Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 152 Garn
tread!tread!tread!
Zidian Hanshuang strode through the thin mist and rushed to the front of the Qi County Duke's Mansion in Banzhengfang.

"Prince,"

Upon seeing that it was the young master returning, the servant hurriedly stepped forward to serve him, bowing slightly as he took the horse reins from Lü Shang's hand.

Lu Shang dismounted and strode towards the inner courtyard. Only after entering the Zhangtai Villa and closing the vermilion gate did he let out a soft sigh of relief.

"That was close,"

He leaned against the vermilion pavilion door, his palms already soaked with cold sweat, his heart pounding like a war drum, making his eardrums buzz.

Although Lü Shang did not show it on his face when he caught a glimpse of the Thunder Department's might just now, even with his near-immortal cultivation, he still felt a little apprehensive when facing the might of the Thunder Department.

When the gaze of the Thunder God fell upon Lü Shang, he felt enveloped by a chilling aura, knowing he would be struck by lightning at any moment.

The main reason was that the gap between the two was too great. Lei Bu Zheng Shen only needed to cast a glance to put Lu Shang under great pressure.

After all, although Lü Shang is now very powerful, having reached the pinnacle of humanity, and ordinary Earth Immortals are no match for him, this time he is not facing Earth Immortals, but true gods from the Upper Realm.

Moreover, he is the strongest Thunder God among all the gods in the Heavenly Court.

After sitting quietly in the pavilion all night, suppressing the last trace of fear in his heart, Lü Shang hung up a wooden sign in his mansion that read "No Guests, Quiet Retreat," declining social engagements and spending his days cultivating his character.

Five days later, the Imperial Attendant arrived at the door with the imperial edict. Lü Yongji and his son Lü Shang set up an incense table in front of the hall to welcome the emperor's edict.

The Imperial Attendant stood before the hall and read out the imperial edict.

"Disciple,
I, by the mandate of Heaven, founded the Great Sui Dynasty, and with the help of my generals, I have brought peace and order to the world. Since the northern barbarians have repeatedly threatened us, I have been constantly concerned about the troubles on the western border, and I have been restless day and night.

General Lü Shang, Duke of Lu County, was exceptionally brave and resolute, possessed far-sighted vision, and was skilled in both literature and military affairs. He repeatedly achieved remarkable feats in the northern campaigns and was truly a pillar of the nation.

I hereby appoint General Lü Shang, Duke of Lu County, as Imperial Envoy and Governor of Liangzhou. You shall obey my orders and pacify the western frontier.

The safety of Liangzhou rests on your shoulders. If the beacon fires are not lit and peace is restored between the Han and the Xiongnu, I will not hesitate to bestow titles and rewards upon you.

Upon hearing the contents of the edict, Lü Yongji's long eyebrows trembled slightly. Lü Shang, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and accepted the edict with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness,"

After reading the imperial edict, the Director of the Palace Attendants smiled and said, "My lords, do not rush to express your gratitude. His Majesty has another decree."

As they spoke, the palace attendant took out a scroll of bright yellow silk from his sleeve.

Upon seeing that there was also an imperial edict, Lü Yongji and his son Lü Shang bowed again to listen to the edict.

The Inner Attendant's gaze swept over Lü Yongji and his son Lü Shang, finally settling on Lü Shang.

"Disciple,
I have observed that the great generals of the past, those who defended the borders and secured the frontiers, were always rewarded with outstanding achievements and exceptional honors.

General Lü Shang, Duke of Lu County, was the vanguard in the campaign against the Hu people. His might shook the northern deserts, and his expansion of territory was as bright as the sun and moon.

Now that the western frontier is entrusted with such a heavy responsibility, no one but you can govern it. I am greatly pleased and you should be given even greater honors to recognize your outstanding achievements.

"Hereinafter bestow upon King Mu a scroll depicting his eight steeds, ten bushels of fine wine, one hundred luminous pearls, and one thousand bolts of Shu brocade, to commemorate his meritorious service."

Compared to the previous edict appointing him, this edict was purely a bestowal of favor.

Emperor Yang Jian used this to demonstrate his favor towards his maternal clan, the Lü family. "The Eight Steeds of King Mu?"

However, when Lü Shang heard that the first gift bestowed by the imperial decree was the painting of the Eight Steeds of King Mu, which had already been designated as part of Lanling's dowry, he was greatly shocked.

Seeing that Lü Shang's expression was unusual, the Palace Attendant chuckled and said, "Lord Lu, this painting of the Eight Steeds of King Mu was originally intended as part of Princess Lanling's dowry."

"The princess knew that you were going to govern Liangzhou, and also heard that you, Lord Lu, loved this painting very much. Therefore, she asked His Majesty for permission and received His Majesty's permission to send this scroll of the Eight Steeds of King Mu to you. His Majesty hopes that you will make good use of this painting."

Upon hearing that he was told to make good use of the painting, Lü Shang sighed inwardly: "It seems that Yang Jian already knows the secret of the Eight Horses Painting!"

It should be noted that the Eight Steeds of King Mu is extremely special. Only those with the bloodline of Lü Shang and Gonggong could sense the primordial spirits of the eight dragons in the painting and thus decipher its mystery.

If it were anyone else, without the bloodline of King Mu, even if they were a deity descended from heaven, they would not be able to decipher the mystery of the Eight Horses of King Mu painting and would only regard it as an ordinary Western Zhou artifact.

Clearly, Yang Jian did discover the extraordinary nature of the Eight Steeds Painting of King Mu. However, although Yang Jian knew the painting was precious, he still included it as part of the dowry for Lanling.

Now, at Lanling's request, the Eight Horses painting, a dowry item, has been handed over to Lü Shang ahead of schedule.

It is said that the emperor possesses the wealth of the four seas. Although Yang Jian has not yet unified the world, with the full support of the Buddhist community in China, his foundation is already unimaginably deep.

Lu Shang's hand trembled slightly on the bright yellow silk book. When he looked up, he had already concealed the turmoil in his eyes. He respectfully kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty's grace is as vast as the sea, and the princess is intelligent and virtuous. What virtue or ability do I have to accept such a great gift?"

Seeing this, the Palace Attendant quickly offered a helping hand and said with a smile, "Lord Lu is a pillar of the nation. The princess heard of your loyalty and bravery, hence this gesture. Before I left, the princess specifically instructed me that Liangzhou is bitterly cold, and she hoped this painting would accompany you on your journey."

Although his voice contained a smile, there was still a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

When Lü Shang rose, he had regained his composure. He took the painting of eight horses from the attendant with both hands, his fingertips tracing the subtle patterns on the silk edge. He was slightly moved, but on his face he only showed admiration. He bowed to the attendant and said, "I trouble the eunuch to inform His Majesty and the princess. I will certainly do my utmost to repay His Majesty's favor."

After saying this, he turned around and ordered his servant to bring him ten yi of gold, which he then stuffed into his sleeve.

"This is just a small gift to express my sincere feelings. I hope the eunuch will understand."

"Lord Lu, you're too kind,"

The palace attendant raised an eyebrow, his smile widening, and after pocketing the gold, he prepared to take his leave.

Lü Yongji and his son Lü Shang escorted the Inner Attendant to the gate and watched as the Inner Attendant's carriage slowly drove away.

After the Inner Attendant had walked away, Lü Yongji turned around and said, "Shang'er, come with me to the study."

In the study, Lü Yongji paused before the rosewood shelf. Only after the servant boy served tea and left did he turn to look at Lü Shang, who stood with his hands at his sides, his gaze falling on the unopened scroll of the Eight Horses painting in his son's arms.

Lu Yongji spoke, saying, "Liangzhou is the throat of Hexi, connecting the Hu and Han peoples, and controlling a vital passage. The Emperor has high hopes for you, bestowing this title upon you first and then bestowing favors upon you. Among all the officials, you are the only one with such an honor."

"But you must remember that the emperor's favor is like a sword hanging over your head; the greater the favor, the colder the blade."

"In the past, when Wang Jian requested land, Xiao He tarnished his reputation, not out of greed, but to conceal his merits. Although the emperor promoted my Lü clan by virtue of his maternal lineage, the powerful clans of Guanzhong are deeply entrenched. He may support you, but he may not be without suspicion. The lesson of Wang Yi is still fresh in our minds. You must be careful!"

Lü Shang replied, "I will certainly be careful."

Lu Yongji continued, "In another year, you will become the son-in-law of Lanling. You have no relatives in the imperial family. Remember, even if you marry a princess, you must be careful. If possible, you should cultivate some supporters in Liangzhou."

(End of this chapter)