Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 397 Settling Down and Building a Career
"Such a young official position as Left Physician, and with the rank of Viscount, His Majesty is truly favoring you."

After the court session ended, Huo Xingyuan and Lu Xingzhou walked side by side out of the palace, Huo Xingyuan praising Lu Xingzhou. Lu Xingzhou merely smiled slightly, his attitude distant but lacking the obvious resistance and hatred he had shown before.

The government and the public alike saw this and interpreted it as Lu Xingzhou showing a willingness to reconcile.

After all, it was he who led Huo Zhang to rescue Huo Xingyuan... Well, Huo Zhang was also rewarded by the emperor for this and has been reinstated, but he has not yet taken office, just like Sheng Yuanyao is now.

Now that Lu Xingzhou has been granted a title, even in a normal family, this would mean he can establish his own branch of the family. Since he can support himself, the awkwardness of whether or not to "return to the Huo family" no longer exists, nor does the "seizure of the family business" that Huo Qi and others previously resisted. They can be regarded as brothers who have separated from the family, as long as the "father and son" can talk it out.

This is a more acceptable solution for both parties. When Gu Zhanting conferred the title of Baron upon Lu Xingzhou, this was partly taken into consideration, which shows that he cared about the Huo family's affairs.

Seeing that Lu Xingzhou only smiled and did not answer, Huo Xingyuan awkwardly tried to find a topic: "Now that you've returned with merit... how about we go home for lunch to welcome you back?"

Lu Xingzhou finally smiled and said, "Then there's no need. Although I don't have many friends in the capital, there are still a few who want to give me a welcome dinner."

Huo Xingyuan felt somewhat helpless, and then his blood and qi became stagnant, causing him to cough.

The injury from before hasn't healed yet.

Lu Xingzhou glanced at it. As the real culprit, he knew that his strength at the time was not enough to keep a first-grade expert bedridden for nearly two months, especially given that the Huo family had a pill furnace... He felt that Huo Xingyuan was probably just putting on an act.

They don't want to reveal the alchemy furnace... they might even deliberately leave some lingering problems untreated.

It's ironic, really. Just like those corrupt officials, they have so much money but dare not spend it. They ride bicycles and eat instant noodles, living a life worse than ordinary people.

But why bother? With the great flourishing of alchemy in the Great Qian Dynasty, you would have been cured long ago if you had just sought treatment from an alchemist.

After a moment's thought, he feigned concern and asked, "Has the Marquis not yet recovered from the assassin's injury in the Northern Frontier? Have you consulted an alchemist?"

"I've seen it... but it's nothing serious, just a little bit left." Huo Xingyuan waved his hand and sighed, "The Yama Palace is indeed extraordinary."

"Are you sure this is the Hall of Yama, the King of Hell?"

"The Eastern Ghost Emperor Ji Wenchuan has stated that he is responsible for this matter; it must be him." Huo Xingyuan's eyes held a hint of coldness.

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Lao Ji is a true brother.

As they spoke, the two walked to the front of a large mansion.

This entire area is mostly inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles. The Pei family, the Huo family, and the Sheng family are all nearby, with the furthest distance between them being only two streets. The Misty Rain Pavilion, which Lu Xingzhou was familiar with, is also nearby.

This house is currently the closest to the Huo family's residence, only half a street away, separated by just a few other officials' mansions.

A plaque reading "Baron's Mansion" was hung on the house. When Huo Xingyuan saw Lu Xingzhou looking at the plaque, he smiled and said, "Your previous title has not been decided yet, so we'll just leave it hanging like this for now. From today onwards, it can be changed to Danxia County Viscount's Mansion."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "No need, just hang it up as Lu Residence."

Huo Xingyuan frowned slightly but said nothing. He simply said, "Originally, there were regulations regarding the number of courtyards and exits of an official's residence, which could not be overstepped. However, by His Majesty's grace, your residence has exceeded the standard and is now comparable to a marquis's mansion."

Lu Xingzhou asked, "Is someone inside?"

Huo Xingyuan said, "I have transferred some servants from my home to help watch over the house and keep it clean."

He turned to look at Lu Xingzhou, hoping he would say, "Then keep him."

Unfortunately, Lu Xingzhou wouldn't say that. He simply said, "Then thank you, Marquis... I have my own salary and can afford servants. Let these people go back, and I'll pay them their wages."

Huo Xingyuan's eyes revealed clear disappointment, and he sighed, "The Huo family isn't short of this little bit of wages."

He paused, then asked, "Originally there were only servants... Now that you're back, do you need guards? Should your household help arrange it?"

In truth, Huo Xingyuan only wanted to build a relationship and had no intention of planting a seed of discord. If he did, he wouldn't have been so direct… Lu Xingzhou understood this, but still refused, politely declining: “No need. The guards accompanying me this time are mostly former soldiers of Guiyuan City. Guiyuan City now belongs to the Demon Realm, and their units have been disbanded. They need to be reassigned. I asked around on the way, and many of them wanted to retire. It would be good to have them here; we know them well. Hmm… If Your Excellency is willing to help, could you speak to the Ministry of War for me and give them some face?”

Huo Xingyuan was initially quite disappointed, but after hearing the last few sentences, his smile returned: "It's a small matter."

Up to this point, the two remained outside the door talking, with Lu Xingzhou showing no intention of inviting Huo Xingyuan inside.

Huo Xingyuan sighed, and in the end, he didn't refuse. Instead, he called all the servants inside away, bid farewell, and left.

Lu Xingzhou stood at the door and watched Huo Xingyuan lead his men into the Huo family residence half a street away, and smiled slightly.

This place is nice.

"Thump~" Lu Xingzhou felt a light touch on his back and laughed without turning his head: "Miss Pei is going to be all entangled with that stinky man in the street again?"

Pei Chuyun's voice was quite surprised: "Do you have eyes on the back of your head?"

"Of course it's because of Miss Pei's fragrance. I think about it constantly and never forget it."

"Pah, you smooth talker." Pei Chuyun pulled him along, taking the initiative and entering the room: "Leaving Huo Xingyuan outside is one thing, but you dare to leave me outside too?"

With a creak, the door closed, and the young couple embraced behind it, kissing passionately until the world seemed to stand still.

“No, no… wait…” Pei Chuyun gasped, “What… what’s wrong with your technique…” Lu Xingzhou pulled away from her lips and gently wiped her moist red lips with his hand: “Charming Man Mystic Technique.”

"..." Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip, staring intently at his increasingly strong appearance, her beautiful eyes gradually becoming misty: "Xingzhou..."

"Ok?"

"You've settled down."

Lu Xingzhou also felt a pang of regret.

Although he was very wealthy and buying a house was never a difficult task for him, the feeling of having a property in the capital and a stable job still evoked some emotions.

Generally speaking, this is considered a sign of initial success and settling down; the next step is to get married and have children.

He now truly has the qualifications to propose marriage to the Pei family. That physician is one thing, but a viscount's title is no joke. Of course, for aristocratic families, this is still a typical nouveau riche, and they generally wouldn't consider him. But what if he's someone extraordinary?

Pei Chuyun's eyes held a hint of resentment. She knew that if Shen Tang were disregarded, on the surface, Lu Xingzhou's most suitable partner right now was Sheng Yuanyao.

They had shared joys and sorrows, traveled and stayed together, and even returned from a mission to the demon realm together. Their ages were also similar. In the eyes of the court and the public, these two were a perfect match, and even ordinary people were shipping them.

Pei Chuyun felt she couldn't keep up the act anymore; she should openly accept the man's "pursuit." As for whether Old Pei should kick her out, that was another matter. Pei Qingyan, in fact, couldn't control his daughter on many levels, and he himself was well aware of it.

So he said, "If you don't want the servants arranged by the Huo family, how about I arrange some for you?"

Lu Xingzhou knew exactly what she was thinking; she was afraid the Sheng family would beat her to it... so he said, "Alright, alright, Miss Pei is in charge of this house."

"I really have the final say?"

"Hmm."

"Then you are not allowed to bring Sheng Yuanyao home."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

I couldn't have taken her home anyway; at most, I could only take her on a tour, since Lao Sheng was there.

But what if I bring the Imperial Advisor home? How would you react?

Pei Chuyun didn't think about the Imperial Preceptor. She felt she had beaten Sheng Yuanyao to it and was secretly pleased. She pulled him out, saying, "Come on, let's go to the Pei residence. I'll pick out some capable servants for you."

"You're just moving the Pei family's servants. Have you asked Prime Minister Pei beforehand? Why don't you just find a steward to take us to the brokerage?"

"So what? I can't let you go to the brokerage to pick it out yourself anyway."

"why?"

"I must choose the maids myself; only the ugly ones will do."

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: "I don't need any maids, not even servants. A few soldiers from the delegation are enough to guard the house."

Pei Chuyun stopped and tilted her head to look at him for a long time.

"how?"

"You...have no intention of establishing your own power base?"

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet, and Lu Xingzhou stared at her intently.

“You can’t just see yourself as Shen Tang’s assistant.” Pei Chuyun gently stroked his cheek. “In fact, you yourself represent a very powerful, albeit hidden, force. In my eyes, Shen Tang is a part of your power.”

Lu Xingzhou asked, "What about Miss Pei?"

"Me?" Pei Chuyun smiled mischievously, "I guess so, but not entirely."

"Why not all of them?" Lu Xingzhou whispered in his ear, "Is it because there are still a few positions we haven't explored yet?"

Pei Chuyun wasn't afraid of his crude remarks, and smiled with her eyes crinkling: "It's because you haven't considered yourself a leader yet. When you truly do, this Holy Maiden will consider whether to pledge allegiance. As for now..."

Her jade-like fingers traced across Lu Xingzhou's face: "This holy maiden is not here to do anything for Shen Tang."

Lu Xingzhou's lewd words got stuck in his throat, and after a long while he finally managed to utter a soft "hmm".

Pei Chuyun tilted her head and sized him up for a long time, but still couldn't tell if he wanted to be the boss. However, she obviously wouldn't dwell on the topic any longer and said with a smile, "Whether you want servants or not... anyway, you've received so many rewards this time, so treat me to a meal first."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "Okay."

Just as he opened the door and stepped outside, a Taoist priest came running from afar: "County Magistrate, the Imperial Preceptor requests your presence."

Pei Chuyun's ever-smiling expression vanished instantly, and she jumped up in anger: "She's not even a real master yet! Just because she's a teacher doesn't mean she can't have some private time to date!

The Taoist priest looked at the menacing kitten and broke out in a cold sweat.

Our Tianyao Holy Land has basically confirmed that this man is the Grand Preceptor's lover. So, your real rivals still don't believe it?
(End of this chapter)