Chapter 38

【Early spring, the ninth day of the first lunar month.】

【The Emperor arrives at Zhongnan.】

【The current Son of Heaven leads the hundred officials as the first batch of the mountain-entering team, and in the latter part of the team are the envoys of the Northern Wind, Li Qian, Yuan, Han, and Chu countries.】

【The second batch is the concubines of the imperial palace and the families of the civil and military officials, vast and mighty.】

【You practiced for half a month, but rarely made progress, and your heart was happy.】

【On this day, you washed your face, put on a Daoist robe, and walked out of the Living Dead Tomb.】

【Seeing the spring day is warm, it is another year of spring.】

【You, Lu Yu, and Liu Liu Jinchan stood on the stone steps of Mount Zhongnan to welcome this Great Qing Emperor, with hundreds of Profound Heaven Sect disciples standing in two rows behind you.】

【Mount Zhongnan had long been filled with layers of guards; the Emperor's tour to pray for blessings is of great importance.】

【You, Lu Yu, and Liu Liu Jinchan stood side by side on the stone steps of Mount Zhongnan, respectfully waiting for the arrival of the Great Qing Emperor.】

【Liu Liu Jinchan was the main one, standing in the middle, and you and Lu Yu accompanied your mentor Liu Liu Jinchan on the left and right.】

【Mentor Liu Liu Jinchan said somewhat unnaturally: "Shenzhou, as the General Marshal of the Northern Territory, your status is noble, and you should stand in the middle."】

【You smiled: "Now, I am just a disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect, and I should follow the sect rules and stand by the side of my teacher."】

【The Emperor bathed and changed clothes for three days, carried the group of officials up the mountain, the scene of pilgrimage was solemn and respectful.】

【You finally saw this Emperor again.】

【Emperor Qing, Zhou Heng.】

【The Emperor is old, with gray hair on his head, and under the noble yellow robe is an old man of more than sixty years.】

【Thinking back then, when he ascended the throne, he was over thirty, the first half of his life was carefree in the Prince's residence, but overnight, he jumped onto the dragon chair and became the master of all people.】

【He stabilized the situation in three years, accumulated his own team, and truly took charge of the Great Qing in ten years; he cannot be called an incompetent monarch.】

【In his eyes, you saw the fear of death and the relief of a lifetime.】

【The Seal-Holding Eunuch Ma Bao followed respectfully behind.】

【Behind are the four princes, the Eighth Prince you have met, and the rest are the Second Prince, the Sixth Prince, and the Fourth Prince.】

【The four princes are the four people closest to the imperial power in the world today.】

【Further back are the civil official array, Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Guardian, Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries, Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet and Secretariat, Censors of the Dali Temple, Libationers of the Imperial Academy, etc.】

【The military generals are on one side, clearly distinguished, neighboring Imperial Guards, Generals of the Four Continents, Commanders, Provincial Military Commanders, etc.】

【Lu Chen's father claimed illness at home, and his mother was taking care of him and did not come.】

【But you know, this is to avoid suspicion.】

【Among them, you couldn't help but glimpse some familiar faces; they are all the most powerful people in the Great Qing world today.】

【The three of you met Emperor Zhou Heng.】

【Zhou Heng waved his hand and said, "Everyone, no need for formalities."】

【The old Emperor said gently: "Accompany me for a walk."】

【"There is still some time before praying for blessings."】

【Zhou Heng walked calmly, Lu Chen and the other two accompanied him, and the civil and military officials followed one after another.】

【Zhou Heng talked to Liu Liu Jinchan about the way of health preservation, every word was a pearl, every sentence entered the heart, making the old Emperor's dragon face relax and his mood very happy.】

【Zhou Heng was very emotional: "Time flies, years pass easily, when people reach old age, they feel the preciousness of life more, fearing that they cannot see this prosperous world again."】

【The Second Prince behind hurriedly said: "Father Emperor is immortal, naturally protected by heaven, this is just adding trouble, you are an old immortal in the human world."】

【Zhou Heng smiled: "Second, you are the best at talking."】

【The Second Prince said shamelessly: "The child follows Father Emperor."】

【When Zhou Heng was a Prince back then, there was no lack of so-called "stealing chickens and dogs" idle things, but the historian recorded: "Had heroic spirit, associated with talented people of the five tombs."】

【The Second Prince married the Princess of the Northern Wind and received the full support of the southern noble families, and his power in the court was in full swing.】

【The southern clans advocate peace.】

【Zhou Heng's eyes looked at Lu Chen, with a different brilliance in his eyes.】

【This old man who has reached the age of sixty is now filled with infinite emotion.】

【"Shenzhou, back then when I saw your father and son alone in the capital, galloping into the capital at night, it was already curfew, but I couldn't stop the people in the capital from watching you, the capital was overcrowded at night, which is the law not blaming the public, it was more lively than the Lantern Festival."】

【"I ordered Ma Bao, as long as your father and son entered the city, wake me up, perhaps this dog slave forgot, or perhaps I am old, I slept until dawn, making your father and son wait in the palace for a night."】

【"Shenzhou, do you have any complaints against me!"】

【As soon as the words fell, the Seal-Holding Eunuch Ma Bao on the side crawled on the ground and said: "The slave deserves to die, please punish me, Emperor."】

【Zhou Heng didn't care, kicked Ma Bao lightly, but instead looked deeply at Lu Chen.】

【Once these words were spoken, even the hundred officials were solemn.】

【The Second Prince, a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.】

【Liu Liu Jinchan's heart tightened.】

【How to respond to this tricky question, no matter whether the answer is "yes" or "no," it seems difficult to avoid falling into a dilemma.】

【If you answer "yes," you may be seen as disrespectful to the Son of Heaven, and if you are not careful, you will be accused of "arrogance."】

【However, if you choose to answer "no," it seems insincere and unconvincing; the upright officials of the clear stream are mostly outspoken.】

【Liu Liu Jinchan fell into a dilemma and sighed secretly: this answer is not very good, it seems that no matter how you answer, it is wrong.】

【No matter how he chooses, it seems difficult to avoid causing criticism and accusation; in this court full of power struggles and fighting, every word and every sentence needs to be carefully considered.】

【He has practiced Daoism for many years and does not understand the deep meaning.】

【He really couldn't think of an answer.】

【However, he is not worried.】

【This disciple of his is steady and measured, and has never missed anything in dealing with people.】

【Civil and military officials, the atmosphere is tense and subtle.】

【Among the officials, some who are familiar with Lu Chen worry for him, while others watch coldly and laugh secretly.】

【And those officials who saw the legendary Lu Lu Shaobao for the first time have eyes full of curiosity and inquiry.】

【Only a few people know the deep meaning, but they don't speak.】

【The Eighth Prince has hot eyes.】

【Everyone is waiting for Lu Chen's reply.】

【You have the ability to know people, and you have already read the meaning.】

【So you decided...】

1. Answer affirmatively, indeed there was resentment, or you might be reused.

2. Answer negatively, there is no resentment, or you will leave the court.

3. If you remain silent, the Great Qing will no longer tolerate you, and it will harm your family.

4. Personally participate. (1/3)

Yu Ke looked at the options.

Choose 3. If you remain silent, the Great Qing will no longer tolerate you, and it will harm your family.

Naturally excluded!

Yu Ke had long planned in his heart that for these ten years you will only practice Daoism and do not want to participate in the temple hall.

Yu Ke directly chose 2, answer negatively, there is no resentment, or you will leave the court!

Following your choice!

【You answered Zhou Heng's words, "There is none in my heart," without embellishment, the answer was crisp.】

【Hearing your answer, Zhou Heng showed a thoughtful look, and then sighed slightly.】

【"Pity, I am old."】

【"If I were thirty years younger, no,... twenty years, even ten years."】

【Zhou Heng suddenly said again: "Don't say it, don't say it, go up the mountain!"】

【This Emperor said in a tone that only he could hear:】

【"That night, I also didn't sleep all night."】

【The team began to go up the mountain, Liu Liu Jinchan took Zhou Heng into the altar, the four princes, civil and military officials followed closely behind.】

【Lu Chen and Lu Yu had no official position, but were outside the altar.】

【Behind the second wave, the Northern Wind envoys, Li Qian, Yuan, Han, and Chu envoys arrived!】

(End of chapter)