Chapter 275: Registration
For a period of time afterward, Lu Yun’s life finally returned to its simple, routine track. It seemed unchanged from before, but in reality, everything was different…
Every day, as he walked on the streets of the Lu Clan, clan members would enthusiastically come forward to inquire about his well-being. Those of the same generation showed no hesitation in expressing their admiration for him, trying their best to get close.
Not only people from the Lu Clan, but other various clans also either sent direct lineage disciples or invited him as a guest with invitations from elders, as if he were already a Half-step Xiantian.
People immensely envied Lu Yun’s prestige, unaware that he was so troubled he could barely guarantee normal cultivation. It was only when the Clan Leader saw he couldn’t bear it any longer and personally ordered that Lu Yun reside in Sanwei Hall before the Grand Competition, with all social engagements to be dealt with after.
Only then did Lu Yun get a few days of peace, finally having time to both carefully reflect on everything he had comprehended in the cave and to diligently review his studies and write articles, picking up the writings he had put aside for a long time.
Lu Song, the other two, naturally ate, slept, and cultivated with Lu Yun. With the breakthroughs of Grandmasters like Lu Xian and Sun Yuanlang in the cave as cover, Lu Yun could finally impart some clever tricks and insights to them. In short, the cave was a good excuse; anything could be attributed to it…
In truth, Lu Song and the other two weren’t foolish. They knew Lu Yun couldn’t have suddenly comprehended so much in the cave. However, they were even less foolish than to ask about it. If Lu Yun wanted to teach, they would learn earnestly; if Lu Yun didn’t want to talk about it, they would pretend to be deaf and mute and not ask…
Time flew by like a shuttle, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. This day, after finishing their morning lessons, Lu Yun and the other three were about to head to the training grounds for a spar. They saw Lu Wei already approaching.
“Fifth Uncle, you don’t have to chase after us so closely, we’re not going to skip class,” Lu Song grumbled as soon as he saw Lu Wei. He had been planning to find some fun to relax while on the way to the training grounds.
“Yeah, they don’t even let us catch our breath.” The brothers had indeed been tormented terribly lately; even Lu Lin, who was as strong as an ox, couldn’t take it anymore.
“Oh ho, looks like you have quite a few opinions about me,” Lu Wei said with a cold laugh. “Are you guys taking the test for me? In the end, won’t you be the ones basking in the glory?”
“Indeed, indeed,” Lu Song said, seeing Lu Wei’s displeased expression. Fearing he would be targeted, he quickly plastered on a smile. “We know Fifth Uncle has worked hard and achieved much. After the exam, we’ll bring a pig’s head to your residence to thank you.”
“Get lost,” Lu Wei cursed with a laugh. “Alright, stop with the chatter. Hurry up and wash yourselves, change your clothes, and come out with me.”
“Go where?” Lu Lin asked in a muffled voice.
“To the Ministry of Rites to register!” Lu Wei shot him a glance. “Have you become stupid from reading too much?”
“Ah, so soon?!” All four were surprised. They naturally knew that three days before the Grand Competition, all examinees had to register at the Ministry of Rites.
“There are only three days left until the Grand Competition?” Lu Bai’s mouth felt dry. “How come I feel like I still don’t know anything?”
The other three deeply agreed, and even Lu Yun showed a hint of anxiety.
“If you don’t work hard during regular times, you’ll only regret it when the exam comes,” Lu Wei spat out impatiently and turned to leave, saying, “Hurry up!”
A moment later, Lu Yun and the other three had tidied themselves up, changed into silver-white scholar’s robes, donned black gauze square scarves on their heads, and stepped into pink-soled black boots. They followed Lu Wei onto the carriage.
The carriage, bearing the Lu Clan Emblem, exited the Lu Ward gates under the guidance of a team of guards and headed west along the Luo River. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the carriage stopped.
Inside the carriage, Lu Wei was engaged in lively conversation with the four. Seeing this, he casually asked, “Have we reached the Ministry of Rites yet?”
“Not yet,” the clan member driving the carriage quickly apologized to the five inside. “Steward, four young masters, there’s a severe traffic jam ahead, and the carriage can’t get through.”
“What’s going on?” Lu Song curiously lifted the curtain and looked ahead. He couldn’t help but gasp, exclaiming, “My heavens!”
“What is it? What is it?” Lu Lin quickly leaned over and looked in the direction Lu Song was pointing, then broke into a grin and said, “So many women.”
The Vermilion Bird Street, where the Ministry of Personnel was located, was already a scene of heavy traffic.
In addition to carriages like that of the Lu Clan coming to register, there were even more luxurious carriages and soft palanquins carrying young ladies and wives. Both sides of the street were lined with crowds of onlookers, including young ladies and wives, a dazzling array of them, filling the street with their charm.
“What’s happening?” Lu Lin was stunned by the grand spectacle. He hadn’t seen so many young women out and about even during festivals like the Lantern Festival or the Qixi Festival.
Lu Song and the others also pushed and shoved each other, very excited.
“It’s normal…” Lu Wei said with the tone of someone who had experienced it before: “Every Grand Competition is like this. You must know, this is the first collective appearance of the Great Xuan’s next generation of prominent figures. Those women who consider themselves qualified to marry into prominent families will naturally not miss this opportunity to get a clear view of the elites from various clans. Even those girls of low status hold onto the hope that if they catch the eye of some Young Master, and spend a night together, they might conceive a child and be taken in by the Young Master as a concubine. That would be like a sparrow flying onto a branch, better than marrying a commoner!”
Although Lu Wei’s words were old-fashioned, his eyes darted around, scanning the important parts of the young beautiful women, causing Lu Song and the others to laugh strangely. The four of them whispered for a while, and Lu Lin suddenly grumbled: “Impossible, Fifth Aunt will break Fifth Uncle’s legs…”
“Ahem!” Lu Wei only then snapped back to attention and glared fiercely at them, “You brats, dare to gossip about me!”
While the people in the carriage were chatting and laughing, they heard a shout from outside: “The Xiahou Clan’s carriage is passing through, unnecessary people immediately get out of the way!”
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw several Xuanjia knights waving their horsewhips, driving away the carriages and sedan chairs that were filling the center of the street. Those sedan bearers and carriage drivers reacted a little slowly, and the horsewhips fell on them mercilessly, causing them to cry out in pain. They hurriedly urged their horses and carried their sedan chairs to the side of the road to avoid them.
The already crowded carriages and sedan chairs were instantly squeezed into a chaotic mess, and the young ladies inside screamed and cried incessantly, creating a scene of utter confusion!
However, a passage was still cleared. Six luxurious carriages bearing the emblem of the Xiahou Clan rumbled down the long street.
Watching the Xiahou Clan’s carriages pass by, Lu Wei shook his head and sighed, “The Xiahou Clan is truly arrogant, showing no regard for tender feelings.” After speaking, he ordered the coachman to hurry up and follow the Xiahou Clan’s carriages towards the entrance of the Ministry of Personnel.
.
In front of the Ministry of Personnel, a gate guarded by soldiers isolated unnecessary people outside the yamen. This was a barrier established after the incident of being surrounded by disaster victims, and who would have thought it would play such a significant role today. If not for this gate, those young women and wives, who were even more fierce than the disaster victims, would have squeezed into the Ministry of Personnel.
Seeing the Xiahou Clan’s carriages approaching, the soldiers of the Ministry of Personnel quickly opened the gate. Inside the gate, various clans’ carriages were already parked, and elite young men from noble clans, dressed in various colors, stepped forward to welcome the arrival of the Xiahou Clan.
The six carriages stopped steadily on the large flat ground. Five Xiahou Clan warriors leaped from the leading carriage, rushed to the sides of the following five carriages, set up the carriage steps, and opened the carriage doors with synchronized movements.
From the second carriage, a tall, imposing, and heroic young man with a square face and broad mouth descended. Looking at his appearance, he was the spitting image of a younger Xiahou Ba. He was also the eldest son and grandson of Grand Tutor Xiahou, and the leader of the younger generation of the Xiahou Clan – Xiahou Rongguang!
Three more young men, equally tall and sturdy, with quite similar features but slightly different demeanors, descended from the next three carriages. They were the other three candidates from the Xiahou Clan participating in the Grand Competition – Xiahou Rongyao, Xiahou Rongda, and Xiahou Rongsheng!
