Chapter 24

“Oh no, oh no!”

He Zixuan’s pancake-like face wrinkled up as his bulky body paced restlessly around the room, like ants on a hot pan.

Lu Fang, calm and composed at his desk, stood in stark contrast to He Zixuan.

“Aren’t you worried?”

He Zixuan glanced at Lu Fang in confusion—it should have been Lu Fang who was anxious, yet this man was even calmer than he was.

Upon learning that Xiao Wanlin had emerged from seclusion and immediately invited the capital’s elite, He Zixuan—who knew of the feud between Lu Fang and the Xiao family—came straight over to warn him.

Usually, banquets have a reason: weddings, birthday feasts, promotion dinners…

But this invitation from the Xiao family listed no reason for the gathering—it was clearly abnormal.

Combined with Xiao Jincheng’s death, anyone with eyes could see this banquet was aimed squarely at Lu Fang.

“What good would worrying do?”

Lu Fang shrugged and smiled:

“The Xiao family is hosting a banquet—I can’t stop them from doing it. Even if Xiao Wanlin truly intends to avenge Xiao Jincheng, what can he actually do?”

First of all, in killing Xiao Jincheng, Lu Fang acted in self-defense and was in the right.

The Son of Heaven himself has closed the case—could a retired former Chancellor possibly force the Emperor to reverse his verdict?

Even if the Xiao family had disciples and descendants scattered throughout court and countryside, they still couldn’t do it.

“Not so, not so!”

He Zixuan shook his head vigorously, as if seeing through Lu Fang’s confidence, and sighed bitterly:

“Xiao Wanlin won’t openly use the pretext of avenging Xiao Jincheng—he might strike through… say, ‘Dream of the Red Chamber.’”

Lu Fang dismissed it, “Didn’t I already show the Emperor my writings of ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’? The Emperor himself found no fault—how can Xiao Wanlin make an issue of it?”

He Zixuan leaned close to Lu Fang’s ear, whispering in a hushed tone:

“The Emperor didn’t say there was a problem—but he didn’t say there wasn’t one either. Whether there’s a problem depends on Xiao Wanlin’s determination. If that determination becomes too strong for His Majesty to ignore…”

He left the rest unsaid, but Lu Fang understood.

In certain situations, right and wrong don’t matter—the hidden rule is to sacrifice the pawn to save the general.

Even the Son of Heaven can’t do whatever he wants; he must carefully weigh the benefits and harms of court politics.

In plain terms: who is more useful to the Son of Heaven?

Lu Fang fell into thought. His best option right now was to seek his sect—but as far as he knew, the Semi-Sage Xu Han Yi had taken only four disciples.

The eldest disciple was the third-rank Confucian Su Li, who had been traveling across Da Zhou to break through into Semi-Sage.

The second disciple was the non-imperial Marquis of the South, who had spent his life guarding the southern border against the demonic armies of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace.

The third disciple, Confucian Wang Fu, dealt with mountain spirits and wild monsters that conspired with demons to assassinate people foretold by prophetic sayings.

The fourth disciple, a female, was shrouded in mystery—everyone knew she existed, but her cultivation realm, appearance, and whereabouts remained unknown.

After counting them all, Lu Fang found no ally to turn to.

If Xiao Wanlin used his age and status to bully and play the victim, there was no telling whether the Son of Heaven might sacrifice Lu Fang as that expendable pawn.

Xiao Qi was still Minister of Justice—if the Son of Heaven so much as blinked, and Lu Fang was thrown into prison…

Lu Fang ran through the possibilities, and without realizing it, cold sweat soaked his back. His current situation was truly perilous in every direction.

…

Year 29 of Tian Feng.

The 21st day of the ninth month.

Dusk.

A line of luxurious carriages rolled toward the Xiao State Mansion, causing a brief traffic jam on “Xian De Street” in eastern Jingcheng.

Officials of the top three ranks were unaffected—their carriages were mostly transformed by official arts, able to soar through the air as easily as moving one’s arm.

Some of these capital elites had received Xiao family invitations; others came without one, merely to curry favor.

Even those who sensed something amiss and wished to avoid choosing sides between Semi-Sage Xu Han Yi and Xiao Wanlin had no choice but to attend.

After all, no one yet knew what Xiao Wanlin intended!

If the Xiao family sent you an invitation, how could you dare refuse and offend them?

Xiao Zhan, a Squad Leader of the City Guard, personally greeted guests at the entrance of the Xiao State Mansion. As Xiao Wanlin’s second son, his status was more than sufficient to represent the family.

The banquet proceeded smoothly—drinking, music, and opera.

Onstage, a famed Qingyi performer from the Bai Ling Bird clan, dressed in a black robe adorned with colorful embroidery, stepped forward with light, quick steps. Before she even sang, the guests burst into applause.

The front courtyard was loud with cheers and revelry; the back courtyard remained eerily silent.

In a flower pavilion at the back.

Xiao Wanlin sat in the main seat, expressionless, lifting his teacup to blow on the steam before setting it down heavily on the table with a sigh.

Two rows of chairs were filled with Xiao family disciples and former officials—all held important posts in court and possessed sharp wits.

Seeing Xiao Wanlin’s demeanor, they exchanged uneasy glances.

“Lu Fang, emboldened by Semi-Sage Xu Han Yi’s backing, has become utterly lawless and arrogant—he dared kill Master Xiao Jincheng! This boy must die!”

One Xiao disciple rose in fury.

His words were immediately met with approval; most others began voicing their condemnation.

“Absurd!”

Xiao Wanlin slammed his hand on the table—the noise instantly died. Everyone stared at the former Chancellor, puzzled by his meaning.

“No one is to speak another word about that disobedient grandson of mine. The Emperor has already closed the case. If anyone here dares utter another syllable, I’ll be the first to deal with them.”

Xiao Wanlin spoke in a low, firm tone.

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“The Chancellor is right.”

“Master Xiao speaks wisely—we were all too foolish.”

Everyone quickly agreed.

Although Xiao Wanlin had retired from his Chancellorship, everyone present was either a Xiao family descendant or a former disciple or official—almost all depended on the Xiao family for their standing.

Even if Xiao Wanlin now claimed a deer was a horse, most would nod in agreement.

This was the Xiao family’s depth of influence!

As long as the three Semi-Sages from the Xiao family’s ancestral line still lived, the Xiao family would remain at the heart of Da Zhou’s power.

“I’ve called you here today for no other reason than to gather, drink tea, and catch up. I’m deeply grateful you honored this old man with your presence.”

Xiao Wanlin smiled, turning to Fan Sheng beside him:

“The first time I saw you, I knew you’d become a pillar of Da Zhou. Now you’re Minister of Revenue—my eye for talent still holds true.”

Fan Sheng rose and bowed.

Xiao Wanlin smiled, gestured for him to sit, then turned to another disciple: “Back then, you were most…”

Thus, Xiao Wanlin greeted each disciple in turn, from front to back, speaking of state policy and Da Zhou’s prosperity—as if the entire gathering were merely a nostalgic reunion.

By the time the banquet ended and the luxurious carriages departed from the Xiao State Mansion, no one understood what Xiao Wanlin’s true intentions were.

“What do you think the old man meant?”

In the carriage returning home, Fan Sheng asked.

Beside him, the “septuagenarian” strategist stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, then shook his head:

“My lord need not worry. The former Chancellor’s actions were simply to secure your support. Whatever he plans, the outcome will be clear within three days. He walks ahead—you merely give him a gentle push from behind. It brings no harm, only benefit.”

My lord need not worry; Former Secretary’s actions are merely an attempt to gain your support. Whatever he intends to do, the outcome will be clear within three days. Let him lead the way—your gentle push from behind can only help.