Chapter 51: Being Too Popular Is Also Troublesome
When the Great Xuan was first established, the Initial Emperor was assigned by the Founding Emperor to remain in Guangzhong and manage the civil affairs of several prefectures, gaining extensive experience. Hearing Cui Yan’s suggestion, he understood it to be a good remedy. Combining the relief of disaster victims with the repair of river dikes would achieve two goals with one expenditure, greatly alleviating the Imperial Court’s difficulties.
This method, though seemingly simple, was clearly understood by the Initial Emperor to be the kind of skill needed for the intricate and complex affairs of state, akin to a skilled butcher’s knife. The person who conceived this method was undoubtedly a genius in handling political affairs, which was why he exceptionally summoned Li Dayin immediately, wanting to see if he could recruit this unaffiliated commoner official for his own use.
Upon hearing Li Dayin say that the method was conceived by someone else, the Initial Emperor could not help but feel slightly disappointed. “Who exactly came up with it?”
“It was the son of the Grand Court’s Right Censor, Young Master Lu Yun!” Li Dayin, being a grateful person, recounted the story vividly on the spot.
Although he was not good-looking, he was an excellent orator. He narrated one event so vividly that the Emperor and all the officials felt as if they had witnessed it themselves. Hearing that the ruffians, driven by greed, incited the disaster victims to attack Lu Yun’s convoy, everyone became worried for Lu Yun and his companions.
When they heard that Lu Yun had brought the disaster victims to Yongqiu County, the gates of Yongqiu County were shut tight, and swords were drawn on the city walls, everyone’s hearts were in their mouths.
When they heard that Lu Yun went to the city alone and, with just a few words, persuaded Li Dayin to take the disaster victims in as laborers, thus resolving the siege by the women and helping Yongqiu County solve a major problem, everyone could not help but cheer. They never imagined that he could resolve such a seemingly unsolvable crisis with such a simple method. Moreover, it benefited the disaster victims and aided the government.
Perhaps it is this that is meant by a wise and resourceful person from ancient times…
Seeing that the Emperor and the officials were listening with great interest, Li Dayin struck while the iron was hot and recounted how Lu Yun, without any fuss, separated the disaster victims from the ruffians, captured them all, and helped the government crack down on more than a dozen major cases of murder and robbery, speaking with great animation.
This time, even the Initial Emperor could not help but exclaim, “Good! Very good! Excellent! Truly, a hero emerges from youth, as in ancient times. This Lu Yun is even better than Gan Luo and Xun Guan!” He paused, then said with great enthusiasm, “Is his father present?”
Many cast envious glances at Lu Xin. Lu Xin quickly stepped forward and respectfully said, “This humble servant, Lu Xin, thanks His Majesty on behalf of my son. Your Majesty’s praise is too great. My son is but a young and daring novice, and it was merely by chance.”
“Let others try their luck and show it to me,” the Initial Emperor seemed to have developed a great interest in Lu Yun, and said to Lu Xin with a smile, “Bring him to the palace another day, so that I may have a good look at your Kirin Child!”
“My son has just returned to the capital and is unfamiliar with etiquette.” If anyone else heard that the Emperor wanted to summon their son, they would have been overjoyed. Especially for someone like Lu Xin from a collateral lineage of noble clans, it was a heaven-sent opportunity for his son to soar to high officialdom! However, Lu Xin’s heart was tied in a knot, and he tried his best to delay, saying, “I implore Your Majesty to grant me some time, so that I may teach him some etiquette, lest he offend your sacred eyes.”
“Why so many rules? Don’t let you teach such a clever child wrongly,” the Initial Emperor said with a dismissive laugh. “In a while, I will go to Cuiyun Palace to escape the heat. Let him accompany me.”
“This subject… obeys the decree.” What else could Lu Xin say at this point?
The morning court had already dragged on for quite some time, and the Initial Emperor was also somewhat tired. After Lu Xin withdrew, he said to Cui Yan, “Let this Li…”
“Li Dayin,” Cui Yan quickly reminded the Emperor softly.
“Yes, Li Dayin. Don’t let him go back. Give him an assignment in your Ministry of Personnel to help you strategize on the work-relief program,” the Initial Emperor commanded.
No one would interfere with such a small matter, and Cui Yan respectfully issued the order.
“We shall end here,” the Initial Emperor said, waving his hand.
“We respectfully bid farewell to His Majesty!” The officials bowed, seeing the Initial Emperor leave.
As soon as the Emperor left, the officials remained prostrate, not daring to rise until the seven Dukes stood up.
When attending court, the seven Dukes arrived the latest, but when leaving, they were the first to depart.
The seven Dukes and the Eunuch Zuo walked past the officials towards Ying Tian Gate. As they passed Lu Xin, several Dukes glanced at him. At their age and status, no one could discern what they were thinking. Therefore, Lu Xin could not judge how these important figures felt about him.
That’s not quite right. At least Duke Ning, Mei Yi, did not hide her look of disgust. Her own daughter was burned to death at Phoenix Temple. Even after ten years, the Old Madam still wished she could tear the Xiahou Clan apart, and naturally, she also harbored immense ill will towards Lu Xin, who had aided and abetted the crime!
Seeing Lu Xin’s slight discomfort, Cui Yan smiled and extricated him, saying, “Nephew, I have not yet thanked you on behalf of my Ying Zhi. I will host a banquet another day and invite your entire family over for a gathering.”
Lu Xin hastily and respectfully accepted.
“No, you must come to my place first!” Unexpectedly, Pei Qiu suddenly interjected. Originally, he had no intention of expressing anything to Lu Xin, but hearing Cui Yan’s enthusiastic invitation, this Pei Clan Leader could not help but blurt out, “White Impermanence, you can host a banquet if you wish, but it must be after mine!”
Cui Yan, usually gentle and refined, became frighteningly angry only when facing Pei Qiu. Upon hearing this, he was immediately displeased and retorted, “Black Impermanence, I am hosting a banquet for my own son. What business is it of yours?”
“Mingyue is my niece, so what business is it of yours?” Pei Qiu rudely pointed at Lu Xin and declared, “It’s settled then. If you dare go to his house first, I’ll tear your house down!”
“Nephew, I spoke first, you figure out what to do.” Cui Yan was not as easy to talk to as his youngest son; although he didn’t tear down Lu Xin’s house, he certainly undermined him.
Lu Xin knew that he had become a chip in a dispute between two clan leaders. He dared not offend either of them and felt helpless, caught in the middle.
“What are you two up to? Do you think I don’t exist?” At this moment, Lu Shang appeared before the three of them. He pointed his finger at Pei Qiu and Cui Yan, scolding with a laugh, “Do you two old fogeys have any shame? Is this how you thank someone? You’re bullying my son! As he spoke, he patted Lu Xin’s shoulder, signaling him to leave with him. He then said to Cui Yan and Pei Qiu, “If you truly want to express your gratitude, come to our Lu Clan. Don’t come up with these silly things. I’ve never seen anything like this…”
Lu Shang left shaking his head, as if he disdained associating with these two old men. Lu Yun smiled apologetically at the two elders and quickly followed their Sect Master.
Xiahou Ba had been watching the group chat and laugh with a smile, but when he saw Lu Shang acting like an elder and leading Lu Xin away directly, his brow twitched involuntarily.
Xie Xun, the Xie Clan Leader, who had been following him, sneered, “Old Master Lu is trying to pick the peaches.”
Xiahou Ba snorted. A mere Lu Xin, even with that so-called genius son, was not worth his attention. However, whoever the Xiahou Clan sets their sights on, no one can snatch away! Even if he is a disciple of the Lu Clan, Lu Shang must obediently hand him over!
.
Outside Ying Tian Gate, carriages from various clans waited for their leaders. Seeing Lu Shang emerge, the Lu Clan guards quickly brought over his carriage.
Although Lu Shang was once a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster, he was now seventy-two years old, and his vitality had declined to an unrecognizable state, likely unable to even contend with a Black Rank Expert. Therefore, whenever he went out, he was always accompanied by a guard of Earth Rank Grandmaster level and over a dozen Black Rank Experts for protection. This was just within the Capital City; if he were to leave the city, the number of protectors would double, and Heavenly Rank Grandmasters might even be mobilized.
Today was a day for the imperial court assembly. Six of the Lu Clan’s eight stewards were imperial court officials, so at this moment, six Grandmasters followed behind Lu Shang. Lu Shang looked around and waved his hand, saying, “You all go, Lu Xin will accompany me.”
Lu Xiu, the Great Steward of the Lu Clan and Lu Shang’s son, said in a deep voice, “Father, at least a steward should accompany you. Let me come along.”
“I know, the rules.” Lu Shang shook his head, “It’s enough to have him, a Grandmaster, accompanying me. You all go.”
“Ah!” The six Great Stewards were all stunned. Even Lu Xin was surprised, not expecting to be exposed so quickly.
