Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 408 Stealing the Young Lady at the Pei Mansion
Lu Xingzhou casually picked up some food and ate, then asked, "How are Huo Qi and Huo Zhang's relationship now?"

Pei Yu answered for his father: "We never realized these two brothers were so at odds before. Now that Huo Zhang is away from the northern frontier and has been living at home for some time, everyone has realized that they are like enemies from a past life. It is said that they often quarrel at home, and even when they meet outside, they do not speak to each other. Huo Xingyuan has been having headaches lately, and we don't know if his unhealed injuries are related to the family troubles."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "It's not that bad."

Pei Yu laughed and said, "Just kidding. Anyway, everyone can see that these two brothers are vying for the position... and Huo Zhang looks down on Huo Qi from the bottom of his heart, thinking that Huo Qi is a good-for-nothing. It's not entirely because of the position, haha."

Pei Zhao chimed in, "Although Huo Zhang is also reckless in his actions, he is at least battle-hardened and his combat skills are quite impressive. As for Huo Qi, no one knew his background before, and they thought that being a third-rank official in his thirties was already quite good. But after being beaten by Miss Sheng yesterday, ha, he's completely exposed. Huo Zhang will probably be even happier after yesterday, and the internal conflict within the Huo family will escalate."

As they spoke, several members of the Pei family kept glancing at Lu Xingzhou, suspecting that Lu Xingzhou had instigated Sheng Yuanyao's actions to achieve this effect.

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated; this was really not the case.

Also, why are you mentioning Agua in front of your sister...?

Pei Chuyun's eyes flashed with malice: "Sheng Yuanyao is the only one who can fight? Huo Qi, huh? I'll go fight him tomorrow too."

Pei Yu was covered in sweat: "Don't be... Sheng Yuanyao paid a price; she lost her position guarding one side."

"Is that what you call a price to pay?" Pei Chuyun said angrily, "You think it's a demotion to become a guard general in the Ministry of Rites? Is it because she's so fond of it?"

Pei Qingyan tapped the table: "We've gone off-topic."

"Ahem." Pei Yu coughed lightly and continued, "Their struggle for the throne, theoretically speaking, isn't very meaningful. It's different from the royal family's struggle for the crown prince position. The position of the crown prince can be temporarily vacant, but their position of heir apparent has been established for a long time. His Majesty's bestowal of titles has always been based on this, and it has always been Huo Qi. If Huo Zhang wants to compete, how can he do so?"

Lu Xingzhou said leisurely, "It's not surprising that a crown prince can be deposed. There are many precedents for this kind of power struggle."

"That will be difficult. Huo Qi is just an ordinary person, not a fool. He has done nothing wrong in his daily life and has been a decent official. We haven't been able to find anything wrong with him. What angle can Huo Zhang find to make Huo Xingyuan depose the eldest son and establish the second son?"

Lu Xingzhou chuckled and said, "I think he's pretty stupid."

"You hired someone to assassinate you back then, didn't you?" Pei Yu laughed. "That's right. Huo Qi did make a few stupid mistakes regarding you. It shows that concern can cloud judgment. He was your biggest hatred when you were a child, wasn't he? He was terrified of your return."

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Judging from what you've said, Huo Zhang will probably be banished to the northern frontier again soon."

"Pretty much. We all think it's possible that things will need to be settled soon, since His Majesty is also unhappy and keeps criticizing the Huo family for causing chaos."

Lu Xingzhou nodded, secretly making his own assessment.

Huo Zhang has a very violent temper and is very arrogant, so he will not easily accept this outcome.

Especially considering that she had performed a great service and "saved her father," this outcome only made her angrier the more she thought about it.

Perhaps we should increase the stakes a bit? Let's see what surprises Huo Zhang can bring.

Pei Qingyan had been listening quietly, letting her son speak, but finally couldn't help but interject, "You... only make a fuss about the younger generation?"

"Otherwise what?" Lu Xingzhou smiled. "Huo Xingyuan suffered a major defeat in the northern frontier. Such a serious matter only warrants a slap on the wrist. What else can be done?"

Pei Qingyan remained silent, pondering. Of course, he had a lot of messy things about Huo Xingyuan, but he didn't know where to begin or which of them would be useful to Lu Xingzhou.

Lu Xingzhou then asked, "By the way, have you heard the rumors that the Huo family wants to arrange a marriage alliance?"

Pei Yu immediately replied, "Yes, there is a Jiang family, merchants from the southeast who moved their entire clan to the capital and have just settled down. Somehow they got involved with the Huo family and are considering marriage."

Lu Xingzhou's heart stirred slightly: "What was the agreement? Is Huo Xingyuan, an old ox eating young grass, looking for a second wife?"

Pei Yu was taken aback: "This... why would you think that?"

Lu Xingzhou was also taken aback: "No?"

"We don't know if it is or not, but common sense suggests it should be for the third son, Huo Heng, to arrange a marriage. Why did you immediately think of Huo Xingyuan himself?"

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Of course, it was when I overheard Huo Qi say those very indignant words at the Huo family that Huo Xingyuan was looking for a second wife.

Logically speaking, this is a collaboration between a certain force in the ancient world and Gu Zhanting. This level of cooperation is not something that Huo Heng, a mere nobody, is qualified to act as a bridge; it can only be Huo Xingyuan himself.

It seems that talks have already begun, but outsiders don't know how they're going to go. Even the Pei family has only heard rumors and doesn't know the specifics.

In fact, Huo Qi is qualified to be the heir apparent, but both Huo Qi and Huo Zhang are over thirty and already married. Huo Heng, on the other hand, is older and unmarried, so it's no wonder that people speculate about Huo Heng.

Within the Huo family itself, Huo Xingyuan probably faces some resistance. His son is already quite old and doesn't want to find a stepmother, especially since the stepmother might be younger than him... For the sake of family harmony, Huo Xingyuan can't very well use his authority as a father to act unilaterally, as that might not be a good thing. This matter must be giving Huo Xingyuan a real headache.

Lu Xingzhou's mind raced, and he smiled slightly, "I understand. I'll try to find out what Huo Zhang has to say when I have time."

There's still no word on how he plans to deal with the Huo family. Pei Qingyan frowned slightly and remarked, "These... I'm afraid they're useless."

"That's not necessarily true." Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "If Prime Minister Pei wants to help me with these matters, then let me figure out how to do it. I will ask for your help then. Just don't refuse."

Pei Qingyan smiled and said, "You can have your registrar speak to me then."

Pei Chuyun, who had been listening to her lover and family chat with her chin propped up on her hand, blinked and smiled brightly.

Seeing his daughter's behavior, Pei Qingyan felt a bit annoyed. This girl was usually very aloof in public, but once she saw Lu Xingzhou, all her composure vanished. However, he didn't say anything this time. Instead, he said, "After dinner, Chuyun will show the guests around. You've come several times but haven't had a proper look around. That's quite rude of you."

Who was being rude? I wanted to take him shopping before, would you have agreed?

Pei Chuyun kept her complaints to herself, but she was quite surprised.

What's with my father's attitude now? Does he really intend to marry me off to Lu Xingzhou?

Putting aside family background and all that, let's just talk about Shen Tang's side... What does her father think?

Never mind, I'll ask later. Pei Chuyun stood up happily: "Then... shall I show the physician around?"

Ah Nuo glanced at her disdainfully, while Pei Chuyun, without looking at her, pressed her chubby face aside.

Lu Xingzhou picked up A Nuo, who was about to retaliate, and stood up: "Great, I've been wanting to see the scenery of the Pei residence for a while now. It'll be a good reference for my new home."

Pei Qingyan stroked his beard and said, "Go now."

Seeing Pei Chuyun happily leading her lover towards the back garden, Pei Yu asked his father in a low voice, "Father, is this alright?"

Pei Qingyan said, "They have a child with them, they won't do anything immoral, what are you afraid of?"

That's true, no one would think the two of them would do anything in front of a child. Pei Yu said, "Then what does Father mean... about Princess Chaohuang..."

Pei Qingyan said in a low voice, "Lu Xingzhou now has his own ideas about taking charge... If his goal is to help Princess Chaohuang ascend the throne and become the emperor's consort, then this idea of ​​taking charge will obviously lead to a rift with Princess Chaohuang. He shouldn't be so straightforward and undisguised."

Pei Yu said, "What Father means is that everyone's previous guesses were wrong, and he did not want to be the Emperor's consort."

"Yes. If what he wants is to be a father, then everything makes more sense."

Pei Yu suddenly realized.

If Princess Chaohuang becomes emperor and Lu Xingzhou becomes prime minister, then the prime minister should naturally marry another woman and have children.

If that's the case, why can't the Pei family invest?

I noticed that even Sheng Qingfeng, that old silver coin, isn't putting on airs anymore; he probably has similar considerations.

Of course, given that Gu Zhanting is in his prime, all of this cannot be discussed openly, especially since the court and the public now believe that the Prince of Qi is a more promising candidate.

Pei Chuyun led Lu Xingzhou to the back garden. The Pei family thought that "there must be nothing in front of the child," but in reality, Pei Chuyun grabbed Anuo from Lu Xingzhou's arms and shoved her chubby face to the side.

With her other hand, she happily wrapped her arms around Lu Xingzhou's neck: "Stealing their young lady from the Pei residence, haven't you been wanting to do this for a long time?"

Ah Nuo: “…”

Tolerable or unbearable.

With a swift, flying kick, Pei Chuyun, already prepared, bent over and dodged, her hand remaining firmly on A Nuo's head.

Ah Nuo tried to kick, but his head was pinned down, and his legs were too short to reach it.

I tried a series of kicks, but I still couldn't hit him.

Pei Chuyun had already wrapped her other arm around Lu Xingzhou's neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek: "Little brat, we'll talk about that when you're older."

Ah Nuo: "Ahhhhh!"

The Pei family never imagined that their young lady would not only act recklessly in front of the children, but also pin the perpetrator down.

Lu Xingzhou couldn't hold back either, and pulled her aside, saying, "Alright, stop bullying Anuo."

Pei Chuyun looked around and said with a grin, "Would you like to see my boudoir?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Do you really think your father is a block of wood?"

Pei Chuyun smiled slightly: "I didn't understand before, but I understand now..."

"how?"

"As long as you don't make a big fuss and sneak into my room, Old Pei will probably turn a blind eye..." Pei Chuyun whispered in his ear, "Anyway, he knows where his daughter used to sneak off to at night, and she's already done it all, so what's the big deal..."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Pei Chuyun gently stroked his heart: "Hehe...it's beating so fast. Do you...want it?"

What else is there to say... Lu Xingzhou slipped and ran after Pei Chuyun towards her boudoir, while A Nuo scratched her head and followed behind: "What about me? Where do I live!"

"Don't worry." Pei Chuyun turned around: "There are many maid rooms over there, you can choose whichever you like."

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.: Still asking for monthly votes~
(End of this chapter)