Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 111 Traveling Together
Just as she was pondering this, Anuo quietly ran in and handed her two steamed buns and a small bag.

Pei Chuyun opened the small bag and picked up a tiny bib with two fingers: "What's this?"

“A bellyband.” Anuo scratched her head: “My master secretly told me to buy it.”

"So you bought a children's bib?"

"Huh? Isn't this just a bellyband? Are there other kinds of bellybands?"

Pei Chuyun held it up to her chest and gestured, her face expressionless: "Is this how you see it?"

Ah Nuo turned and ran.

Pei Chuyun reached out and grabbed her by the back of her collar, gritting her teeth: "Go buy another one!"

Ah Nuo turned her head and smiled apologetically: "Sister Ah Yi..."

"what?"

"Believe me, if you really dress like that in front of my master, he'll probably have to suffer the consequences of your 'Charming Maiden's Harmony Technique.' I'm just trying to help you."

Pei Chuyun: "You're six years old?"

Ah Nuo puffed out her chest: "The New Year is over, she should be seven years old by now!"

She should actually be eleven years old... Ah Nuo touched her index fingers together, looking quite distressed.

In some families, girls this age are already engaged... How come A-Nuo is still so small? Has she not taken enough pills yet...?

Ah Nuo was lost in thought. Pei Chuyun glanced at her for a while, then took the opportunity to pull her a little closer.

Anuo was lost in thought and didn't pay much attention when Pei Chuyun suddenly swung her hand and slapped the little brat on the bottom: "You're my enemy too, and you're still pretending to be cute! You tricked me into drinking spring water, and you took me to the Sword Edge Hall!"

"What's that noise inside?" Meng Guan asked casually as he and Lu Xingzhou made tea at the stone table in the outer courtyard.

Lu Xingzhou remained unfazed: "Oh, maybe it's just that wicked disciple playing with the cat."

Meng Guan chuckled: "Never mind... I came here to ask Mr. Lu how you plan to handle the aftermath of this matter?"

"Is the Prefect truly not afraid of offending the Huo family?"

"No matter how powerful the Huo family is, they can't control everything. They always have political enemies."

"Pei?"

Meng Guan smiled but remained silent.

Lu Xingzhou said, "Then what do you think, Prefect, if I want Huo Lu to die on the way to the capital to eliminate any future troubles?"

Meng Guan shook his head: "I don't recommend doing that. In fact, it's unnecessary. Huo Lu's dantian is completely destroyed and his bones are all shattered. Even a magic pill can't cure him."

"What if it can be cured?"

"If the Huo family really has that ability... then we dare not treat them."

"Hmm?" Lu Xingzhou paused, then asked, "Why? I'd like to hear the details."

"Because Grand Tutor Huo presented His Majesty with an 'ancestral elixir,' which brought him back from the brink of serious injury, but it has never been able to completely cure him. If Huo Lu's injuries could suddenly be healed, what would that mean, and what would His Majesty think?"

Lu Xingzhou was naturally unaware that the emperor had been seriously injured. Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up, and he fell into deep thought without saying a word.

This might turn out to be a good thing later...

There's really no need to kill Huo Lu then, and we can do the same to other members of the Huo family in the future...

“Although the Huo family has enjoyed the Emperor’s favor over the years, it is not without its flaws.” Meng Guan said in a low voice with a profound meaning, “If the Seventh Young Master goes to the capital, he might as well go and see Prime Minister Pei. He should be very happy to meet with the Seventh Young Master.”

Lu Xingzhou asked, "Could the Prefect provide a letter of introduction?"

"In this case, I will clearly state your significant contribution. Everyone in the capital will know that Lu Xingzhou, who has made this contribution, is none other than Huo Qi... Your name will serve as the letter of introduction." Meng Guan smiled and said, "Unless Young Master Qi himself does not wish to be too high-profile and hopes to conceal his role in the Xiazhou and Dongjiang cases?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "No need to hide it anymore."

Meng Guan said, "When I saw you blocking Huo Lu in the street, I knew you were no longer going to hide... What, are you planning to openly enter the imperial court later?"

"Yes," Lu Xingzhou said. "I'm going directly to the capital after leaving Menggui City to participate in the examination of the Capital Pill Academy. Does the Prefect have any advice for me on this?"

Even though the examinations at the Imperial Academy of Alchemy are rigorous, they're not as outrageously strict as the imperial examinations; there's still room for personal connections to play a role. Shen Tang can't exert that influence, but others might.

In a system where there is no "provincial governor" but only a "prefect" responsible for supervision, Meng Guan, as the governor of a large prefecture, is equivalent to a local warlord. He has face that belongs to him, beyond the Pei family behind him.

Meng Guan chuckled and said, "You've come to the right person. Meng Li, the instructor at Dan Academy, is my own brother."

He then actually picked up a pen and wrote a letter, adding, "However, you should probably reconsider your idea of ​​getting in through connections; that's basically impossible. But I can still ensure you're not maliciously harassed and that you get a relatively fair environment. Otherwise... hehe, I'm afraid you'll have a hard time."

"I am already very grateful." Lu Xingzhou bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Prefect."

"The reason I'm taking care of you isn't entirely because of the enemy of my enemy... but because of your courageous act of sacrificing yourself as bait to eliminate the demon. I don't think I have that kind of courage." Meng Guan finished writing the letter and handed it to him, sighing, "Even if you have a position in the court in the future, remember what you did today. Don't let the millstone of officialdom crush you and make you forget that you are still a human being."

Lu Xingzhou replied solemnly, "Your Excellency, please rest assured."

Meng Guan suddenly turned stern, stood up, and stormed off, saying, "I can't trust the cat in your house."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Originally, the main purpose of meeting with Meng Guan was to inquire about the future use of Huo Lu and whether there was anything Lu Xingzhou needed to do. However, given Meng Guan's attitude, there was no need to ask. Whether they chose to suppress the matter for the time being or to erupt immediately, the Pei family and Meng Guan would naturally have their own political considerations, and there was no need for Lu Xingzhou to interfere.

This matter has caused the Huo family a huge headache. Their son has been crippled, and they're also in deep trouble for "colluding with the demonic path."

Lu Xingzhou returned to his room feeling great, humming a little tune.

Upon entering the room, everyone was stunned. Pei Chuyun was pinned to the bed by A Nuo, who was giving her a thorough beating: "You're not even my master's wife yet, and you dare to spank me? Now I'm your senior!"

Her buttocks rippled and rolled, a truly beautiful sight.

Pei Chuyun lay there, looking utterly hopeless: "If you're so capable, then release my pressure points..."

"You think I'll untie it just because you tell me to?" A'Nuo continued whipping herself. "You've really messed with me..." "A'Nuo," Lu Xingzhou coughed, "What are you doing?"

“…Cotton!” Ah Nuo jumped off the bed with a “thud,” and complained in a whimper, “Master, she hit me…”

Lu Xingzhou picked her up and gave her a kiss: "Master will teach this little vixen a lesson for you."

"..." Can't you tell who hit whom? Pei Chuyun lay there dejectedly, too lazy to move at all.

Lu Xingzhou glanced around and saw that the steamed buns were still uneaten on the table. He was both amused and exasperated. "How long have I been talking outside with the prefect? ​​And you two have been fighting inside for just as long?"
He put Ah Nuo down and rubbed his head: "Go out and play for a while. I have something to talk to Sister Ah Yi."

Ah Nuo poked her head out from under Lu Xingzhou's armpit, stuck her tongue out slightly at Pei Chuyun, and then ran away.

Pei Chuyun remained lying there motionless.

Lu Xingzhou took a steamed bun from the table, strolled over, and pulled her up: "Alright...you've been making a fuss for so long, have some buns..."

The sound was suddenly cut off in his throat.

Pei Chuyun's clothes were half-undone, and a child's bib was tied in the front, letting in the wind from all sides and covering almost nothing, with her hair sticking out from both sides...

Lu Xingzhou stood there dumbfounded, while Pei Chuyun looked utterly defeated: "Have you seen enough? This is the bellyband you asked your good apprentice to buy."

Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then suddenly called out, "Anuo."

"Whoosh~" A brand new bellyband flew in through the window, spinning around.

Lu Xingzhou extended his index finger and flicked it. The undergarment spun around on his finger several times before finally stopping. Pei Chuyun looked at it and saw that it was a normal undergarment.

Sure enough, that brat had already bought it beforehand, pretending not to know anything just to scam people.

"Ahem." Lu Xingzhou resisted the urge to change her undergarment himself, placed the things on her body, and ran off in a flash: "You put it on yourself, we'll wait for you outside..."

"Get lost!" Pei Chuyun finally reacted, taking off the child's bib and throwing it off forcefully.

The undergarment whistled out and slammed against the door with a loud "bang".

After so long, both the elixirs and the acupoint sealing were at their limit. Anger caused the little demon girl to break through the last acupoint seal and regain her strength!

Pei Chuyun quickly dressed, clenched her fists, and rushed out. A'nuo was bringing the wheelchair to her master when she saw this, so she threw it down and ran away. The two enchantresses, one big and one small, disappeared from the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

The wheelchair spun around in the yard, and Lu Xingzhou covered his forehead.

…………

The wheelchair weaved through the bustling traffic of Dream City. Ah Nuo, with a lollipop in her mouth, pushed the wheelchair with both hands, her eyes glancing sideways to the right, as if afraid of being suddenly attacked.

Pei Chuyun, also with a lollipop in her mouth, glanced sideways at the master and apprentice pair and followed along expressionlessly.

The road out of the city was just ahead. Pei Chuyun never imagined that the name "Dream Return City" was actually given to her.

I dream of leaving this awful place.

“Um, Miss Pei,” Lu Xingzhou finally spoke, “you… what are you still doing following us…”

Pei Chuyun, with a lollipop in her mouth, said through gritted teeth, "What business is it of yours which way I go? Is this your road?"

The tone was incredibly fitting. Lu Xingzhou really wanted to laugh: "Still trying to get revenge on us?"

"Can't you?"

"Does your sect really have nothing better to do? Letting a holy maiden wander around like this."

"I was just about to go out and gain experience, so who cares where I go to gain experience?"

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment and then smiled, "In that case, how about we go to the capital together? I'll give you the chance to take revenge at any time."

Pei Chuyun did not answer, feeling somewhat hesitant.

As for revenge, I really don't want it anymore. He spared my life, which is a real act of kindness, so how could I continue to be so unreasonable? That would be called making trouble... Now I actually want to beat that brat up more.

As for the Pei family... Last night, Lu Xingzhou proposed to go to the capital to investigate her relationship with the Pei family again, and to be honest, Pei Chuyun was somewhat tempted.

Just because you can't find anything by searching yourself doesn't mean Lu Xingzhou can't find anything either.

It's one thing that he's smart, but the main problem is that he seems to be able to openly enter and leave the Pei family, unlike me, a vixen, who can only sneak around and investigate. This is a completely different level of difficulty.

Maybe if we follow him, we might actually find out something.

But if that's the case, what's the point of seeking revenge? Instead, you'll be begging him for help.

Moreover, if the two of them act separately, he cannot bring her along when entering and leaving the Pei residence. If she wants to openly go in and out with him, she needs to find a suitable identity.

What kind of status could that be? Wives, concubines, and friends wouldn't be suitable.

The only suitable person would be a maid... When going to the capital for the imperial examination, it's a very standard setup to bring a page and a maid.

Her revenge failed, and she ended up being reduced to a maidservant. Is there really such a disgraceful Holy Maiden of the Joyful Union Sect? If the sect found out, they probably wouldn't even acknowledge her as their Holy Maiden.

Pei Chuyun refused to say that even if you beat her to death, and after a long while she said sullenly, "I will go to the capital, even if it's just to annoy you."

"If you really want to cause me trouble, you don't need my help?"

Pei Chuyun snorted, but dared not say no arrogantly, for fear that he really wouldn't help.

Lu Xingzhou knew exactly what she was thinking, and turned to smile: "I had a very pleasant trip with Miss Ayi the other day. I wonder if you would like to join us on our journey to the capital? We can make things as difficult as we like along the way."

Pei Chuyun said expressionlessly, "You said it."

As they were talking, the three of them passed by the market.

Pei Chuyun glanced at a chicken-killing stall, tossed over a small piece of silver, picked up the dead chicken, and began plucking its feathers one by one: "Be careful."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Haven't written 10,000 words in two or three days, here's a quick update today. Also, please vote with your monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)