Chapter 120: Watching the Son, the Southern Marching Army

The mother gazed at your dusty figures, and though she had always been strong, her eyes now grew moist.

Even though her husband was imprisoned and her younger brother Wei Gao was locked in the Dalisi.

The old woman had never lost her composure like this before!

She knew she could not fall—she was the very spirit of the Lu family.

When she came south years ago, a woman alone, she established the Lu household in the capital and never brought shame upon the Lu name.

Had her niece not been held captive by the Western Depot, she would never have begged for help—this too was the Lu family's pride.

The old woman visited over twenty households, facing nothing but closed doors at every turn, yet she showed not a trace of disappointment.

Human warmth and coldness—like drinking water, only the drinker knows its temperature—she understood all this.

She understood.

She knew.

Yet today, the old woman's tears would not stop.

Relying on one's parents in childhood is natural.

A parent's love plans for the long term.

When grown, parents rely on their children.

A son is his father's dignity; a son is his mother's courage!

She had never sought out her two sons, but the old woman knew deep down.

They would come.

When their father was trapped at Hulao Pass, his life hanging by a thread, both sons had rushed to the front without hesitation.

When the father is in peril, how can the son not come?

The three Lu men knew death was certain, yet they walked toward it together.

The Lu family has no cowards.

Though her husband had never sent letters to Mount Zhongnan over the years, every letter he received, he read again and again, treasuring them deeply.

Every time Lu Jiaxuan returned home to fish, he would leave one fish behind, saying it was for his sons.

Over the years, the pond in the back courtyard had filled with fish, their scales glinting in the water.

"Shenzhou, An'nan, you've grown thin."

The old woman's lips trembled; a thousand words rose in her heart, yet only this one escaped.

He stepped before his mother, gripped her hand tightly, and spoke softly: "Mother, your son has returned."

The old woman had not slept for nights, her eyes bloodshot.

You stared at your nearly sixty-year-old mother, a profound, indescribable emotion rising within you.

While parents live, one does not wander far!

Your father, young and ambitious, had gone north for twenty years; you and Lu Yu were raised entirely by your mother.

You both left for Mount Zhongnan to cultivate the Dao as adults, then spent years in the north.

Your mother spent most of her time alone.

Though the old woman did not believe in Buddha, during the years you brothers were in the north, she often knelt for hours before the Buddha altar.

Lu Yu added: "With us here, I dare any man to harm our father."

The mother's tears would not cease.

She kept repeating: "Good, good, good!"

You guided your mother into the Lu residence; though it paled beside grand households of the capital, it was "fully furnished."

The Lu household still had four or five maidservants, two stewards, and four or five guards—all personally vetted by you in your youth.

Originally, there had been over a dozen hardened soldiers, but your father had dismissed them all to return home and settle.

You saw human nature with perfect clarity; you knew they were not ungrateful men.

Human hearts are complex and ever-changing, yet your mother treated her servants with utmost kindness.

Even in the Lu family's downfall, not a single servant fled in fear.

Seeing your return, the servants' unease and anxiety eased considerably.

They bowed to you in turn, calling you "Elder Master."

You sat with your mother and ate a bowl of plain noodles; for days she had barely eaten, consumed by worry.

Lu Yu told you that watchers lurked nearby, including several Grand Masters.

You nodded slightly, acknowledging you were aware.

Along this journey, too many eyes had followed you.

Every step you take henceforth will draw attention.

After the meal, you bade farewell to your mother and stepped out with Lu Yu.

Your mother knew you were now capable of bearing this household; she supported whatever you chose and would endure any outcome.

You stepped out of the Lu residence.

At this moment!

Your father was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's dungeon.

Your uncle was held in the Dalisi.

Your uncle's daughter, your cousin, was detained by the Western Depot.

You had long planned your move, facing this situation.

So… you chose.

1. Go to the Western Depot and rescue your cousin. (Hint: If someone interferes, your cousin is in danger; your father and uncle remain safe.)

2. Go before the Emperor. (Hint: The situation will improve, but someone will obstruct you; your cousin may be in danger.)

3. Go to the Dalisi. (Hint: Your father and uncle are safe, but progress may stall; your cousin may be in danger.)

4. Wait until tomorrow. (Hint: Your father and uncle are safe; your cousin may be in danger.)

5. Go directly to the Ministry of Justice's dungeon. (Hint: The situation escalates; developments may exceed your expectations; your father, uncle, cousin, even your mother, may be in danger—rewards beyond imagination await!)

6. Participate personally. (1/3)

Above the great tripod, the light screen shifted, then froze in place.

Yu Ke stared at the six options that appeared before him.

He hesitated within.

Five of the options were today's choices.

Tomorrow was the Three Departments' joint trial!

From the hints, your father and uncle were at least safe.

Among all the options,

Before the Three Departments' trial, your father and uncle faced no danger except in choice 5—going to the Ministry of Justice's dungeon.

All other choices brought further developments.

But!

Choice 5 carried additional risks in its hint.

Yu Ke pondered briefly: going to the Ministry of Justice's dungeon might trigger direct confrontation with the court.

But now was not the time!

He eliminated this option.

All other choices warned of danger to your cousin.

Yu Ke weighed his options.

He still preferred caution—he had come to save someone.

1. Go to the Western Depot and rescue your cousin. (Hint: Someone seems to harbor ill intent; your cousin is in danger; your father and uncle are safe.)

Yu Ke made his choice; the simulation continued.

You and Lu Yu headed for the Western Depot, making no effort to conceal your movements.

The news spread like birds in flight, reaching every corner of the capital; some carried it straight into the depths of the imperial palace, others secretly delivered it to the mansions of high ministers.

Spies from the Dalisi, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice all received reports.

The news spread rapidly through the capital, like a boulder crashing into a still lake.

Only the surface remained calm!

…………

…………

At this moment!

The sky over Jiangnan was choked with rolling dust as one hundred thousand troops surged southward, hooves thundering, shaking the earth.

The Lu family banner flew in the wind, leading this mighty host.

Advance scouts galloped ahead, light cavalry flanked the column, flag officers directed movements—the hundred thousand troops moved as one, displaying exceptional discipline and combat readiness.

Feng Haiping commanded the center, his gaze sharp as an eagle's; he lightly tapped his whip, guiding this vast army.

A commander must never be careless!

"Maintain strict order; harm not even a single hair."

This was the praise once given to Feng Haiping by the northern generals.

Among the Lu army, only a few could command large-scale campaigns.

As the distance shortened, the capital of Daqing came into distant view.

Dou Gu stood on horseback, gazing at the capital ahead, his brow furrowed as he said gravely:

"Our journey has gone smoothly; by afternoon tomorrow, our army will reach the outskirts of the capital."

He paused, then added:

"Yet although our large force moved south unexpectedly, most of the regional marquises along the way have likely already received word—and it has surely reached the capital by now."

They had long planned their route, and key checkpoints had already been secured to ensure the army's smooth southward advance toward the capital.

The path had been utterly unimpeded.

Beneath the northern lands, the Jiangnan Road stretched southward, pointing straight toward the prosperous capital.

Several years ago, some ministers had proposed establishing border passes—not only to block the biting northern winds, but also to guard against northern ambitions.

Yet!

After the previous Emperor of Daqing died suddenly, fierce power struggles erupted within court, and this plan was shelved.

Feng Haiping smiled:

"At dawn tomorrow, the imperial court in the capital will be shaken by the news of our southern advance."

"No need to worry—when the time comes, our horses will trample a thousand armies!"

Zhou MMP, it's so hard being a worker—readers, I've kept you waiting too long!



(End of Chapter)