Chapter 282: The Great Are Always Great

But it must be said that Lu Xingzhou's precise strike was very effective.

A "motherly" Mr. is overflowing with maternal instincts toward a little puppy; how could he refuse a fragrant, soft little dumpling?

Previously, calling her "Mother" was unbearable... What was the relationship then, and what is it now?

A'nuo is no different from Lu Xingzhou's adopted daughter; the core meaning of her calling him "Father" needs no further explanation, does it? Has Shen Tang ever been called that?

Win!

Ye Tinglan's slight displeasure didn't vanish completely, but at least it was suppressed; she smiled as she carried A'nuo out the door.

Lu Xingzhou and Shen Tang were already waiting in the courtyard, with several dishes already laid out on the table.

Ye Tinglan pondered that the chefs of Tianxing Sword Sect must not be easy; they probably had to fly over a mountain peak on a flying artifact just to deliver the meal... all so the Sect Master and her consort could hide on a mountain peak alone to be intimate. So how could such a Sect Master lead well?

She set A'nuo down, and the four sat around the stone table. Ye Tinglan didn't eat, but spoke immediately: "You returned to Xiazhou to bring A'nuo back to the capital. How long do you intend to stay?"

Just after returning, she wanted to take someone else's husband away; Shen Tang's heart-fire, which had originally calmed, flared up again. With a blank expression, she said: "I heard Mr. is the only one first-grade in the Pill Academy besides Qin Yuanzheng; surely you don't lack the power to decide your own trial time?"

Ye Tinglan said leisurely: "True as that may be, we have already exceeded the original trial time by double. I cannot break the Pill Academy's rules too much. This is also for Xingzhou's sake, to avoid him always standing out and having people talk behind his back."

Shen Tang was stuck for words, and only after a long while said: "Then a day or two doesn't matter. Since there is no urgent matter now and there is no rush, let A'nuo accompany Mr. to walk around?"

"Returning a day or two late is acceptable; this is after all Xingzhou's hometown and the location of his sect. This Seat cannot be inhumane." Ye Tinglan said indifferently: "But I have two disciples; why let only one accompany him on a tour? Sect Master, do not place Xingzhou in a position of unrighteousness."

Shen Tang: "..."

Palace intrigue techniques can win against this old woman, but this old woman constantly using her status to suppress others is too powerless. Whether as Imperial Preceptor or as a Pill Academy Mr., the reasons are always a set of arguments; how can a little wife refute them?

Lu Xingzhou silently served Ye Tinglan a bite of food: "Mr., eat first, eat first."

Keeping the water level even is too difficult; without thinking, one knows how Mr. exploded on himself in the room this morning.

The great are always great; when you were playing with fish on the phone just now, did you ever think of today?

Ye Tinglan glared at him; of course, she wouldn't argue endlessly over jealousy like a common village woman. She calmed down and ate, saying: "Two months have passed; the spiritual energy in Xiazhou is denser than when last seen. Are you prepared on how to respond to the imperial court's inquiry?"

Shen Tang said: "Currently, no one else has reported it; Father... Your Majesty should not have noticed this place yet."

Ye Tinglan thought for a moment, then shook her head: "He has many hidden agents here collecting information; it is impossible that no one is paying attention and reporting. If he has no reaction, either his measures have not yet begun to show, or he is distracted by other matters and temporarily has no mind to attend to other relatively less important affairs."

Lu Xingzhou nodded: "After Gu Shaoli returned, Gu Zhanting should know that some of his schemes have been exposed. What he should be dealing with most right now is the questioning from Tianyao Holy Land. Perhaps calculating how to deal with the Imperial Preceptor could make his head swell three sizes."

Ye Tinglan glanced at Shen Tang, thinking inwardly: This is me taking the thunder for you; you don't even feel grateful, and instead you play the 'playing with fish' game with me.

Shen Tang coughed dryly twice and lowered her head to drink soup.

Lu Xingzhou said: "Furthermore, what Gu Zhanting did also angered the Demon Clan. I wonder if the Demon Clan has other moves besides capturing Chen Yu?"

"Yes." Shen Tang interrupted: "In just this short month or so, several battles have been fought at the border. Currently, the battle situation has not reached Xiazhou... Xiazhou is after all a bit remote, far from the core."

"In the current situation, you should have stationed personnel in the capital, specifically for the purpose of delivering messages."

"Arrangements have already been made. Besides those entering the capital for trade, disciples have also been arranged to participate in the martial arts imperial examination. At that time, we will try to station people in offices like the Demon Suppression Bureau."

Lu Xingzhou said: "Knowing they originate from Tianxing Sword Sect, can they really be stationed?"

Shen Tang secretly glanced at Ye Tinglan, then said: "I originally had some old connections in the capital; some officials support me. It was just that the situation was bad before, so I couldn't contact them well. Now I have re-established contact; I will give you a list, which will also be useful when you enter the capital again."

Whether this is the only heir apparent to openly leak his political faction in front of the Imperial Preceptor is simply against heaven. Ye Tinglan held a belly full of strange emotions but didn't know how to complain.

Am I your person, so you do this?

Speaking seriously, am I not your enemy, little Princess?

Thinking back to when she first met this little Princess in her early years, she was a soft, sticky little dumpling just like A'nuo. Now she has become like this; Ye Tinglan felt that time is ruthless.

Shen Tang seemed to guess what she was thinking and thought inwardly: Isn't it even more shameful for you to fight a man with a little dumpling you watched grow up yourself?

Lu Xingzhou didn't notice the strange current between the two women at all; he was seriously looking at the list. After finishing, he nodded slightly: "Actually, it is much stronger than I imagined..."

Ye Tinglan said with a stern face: "Of course it is not weak. This one is the eldest daughter; although she is a concubine-born, her ability is good, and she looks presentable, so many people still keep her in mind."

Shen Tang smiled slightly: "Including the Imperial Preceptor?"

Ye Tinglan said: "One could say so."

Otherwise, you would have died long ago; could you still put on the airs of a senior wife in front of me?

Shen Tang also recalled that she truly owed this old woman a life-saving debt; for a moment she felt a bit guilty and short of breath, so she said: "Mr. seems not to be eating much; is the taste not to your liking?"

Ye Tinglan thought inwardly: This Seat cannot eat just looking at your fox face, but said: "This Seat does not need to eat; I am only making a brief social appearance."

Did you hear? Social appearance. If you know what's good for you, get lost quickly.

Shen Tang still didn't know what was good for her; pretending not to understand, she lowered her head to drink soup.

Ye Tinglan finally revealed her hand: "Xingzhou, take your Master out for a stroll; staying on the mountain all the time is stifling."

Lu Xingzhou quickly put away the list, stood up, and said: "Xiazhou indeed has some other scenery; I will take Mr. to visit."

Shen Tang wanted to speak but stopped; thinking it over, she let it go. This truly was a life-saving benefactor. *Wuwuwu... *

A'nuo pointed at her own nose, watching the old woman take her Master away with wide eyes, unable to say a single word.

Didn't you say you have more than one disciple? Didn't you say letting only A'nuo accompany him would place Xingzhou in a position of unrighteousness?