Chapter 122: The Pei Family Banquet

That day Pei Chuyun ran around outside for an entire afternoon, and Lu Xingzhou accompanied her the whole time with a smile, looking just like an old father doting on two children.

It was not until the sun set in the west that Pei Chuyun remembered tonight was the Pei household's dinner, and that this was the main event of her trip to the capital. Only then did she reluctantly return to Lu Xingzhou's side: "Um, it was I who dragged you out to shop, but you just followed along and watched the whole afternoon—do you find it boring?"

"Isn't that just how it is when others accompany someone shopping?" Lu Xingzhou said with a beaming smile: "I'm luckier than most men, because I can sit."

Pei Chuyun felt something seemed a little different, but she couldn't say exactly what.

Oh right, other men shopping with their lovers would be all lovey-dovey, whispering intimate things—who would just follow along with a beaming smile?

Pei Chuyun felt a little embarrassed, leaned in and whispered: "I'll make it up to you tonight."

"Brother Lu." Pei Yu's voice rang out not far away, and Pei Chuyun, like a startled little rabbit, stood up straight in a flash.

Pei Yu strolled over with a half-smile: "I heard that Brother Lu spent the day shopping with a maidservant and child, so I came looking for you... it seems little brother has come at a bad time, interrupting the romance."

Pei Chuyun's pretty face flushed red as she lowered her head and stood shyly beside Lu Xingzhou, putting on the full image of a little maidservant caught red-handed while sneaking a bite.

Lu Xingzhou said dead seriously: "No, you've come at just the right time."

It wasn't that he wanted to throw an arm around Pei Yu's shoulder too, but rather he thought—if Pei Chuyun really was Pei Yu's sister, then this "elder brother currently committing the offense" thing would be quite thrilling.

Pei Yu didn't catch the joke, just laughed: "Shall we go? It's about time."

Lu Xingzhou cupped his hands in a salute: "Brother Pei is too kind... please lead the way."

The three followed Pei Yu toward the Pei residence, and Pei Yu asked casually: "How do you find the capital?"

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "The capital's grandeur is not something a backwater like Xiazhou can compare to. Setting aside other things, the people here are much stronger... among the passersby, many are stronger than me."

"Hahaha..." Pei Yu burst out laughing: "Truly worthy of a cultivator's perspective. But those people, though their aura looks strong, it's not certain they're truly stronger than Brother Lu. Huo Jin looked stronger than Brother Lu, yet wasn't he defeated in one move? Most people aren't even as good as Huo Jin—the majority got there by pill-pushing."

Actually, this wasn't a cultivator's perspective at all, but a cautious one wary of assassination. Lu Xingzhou's own observational focus was more on the human side, but the capital was simply too vast—spending a mere afternoon strolling didn't even amount to a single hair off nine oxen, and there was nothing representative about it, so better not to say anything.

That most people got there by pill-pushing was simply the common ecology of this age of cultivation. After all, the vast majority of people didn't have the talent for cultivation, but raising one's grade could cure illness and extend life—being able to fight or not was secondary. It's just that since this was true everywhere, the capital still had more powerful people than other places.

Seeing Lu Xingzhou smile without answering, Pei Yu went on by himself: "The Huo family hasn't bothered Brother Lu, have they?"

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "I heard Huo Lu is about to be escorted here, so they should be busy making connections on all sides right now, not in the mood for complications—at least they wouldn't dare use violent means in public. I did think about it though, if the Huo family still wanted to come find me, it might be Huo Xingyuan coming personally, amiably promising some conditions... but that didn't happen either.

"It might happen tomorrow." Pei Yu hinted meaningfully.

"Brother Pei is afraid I can't withstand the pressure?" Lu Xingzhou said leisurely: "Aren't you all giving me confidence right now..."

Pei Yu let out a laugh and did not answer.

Indeed, if the Pei family wanted to invite Lu Xingzhou, any random restaurant would do. Inviting him home was specifically to counter the Huo family's "come home for dinner" from yesterday—at the very least, it showed sincerity in taking a stance.

As they spoke, they arrived at the Pei residence. The Pei residence threw open its main gate to welcome guests, putting on full ceremony.

Pei Chuyun looked up at the "Prime Minister's Residence" plaque, pressed her lips together, feeling a bit dazed.

Having been somewhat anxious and uncertain all along, once it actually happened, it was just like this.

Anyway, everyone along the way showed no particular reaction to her appearance—no different from visiting anywhere else as a guest.

Upon reaching the guest hall, there wasn't some grand gathering of important Pei family figures—just Pei Yu's father, the current Prime Minister Pei Qingyan, seated there, his gaze also falling on Lu Xingzhou rather than the maidservant behind him.

"I've long heard that my worthy nephew is handsome and dignified, and seeing you today confirms it." Pei Qingyan stroked his beard and laughed: "You do look better than the few from the Huo family."

The implication being—tell me straight, are you Huo Shang or not?

Lu Xingzhou didn't take the bait, just laughed: "When it comes to looks, the Pei family is truly outstanding, the Huo family average. Compared to Prime Minister Pei, Huo Xingyuan looks like a crude, vulgar martial man.

Pei Qingyan nearly lost his composure: "The Marquis of Zhenyuan is a Wu Xiu to begin with, and a commanding general at that.

The reason the Huo family held power over the court wasn't just through luck and advancement—in this age of cultivation, brown-nosing and flattery aren't enough, even subordinates won't be convinced, you have to be capable yourself. Lu Xingzhou, with his original seventh or eighth grade pathetic cultivation, had held a high position in the Hall of Yama for a long time, which drew a bunch of disgruntled and competitive fools. If he were first grade, guaranteed everything would be peaceful and nothing would happen.

And where the Huo family was truly strong was that Grand Tutor Huo and the Marquis of Zhenyuan—father and son, both first grade.

It's said the eldest son Huo Qi has already reached third grade, having passed the great threshold of the upper three grades. Given time, who knows if three generations of grandfather-grandson all first grade might not happen—that would be a fine tale.

Lu Xingzhou felt, however, that the Huo family didn't have so many high-grade members in earlier years either, and these past few years it was probably related to their pill furnaces—likely refining more than just life-saving pills. Unfortunately, the younger ones really weren't very capable, otherwise dealing with a whole clan of elites would truly be difficult.

The Pei family's population was much thinner than the Huo family's—at least here in the capital, Pei Qingyan's previous generation didn't seem to be around, cousins unknown how many were present, and in Pei Qingyan's own branch, Pei Yu was an only son, born to him in middle age, treasured beyond measure.

Yes, an only son, and Pei Yu was at least three years older than Pei Chuyun—no possibility of a swap. If there was a swap, it could only be from a cousin's branch. Pei Chuyun had never expected Pei Qingyan to be her father.

And Pei Qingyan had no lost or deceased children in his early years—this was something one could find out by casually asking any old servant, no need to specifically enter the Pei residence to investigate.

Pei Qingyan laughed: "Let's eat first, just some home cooking, a few of us eating casually."

Everyone took their seats, and Pei Chuyun stood obediently behind Lu Xingzhou. This finally made Pei Qingyan take a look, but he gave a slight start: "This one is... Young Master Lu's maidservant?"

"Yes, my maidservant Alei." Lu Xingzhou observed Pei Qingyan's expression: "What is it?"

"Oh, nothing, guests are guests, Miss Alei, please be seated as well."

This kind of noble family had the most rules, and there was never any reason for a maidservant to sit at the same table as her master... Lu Xingzhou and Pei Chuyun exchanged a glance, and he laughed: "Aren't you going to thank Prime Minister Pei?"

Pei Chuyun bowed: "Many thanks, Prime Minister Pei."

Pei Qingyan said: "Where is Miss Alei from?"

Pei Chuyun shook her head: "I don't know, I've been wandering since childhood, trafficked through many hands, only recently bought by Young Master."

This time even Pei Yu couldn't help saying: "With beauty like the young lady's, you were passed around to many places?"

The implication being—most people would have kept her for themselves long ago.

Pei Qingyan, however, waved his hand: "Asking about someone's privacy is quite rude."

Pei Yu hurriedly apologized: "Pei spoke out of turn, please don't take offense, Miss."

Lu Xingzhou said at this point: "Are Prime Minister Pei's brothers all in Hedong? I noticed when the Huo family came to the capital, they brought the whole household, even wanting to carry their dogs along."

Pei Qingyan laughed: "We're not like the Huo family... The Pei clan has been rooted in Hedong for several hundred years, with many branches and leaves, couldn't move even if we wanted to. In our main branch, I'm the eldest, with two younger brothers below me—one holds an official post elsewhere, one focuses on cultivation."

Lu Xingzhou's heart stirred slightly. He naturally didn't know much about the Pei family's internal affairs, but the one holding office elsewhere Pei Chuyun had presumably already investigated, and the one focused on cultivation might still have something worth looking into.

No need to look, though—Pei Qingyan's very next words were: "Miss Alei does rather resemble an old acquaintance of mine... unfortunately, that acquaintance passed away long ago, and seeing the young lady inevitably brings some sighs."

Pei Chuyun couldn't suppress a slight change in expression.

She had thought this matter would require all sorts of indirect probing, but never expected that just a few casual exchanges after the meal began, there was already a direct result.

She took a deep breath and said carefully: "I won't hide it from Prime Minister Pei, this young woman also very much wishes to know her own origins. May I ask who Prime Minister Pei's acquaintance was..."

Pei Qingyan said: "She was a kindred spirit this Prime Minister met in the martial world back in the day, but she passed away long ago... The young lady's appearance bears some resemblance to hers, perhaps there's a connection, but unfortunately this Prime Minister doesn't know where she was from either, and so much time has passed—I'm afraid it will be hard to help the young lady. To be honest, asking about the young lady's origins just now was actually to try to trace where my old acquaintance came from..."

This time, even Lu Xingzhou's heart stirred.

Something's off here — most likely we don't need to look for anyone else in the Pei family at all, it's damn well you!

Pei Chuyun is very likely the child of that "old friend," and Pei Qingyan may not know he got someone pregnant.

That's why Pei Chuyun bears the surname Pei, yet the Pei family knows nothing of this matter.

The Charming Maiden Union of Joy Sect most likely knows, and precisely because they know, they don't want Pei Chuyun to stand out too much and draw Pei Qingyan's attention — especially things like being called a talented beauty or writing poetry, which would far too easily make the Pei family take notice.

Moreover, among the upper ranks there are probably some who worry Pei Chuyun will still be taken back by the Pei family, so for now they're holding back and don't really want to grant her sect authority; but others hold the opposite opinion, feeling that such innate talent should be cultivated, and might even think they should use this background to infiltrate the Pei family.

With the dispute unresolved, it led to Pei Chuyun's awkward position within the sect.

Analyzed this way, everything suddenly becomes clear — everything is explained.

The current problem is actually how to confirm it — are we supposed to just ask Pei Qingyan directly, "Have you ever knocked someone up?"

Lu Xingzhou pondered for a long while, then suddenly asked: "Prime Minister Pei, did you personally bury this old friend of yours? If there's any kinship with A'luo, perhaps we could have A'luo go pay respects."

Pei Qingyan shook his head: "No. Eighteen years ago, she died at the hands of the Charming Maiden Union of Joy Sect... by the time I arrived, nearly half a month had already passed, and the local authorities had already handled the burial."

Pei Chuyun's expression finally changed.

(End of chapter)