Dream King - Chapter 89
He stared blankly at the Empress until she smiled and said, "If you refuse to lower your head, who will place the laurel wreath on your head?" Only then did he come to his senses, and he quickly bowed his head, waiting for the Empress to place the laurel wreath on his head.
After the Empress placed the laurel crown on Chen Changsheng's head, she looked at him and said with a smile, "You really look quite good in it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Changsheng quickly thanked those behind him, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Empress nodded, gesturing for Chen Changsheng to stand beside her. Then she announced loudly, "Chen Changsheng of the National Academy, the top scholar in the Grand Examination, has won first place among many talented young men, proving that our Great Zhou Dynasty has worthy successors. I am deeply gratified. Today, I bestow upon him an additional mansion and a thousand taels of gold, hoping that other students will take him as an example." With that, she gently grasped Chen Changsheng's hand and lifted it up.
Bai Luoheng jumped up with joy upon seeing this, and Tang Tang and Xuan Yuanpo's faces were also filled with happiness. At this moment, Zhuang Huanyu, who was standing in the front row, said to Tian Haiya'er beside him, "This Holy Empress must be doing this because of someone else, Young Master Ya'er. You are the Holy Empress's nephew, yet you do not have this honor."
Tianhai Ya'er's eyes were filled with anger as she turned to look at Zhuang Huanyu, then glared angrily at Chen Changsheng, whose left hand was raised by the Holy Empress on the platform, while the Pope's face also wore an indescribable smile.
Just then, the Empress suddenly frowned and covered her chest with her hand. While everyone was shocked, the Empress suddenly grabbed Chen Changsheng's hand with a joyful expression and turned him around to examine him closely. After about a minute, the Empress murmured, "No wonder, no wonder I feel so close to you, no wonder I feel so familiar with you and marvel that there is someone in this world who looks so much like Emperor Taizong."
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? Changsheng doesn't understand." Chen Changsheng's face was full of confusion, and apart from the Holy Empress, probably only the Pope, who was the instigator, and Mo Mo, who was familiar with the plot, knew what was going on.
"Of course you don't understand, I'll tell you later." Although the Empress was very excited, she ultimately restrained herself and continued the ceremony.
Perhaps the ceremony was not meant to be so long, or perhaps the Empress was eager to reconnect with her long-lost child. After awarding Chen Changsheng the prize, the ceremony ended quickly. After the ceremony, the Empress couldn't wait to take Chen Changsheng's hand and return to the palace. Everyone else went home to their own families. Tang Thirty-Six finally couldn't help but run up to Mo Yu, and then the two bickering lovers started arguing again.
Speaking of which, Tang Thirty-Six and Mo Yu's meeting and acquaintance is similar to that in the original drama. At that time, Tang Thirty-Six was just like in the original drama, showing off by flying around the capital city late at night with Pengcheng. Then, Mo Yu, who was out on patrol, discovered that a needle was shot down from the sky, and the two became acquainted.
From then on, Tang Tang became obsessed with Mo Yu, always seeking his side. Their feelings for each other deepened. Meanwhile, the Demon Clan launched a large-scale assassination campaign in the capital, targeting experts on the Azure Cloud Ranking. They even attacked outside the National Academy, only to be riddled with bullets by the sword formation. The assassin's weapon was naturally left behind, and it was that weapon that plunged the Tang family into trouble. Sensing something was wrong, Tang Tang asked Mo Yu to investigate the Tang family's background. Using this as an excuse, Tang Tang frequently visited Mo Yu, but Mo Yu was mostly in the palace, driving Tang Tang to the brink of obsession. Now, finally, his opportunity had arrived.
Seeing this, Mo Mo shook his head and walked towards Qiu Shan Jun, who was about to leave. Qiu Shan Jun stopped when he saw Mo Mo walking towards him and looked at Mo Mo with a slightly puzzled expression.
"I told you I'd like to show you something." With that, Mo Mo pointed a finger at Qiu Shan Jun's brow. Qiu Shan Jun closed his eyes when Mo Mo's finger was less than a finger's width away from his brow. His expression then shifted rapidly, clearly indicating that he had seen something that disturbed his peace of mind. Three breaths later, Mo Mo withdrew his finger from Qiu Shan Jun's brow, and Qiu Shan Jun slowly opened his eyes at that moment.
After a long while, Qiushan-kun said to Mo Mo with a complicated expression, "Senior, were the scenes just now real? Nan Ke, she..."
"Don't doubt it, it's true. You didn't expect that, did you? While you're deeply in love with someone, another person is also deeply in love with you. And for you, he gave up his identity, his status, and even abandoned his race. All of this is just to be with you. You should be grateful to have someone who loves you so much," Mo Mo said in an unusually weathered tone.
"She actually loves me that much? Unfortunately, I only have eyes for You Rong. Moreover, I am human and she is a demon. I cannot accept the love of a demon because I am human. My master taught me from a young age to put the well-being of all people first. I cannot betray my lifelong aspirations for my own selfish reasons."
A hint of helplessness flashed in Qiushan-kun's eyes, but Mo Mo keenly caught this fleeting look and said, "So, if she weren't a demon, you would accept her?"
Akiyama hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded firmly and said, "I understand the pain of unrequited love. If a woman is willing to go to such lengths for Akiyama, what more could Akiyama ask for? Besides, Akiyama doesn't actually reject her. Furthermore, I understand You Rong's feelings a little better. I know I have no chance. Rather than pursuing someone I can never reach and who doesn't love me, it's better to turn around and embrace someone who loves me to the bone."
After saying this, Akiyama-kun relaxed completely, exuding a carefree aura. His inner energy became smooth and abundant, and he was less arrogant and more approachable than before, no longer making people afraid to approach him.
"Congratulations, Qiushan-kun. With this mental barrier broken, the path to becoming a Saint through Star Gathering and even a Godly Concealment is just around the corner. As for whether you can reach the legendary Great Freedom Realm, that depends on your own destiny." With that, Mo Mo casually waved his hand and released the three women from the South.
As soon as Nanke came out, she grabbed Qiushan-kun and said excitedly, "Qiushan, are you serious? You really want to accept me?"
Qiushan-jun was completely stunned by Mo Mo's move, but after his mental state was elevated, he quickly recovered and said to Nan Ke with a smile, "Of course it's true. A gentleman keeps his word."
Upon hearing Qiushan-kun's affirmative answer, Nanke was so excited that she hugged him tightly, and tears of happiness instantly streamed down her face, wetting Qiushan-kun's shoulder.
Seeing this, Mo Mo smiled slightly, reached out and gently patted Bai Luoheng, who was watching the show beside him, and whispered, "Let's go, don't disturb other people's love, let's go back."
"No, Master has been taken to the palace by the Empress. I'm worried about Master. I need to go in and see him." With that, she ran down the palace in a flash. The palace guards did not stop her when they saw it was her, and Luo Luo was able to enter the palace without any trouble.
In an instant, only he and Xuan Yuanpo remained from the National Academy in the square in front of the palace gate. Seeing this, Mo Mo shook his head helplessly and said, "Let's go back. They probably won't be back for a while. We can go fishing while they're all gone."
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 208 Crown Prince Chen Changsheng
"Fishing? Sir, how about I take my bow and arrows and go hunting while I'm at it? We can have an extra meal tonight." Xuan Yuanpo couldn't help but lick his lips. "The dishes on the table this morning were really memorable, especially that roast chicken. It looked so delicious. It's a pity that Princess Luo Luo put it away and left it for the little black dragon."
"No need, with my skills, catching one thing is enough for you to eat for several days." After saying that, he walked out of the city. Xuan Yuanpo was still immersed in the regret of not being able to eat the roast chicken he had eaten that morning, completely unaware that it was Bai Luoheng's action that allowed them to escape a realm. Otherwise, they would probably be swimming in the moat of the capital city, their bodies burning with heat. Because Mo Mo had added various seasonings to that roast chicken, the spiritual energy contained in it had reached a terrifying level for them. The speed at which they could run laps could not keep up with the spiritual energy emitted by the roast chicken. However, if they could withstand this spiritual energy, they would gain great benefits, at least enough to advance a small realm.
Xuan Yuanpo followed Mo Mo away from the capital, but the further they went, the more uneasy he felt. This was clearly the road to Wugou Lake, a very dangerous place where monsters often appeared, and some people had even seen giant dragons swimming in the lake.
"Should we remind the master? It's too dangerous there. Although the master is very skilled, it's just fishing. There's no need to take risks! Should we say it or not? And if we do, how should we say it?" At this moment, Xuan Yuanpo was extremely conflicted.
While Xuan Yuanpo was struggling with his decision, Mo Mo had already brought him to the shore of Wugou Lake. Just as Mo Mo skillfully took out a small stool and fishing rod to start his leisurely life for the day, a white wolf with long wings suddenly rushed out of the water and pounced straight at Mo Mo and Xuan Yuanpo.
The wolf that leaped out of the water was the size of a bus, with fierce eyes and sharp claws that gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Its gaping maw, capable of swallowing three or four Xuan Yuanpo in one gulp, was already wide open, filled with sharp teeth, with traces of blood and bits of flesh still visible between them. But what was most striking was the pair of enormous wings that were spread out on its back.
"Ahhh! A monster! A winged wolf monster!" Xuan Yuanpo, who had just come to his senses from his confusion, looked up and saw the giant wolf pouncing on them. He screamed loudly in fright and fell to the ground with a thud.
The giant wolf came too fast; it was too late to stand up. Xuan Yuanpo could only hope that Mo Mo could drive the wolf away. However, when he looked at Mo Mo, he was filled with despair. The usually unfathomable master was staring blankly at the giant wolf that was rushing towards him, as if he were terrified. At this moment, the giant wolf was only a few feet away from the two of them. Just as Xuan Yuanpo was in despair, the giant wolf suddenly retracted its fangs, tucked its tail between its legs, and turned to run away, as if it had seen something extremely frightening.
Xuanyuan Po: "???" What's going on? Is it afraid of the master?
Just then, Mo Mo's calm voice came out and said, "So it's you. I almost didn't recognize you with your wings. Since you're here, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Come here and let me see how much you've improved during this time."
"Is the sir crazy? He actually speaks to a giant wolf from the Saint Realm like that, and even asks it to come over. Although the sir is indeed very powerful, this is still..." However, the next second, Xuan Yuanpo was dumbfounded, because the giant wolf really turned around and walked over to lie down at Mo Mo's feet, without any of its previous ferocious arrogance, just like a docile kitten.
Xuanyuan Po swallowed hard, pinched his thigh hard, wincing in pain, and whispered, "This isn't an illusion, it's real." Then, looking at the enormous creature beside him, he swallowed again and couldn't resist reaching out to touch the giant wolf.
The giant wolf felt someone touching its fur and immediately turned around to bare its teeth at Xuan Yuanpo, glaring fiercely at him. This caused Xuan Yuanpo to fall to the ground again. Seeing this, Mo Mo slapped the giant wolf, and the wolf let out a miserable howl, tucked its tail between its legs, and jumped more than ten meters away.
Watching the wind wolf leap far away, Mo Mo was speechless. He had only lightly patted it, without using any force at all, yet the creature had reacted so strongly. "I said, is it really necessary? Why are you so afraid of me? It's been over ten years since we last met, and you've already reached the Saint Realm. How can you still be as timid as before? You're a Saint Wolf now, not the little wind wolf you used to be. Have some backbone, okay? Don't ever say you were once my mount again. It's embarrassing."
At this moment, Wind Wolf, no, I mean Holy Wolf, was devastated. "I finally escaped his clutches and enjoyed a carefree life for over a decade. I finally advanced to the Saint Realm, but why did I have to encounter this demon again? Although my achievements today are indeed due to the resources I received when I followed you, don't you remember how you treated me back then? You beat me up for the slightest disobedience. And who would want to be your mount? I was coerced by you. If I wasn't outmatched, who would willingly become your humiliating mount?"
Suddenly, Mo Mo looked at Saint Wolf thoughtfully, and after a moment, said calmly, "You were just about to attack us, weren't you?"
Upon hearing Mo Mo's words, the Holy Wolf's pupils contracted, and it let out a shrill howl. Finally, it even spoke in human language, desperately trying to explain that it was just so happy to see Mo Mo that it wanted to surprise him, and it had no intention of attacking him. However, Mo Mo was unmoved and directly characterized the previous behavior as an attack. He then reached out and grabbed the Holy Wolf, throwing it into the Immaculate Lake. He then swung his fishing rod and used the fishing line to wrap the Holy Wolf into a big dumpling, and then used the Holy Wolf as bait to begin his fishing expedition.
Xuan Yuanpo had been staring blankly the whole time until Mo Mo threw the Holy Wolf into the lake and started fishing. Only then did he slowly come back to his senses, close his mouth which had been wide open in surprise and was now stiff, and obediently sit down next to Mo Mo, looking at him with reverence. However, along with his reverence, he also had some worries about his future life.
Half an hour later, Mo Mo's fishing rod began to shake violently. As Mo Mo's fishing rod shook, the water of Wugou Lake also began to surge. At first, there were only small ripples, but as time went by, the waves became bigger and bigger, and now they formed large waves three or four meters high on the lake surface. This shows how violent the ripples were on the bottom of the lake.
"Sir." At this moment, Xuan Yuanpo finally couldn't help but speak up to remind Mo Mo.
"I know, it's time to reel in the line, otherwise the bait will really be eaten. This is a really big fish." As he spoke, Mo Mo began to reel in the line. As Mo Mo reeled in the line, the waves in the lake grew bigger and bigger, and finally, giant waves over ten meters high were formed in the lake. Just then, Mo Mo lifted the fishing rod and cast it back. With this cast, Xuan Yuanpo finally saw the big fish that Mo Mo had mentioned.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 209 Feast
It was a tall, slender figure, about twenty meters long and five or six meters thick, its whole body golden, like a slender, long golden carp, and a golden carp with two horns on its head. Moreover, upon closer inspection, one could see that this fish already possessed many dragon characteristics, and its aura was a notch stronger than that of the Holy Wolf that Mo Mo had used as bait.
Upon seeing Mo Mo, the carp's eyes flashed with a cold light. Abandoning the already wounded Holy Wolf, it charged straight at Mo Mo, biting him and Xuan Yuanpo who were sitting on the shore. It was incredibly ferocious. Mo Mo, however, was unconcerned. He picked up the fish basket beside him, aimed it at the golden carp, and then, to Xuan Yuanpo's horrified gaze, the ferocious carp rapidly shrank and flew into the fish basket, where it was casually put away by Mo Mo.
After putting away the fish basket, Mo Mo flicked the fishing rod, and the fishing line tied to the Holy Wolf without hindering its movement was pulled back. Mo Mo also put away the fishing rod. He glanced at the Holy Wolf, which was covered in wounds but only superficial ones, nodded, and placed his hand on its body. To Xuan Yuanpo's surprise, the Holy Wolf's wounds healed rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. In a few breaths, it was completely healed and seemed even more energetic than before.
Stroking the Holy Wolf's smooth fur, Mo Mo sighed, "Back then, it was inconvenient to bring you to the capital, so I let you leave. I never expected that we would meet again after more than ten years. Meeting is fate. Here, take this." With that, Mo Mo tied a jade pendant around its neck.
After fastening the jade pendant, Mo Mo called out to Xuan Yuanpo and headed back the way he came. The Holy Wolf stared blankly at Mo Mo, looking incredulous. It wasn't until Mo Mo's figure disappeared into the forest that it came to its senses. When it examined the jade pendant, it was stunned. Inside the pendant was a huge space filled with bottles of pills, more than a dozen of them, as well as several cultivation manuals of the demon race. It exclaimed that it was impossible.
Later, with the help of the things Mo Mo gave him, the Holy Wolf successfully cultivated to the Divine Concealment Realm. In order to repay the debt of gratitude, the Holy Wolf entered the Divine Capital and, unable to find Mo Mo, took up residence at the Divine Capital National Academy, becoming a guardian deity of the human race. What Mo Mo did not know was that his unintentional actions would create a human guardian of the Divine Concealment Realm in the future. Of course, that's a story for later.
When Mo Mo and his group returned to the capital, it was already evening. They hadn't gone straight back to the capital, but instead had wandered around outside and found many spiritual herbs suitable for cooking and alchemy. By this time, the news had spread throughout the capital, and everyone was talking about it.
Mo Mo listened carefully for a while before realizing that they were discussing what had happened that afternoon. This afternoon, the Empress summoned all the civil and military officials and announced in public that the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou had been found, and this person was none other than Chen Changsheng, the top scorer in the current imperial examination.
When Mo Mo told Xuan Yuanpo the news, Xuan Yuanpo initially just responded casually. After a while, he suddenly reacted, exclaimed in surprise, and urged Mo Mo to hurry back to the academy.
When Mo Mo and Xuan Yuanpo returned to the academy, they found Chen Changsheng, Bai Luoheng, Tang Thirty-Six, and Mo Yu there. Little Black Dragon, Xu Yourong, and Qingyue were still not back. To Mo Mo's surprise, they were just as excited as ever, remaining as usual.
As soon as Xuan Yuanpo returned to the auditorium and saw Chen Changsheng and the others, he ran over and grabbed Tang Thirty-Six, who was chatting happily with Mo Yu, and asked him to explain what was going on and why Chen Changsheng had become the Crown Prince of Great Zhou after only half a day.
"Well, it's a long story. In short, Changsheng is the Holy Empress's long-lost son and also the Crown Prince of Minyang of the Great Zhou. Today, the Holy Empress recognized Changsheng through bloodline connection. It's that simple." Tang Thirty-Six impatiently dismissed Xuan Yuanpo and then turned back to continue chatting with Mo Yu.
"Congratulations, Changsheng! This gives you a much better chance. But how could the Empress let you come back? You've only just recognized each other. I think she'll keep you here for a while longer, at least until evening. It's only evening now."
In response to Mo Mo's question, Mo Yu gave an answer. She pointed to the Hundred Herbs Garden next to the National Academy and said, "The Holy Empress lives next door. She originally wanted to connect the two courtyards, but the sword formation you set up is extremely powerful. Moreover, the Holy Empress felt that it would not be appropriate to connect the two courtyards without your consent. So she asked me to wait for you to come back and ask for your opinion."
"Opinions? I have no opinions. Do whatever you want. Even if you demolish the National Academy, I don't care. We can just rebuild it. You're all big shots and have plenty of money." Mo Mo replied nonchalantly.
"Speaking of money, Tang Tang, I've found out something about your Tang family. You should go back and ask your father. I believe he'll give you the answer you want. I won't report it yet, but you only have three days. You must resolve the Tang family's affairs within three days, or I will report to the Empress. At that time, your Tang family will only have one fate." As she spoke, Mo Yu made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Thank you, Mo Yu. I, Tang Thirty-Six, have no way to repay you except by offering myself to you." Tang Tang was deeply moved, holding Mo Yu's small hand tightly.
Mo Yu broke free from Tang Thirty-Six's hand and said loudly, "Get lost! Who asked you to repay me with your body? Don't you even know what you look like? I'm naturally beautiful, and I have plenty of suitors." After a pause, Mo Yu said solemnly, "Also, what I said is true. If you can't get an explanation from the Tang family within three days, I will personally raid your Tang family. So don't blame me for being ruthless then."
"I know, thank you Mo Yu, I will handle the Tang family's affairs well." Tang Tang nodded solemnly upon seeing this.
Chen Changsheng walked over, patted Tang Tang on the shoulder, and said, "Thirty-six, if you need any help, just let us know. Don't be shy, we're best friends."
Upon hearing this, a hint of tears welled up in Tang Thirty-Six's eyes. Clearly, he had been under immense pressure during this time. However, at least he still had his group of close friends, his loyal and devoted brothers.
Just then, the Empress Dowager walked in dressed in casual clothes. Now that she had shed her imperial aura, she was less domineering and more gentle and feminine. Her gaze toward Chen Changsheng was full of love, making her look like a kind mother rather than a high and mighty monarch.
When the Empress saw Mo Mo, her eyes lit up, and she quickened her pace. She walked up to Mo Mo and grabbed his hand, saying urgently, "Sir, do you really have a way to save Changsheng? As long as you can save Changsheng, I will grant you anything you want."
"Oh? You really agree to anything?" Feeling the pair of smooth little hands holding him, Mo Mo's lips curled into a smile.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 210 (Two Hundred and One ...
Seeing the wicked smile on Mo Mo's lips (at least that's what Tianhai Youxue thought), Empress Tianhai Youxue subtly withdrew her hands and replied with a smile, "As long as it's within my power, I can agree to anything you ask."
"As expected of an old fox, her words are watertight. If the conditions I propose are too outrageous, she can simply use 'cannot do' as an excuse and make me choose another one. However, my requirements are not high. A dozen of all kinds of ancient books from the Great Zhou Dynasty, a hundred or so of all kinds of rare and precious materials, divine artifacts and other treasures would be about right."
Thinking of this, Mo Mo smiled and said, "Then it's a deal. But Chang Sheng still wants to try his best on his own, so it's too early for us to talk about this. Besides, I still owe Chang Sheng a promise."
“I know, so I want you to protect Changsheng, so that even if he fails to change his fate this time, he won’t be harmed.” Tianhai Youxue stared intently into Mo Mo’s eyes, afraid that he would refuse.
“That’s easy.” Mo Mo answered with unusual decisiveness this time.
Just then, Bai Luoheng walked up to Mo Mo and Empress Tianhai Youxue and asked anxiously, "Empress, why did you save Master first? What happened? And why did Master want to change his fate?"
"Didn't Changsheng tell you?" Tianhai Youxue was extremely surprised. She thought Bai Luoheng and the others already knew about Chen Changsheng, but considering Chen Changsheng's personality, it was quite possible that he had kept it from them.
"Luo Luo, I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would worry about me. Besides, with the Master here, what are you afraid of? In fact, I have already successfully changed my fate. According to my destiny, I should not live past the age of twenty, but according to the current situation, I can live for at least another six or seven years. And as long as I can enter the Saintly Realm, it is not impossible to live for one or two hundred years. However, if I want to truly change my fate, I still need to find Zhou Dufu's notes. That is why I value the top scorer in the Grand Examination so much."
Chen Changsheng smiled and explained to Bai Luoheng and the others, while also reassuring them with facts, making them believe that things were not as serious as they had imagined.
"So, Master, you're basically not going to die even if you don't try to change your fate? Then why would you risk changing your fate? Wouldn't it be better to just be happy with us? Besides, can't the Master help you change your fate? Why not just let the Master help you? Why do you have to take the risk yourself?" Bai Luoheng grabbed Chen Changsheng's hand, completely baffled by Chen Changsheng's behavior.
"Although you can help me, I want to try to break free from the destiny I was born with. I want to prove that I can break free from the shackles that God gave me and that I am qualified to live in this beautiful world."
Clearly, Chen Changsheng wanted to fight against the heavens that had burdened him with suffering since birth. He wanted to tell the heavens that he would not submit to fate's arrangements and that even if the heavens wanted him dead, he would fight them.
"Alright, Luo Luo, isn't there still Master? If I can't do it, there's still Master, right? Since Master said he can change my fate, he can definitely do it. What are you worried about?" Seeing that Bai Luo Heng was still a little hesitant, Chen Chang Sheng quickly brought up Mo Mo.
"Then you must be careful. If you encounter any danger, ask the master for help immediately." Bai Luoheng stopped when he saw Chen Changsheng bring up Mo Mo.
"Alright, why think so much? Today is a day to be happy, we should be happy. For tonight, Xuanyuan and I went fishing and caught a fish. Let's have a barbecue party tonight, and then a hot pot. Youxue, do you want to join us? As the mother of Changsheng." Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit tense, Mo Mo quickly changed the subject. He added that as soon as food was mentioned, the atmosphere in the hall instantly changed.
The Empress was very tempted by Mo Mo's invitation, but she still hesitated. Although Mo Mo said that he should participate as Chen Changsheng's mother rather than as the current Empress, her status was still there, and if others found out, it would inevitably have some impact. Seeing this, Bai Luoheng jumped over and hugged Tianhai Youxue's arm, saying coquettishly, "Empress, just say yes. Besides, the National Academy is protected by a great formation. No one can enter without the teacher's permission. And everyone here is an outsider. What are you afraid of? Besides, it's just a meal. What's the big deal?"