(Nearly fifteen thousand words. If you break it up, it'll be five chapters. But I won't play this kind of pointless trick, so I still owe five chapters this month. I'll pay it back slowly. PS: This chapter can be considered a major turning point between Jianghu and the imperial court.)
Hsu Fengnian didn't expect that as soon as he got off the carriage, he would be met with such a sudden grievous news. Fortunately, the eldest di grandson of the Lu Family, who was his future father-in-law, wasn't a pedantic, inflexible scholar. He quickly carried the Ancestor on his back and led them secretly into the mansion through a side door. The Lu Family's threshold was indeed much higher than that of an ordinary official's residence. The ground inside the mansion was also much higher than the alley outside. Bypassing the specially bestowed colored glaze screen wall, they didn't take the main road. Instead, they headed west and chose one of the six side roads. High and noble families had rules and regulations. Not only were the eaves of the side roads a few inches lower, the courtyard gates and the ground were also a full three feet lower than the main road. Usually, it was the servants and servants who walked on these side roads, so many of the eldest di sons and grandsons of the powerful families, from young to old, would never walk on this side road in their entire lives. Because of the meeting with Beiliang Xu Xiao and his party tonight, the odd-job workers were forbidden to go out after nightfall. They were even exempted from the duty of guarding the courtyard at night. However, there were many side rooms in the mansion and officials' aides who might not scrupulously abide by the rules. Xiang Fan City also had an unusually large number of brothels. After Li Baishi, who was both beautiful and beautiful, left Qingzhou, the flock of phoenixes had no leader. In order to compete for the top courtesan, they spared no effort. Almost every night in Xiang Fan City was filled with music and song. Fortunately, the Lu and Wen clans, which faced each other, were close to the end of the alley between the sheep houses. Many famous and debauchee, who didn't mind criticism, would enter the mansion from the other end. Old Assistant Minister Wen Taiyi, who held the power to promote and demote all the officials in the world, had returned home many years ago to visit his relatives and pay respects to the graves. He had cursed the foul atmosphere, and only then did the sheep house alleyway become peaceful for a period of time. When Assistant Minister Wen returned to the capital, his ignorant and incompetent great-grandson, who had not yet reached the age of twenty, was the first to return home with two courtesans from the brothel. The alley immediately reverted to its old state and went out of control. Hsu Fengnian followed behind Lu Dongjiang. Although the County Governor lived a life of having food and clothing at his beck and call, if he wanted to be a famous scholar, he had to be diligent. It was physically demanding work. It was not easy to eat, drink, talk, climb high, and write essays. However, the Lu family's mansion was deep.
Lu Dongjiang walked in a hurry. Coupled with his absent-mindedness, he stumbled and fell to the ground. Hsu Fengnian picked up the lantern and followed behind him. He did not deliberately support Lu Dongjiang. Lu Dongjiang's nose was bruised and his face was swollen. He was sobbing and could not stand up. To live in this world, one had to have a certain amount of spirit to support them. Once this spirit was released, everything would come to an end. At that time outside the mansion, in order to not lose in front of Xu Xiao, Shang Zhu Guo, Lu Feichi, had to forcefully hold on to that last breath. Originally, he was at the end of his life. However, he might still be able to hold on for one or two spring and autumn. Like boiling oil, it was quickly gone. Xu Xiao looked at the scholar whose head had hit the ground and sighed. Hsu Fengnian walked over and squatted down. He stuffed the bamboo lantern into Lu Dongjiang's hands and carried the old man's body on his back. Lu Dongjiang sat on the ground. His face was pale. He wiped his tears and stood up. He hesitated for a moment. In the end, he did not speak and walked forward silently.
Lu Dongjiang said softly, "The Old Ancestor has left."
Lu Chengyan stood at the door of the side courtyard. When she saw this scene, she covered her mouth and did not dare to cry out.
In front of Xu Xiao and Hsu Fengnian, Lu Dongjiang still had to do his best to maintain the bearing of an aristocratic son. His lips trembled when he saw his daughter's pitiful appearance. He leaned against the wall with one hand.
On the contrary, Lu Chengyan, who had just received the bad news, suppressed her sobbing and comforted her father gently, "Father, the Old Ancestor has died of old age. A few days ago, he told Yan 'er that he knew he did not have much time left. If the Old Ancestor's spirit in heaven saw us unable to recover from this setback, he would not be able to rest in peace."
Lu Dongjiang nodded. He used his sleeve to wipe his face. He wiped it again and again. For a long time, he did not turn his head to look at anyone.
Xu Xiao said calmly, "Minister Lu did not live a sullen life. There are only a few people in the entire imperial court who have the good fortune to be able to retire unscathed from a high official position. This King has always been critical of the ministers of the previous dynasty. After he became a general and was conferred the title of King, he would always criticize them whenever he met them. However, he did not have any complaints towards Minister Lu. "
After all, Lu Chengyan could still force a smile. She invited everyone into the yard. Hearing this, Lu Dongjiang secretly cried again. He looked down at the lantern and was a little confused. Originally, Lu Dongjiang thought that after his grandfather's advice, he was already a different person from the County Chief of Taixi Commandery. After his grandfather left, he immediately returned to his original state. In addition to the father and son of the Xu family, there was also Yuan Zuozong, the famous general of the Spring and Autumn Cavalry War who was not unfamiliar to Lu Chengyan. There were also Han Laoshan and Xu Yanbing, the two close retinues of the King of Beiliang. However, there was one person that made Lu Chengyan's pupils shrink. She recognized the young woman. She was Wang Dongxiang of Laoshan Mountain. Her father, Wang Linquan, was once a soldier of the general!
At dawn the next day, Hsu Fengnian, who had not slept the whole night, quietly went out of the mansion from the back door. He took Yuan Zuozong to Yongzi Alley. The men of sacrifice secretly followed them as usual.
Hsu Fengnian walked in the alley and smiled slowly, "Brother Yuan, letting Lu Chengyan be the concubine of Beiliang is to win over the Lu Family and lay a foundation for the scholars to die in the cold. Even if we buy a horse worth a hundred gold at a high price, it will also be mutually beneficial. I don't have any burden on this marriage. However, involving Wang Chudong is not only because the Wang Family's financial resources cannot be underestimated, but also to stabilize the morale of the old soldiers. Aren't we too philistine?"
Yuan Zuozong said indifferently, "The Xu family and the Wang family are willing to be beaten and the other is willing to be beaten. It is even more so for His Highness and the woman surnamed Wang who likes His Highness. It is not philistine. Moreover, if it were not for Lu Qiuer's support, the Wang Family would not have today's wealth. "
Hsu Fengnian came to a wall in Yongzi Alley, "The first time I came to Xiangfan City, I saw the scene of the Six-pearl Bodhisattva leading thousands of ghosts out of the city. Later on, he met the blind chess player Lu Xu here. At that time, he left in a hurry and did not believe in his luck. In addition, he did not believe that chess skills had anything to do with governance. In the end, he missed the opportunity to meet this hidden genius strategist. Now, he regretted it so much. If I had known that this guy was a romantic figure who could write the Two Essays and Fourteen Strategies, I would have tied him up and brought him to Beiliang. "
Yuan Zuozong smiled, "That's philistine."
Hsu Fengnian laughed involuntarily.
Hsu Fengnian sighed, "After Lu Feichi's death, the Lu Family has to delay for a while. That's nothing. I'm just worried that trouble will arise and things will get complicated. "
Yuan Zuozong said calmly, "That's why Lu Chengyan kept the funeral a secret. She only said that the ancestor of the Lu Family was sick. This woman is not simple. "
Xu Fengnian smiled bitterly and said, "Seeing how she settled the Wang girl with just a few words, she vaguely has the demeanor of a first wife. Also, when she was in the Wutong Courtyard, I knew that this woman was not simple. I don't know who can suppress her in the future."
Yuan Zuozong nodded seriously, "The Princess candidate should be decided as soon as possible."
Hsu Fengnian hugged his hands and exhaled a breath of mist. He squinted and smiled, "Before going to Beimang, I talked with Xu Xiao. At that time, I naively thought that it was not impossible to pinch my nose and marry Yan Wenluan's granddaughter. Now, I finally feel relieved. She looks like her father, rougher than a strong man. That's not all. But her temper is very bad. Just thinking about it makes me scared. "
Yuan Zuozong smiled slightly.
Hsu Fengnian walked slowly along the alley, "I heard that Gu Dazhu's adopted son, Yuan Tingshan, killed a Vajra Realm master in the north with Nanhua Saber, the head of the Talisman Saber. Tuoba Chunsun of Beimang also killed a Xuan Finger Realm master in Vajra Realm. Every dog has its day. If you meet them now, you will be chased by them for ten blocks. "
Yuan Zuozong said, "Your Highness, Gu Jiantang became the Minister of War because of his saber skills. But because of his saber skills, he can't go further in the court. He is too arrogant. As a general, he is almost invincible in war. But as an official, he is barely satisfactory. The problem is that Gu Jiantang knows that he is not as good as his adoptive father, but he can't change his character. If he does, it will damage his cultivation. "
Hsu Fengnian turned his head and smiled, "Brother Yuan, are you reminding me that I can't have the best of both worlds? If I want to be a good King of Beiliang, I shouldn't be obsessed with martial arts. "
Yuan Zuozong nodded solemnly.
Hsu Fengnian was silent. When they were about to turn out of Yongzi Alley, he suddenly said, "Brother Yuan, you probably know my temperament. Sometimes I can't change my mind. If I go the wrong way, no one will be willing to blame me. You must remind me. If you can't persuade me, you must hit me to wake me up."
Yuan Zuozong still said meticulously, "It's difficult. Your Highness will be the King of Beiliang in the future. Even if I dare to offend you, I'm afraid that Your Highness will not let me kill the enemy. It's really a helpless thing. "
"Brother Yuan, can you not be so serious when you tell a joke in the future?"
"It's difficult."
"Brother Yuan, I'm helpless right now."
When the two walked out of the alley, their sight suddenly became clear. There were many hawkers selling food along the street. They would not get up early if there was no profit. The King, the general, and the servants were all the same.
Hsu Fengnian looked at the gradually bustling street and said softly, "In fact, Lu Dongjiang and Lu Chengyan also know that if it weren't for the Lieutenant who was humble under the eyes of the Cabinet, Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang, whose power is far above the Lu Family, the Old Ancestor of the Lu Family had already used up his remaining energy and spirit, he wouldn't have died so hastily. If it's the Xu family who forced Lu Feichi to death, it's not wrong to put the blame on us. I'm afraid that Lu Chengyan can endure this resentment, but Lu Dongjiang may not be able to. It's difficult for an upright official to solve a family dispute. If there is a time when he puts righteousness before family, he will be in a difficult position. "
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