Chapter 72: Accompany The Emperor
Sure enough, they safely returned to the Capital City all the way.
Upon arriving at Congshan Ward, the two families parted ways, and Madam Cui and daughter naturally stayed north of the Luo River.
Lu Yun returned home and saw Uncle Bao waiting in his room.
“Young Master Lu’s instructions have all been arranged. In another ten days or half a month, we should see results,” Uncle Bao said as he helped Lu Yun change into home casual thin robes. The two sat facing each other inside the room.
“I must trouble Uncle Bao a bit more.” Lu Yun softly instructed: “Keep a close eye on Qing Feng Garden these days.”
“Qing Feng Garden?” Uncle Bao thought for a moment and said: “That’s the Lu Clan’s villa.”
“Correct.” Lu Yun nodded and said: “It now belongs to Lu Jian.”
“Lu Jian?” Uncle Bao was stunned. “Does Young Master Lu want to deal with him?”
“It’s Lu Feng.” Lu Yun simply told Uncle Bao what happened today. After finishing, he lightly sighed and said: “Originally, I should handle it personally, but tomorrow is the day to accompany the Emperor, so I can only leave him to Uncle Bao.”
“Young Master Lu, rest assured! As soon as Lu Feng leaves Qing Feng Garden, it will be his end!” Uncle Bao nodded heavily. Anyone who dared to harm Lu Yun was his enemy. After speaking, he looked at Lu Yun worriedly and said: “Tomorrow you will meet Huangfu Yu. Does Young Master Lu have confidence in getting through it?”
“He shouldn’t recognize me.” Lu Yun gently clenched his fist, then released it and said: “I will make sure he doesn’t recognize me…” He had repeatedly considered it: if his identity was exposed, could he risk it all and capture the Initial Emperor in one fell swoop! But every time, the answer was no—that would only fulfill the Xiahou Clan’s wishes and implicate his whole family.
“In any case, Young Master Lu must be extremely careful,” Uncle Bao instructed worriedly.
“I will.” Lu Yun nodded, a dark gleam flickering in his eyes.
.
The next morning, after washing up, Lu Yun sat in front of the bronze mirror and carefully adjusted his face.
He had studied disguise technique for years, so changing his appearance was a piece of cake. But this time, the difficulty was to make it not differ much from his true appearance while ensuring no one could see the shadows of his parents on him.
Lu Xin and Lu Ying also came over. The former had met the Qianming Emperor and the Empress. He stared unblinkingly at Lu Yun, who gently applied white powder to the sides of his nose and the bridge. With Lu Yun’s movements, his face underwent subtle changes—the sides of his nose became thicker, the bridge less sharp, and his originally refined nose became rounder and thicker.
Lu Yun had only slightly altered the shape of his nose, yet Lu Xin and Lu Ying, who saw him every day, suddenly felt a strong sense of unfamiliarity.
He then slightly adjusted his cheeks, chin, eye corners, and eyebrow tips. Though the change in appearance seemed small, the originally clear, spirited, and aloof youth turned into a honest, simple young man who made people feel involuntarily close.
“Wonderful!” This was the first time Lu Xin saw Lu Yun display disguise technique. He couldn’t help clapping and praising: “Now, no trace of your birth parents can be seen at all!”
“But I still prefer your original appearance,” Lu Ying said with a worried frown: “Younger Brother, you won’t keep showing this face to people from now on, will you?”
“No need.” Lu Yun softly comforted Lu Ying: “Once they have seen my appearance, I can gradually change back to my original face.”
“Correct.” Lu Xin nodded and said: “Once familiar with a person, one becomes accustomed to their appearance and won’t have other thoughts.”
“That’s good.” Lu Ying breathed a sigh of relief. She helped Lu Yun put on the attire for audience with the Son of Heaven, carefully straightened his accessories, then stepped back a few steps, looked him up and down, and said: “Still very handsome.”
Lu Yun smiled, bid farewell to his sister, then rode in a carriage with Lu Xin toward north of the Luo River.
.
In the carriage.
Lu Xin was no longer worried about Lu Yun being exposed and finally had the mood to talk to him about yesterday: “I heard you knocked out all the teeth of Xie Xun’s grandson?”
“Yes.” Lu Yun nodded and said: “My skills are not refined enough—it took five blows to leave him toothless.”
“Heh…” Lu Xin knew Lu Yun did it on purpose. This way, it could increase Xie Tian’s pain and also lead people to misjudge his strength. “What’s done is done. After all, Father is a Grandmaster and can protect you.”
“I also wanted to wake them up and remind them that I have a Grandmaster father.” Lu Yun smiled embarrassedly: “Using Father as a shield again.”
“I’m used to it.” Lu Xin shook his head with a bitter smile: “As for you, do you plan to show people an impulsive face from now on?”
“Yes, it’s very important.” Lu Yun nodded and said: “Otherwise, many of my future actions won’t have reasonable motives, and over time, it will inevitably arouse suspicion.”
“As long as you know what you’re doing,” Lu Xin instructed: “But I advise you not to fight with anyone again before the Grand Competition next spring. Too much fighting and killing will spread a bad reputation to the top and put you at a disadvantage.”
“Yes.” Lu Yun nodded obediently. Not listening to elders brings immediate loss—he had indeed overlooked this.
“By the way, Father,” after a moment of silence between father and son, Lu Yun asked: “When will the clan hold a banquet for you?”
“Set for seven days later—you won’t make it.” Lu Xin smiled.
“That’s truly a pity.” Lu Yun lightly sighed. The Grandmaster banquet was Lu Xin’s big day. It was to announce to the various clans that Lu Xin had returned to the Lu Clan’s direct lineage and become a pillar the family relied on! It was regrettable he couldn’t attend.
“No matter, there’s plenty of time!” Lu Xin smiled consolingly: “For now, put all your mind into this accompanying the Emperor. It’s a heaven-sent opportunity many seek but can’t get. Perform well and you can skip years of struggle!” He paused, then softly added: “If you cause trouble, it’ll be hard to turn your life around.”
“I understand.” Lu Yun nodded in acknowledgment.
“Actually, you may not get to see His Majesty.” Lu Xin examined Lu Yun for a long time, then suddenly said this.
“Uh…” Lu Yun was stunned.
“It’s been almost seven or eight days. The Emperor has so many things to worry about daily—he might have forgotten you.” Lu Xin said with a complex gaze: “It’s actually common for those ordered to accompany the Emperor to ultimately not see him.” Before, Lu Xin had worried about Lu Yun being exposed and hoped for this. Now the situation was different, and he worried Lu Yun would make the trip in vain.
“Since I’m going, I must gain something,” Lu Yun understood and softly said: “Father needn’t worry. I will adapt accordingly.”
.
Lu Xin sent Lu Yun to the palace doorway and saw an eunuch already waiting there. Upon seeing Lu Xin, the eunuch complained: “Ai ya, Lord Lu has finally arrived. Look what time it is.”
It was just dawn, and the eunuch was clearly talking nonsense, but Lu Xin smiled apologetically: “Sorry, sorry. May I know this eunuch’s honorable name?” As he spoke, he warmly took the eunuch’s hand.
The eunuch felt a weight in his hand and knew from the heft it was a bag of gold. His face instantly melted like ice and snow, beaming: “No need for formalities. This one’s family name is Hu—my humble name isn’t worth mentioning. Lord Lu can just call me Little Hu.”
“So it’s Eunuch Hu.” Lu Xin smiled and cupped his hands, introducing Lu Yun to Eunuch Hu: “This is my son Lu Yun.”
“So this is Young Master Lu! I’ve heard so much!” On account of the bag of gold, Eunuch Hu was very enthusiastic toward Lu Yun: “Indeed a fine talent, a dragon among men. No wonder His Majesty keeps mentioning you.”
Though Lu Yun disdained it, he knew it was better to please the underlings than the King of Hell himself, so he respectfully saluted Eunuch Hu.
“My son is accompanying the Emperor for the first time and knows nothing. Please instruct him much, Eunuch, and don’t let him make mistakes.” Lu Xin politely requested: “There will surely be generous thanks later.”
“Where where.” Eunuch Hu readily agreed: “Lord Lu, put your heart at ease. With me here, Young Master Lu won’t go wrong!”
“As for His Majesty, please remind him at the opportunity.” Lu Xin then said the most important line.
“Of course.” This time, Eunuch Hu didn’t make absolute promises, answering vaguely. “Alright, Lord Lu, please return. I still have a pile of things.” Then he said to Lu Yun: “Young Master Lu, let’s go in.”
Lu Yun deeply saluted Lu Xin, then turned and followed Eunuch Hu into Ziwei Palace.
Lu Xin watched the two worriedly until Lu Yun’s figure disappeared deep in the palace gate, then turned back full of anxiety. Though he knew Lu Yun had strong martial arts and many strategies, Lu Xin still felt like an old bird watching its fledgling leave the nest, his heart filled with concern…
