SWNOVELXO Chapter 255: Why is he here? (Requesting subscription)_2
Chen Lide looked at the quiet Chen Yi and interrupted, "Alright, Third Brother, with you and me supporting today's court meeting, Yi Er need not worry too much about these things."
"Besides, there's Prince Zhenbei and Duke Lin here, I doubt Xie Jing and Qian Beizhou would dare to act recklessly."
Chen Lixin paused and said, "That's true, but it's still necessary to be cautious, and also Duke Jingye..."
He noticed Chen Yi's expression and continued, "Earlier, the matters Yi Er handled at Duke Jingye Mansion led to much criticism among the ministers in the imperial court."
Chen Yi, intrigued by this, asked, "Granduncle, which ministers are those?"
"Uh, which..."
Chen Lixin shuffled uncomfortably, glancing at Chen Lide beside him, who had a mischievous look in his eyes, and immediately gritted his teeth:
"Just those talkative old fools like Tong Chuan from Kyoto Prefecture and Fan Shaoshi from the Ministry of Rites. If they dare slander you at the court meeting, don't be polite with them!"
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, "Can I still lay a hand on them at the court meeting?"
Chen Lixin was speechless, seeking help once again from Chen Lide, uncertain of how to respond to such a query.
Chen Lide glared at him, hastily smiling, "In front of the Holy Emperor, it's still best to give them some face."
Chen Yi nodded, he reckoned that the court meeting shouldn't be so bloody.
Otherwise, the Marquis faction couldn't have been so easily overshadowed by the civil servants on the imperial court.
"Today's court meeting should discuss last night's incident at Kyoto Academy, Yi Er must already know, that Third Master has passed away..."
While listening to his elders, Chen Yi gazed outside the window.
In the early hour when daylight had barely broken, there were few travelers within Kyoto Prefecture, but due to the approaching grand event, many who couldn't afford accommodation or couldn't find an inn were sleeping in the corners of the streets and alleys.
Occasionally, patrols by the Night Watch Department and Black Armor Guard would pass by, selecting one or two fierce-looking individuals for questioning.
Owing to last night's event at Kyoto Academy, security within Kyoto Prefecture was visibly tightened.
However, Chen Yi knew that such measures were too trivial against "Extreme Pure Heaven."
Not to mention the huge phantom that appeared outside Beixiong Pass, just Zhou Guanwu, who reached the Divine Power Fifth Realm and has the Divine Will Incarnation, could run rampant without restraint.
Instead, Chen Yuan, newly joined "Extreme Pure Heaven," emerging in Kyoto Prefecture was the most likely to be discovered.
Not long after.
The three reached the exterior of the Imperial City, Chen Lixin and Chen Lide arranged for a moment, then led Chen Yi out of the carriage.
Chen Yi glanced around, the place still the same as when he was a child.
The towering city walls were brimming with Black Armor Guard internally and externally. On the city tower were sharpshooters wielding longbows, their eagle-eye overlooking, monitoring anyone approaching the Imperial City.
At this moment, numerous ministers were already gathered outside the city gates, talking in groups of three or two about the major event from last night.
"Did you hear? Yesterday, two masters of Kyoto Academy had a fierce quarrel, resulting in the death of Third Master!"
"It is said that Third Master was dissatisfied with Wang Yang's matter, blaming the Great Master for inaction, which led to the Great Master's resentment and angry killing!"
"What you all said is incorrect. I heard it was due to other reasons. Do you remember Yang Huan had a close schoolmate before being promoted to University Scholar?"
"It is rumored to be, is..."
The one speaking pretended to be mysterious, glancing around, only to see someone clad in a purple robe with a longsword at the waist, the color on his face changed slightly.
"He, why is he here?"
"Who? Never mind who's here, quickly tell about Kyoto Academy; today's court meeting will definitely discuss this."
Others paid him no mind, assuming he had seen an outsider minister who had not come to the court in a long time, like the old Duke Jingye Zhou Tiance.
Yet upon checking around, he realized the surrounding voices had abruptly silenced, with everyone directing their gaze in one direction.
Their expressions varied, showing disbelief, surprise, fear, as well as admiration and respect, mostly from the Marquis faction or Black Armor Guard and others.
"It's Lord Heroic Marquis!"
"Heroic Marquis? Chen Yi? Where?"
"He is the Heroic Marquis, looking this young as my grandson's, uh, pretend I didn't say that."
"Recently heard Heroic Marquis was in seclusion within his residence, hadn't expected his emergence right after the incident at Kyoto Academy, I'm afraid..."
"The court meeting today is bound to be lively, I remember when the new Duke Jingye came to court, it coincided with Wang Yang being imprisoned at Kyoto Academy."
"This time Heroic Marquis arrives, also after an incident at Kyoto Academy. Could it be that the Chen Family and Kyoto Academy are simply incompatible?"
"Shut your mouth! Daring to speak ill of Lord Heroic Marquis, have you forgotten the Wu, Sun, and Zheng families kneeling outside the Chen Residence before?"
"..."
Chen Yi heard the discussions around him but did not pay much attention. He simply glanced around calmly before standing beside Chen Lixin and Chen Lide.
He looked at the high walls of the Imperial Palace, feeling a slight sense of nostalgia.
The last time he stood here was before he went to the Grand Void Sect, when the Ancient Tao and Ning Xue were still his instructors.
Now, one remains at the Grand Void Sect and has come to Kyoto Prefecture this time, while the other has already gone to the Taizhou Mountain Battlefield...
Has time changed everything?
Indeed it has!
The classmates who attended Xingwu Academy with him have now all grown up.
Xie Dongan and several others are at the Kyoto Academy, and the Heir to the King of the Southern Garrison, Gongye Shou, can now guard the Southern Babarians Pass.
And those who joined the Grand Void Sect like Lin Xueru and others.
Although most have grown, some have drifted apart, like Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun, who lost contact with Chen Yi after the sect's competition at the Grand Void Sect.
And Chen Yi himself—has already become the renowned Heroic Marquis!
"The hour has come! All ministers please enter the palace!"
With a young eunuch shouting loudly, the gates of the Imperial Palace slowly opened.
The three doors, one large and two small, the civil servants on the left, military officials on the right, and those who could pass through the central main gate were the princes, dukes, marquises, and ministers!
Chen Lixin and Chen Lide waved at Chen Yi and headed to the slightly lower small door on the right.
Chen Yi, seeing such decorum, followed suit seamlessly.
Lin Hansong appeared by his side at some point, whispering: "There may be changes at the Imperial Court today."
Chen Yi turned his head to glance at him and nodded with a smile.
Just now, he noticed that the person in front of Lin Hansong was Prince Zhenbei, Du Qing, and he greeted him.
Du Qing looked at the purple robe on him and laughed loudly:
"Chen Yi, I truly did not expect that in just half a month since you returned to Kyoto Prefecture, you have already become a Marquis."
"Had I known today, I would have insisted on personally welcoming you upon your return."
Chen Yi was momentarily stunned but then understood, saying with a dumbfounded expression: "Did Your Highness also hear the rumors circulating earlier?"
This was the rumor deliberately spread by families like the Tong Family when he first returned to Kyoto Prefecture, which Prince Zhenbei openly joked about.
Du Qing laughed: "Sometimes, the common folks of Kyoto Prefecture have sharper insights than I do."
Before Chen Yi could speak, Lin Hansong interrupted: "Your Highness, was there no summon from the Holy Emperor for you last night?"
Du Qing shook his head and looked at the majestic palace behind the city gates, saying: "I heard that the Great Master and others were ordered to come last night."
Lin Hansong understood, gave a glance at Chen Yi, and seemed to remind him: "Given the significant events at the Kyoto Academy, it would indeed make sense for the Holy Emperor to consult with the Great Master and Nine Thousand Years among others."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded to indicate his understanding.
He knew the reason behind it better than anyone.
Due to his intervention at the Heavenly Prison and informing the Great Master to guard against Yang Huan, "the Pure Heaven" individuals were exposed in advance.
Although the situation was beyond his expectations, it was nevertheless within reason, merely that Zhou Guanwu and others had hidden again.
At this moment, Lin Hansong continued:
"Yi-er, I heard that after the death of the three masters last night, several others disappeared, including the new Duke Jingye, Chen Yuan."
"This matter is likely to be mentioned at the Imperial Court later, how do you plan to handle it?"
Du Qing perked up his ears, equally interested in hearing his response.
Although only a few noticed that Chen Yuan was enveloped in red light, there are no secrets in Kyoto's walls as nothing can escape the scrutiny of those with ulterior motives.
Especially those like Yang Huan, hidden in the shadows, who would naturally draw investigation from the Night Watch Department and the Black Armor Guard.
Thus, among the three who disappeared last night, their actions within Kyoto Prefecture have been unearthed.
Additionally, Du Qing knew that the only remaining old man in the Duke Jingye Mansion... seemed to have gone mad!
At this point, Chen Yi paused, suppressing his smile. Striding with a dragon's grandeur and a tiger's steps, he replied seriously:
"He has changed from Chen to Zhou, and has no further connection with the Chen Family!"