Chapter 83 – New Changes

The training grounds rang with shouts and cries. Though they were all children, the scene was no less lively — in fact, compared to the martial demonstrations of adults, there was something more vibrant here, like the rising sun bursting over the horizon.

For both public and private reasons, Yu Zhen had no grounds to object. As for any future conflicts between the secular and the divine that this might cause — well, that was a problem for later.

He had nothing more to say. Starting from the original intent of this matter, he spoke with a tone caught between feeling and sigh, “What the Crown Prince has done — the outcome is hard to say, yet it is truly without precedent. Poor Monk is impressed.”

Even now, he could barely imagine it: in an age of rigid hierarchy and deeply entrenched tradition, someone would dare to attempt reshaping the very heavens and earth — and that person happened to be the Crown Prince of a dynasty that had always been a staunch defender of that very order.

It was a little absurd, yet somehow entirely natural. Hard to say, truly hard to say.

Zhan Changfeng did not respond to that. Instead, she shifted direction and asked, “The matter of the Gongsun Clan — it has been nearly half a year since the investigation began. Still no results?”

Yu Zhen hesitated for a moment, but he had prepared himself for this question, so the words came readily. “Setting aside the Six Academies, the great clans rank among the most powerful forces in Cangyun Ravine. The Gongsun Clan is one of them. Even the Bureau of Patrol cannot simply investigate them on a whim.”

“Word came recently that the Gongsun Clan claims this was entirely Gongsun Jing’s personal doing, and that the main family had no knowledge of it. But Gongsun Jing is dead, so there is no way to verify that account.”

Yu Zhen glanced at Zhan Changfeng and, seeing no reaction from her, revealed a little more out of certain considerations. “The Gongsun Clan’s stance is very firm. They say that while Gongsun Jing was legally in the wrong, in terms of sentiment he was a hero of the Gongsun family. Furthermore, the other seven great clans are united in their position — they have declared that if an entire family is implicated for the fault of one person, they will not stand for it.”

By law, by sentiment. It seemed Gongsun Jing had been held in high regard within the Gongsun Clan — even in death, they gave him the name of a hero, proof that he had died avenging an old blood feud.

Yu Zhen hadn’t needed to be so forthcoming, but since he had been, Zhan Changfeng naturally could not take it for granted. “Thank you, Deputy Hall Master, for informing me. Causing so much trouble for the Bureau of Patrol was never my intention. It is only because the chaos in Shenzhou originated with the Gongsun Clan — I could not afford not to fight.”

Hearing this, the tension in Yu Zhen’s chest eased somewhat. “The Crown Prince is too kind. The Bureau of Patrol also bears responsibility for its failings and will do its best to make amends.”

“The matter of the Gongsun Clan — I leave it entirely in the Bureau of Patrol’s hands. I will not interfere,” said Zhan Changfeng, taking a step back. “I wonder, though — how does the Bureau of Patrol intend to handle the Jingyu Guard?”

This was yet another thorny problem. Yu Zhen suddenly felt that coming to find Zhan Changfeng had been an invitation for more trouble than he needed. “…As for the Jingyu Guard, we have not found evidence linking them to Cangyun Ravine.”

In other words, they could not touch them.

“What if I do?”

Yu Zhen was taken aback. “Then why didn’t the Crown Prince produce it sooner?”

Zhan Changfeng handed him a Six-Sided Crystal Stone — a recording stone — and said, “This is a record of Zou Tingwei’s confession from that day. Within it, he speaks of colluding with others to help the Gongsun Clan cover the tracks of the Jingyu Guard members.”

Yu Zhen and Liu Zhao watched the recording stone together. It was exactly as Zhan Changfeng had described. Only when Zou Tingwei was about to reveal who his accomplice was, and whether he had been in contact with the Gongsun family as a whole or with Gongsun Jing specifically, the chaos outside had interrupted him.

“If this is the case, there is indeed grounds to arrest the Jingyu Guard.” Yu Zhen’s expression suddenly shifted. “But this confession…”

It bore absolutely no resemblance to those two written complaints that had been mentioned at the time!

Yu Zhen suddenly understood. The bamboo grove confrontation that day — he had been completely played by Zhan Changfeng!

She had clearly not known who Zou Tingwei’s accomplice was, yet right there and then, she had forced one out in front of everyone!

This time, Yu Zhen was thoroughly convinced.

He finally understood why he had instinctively called a Crown Prince of a fallen dynasty by her title, yet referred to the young Emperor propped up by Li Mao simply by name.

Because some people — even if their kingdom falls — remain royalty.

Once that clicked into place, Yu Zhen’s tone carried a touch more warmth. He said teasingly, “The Crown Prince played a risky hand. But what if Lin Zhao hadn’t shown up that day? What would you have done?”

“Naturally, I would have simply handed the recording stone over to you directly, arrested the Jingyu Guard and subjected them to interrogation — we would have found out who the accomplice was eventually.”

“Ha! Well said.” After laughing, Yu Zhen felt something was still slightly off, but just then a group of panting children ran past the three of them, breaking his train of thought.

“Pick up those legs — there’s only half a li left to the finish line. Don’t tell me you’re already out of steam?!”

The dark-faced instructor supervised from the side, jogging along with them, and when he saw the little ones staggering and weaving all over the place, he barked sternly, “Everyone shape up! If even one person fails to reach the finish line on time, today’s drumsticks are cancelled!”

“Instructor, no, please!”

As if injected with fresh energy, they surged forward with everything they had. Those who had already reached the finish line turned around and ran back to pace the others. “Hurry up, the incense is almost out!”

“Wang Xiaopang, if you dare lie down, we’re through!”

“Ji Zhen, you can do it! You just recited the March Formation Mantra we learned backward and forward — you can’t even run three li?!”

“Good lord, if you lot make me miss my drumstick, next time I’ll drag you all into detention to recite texts.”

“Get lost — don’t you go undermining our morale.”

Liu Zhao was the first to laugh out loud. “It looks pretty grueling, but it’s actually quite entertaining.”

Yu Zhen nodded in agreement. The atmosphere was rather different from what he had imagined. He glanced at Zhan Changfeng, who wore a smile that still carried a trace of cool composure, and had half-assumed the Military Arts Academy would be taking a cold, iron-blooded approach.

Zhan Changfeng stood with her hands at her sides, watching the children train. Within the Military Arts Academy, she had already worked to blur the inequalities rooted in gender, giving them a fair and competitive environment.

Beyond ensuring that the cultivation techniques chosen were suitable for both male and female students, she also planned to adopt a method of making the best use of every talent — developing their potential in different directions, rather than demanding that cultivation rank be the sole measure of worth.

After an assessment period, those who met the requirements would enter either the Martial Hall or the Scholar Hall for study with different emphases.

Building on the foundation of martial training, the Martial Hall would emphasize strength, cultivating the brave general type, while the Scholar Hall would emphasize strategy, cultivating the military advisor type.

Students from both halls would attend certain foundational training courses together — such as the current Lightness Technique instruction and the morning sessions of reading and writing.

The incense burned to nothing. Two students still had not reached the finish line, but no one jeered or cursed.

It was because, from the moment they entered the Military Arts Academy, they had been instilled with the principle of sharing hardship and joy alike. The head instructor had also made it explicitly clear: if today you isolate and belittle the one who fell behind just because you might lose your drumstick, then don’t blame others for kicking you when you’re down when you’re the one who falls behind. Fortunes turn — there are plenty of training events, and can you really complete every single one without a single weakness?

“Wang Weitng, Ji Zhen — you two failed to qualify. Stay behind for additional training. Everyone else, dismissed — go rest!”

The two called out by name caught their breath and resignedly awaited their punishment.

Wang Weiting was a chubby little boy. He drooped his brows and said, “Instructor, have mercy.”

“Stand straight!” The instructor regarded them with a stern face. Wang Xiaopang was stocky and his stamina was passable, but Ji Zhen was a slight, frail little girl. At this moment, her tiny face was flushed red. Though she was making an effort to stand tall, her frame was visibly swaying.

Even soldiers who lived and died by military discipline retained a degree of leniency toward children. The instructor had a fleeting impulse to go easy on Ji Zhen, but recalling the founding principles and precepts of the Military Arts Academy, he steeled his heart.

Martial strength lies in the will, military spirit in the soul. Here, there were only future strong soldiers and warriors — not the weak who needed to be coddled.

“Half a stick of incense in a horse stance. Can you hold it?”

Ji Zhen and Wang Weiting answered in unison, “We can!”

(End of Chapter)