew that I had a close relationship with you, so she had me keep you for a while. As for why…she certainly didn't tell me."
The Princess of Ping spoke with a very calm expression, not treating this as much of a pressing matter.
Yet Luoluo had seen painstaking care in her appearance. Many people knew that the Princess of Ping and Lady Mo Yu did not have much of a close relationship. It was only because of the Divine Empress that the two maintained a cordial relationship on the surface, so Luoluo would naturally not believe her explanation.
The Princess of Ping commented, "Don't think about it too much. Mo Yu received imperial mother's orders to host the last night of the Ivy Festival, and what she's most concerned about is that engagement between that Phoenix and the child of the Qiushan clan. She had me keep you here probably because she was afraid that you would stir some trouble when the time came."
Her appearance was clearly young and immature, yet she called Qiushan Jun a child. This seemed very bizarre.
Luoluo was most ill-suited for this sort of appearance. She slightly creased her brow and resentfully replied, "Speak properly… I'm not you; why would I stir trouble?"
The Princess of Ping's eyes faintly glowed. Looking rather shy, she replied, "Why would I stir trouble? Luoluo, you really like telling jokes."
Luoluo replied, "You don't like Xu Yourong…as long as they've lived in the Imperial Palace, who wouldn't know?"
The Princess of Ping's smile faded as she coldly said, "Imperial mother likes her, but for what reason should I like her? Moreover, that child of the Qiushan clan is perfect and so excellent that he should be my Great Zhou Dynasty's son-in-law. For what reason should he be married off to someone like her, a muddy monkey stinking all over with the smell of the wilderness!"
Luoluo lightly mocked, "Even if you spoke countless times about how you quarreled with her and lost, you still wouldn't be able to affect her position in the Divine Empress's heart, and in the hearts of everyone else. Let alone Qiushan Jun, even I would be willing to have him marry her and not you."
The Princess of Ping was very angry, saying, "Just which side are you standing on?"
Luoluo replied, "It's not like you don't know, I've always liked her—of course, if you're willing to let me go, I can stand on your side."
The Princess of Ping stood up and calmly gazed at her, then suddenly revealed a smile. "This is the first time Mo Yu has requested me to do something. You think I'll mess it up?"
Luoluo stood up and asked, "I thought you never did these sorts of things that don't provide you any benefit?"
The Princess of Ping helplessly sighed. "In the end, I'm still a princess—I have to do some things for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Luoluo needed to think a while before understanding that the matter she spoke of was most likely related to the southern diplomatic mission's proposal. Yet she couldn't understand just how her presence at the Ivy Festival would influence this proposal. Although she also admired Qiushan Jun, she didn't have any designs on him.
She raised her hand and brought it extremely close to her belt. As long as she willed it, she could take out the Falling Rain Whip.
Standing across from her was the Princess of Ping of the Great Zhou Dynasty, greatly doted upon by the Divine Empress. Even Luoluo could not do anything too excessive against her, but right now, she suddenly wanted to kill her. This was because she suddenly realized that the princess might not only dare to trick her into the Palace of Young Brilliance, but she might dare move against her teacher!
The Princess of Ping knew what she was feeling, but she did not fear. Smiling, she commented, "A few days ago, I heard that during the Ivy Festival, you beat that distant cousin of mine into a cripple, just as can be expected from Luoluo. I can't beat you, but…if something happens to me, can your family bear the responsibility?"
Luoluo looked at her and said, "The Tianhai clan is nothing but a group of madmen, we truly can't bear it…but you also understand that my family also has many madmen. If something happens to me in the capital, will just you and Mo Yu be able to bear the responsibility?"
The Princess of Ping innocently replied, "This is the Great Zhou Imperial Palace. How can anything happen to you?"
In the darkness outside the Palace of Young Brilliance, countless Guardians and experts were concealed.
Those people would naturally not dare to truly wound Luoluo, but they could entrap her.
Just like how for certain reasons, Mo Yu could not truly hurt Chen Changsheng, forcing her to think of ways to trap him.
Right now, teacher and disciple were both facing similar plights.
"Don't try to act silly or foolish or cute; I'm also quite skilled in those."
Luoluo gripped and slowly pulled out the Falling Rain Whip, saying very seriously to her, "If I want to make trouble for myself, who can stop me?"
The Princess of Ping's expression turned somewhat apprehensive, because she had seen Luoluo's resolve. If something really did happen to Luoluo in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, she and Mo Yu added together would be incapable of bearing the responsibility. Crucially, the Empress did not know of tonight's matter. If the eight hundred li of the Red River were to rage, what could be done?
"Just what is so good about that youth called Chen Changsheng that you've actually become so dead set on doing this?" She gazed at Luoluo, very confused.
"This is not something you need to concern yourself with, nor is it something you really care about."
Luoluo's right hand lightly moved and the Falling Rain Whip slowly moved along the golden bricks. She looked at the Princess of Ping and said, "Right now, I also don't want to concern myself over what your goal is. I just want you to order those people outside the hall to open a path. I want to attend the Ivy Festival."
The Princess of Ping fell silent, seeming to hesitate and struggle. In reality, she was silently counting time, waiting until she was sure that, based on what Mo Yu had said, the youth should have been imprisoned within the Tong Palace. Only then did she raise her head and faintly smile.
"Please." She looked at Luoluo and said, "I hope that you are still in time."
...
...
The night was dark, but the palace was bright as day. Luoluo arrived outside Weiyang Palace, her black hair brushing against her cheeks, her forehead beaded with sweat. She turned towards the shadows behind the palace and saw the figures of Guardian Jin and Guardian Li. After tilting her head and listening for a few moments, her delicate brows slightly rose, her anger barely concealed.
Chen Changsheng was not within the palace. A moment ago, he had been outside the hall, speaking with Divine General of the East Xu Shiji. Afterwards, Prince Chen Liu spoke a few words to him, making it inconvenient for Guardians Jin and Li to approach. Unexpectedly, in the next moment, he vanished in the darkness, whisked off to parts unknown.
Luoluo turned to silently gaze through the darkness at the Great Zhou Imperial Palace and its countless overarching eaves and pavilions. She knew how challenging it would be to search such a vast area for a single person at this time, so what should she do next?
There were some people of the Great Zhou Imperial clan that did not want her teacher to take part in the Ivy Festival because of the southern diplomatic mission's proposal, but why was this? She squeezed the silk bag in her sleeve, thinking of what her teacher had said to her before leaving the Orthodox Academy. Her two eyebrows arched even higher, almost as if they were going to take flight.
The other side did not want her to do this thing, so she would do it.
Luoluo no longer needed to think. She opened the tightly shut door to Weiyang Palace, and walked into the light within.
Within the palace, the southern diplomatic mission had already arrived and were currently in the midst of greeting the important figures of the Ivy Academies, the Imperial Court, and the Orthodoxy. Some people who had never met were currently introducing themselves, both sides speaking about how they had longed to meet the other. It was a joyous and harmonious scene, particularly lively.
Just then, there was a bang as the palace door was pushed open by someone!
Although the chilly wind could not blow inside, the light within the hall still seemed to change, as did the mood. This was because the person who had pushed open the door seemed to be very rude.
But when they could clearly make out the girl who had pushed open the door, the hall grew abnormally silent.
Some had previously noticed to their astonishment that the Orthodox Academy's seating area was empty. Now, they finally saw this girl.
Luoluo's gaze flitted through the hall.
That middle-aged man was the leader of the Qiushan clan, Qiushan Yuanxin.
That old man with a head of white who only had a bowl of clear water and a green pear on the table in front of him was probably Mount Li Elder Xiao Songgong.
That woman with a serene bearing and a white veil over her face, since she was wearing the ceremonial robes of the Orthodoxy and was sitting extremely close to the female professors of the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green, was probably a disciple of the Holy Maiden.
Those three youths with indifferent expressions and swords across their knees were probably the rumored Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws.
She had seen before the young students of the five Ivy Academies and the others who had passed the pre-examination.
There were many people in the hall, but no Chen Changsheng.
Luoluo's gaze ultimately rested on a seat at the very front.
This seat was very close to the seats of the hosts, such as Prince Chen Liu, only a bit farther than Qiushan Yuanxin's and Xiao Songgong's seats.
But the person in this seat was a youth.
This youth had a gentle expression, extremely amiable. He had an ordinary air about him, but he was absolutely not normal.
Because his eyes had a light.
When Luoluo saw this person, she knew that he must be Gou Hanshi of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws.
The legendary Gou Hanshi.