Eternal Saber-Chapter 235 - 20: Restoring the Profound Sect’s Reputation
Zhou Shuang’s deposition didn’t cause much of a stir in the Capital City.
After all, it was the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince who voluntarily challenged Grand Protector Chen, and it was a case of the subordinate offending the superior. Zhou Shuang ended up severely injured and deposed, which many saw as a deserved consequence.
The Emperor symbolically awarded some silver taels, offered some consolations, and the matter was resolved.
The following days passed peacefully.
Chen Tang would get up early during the day, practice martial arts before entering the palace, teach Yuan Taiping some martial arts, stroll through the harem gardens with Yuan Qingmu, have casual chats, and return to Prince Wei’s Mansion in the evening.
Within a few days, with the various Miracle Elixirs from the Imperial Palace, the injuries Chen Tang suffered in the arena had mostly healed.
Now, it was already the transition from summer to fall, the seventh month blazed with heat, yet the weather in the Capital City remained unusually stifling.
If calculated, Chen Tang would have been in this world for just about a year in another month.
Today was the first day after "Fu," and the weather was hot.
Yuan Qingshan, after finishing the morning court session, invited the Du Clan, Yuan Qingmo, Yuan Qingmu, and others to go to the Hailing Hall north of the harem to escape the summer heat.
Chen Tang naturally went along.
Just entering the Hailing Hall, a refreshing coolness greeted them.
It is said that many materials used in this Hailing Hall were constructed with Extreme North Cold Iron, which continuously emitted coolness in the summer, making it most comfortable.
At this time, in the Hailing Hall, Yuan Qingshan and the Du Clan sat in the main seats, with the Crown Prince Yuan Taiping and a beautiful girl in her early teens sitting beside them. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
The girl’s name was Dugu Luo, whom Chen Tang had met once. He heard from Qingmu that she was already betrothed to the Crown Prince.
Yuan Qingshan did not appoint a woman from the Dugu Clan as Empress, insisting on elevating the Du Clan as Empress.
His arrangement regarding Yuan Taiping was also considered a compromise and an olive branch to the Dugu Clan.
Since Yuan Qingshan ascended to the throne, these tactics, including inviting Murong Daoye to reappear, forming the Qilin Bureau, retrying the Ghost Mother case, implementing new policies, announcing the Qilin Ranking, dividing and allying with the Four Great Clans... all left Chen Tang in awe.
If it were him, he wouldn’t have the energy and scheming to handle so many things.
He was more interested in practicing martial arts.
Sitting on both sides of the Hailing Hall were many others, mostly women. It was said that under the name of the Empress, the Du Clan called some women from prestigious families to bring their daughters into the palace.
On one hand, it was to show favor, and on the other, it was also to choose a marriage alliance for Yuan Qingmo.
Yuan Qingmo remained indifferent to this.
But he couldn’t refuse his royal brother’s hospitality, so he sat at the seat, expressionless and looking straight ahead.
Those forced into matchmaking are often like this.
"Chen Tang is here."
Yuan Qingshan smiled and waved when he saw Chen Tang, and also gave him a look, saying, "This is Kong Cong, Grand Protector Kong. Today he happened to accompany Ping’Er into the palace, so I invited him over as well."
Chen Tang looked towards the seat belonging to the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, where a person was already sitting.
Kong Cong calmly stood up, slightly cupped his hands towards Chen Tang, and politely said, "Truly, hearing is not as good as seeing; Lord Chen indeed has an extraordinary bearing, a young hero."
"Lord Kong, you flatter me."
Chen Tang politely replied.
The laughter in the hall gradually subsided a lot.
Many eyes were glancing this way.
Most people had heard about the grievances between Chen Tang and the Profound Celestial Sect.
Just a few days ago, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince was deposed.
Now, with Kong Cong’s sudden appearance, he surely bears ill intentions!
"Lord Chen, please take a seat."
Kong Cong pointed to the seat behind him and said with a smile.
Even in such gatherings, seating involves particular rules in the court and among officials.
For someone in the Grand Protector position like Kong Cong, the seat behind him clearly held a lower status.
If the seat was arranged towards the door of the hall, it would also seem crowded.
Kong Cong’s gesture was clearly intended to embarrass Chen Tang in public and serve as a demonstration.
Chen Tang smiled, sat directly in the seat behind Kong Cong, relaxed, and didn’t care about others’ surprised glances.
"The official world is full of rules. Even a seat involves so much calculation."
Chen Tang secretly mocked himself.
He had no feeling for such trivial matters.
Not to mention sitting behind Kong Cong, even if he sat at the end of the table, he wouldn’t mind as long as there was food and drink.
Kong Cong was somewhat surprised to see Chen Tang, so young, could be so restrained.
Once everyone took their seats and chatted a bit, palace maids began arranging all sorts of chilled fruits, followed by iced green bean water.
At this moment, Kong Cong rose, gave a slight bow towards Yuan Qingshan, and said, "Your Holiness, I heard Lord Chen previously stated that Mystic Skills are no match for Martial Arts!"
"Today, while we have this rare opportunity, why don’t we each represent the Profound Sect and Martial Arts and have a sparring match to entertain His Holiness and the Empress?"
Chen Tang had just picked some grapes and was about to pop them into his mouth when he suddenly heard these words and was startled.
When did he ever say such a thing?
Yuan Qingmo frowned and said, "With Grand Protector Chen’s disposition, how could he say such a thing? Lord Kong, who did you hear this from?"
"It was the Crown Prince."
Kong Cong looked at Yuan Taiping.
The two exchanged glances, and Yuan Taiping immediately said, "Yes, I heard it clearly that day; Grand Protector Chen did say that!"
Yuan Taiping’s tone was assured, and as a child just over ten, there was already some credibility.
Furthermore, others, recalling the event where Chen Tang deposed Zhou Shuang, found such words to be within reason.
Chen Tang coldly smiled in his heart.
This little cub Yuan Taiping was lying without any shame.
Yuan Qingshan gave a slight smile and said, "It was just a jest from Grand Protector Chen. Why take it seriously? Sit down and enjoy some chilled fruit to relieve the heat."
"Your Holiness might not know."
Kong Cong cupped his hands and said, "The struggle between Mystic Skills and Martial Arts has always existed, but the superiority of Mystic Skills over Martial Arts is common knowledge. Lord Chen’s statement is inciting hearts and deceiving the Crown Prince!"
"As the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, I cannot bear to see the Crown Prince deceived by such individuals. This sparring match is not only to clear the name for the Profound Sect but also for the Crown Prince to personally witness the methods of the Profound Sect."
"Today, everyone present shall bear witness. The dispute between the Profound Sect and Martial Arts as to which is superior shall be made clear!"
Chen Tang couldn’t help but laugh.
Kong Cong’s heap of grand words was nothing more than an attempt to force him into a sparring match.
All this talk about the struggle between Mystic Skills and Martial Arts and deceiving the Crown Prince was merely about seeking revenge, helping Zhou Shuang regain face, and letting the Profound Celestial Sect depose him!
Chen Tang ate a bunch of grapes, picked up a fragrant melon, bit into it, and his mouth was filled with juice.
"Sweet!"
Chen Tang praised and said to the person next to him, "This melon is really good, you should try it too."
Kong Cong said a lot, but Chen Tang seemed not to hear and enjoyed his meal.
Yuan Qingmo raised his voice and said, "Lord Kong, as a Foundation Establishment Mystic Master, you are forcing a Sixth Grade Lord Chen into a match."
"You are not on the same realm, making such a sparring match fundamentally unfair and meaningless. What kind of a proper name for the Profound Sect does it talk?"
Kong Cong had been waiting for someone to say this and smiled, "It’s alright, I can let Lord Chen have twenty moves without hitting back! Conversely, if he can withstand ten of my moves, then his Martial Arts are indeed impressive!"
