The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 165 Taking His Sword (Part 2)

Yaoshan Academy was established by the Confucian sage Xie Qian on Yaoshan Mountain 1,300 years ago when the Great Wei Dynasty was founded.

It consists of four parts: the Discipline Institute, the Literature Institute, the Craft Institute, and the Management Institute.

Yaoshan is located in Jiangnan, not in the Central Plains. The original intention was to stay away from imperial power and the political center, seeking a quiet environment where one could focus solely on studying the classics.

At the beginning of its establishment, the disciples of the academy had very pure minds. Reading was reading. If they were too tainted by worldly power, they would naturally not be able to read the books. If their minds were full of fame and fortune, how could they see the true meaning in the books?
Learning both literary and martial arts skills to serve the emperor was not their goal.

But as a "holy land" for scholars all over the world, its reputation grew louder day by day, and its prestige naturally rose like a tall building from the ground up, unstoppable.

The area around Yaoshan Mountain was only a picturesque and elegant place 1,300 years ago. But now, it is filled with all sorts of so-called "scenic spots and historical sites," with buildings, towers, and steles everywhere, a feast for the eyes.

People flocked to pay their respects, and the path leading to the gate was countless.

Only the surrounding mountains, stretching for miles around the very center of the academy, retain a semblance of tranquility.

But just looking at the academy itself, the tall, imperial-bestowed archways in front of the gate are densely packed with the names of the top scholars who have emerged over the past 1,300 years, numbering over a hundred.

The magnificent atmosphere and the abundance of literary talent reveal that the academies of today have long lost their original purity, and the tranquility that people yearn for is gone forever.

Gu Yuandao's name is naturally among them.

However, when he became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he was still called "Zhang Yuandao", so the name written on the archway was also "Zhang Yuandao".

Previously, the true and false heirs were not clearly distinguished, and without an imperial decree, the academy could not arbitrarily modify the Emperor Yong'an's handwritten inscription on the imperial gift.

Now that Gu Fangchen has become the heir apparent again, the situation in the court is unpredictable, and no one dares to change it.

The fact that "Zhang Yuandao" is left hanging here in such an awkward position is somewhat ironic...

The changes at the academy are inextricably linked to two things.

Firstly, for thousands of years, many scions of prominent families in Jiangnan have considered it an honor to study at Yaoshan Academy.

Over time, the interests of aristocratic families and academies became intertwined and inseparable.

Even now, the head of the Jingshi Academy within the academy is surnamed Dugu.

Secondly, the imperial court took the initiative to approach and win over the aristocratic families. After the involvement of these families, apart from some of the more refined students in the Wenhua Academy, the academy no longer rejected the idea of ​​"selling goods to the imperial family".

With the imperial court placing such importance on them, they naturally worked even harder.

The fact that most of those in the imperial court today are students of academies is a result of the combined effect of both factors.

However, the academy is not unaware of the need to avoid suspicion.

Disciples of academies who serve as officials in the imperial court generally do not exceed the fourth rank of cultivation; the fifth rank is already the limit.

If one's cultivation level is too high and there are no urgent official duties at present, one will choose to resign from office and return to the academy to teach.

Emperor Yong'an would usually only make a token attempt to persuade them to stay.

Just like the several great scholars sitting on this stone platform right now.

This stone platform is located in the back mountain of the academy, in the center of the waterfall and cold pool. It is inscribed with eight characters: “明心智慧、同心同德” (meaning “enlighten the mind and be wise, be of one heart and one mind”), written by the “Book Immortal” Bu Cangtai.

This Bu Cangtai was as famous as Li Wangji. Together with another "Painting Immortal" Zhenmingshi, they were known as the three masters of poetry, calligraphy and painting in the academy.

This was where several renowned scholars from the academy usually held discussions.

Within the academy, there are eight people who can be called great Confucian scholars, all of whom have reached the third rank of cultivation.

At this point, the three of them gathered.

Meng Shouzheng, the head of the Disciplinary Hall.

Liu Wenqing, the head of Wenhua Academy.

Dugu Yu, the head of the Jingshi Academy.

In addition, there was Lu Mingyuan, the acting dean during the "Confucian Sage's" seclusion, who was a second-rank cultivator.

Mount Yao has two sages presiding over it; this is the only case among all the immortal sects.

Going further back, that would be the Great Wei Dynasty.

Originally, there should have been another spot on this stone platform reserved for the head of the Heavenly Crafts Academy.

However, this chief had just been punished by Xie Qian for colluding with the demonic sect and helping to construct the "Dragon and Snake Rising from the Land" formation. His skull was smashed by a flick of his forehead, leaving only his soul trapped in the Mountain and River Map, where he sat at the same table as Gu Yuandao.

Meng Shouzhen spoke first, saying:
"I have followed the clues and discovered that the Institute of Natural Sciences was colluding with the evil cult..."

He gave a wry smile:

"The people from the 'Craftsmanship' sect infiltrated the Heavenly Crafts Academy, bringing only the concept of the 'Dragon and Snake Rising from the Land' formation and some of the blueprints to these fools, who then helped them complete it."

When Meng Shouzheng investigated, he was dumbfounded. The people from 'Gong'dao really hadn't done anything. They had even entered the academy through legitimate and compliant assessments.

With the help of the Tiangong Academy, a "cooperation" was reached right under their noses.

They truly understand the concept of "blind spots under the lamp."

The only problem was that the chief was negligent and failed to discover the purpose of this great formation and the identity of the person who worked on the "craftsman's path".

But the Heavenly Craft Academy... is a group of people obsessed with the ways of craftsmanship, array formations, and divination, completely ignorant of human relationships and social customs. It would be difficult to expect them to judge people.

This is probably why Xie Qian gave the head of the Tiangong Academy a minor punishment as a warning.

—At their level of divine attainment, the physical body is no longer important. Even if the physical body dies, they can simply take any body and put it inside. It is just a means of transportation and is dispensable.

Souls that exist for a long time will almost never perish. If they are supported by the power of faith, they can reunite even if they are scattered.

Xie Qian locked up the head of the Tiangong Academy, which was really just to make him reflect on his mistakes.

The people who were truly colluding with the Demonic Sect were a group of people within the Wenhua Academy.

In cooperation with the "righteous" path, in order to seize a dragon vein beneath the Sword Pavilion, they disregarded the entire Southwest Four Paths, nearly stirring up a turmoil.

Now all of these people have been beheaded, which can be considered an explanation to the imperial court.

Liu Wenqing kept his eyes closed, fiddling with a string of sandalwood beads in his hand, and remained silent.

Lu Mingyuan sighed deeply:
"Send a few people from the Jingshi Academy to the Tiangong Academy to oversee this matter. It was handled improperly and was done too hastily."

But the head of the Wenhua Academy suddenly opened his eyes and said calmly:

"I think that if we succeed, it won't be too hasty."

Meng Shouzhen turned to look at him, his expression grave, and said:

"Brother Liu, are you perhaps also bewitched by the demonic cult? If you open up Donglong Lake, countless people in the four southwestern regions will be displaced and suffer countless deaths. Isn't that too hasty?"

Dugu Yu narrowed his eyes and said:
"If there truly is such a utopian world, the cycle of heaven and earth will cease, and these people will not die."

"If Wenhua Academy succeeds in this endeavor, the collection of the dragon vein will be accelerated significantly, and we may be able to enter the Great Harmony World before these people die."

"Brother Liu's words are true."

Meng Shouzhen was startled, his pupils contracted, and he questioned:

"But what if we fail?"

Dugu Yu snorted coldly:
"The Master went into seclusion precisely to prevent failure. Since all ages are under the same sky, there is no possibility of failure."

"It's just a matter of how long the process will take." "If there's a way to shorten the time, why not? If it weren't for Gu Fangchen ruining things, we would have two dragon veins in our hands right now!"

He waved his hand.

In an instant, a magnificent landscape materialized on the stone platform, filled with spiritual energy, its aura similar to that of the [Seventy-Two Peaks Towering to the Sky Sword].

It was another abandoned dragon vein from a previous dynasty.

Meng Shouzhen said in a deep voice:

"Even if it means joining forces with the demonic sect, aren't you afraid of courting a tiger for its skin?"

As the head of the Disciplinary Hall, he was known for his old-fashioned and rigid personality, adhering to the principles of etiquette, law, and discipline. Naturally, he felt that such a statement was self-deception, and that methods that disregarded the lives of ordinary people were even more heretical.

Even if the purpose is right, doing it will corrupt a person.

At that time, it would be easy to fall into the clutches of the evil cult and be used by it instead.

Liu Wenqing said calmly:

"The so-called demonic sect is nothing but a bunch of petty villains still plotting for the throne. How could they possibly understand our grand vision, the boundless and eternal world of Great Harmony?"

"Since we're in different positions, how can we talk about 'seeking help from a tiger'? It's just about treating them as pawns, where they're placed determines their role, nothing more."

Meng Shouzheng's expression grew increasingly somber, and hearing such utterly insane words felt utterly absurd.

But he opened his mouth, looked at Liu Wenqing on the left with a calm expression, and then looked at Dugu Yu on the right with a cold gaze, and suddenly realized that something was wrong!

Meng Shouzhen suddenly stood up, his expression changing:
"you……"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly leaped up and flew towards the outside of the stone platform.

But immediately, he felt an immense pressure. The earth veins and mountains that had materialized suddenly transformed into a huge cage, pressing him back down.

"Oh!"

Meng Shouzhen suffered a severe injury and coughed up a mouthful of blood upon landing. He then saw the spiritual patterns shimmering on the stone platform.

Clearly, an array had already been set up on this stone platform to work with the earth's veins, in order to imprison him here.

Meng Shouzhen raised his head and looked at "Heart Saint" Lu Mingyuan, saying incredulously:

"You knew about this from the very beginning?"

"Just to obtain the earth's veins, you're directly cooperating with the Demonic Sect? You're insane! If Master finds out, how will you face yourselves?"

Lu Mingyuan stood with his hands behind his back, hovering gracefully in mid-air. His gaze remained unchanged as he smiled and said lightly:

“Meng Shouzhen, the Master has already come.”

Meng Shouzheng was struck dumb.

Yes, the Master has already come.

His solution was to kill a group of people from the Wenhua Academy, and then drag the "bewitched" head of the Tiangong Academy and Gu Yuandao into the Shanhe Tu to reflect on their mistakes.

They will be released in a few months at most.

These are the pillars of the academy; how could the Master not know their thoughts, ideas, and actions?
However, it was clear that the Master had no intention of punishing them.

Instead, they presented a result to the court... The only difference was whether or not it was made public.

In other words, Confucius was aware of their actions and tacitly approved of them!

Liu Wenqing shook his head and said:
“Brother Meng, we are comrades, friends, not enemies. We don’t want to fight you. We just want you to think carefully about what to do next.”

Dugu Yu said coldly:

"Why say more? He's too old-fashioned. He's tried to test me many times before, but to no avail. Otherwise, how could things have come to this?"

"If he can't figure it out, are we just going to keep him locked up like this with the dragon vein indefinitely?"

In his opinion, it wouldn't be wrong to kill Meng Shouzhen and promote one of his own people to a higher position.

In any case, as long as the "eternal unity of heaven" can be realized, then Meng Shouzhen and the others will be able to meet again in the world of Great Harmony!

Lu Mingyuan shook his head and scolded:
"Huaijin is being extreme!"

Meng Shouzhen listened to their words with a blank stare, feeling as if his colleagues had gone mad and were speaking inhuman language.

But then, Lu Mingyuan waved his hand, and the array restrictions on the stone platform blocked out the sound, so he couldn't hear anything.

Liu Wenqing frowned and said:

"The sword in Gu Fangchen's hand is a result of the earth vein refinement. Right now, the entire earth vein has been extracted and turned into part of that sword. If it is not taken back, the most crucial one of the five dragon veins will be lost."

"But right now, he is a rising star favored by Emperor Yong'an. How can we make a move in Huangtian City?"

Dugu Yu said calmly:

"No need to worry, Gu Yuye will help us."

"He has already found out from the coachman that Gu Fangchen is not the coachman's son, but it was the Demonic Sect that switched Gu Fangchen and Gu Yuandao at that time."

"In other words, if Gu Fangchen cannot prove his background, then he can only be from the Demonic Sect. Let's let public opinion work its magic. In any case, he will always be a suspect and cannot be trusted."

“Ning Caiyong gave birth in Gushu back then, and the coachman was also from Gushu. If he wants to find out about his origins, he has no choice but to come to Gushu!”

Liu Wenqing's brows relaxed:
"His ability to suppress the seven sects in the southwest was simply due to the advantage of the divine sword; his actual strength was nothing special."

"At that time, once we seize his sword and obtain the ley lines, we can naturally kill his people as well."

Lu Mingyuan nodded:
"When he arrived in Gushu, he seized the sword and killed the man."

……

Gu Fangchen's calm reaction surprised Xiao Yinghao, who narrowed her eyes and said:

"It seems you anticipated this?"

Gu Fangchen blinked and said with great seriousness:
"I heard that the coachman was coarse and ugly, and I've always felt that I couldn't possibly be his son."

Seeing his confident demeanor, Xiao Ying stood up, turned her head to examine Gu Fangchen's face under the lamplight, and snorted:

"It's also..."

Gu Fangchen took this as a compliment.

However, if he hadn't been so handsome, the princess probably wouldn't have gone along with this imposter posing as the prince consort; she would have just had him beheaded...

The princess had just broken out in a sweat again, so she took another bath, dressed, and came out from behind the screen.

Then I saw Gu Fangchen writing and drawing on a piece of paper.

She squinted and asked in confusion:
"What are you doing?"

Gu Fangchen picked up the paper and blew on it:
"Thank you for informing me, Princess. In return, I will give you a gift."

Xiao Yinghao took the paper, her pupils constricting:
"A map showing the deployment of the Qingman army?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I have a terrible headache, so I'll combine these two chapters for now. I'll continue updating tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)