Eternal Sword

Chapter 230: Rehabilitating the Xuan Sect

Zhou Shuang's dethronement did not cause much disturbance in the capital.

After all, it was the Prince's Guard who took the initiative to challenge Chen Taibao, and it was an act of insubordination. Zhou Shuang was seriously injured and deposed. In the eyes of many people, it was his own fault.

The emperor gave some symbolic silver as a reward to appease the man, and the matter was over.

The next few days were peaceful.

Chen Tang got up early in the day and practiced martial arts before entering the palace. He taught Yuan Taiping martial arts, strolled around the harem garden with Yuan Qingmu, chatted casually, and returned to the Prince of Wei's Mansion in the evening.

In a few days, with the help of various elixirs in the palace, the injuries Chen Tang suffered in the ring were almost healed.

Now, it is the turn of summer and autumn, and it is the hottest time of July, but the weather in the capital is still unusually hot and humid.

All in all, it has been exactly one year since Chen Tang came into this world.

Today is the first day of the end of the dog days, and the weather is hot.

After the morning court session, Yuan Qingshan called Du, Yuan Qingmo, Yuan Qingmu and others to go to the Hanliang Palace in the north of the harem to escape the summer heat and cool off.

Chen Tang was naturally among them.

As soon as I entered the Hanliang Palace, I felt a cool breeze.

It is said that many of the materials in this Hanliang Palace are made of cast iron from the Far North. In summer, cool air is constantly emitted, which is very comfortable.

At this time, Yuan Qingshan and Du were sitting in the main seats in Hanliang Palace, while Crown Prince Yuan Taiping and a beautiful girl in her early teens were sitting beside them.

The girl's name was Dugu Luo. Chen Tang had met her once and heard from Qing Mu that she was engaged to the prince.

Yuan Qingshan did not make Dugu's daughter his queen, but insisted on making Du the queen.

This arrangement for Yuan Taiping can be regarded as a compromise and attempt to win over the Dugu clan.

The tactics Yuan Qingshan had used since he ascended the throne, including inviting Murong Daoye to come out of seclusion, establishing the Qilin Division, retrial of the Ghost Mother case, implementation of new policies, announcement of the Qilin List, and division and unification of the four major clans... impressed Chen Tang greatly.

If it were him, he wouldn't have so much energy and thought.

He is still more interested in martial arts.

There were quite a few people sitting on both sides of the Hanliang Palace, most of them were women. It was said that it was Du who, in the name of the queen, asked some women from prominent families to bring their daughters into the palace.

On the one hand, it was to show favor, and on the other hand, he also wanted to choose a marriage for Yuan Qingmo.

Yuan Qingmo disagreed.

But it was hard to refuse his royal brother's kindness, so he sat in front of his seat with a calm expression and without looking around.

This is what happens to people who are forced into blind dates.

"Chen Tang is here."

Yuan Qingshan smiled and greeted Chen Tang when he saw him. He winked at Chen Tang and said, "This is Kong Cong, the Grand Protector Kong. He happened to be in the palace to accompany Ping'er today, so I invited him to come over."

Chen Tang looked at the seat belonging to the Prince's Guardian and saw that there was already someone there.

Kong Cong looked calm, stood up, bowed slightly to Chen Tang, and said politely: "It's true that hearing about someone is worse than meeting him in person. Mr. Chen is indeed an extraordinary young hero."

"Mr. Kong, you are too kind."

Chen Tang replied politely.

The laughter in the hall gradually became quieter.

Many people looked this way.

Everyone has heard more or less about the feud between Chen Tang and the Xuantian Sect.

The Crown Prince's Guardian was deposed just a few days ago.

Now, Kong Cong suddenly showed up, he must have come with bad intentions!
"Master Chen, please take a seat."

Kong Cong pointed to the seat behind him and said with a smile.

Generally speaking, even at such gatherings, the seating arrangements are very particular.

For example, the position of the Grand Guardian Kong Cong, the seats behind him, are obviously one level lower in status. If the seats are arranged towards the entrance of the main hall, it will seem more crowded.

Kong Cong's move was obviously to embarrass Chen Tang in public and also to demonstrate.

Chen Tang smiled and sat down in the seat behind Kong Cong, feeling contented and not paying any attention to the surprised looks from others.

"There are so many rules in the officialdom. There are so many things to consider for just one seat."

Chen Tang complained in his heart.

He had no feelings about this kind of nonsense.

Not to mention sitting behind Kong Cong, it would be fine for him to sit at the end of the table, as long as he had food and drinks.

Kong Cong was somewhat surprised to see that Chen Tang, at such a young age, could be so patient.

Everyone sat down and chatted for a while, then the palace maids placed various chilled fruits and vegetables on the table, as well as chilled mung bean water.

At this moment, Kong Cong stood up, bowed slightly in the direction of Yuan Qingshan, and said: "Your Majesty, I heard from Lord Chen that the mysterious arts are vulnerable to the martial arts!"

"Today is a rare opportunity, why don't we each represent the Xuanmen martial arts and have a sparring match to entertain His Majesty and the Queen."

Chen Tang had just picked a bunch of grapes and was about to put them in his mouth when he suddenly heard these words and was stunned.

When had he ever said that?

Yuan Qingmo frowned and said, "Given Chen Taibao's temperament, how could he say such a thing? Lord Kong, who told you this?"

"It's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Kong Cong looked at Yuan Taiping.

The two looked at each other, and Yuan Taiping immediately said, "Yes, I heard it clearly that day, that's what Chen Taibao said!"

Yuan Taiping's tone was firm, and he was just over ten years old, so he was somewhat credible.

What's more, it is reasonable for others to say such things when they think about Chen Tang's destruction of Zhou Shuang.

Chen Tang sneered in his heart.

Yuan Taiping, this kid, can lie without blushing or getting nervous.

Yuan Qingshan smiled slightly and said, "It was just a joke from Chen Taibao, why should Kong Taibao take it seriously? Sit down and eat some ice fruit to cool off."

"Your Majesty doesn't know."

Kong Cong bowed and said, "The dispute over Xuanwu has always existed, but it is common sense that Xuanmen is above martial arts. Lord Chen is just trying to confuse people and deceive the prince by saying this!"

"As the Crown Prince's guardian, I really don't want to see His Royal Highness being deceived by such people. This competition is not only to restore the reputation of Xuanmen, but also to let His Royal Highness see the methods of Xuanmen with his own eyes."

"Today, you all have the opportunity to bear witness to the difference in Xuanmen martial arts between the higher and the lower!"

Chen Tang couldn't help laughing.

This Kong Cong threw out a bunch of big words, just to force him to step down.

What dispute over Xuanwu, what deceiving the prince, it was nothing more than wanting to seek personal revenge, get back at Zhou Shuang, and destroy him for the Xuantian Sect!

Chen Tang ate a bunch of grapes, then picked up a cantaloupe and took a bite, his mouth full of juice.

"sweet!"

Chen Tang exclaimed in praise and said to the people 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 him and was enjoying his meal.

Yuan Qingmo raised his voice and said, “Master Kong, you are a foundation-building master, but now you are forcing Master Chen, who is a sixth-rank master, to end his life.”

"You are not at the same realm. This kind of competition is totally unfair and meaningless. How can you talk about the restoration of the Xuan Sect's reputation?"

Kong Cong had been waiting for someone to say this, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, I can let Master Chen take twenty moves, and I will never fight back! On the contrary, as long as he can take ten of my moves, he will be considered a great martial artist!"

(End of this chapter)