[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-82":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Mountains and Rivers of the Imperial Granary",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2231498,4184,"Chapter 82: The Circle is Truly Messy","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-82",82,"\u003Cp>If one were to say Lu Xingzhou was going to hunt a deer, no one would naturally think it meant vying for the throne; if this divination were applied to Shen Tang, it might be a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if one speaks of husband and wife as one, then there is no issue with interpreting the hexagram this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Lu Xingzhou alone, Sheng Yuanyao’s first reaction was his deep-seated hatred and desire for revenge against the Huo family—an inevitable course of action that no one could possibly stop. Her expression turned somewhat ugly: \"Is the risk high? If he doesn't let it go, will something truly happen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is crisis and risk, but that does not mean failure is inevitable. In the end, it is human effort that determines success.\" Ye Tinglan glanced at Sheng Yuanyao and laughed, \"Yuanyao... are you very concerned about him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is probably not as much as your disciple is concerned about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao muttered to herself, though she didn't truly believe Dugu Qingli had any secret affair with Lu Xingzhou. She just said cautiously, \"He is a friend, after all. If there is danger, one cannot help but care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The deer is not yet in the woods; it is only because there is a lack of a guide. What if there were one?\" Ye Tinglan smiled, \"A hexagram is merely a direction, giving one a rough reference point in their heart; it must never be taken as a predetermined fact. There is no predetermined future in this world; the future lies beneath your feet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao thought to herself that this was as good as saying nothing, but she dared not argue, so she could only smile awkwardly: \"The National Teacher is right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Ye Tinglan not see that this girl was saying one thing while thinking another? She didn't mind and smiled, \"Is Yuanyao familiar with this... Lu Xingzhou? Could you tell me about his situation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao had thought the National Teacher summoned her to ask about Shen Tang and Dugu Qingli; she hadn't expected every sentence to be about Lu Xingzhou, and she felt a bit strange inside. After thinking, she replied truthfully: \"Lu Xingzhou acts in an unorthodox manner, but he is actually an upright person... well, that should count, at least he isn't truly evil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan smiled: \"Even though he slaughtered so many of the Huo family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao was silent for a moment, then changed her perspective: \"If he were truly a bad person, Princess Chaohuang would not entrust him with heavy responsibilities, and Miss Dugu would not have spent so much time with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, part of the reason Ye Tinglan asked about Lu Xingzhou was indeed a concern that her sheltered disciple might be deceived by a man, although with Qingli's level of cultivation, such a possibility was almost zero. As a master, she couldn't help but pay some attention. Seeing that Sheng Yuanyao also felt this person was at least not evil, Ye Tinglan felt slightly at ease: \"Anything else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is a formidable strategist. Every action he takes has multiple purposes; you think he is only taking one step, but in reality, he has laid out plans several steps ahead. The current atmosphere of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect is not an exaggeration to say it was created by his own hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the Yama Hall... truly owes its strength to him.\" Ye Tinglan whispered to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a moment. She had heard that the National Teacher’s level of importance placed on the Yama Hall was unique; seeing it now, it really was true, even this could be linked to the Yama Hall. So when she asked about Lu Xingzhou, was it for Shen Tang or for Yuan Muyu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan seemed to snap out of it and smiled: \"This person looks interesting. If there is an opportunity, I will see him myself. Hmm... how is Princess Chaohuang doing now? Is her health alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything else is quite good, except her leg hasn't been healed yet. I think she is intentionally not treating it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\" Ye Tinglan fell into deep thought again and didn't speak for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao wanted to say something but hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan glanced at her and smiled: \"Does Yuanyao have something she wants to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao gathered her courage: \"I want to ask the National Teacher to help me cast a hexagram.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? What aspect do you want to calculate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marriage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan chuckled: \"It seems Yuanyao has reached that age; you actually care about this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao sighed. It wasn't because she had reached that age; she didn't have that thought at all! It was just that she had been tricked by a certain little brat, and she had been restless ever since. Now that she had met the National Teacher, who was the best in this field, how could she not take the opportunity to ask for peace of mind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan did not take offense and actually helped her calculate it, smiling: \"Rest assured, your marriage is chosen by yourself... eh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao became nervous: \"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, nothing.\" Ye Tinglan smiled: \"It feels somewhat like an arranged marriage, but I feel Yuanyao's temperament is not one that could accept an arranged marriage, so it is a bit strange. But just as I said before, the hexagram is only a reference; the final outcome still lies beneath your feet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't a bunch of sisters, it was fine. Arranged marriages were not rare for families like theirs. She didn't accept it now, but how she would think in the future was hard to say. If she could truly choose someone she liked, it would count as a setting that fit her future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, that stinky kid was a liar; other than having a nice face to pinch, he was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her energy returned all at once, and she cupped her hands: \"If the National Teacher has no other instructions, may I take my leave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan said: \"You have only been assigned outside for two months, yet you have broken two major demon cases. Your ability and luck are both very strong. Do you really intend to stay in the capital and not go out in the future? That would be a pity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao pursed her lips, feeling somewhat listless: \"We'll see. Maybe after playing for two years, I'll get bored and want to do something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan said meaningfully: \"This merit is enough for you to be promoted two or three ranks... just build up some seniority in the Capital Division for now. If you want to do something in the future, feel free to come and talk to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Yuanyao looked up suddenly, meeting Ye Tinglan's beautiful and profound gaze. She suddenly realized something and took a deep breath: \"Understood, I will certainly seek the National Teacher's advice when the time comes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Sheng Yuanyao's retreating figure, Ye Tinglan sighed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a good girl with ideals and a pure heart, how could she share a husband with someone else... to say she is a concubine doesn't quite count, and it seems she was the one who knew that man first...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bureaucratic circle is truly messy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is better to have my own disciple; cold and indifferent, no need to worry about this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lu Xingzhou knew of Ye Tinglan's hexagram, he would probably think it referred to Pei Chuyun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, if one speaks of hunting a deer, what could be more intuitive than Pei Chuyun hunting him, this Lu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if this hexagram were heard by Yuan Muyu, it probably wouldn't just be Lu; she would even interpret the 'deer' as herself, this fish, and be furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, divination was the one art among the various arts of cultivation that Lu Xingzhou least liked to learn, because the answers were too vague, and most of the time one only brought trouble upon oneself. Moreover, this thing couldn't calculate oneself, nor could it calculate opponents with higher cultivation than oneself, so what was the use... Yuan Muyu learned it very well, divined that there were immortal pills on Danxia Mountain, and then? Ten years later, she hadn't found anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Anuo thought it was fun and learned some superficial knowledge from Yuan Muyu. In the end, because her master didn't think much of this stuff, she didn't study it deeply; she just played around with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou still felt that truly mastering information about oneself and the enemy was much more meaningful than what could be gained from divination. This time, failing to catch Pei Chuyun, he immediately summoned his old subordinates: \"Refund the money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assassin: \"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had you keep an eye on Pei Chuyun's movements, and you gained nothing. That's fine; I understand that with her strength and solo actions, her whereabouts are hard to track. But you still don't have any information on how many escape techniques she knows, so my money was wasted?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, you don't have to pay us... forget it.\" The assassin was very helpless: \"Escape techniques involve self-preservation. Such information is private even within the Harlot Joy Sect; we really have no way to master it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't believe that absolutely no one within the Harlot Joy Sect knows these. Go bribe them; there must be someone who knows. Not just escape techniques, but any other special unique skills, as well as what her situation is within the Harlot Joy Sect—I want any information. Come to me for reimbursement for whatever you spend. Just be careful not to get seduced yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassin could only say: \"We will try our best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang looked at the assassin leaving with a straight face, then suddenly stretched out her slender hand: \"Hand it over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah?\" Lu Xingzhou was stunned: \"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The shoe.\" Shen Tang grabbed his collar: \"What do you intend to do with the enchantress's shoe? Smell it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou was between laughter and tears: \"No, this is useful. Only with her personal belongings can I sense her approach. This is a tracking method commonly used by the Yama Hall. What else could I have taken from her at the time? Tear her clothes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang had nothing to say and turned her head away, pouting: \"Was it very fun to touch?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou finally hugged her: \"She isn't as big as yours, what's there to be fun about touching...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get lost.\" Shen Tang pressed down his large hand, stole a glance at Anuo, who was squatting on the side eating a melon, and quickly changed the subject: \"What did you say to Chen Zhangsi? I saw you were distracted after leaving the Chen family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of this, Lu Xingzhou immediately became serious and whispered: \"If I go to the Capital Alchemy Academy, what are your thoughts?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang's heart jumped violently, her eyes widened, and she was speechless for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were in the honeymoon period and truly couldn't bear to be separated for even a moment. But Shen Tang soon understood the meaning of Lu Xingzhou's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he returned from further studies at the Alchemy Academy, with this official golden body plated on him, there might even be a chance for a proper marriage proposal. Some obstacles that he previously dared not break through could at least be eliminated by half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, he was on the path to marrying her openly and honestly, having taken a major step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Profound Heaven Sword Sect was very stable now, and everything was waiting for the sect disciples to have widespread breakthroughs and accumulation. Even the alchemy matters that Lu Xingzhou previously had to be responsible for were now shared by some captured alchemists from the Burning Incense Tower who had surrendered, so Lu Xingzhou no longer needed to work hard at alchemy alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, other than deep cultivation, Lu Xingzhou really had nothing else to do by staying here. No matter how one thought about it, she should support him in doing what he ought to do; how could he waste his time in a bed of gentleness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just... I really can't bear to let him go...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, Shen Tang, couldn't go with him... going to other prefectures might be fine, but going to the capital was impossible; her father the Emperor's reaction was unpredictable, which would only add complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang was so choked up she couldn't say a word; she just wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest, remaining still for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou stroked her head: \"It won't be that fast. Chen Zhangsi needs to grasp the power of the prefecture first before he can promote me. I also need to settle down during this time; otherwise, it would be a joke if I really went to the capital and got kicked out... The Alchemy Academy seems to recruit in the summer, right? That's still two or three months away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that it wasn't an immediate departure, Shen Tang's mood improved slightly. She took the initiative to look up and pecked his face: \"Then you are not allowed to go anywhere today; you are only allowed to accompany me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2235,"2026-06-18T01:46:09.112Z","2026-06-18T03:18:02.290Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","581c363d45e60da10bcd780c9f37d14fa12a03c5af299ede8c9f94847c7c52c6","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-83","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-81",325,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmountains-and-rivers-of-the-imperial-granary-cover.jpg"]