Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 412 Helping You Match with Your Stepmother

That day, Sheng Yuanyao and Pei Chuyun didn't continue the cockfighting. Everyone was nervous at first, but once things settled down, it wouldn't be so bad. Even the registrar, Miss Pei, didn't go to the doctor's office to flirt; she went back to her office to do what a registrar should do.

To be fair, this job is quite suitable for her; she's a student of the Imperial Academy, a talented woman from the capital...

Lu Xingzhou assigned tasks to the new staff members for the day, and everyone went home after get off work.

When I got home, I looked for Anuo and found her refining pills in her small courtyard, which was quite rare.

This kid, relying on his talent for alchemy, has never practiced properly and has only ever assisted me. Now, he's actually practicing on his own.

"What kind of pill are you refining? Do you need Master's help?" Lu Xingzhou asked, leaning forward.

"It's a pill to be refined for the fish to eat."

“Yu Yu is… oh.” Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: “You really are making pills for pigs to eat.”

Monsters don't eat pills, so can this little pig-like beast really?
So, children usually don't like to take care of themselves and want adults to help them with everything, but when they get their own pets, they suddenly become capable of being their own mothers, right?

Ah Nuo said, "The Pill Academy doesn't even have pills for raising pigs! But when Yu Yu was kicked and injured, I fed it pills, and they clearly worked... I figured it out myself, adjusted some of the drug's properties, and found it was perfectly feasible. So what has the Pill Academy been doing all these years? No wonder the students are all so bad."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Adjusting elixir formulas is indeed a basic requirement for alchemists. But that's "personalized medicine" for different people, not for different species... the difficulty is completely different, okay?
Lu Xingzhou hasn't even considered this matter, so you can just think about it at home by yourself?
The pills were ready; a batch of nine top-grade pills jumped out.

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Ah Nuo excitedly grabbed Dan, hugged the little pig, and stuffed it inside.

The little pig was initially a bit frightened, but after taking the pill, its eyes lit up and it fell asleep comfortably.

Lu Xingzhou could clearly feel the pig's energy rising; it had actually started cultivating.

It seems that from now on, it won't just be Anuo eating pills like food; a pig will have to join them too. This family is getting harder and harder to support; the doctor's salary isn't even enough to feed them for a day.

So raising Ah Nuo is basically the same as raising pigs?
"Didn't your sister Yao come to see you during the day?" Lu Xingzhou asked.

“I did look for her, they said they were going to identify her,” Anuo said. “That woman in red kicked Yuyu, of course I have to go and see, and stand up for Yuyu.”

"and then?"

"I couldn't find her. I wandered around the Jiang residence for ages, but she didn't come out. I didn't dare sneak in, lest I be caught like a pig... By evening, I had no choice but to come back."

Lu Xingzhou stroked his chin. That made sense. If the Jiang family were visitors from the Ancient Realm, they would likely live a secluded life, rarely venturing out unless absolutely necessary. And it was impossible for A'nuo to spend all her time loitering outside their door waiting to ambush them. How could they possibly run into each other?

Just as he was pondering this, the butler came to report: "Master, the Second Young Master Huo has come to visit."

The butler was an old man from the Pei family brought by Pei Chuyun. He was very useful, and at least he was a familiar face to most people in the capital.

Lu Xingzhou laughed and said, "He's really in a hurry... Hmm, let him come in and sit down, and have the kitchen prepare some snacks to go with the drinks."

Soon, Huo Zhang, carrying several bottles of wine, entered the banquet hall under the steward's guidance, and said with a smile, "Hey, your house is quite nice, just like a marquis's mansion. Speaking of which, the previous owner was also a marquis, but he and his family went to the southwest to become high-ranking officials, and entrusted someone to handle the house. It just so happened that His Majesty wanted to bestow a mansion upon you, and my father was in charge of handling this matter, so he bought it for you in the name of the court."

Lu Xingzhou laughed and said, "So the former owner was promoted, and this can be considered a house with good feng shui?"

"That's right." Huo Zhang opened a bottle of wine and poured one for Lu Xingzhou. "Your social circle in the capital was a bit narrow before. The capital isn't just home to the Huo and Pei families. There are many big shots... those princes and nobles. Shouldn't you consider expanding your circle? Your second brother can introduce you to them."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and shook his head: "I don't like this kind of socializing, it's unnecessary."

"Indeed, you've been associating with all sorts of beauties."

"..." That's not what Lu Xingzhou meant. Socializing with princes and nobles was meaningful when he first came to the Dan Academy, but now that he has the identities of "disciple of the Imperial Preceptor," "viscount," and "physician," he can directly communicate with their fathers. Why should he still associate with them? Huo Zhang hasn't taken over yet, so his vision is naturally not that advanced.

However, this is indeed a good starting point: "Since Second Brother knows that this is my only hobby, why not help me make a connection?"

Huo Zhang was both amused and exasperated: "I probably don't know as many women as you do, what kind of matchmaking is this?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Miss Jiang, aren't you more familiar with her than I am?"

"Hey!" Huo Zhang said irritably, "You can't consider this."

Lu Xingzhou feigned ignorance: "Why?"

Huo Zhang lowered his voice: "Their family is currently discussing a marriage alliance with our family."

"You and Huo Qi are already married, right? Was that to arrange a marriage for Huo Heng?" Lu Xingzhou said nonchalantly, "Who is Huo Heng? What's wrong with me competing with him?"

"...It was my father who was arranging the marriage."

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

Huo Zhang seemed to think that Huo Xingyuan's words about an old cow eating young grass were quite shameful, and he drank his wine in a sullen mood: "Anyway, I don't know what Father is thinking. Huo Qi and Huo Heng are very dissatisfied with this matter. As for me... I am actually dissatisfied as well, but maybe she can help me in some way, so I'll just have to put up with it."

"No, the Jiang family would agree? No matter how useless Huo Heng is, he's still a doctor, and no matter how ordinary-looking he is, he's still a normal young man, okay?"

"As you say, what is Huo Heng anyway?" Huo Zhang chuckled. "What people are after is the Huo family's power and their ability to reach the emperor. What can Huo Heng do? He's not even the heir apparent."

Lu Xingzhou sipped his wine and pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "So, in other words, if she can help you become the heir apparent without becoming a stepmother, it would be a win-win situation for you, right? After all, you don't want another stepmother." "Yes. But how can she help me become the heir apparent if she doesn't become a stepmother? Isn't that contradictory?"

"That's not necessarily true." Lu Xingzhou blinked. "Could you invite her over for a visit?"

Huo Zhang stared at him for a long time, then laughed in exasperation: "Fine, you want to take it anyway, but I don't think they'll even look at it."

As he spoke, he actually went out and called his attendant, instructing him to invite Miss Jiang to the Lu residence for a chat, to continue discussing the maritime trade matters of the day, and so on.

Then he sat back down: "Alright, don't say your second brother didn't help you. Now tell me about our matter?"

Lu Xingzhou toasted him with great satisfaction: "Our matter... how do you want to explain it?"

“Your status is extraordinary now, not only with your father but also with your grandfather.” Huo Zhang stared intently at Lu Xingzhou. “If you’re willing to acknowledge your ancestors and return to the family, they will be overjoyed. Do you know that one of the important reasons your father wants to arrange a marriage is because you, you good-for-nothing, made him move my mother’s memorial tablet out of the ancestral hall?”

Lu Xingzhou: "...So obedient?"

"It just so happens to fit in perfectly, killing two birds with one stone... Changing the mistress serves other purposes and will also make you happy. I dare say that making you happy accounts for a large part of its value."

"so?"

"They're willing to go along with something like this, so what do you think they'd think if your condition for returning was... that you absolutely wouldn't go back as long as Huo Qi was the heir apparent?"

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "You really dare to think that way."

“This is highly likely to happen.” Huo Zhang’s expression was stern. “You are more likely than Miss Jiang to tip the scales. And you can say such things with a clear conscience and righteous indignation, because it was Huo Qi who almost killed you back then, right? This is also revenge for yourself, a win-win situation for both of us.”

Lu Xingzhou laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid they'll just give the crown prince to me?"

Huo Zhang waved his hand and laughed: "Hey, you're a viscount now, so you can't inherit the family title anymore."

"Haha..." Lu Xingzhou raised his glass again in a toast: "No wonder you even went so far as to arrange a marriage with your stepmother... It seems I am indeed more useful to you than she is."

Huo Zhang looked at him with annoyance.

“Alright, I’ll consider it.” Lu Xingzhou said leisurely, “As you said, it is indeed a win-win situation.”

Huo Zhang finally smiled: "With your words, it wasn't in vain that your second brother helped you make the connection."

He lowered his voice and said, "If you want to mess with her, I'll drug her for you. It'll be good to have one less stepmother."

Lu Xingzhou almost spat out his drink, coughing several times: "She's here."

Huo Zhang was taken aback, then saw the steward rush in to report: "Master, there is a Miss Jiang here, who says that Second Master Huo invited her."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "Please come in."

Huo Zhang gasped inwardly.

Firstly, Lu Xingzhou's perception was so sharp that it shocked him; secondly, he was shocked that Jiang Yuan was actually willing to come.
What kind of concept is it for a young lady to go to someone's house for a meal alone, especially after only meeting them once? Most girls wouldn't agree to that. Besides, he only sent an attendant to invite her instead of going himself, so his sincerity was already questionable. Yet, Jiang Yuan actually came.

Could it be that you two have already fallen for each other while exchanging glances at each other in the company during the day, and you're using me as an excuse?

Huo Zhang's mind raced. He figured that since Lu Xingzhou had already said he would consider it, he had said enough. Expecting Lu Xingzhou to give a firm commitment was unrealistic. Since that was the case, he might as well be sensible and give the place to that despicable couple.

While I was thinking, Jiang Yuan was brought in by the housekeeper, and sure enough, she was all alone.

Huo Zhang cursed the two of them inwardly, but stood up with an embarrassed smile: "I forgot I have an appointment with the young master of the Marquis of Changping... Look at my memory. Uh, anyway, I don't understand what you're talking about regarding maritime trade, so I'll be going now. You two continue your conversation?"

Lu Xingzhou stood up to see him off, saying, "Take care, Second Brother."

Huo Zhang spat inwardly and walked away cursing under his breath.

Jiang Yuan's beautiful eyes were fixed on Lu Xingzhou: "Doctor Lu invited me here under the guise of Young Master Huo... Could it be that you're planning to take advantage of me?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "This isn't a case of a lone man and woman, so why do you say that?"

Anuo's little head peeked out from the side of the banquet hall.

Jiang Yuan remained unfazed; she was wearing a human skin mask at the time, so she figured the little girl wouldn't recognize her.

It's said that the psychological trauma inflicted on this little girl by the Tyrannosaurus Rex-like power was no less than that inflicted by Lu Xingzhou tearing her clothes.

Lu Xingzhou waved: "Anuo, come and meet a new older sister."

Ah Nuo strolled in, carrying a little pig: "Hello, sister."

When the pig saw Jiang Yuan, it suddenly struggled and tried to run away in terror.

Lu Xingzhou and A Nuo were both taken aback, and at the same time looked at Jiang Yuan with a half-smile.

Jiang Yuanren was dumbfounded.

What is this... Such a good disguise, and it was all ruined by a pig?

(End of this chapter)