Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 478 New Situation
Yuan Muyu knew she could fly, but she just wanted to experience what it felt like for Lu Xingzhou and Shen Tang to be unable to stand up in wheelchairs.

It was really tough. Even just a short distance from here to the city was difficult, not only because of the physical discomfort of being unable to move around, but also because of the stares from others.

As she left, countless people along the street stared at her, some with pity and others with mockery, as if they were all saying that it was a pity such a beautiful young girl was a cripple.

Even those well-intentioned sighs of regret couldn't hide a sense of superiority, not to mention the discriminatory mockery and some comments like, "She deserves it, look at that vixen face, she should be lame."

The supreme divine sense, the tranquil River of Oblivion, all feedback is contained within the heart.

It was really tough.

There were also some who were itching to come up and bully people, but since it was a main street and everyone was watching, no one did it. Yuan Muyu had no doubt that if it were in a dark alley, there would be many more people who wanted to bully people.

These are still unrelated people; what if they are "colleagues"?

Back then, Ye Wufeng and his group kept calling him a cripple, and they looked down on him. How did Xingzhou manage to get through that?

What was I doing when he needed me most to stand by his side and support him?
He asked Situ Yue to dispose of the medicine that was helping him treat his leg.

As the wheelchair slowly drove out of the city, Yuan Muyu's face was already streaked with tears.

The wheelchair lifted off the ground and flew south. Yuan Muyu looked back and watched the city gradually recede into the distance, slowly disappearing on the horizon.

Dream Returns to the City, a good name.

Lu Xingzhou entered the room and saw Ye Tinglan, whose pretty face was stern.

Lu Xingzhou smiled apologetically and hugged her, saying, "Alright, don't be angry..."

He assumed that Ye Tinglan was still furious about Yuan Muyu's inhuman behavior and didn't understand the unpredictable nature of a woman's heart.

The reason Ye Tinglan had a stern face at that moment was largely because she was thinking of Lu Xingzhou and her sister lying naked in bed.

Even if Lu Xingzhou behaved well this time and didn't do anything reckless, what about the future? If Yuan Muyu really behaves herself and tries to win him over, will she succeed?

If it really happens, then it will be sisters sharing one husband?
Thinking of that scene, Ye Tinglan really couldn't hold back.

What kind of nonsense is this "Gui Mei Yi Di"? What kind of nonsense is A Nuo calculating?! At that time, I was calculating the fortune of going out for trials. Did you, little dumpling, calculate your marriage in your belly?
Lu Xingzhou's attempt to hug Ye Tinglan failed, and Ye Tinglan grabbed his ear instead: "Are you feeling smug?"

"What am I so smug about?" Lu Xingzhou said helplessly, "If I were really smug, I would have gone in. Why did I make myself into such a wilted person?"

Ye Tinglan: "..."

What happens later is another matter, but just considering what happened today, Lu Xingzhou was completely blameless, so there's really no one to blame but him.

So her heart softened, and she was embraced by Lu Xingzhou.

Lu Xingzhou kissed her earlobe, and as Ye Tinglan began to tremble, he whispered in her ear, "I'm having a hard time pressing down too, please help me, sir..."

Despite being filled with anger and frustration, Ye Tinglan was still easily swayed by the man's kiss. She tried to push him away, but her movements were weak and powerless, and he kissed her lips again.

"No, get out..." Ye Tinglan mumbled, "I'm annoyed just looking at you now."

While she was speaking incoherently and opening her mouth, Lu Xingzhou stuck his tongue in.

I don't care what you're babbling about.

Ye Tinglan: "..."

The door wasn't even closed... The prefect Meng Guan, who had just arrived outside, was struck dumb at the sight of the Grand Preceptor being held and kissed by a man, his slender hands weakly pushing him away.

Even if one had heard about it, seeing this scene in person was still incredibly impactful, leaving the prefect, who had been navigating the officialdom for decades, completely speechless.

Ye Tinglan spotted Meng Guan and struggled violently, shoving Lu Xingzhou away: "Who is that official outside the door? How can he not be discreet when he sees me, Yuan Muyu, being intimate with a man?"

Lu Xingzhou burst out laughing.

Meng Guan: "..."

Lu Xingzhou suppressed a laugh and asked, "Prefect Meng, is this branch of the Yama Palace going to be relocated?"

Meng Guan said irritably, "Just consider me an official colluding with the demonic path."

"The Underworld might not be so demonic after all." Lu Xingzhou led Ye Tinglan outside, but Ye Tinglan shook off his hand. Lu Xingzhou coughed, "Did Prefect Meng come here on business?"

Meng Guan kept his eyes straight ahead: "I originally wanted to see if the Marquis, who was captured by Yama, needed any help, but it seems he doesn't. So, I'll ask, since this place is so simple, would the Marquis like me to arrange lodging for him to stay for a day?"

Lu Xingzhou hurriedly said, "Prefect Meng, please don't call me 'Lord'. We're old friends, just call me Xingzhou."

“We’re not close enough to call each other by our first names, just as you still call me Prefect Meng.”

"Uh... let's just say Xingzhou is his courtesy name, his courtesy name."

Meng Guan then remembered that Lu Xingzhou's identity had now been revealed; his name was Huo Qing, and he was indeed a member of the Huo family. Although he still acted under the name Lu Xingzhou, he inherited the ancestral hall and title using the Huo family identity.

Meng Guan understood the significance of Lu Xingzhou's "inheritance." It wasn't for himself, but to fulfill his father's and grandfather's dreams and secure the rightful position of "head of the clan." It was of little use to Lu Xingzhou himself; even the title of marquis was only more prestigious when he married Shen Tang, since Shen Tang was now a queen. However, if Lu Xingzhou wanted to build his own power, the title of marquis was certainly better than his previous viscountcy. The only slightly awkward thing for Lu Xingzhou now was his remarkably short tenure in office and his lowly rank. The title could be inherited, but the official position couldn't.

What's a bit frustrating is that Meng Guan wasn't originally part of anyone's faction. Although he leaned towards Pei Qingyan, it was because their political views aligned, not because he was affiliated with Pei Qingyan. But now, in the eyes of the court, the public, and even the new emperor, it seems that Meng Guan has become Lu Xingzhou's man.

You, a mere physician, have managed to make the prefect your man...

Forget it, judging from how the Imperial Advisor is being hugged and nibbled on, he's qualified for anything.

After much deliberation, Meng Guan finally asked, "What does Xingzhou think of the new emperor?"

Lu Xingzhou said in a low voice, "It's very dangerous."

Meng Guan's expression was grim. As expected, the new emperor and Lu Xingzhou were still fundamentally enemies. Even considering their wariness of Princess Chaohuang, the two sides were destined to be at odds. He had no choice but to join their faction, otherwise, if they were ousted, no one would help them.

Thinking of all this, she said rather irritably, "Then please climb faster. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "We can submit a petition to push forward the proposal to establish the Foreign Trade Department, which was previously shelved. The new emperor has not yet rewarded those who have contributed to the abolition and establishment of the capital. My previous title was only inherited, not conferred. Also, he is determined to purge a group of people... There will definitely be a large-scale reshuffle after the New Year, and we need to set the stage for it."

Meng Guan said irritably, "So many prefectural governors have died, and you have to fight for these positions for your people. But how many people do you have? Don't just talk nonsense and end up with nothing but Pei."

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "There are still some. Prefect Meng, would you like to make a move?"

Meng Guan's heart stirred slightly: "I didn't participate in this battle, so what can I do?"

"Why bother participating? No one in the world knows how to break the great formation. If I say I have done something, then I have done something."

Meng Guan couldn't help but glance at Ye Tinglan.

The Imperial Advisor didn't react at all to such unruly and treacherous remarks... Never mind, she said she was Yuan Muyu.

Indeed, the word "treacherous" in "treacherous minister" is not used casually.

Meng Guan said, "Although Menggui City is a large city, Menggui Prefecture is not. Furthermore, with the central government's control becoming increasingly weak, the power of the prefectural governors is growing..."

Lu Xingzhou understood immediately. Meng Guan didn't want to return to the capital to go to the central government; he wanted to be transferred to a first-class prefecture or become a prefect: "No problem, Prefect Meng, wait for my news."

After bidding farewell to Meng Guan and returning to the capital, Fei Zhe Tian Shang Ye Ting Lan kept glancing sideways at Lu Xing Zhou all the way.

Lu Xingzhou laughed and said, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable seeing treacherous officials forming cliques?"

"I'm not just concerned with the affairs of the Great Qian Dynasty. What business is it of mine with the politics of the Great Qian Dynasty?" Ye Tinglan said, "Don't you know that the Great Qian Dynasty's vital energy has been lost and it will only decline? What's the use of still trying to get an official position and form cliques? The smart sects have already established their own territories, and the emperor can't control them. Do you really think that the new emperor can rebuild the vital energy and bring about a revival?"

"It's just to accumulate more capital so that things will be easier if something goes wrong in the future. Look at this time, we don't have many people in any of the prefectures and counties. If it weren't for Yuan Muyu's killing formation, we would have been in big trouble. Next time something similar happens, I hope I can be in control."

He paused, then continued, "What I want to understand most right now is what this new emperor's purpose is, what he wants to do... and his connection with the ancient realm."

"how do you want to do it?"

"I'll go and pay my respects first, for the sake of the wedding."

As dusk fell, the new Emperor Gu Yiheng had just finished his dinner and was looking at a stack of documents in his study when he casually asked, "I heard that Lord Yan kidnapped Lu Xingzhou. What's the situation now?"

The chief eunuch Hai Ruyuan, standing nearby, laughed and said, "The Imperial Advisor rushed over to snatch the person away."

Gu Yiheng sneered slightly: "Supermodels stealing men, and two sisters at that... How absurd."

Hai Ruyuan said, "Huo Qing is no ordinary man. It would be no exaggeration to say that he orchestrated this whole affair of deposing and installing emperors."

“Let’s just call him Lu Xingzhou. I’m not used to the name Huo Qing.” Gu Yiheng laughed. “Even though he was in charge, he just became a tool in our hands.”

Hai Ruyuan said, "Naturally, everything was within His Majesty's calculations."

“But this knife has already come to life, and it might hurt my hand.” Gu Yiheng tapped the table lightly. “Many things related to him have deviated from my original expectations, especially his cultivation speed, which will be a variable… I need him to improve, but I don’t want it to be so fast.”

Hai Ruyuan said, "It seems he's starting to scheme for official positions now, which isn't good for cultivation."

"Yes, so if he wants to be an official, let him be, the more complicated the affairs the better. And if he wants women, let him have them, the more trouble the better..." Gu Yiheng laughed, "He's getting married on the fifth day?"

"Yes."

"How did he arrange for the Pei Qingyan and Sheng Qingfeng families to meet, one after the other?"

"This old servant doesn't know, but in terms of status, the Pei family should definitely come first."

“That’s what most people think, but if he thought that way too, Sheng Yuanyao would be ready to draw his sword.” Gu Yiheng laughed with amusement: “I’m really looking forward to that scene.”

Just then, a guard rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, Marquis Lu Xingzhou of Dingyuan requests an audience."

Gu Yiheng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Send it."

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.

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(End of this chapter)