Chapter 109: Ascended To Heaven
Seeing the four princes speaking in unison, convinced that Lu Yun’s article was the best, Lu Xi was dumbfounded. He dared to let people tangle with Lu Bai and the others, but how could he dare to contradict the four Your Highnesses?
Seeing the Lu Clan members also following the four princes’ lead, praising Lu Yun as unparalleled in heaven and earth, Lu Xi, who had been full of confidence, felt a strong sense of crisis.
“Quickly go report to my grandfather,” Lu Xi hurriedly said in a deep voice to the shorty: “If they keep making trouble, it won’t end well!”
The shorty understood, nodded, and ran off like a streak of smoke.
The Elder Council was also within Lu Ward, just two or three hundred zhang from the Ritual Education Institute, a quick walk away.
In the Elder Council, several close elders were in Great Elder Lu Wen’s room, drinking tea and chatting idly with him. The Elder Council had no concrete assignments; drinking tea and casual talk was their daily routine.
After chatting for a while about how to deal with Lu Shang next, the topic turned to today’s competition at the Ritual Education Institute. Those present were all the Great Elder’s confidants and naturally knew early on that he had secured Lu Yi, making the sole quota an object in Lu Xi’s bag. Thus, they congratulated Lu Wen one after another.
Lu Wen was also very concerned about the situation with his grandson. At his advanced age, he naturally had no hope of becoming clan leader. The reason he fought Lu Shang to the death was all for his sons and grandsons.
To avoid suspicion, he had not appeared at the Ritual Education Institute, merely sending two confidants to supervise the exam. Seeing the scene outside, Lu Wen thought it was about time for the result.
At this moment, fine footsteps sounded in the courtyard. Several elders laughed, “The bearer of good news is here!”
Lu Wen stroked his beard and smiled reservedly, “Don’t talk nonsense.” But his eyes had already shifted to the doorway.
Then he saw one of Lu Xi’s attendants run in, drenched in sweat. Seeing the expression on his face, Lu Wen knew it was bad news and darkened his face: “What happened?”
The shorty glanced at the several elders nearby. Lu Wen snorted lightly: “Speak freely.”
“Reporting to the Great Elder, there was some trouble outside the Ritual Education Institute.” The shorty hurriedly recounted how Lu Xin proposed posting all the disciples’ articles on the wall for everyone to evaluate together, resulting in Lu Bai and the others insisting Lu Yun’s article was first and desperately belittling Lu Xi, convincing many clan members—a twisted account told to the Great Elder.
“Idiot!” The Great Elder understood immediately and angrily said: “This is clearly Lu Xin’s trick to build momentum for his son! What was Lu Xi blindly meddling in?!”
“The Young Master originally thought that once his article came out, it would stand out from the crowd.” The shorty said timidly: “He also wanted to intimidate Lu Bai and the others, making the championship win indisputable.”
“Arrogant fool!” The Great Elder scowled and cursed.
Seeing the Great Elder angry, one elder hurriedly comforted: “Great Elder, no need to get angry. Lu Xin’s move is very childish. Choosing whom is the Ritual Education Institute’s affair. What use are the words of those youngsters like Lu Bai who haven’t even grown hair yet?”
“The problem is…” the shorty said weakly: “Not only did Lu Bai and they say so, even the four Your Highnesses think the same.”
“What?!” The Great Elder stared at the shorty in shock, incredulously: “How did the four Your Highnesses get dragged into this?!”
“Who says otherwise…” The shorty said with a bitter face: “According to the Eldest Your Highness, they were passing by. The Second Your Highness said they followed the Eldest Your Highness to watch the excitement.”
“Nonsense!” Though the Great Elder had long been out of court, he still knew the Emperor’s family affairs like the back of his hand. In his knowledge, the Eldest Your Highness Huangfu Xuan was sensitive and timid by nature, always fearing slander and avoiding excitement—how could he actively join in?
Moreover, the other Your Highnesses had never gotten along with him—how could they come together?
The Great Elder, accustomed to schemes and plots, immediately felt a vigilance that someone was coming to fight him!
“This is truly bizarre. Even if Lu Xin became a Grandmaster, there are over a hundred Grandmasters in the capital city! Where does he get the face to invite the four Your Highnesses to build momentum for his son!” Several elders said puzzled. Once things involved the Royal Family, they became subtle and complex; they had to figure it out to respond properly.
Thinking deeper, by suppressing Lu Xin so much, would they anger the Emperor? At this thought, several elders felt waves of guilt.
“No, I must go take a look!” But the Great Elder couldn’t afford to think deeply; he knew Lu Yi’s fence-sitter character too well and had to hurry over to apply pressure, or he would inevitably flip with the wind again.
With that, the Great Elder stood up and went out. Servants hurriedly put shoes on him for him and followed as he stormed out of the Elder Council.
Lu Wen had just reached the doorway when he saw one of the elders sent to supervise the exam hurrying back. Seeing Lu Wen, that elder quickly leaned to his ear and softly reported: “There’s trouble at the Ritual Education Institute. Those old pedants insist on ranking the Young Master’s article second…”
“They’re stirring up trouble too!” Lu Wen’s mood worsened, and he asked in a deep voice: “What about Lu Yi?”
“The Fourth Steward chased away the others and shut himself in the room for a while,” that elder hurriedly replied: “I’m worried he’ll change his mind, so I hurried to report to the Great Elder.”
“Well done!” Lu Wen nodded and quickly left the Elder Council, only to see the crowd clamoring outside the Ritual Education Institute. He could only say hatefully: “Go around!”
Thus, several people escorted the Great Elder, taking a big detour to avoid the crowd’s sight, entering through the back door of the Ritual Education Institute. The reporting elder led Lu Xiang straight to the hall where Lu Yi was.
At this moment, the main hall’s doors were still tightly shut. Another elder and several managers were guarding outside boredly. Seeing the Great Elder arrive, the Ritual Education Institute crowd dared not block and quickly cleared the way.
Lu Wen pushed open the door and walked in.
In the hall, Lu Yi was pacing back and forth anxiously with hands behind his back. Hearing someone enter, he angrily said: “Didn’t I say everyone out?” Seeing it was the Great Elder, he cupped his hands and said irritably: “This is big trouble now.”
“What trouble?” The Great Elder sat upright, calmly saying.
“Why pretend, Great Elder?” Lu Yi knelt down irritably and said in a low voice: “Didn’t you see on the way?”
“You mean the noise outside?” The Great Elder asked faintly.
“Not just outside—even the Ritual Education Institute’s instructors all agree that Lu Xin’s son’s article is better than Lu Xi’s!” Lu Yi was truly panicked; at this point, he felt his lifetime reputation was in jeopardy!
“Lu Xi’s article was written by you!” The Great Elder sneered: “Does the Fourth Steward also think he can’t compare to a youngster?”
“Of… of course not!” Lu Yi’s old face reddened: “But at the time, I feared being seen through, so I didn’t use my full ability!”
“You’re obsessed, wise nephew. As they say, in writing there’s no first. You’re the Steward of Ritual Education—choosing whom is just your word?” The Great Elder laughed indifferently.
“I can choose Lu Xi, but others aren’t blind, deaf, or mute. What about my reputation afterward? How can I have the face to teach the clan disciples or stand in this Ritual Education Institute?!” Lu Yi said in a low voice.
“This isn’t a big deal, is it?” The Great Elder smiled and comforted him: “How old is that Lu Yun? I don’t believe his article has no flaws at all. Pick them out for him, and you can legitimately knock him down.”
“I’ve looked at it no less than ten times and really can’t find any flaws!” Lu Yi angrily handed Lu Yun’s article to the Great Elder, expressionless: “Why doesn’t the Great Elder help me pick some?!”
“How could there be no flaws?” The Great Elder was also a parallel prose master and naturally knew writing an article with perfect format, parallelism, and rhythm in a short time was nearly impossible. Disbelieving, he took Lu Yun’s article and read it carefully: “Things align with laws and measures, sounds harmonize with tones and modes. The red strings are subtle yet generous, the mournful tone cuts deep with lingering sorrow…”
After the time to drink a cup of tea, Lu Wen drooped his hand dejectedly: “It really is flawless…”
“Great Elder!” Seeing Lu Wen finally convinced, Lu Yi hurriedly persuaded: “Lu Yun has heaven-defying talent, unmatched in the Lu Clan. Even if you let your grandson take his place this time, it will only add much gossip, which is disadvantageous to your grandson…”
