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Edited by: Michyrr

The courtyard within the alley of the Northern Military Department was gradually regaining its original appearance. The hole by the wall had already been dug very deep, but the crabapple tree had still not been sent over.

Obtaining a crabapple tree exactly identical to the one from the past was no easy task, even for the Department for Purging Officials, whose power extended to all levels of society.

Zhou Tong was well aware of this point, but he did not display the slightest displeasure to his opponents, especially after he heard the quick succession of reports.

"Assistant Minister Wei did not go back. Apparently, a large quarrel took place in his estate last night."

"When Lord Huang of the Imperial Board of Astronomy was about to leave, he discovered that his clan’s carriage had been borrowed. The borrower was a relative of his wife who said that he was returning to Wu Province."

"Tianhai Shengxue had already boarded his carriage, but he was stopped by his clan’s Guardians. Apparently, a fierce conflict took place between them. Ultimately, Chancellor of the State Chenwu had to appear before things settled down."

"There has been no noise from the Prince of Xiang’s estate, but Prince Chen Liu has not appeared for the entire day. According to our analysis, the prince has probably been locked inside the shrine at the back of the estate."

Ever since he had learned two days ago that Chen Changsheng had appeared to bury Xue Xingchuan’s body, Zhou Tong had had a rather unsightly expression, especially after he heard that the Xue Estate intended to hold a funeral.

Although he had always appeared very calm, his subordinates and many people in the palace were able to tell that his mood was rather disastrous.

When he heard this news, however, his complexion began to improve, and the cold indifference in his eyes gradually began to thaw.

No one dared to pay respects at the Xue Estate; this was an expected matter.

The Xue Estate had held a funeral, giving many people within the capital a way to show their feelings, and also to dig a hole.

Although it was said to be paying respects to Xue Xingchuan, in reality, it might as well have been paying respects to the Divine Empress.

Today, the Imperial Court was watching the Xue Estate, so who would dare appear?

"Chen Changsheng?" Zhou Tong suddenly asked.

A subordinate reported, "No one has come out of the Orthodox Academy this entire time."

"I did not think that our Little Principal Chen would be so cool-headed, that he had such grasp over what is within norms."

Zhou Tong held his hands behind him and walked out of the courtyard, saying, "But this situation inevitably makes one sigh about the inconstancy of human relations. And that’s right, besides me, who could develop a real friendship with him?"

His subordinates were all stunned by these words, not understanding why their lord was speaking this way.

Zhou Tong stopped and turned to them, speaking with a serious tone. "The entire world knows that he was my only friend. Did none of you know?"

The subordinates gazed at the smile upon their lord’s face and felt their bodies turn cold. They were utterly mystified as to how to respond.

......

......

By the lake in the Orthodox Academy, Mao Qiuyu looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "It now seems that I truly worried too much. You had always been much more mature than your peers."

"So you came here at the crack of dawn to keep watch over me." Chen Changsheng gazed at the lake and said, "But, in truth, I don’t much understand your meaning."

Mao Qiuyu explained, "What you did two days ago was already enough. To do more might border on excessive."

Chen Changsheng thought this over, then asked, "Who decides what is within the norms? Who laid down these rules?"

He already knew that today, besides Daoist Siyuan and Linghai Zhiwang, no one else had come to the Xue Estate’s funeral.

"Norms and rules all come from a unique and unequaled will."

Mao Qiuyu looked at him and said, "While His Holiness the Pope still lives, the Orthodoxy only has one will, so it can only have one voice, but when His Holiness returns to the sea of stars? When Your Eminence succeeds to the position of Pope, you will still not be twenty, and it will be very difficult for Your Eminence’s will to be placed above the Orthodoxy. It can only mutually exist with others."

These words seemed rather vague, but they were actually very clear. The smooth succession of the Orthodoxy depended on the successor’s ability and methods, not just on the will of the Pope.

Maturity, composure, an understanding of norms, patience, and sense of responsibility—these were all things in which ability and methods took concrete form.

Mao Qiuyu continued, "His Holiness’s health is not very good."

Chen Changsheng replied, "In another few days, I will go to the Li Palace and see him."

Mao Qiuyu replied, "His Holiness will presumably be very appreciative."

Chen Changsheng did not respond for a few moments, then said, "I am actually not sure if Martial Uncle will be happy to see me."

Mao Qiuyu replied, "Step by step, you are learning of the relationship between a sense of responsibility and silence. This in itself represents growth."

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "In truth, Your Eminence has spoken incorrectly. I did not go to the Xue Estate today because I chose to remain silent, or because I chose to stay within the norms out of a sense of responsibility. I just felt that the inconstancy of human relations is very commonly seen. Moreover, it doesn’t have much to do with me. As you know, I truly was not close to Xue Xingchuan."

Yes, contrary to what Zhou Tong thought and Mao Qiuyu praised, Chen Changsheng did not refrain from visiting the Xue Estate out of silent endurance or proper norms. He just felt that he was not close with Xue Xingchuan, so there was no apparent need to go. In addition, he did not know what he should say in front of Madam Xue and those people overcome with grief and lamentation.

"I’m not skilled at consoling others," he said to Mao Qiuyu.

Right then, Su Moyu suddenly walked in.

Mao Qiuyu asked, "What’s happened?"

Su Moyu bowed, then said to Chen Changsheng, "Zhou Tong brought people and went to the Xue Estate."

Chen Changsheng glanced at the sky, then said, "What hour did the Xue Estate set for the moving of the coffin?"

With a somewhat stern expression, Mao Qiuyu said, "If you change your intentions because of another’s intentions, it will not be in accordance with your Dao."

This was a word of advice, and also a warning.

Chen Changsheng replied, "One’s heart can always change, and to admit to these changes is to truly follow one’s heart."

Mao Qiuyu asked, "Why did it change?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "I am not close with Xue Xingchuan, so I did not go to the Xue Estate. But I’m very close with Zhou Tong, so I should go now."

......

......

The Xue Estate was lonely and cheerless, the white flag flapping in the autumn breeze seeming very lonely and pitiful.

Lonely and cheerless did not mean that no one was around. At the head of the street and the end of the alley, many people were staring at the gate of the Xue Estate from a distance.

Some of the gazes belonged to the meddlesome and fearless idlers of the capital, but most of the gazes belonged to representatives of the capital’s great powers.

From early morning until now, not a single guest had arrived outside the Xue Estate’s gate, not even a sparrow.

Hooves were suddenly heard from the street, accompanied by the sound of a strong wind flapping against clothes.

Several dozen officials and experts of the Department for Purging Officials and even more redcoated cavalry escorted Zhou Tong to the Xue Estate.

In a very short time, the gate of the Xue Estate was crowded with people, but there was still no noise. All was held in a deathly stillness.

The street was far too silent, such that even the sounds of paper threads burning behind the gate could be faintly heard.

Zhou Tong took a white cloth from a subordinate and tied it to his waist, after which he walked into the Xue Estate.

The butler of the Xue Estate saw this sight and wanted to stop him, but he lacked the courage. His legs had already gone unbearably soft.

A beautiful woman dressing in mourning clothes barred his path, angrily shouting, "You still have the face to come?"

Zhou Tong looked at her and asked, "Madam Wei has come back?"

He gazed into the deserted estate and shook his head, sorrowfully saying, "What need is there for this? I came to light incense for Elder Brother Xue so that he won’t be too lonely in the sea of stars."

With a pale face, the woman shouted back, "Father wouldn’t want to see an ungrateful scoundrel like you!"

"The friendship I had with General Xue is not something you women could understand."

Saying this, Zhou Tong calmly walked into the Xue Estate as if he was returning home.

In this entire process, he did not even glance at Madam Wei.

The officials of the Department for Purging Officials pushed Madam Wei to the side, not letting her come near Zhou Tong.

Seeing her hated foe about to intrude upon her home and thinking of how her father’s soul was certainly unable to find peace, Madam Wei felt both grief and indignation. Powerless to stop him, she exploded with curses and abuse.

Zhou Tong slightly frowned at these incessant curses pouring into his ear, finding them rather unpleasant. "Your father was the hero of a generation. How could he raise a shrew like you?"

A subordinate took out a ball of cloth and stuffed it in Madam Wei’s mouth.