Tang Thirty-Six stretched out his hand and pulled Chen Changsheng back, shaking his head. "There's no need to go."

Chen Changsheng glanced at him and asked, "Why?"

Tang Thirty-Six patted him on the shoulder and said, "When that girl called Shuang'er returned the marriage contract, she also brought a message from Xu Shiji for you. I'm confident that once you've heard that message, you won't think any more about ending the engagement, and even if you do, you won't go and find His Holiness the Pope."

"What message?" Chen Changsheng asked.

Tang Thirty-Six replied, "Xu Shiji said that he heard when you once said to the people of the Divine General's estate that only if Xu Yourong personally visited you and said that she wanted to end the engagement would you agree. Thus, starting from tonight, he would not involve himself as a father in your engagement with Xu Yourong, but if you want to end the engagement, you have to meet Xu Yourong and personally say to her that you don't want this marriage."

Chen Changsheng froze upon hearing these words. He was just a youth and was simply no match for the shrewd, slippery, perhaps shameless tactics of an important personage like Xu Shiji, so he had never once thought that matters might develop in this direction. He did not like Xu Yourong, did not have the slightest favorable impression of her, and after all that he had experienced, even that initial curiosity and anticipation had vanished. However, she had sent a letter during the Ivy Festival, and it was precisely because of this letter, regardless of what her true intentions were, that he was very thankful to her. He was not willing to do anything that might harm her.

"Could this be what Xu Shiji was thinking?" He divulged all of his thoughts on the matter to Tang Thirty-Six and then creased his brow, his question laden with anxiety.

Tang Thirty-Six sneered, "Don't try and compete with someone like Xu Shiji in shrewdness. You're just fifteen this year; no matter deeply you furrow your brow, you won't appear any more profound, only ridiculous."

Chen Changsheng asked, "Then just what are his intentions?"

Tang Thirty-Six looked at him like an idiot and explained, "Xu Shiji's intentions are so clear, how can you not see it? Since he doesn't want to end the engagement right now and found an excuse to push the matter back to you, only considering the matter closed once you end the engagement in front of Xu Yourong, it's obvious that he's concluded that once you meet with Xu Yourong, once you lay eyes on that precious daughter of his, you'll find it impossible to talk about ending the engagement!"

Puzzled, Chen Changsheng asked, "Why?"

Tang Thirty-Six stared into his eyes and confirmed that he truly still did not understand. He couldn't help but sigh, then said, "Because no one who's seen Xu Yourong in person can even think about not wanting to be together with her."

Still confused, Chen Changsheng asked again, "Why?"

Tang Thirty-Six's anger had reached its peak, but he had no idea how to explain this principle that everyone else could understand. After a while, he blurted out, "Because she's beautiful!"

It was naturally not because of such a simple reason, but in the time he was given, Tang Thirty-Six had only been able to think of this simplest and most direct of reasons, and perhaps the only reason that could convince a simpleton like Chen Changsheng. Of course, this answer was somewhat lacking in beauty, making him feel rather defeated, and thus furious. As a result, his voice was naturally quite loud, and the 'b' of 'beautiful' happened to be a plosive consonant, so the word exploded in the darkness in front of the library like a waterfall.

Silence reigned for a few moments. Chen Changsheng took out a handkerchief, carefully wiped his face, then went to the house, his back seeming very desolate. After some time, he appeared once more.

Tang Thirty-Six recalled his obsession with cleanliness and very earnestly apologized.

After taking a bath, Chen Changsheng felt refreshed, his heart free of filth. He waved his hand to indicate that nothing was wrong. Then, with a somewhat hesitant expression, he whispered, "She..is really that beautiful?"

...

...

On the same night, the youths of the Orthodox Academy very seriously discussed why the Divine General of the East's estate had suddenly changed its mind and agreed to Chen Changsheng's engagement. Chen Changsheng believed that it was because his performance in the Grand Examination had been too stunning, but this was rejected by Tang Thirty-Six with a cold laugh. Tang Thirty-Six believed that Xu Shiji's shift in stance was due to the current political situation and Xu Shiji's judgments on that situation.

The present situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty was already very different from how it had been several years ago. Regardless of whether she was willing or not, the Divine Empress would eventually have to consider the question of who she should pass the throne to. The princes scattered about the various provinces were possible candidates, as was Prince Chen Liu, but there seemed no hope for the Tianhai clan.

As was often said, the subjects of the Great Zhou were willing to accept the Empress's rule, but they would never accept the reign of her relatives. Many people were waiting for the return of the Chen clan, especially after Chen Changsheng took the first rank of the first banner and the Pope expressed his position.

Xu Shiji was a trusted aide of the Divine Empress, but he also needed to consider the future of the Divine General's estate. Chen Changsheng and the Orthodox Academy had clearly received the approval of the Pope, so Xu Shiji could use this marriage to obtain long-term support. Even if he failed, he did not wish for Chen Changsheng to hold too much enmity towards him.

After listening to Tang Thirty-Six's analysis, Chen Changsheng found it very reasonable, thinking that the descendant of a noble clan truly was different from himself. He then turned around to ask for Xuanyuan Po's opinion, but realized that the demi-human youth had already transforming into a slumbering mountain.

At five in the morning of the next day, Chen Changsheng promptly woke up, roused Tang Thirty-Six and Xuanyuan Po, then went to the gatehouse and began to roast meat. As they had discussed the day before yesterday, they were holding a celebration together with Jin Yulu.

The present lists and name cards were all in the Orthodox Academy's storeroom, and for a time, no one came to disturb the peace of the Orthodox Academy. Only after the spring sun had gradually reached its zenith did the news that had been circulating about the city of Chang'an for half a day finally reach the Orthodox Academy. (TN: Chang'an was the capital of the Tang Dynasty, which the Zhou Dynasty of this book is partially based on.)

An entire mist hog had been consumed, leaving only its skeleton and two long tusks hanging over the fire, a rather gruesome sight. Oil trickled along the flecks of meat and dripped into the almost-extinguished fire, its sizzle rousing the stunned Tang Thirty-Six from his daze.

"Qiushan Jun..just what did he manage to do? To actually have both the north and south of the Orthodoxy, the Great Zhou Imperial Court, and White Emperor City all issue commendations? Before you've even had a chance to feel the warmth of your first rank of the first banner, it's already been pushed down."

He looked towards Chen Changsheng in sympathy, but realized that Chen Changsheng was silent, his expression indicating that he knew of this matter beforehand. In astonishment, he asked, "You knew of this?"

Chen Changsheng explained, "I learned of it last night in the Divine General of the East's estate."

"Then why didn't you tell us last night?"

"I forgot."

All was quiet in the gatehouse of the Orthodox Academy, the only sound the drip of oil on the ashes of the fire.

"Not appearing in public for almost half a year was actually because he was undercover, following the organization Black Robe had left in the human world to track down the whereabouts of the Garden of Zhou. This sort of ability and achievement is truly extraordinary."

Jin Yulu returned to the room and gave an account of the information that he had just received from the Li Palace. The inside story he had naturally contained many more details than the rumors circulating the capital, and he appeared greatly moved as he recounted the tale.

Tang Thirty-Six stood at Chen Changsheng's side, so he naturally felt a little uncomfortable as he listened, but he was incapable of retorting. Qiushan Jun, without any outside help, had contended against those extremely cruel and powerful young demon experts for many days, ultimately succeeding in opening the Garden of Zhou first. One could only imagine the dangerous battles he had experienced, the trials of life and death. The Grand Examination's seemingly fierce but actually strictly monitored matches were simply no comparison.

"That organization?" Chen Changsheng asked as he glanced at Jin Yulu.

Jin Yulu nodded, at which point Chen Changsheng finally understood that this matter was actually related to the assassination attempt on Luoluo. The demon assassin that had been captured alive by Xue Xingchuan had probably been a member of that organization.

"Just what is the Garden of Zhou?"

This was the greatest question occupying the minds of all three youths of the Orthodox Academy.

Chen Changsheng and Xuanyuan Po had grown up in the countryside, and the Daoist Canon did not contain any records regarding it, and while Tang Thirty-Six was the descendant of a noble clan, not even he had ever heard of the Garden of Zhou. In his memories, his grandfather had never once mentioned this place when drinking wine and recalling the past with the little Tang Thirty-Six seated on his lap.

"The Education Palace, the Green Leaf World, is His Holiness the Pope's miniature world."

When Jin Yulu thought of that name, his face inadvertently became dignified, even somewhat reverential. "The Garden of Zhou is Zhou Dufu's miniature world."

Zhou Dufu was the supreme expert of the continent over the past one thousand years.

Whether it was in the Human race, the Demon race, the Demi-human race, or in those enigmatic tribes residing in forbidden areas or treacherous forests, he reigned supreme.

Many years ago, he had drifted into the distance, after which no more news was heard of him. Many people believed he had died and many believed that he had gone to another world. In short, he had left and never returned, leaving behind only a miniature world.

That miniature world was the Garden of Zhou.