The Duke of Lu had already made his preparations.
He had reported the matter to His Majesty the Divine Emperor and resolved to become the most diligent official in government affairs starting that day, sitting in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices drinking tea every day.
At the same time, he had secured a post in South River Province for his heir, Lu Ming, with a term of three years.
If nothing went wrong after three years and Jing Jiu returned, only then could Lu Ming return to Chaoge City. Otherwise, he would use the Gu Household's connections to go straight to Green Mountain.
The Duke of Lu raised his tea bowl again and cast an unobtrusive glance outside.
The carriage covered in black cloth had vanished.
He sighed inwardly, hoping all would be well.
The carriage covered in black cloth reached the depths of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, passed through a bamboo grove, and continued along a straight road.
The straight road was paved with cobblestones, and the wheels rattled as they rolled over them.
The sound gradually grew louder as the straight road began to slope, becoming a gentle incline that eventually led underground.
The officials here wore black official robes embroidered with a dragon's claw. They looked quite imposing and clearly did not belong to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Several officials used iron chains to secure the carriage in front of a stone wall.
Exquisite images of immortals and flowing clouds were carved into the wall, though it was unclear which sect's founding patriarch was depicted.
The light suddenly dimmed, and the surroundings grew dark.
The carriage slowly sank into the ground, like an animal sinking into a mire, silent yet harrowing.
The farther underground it went, the colder and more sinister the surrounding aura became.