Miss Xie, the Emperor Enters Zhongnan

Miss Xie, the Emperor Enters Zhongnan

[Liu Jinchan had originally wished to keep the Eighth Prince a while longer, intending to prepare a vegetarian feast for him at the ancient temple on Mount Zhongnan as a show of respect.]

[Zhou Cheng refused. After returning the courtesy, he went down the mountain, leaving behind one sentence: "Junior Guardian, when you and I meet again, I will openly and honorably invite you out of Zhongnan."]

[Liu Jinchan understood Zhou Cheng's meaning deeply, knowing that the previous princes had all visited in private.]

[The day it was done openly and honorably would be when the present emperor's sacred carriage came in person.]

[Prince Jing's intent could be glimpsed from this.]

[Lu Yu wanted to keep his uncle on Mount Zhongnan for a few more days, but alas, his uncle was busy with official duties and could not stay long.]

[Lu Yu could not help sighing. "In days to come, I fear the times I meet Uncle will grow fewer and fewer."]

[You patted Lu Yu's shoulder lightly and comforted him, "Each person has their own aspirations. Starting a family and building a career are the common course of life."]

[Liu Jinchan asked you, "Shenzhou, I saw that the Eighth Prince spoke with earnest sincerity. You have always known how to recognize and use people well. In your view, how much true feeling does he have?"]

[You possessed the talent Insight into People, and smiled faintly. "His words were woven with truth and falsehood alike, showing sincerity while also hiding hypocrisy.]

["However, I am but a small Daoist of the Three Truths Sect, worlds apart from his status as a prince. To me, these truths and falsehoods make no difference."]

[Hearing this, Liu Jinchan could not help letting out a long sigh in his heart.]

["Shenzhou, you have been like this since you were young, focused on cultivating the Dao and studying martial arts, with no love for these worldly affairs."]

["In that case, the future headship of my Three Truths Sect can probably only be entrusted to You'an."]

[He had originally thought that with Lu Chen's reputation and temperament, he was most suited to inherit the heavy responsibility of the Three Truths Sect.]

[Lu Yu's talent for Daoist cultivation was truly astonishingly high, but his nature was free and unrestrained, difficult to bind. Only Lu Chen could keep him in check.]

[Lu Chen would manage the outside, Lu Yu the inside. With the two working together, why worry that the Three Truths Sect would not flourish?]

[Lu Yu also showed a worried look and sighed with feeling. "The incense offerings on Mount Zhongnan are far too flourishing. Brother, I can't handle it alone at all. Why don't you lend me a hand?"]

[You only smiled and gave no answer.]

[Seeing this, Liu Jinchan smiled and said, "I do have a method. Why not take in a few disciples and let them share your burden?"]

["Your cultivation is already that of a truly supreme grandmaster in the jianghu. Taking in a few disciples should be simple."]

["It is perfectly right and proper for disciples to share their master's burdens."]

[Once these words came out, a glimmer of light flashed in Lu Yu's eyes. The matter of taking disciples, which he had never considered before, now seemed like a clever plan.]

[He turned toward you, his eyes full of inquiry.

[You looked at his excited expression, and a decision had already formed in your heart.

[And so, you decided...]

1. Agree, let Lu Yu take disciples.

2. Disagree, do not let Lu Yu take disciples.

3. Personally take part. (1/3)

Yu Ke did not hesitate at all, choosing 1. Agree, let Lu Yu take disciples.

Once Lu Yu had disciples, would they not be your martial nephews? They would all belong to your own foundation.

For reasons unknown, a warm current welled up deep in his heart, and Lu Yu's familiar voice, face, and smile surfaced in his mind.

In this simulation, whether studying the Dao or joining the army,

Lu Yu had always stayed by your side. No matter what you did, he supported you unconditionally.

Now that Lu Yu would have disciples, he was certain to be happy.

The corners of Lu Yu's mouth could not help rising slightly.

[Hearing your approval, Lu Yu's face immediately filled with smiles.]

[Your master, Liu Jinchan, solemnly informed you that Emperor Qing's entry into the mountain this time to pray for blessings was by no means as simple as an ordinary ceremony.]

[In truth, this was a grand banquet, gathering talented heroes from all four directions.]

[Princes, dukes, and nobles; civil officials and military generals of the court; even the northern eldest princess who had married from afar and the North Wind Delegation would all attend. Rumor had it that the other three states, Qianyuan, Han, and Chu, had also sent delegations.]

[He enjoined you that you must attend. The matter was of great importance.]

[You knew well the deeper meaning within. The several princes' private visits had originally been an act to avoid suspicion. However, if the Son of Heaven himself came in person to Mount Zhongnan to pray for blessings for all the people, then the significance would be entirely different.]

[You sighed softly, knowing in your heart that this time there was no avoiding it.]

[However, to you, cultivating the Dao was the true pursuit.]

[At this moment, you remembered.]

[There was also a letter your mother had entrusted to your uncle for you.]

[You opened the letter. The ink marks on the paper were like your mother's warmth, vivid before your eyes. It was full of concern in every line; your mother missed the two of you brothers.]

[Spring came and summer passed, autumn harvest and winter storage; when the weather turned cold, you absolutely had to add more clothes and take good care of yourself.]

[She also comforted you that there was no need to worry about your father and mother. The residence and servants in the capital were all considerate, and for meals they had found a northern cook, whose food suited their habits. It was just that your old father had recently fallen in love with fishing, often not returning for dinner, and no matter how she urged him, he would not listen.]

[Lu Yu smiled instead. "Father certainly has refined interests."]

[At the end of the letter, one matter was mentioned.]

[Even you were somewhat surprised!]

[It turned out that before you entered the Three Truths Sect, your mother had arranged a marriage for you. Later, you entered the mountain to cultivate the Dao, the North Wind army marched south, and the matter was left unsettled.]

[That woman's surname was Xie, and she came from a humble family in the north.]

[However, when the northern lands migrated south and she followed her father to the capital, her father, because of his outstanding talent, revived the family fortunes, won Emperor Qing's appreciation, rose four ranks in succession, and was appointed to a second-rank position of high authority, causing the Zhao Clan to leap into the ranks of the capital's prominent families.]

[According to your mother, this Miss Xie was not only beautiful, but proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as learned, reasonable, gentle, and virtuous.]

[Before the Lu Family Army's name shook the four directions, the Lu family did not even count as humble gentry. Faced with marriage proposals from many royal descendants and noble scions in the capital, Miss Xie had refused them one by one, frankly saying that she already had a marriage agreement, fully displaying the manner of a proper lady who observed rites.]

[When the Lu family later became famous throughout the world, the Xie Clan also came to the door frankly and dissolved this marriage arrangement.]

[The Xie Clan was a true scholarly family, not drifting with the waves and following the current, not clinging to the powerful.]

[Your mother exhorted you, "At the beginning of spring next year, if you are on Mount Zhongnan and happen to meet Miss Xie, you must be polite to her. She is a good girl."]

[Lu Yu could not help laughing. "Who would have thought I nearly had another sister-in-law?"]

[This was also the first time you learned of it, and there were no great ripples in your heart.]

[You raised your head and looked out the window. Mount Zhongnan's green mountains and clear waters stretched beneath a vast horizon, and your thoughts drifted far away.]

[From the day you were born, your heart had carried a firm conviction: you must set foot upon the martial path and pursue the road of Daoist cultivation.]

[In a little more than half a month, it would be the New Year festival.]

[You once again entered the ancient tomb on Mount Zhongnan and continued cultivating.]

[Cultivation was like rowing a boat against the current; if you did not advance, you fell back.]

[Morning practice, evening practice—you never neglected them. Even in the army, you often practiced.]

[However, because your talent was truly not high, now at thirty-one years old, your skills were still only at the jianghu's second-rate level.]

[Though you and Lu Yu were fellow disciples, you had chosen different cultivation methods. What he cultivated was Innate Skill. This skill made extremely high demands of the cultivator, requiring one to begin cultivating from innate qi, but once one entered the door, progress advanced a thousand li in a single day.]

[For Lu Yu to have reached the realm of grandmaster at the age of twenty-four, aside from his own extraordinary talent, the Innate Skill he cultivated had also played a vital and decisive role.]

[A wave of curiosity could not help rising in your heart, and you were full of questions about the innate qi mentioned in Innate Skill.]

[What exactly was it, and what connection did it have to the spiritual energy Lu Yu had mentioned?]