Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 423 Those Who Knew the News

While Lu Xingzhou was still attending the morning court session, in Sheng Yuanyao's office, several clerks walked cautiously along the wall, not daring to utter a sound as they watched General Sheng's face turn pale.

At this moment, the story begins with Lu Xingzhou proposing to Shen Tang.

"Is this the answer you gave me after making me wait all night?"

"Snap!" Sheng Yuanyao snapped the calligraphy brush in her hand.

"Oh dear, what big thing has made our General Sheng so angry?" Pei Chuyun strolled in leisurely from the doorway, carrying a stack of manuscripts. "I just passed by and saw you throwing a tantrum. No man will want someone with such a bad temper."

Sheng Yuanyao glanced at her, her face ashen: "Ignorance is true happiness."

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Pei Chuyun had never seen this usually carefree girl look so dejected. She immediately remembered what Ah Gua had said about having eavesdropping abilities and suddenly realized, "Could it be that you heard something happened to Xingzhou?"

Just as Sheng Yuanyao was about to say something, Gu Zhanting asked if there was anything else to mention.

Sheng Yuanyao immediately fell silent, listening intently.

"What is it? Say something!" Pei Chuyun leaned closer, instinctively bringing her ear to Sheng Yuanyao's ear as well, completely forgetting that she couldn't hear.

"Stop making noise! ​​Stop making noise!" Sheng Yuanyao grabbed her face and pushed her far away, her eyes growing increasingly excited.

"You!" Pei Chuyun clenched her fist, wanting to hit someone, when she saw Sheng Yuanyao seemingly glowing.

Pei Chuyun was stunned. She didn't even dare to raise her hand to hit him and subconsciously took a half step back.

They even said I might be possessed. Who's possessed by this guy? He's totally gone mad!
"Stop arguing, stop arguing..." Sheng Yuanyao stood up excitedly and grabbed Pei Chuyun: "Old Sheng, you better stand up straight! If you dare to say a word against it, your daughter is gone!"

"I...I'm not Lao Sheng..." Pei Chuyun wanted to run away.

"Yes, Old Pei, please say no! I'm begging you."

Pei Chuyun: "..."

I am Xiao Pei.

"What are you doing here if you're not the Imperial Advisor!" Sheng Yuanyao threw Pei Chuyun aside and started pacing around in circles. "Wait, I remember now, the Imperial Advisor told my fortune and said I was destined for a political marriage. Isn't this it? Yes, yes, yes, it's bound to happen, it's bound to happen! Wait, who is 'Catching Fish'?"

Pei Chuyun: "..."

"Haha! Old Sheng is reliable!" Sheng Yuanyao jumped three feet high and rushed out the door, giving Pei Chuyun a pitying look before leaving.

Knowing nothing at all, what a fool.

Wait… Just as she stepped out the door, Sheng Yuanyao suddenly stopped, turned around and said, “Isn’t it too late for me to kill you now? By the way, how old are you? Are you younger than me? Call me sister.”

"Get lost." Pei Chuyun said irritably as she went to work.

I ran into a lunatic.

Sheng Yuanyao rushed home and hugged her mother tightly: "Mom, hurry, prepare the dowry."

Madam Sheng: "?"

Just as she was confused, Sheng Qingfeng returned and became annoyed when he saw Sheng Yuanyao's erratic state: "What are you grinning like an idiot for? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah, Lao Sheng, you're reliable. Want me to give you a shoulder massage?"

"Bullshit!" Sheng Qingfeng angrily threw down his official hat. "No matter how nicely you put it, this is still being a concubine! What the hell are you so happy about?"

"What do you mean by 'concubine'?" Sheng Yuanyao said matter-of-factly, "I told you we're all wives. In the end, who's in charge in the harem will depend on the power struggles within the household. Just you wait, all his guards are my men!"

"..." Sheng Qingfeng had no confidence in his daughter's skills in domestic power struggles. Looking at his daughter's excited expression, his eyes were filled with despair.

After a long while, he waved his hand with a look of utter despair: "Alright, this is just a marriage proposal. There are a lot of procedures involved. He still has to formally come to propose, exchange betrothal gifts, and formally present betrothal documents... Given your bizarre situation, there might be unexpected changes. Do you think it's all settled?"

Sheng Yuanyao laughed and said, "What does it matter? To be honest, it doesn't matter even if the court rejects it."

Sheng Qingfeng: "?"

Sheng Yuanyao chuckled, "When he said he wanted to marry me in front of so many people, that was enough, Father. As for anything else, if you won't agree, can't I just elope?"

Sheng Qingfeng took a deep breath and casually picked up the door bolt.

A chaotic commotion erupted at the Sheng residence, filled with the angry roars of the head of the household and the bewildered cries of Madam Sheng, "What's going on? What's going on?" echoing through the streets.

Many people inquired among themselves about what had happened. This matter could not be kept secret. After the court session ended, the ministers were already discussing it on the streets. Before long, the whole city would know.

Pei Chuyun heard it all in her office, and suddenly jumped up frantically, leaping out of the upstairs window and onto the street, running all the way home.

Pei Chuyun bumped into Pei Qingyan, who was returning home, right at her doorstep. She cautiously asked, "Is what they said true or false?"

“That’s true.” Pei Qingyan entered the house with his hands behind his back, somewhat speechless: “It’s amazing that Lu Xingzhou would do such a thing. He really dares to do it, actually cornering me and Lao Sheng! Even the Imperial Advisor is playing along with his nonsense! There are many political consequences to this matter. Let’s close the door and analyze it properly… Hey, hey, where are you going?”

Before she could finish speaking, Pei Chuyun had vanished, clearly having run off to find her husband.

It's a pity I can't find it right now.

Meanwhile, in many people's residences, letters were being written at breakneck speed, and various communication talismans lit up, heading straight for Xiazhou, the Demon Realm, and... Miaoyin Mountain.

…………

Two days later, in Xia Prefecture.

Shen Tang sat on the sect leader's seat, flanked by two rows of swordsmen, all dressed in white, their sword aura chilling.

They were holding an important meeting that concerned the royal merchants' core business and exchanges with the demon realm.

“The Demon Realm will definitely not make things difficult for our caravan because of Elder Lu’s influence. However, there are many bandits along the way, even in the Great Qian Dynasty. The atmosphere in the Demon Realm must be even more intense.” Zhang Shaoyou was making a suggestion: “Therefore, the arrangement of these missions is a very important matter. My suggestion is that the first time we need to send out our best troops. I will personally lead this team.”

Shen Tang nodded slightly: "What Hall Master Zhang said makes sense... I am considering whether I should go in person for the first time."

Zhang Shaoyou paused, then said, "Is it really that bad...?"

"It's also a kind of experience, better than sitting idly in the mountains," Shen Tang said calmly. "I am just a young man who needs experience."

Zhang Shaoyou tapped his head and laughed at himself.

Over the past year, this sect leader had become increasingly aloof and dignified, her cultivation profound and her presence imposing even without anger, always giving the impression of a seasoned veteran. Only now did it dawn on me that she was merely twenty-three years old, in the prime of her life.

Actually, Shen Tang had something else he didn't say: he wanted to go in person because he really wanted to see the Demon Emperor... Oh well, what to do...

Just then, a paper crane fluttered in.

Zhang Shaoyou didn't say anything more. Shen Tang reached out and took the paper crane, opened it and took a look.

With just one glance, the people in the hall watched in disbelief as the previously solemn sect leader's face blossomed into a smile of surprise and sweetness. That smile almost dispelled the swordsmen's fierceness, and the entire hall was filled with the warmth of spring.

"As long as it's her, no matter her status, whether she's a princess or a beggar, Lu Xingzhou is determined to marry her." Shen Tang's beautiful eyes were fixed on this sentence, unable to look away.

As for Xiao Ting and the others' accusations that the man was philandering and greedy, demanding so many high-quality and high-status women to marry, and expressing their concern for the princess, they were all ignored.

Everyone could tell what was going on from the sect leader's expression. Only when it involved Elder Lu would the sect leader be unable to hide her girlish side. She had previously said she wanted to conceal it, that it couldn't be made public, but look at that smiling face—who could she possibly fool… "Ahem." It was her old subordinate, Tang Yunzhong, who knew to remind the sect leader, "Sect leader, sect leader? Um, keep it low-key, keep it low-key… weren't you supposed to keep it hidden…"

"Huh?" Shen Tang seemed to wake up from a dream and said with a grin, "What are you trying to hide? Pass it down, from today onwards, Guest Elder Lu Xingzhou will no longer serve as a Guest Elder of this sect."

Tang Yunzhong asked curiously, "Elder Lu, could it be that you have officially joined the sect? But what is your current status...?"

"What is his status now?" Shen Tang asked innocently. "Hey, Uncle Zhong, how do you know that Lu Xingzhou is already my husband?"

Tang Yunzhong nearly tripped and fell, causing an uproar among the audience.

Shen Tang stood up and announced loudly, "All disciples of the sect will have three days off. Each person can go to the Internal Affairs Hall to congratulate the sect leader on his engagement and receive two taels of silver as a congratulatory gift. Have a good holiday!"

Tang Yunzhong was dumbfounded.

Two ounces each... Now the entire sect has over five thousand disciples, did you know that?
How come I never noticed before that this girl is such a spendthrift!

…………

Three days later, in the Demon Realm.

Because the letter Lu Xingzhou entrusted to Long Zheng was to be delivered by Qi Tuizhi, Qi Tuizhi had been traveling for several days before finally arriving.

Long Zheng immediately sent the letter to Long Ya through special means before discussing the border market with Qi Tuizhi.

Meanwhile, the information sent urgently from the capital via communication talismans had already reached Long Qinghuang's hands.

Long Qinghuang flew into a rage upon seeing the news that "Lu Xingzhou married four women in one go," and crushed the talisman in her hand: "Is this what you meant by 'waiting for you'? Waiting for news of you getting married and having children! Lu Xingzhou, you've got some nerve!"

"And he even married that Sheng Yuanyao, right?! I can't believe your lies, my dear brothers!"

"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have tied up that woman surnamed Sheng in the first place. I should have thrown her off Dragon Cliff!"

"Longxi!"

General Longxi appeared in the imperial study, trembling with fear: "Your Majesty..."

"Gather my troops and march south immediately!"

"Your Majesty, this is not advisable! We have already suffered greatly from the previous internal strife, and there are still many problems that have not been resolved. It is not a good time to start another war!"

Long Qinghuang knew perfectly well that this was not a good opportunity, but she couldn't swallow her pride.

Just as he was getting agitated, a paper crane fluttered in. It was Long Zheng's secret method of delivering a message, which directly transformed Lu Xingzhou's letter into a paper crane for transmission.

Long Qinghuang suppressed her temper and read the message first. When she unfolded the letter, Lu Xingzhou's familiar handwriting came into view: "Qinghuang, greetings."

"He still has the nerve to call me Qinghuang! How dare he call me Qinghuang!" Long Qinghuang was so angry she almost tore up the letter, but then she held back: "...It seems like this is the first time he's called me so affectionately..."

She pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and continued reading.

"This letter is ostensibly about the border market, but it is actually a private letter."

"I told you to wait for me back then, but I didn't say it outright. There was only one reason... Lu Xingzhou is a womanizer and promiscuous. I'm sure His Majesty knows that. Shen Tang of the Tianxing Sword Sect is real, and the so-called brother Sheng Yuanyao is actually a romantic relationship. His Majesty just didn't expose it. There are other things, but I won't go into details for now. In short, I can't let so many people down. I must return south."

“I hadn’t thought things through before. Driven by lust, I wanted to be all-encompassing, but upon closer examination, it was all in vain. Yuan Yao’s willingness to only acknowledge brothers is a prime example. His Majesty’s offer to stay made me face the ‘choice’ for the first time. If I stay in Dragon Cliff and depend on His Majesty, then I can forget about everyone else. If I remain a guest elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, I will lose His Majesty forever.”

"I don't want things to be like this; change is necessary."

"If one doesn't even have the right to stand up and stand at the pinnacle of this world, what right does one have to be worthy of a peerless genius like His Majesty?"

"This time I returned to the country and was granted the titles of Viscount and Chief of the Guest Household. Although this was Gu Zhanting's way of sowing discord between me and Shen Tang, it also gave me the capital to stir up trouble. I will become a force of my own, waiting for the right time, and sooner or later I will make sure that no one can ignore me."

"When the time comes, I will tell His Majesty to marry me, instead of His Majesty taking me into the harem."

"Therefore, 'Wait for me' is a clear statement."

"There may be a multi-party wedding soon, and I will be the main character. It will be an impossible farce to prove that I can be the center and the link between the parties."

“Lu Xingzhou may be greedy, overconfident, or promiscuous… I accept that His Majesty is dismissive and unwilling to wait. But I must say that Lu Xingzhou stood up for the first time because of Shen Tang, and stood up for the second time because of Long Qinghuang.”

“Even if you don’t want to, I still have to say, wait for me. By then, no matter where you hide, you’ll be under my control, and you won’t need to consider whether to leave or not.”

As Long Qinghuang watched, she was initially a little annoyed, but by the end she actually burst out laughing.

Then he read the letter over and over again, and spat out, "Greedy and overestimating himself."

He then leisurely folded the letter, tucked it into his pocket, and placed it together with the farewell letter he had never received before. He then sat back comfortably in his chair, leisurely sipping his tea: "But it's quite masculine... Alright, I'll wait for you to tame me, as long as you have the ability, young doctor."

The people of Longxi, who had watched the rain clear up, were dumbfounded. What kind of barometer was this letter?

But then Long Qinghuang touched her belly and asked Long Xi, "Generally speaking, how many months does it take for signs of pregnancy to appear in our dragon clan?"

Longxi wiped his sweat: "It would take about half a year, unlike humans. But if Your Majesty has any doubts, you can check it now, right?"

Long Qinghuang said angrily, "I won't investigate. What's the point of investigating? Let's wait six months."

…………

South, Miaoyin Mountain.

Yuan Muyu was discussing matters with several ghost emperors.

They were all acquaintances, and she unusually wasn't wearing a mask. Her usually delicate and charming face looked solemn and pale. Ji Wenchuan felt that she had been like this for several days, and he wondered what kind of blow she had suffered.

However, generally speaking, the only thing that could hurt her was Lu Xingzhou's affairs... Ji Wenchuan had no sympathy for her at all, so why bother?

Putting everything else aside, look at what kind of nonsense this meeting is. Without Lu Xingzhou to reassure everyone, everyone has their own opinion, and they all seem to make sense. In the end, even Yuan Muyu doesn't know how to make a decision.

This chaos has been going on for a long time... Although the Yama Palace did not show any signs of collapse in the short term after losing Lu Xingzhou, and continued to develop in an orderly manner according to the previous plan, it was clear to discerning people that the Yama Palace was like a machine that was missing lubricant and was very stuck.

As they were discussing, a talisman floated in from outside.

Yuan Muyu reached out and took the talisman. The talisman spontaneously combusted, and a piece of information entered his sea of ​​consciousness.

Yuan Muyu sat there blankly, not saying a word for a long time.

"King Yama?" Dong Chengbi, the Ghost Emperor of the North, asked cautiously.

The next moment, with a "poof," Yuan Muyu coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face ashen and deathly pale.

No matter how much they called each other "sister and brother-in-law" before, and no matter how much they fooled around in front of her, Yuan Muyu knew that Ye Tinglan was ultimately a nun, and that her temperament made it difficult for her to truly face a public marriage. So, even if they argued, it was just an affair, not a commitment.

But at this moment, the engagement between one person and four, the public discussion in the court, the rumors throughout the land... all told her nakedly that Lu Xingzhou was really getting married, and in this grand drama, she, Yuan Muyu, was nothing.

I can no longer deceive myself.

Yuan Muyu didn't know what she was thinking. She stood up shakily, but suddenly spat out another mouthful of blood, and the world spun around her.

(End of this chapter)