Unsheathed

Cui Chan smiled as he revealed, "Song Changjing chose Song Jixin, while I chose my disciple, Song He. I also struck a compromise, proposing the construction of a temporary capital somewhere south of Lake View Academy. Song Jixin will be assigned feudal lord of Old Dragon City while also controlling the temporary capital from afar.

“Throughout this entire process, the empress in the Palace of Eternal Spring didn't dare to interject even a single sentence for fear of death. Even now, she most likely still feels like she's dreaming, unable to believe that such a massive blessing would simply fall onto her lap. The late emperor actually wanted his brother, Song Changjing, to claim the throne, but Song Changjing refused, and he personally burned that will in my presence."

Chen Ping'an took a sip of wine, then wiped his mouth as he said, "It sounds like everyone's happy."

"How do you feel about your journey to Bamboo Scroll Lake from Red Candle Town?" Cui Chan asked.

"A lot of people died," Chen Ping'an replied.

Cui Chan raised a foot, then gently brought it down as he said, "There is no distinction in status or gravity when it comes to the separations and reunions of the world, but there is a distinction in superiority and inferiority.

“Do you know why I chose to stay in the Great Li Empire and why Qi Jingchun chose to construct Mountain Cliff Academy in the Great Li Empire? It's not that he didn't have any other choice at the time. Instead, he had many superior options open to him."

"All I know is that the rumors going around that Mr. Qi did this in order to constrain you are false, but I don't know what the real reason is," Chen Ping'an replied.

Cui Chan smiled as he mused, "Qi Jingchun's favorite things to do throughout his lifetime were things that required immense effort for no personal gain. He was worried that I would cause too much of a commotion on the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, that I would implicate the old scholar, so he insisted on personally supervising everything that I did.

“He had to take responsibility for all of the lives of an entire continent, and he was of the opinion that no matter who we are, we must make some sacrifices in the pursuit of something. He felt like as long as he put in as much effort as possible, he would be able to make fewer mistakes. In his mind, rectifying mistakes and making amends is a responsibility that all scholars must shoulder, and scholars can't just utter empty words about serving their nations.

“You were very much like him when you were in Bamboo Scroll Lake in that you were just as eager to take on more responsibilities. Otherwise, how would you have put yourself in that irresolvable conundrum? You could've easily just killed Gu Can and been done with it."

Chen Ping'an offered no response.