At that time, Chen Zui was squatting on the steps at the entrance of the academy, gnawing on a white flour bun and making do with a bowl of leftover meat broth from the kitchen for lunch.
That series of hoofbeats drifted from the end of the mountain path, getting closer and more urgent.
The iron horseshoes stepped on the newly laid bluestone slabs, making a crisp and urgent sound, like someone striking a bronze gong with a hammer.
Then, a fast horse was seen rushing up the mountain.
The rider flipped off the horse, scrambled to the front of the academy gate, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Mountain Lord! Mountain Lord! There’s a convoy at the foot of the mountain! They’re from the capital! They say they’re people from the palace!”
This single shout stunned everyone at the academy gate.
Several handymen who were sweeping the ground stopped their brooms and looked at each other.
Two students who had just finished their meal stood under the corridor, the books in their hands nearly falling to the ground.
Chen Zui’s movement of biting the bun paused for a moment, then he stuffed the last bite into his mouth and took a slow sip of the meat broth.
His gaze turned toward the bluestone mountain path below.
Before long, a group of people and horses appeared at the end of the mountain path.
The scale of the procession was absurdly large.
There were more than twenty cavalrymen leading the way alone.
Each was clad in black iron armor with standard-issue long sabers hanging at their waists, and their horses were all tall and magnificent Hequ warhorses.
Behind the cavalry were two rows of honor guard infantrymen carrying banners.
The banners were not embroidered with ordinary dragon patterns or official seals, but rather the Sun and Moon in Radiant Union pattern woven with gold thread.
That was a pattern only the Emperor’s personal attendants were qualified to use.
Behind the honor guard was an eight-man sedan chair.
The body of the sedan was entirely vermilion, the roof was covered with bright yellow silk, and gold bells hung from the four corners.
With every sway, they emitted a string of crisp tinkling sounds.
Four palace attendants dressed in crimson-purple robes followed on each side of the sedan.
They were all fair-faced and beardless, and their steps were light, clearly indicating they were skilled in martial arts.
This procession came to a grand halt before the mountain gate of the academy.
The cavalry fanned out to the sides, and the honor guard infantrymen lined up in two rows.
The eight-man sedan landed steadily.
The curtains of the sedan were lowered, making it impossible to see who was sitting inside.
Lu Chenzhou had already received the news.
He rushed all the way from the bamboo building on the back mountain, his steps much faster than usual.
However, his expression remained steady, showing no sign of panic.
Old Master Cheng and several instructors followed closely behind him.
Further back was a group of students who had rushed over upon hearing the news, but they were blocked on the steps by the instructors, who did not allow them to approach.
The sedan curtain was lifted from the outside by a palace attendant.
A foot wearing a black boot embroidered with gold cloud patterns stepped out of the sedan.
It stepped onto the newly laid bluestone slabs, making a very soft sound.
The man stepped out of the sedan and stood up straight.
He was not tall, and his frame was as thin as a piece of dried bamboo.
The crimson-purple python robe he wore was quite oversized for him.
His shoulders couldn’t fill it out, and the waist couldn’t be cinched tight, making it look somewhat empty.
But no one dared to look down on this person in the slightest because of this.
For the entire Grand Zhao Dynasty knew that if this seemingly frail old eunuch stomped his foot, the imperial court would tremble at least thrice.
This person’s surname was Cao, and his name was Zhengchun, the Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
He was the top favorite at the Emperor’s side.
He had served in the palace for a full forty years.
He had lived through two reigns, seen off a previous emperor, and accompanied the current Emperor for over thirty years.
In the court, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers had been replaced generation after generation, and no fewer than five Senior Grand Secretaries had been swapped out.
Only Cao Zhengchun had always stood steadily by the Emperor’s side, never leaving.
Because of this, those in and out of the court gave him the nickname “Old Woman Premier” to mock his rootless body.
But it also showed how deeply this person was trusted by the Emperor.
His power was enough to rival that of the current Prime Minister.
His face was exceptionally well-maintained, his skin white and delicate, with almost no wrinkles visible.
If not for the vicissitudes and shrewdness revealed in his eyes, no one looking at his face alone would think he was over sixty years old.
His eyebrows were sparse and faint, his lips were thin, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, as if he were smiling.
But that smile never truly reached his eyes.
His eyes were not large, but his pupils were extremely black and bright; when he looked at someone, it was as if he could see through them from the inside out.
He stood before the mountain gate, tilting his head slightly to examine the wooden plaque with the four large characters “Qingya Academy” written on it.
His gaze lingered on it for quite a while.
Then he lowered his head, his gaze sweeping across everyone present one by one.
Finally, it landed on Lu Chenzhou, who was quickly coming forward to meet him.
“I have taken the liberty of visiting without prior notice. I hope Mountain Lord Lu will not take offense.”
He spoke.
His voice was unexpectedly soft.
It was neither hurried nor slow.
It carried a refined tone cultivated over many years.
But Lu Chenzhou remembered clearly.
When this man had advised the previous emperor years ago, a few words from him had ended the careers of three high-ranking provincial officials.
And he had remained that same refined and soft-spoken person throughout, the curve of his mouth never changing in the slightest.
“Lord Cao’s presence brings light to Qingya Academy. How could there be any talk of offense?”
Lu Chenzhou cupped his hands in return, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
The several instructors behind him also followed suit and bowed, but fine beads of sweat had already broken out on their foreheads.
Cao Zhengchun’s gaze moved from Lu Chenzhou to the group of students blocked by the instructors at the top of the steps, and he smiled.
“I have long heard that Qingya Academy is a place of spiritual resonance and extraordinary people, where talents emerge in succession.
Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation.
Traveling along this path, the scenery on both sides of the mountain is beautiful, and the academy’s architecture is simple and elegant.
It reminds me of several famous gardens I saw when I accompanied the Emperor on a southern inspection tour in my youth.”
“Lord Cao overpraises us.
Qingya Academy is but a mountain school; how could it compare to the royal gardens?” Lu Chenzhou said politely.
“Mountain Lord Lu is too modest.”
Cao Zhengchun withdrew his gaze, those black and bright eyes falling back onto Lu Chenzhou’s face, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening slightly.
“I did not come here merely for a stroll.
The Caiqin Trial is imminent, and the world’s talents are gathered here.
The First Prince is very concerned and specifically ordered me to come and observe the ceremony.
This is to show the imperial court’s emphasis on culture and education.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the several instructors behind Lu Chenzhou changed simultaneously.
“The First Prince?”
“Doesn’t this Cao Zhengchun only handle matters for the Emperor?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Chenzhou and Old Master Cheng understood clearly.
It seemed the information obtained from Chen Zui was correct; the one on the dragon throne likely truly did not have much time left.
Even this old eunuch had begun to seek another path, running errands for the First Prince.
Lu Chenzhou’s face remained calm, but a trace of gravity that was extremely hard to detect flashed in his eyes.
“His Highness the First Prince cares for the cultural lineage.
To still be able to think of a mountain academy amidst his many duties, the entire academy is overwhelmed by the favor.
Lord Cao has come from afar; please come inside to rest.
Though the academy is humble, we have prepared clear tea. Please grace us with your presence, Lord Cao.”
“Then I shall impose upon you.”
Cao Zhengchun nodded slightly and stepped over the academy’s threshold.
The palace attendants and honor guard soldiers behind him did not follow him in.
They simply stood silently outside the gate, their ranks orderly and without a sound.
Chen Zui leaned behind a pillar, watching that thin, crimson-purple figure follow Lu Chenzhou through the front courtyard.
It disappeared behind the door curtain of the main hall.
“This old eunuch is not simple.”
The sky darkened at some point.
Clouds pressed in from the east, pushing the mountain mist very low, so low it almost touched the flying eaves of the academy.
A faint, almost imperceptible scent of damp earth filled the air; it was the smell of an approaching rainstorm.
In the Jiangnan region during late spring and early summer, thunderstorms came and went quickly.
But as for how long this rain would last, no one knew.
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