Chapter 142: You Have a Father

Gu Zhanting looked at Pei Qingyan, who was playing the part of a devoted father, with deep meaning.

Both are thousand-year foxes; why act out a storybook?

Political struggle is inherently life-or-death; whichever side prevails, how could the other possibly have a good outcome? The state of "no death, no end" has long been established; it makes no difference whether one says it or not. It is merely that people of their status maintain their dignity and do not speak so bluntly.

The greatest significance of saying it aloud is to win Lu Xingzhou's favor, responding to Lu Xingzhou's earlier "I have not yet decided," meaning the decision is now made. Doing so in the Emperor's presence even appears upright, as their bond is formed through gratitude, not private factionalism.

Of course, saying this is not entirely empty talk; it does have a substantial effect.

The struggle between the Pei and Huo families itself remains within the bounds of propriety and will not truly escalate to open fighting. However, with his words spoken here, if Lu Xingzhou were to meet with misfortune and the Pei family remained silent, they would be mocked. Therefore, once the Huo family truly intends to kill Lu Xingzhou, they must either do it cleanly, or they must be fully prepared for an all-out war with the Pei family. This is not an easy decision to make.

Although it cannot truly serve as a talisman, it certainly adds a few more layers of security and significantly elevates Lu Xingzhou's status.

There is also a side effect: from now on, Lu Xingzhou will be branded heavily with the Pei family's mark. From this perspective, it forces Lu Xingzhou to take a side passively; even if he does not wish to, he has no time to refuse.

Gu Zhanting fell silent for a moment; he wanted to know how Lu Xingzhou would handle this situation.

Generally, if a young person receives such a gesture of goodwill from the Pei family, they would be flattered... Would Lu Xingzhou be?

Yet they saw Lu Xingzhou bow respectfully with a very warm demeanor: "Prime Minister Pei is too polite... This junior has been separated from my flesh and blood since childhood and find such matters particularly hard to bear; helping your daughter find her kin is also for me to accumulate merit. If Prime Minister Pei can truly secure a title and protection for your daughter, this junior is also happy for Miss Pei. As for anything else... with Your Majesty presiding, this commoner would not be allowed to suffer. Of course, I am very grateful for Prime Minister Pei's intention to protect me."

Pei Qingyan was stunned for a moment; everyone present felt their hearts skip a beat, secretly exclaiming how interesting this was.

Gu Zhanting exclaimed "interesting" several times in his mind and had to admit that Lu Xingzhou's remark pleased him immensely. The fact was indeed so; with Gu Zhanting presiding, what could the Huo family have to fear that would allow you, Pei Qingyan, to intervene?

Gu Zhanting was in high spirits and finally laughed heartily: "Prime Minister Pei's deep love for his daughter, I have heard. Hmm... what is your daughter's name?"

Pei Qingyan calmed his mind from his surprise at Lu Xingzhou and answered respectfully: "Her name is Chu Yun."

Pei Chu Yun had just entered the scene; her name had not yet spread among peers, and even the Netherworld Hall had to investigate to learn it. The outside world basically did not know. Even if someone had heard of it, they could claim it was a namesake. No one dared to imagine that the prestigious Pei family of Hedong would truly recognize a Hehuan demoness as a daughter. Pei Qingyan was full of confidence and did not even need to change the name.

Gu Zhanting smiled and said: "Very well. First, grant her entry to the Imperial Academy through imperial favor. We will discuss further honors based on her performance there. How does that sound?"

In this world, women can hold office; Miss Gua has been an official for years. Entering the Imperial Academy is basically a prerequisite for becoming a civil official. For a persona of someone "lost in the Jianghu," this is a very good grant of imperial favor, basically guaranteeing her an official position.

As for directly granting her the title of County Princess or similar female-frequency wish-fulfillment fantasies, one should just think and forget it.

Pei Qingyan was also sufficiently satisfied: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"When will the ceremony for acknowledging ancestors and returning to the clan be held?" Gu Zhanting smiled. "If you have time, I might even attend the ceremony."

Pei Qingyan was caught slightly off guard by the question: "This still needs to be discussed with my daughter; she may not wish to make too much of a scene."

"Haha, such a daughter-slave remark is truly unlike the Prime Minister Pei I know." Gu Zhanting did not mind and left his seat in high spirits: "Let it be so for now."

Everyone respectfully saw the Emperor off. Pei Qingyan looked at Lu Xingzhou, hesitated to speak, and finally shook his head with a lost smile before turning and leaving.

Lu Xingzhou smiled, his gaze falling on the Huo father and son, who were also looking at him.

Both sides' gazes were quite complex, their meaning hard to discern.

Yet in the end, no words were spoken. Lu Xingzhou withdrew his gaze and said calmly: "Yuanyao, let us go."

Sheng Yuanyao waved to her father on the seat and, with a face full of the expression of someone stuffed from eating melon seeds, happily pushed Lu Xingzhou away.

Sheng Qingfeng's face was pitch black. Do you know what your behavior looks like? It looks like a foolishly happy maid!

But speaking of which, today Lu Xingzhou was truly going to become famous in the capital... His performance exceeded everyone's expectations, and most importantly, he left a particularly good impression on the Emperor!

Truly strange. Is he really the same age as Yuanyao?

"Are you really the same age as me?" Sheng Yuanyao could not hold back and stopped on the way to escort Lu Xingzhou back to the inn. She circled to his front, pinched his face, and tried to investigate if he was wearing a human-skin mask: "You wouldn't be an old monster in disguise, would you? Could a young person come up with those responses to Prime Minister Pei on the spot?"

Lu Xingzhou let her pinch him and mumbled indistinctly: "Don't tease me."

Sheng Yuanyao ignored him. Originally pinching his face with one hand, she simply used both hands to rub him thoroughly, finally expressing disgust: "Not as soft to rub as A'nuo; you are indeed an old skin."

Lu Xingzhou was at a loss between laughter and tears.

He did not expect that a Wu Xiu like Miss Gua, who plays with a blade, would have such tender hands.

Sheng Yuanyao returned to pushing the wheelchair from behind and said with great interest: "Hey, judging by the attitude of the Netherworld Hall towards you, have you actually withdrawn or not? Why do I feel they are terrified of you? Some even knelt."

"Afraid of me?" Lu Xingzhou shook his head: "Actually, many in the Capital Branch are from Ye Wufeng's line. They were not originally afraid of me... It is just that this time Ye Wufeng was killed and still had to be expelled... They are afraid of the Nether Lord; they are just following the wind."

"So the Nether Lord treats you very well? Does this count as standing up for you?"

Lu Xingzhou fell silent for a moment and said indifferently: "Ye Wufeng had too much desire to perform, leading him to act without much regard for consequences, which is detrimental to the organization. When I was there before, we had unpleasantness over such matters. At that time, they thought I was targeting him, but I truly had no leisure or inclination to target individuals. This time, the Nether Lord... should be considered to have made the correct choice, diverting the hatred between the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Huanhua Sword Sect."

"Yes, yes, yes, the Adjudicator Lord is naturally acting for the public good, and is acting for the public good even at the Tianxing Sword Sect~"

"What are you trying to say with that sarcastic tone?"

Sheng Yuanyao hummed twice and fell silent.

Who told you Shen Tang was a lover, speaking so without a second thought?

Lu Xingzhou said: "I am indeed mostly acting for the public good regarding the Tianxing Sword Sect... The battle last night was for private reasons."

Sheng Yuanyao directly changed the subject: "... What is your next plan? To deal with Huo Heng?"

Lu Xingzhou let out a "tsk" sound: "Weak yet loves to play."

"Stop wasting words." Sheng Yuanyao, annoyed and ashamed, said: "I asked about your next step."

Huo Heng, the third son of the Huo family. His strength is Fourth Rank Lower Grade, which is easy to discuss... The more troublesome point is that he holds an official position in the Ministry of Works.

The second son, Huo Zhang, is serving in the army in the North and is not in the capital. His strength might be the strongest... Although many in the army are merely blood-sucking parasites, Lu Xingzhou still believes that having seen blood makes him superior to the idle rich in the capital.

Adding the eldest son, Huo Qi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, these are the three remaining legitimate sons of the Huo family. Of these, only two remain in the capital...

"We will not deal with them in the short term; acting too hastily will cause us to get our balls twisted, and the Emperor will also have an opinion." Lu Xingzhou said leisurely: "My next step is naturally to go to school. Solidifying oneself is the hard truth."

Sheng Yuanyao's tone was cool: "I think it is because Pei Chu Yun is going to school, and you want to join in the fun."

"Hey, my coming to the Alchemy Academy was decided long ago. Uh, no, which Pei Chu Yun do you know? Why does that tone sound so strange?"

"Isn't it just your tea-scented A'lv? Do you really think I'm stupid? I also investigate cases!" Sheng Yuanyao looked down on her: "I never thought a Pei family daughter would be so flirtatious; look at that cheap appearance."

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

While speaking, they had already arrived at the inn's courtyard.

The courtyard gate was not closed. A'nuo was leaning against the door, peeking inside with a melon-eating expression. Sheng Yuanyao immediately shut her mouth, darted to A'nuo's back, and peeked inside together.

Pei Qingyan's voice came from inside: "With the Emperor's favor granting entry to the Imperial Academy, no one will say you are illegitimate, and the family will also keep their mouths shut. Can you return home now?"

Pei Chuyun said, "I need to discuss this with Lu Xingzhou."

Pei Qingyan's voice was somewhat hesitant: "What exactly is your relationship with Lu Xingzhou?"

Pei Chuyun smiled: "Is it important?"

Pei Qingyan fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "This youth is no ordinary creature. If you truly favor him, your father can directly propose on your behalf, but if you cling to the sect's code... I fear you will suffer."

"Suffering is no more than following in mother's footsteps; you are the least qualified to say that."

Pei Qingyan said calmly: "No one stood up for your mother. But you are different from her; you have a father."

Lu Xingzhou blinked his eyes; even he felt a touch of emotion hearing this, and the literary young demoness in his heart must have taken a heavy blow.

In fact, given Pei Qingyan's cultivation, it was impossible for a crowd of onlookers outside the gate to escape his perception; his words were also meant for Lu Xingzhou to hear. The warning outweighed everything else.

Regardless of his considerations regarding Lu Xingzhou... at least his guilt toward his daughter and his desire to make amends should be sincere.

Lu Xingzhou did not listen further; he actively propelled his wheelchair to the doorway: "In the courtroom, thank you, Prime Minister Pei, for your protection."

Pei Qingyan smiled: "I see you were quite frightened by my 'protection'."

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "How could that be... protection is protection after all."

"Heh..." Pei Qingyan said no more, stating directly: "Since Yuner wishes to discuss this with you, this old man will not press you. Once a result is reached or any demands arise, simply send someone to inform me."

Watching Pei Qingyan stride away, Pei Chuyun's expression was complex; only after a long while did she ask: "What do you think?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "Go. At least for now, he is sincere."

Pei Chuyun spoke softly: "The more sincere he is, the more he falls into my master's scheme. I... am somewhat hesitant."

"You say you are so kind, yet why be a demoness?" Lu Xingzhou rubbed her head: "Regardless of what others do, you also have desires; that is reason enough... do not leave yourself with regrets. What others do, what does it matter to you?"

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(End of this chapter)