msmithbooks Chapter 20 The First Test of Love
Chapter 20 The First Test of Love
Chu Ning reached out and gently massaged Cheng Xiao's shoulders.
It was a simple action, but she was extremely nervous. Fortunately, the teacher did not refuse.
"Teacher, the snow has stopped today, and the scenery outside is quite nice. You work hard in the cabinet all day long, would Ning'er like to accompany you for a walk?" she said softly.
The two usually discussed matters in the military cabinet.
This is the first time I've received an invitation like this.
Looking back on the past, Chu Ning felt that what she should do now was to make her teacher realize that she was a woman, not just his student.
Cheng Xiao did not refuse.
He nodded, pulled his robe tighter around himself, and stood up from his seat.
The two left the Grand Council one after the other and headed towards the inner palace.
Since Chu Ning ascended the throne, the harem has been abandoned for many years and is extremely deserted, with only a few palace servants on duty.
When the palace servants saw the master and disciple appear in the inner palace, their eyes were filled with surprise and fear.
They all knelt down on the ground, not daring to look up.
The two walked on peacefully. Chu Ning wanted to speak several times, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
Cheng Xiao wasn't in a hurry; he just waited patiently.
Chu Ning pondered for a moment before cautiously voicing the question that had been weighing on her mind: "Teacher, once the army has marched forth, the six kingdoms have been pacified, the world is unified, and Great Chu is free from external and internal troubles, what are your plans?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiao stopped in his tracks.
He stood at the end of the long corridor, his gaze passing over the layers of palace walls, looking towards the vast sky interwoven with gray and white.
"Your Majesty, I have spent the first half of my life studying poetry and living in the deep mountains. All I seek is four sentences: to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations."
"Ending this cannibalistic world and restoring peace to the world is my only ultimate ideal in this life. Everything else is beyond my consideration."
Cheng Xiao's tone revealed a resolute determination.
This answer not only expressed his ideals and aspirations, but also blocked the question Chu Ning wanted to ask next.
Those eyes held only a cold indifference, devoid of any worldly desires.
These words made Chu Ning's heart sink.
At this moment, she wished that her teacher could have some of the emotions of an ordinary person, even just a little bit. For the first time, she felt heartache.
She then realized that her teacher did not have the same emotions and desires as ordinary people.
He was a pure white moonlight, not belonging to this turbid world. In his eyes, there was only the common people and eternal peace. He could not tolerate even the slightest bit of worldly love and romance.
Fortunately, Chu Ning is not someone who gives up easily.
She only wanted a teacher; if it wasn't a teacher, she didn't want anyone else.
Since the teacher wants peace in the world, then she should conquer the world and present it to him with both hands!
The disappointment in Chu Ning's eyes was gradually replaced by obsession.
After calming herself down, she looked at Cheng Xiao with a radiant smile.
"Teacher, if—and I mean if—I truly were to unify these six kingdoms for you and end this chaotic era, could you grant me one request?"
It was a very poor performance, but it was the only solution Chu Ning could think of.
Cheng Xiao already had some guesses in his mind, but he still took the initiative to ask, "What request?"
Chu Ning was overjoyed to see that her teacher had actually responded to her words.
Her smile held a hint of mischief: "Teacher is a master strategist, able to see through the thoughts of everyone in the world, he must know what Ning'er wants."
If she were to bring it up herself at this point, it would definitely make the teacher dislike her.
Chu Ning did not want this to happen.
The teacher can predict everything in the world, and she hopes that the teacher can also predict her hidden feelings.
Even if this sentiment is somewhat disgusting, or even completely unorthodox.
Cheng Xiao did not answer, but simply looked at her quietly, responding to the girl's probing with silence.
Seeing Cheng Xiao's silence, Chu Ning not only did not back down, but seemed to have received some kind of tacit favor.
"If the teacher doesn't say anything, I'll take it as a yes. Ning'er will be back soon. Once the army returns in triumph, Ning'er will tell the teacher in person."
Cheng Xiao did not expose Chu Ning's thoughts.
He simply said softly, "Okay, then I'll wait for you to come back."
These six words alone made Chu Ning's heart pound wildly.
She knew when to stop and didn't say anything more.
The two wandered around the snow-covered palace before finally returning to the Grand Council.
The heavy vermilion gate was pushed open again. Cheng Xiao took off his cloak and sat back down at his desk without pausing. He picked up his vermilion pen again and continued to deal with the mountain of military and political orders.
Chu Ning stood outside the threshold of the cabinet and did not follow them inside.
The gate slowly closed as the eunuch pushed it shut.
Chu Ning muttered to himself, "My teacher has calculated the course of history, the rise and fall of the six kingdoms. Was his silence just now a genuine lack of knowledge, or did he already foresee that what I truly desire is to imprison him on my throne forever?"
......
It was the early summer of the 437th year of the Great Chu calendar.
Outside the capital city, at the command platform.
After five long years of silence and dormancy, the Great Chu is finally ready to reveal its strength to the world.
A million-strong army of Xuanjia soldiers stood arrayed on the plain, their ranks stretching as far as the eye could see.
Long spears, like a forest, pierce the sky.
Banners and flags covered the sun, stretching endlessly.
The chilling military might caused the clouds in the sky to freeze. This overwhelming aura, which embodied the power of an entire nation, even silenced the birds and beasts within a hundred miles.
The desolate yet powerful sound of the horn resounded throughout the heavens and earth.
Chu Ning, clad in a dark-colored heavy armor with dragon patterns and an emperor's sword at his waist, stood atop the high command platform.
The cold armor enveloped her originally slender figure, making her appear incomparably fierce, and the dark red demonic mark between her brows shone even brighter in the sunlight.
After five years of preparation, today she is finally going to lead the army in person.
Chu Ning turned around and looked in the direction of the capital of Great Chu, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
She thought the teacher wouldn't come.
The teacher's health was so frail, and these past few days he had become so weak that he rarely even left the military cabinet.
Moreover, teachers have always disliked these formalities and the hustle and bustle of the world.
In the teacher's eyes, the overall situation was already decided, and this ceremony was just a formality.
"Never mind." Chu Ning sighed silently in his heart, forcibly suppressing the disappointment in his eyes.
She needs to be fast, she absolutely has to be fast!
If the army fails to conquer six kingdoms in a single day, the teacher will suffer the consequences of a backlash for another day.
The teacher couldn't wait any longer.
She wanted to smash the world to pieces in the shortest amount of time, and then present it back to her teacher intact!
Chu Ning slowly drew the Emperor's Sword from his waist, its blade pointing straight to the sky, and a dark red aura erupted.
Just as she was about to give the order to march, the sound of a carriage came from afar at the command platform.
With a million-strong army and strict discipline, there should have been no unusual movements.
But when they saw the carriage slowly approaching under the escort of guards, the generals and soldiers on both sides instinctively lowered their heads.
They gripped their long spears tightly, spontaneously taking half a step back to the sides, their eyes revealing deep awe.
It was an unremarkable blue-canopied carriage, but hanging on the shaft was a token representing the highest authority of the Great Chu, the "National Preceptor".
For the past five years, the soldiers of Great Chu have all known that they are able to eat and dress warmly thanks to the Grand Preceptor who has long resided in the deep palace.
The entire army held this powerful minister, whose plans were flawless, in almost blind reverence.
The carriage drove all the way to the bottom of the steps of the command platform before slowly coming to a stop.
A pale, slender hand lifted the heavy carriage curtain.