Seeing Duke Lu barge in with a group of people, the guests were startled, wondering what was going on.
Some of them thought that Duke Lu and Prime Minister Cen were relatives by marriage, and they lived next to each other; but he wasn't invited by Prime Minister Cen today. Did something happen between the two manors? Many gazes fell on Lu Ming and his wife reflexively.
Lu Ming had already approached them, pretending to be surprised, "Father, I thought you were in poor health. Why did you come all of a sudden? "
His wife's panic was real, as she said in a trembling voice, "Grandpa, what are you … what are you …"
Duke Lu waved his hand to signal for Lu Ming to step aside, because it was unnecessary to do so today. Then, he smiled amiably at his daughter-in-law, saying, "Nothing. I'm here to catch up with your father."
Having said that, he walked toward the front of the courtyard.
The guests made way for him hastily, bowing to him hastily, not daring to show any neglect.
Duke Lu had kept a low profile before; but he couldn't keep a low profile after so many years, especially after being forced by Jing Jiu to do so many things. Everybody knew that he was undoubtedly the most favored person by the Emperor.
Seeing the approaching group, Prime Minister Cen knew that the official by Duke Lu's side was Jing Shang, and the young man behind Jing Shang who looked … pleasing to the eye was Jing Li. He took a deep breath to suppress his anger, and asked sharply while looking at Duke Lu, "State Duke, why have you come all of a sudden today?"
Duke Lu pretended to be displeased, saying, "We are relatives by marriage. You are going to marry your granddaughter; how can I not come? It's rude of you not to invite me, but I don't blame you. "
Prime Minister Cen retorted expressionlessly, "Don't you know why I didn't invite you?"
He pointed to Jing Shang and said, "Even if you have a reason to come, what about Master Jing? What do you bring him here for? To investigate a case at Taichang Temple?! "
By the end of his statement, his voice had gotten higher, indicating that he was extremely angry.
"I was going to say that it's rude of you not to invite him since our three families are neighbors; but you know why he is here. Come on, say it yourself."
Having said this, State Duke Lu let Jing Shang get out of the way.
Many years ago, Jing Jiu had appeared out of nowhere. Under the deliberate flattery and arrangement of certain people, the Jing residence had undergone an expansion and was officially connected to Duke Lu and the Prime Minister's manor.
It was at that time that Jing Li met Cen Shi by the courtyard wall, when they were still little kids.
The guests might not know about these things, but how could the three families not know?
Prime Minister Cen stared into Jing Shang's eyes and said, "Lord Jing, do you really want to force people against their will?"
Hearing these words, the entire place fell silent.
One of the guests was very surprised and asked in a low voice, "Isn't this Lord Jing of Taichang Temple? Prime Minister, why … "
Several contemptuous gazes fell on him.
An official sneered and said, "You don't know who Lord Jing's younger brother is? The Jing Family can be neighbors with the Prime Minister's Residence and the High Duke's Public House, don't you think about why? "
After the Plum Meeting a few hundred years ago, the Jing Imperial Court had become the bridge connecting the Cultivation circle and the human world. Though the populace didn't know who Jing Jiu was, the chancellors of Zhaoge City were well aware of it.
It was widely acknowledged that Jing Jiu was the strongest swordsman among the young Cultivation practitioners, and he was a sword pointed at Zhaoge City by Aoyama.
However, State Duke Shan proposed marriage to the Prime Minister's Manor that day; why did Duke Lu and Jing Shang come here?
Jing Shang sighed, "This lowly official doesn't dare make things difficult for Prime Minister. I'm just doing my duty as a parent."
Prime Minister Cen knew Jing Shang's background better than anybody else. If it were in the past, the Jing Family would be a good candidate for marriage.
However, as the leader of the civil officials who opposed Jing Yao's succession, how could he marry his granddaughter to Jing Yao's study partner, Jing Li, who had the background of the Aoyama Sect?
To say nothing of the fact that Jing Jiu was merely an elder of the Shenmo Peak, even if he were the sect master of the Aoyama Sect, Prime Minister Cen wouldn't agree to this marriage; he would even oppose it more firmly.
State Duke Shan took two steps forward and demanded expressionlessly, "What do you two want to do? Do you oppose this marriage? "
"No," Jing Shang said. "I just want to propose marriage to the Seventh Mistress of the Manor of Prime Minister on behalf of my son."
Duke Lu remarked sentimentally, "Jing Li and the Seventh Mistress have known each other since they were little. They are innocent and affectionate toward each other. Prime Minister, why do you have to interfere?"
Though he spoke to the Prime Minister, his line of sight was fixed on State Duke Shan's face.
State Duke Shan was extremely angry, thinking that this old man was too much of a bully. "I'd like to see who dares interfere with this marriage!" he yelled sternly.
State Duke Shan had been a disciple of the external department of the Zhongzhou School for three generations. He had a great deal of power in the military in his generation. Though he was not as favored by the Emperor as Duke Lu, he was not afraid of him.
Some officials reacted quickly, thinking that this marriage could make Duke Lu, who had always kept a low profile, come to the Imperial Palace to kill him.
As expected, Duke Lu didn't bother arguing with State Duke Shan. He took out an imperial edict from his sleeve and said to the Prime Minister calmly, "Prime Minister, please accept the imperial edict."
There was an uproar in the Manor of Prime Minister, and then it became deathly quiet.
Looking at the tidy courtyard and the candles and incense that had been prepared to offer sacrifices to heaven, Prime Minister Qin curled up the corners of his mouth, letting out a self-mocking smile; but he had no intention of kneeling down.
Duke Lu's heart skipped a beat. He had no time to think too much about it, and started reading the imperial edict.
A great number of people knelt down in the courtyard, but a few were still standing, including Prime Minister Qin.
As many people had expected, the imperial edict of the Emperor was very clear; it was to appoint a marriage for Jing Li and Cen Shi.
After reading the imperial edict, Duke Lu handed it to the Prime Minister, reminding him again, "Old Cen, why don't you accept the imperial edict?"
Prime Minister Qin looked at Duke Lu in Silence with his hands folded behind his back, saying, "I've married my favorite daughter to Lu Ming, who was the most stubborn one in your manor at the time. I've always thought it was because I had a good judgment, and it was also because you had taught her well. Our families are in-laws by marriage. What do you mean by this? Do you intend to force me?"
Duke Lu remained silent.
The whole of Chaotian knew that the Emperor had intended to appoint the second prince Jing Yao as the Crown Prince, but he was opposed by the civil and military officials led by the Prime Minister.
The imperial edict of appointing the second prince to be the Crown Prince must have some other meaning.
It was deathly quiet in the courtyard, and the atmosphere was exceedingly tense.
Taking a deep breath, Prime Minister Qin said, "Even though the Emperor has appointed the marriage, I still won't agree to it. As such, I won't accept this imperial edict."
There was a slight commotion in the crowd, but it soon quieted down. The officials eyed each other speechlessly.
Prime Minister Qin said expressionlessly, "I've only studied at the House for seven years, but I've never forgotten one thing: the officials shouldn't obey the emperor's order."
If the Emperor's appointment of the marriage had a deeper meaning, the Prime Minister's reply had a deeper meaning as well.
Duke Lu said while staring into his eyes, "You should be aware that this is not only the Emperor's intention."
"Is the Aoyama Sect really that impressive?"
A nonchalant voice burst out from behind State Duke Zhan.
The crowd looked over and found that the man who spoke was one of the people who hadn't knelt down earlier.
The man was tall and big, with a cold and brutal energy, giving off a dreadful feeling.
Bai Qianjun was ranked second in the Dao Competition, and he was a highly talented swordsman in the Yuanying State. More importantly, he was a distant relative of Bai Zhenren.
He came to the Manor of Prime Minister to support State Duke Zhan on behalf of the Zhongzhou School.
It was then that a voice burst out from behind Duke Lu.
The voice was somewhat lazy and seemed to be very listless. However, the contents of the voice caused many people's bodies to tremble slightly.
"Not bad. The Aoyama Sect is indeed impressive …"
Zhuo Rusui walked out from behind Duke Lu.
The guests didn't know who he was, but they guessed his background, causing an uproar.
The expression on Bai Qianjun's face was a bit terrible.
Zhuo Rusui looked at him and said listlessly, "Beat me if you can."
…
…
Woof!
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