Sword Roaring in the Sky

Chapter 242 Who are you mocking as a traitor?
As the second junior brother, Sun Yanwan did not enjoy the treatment of a guest of honor. Instead, he was conscripted into the Fourth Prince's mansion to welcome and send off guests.

In terms of official rank, he was the youngest top scholar in the imperial examinations in Dalang and a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy. In terms of personal rank, he was Zhang Qingxi's only junior fellow student, making this position the most desirable one.

Sun Yanwan never expected that attending her senior brother's wedding would lead to her being forced to do chores.

He was reminded a few days in advance and even received a training session. On the day of the wedding, he had to get up early and run around the mansion to make arrangements, keeping an eye on every detail and not daring to make the slightest mistake.

Shi Si, Sun Lingdie, and Nan Menggong had already been invited into the inner palace to accompany the future princess. Shi Si was Sun Yanwan's betrothed by marriage and also held an imperial title, making her the most suitable candidate.

Sun Yanwan spun around like a top for most of the day. Just as the auspicious time was approaching and she was thinking that she was almost done with her work, she suddenly felt a powerful and menacing aura coming towards her.

He had seen countless masters, but this was the first time he had felt such a magnificent aura. He hurriedly went out to greet them, only to see more than ten veteran soldiers surrounding a tall man in full black armor, walking slowly towards them. Just by looking at the guests outside the door, who all stepped aside and looked respectful, one could tell that this person was of extraordinary status.

Sun Yanwan bowed slightly, pondering whether to ask who the other party was.

Then, the man in full black armor slowly spoke, saying, "Is this the youngest top scholar of this dynasty?"

"Upon hearing the good news, my father has come to congratulate the Fourth Prince on his wedding."

Sun Yanwan was taken aback and exclaimed, "So it's the Grand Tutor of the State in person!"

"I am too young and have not had the opportunity to pay my respects to the Grand Tutor. I hope the Grand Tutor will forgive any shortcomings in my etiquette."

"Please come in and take a seat."

Wenxi did not move, but said, "Scholar Sun is young and promising, and should serve the country!"

Sun Yanwan said, "As a native of Dalang, how can I not contribute to the country? Grand Tutor's words are inappropriate."

He couldn't stand being taught a lesson. Even though Wenxi was like a pillar supporting the sky in the Great Lang Dynasty, and even the Great Lang Emperor respected and treated him with utmost deference, he still retorted slightly, thinking to himself, "How am I not contributing to the country? Who are you mocking as a traitor?"

Wenxi burst out laughing: "Well said! As a citizen of Dalang, how can you not serve your country! Hand over the Black Dragon City fleet!"

Sun Yanwan laughed and said, "I really don't have that."

Wenxi stared at him for a few moments before leading the old soldier and slowly entering.

Wenxi held a very high position, and his presence made the atmosphere of the wedding all the more special.

Not long after, another group arrived. This time, however, they were quite well-equipped. Sun Yanwan recognized them at a glance. The large banner in front belonged to Huo Feihu, the number one man in the Da Lang Army and one of the four grandmasters of the Da Lang Dynasty!
Sun Yanwan had no choice but to go and greet them again. Huo Feihu's attitude was much gentler. He said a few words of comfort and then led his men inside.

Sun Yanwan knew that both Grand Tutor Wen Xi and Marquis Huo Feihu had sent invitations, but neither of them had responded. Logically, they shouldn't have come, but they did, so there was probably some reason behind it.

However, he knew virtually nothing about the Da Lang army, and his daily interactions were mostly with civil officials, so he had no useful information to speculate on.

He stood guard outside the gate, welcoming and seeing off guests, but he couldn't go in and didn't even have a chance to watch the excitement.

He could only think to himself, "With Master inside, nothing should happen."

Grand Tutor Wen Xi and Marquis Huo Feihu went in and came out together in less than a quarter of an hour. Wen Xi glanced at Sun Yanwan and said, "Scholar Sun is a man of both literary and martial talents, why must you go against the will of Heaven?" Sun Yanwan didn't know what was wrong with this old man and said, "Grand Tutor, you are wrong! How can Heaven be defied?"

"The will of Heaven cannot be defied."

Wenxi came here to persuade Zhang Qingxi not to vie for the throne and to step down, but he did not expect to be met with a soft rebuff. With Zhang Yuanqiao present, even though he came with Marquis Huo Feihu, he did not dare to act rashly and could only leave in anger.

When he met Sun Yanwan, he still wanted to try to persuade her to be sensible and abandon the darkness for the light. However, he did not expect that Sun Yanwan was the number one "argumentative person" in the world. She said, "How can Heaven be defied? Heaven cannot be defied." This left Wenxi speechless.

He couldn't very well say, "I'll show Scholar Sun how to defy the heavens."

Wenxi couldn't help but say, "Since that's the case, why doesn't Scholar Sun accept his fate?"

Sun Yanwan smiled and said, "I wonder if this destiny is the true destiny, or the Grand Tutor's destiny?"

"If the Grand Tutor were to say so, you would be the Mandate of Heaven, and the Mandate of Heaven would be the Grand Tutor..."

Wenxi dared not reply and fled with Huo Feihu.

He truly believed that he represented destiny, and this idea was deeply ingrained in him.

After all, Wenxi had served three emperors in Dalang, accumulating countless merits and remaining utterly loyal to the Zhang family of Dalang. He believed he had absolutely no personal motives, his loyalty as clear as the sun and moon, and that he was protecting the legitimate dynasty of Dalang. But when pressed by Sun Yanwan about whether he was truly the Mandate of Heaven, and whether the Mandate of Heaven meant Grand Tutor, Wenxi was at a loss for words.

He truly never expected that there would be anyone in the world who interpreted destiny from this perspective.
Once the censors and officials rebuked him for acting on behalf of the emperor, even the emperor of the Great Lang Dynasty could not protect him and could only send the old grand tutor back home to retire.

Although Wenxi and Huo Feihu didn't say anything, Sun Yanwan had a pretty good idea that the military in Dalang mostly supported the Second Prince.

The reason for attending Zhang Qingxi's wedding is to use words to persuade the fourth prince to back down.

Wenxi and Huo Feihu walked quite a distance. Wenxi sighed and said, "Although there are nine princes who could inherit the throne, the other five have long since given up. The eighth prince has Consort Yun's support and is also a man of both literary and martial talents, so it is not advisable to speak out. The thirteenth prince is favored by the Empress Dowager, and I am helpless about it."

"I originally intended to persuade the Fourth Prince to back down first, and then slowly persuade the other two princes..."

"Da Lang is in dire straits and truly cannot withstand a major upheaval."

Huo Feihu couldn't help but ask, "Has the Grand Tutor seen the Ancestor since his return?"

Wenxi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I've met you!"

Huo Feihu couldn't help but want to ask whether his ancestor was alive or dead. But he knew he couldn't bring himself to ask, as the Da Lang royal family was keeping this information extremely secret, clearly not wanting anyone to know. He was utterly loyal to Da Lang, and since the emperor didn't want anyone to know, he wouldn't speak up even if he had the chance to inquire.

After a long pause, Wenxi sighed and said, "This is why I am fully committed to supporting the Second Prince."

Huo Feihu was slightly startled. He thought of a possibility, but he was somewhat reluctant to believe it. However, he did not ask. After sending Wenxi back to his residence, he hesitated for a moment and did not go home. Instead, he went to visit Li Wangyou, a censor in the Hanlin Academy.

(End of this chapter)