Chapter 267: Chapter 51: Sudden Upheaval

Chen Tang had thought about heading north, back to the Three Thousand Snow Ridges to hide for a while.

But he was already being watched by the Profound Celestial Sect, and the journey north was long and unpredictable.

Even if he could return to the Snow Mountain, it would probably bring endless trouble to Emperor Wu!

Recalling Emperor Wu’s pale complexion, perhaps the battle back then left him with a hard-to-heal wound.

The Profound Celestial Sect does not know that Emperor Wu is still alive.

Once they learn of this, they will likely use all their strength to surround and kill Emperor Wu at the Snow Mountain!

At this moment, the sound of hoofbeats came from afar, as a rider swiftly approached from the distance.

“Pursuers?”

Tan Wujiu’s head felt a bit dizzy, and he frowned.

“Probably not.”

Chen Tang shook his head.

Pursuers wouldn’t arrive so quickly, and the direction was wrong.

The rider seemed to be coming from the direction of the Capital City.

Chen Tang helped Tan Wujiu onto a horse, then mounted the Thunder Leopard himself.

If the situation was off, they would immediately ride away to escape.

The rider drew nearer and nearer.

Chen Tang focused his gaze, then let out a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease.

The rider was none other than Changsun Ming.

Soon, a subtle sense of unease surged back into Chen Tang’s heart.

As Changsun Ming approached, seeing Changsun Ming’s worried face, Chen Tang’s unease grew even stronger!

“What’s this, are you here to see me off?”

Chen Tang wasn’t sure what he was avoiding, he asked with a smile.

“Yes.”

Changsun Ming forced a smile, “I came to see you off; my family arranged a boat by the river to help you across.”

Chen Tang asked again, “How did you find me?”

Changsun Ming coming from the direction of the Capital but precisely finding him in the vast Qingzhou was indeed surprising.

“My father has business dealings with the Wusun Country; their king once sent him a falcon.”

Changsun Ming pointed above his head.

Chen Tang looked up.

He saw a small black dot circling above him, weaving through the white clouds, barely noticeable unless one looked up.

Both of them fell silent for a while.

After a while, Chen Tang slowly asked, “Did something happen in the Capital City?”

Changsun Ming pursed his lips and nodded.

Chen Tang took a deep breath before asking, “Tell me, what happened.”

Changsun Ming was silent for a moment before saying with difficulty, “His Holiness set himself on fire at the Sacrificial Altar to quell the wrath of heaven…”

Tan Wujiu was greatly shocked upon hearing this.

Chen Tang remained expressionless, but his grip on his knife tightened again!

Yuan Qingshan still couldn’t hold on.

In the end, he couldn’t withstand his conscience.

Yuan Qingshan had long known that the so-called Qingzhou flood was the work of the Profound Celestial Sect.

But the deeply rooted belief in the ominous nature of solar eclipses had long taken hold in people’s hearts.

Few people believed him.

Continuing to hold on would only result in more deaths.

The Profound Celestial Sect would never show mercy!

Changsun Ming said, “His Holiness intended to abdicate in the end, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip to make the Profound Celestial Sect stop, but the Sect Leader didn’t even see him. His Holiness stood outside the Profound Celestial Temple for a day and night…”

Tan Wujiu sighed, “The Profound Celestial Sect is indeed malicious, using the celestial phenomenon of solar eclipses to instigate the Qingzhou flood, forcing His Holiness to death with countless civilian lives! In this way, they don’t even have to bear the stigma of regicide.”

Changsun Ming said, “The Profound Celestial Sect knew well of His Holiness’s benevolence, which is why they did so.”

Chen Tang was silent.

Even if Yuan Qingshan persisted, the situation was already lost, and the Profound Celestial Sect had countless ways to deal with him.

From the moment he chose to oppose the Profound Celestial Sect, the outcome was already set.

“And the Empress?”

Chen Tang asked.

Changsun Ming replied softly, “At the moment His Holiness self-immolated, the Empress rushed forward as well, perishing in the flames with him.”

Chen Tang opened his mouth as if wanting to say something, but it was as if a breath was stuck in his chest and he couldn’t utter a single word.

In his mind, he couldn’t help but recall scenes from the past at Xiping Temple.

Every conversation and every word exchanged with his senior brother.

The robe he wore now was personally sewn by Sister-in-law Du of the Du Clan.

“Sister-in-law came up the mountain and didn’t bring you anything, try this robe on, see if it fits? If there’s any discomfort, I’ll alter it for you…”

“Junior brother, you train so hard every day, eat more.”

The scenes of sister-in-law serving him food felt just like yesterday.

Du was the Empress.

Yet regardless of whether it was toward Chen Tang or others, she never put on airs.

Yuan Qingshan and Du met during humble beginnings, spent over a decade wandering and braving hardships together.

Later, as Yuan Qingshan entered the Capital and ascended to the throne, he remained loyal to Du, insisting on establishing her as Empress.

Unexpectedly, the couple met such an end.

Changsun Ming looked at Chen Tang.

Chen Tang seemed much calmer than he had imagined, seemingly unaffected by the news.

Changsun Ming was momentarily relieved.

Before coming, he feared the news would be too much for Chen Tang to bear.

If Yuan Qingmu were here, he would certainly sense Chen Tang’s abnormality.

The calmer he appeared, the more probable he was planning something startling!

Last time, in broad daylight, he slew the Observatory Master Song Wood with his Eighth Grade cultivation!

And the time before, the seemingly calm Chen Tang started with the two White Servants, killing Cui Yong and Cui Zhao, eventually overturning the entire Government Office of Changze County!

Chen Tang asked again, “Who is the Emperor of Qian Country now?”

With Yuan Qingshan’s self-immolation, for the fight over the throne, the Capital must have descended into chaos.

Changsun Ming said, “After His Holiness passed, the Capital fell into chaos. Yuan Qinghe was mysteriously released and gathered many forces to vie for the throne with the support of Grand Commandant Yuwen Mao.”

“However, among the Four Great Clans, aside from the Yuwen Family, the other three clans are supporting Yuan Taiping, the son of His Holiness.”

Chen Tang nodded.

Back then, Yuan Qingshan had refused to make a woman from the Dugu Clan the Empress, but he arranged a marriage for Yuan Taiping with a young lady from the Dugu Clan.

If Yuan Taiping ascends to the throne, this Dugu woman would become the new Empress.

Hence, the Dugu Clan supported Yuan Taiping.

However, the allocation of the throne ultimately depended on the Profound Celestial Temple.

Changsun Ming continued, “All factions in the Capital were embroiled in it, not just the Four Great Clans but also the Three Dukes and the Nine Ministers, with most picking sides as well. Elders from the Profound Celestial Temple declared their support for Yuan Qinghe.”

“In the end, it was the Left Protector who intervened to support Yuan Taiping’s claim to the throne, breaking the balance of power.”

Left Protector, Lu Li.

Chen Tang had once conversed with him at the Imperial Palace.

Lu Li was the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor and nominally Yuan Taiping’s teacher.

Perhaps out of consideration for this connection, Lu Li chose to support Yuan Taiping.

Changsun Ming said, “Yuan Taiping ascended to the throne, and that very night he had Yuan Qinghe’s entire family killed.”

From what Chen Tang knew of Yuan Taiping, he wasn’t surprised by this.

“How is Heigou?”

Chen Tang asked.

Changsun Ming replied, “Heigou is fine, but he couldn’t protect His Holiness and is full of self-blame. With the capital’s chaotic situation just calming down, he couldn’t leave, so he sent me to find you and relay the news from the capital to you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep