Chapter 55: Ascent for Blessings, Far from the Court

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

【The Emperor ascends Mount Zhongnan.】

【The current Son of Heaven, accompanied by his entire court as the first group to enter the mountains, is followed in the rear by the emissary delegations of Beifeng, Qianyuan, Han, and Chu.】

【The second group consists of the imperial consorts and the families of civil and military officials, a vast and bustling procession.】

【You have cultivated for half a month and, unusually, made progress—your heart swells with joy.】

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

【The spring sun melted the frost; another fine spring had come.】

【You, Lu Yu, and Liu Jinchan stood upon the stone steps of Mount Zhongnan to greet the Emperor of Daqing, with hundreds of disciples of the Three True Teachings lined in two rows behind you.】

【Mount Zhongnan was already thick with guards; the Emperor’s pilgrimage for blessings was a matter of great importance.】

【You, Lu Yu, and Liu Jinchan stood side by side upon the stone steps of Mount Zhongnan, awaiting the arrival of the Emperor of Daqing.】

【Liu Jinchan stood at the center, while you and Lu Yu flanked your master on either side.】

【Your master Liu Jinchan spoke uneasily: “Shenzhou, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Front, your rank is exalted—you ought to stand in the center.”】

【You smiled: “Now, I am merely a disciple of the Three True Teachings. I must follow the sect’s rules and stand beside my master.”】

【The Emperor bathed and changed his robes for three days, then ascended the mountain with his ministers—the sacred scene, solemn and dignified.】

【You saw this Emperor again.】

【Emperor Zhou Heng.】

【The Emperor was old, his head crowned with silver hair; beneath the noble yellow robe was a man over sixty.】

【In his youth, he ascended the throne past thirty, having spent his early life in leisure as a Prince—until one day he leapt onto the dragon throne and became lord of all the people.】

【Within three years he stabilized the realm and built his own faction; within ten, he truly held Daqing’s reins—he was no incompetent ruler.】

【In his eyes, you saw fear of death and the quiet satisfaction of a life lived.】

【The Grand Eunuch Ma Bao followed respectfully behind.】

【Behind him came four imperial princes: the Eighth Prince, whom you had met, and the others—the Second, Sixth, and Fourth Princes.】

【These four princes were the four men closest to the throne in all the land.】

【Behind them came the civil officials: the Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, the Six Ministries’ Ministers and Vice Ministers, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and the Secretariat, the Censor-in-Chief of the Dalisi , and the President of the Imperial Academy.】

【On one side stood the military officers—clearly divided: the Ministers of the Imperial Guard, the Four Provinces’ Generals, the Commanders, and the Provincial Military Commanders.】

【Lu Chen’s father claimed illness at home; his mother stayed to care for him and did not come.】

【You knew this was to avoid suspicion.】

【Among them, you caught sight of several familiar faces—all the most powerful men in Daqing today.】

【The three of you bowed before Emperor Zhou Heng.】

【Zhou Heng waved his hand: “Gentlemen, no need for formalities.”】

【The old Emperor said gently: “Walk with me.”】

【“The sacrifice and blessing ceremony is still some time away.”】

【Zhou Heng walked with calm steps; Lu Chen and the other two walked beside him, while civil and military officials followed in orderly procession.】

【Zhou Heng spoke with Liu Jinchan of health and longevity, every word a pearl, every phrase striking deep—causing the old Emperor’s face to brighten, his spirits lifted.】

【Zhou Heng sighed deeply: “Time flies, youth fades; in old age, one feels the preciousness of life, fearing one may never again behold this splendid world.”】

【The Second Prince quickly replied: “Your Majesty shall live ten thousand years, protected by Heaven—this is but needless worry; you are surely a mortal immortal.”】

【Zhou Heng smiled: “Second son, you’re the best at flattery.”】

【The Second Prince grinned shamelessly: “I take after Your Majesty.”】

【When Zhou Heng was still a Prince, he had indulged in idle, mischievous deeds—but the historians recorded: “Young, bold, and befriended the talented youths of the Five Capitals.”】

【The Second Prince married the Princess of Beifeng and received staunch support from southern aristocratic clans—his power in court now at its zenith.】

【The southern clans favored peace.】

【Zhou Heng’s gaze turned to Lu Chen, his eyes gleaming with something unusual.】

【This sixty-year-old man now felt boundless emotion.】

【“Shenzhou, I still remember when your father and you three rode alone into the capital at night—curfew was in force, yet the people of the capital still came out to see you; the streets were packed, so thick with crowds that even the law dared not punish them—it was more lively than Lantern Festival.”】

【“I told Ma Bao: as soon as your father and you entered the city, wake me. Perhaps that dog of a servant forgot—or perhaps I am old, and slept through till dawn, leaving your father and you waiting all night in the palace.”】

【“Shenzhou, do you harbor resentment toward me?”】

【At once, the Grand Eunuch Ma Bao prostrated himself on the ground: “Your servant deserves death—please punish me, Your Majesty.”】

【Zhou Heng paid no mind; he gave Ma Bao a light kick, then fixed his gaze deeply on Lu Chen.】

【At these words, even the ministers fell silent.】

【The Second Prince’s lips curled into a smile.】

【Liu Jinchan’s heart tightened.】

【How to answer this delicate question? Whether one answered “yes” or “no,” it seemed impossible to avoid trouble.】

【If you answered “yes,” you risked appearing disrespectful to the Son of Heaven—risking the charge of arrogance.】

【But if you answered “no,” you would seem insincere, unconvincing—true upright ministers spoke plainly.】

【Liu Jinchan was caught in a dilemma, sighing inwardly: no answer seemed right; every answer felt wrong.】

【No matter his choice, he would invite criticism—in this court of scheming and struggle, every word, every phrase must be weighed with care.】

【He had cultivated for years, yet failed to grasp the depth of this.】

【He could not think of a reply.】

【Yet he was not truly worried.】

【His disciple was steady, composed, never careless in dealings.】

【The civil and military ministers felt the tension, subtle and thick.】

【Among the courtiers, some who knew Lu Chen worried for him; others watched coldly, smirking inwardly.】

【Those who had never seen the famed Lu Shaobao gazed with curiosity and scrutiny.】

【Only a few understood the true meaning—and said nothing.】

【The Eighth Prince’s eyes burned with earnestness.】

【All waited for Lu Chen’s reply.】

【You had always possessed insight into men—you understood the meaning behind his words.】

【So you decided…】

1. Answer affirmatively: you once harbored resentment, or you may gain favor.

2. Answer negatively: you harbor no resentment, or you will leave court.

3. If you remain silent, Daqing will no longer tolerate you—your family will suffer.

4. Participate personally. (1/3)

【Yu Ke looked at the options.】

【Choose 3: If you remain silent, Daqing will no longer tolerate you—your family will suffer.】

【Naturally excluded!】

【Yu Ke had long decided: for the past ten years, you would only cultivate—no part in court politics.】

【Yu Ke chose 2 directly: answer negatively—no resentment, and you will leave court!】

【With your choice made!】

【You answered Zhou Heng: “I have none,” blunt and unadorned.】

【Hearing your reply, Zhou Heng paused in thought, then sighed softly.】

【“Pity—I am old.”】

【“If I were thirty years younger—no, twenty… even ten.”】

【Zhou Heng suddenly added: “Enough. Let’s climb the mountain.”】

【The Emperor spoke, barely above a whisper:】

【“That night—I could not sleep either.”】

【The procession began ascending; Liu Jinchan led Zhou Heng to the altar, followed by the four princes and the civil and military ministers.】

【Lu Chen and Lu Yu held no official rank—they remained outside the altar.】

【The second wave arrived: the emissaries of Beifeng, Qianyuan, Han, and Chu!】

【(End of Chapter)】