Chapter 1476: Reaching Perfection in One Step (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Those bastards from the Central Allied forces came to raid our base?"
What major events happened during the few days I was asleep?
"Who died? Tell me, don't hide it from me..."
Although Shen Tang said she could handle it, her actions showed she was already resisting reality. Gu Chi had known her for many years, so how could he not know her little tricks? He abandoned his original intention to keep her in suspense and explained, "This white banner is for Wu Hui."
Qin Li's pupils trembled uncontrollably.
He suddenly turned his head to look at his colleague beside him.
No, is it okay to say that?
Sure enough, no sooner had Gu Chi finished speaking than Shen Tang vanished without a trace, giving Gu Chi no chance to finish his sentence. Gu Chi's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and he couldn't help but roll his eyes and stomp his foot: "Still so impatient, you didn't even let me finish what I was saying."
I didn't listen to Ji Moqiu last time, so I won't listen to him this time.
Gu Chi scoffed, "You can't blame me for this."
Qin Li, with a stern face, flicked his sleeve and said, "Stop being so dissolute."
The final "ya" sound lingered with a ripple of emotion, and Gu Chi even said that he wasn't being sincere, and that even a ghost wouldn't believe him.
"Looking back at the tide"
Shen Tang realized something was wrong halfway there and turned back.
She was very close to Chu Yao, and could tell whether he was alive or dead without even seeing him in person. Upon hearing that Bai Fan had been killed for Chu Yao's sake, her body acted faster than her brain could process it. Only after her brain had processed the information did she realize that Gu Chi had tricked her, and she turned back to confront him. Gu Chi, however, feigned complete innocence.
He spread his hands and said, "I beg Your Majesty to see the truth. These white banners are indeed for Wu Hui. It was Wei Yuanyuan and her brother who, upon hearing that Wu Hui's days were numbered, cried and made a scene, insisting on giving him a grand funeral."
This wasn't just a typical grand funeral; it was a elaborate, traditional funeral!
To receive the Huangchang Ticou (a type of ancient Chinese zither) and to receive the highest honors in mourning, this life has been worthwhile.
"Is this what they call touching brotherhood? His brother hasn't even died yet and he's already rushing to bury him." She didn't know where to begin her rant. "It sounds like something Wei Shou would do."
Chu Jie was mostly led astray by Wei Shou.
Gu Chi: "This is because the master has a stereotype."
Chu Jie's madness was far more severe than Wei Shou's. Wei Shou had a wife and children, and he had responsibilities, so even if he threw a tantrum, there was a limit. At most, he would resign and leave. Chu Jie, on the other hand, was a lonely man with no ties. When he went mad, even Gu Chi was afraid, which also served as a warning to Gu Chi.
After the war, we really need to find a way to help these colleagues find partners. Whether it's through official matchmakers or by imperial decree, we should try our best to help them find partners! Being alone can indeed help one concentrate on work, but it also has a fatal flaw—without any ties, if a sudden idea comes to mind, it's impossible to pull one back.
Shen Tang: "..."
"Have all these removed; they're an eyesore and bad luck." Wu Hui has safely survived a life-or-death ordeal, fulfilling a long-cherished wish. We can't celebrate with red silk or have the entire army in mourning!
Gu Chi bowed and accepted.
Qin Li did not mention the matter of the yellow intestines collage.
Chu Yao wasn't dead, and the proper courtesies would come eventually, but Wei Shou and his companion's tantrums and demands changed the nature of the matter. As long as the emperor didn't bring it up, he would pretend it never happened. However, someone couldn't stand it and brought it up, their intentions quite clear.
It's nothing more than applying some eye drops.
The lord currently regards Chu Yao as a treasure, but if a rift develops in the future, this matter will become a hidden thorn. The relationship between ruler and subject is based on mutual interests, and people are the most fickle of all; what relationship lasts forever? They were merely offering a reminder.
And he didn't say a single bad word about Wei Shou.
only--
They did not anticipate that their lord might lack sufficient knowledge.
Shen Tang asked blankly, "Huangchangticou? What's that?"
This problem is so perplexing that it leaves people completely stumped.
"It is... a type of burial, suitable for use in the outer coffin chamber of a monarch's mausoleum."
Things that could only be used in imperial tombs.
Shen Tang understood immediately.
The system of etiquette was strict, and there was a clear distinction between the emperor and his subjects. The *huangchang ticou* (a type of ancient Chinese tomb structure) was reserved for imperial tombs; for a subject to use it without permission was akin to secretly possessing a dragon robe and plotting a rebellion. The consequences ranged from the execution of the entire family to the extermination of nine generations of relatives. "Can't it be granted as a special privilege? There are no special circumstances?"
Her question left people speechless.
Chu Jie and his companion wouldn't act recklessly regarding Chu Yao's affairs. Their insistence on obtaining the Huangchang Ticou (a type of ancient Chinese zither) must stem from Chu Yao's potential qualification; otherwise, their antics would only cause trouble for him.
“There are indeed exceptions.”
"How exactly do you mean it?"
“If granted a special favor by the royal court, meritorious officials and nobles may also be granted such favors.”
"Oh, then that settles it. It's just a Huangchangticou (a type of wooden structure), why can't Wu Hui use it? Even if he's dead, he can use it as a dwelling while he's alive." Shen Tang even looked up what Huangchangticou was, which is a huge house made of stacked wood.
Her assessment was that it wasn't as comfortable to live in a house where there were living people.
Upon learning of this, everyone was speechless.
Shen Tang said, "Are you envious? If you want one, ask me for one when your time is up, and I'll give you one. But let me make this clear beforehand: building one of these things requires far too much wood. Save it up slowly while you're alive, don't try to find it at the last minute."
Gu Chi was speechless: "They'll easily become targets for tomb raiders."
What can a pile of wood possibly protect against?
The key issue is that there aren't that many suitable types of timber.
Gu Chi and the others didn't believe in the afterlife. They figured they should enjoy their riches and honors while they were alive; leaving them behind would only benefit tomb raiders. If, hundreds of years later, a chaotic era struck, and their lord was like someone who liked to dig up graves to replenish military funds, their tombs would be the first to be destroyed. Rather than that, a simple burial was much easier.
Shen Tang patted Gu Chi on the shoulder.
"Wangchao is still the most perceptive."
The matter was quickly forgotten with a few laughs.
Upon learning that Chu Yao had successfully survived the ordeal, Wei Shou and his companion stopped their mourning and vigil. They hurriedly cleaned up the funeral items and anxiously awaited Chu Yao's awakening: "His Majesty has been awake for a whole day, so why is Wu Hui still showing no signs of waking up? Could something be wrong?"
Shen Tang also had no temper when Wei Shou nagged him.
"Fortunately, the enemy didn't take the opportunity to attack, otherwise..."
If they assumed that the white banners hanging in the central army meant Shen Tang or some other important figure had died, and then led their troops to take advantage of the chaos, Wei Shou and his companion, in their current state, would easily underperform. Shen Tang kicked Wei Shou, telling him to get lost and do what he was supposed to do, and Wei Shou didn't even get angry, even though he stumbled.
"Why should I kick him and not him?"
"I haven't had a chance to kick it yet, have I? I originally wanted to, but now that you've said that, I don't want to kick it anymore."
Wei Shou nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Bursting with anger, it transforms into a pink pufferfish.
Chu Jie tactfully clasped his hands and withdrew.
Given the antics Wei Shou and he had been causing these past few days, any ruler would have objected—even if Chu Jie didn't care about any of it, so be it if he had objections. But since Shen Tang was willing to be tolerant and resolve the matter peacefully, Chu Jie wouldn't be ungrateful.
Shen Tang made the most of the time to deal with the backlog of official business from the past few days.
After an unknown amount of time, a familiar scent appeared outside the tent.
"Justice has arrived? Let him in."
Shen Tang was also eager to know the contents of the blind box.
When Luan Xin arrived, he was covered in dust from his journey. The initial message he received was that Chu Yao's time was coming to an end, and the emperor was unconscious, which might cause trouble in the central army. However, halfway there, he received another message that the emperor had woken up and Chu Yao had successfully completed the ceremony. Luan Xin's trip from attending the funeral turned into attending a celebratory banquet.
"My lord!"
Luan Xin walked with a brisk pace.
Before his warhorse had even stopped, he leaped off.
His clean and efficient movements were a far cry from his usual slow and deliberate manner. He strode up to meet Shen Tang, who was walking briskly forward. Shen Tang grasped his hand, not giving him a chance to greet him, and pulled him toward the tent: "Gongyi, you're so slow."
Luan Xin said, "It is because of my bad faith that the Lord has been kept waiting."
"Let's put that aside for now. Come and see what changes have occurred in the blind... no, I mean, Wu Hui's way of the scholar. I'm dying of curiosity."
This is a question that not only Shen Tang is curious about, but everyone else is too.
Upon learning of Luan Xin's arrival, everyone who wanted to join in the fun came.
"My lord, please don't be hasty, my lord, please don't be hasty. Let me observe carefully." Luan Xin's smile vanished the moment he saw Chu Yao, his smile growing increasingly faint, which made Shen Tang's heart skip a beat. Apart from Gu Chi, the others also had an ominous feeling.
Gu Chi: "..."
Sometimes I really don't want this scholar's way.
It's so annoying to know everything in advance.
If he were to look in the mirror right now, he would look like he'd just drunk half a basket of lemons, so sour that his features would scrunch up in a big mess.
Shen Tang: "Gongyi, what's wrong here...?"
"No, it's just that my hopes were dashed."
As everyone knows, Luan Xin's completion ceremony requires either gathering ninety-nine already perfected Scholar's Paths or nine Scholar's Paths that have reached the pinnacle. Kang State has successively annexed the Northwest and Southwest regions and is now clashing with the Central Region. As of now, thanks to the efforts of his colleagues and the generosity of his enemies, Luan Xin has brought the progress bar to about 20-30%. Chu Yao will contribute a valuable spot.
Good news, my colleagues are working very hard.
The bad news is that my colleagues overdid it.
Luan Xin hoped to complete the Scholar's Way by adding 1 to the progress bar, but his colleague only added 1 to the Ultimate Scholar's Way, what a waste!
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment: "What a disappointment? No, does righteousness mean that Wu Hui's perfect ritual is not yet complete?"
Gu Chi said quietly, "It's too perfect."
Luan Xin never expected to encounter nine possessors of the Supreme Scholar's Way in his lifetime. Kangguo had already conquered the Northwest, Southwest, and the Ten Black Northern Deserts, and there was only one Supreme Scholar, Wei Lou, and now there was Chu Yao. And then? And then nothing more.
The completion ceremony is much easier than that.
In the future, when the world is at peace and the royal court attracts the best talents from all over the world, even if only three or five scholars achieve perfection in their path each year, Luan Xin will only need to wait another ten years or so to complete his own perfection ceremony.
In his opinion, Chu Yao's spot was a waste.
How can it not be considered a waste of resources?
Shen Tang: "Don't scare me halfway through your sentence."
This approach won't work, even with her quick temper and tendency to only half-listen.
"Perfect is perfect... Damn, Wu Hui is really something else." Shen Tang suddenly remembered Lin Feng's perfection ceremony, which seemed to be of hellish difficulty, requiring the standard of 200 million acres of arable land. It wouldn't be right if it didn't reach perfect. If they could truly reach perfect in one step, wouldn't this master and disciple be using their talent to dominate their contemporaries? Shen Tang couldn't suppress the smile on his face. "What about the ability? What is it?"
Luan Xin: "..."
Shen Tang: "...Justice?"
Luan Xin: "..."
Is it that he doesn't want to talk about it?
He simply can't see it.
Back then, he couldn't even see the specific abilities of Qin Li in his perfect state. Later, when the perfect ceremony was initiated, he could see the scholar's way in its perfect state, but Chu Wuhui was in the ultimate state.
That's beyond his capabilities.
Shen Tang belatedly realized this matter.
She thought Chu Yao was only in a perfect state, so she thought that Luan Xin's arrival would reveal the answer. Who knew that Chu Yao could reach perfection in one step.
Calling Luan Xin over was useless.
Shen Tang said, "I miscalculated!"
"However, I can make some guesses."
The abilities at each stage of the scholar's path either complement each other or require further in-depth cultivation; one can guess based on this pattern.
Shen Tang: "...I told you not to talk so loudly and breathe so heavily."
Luan Xin gestured for Shen Tang to dismiss all irrelevant personnel—Chu Yao, as Shen Tang's trusted advisor, was a top-secret figure regarding the ways of the literati. Once the area was cleared, he said, "The 'bright future' of Wu Hui initially only glimpsed a fraction of the future; judging from past omens, it likely points to the worst possible future. The perfect 'bright future,' however, is entirely the opposite..."
One passively sees the worst possible future, while the other actively sees a favorable one; Chu Yao's abilities are somewhat terrifying.
If used properly, it will be invincible on the battlefield.
Shen Tang was initially shocked, but then realized that something was wrong with what he said.
Until Qi Shan asked, "What about Zhi Zhen?"
Shen Tang: "..."
She forgot that each stage brings new abilities.
Chu Yao reached the pinnacle in one step, but between the initial and the pinnacle, there is a perfect state of ability. Luan Xin only mentioned the initial and perfect stages, and he also said that he could not see the pinnacle ability.
Luan Xin: "What does the Lord think of following this route?"
What is Jiang Sheng calculating with his fingers?
He revealed the answer in everyone's hearts: "Turning illusion into reality and altering the future. In any case, the 'light at the end of the tunnel' still carries a bit of luck. No one can guarantee that there will be a glimmer of hope after being forced into a desperate situation, unless the answer is already fixed and the future is foreseeable."
It's not about being driven to the brink of despair only to find a way out, but rather knowing that a way out is certain, so one doesn't mind being driven to the brink. The former involves gambling on luck, the latter doesn't.
Literary figures are inherently focused on strategizing and planning.
Shen Tang's voice broke the silence. She said, "I wonder what price must be paid for such a power that is beyond human capabilities."
If Jiang Sheng's guess was correct, then it's no wonder Chu Yao's completion ceremony was so fraught with difficulties. If it weren't for Shen Tang's intervention, Chu Yao would have faced a dead end. Regardless of his abilities, he deserved them: "Let's drop this matter."
The crowd bowed and accepted.
It gets dark relatively slowly this season.
Shen Tang had dinner, and it was only just getting dark.
"Phew, I'll finish all of this in one go..." Shen Tang rubbed his slightly sore neck, working on the memorials by candlelight, and even yawned twice in the process. As it approached midnight, the person on the bed finally stirred and opened his bright eyes.
A short while later, I felt a light cloak being draped over my shoulders.
Turning my head, I saw Chu Yao looking energetic.
"Wu Hui is awake? Your hair?" It's no longer gray-white, but black with a distinct gray tone, which looks quite fashionable.
The effect you can't get even with thousands of dollars worth of bleaching.
"There will be a night raid tonight."
"Night raid?"
"A distinguished guest has arrived."
Σσ(Д；)
I received the physical copy of "Retreat My Emperor" a few days ago, and then the editor told me that the sample copy had been sent out. I'm so frustrated... This is a complete waste of money.
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