Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 378 His Heart Is Not Here

On the way here, I already felt uncomfortable seeing these two acting so disrespectfully, but I could still bear to watch them for several days.

Now, she can't stand even a single movement; the mother tyrannosaurus seems to want to hit someone.

Sheng Yuanyao, unaware that she was on the verge of being beaten, was still excitedly saying, "Have you heard any good gossip in the Demon Capital these past few days? Tell me~ Oh, and I heard on the way that the priest of the Holy Mountain in the Demon Realm is hiding women. Hilarious!"

I don't know if she laughed herself to death, but Long Qinghuang was almost driven mad with anger.

We've brought shame upon the entire nation!
She couldn't listen any longer and said sullenly to Xiao Liang, "You all should treat the envoy well and report any issues promptly."

After saying that, he turned and left, going directly to find Long Lie and the other generals who had just returned.

—The army returned north, a long and arduous journey. Apart from Lion Mad's army remaining in the border city and some remote tribes being dismissed and returning home, the various tribes' capital armies also returned to the Demon Capital. Among them, the Dragon Clan sent an elite squad to escort Sheng Yuanyao and the others first, while the rest of the army was still eating dust on the way.

This is also a very delicate juncture.

The elite troops of various races are not in the capital; instead, it is the Dragon Clan's own army that has returned.

Theoretically, this is the moment when Long Qinghuang's power is at its strongest, but according to Lu Xingzhou's prior analysis, this is also the moment when something bad is most likely to happen.

This moment marks the beginning of the full-scale battle. Long Qinghuang felt very heavy-hearted and, too lazy to argue with Sheng Yuanyao, went to reward and comfort her own army.

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said to Xiao Liang, "Have you arranged accommodations for our guards? There are so many people."

"Your Excellency, please rest assured, we have made arrangements." Xiao Liang said, "And what about Your Excellency yourself? We haven't prepared a room for you..."

"Who taught you to try to guess the emperor's intentions like this? Keep him, he must stay."

Xiao Liang dared not offend the "Empress," who was practically a foregone conclusion. Hearing this, he could only smile obsequiously and say, "Yes, yes, I'll have someone arrange it right away."

Sheng Yuanyao looked at the two suspiciously, then grabbed A'nuo and said, "What's going on between them? How did they become a county? Did Lu Xingzhou betray us? What did I miss?"

Ah Nuo laughed and said, "Don't worry about it, that's a divisive tactic from the Demon Realm."

Sheng Yuanyao immediately turned to the clerk behind her and said, "Did you hear that? Write it down: The Demon Realm secretly sent someone to sow discord, trying to frame Lu Xingzhou as a county magistrate. Xingzhou sternly refused, but General Yingyang, with his sharp eyes, saw through their scheme at a glance."

The clerk wiped his sweat. How did you know he had firmly refused?

We've heard that he's staying in the Empress's palace. Is that part of a scheme to sow discord?
For the clerks, the most challenging aspect was that this general wasn't a rough person; she had been the editor-in-chief of a popular online forum... and her writing skills were even better than theirs. No matter what needed to be written, this general could provide precise guidance.

I hope you won't be doing such micromanagement when you're fighting a war.

Lu Xingzhou pulled Sheng Yuanyao aside, turned the corner of the room, and whispered, "Don't worry about those things, there's probably going to be a battle."

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned: "Us? These few hundred people? Fighting in the Demon Capital?"

"Of course it's not for attacking strongholds. It's just that the enemy thinks they know all the movements of the Dragon Clan army, but they may overlook the fact that there is such an army that is completely out of anyone's plans."

Sheng Yuanyao asked with some interest, "Are we strong enough?"

This guy isn't exactly peaceful either; he's having a lot of fun causing trouble in the Demon Capital.

"For now, pretend you know nothing. We still have legitimate missions to perform, so make them believe we're genuinely here on a diplomatic mission. As for your men, make sure they eat well, drink well, rest well, and are ready to go."

Lu Xingzhou pulled her back into the house and said to Xiao Liang, "This time we brought a lot of craftsmanship techniques and alchemy books. I wonder what kind of body-tempering methods your country has prepared?"

Xiao Liang hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "Um, after you finish saying that, could you sit over here and then talk to the person across from you?"

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

"I heard that His Majesty originally favored you as the candidate for Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices." Xiao Liang sighed. "In any case, what can I say to you to bargain?"

“My…” Lu Xingzhou glanced at the officials behind him, who were all looking up at the sky.

That's enough of your divisive tactics.

Lu Xingzhou said irritably, "So, what body-tempering methods have you prepared? Show me the list."

Xiao Liang honestly handed over the form.

Lu Xingzhou glanced at the list and saw that it did list the grades, but they were all below grade three, with no good items.

In fact, with his current understanding, he also knows that even a top-grade Heaven-Opening Technique is just a fake technique if it is not paired with a special medicinal bath. This so-called exchange between the two countries is just a formality, and neither of the monarchs cares.

However, this showy display can be made to look magnificent, and the event itself is of great historical significance—it is the first formal diplomatic mission and the first state-level exchange between the Great Qian and the Demon Clan. Even if there is no substantial content this time, it will still be a significant event in history books and may set a good precedent for future generations.

Envoys like Sheng Yuanyao and these officials, upon reviewing their observations and experiences of the demon realm, would broaden people's horizons and introduce them to a new world, correcting their preconceived notions of the demon realm as a barbaric wasteland. Having already taken the lead, merely being a figurehead seemed rather pointless; it would be more meaningful to get down to business. Zhang Qian, after his mission to the Western Regions, brought back a vast quantity of cucumbers and carrots, benefiting people for millennia; the demon realm certainly had far more specialties than the Western Regions.

The world is still mostly made up of ordinary people; back then, a simple proposal about sweet potatoes could change a lot of things...

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment, put the list of cultivation techniques aside, and said seriously, "I'd like to exchange some other things. Can we talk about that?"

Xiao Liang paused for a moment: "You can speak directly with His Majesty, Your Excellency... Never mind, this is what the Court of State Ceremonies does, Your Excellency, please speak freely."

"That's more like it. If you go to His Majesty for everything, you might as well be dismissed from your position as Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. You're quite astute."

"..."

Lu Xingzhou turned to the delegation and said, "Go to the market these next two days and see if there are any special crops that Daqian doesn't have. We only need the seeds."

Xiao Liang paused, his expression changing slightly.

A thought suddenly popped into my mind: This man, His Majesty cannot keep.

This man is indeed a man of action, genuinely concerned with the affairs of the nation and its people, rather than relying on his beauty to seduce the emperor. However, his sense of belonging does not lie in this.

He became serious: "If that's the case, we need more detailed craftsmanship guidance for your country's embroidery and ceramics techniques, rather than just these few booklets."

Lu Xingzhou said, "His Majesty the Demon Emperor did indeed request to bring craftsmen, but unfortunately we came directly from the border city on our mission and did not have that option. Since your country has brought it up again, we will send someone else after we return."

Sheng Yuanyao rested her rosy cheeks on her hand as she watched him talk, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

It felt a bit strange and incongruous for a third-rank cultivator to talk about these things, but Sheng Yuanyao didn't consider herself a third-rank cultivator, and she found Lu Xingzhou even more pleasing to the eye.

Ah Gua, the playboy from the capital who indulged in cockfighting and horse racing, felt more like a human being, as did Lu Xingzhou. More importantly, these conversations revealed that his heart was not in the Demon Realm.

“This man’s heart is not here.” At the post station not far away, Long Lie and the others were also earnestly saying to Long Qinghuang, “We heard as soon as we arrived that His Majesty’s recent favoritism towards this man has already caused the ministers to complain, but his heart is not here, so why does His Majesty do this?”

Long Qinghuang's phoenix eyes swept over Long Lie, Long Xi, and Long Yun. These three generals of her own clan were originally her most suspected individuals, which was why they had orchestrated this war. Now, seeing the identical anxious expressions on their faces, she had no way to judge them and could only say, "I believe that sincerity can move mountains, and there is no heart that cannot be warmed."

This statement actually has a double meaning. Long Qinghuang truly treats her own clan very well and values ​​them highly, even telling Lu Xingzhou, "I know my base of support." It's one thing if there are traitors among the subspecies—Long Qinghuang doesn't really think much of them—but if someone in the pure-blooded dragon clan, despite such preferential treatment, still acts as a traitor, colluding with both the Holy Mountain and the Great Qian, then that's truly a heart that can't be warmed, leaving Long Qinghuang extremely disappointed.

Long Lie sighed: "What we fear is that the one who can be moved by metal and stone will become His Majesty."

Long Qinghuang: "...Enough of the small talk. You have all made contributions this time, and I will reward you. Also, there will be a celebration banquet tonight to welcome you back."

The three knew that His Majesty did not want to continue mentioning Lu Xingzhou, so they could only sigh helplessly and say, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

As a result, Long Qinghuang added, "Lu Xingzhou will also be attending the banquet... I think you have some misunderstandings about him. How about a few drinks at the banquet? What misunderstanding can't be cleared up?"

Three people: "..."

All the good mood from the victory celebration was gone.

Putting aside the internal traitor, compared to the subspecies like Long Yan, the pure-blooded dragons had a shallower affinity for Lu Xingzhou and disliked him more. After all, the subspecies didn't care which race His Majesty chose to have a new subspecies crown prince, as that would actually be a good thing for them. But for the pure-blooded dragons, it was a bolt from the blue, extremely painful.

If it also involves those who secretly admire Long Qinghuang and feel they have a chance to become the pure-blooded emperor's consort, then the feelings are even more varied...

Long Qinghuang knew what they were thinking, and sighed inwardly.

These longan trees are too small a range compared to Lu Xingzhou's...

Lu Xingzhou is busy with the propagation of the dragon race, what are you doing?
They're not in the same league.

"Your Majesty." Yang Huan knocked gently on the door from outside: "The Honglu Temple has sent the first draft of the negotiations between the two countries, which covers many aspects such as crops, technology, and livestock care and breeding."

Long Qinghuang was lost in thought for a moment, not even looking at the draft, but just sighed: "Anything else?"

"That's all. Lu Xingzhou was still asking Xiao Siqing about the lives of humans in the Demon Realm. He already knew these things, and it seems he was asking on behalf of the other envoys from the Great Qian Dynasty."

Long Qinghuang's expression softened slightly, and she stood up, saying, "Alright, it's about time. Let's go to the palace banquet first."

What the dragons didn't know was that Lu Xingzhou's question about "human life" seemed to unintentionally involve Chen Yu: "We had a pill refiner named Chen Yu who was kidnapped to the Demon Realm. I heard he's refining pills for people. Does Minister Xiao know where he is? I'd like to go and visit him."

"Of course, in a prisoner-of-war camp, I'm afraid this Mr. Xiao doesn't have the authority..."

"Oh, so who's in charge of the POW camp?"

"It's General Long Lie. For the victory celebration banquet tonight, the county magistrate can just go directly to him and mention it."

(End of this chapter)