Chapter 1398: Lurking [2]

After Duan Liuqing took her leave, she went to the back of the carriage.

The maidservants following the carriage moved the tents, fine wine, and gold and silver wine sets needed for the outing off the carriage one by one.

Then they were set up under an ancient tree by the river.

The guards dispersed to the surroundings, driving away any idlers to the distance.

Not long after, just as Duan Liuqing had finished arranging everything, a carriage escorted by several hundred guards slowly drove toward this defensive line.

In the distance, some people who had also come out of the city for an outing could not help but look at this team of carriages and horses.

The soldiers around the carriages and horses were armored, their clothing and armor bright.

At the very front of the team, there was also a youth about twenty years old, wearing an official robe.

The youth was dressed in a black official robe, his chin slightly raised, riding on a horse with an arrogant demeanor.

Seeing this scene, many of the young men on horseback around them showed disdain.

Under a willow tree by the riverbank, a youth dressed in magnificent clothing, but with an extremely short stature and somewhat wretched appearance, gave a cold hum.

"Hmph, so shameless, rising to power by relying on his mother. This Zhang Gongqi really doesn't know how to write the word 'shame'; I am ashamed to be of the same surname as him."

Zhang Song, who was short in stature, spat to his side while speaking.

The Zhang surname was a major surname in Shu Commandery and also a powerful clan in Shu Commandery.

Zhang Song came from the Zhang clan of Shu Commandery, with successive generations serving as ministers and officials with two thousand shi.

Zhang Song's ancestor, Zhang Kuan, served as Inspector of Yangzhou and Attendant-in-Ordinary; Emperor Jing praised him and ordered all commanderies and kingdoms in the world to establish literature.

Zhang Song's great-grandfather, Zhang Yi, served as Administrator of Ba Commandery, Colonel of Gold, Administrator of Yizhou, Chancellor's Advisor and Yizhou Governor, Colonel of Archers and Chancellor's Chief Clerk, and was added as General Supporting the Han.

Zhang Song's grandfather, Zhang Mu, served as Administrator of Shu Han Commandery and Army Supervisor.

And although Zhang Lu, whom Zhang Song spoke of, had the same surname Zhang, he was not of Zhang Song's clan.

Zhang Lu's grandfather was named Zhang Daoling and was originally from Feng County.

Zhang Daoling's father was named Zhang Dashun, who loved the arts of gods and immortals and called himself "True Man of Tongbai"; when he gave birth to a son, he named him "Ling," hoping that he would follow his ancestors, stay away from the mundane world, and ascend to become an immortal.

Zhang Daoling was exceptionally intelligent from childhood and had read through the *Tao Te Ching* by the age of seven.

It is rumored that Zhang Daoling's Zhang clan was a descendant of Zhang Liang, a founding minister of the Western Han Dynasty.

After reaching adulthood, Zhang Daoling was summoned by the imperial court many times but declined and refused many times; later, in order to visit the Tao and seek immortality, he came to Yunjin Mountain.

After that, he settled in Yunjin Mountain.

Standing beside Zhang Song was another youth in brocade clothing of similar age to Zhang Song.

The youth was named Zhao Qian, also from Shu Commandery, and was a clansman of the Zhao clan of Shu Commandery.

After hearing Zhang Song's words, Zhao Qian immediately pressed his hand down and said, "Brother Ziqiao, speak more quietly, don't let people with ulterior motives hear you."

"This Zhang Lu is now highly favored by the Governor and has great influence. If he happens to hear Brother Ziqiao's remarks, it will inevitably cause trouble for Brother Ziqiao."

"Hmph." Zhang Song gave a cold hum and said, "What do I have to fear from him? He is favored by the Governor, but is that because of his own ability?"

"That is because the Governor favors his mother."

Speaking of this matter, it can now be considered a topic of conversation in Chengdu.

After the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Yan, took office in Yizhou, he did not have many measures for governance.

Instead, he caused quite a bit of heated discussion because of a beautiful woman.

This Zhang Lu's father died early, leaving only an orphan and a widowed mother.

Because his mother was beautiful and loved health preservation, she was unintentionally favored by Liu Yan.

Afterward, the two of them had been privately using the Ghost Way to deceive people back and forth.

But as time went on, how could such a thing be hidden? So it was gradually learned and publicized.

As the saying goes, love me, love my dog.

Liu Yan and Zhang Lu's mother were together, so Zhang Lu naturally received special treatment.

From being unknown, he had now become a Supervisor of Righteousness Sima.

Seeing the regulations of this team's outing, in Chengdu, only the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Yan, had such regulations, so it was not hard to guess who was sitting in the carriage.

And Zhang Song, as a gentry of Shu Commandery and a clansman of the Zhang clan, naturally could not help but nag a few words seeing an unknown person rise to power because of his mother.

After Zhao Qian heard Zhang Song's words, he also shook his head helplessly and said, "Alright, Brother Ziqiao, let's just not look and we won't be bothered. Let's go back."

As a good friend, Zhao Qian naturally understood Zhang Song.

Although he had talent, his heart was a bit small. If he said something else later, I fear it would provoke Zhang Lu, and that would be troublesome.

Under Zhao Qian's pulling, Zhang Song left reluctantly.

When the carriage drove to the front of the set-up tent and stopped, a middle-aged man wearing a gold crown stepped down from the carriage.

It was none other than the current Governor of Yizhou, Liu Yan.

It was really as Zhang Song had said.

Seeing Liu Yan, the beautiful woman greeted him with a smile, then took Liu Yan's hand and stepped into the camp tent.

Zhang Lu, who had dismounted, naturally did not enter the camp tent but stood near the camp tent, using his eyes to search for something in the surroundings.

Soon, Duan Liuqing's figure entered Zhang Lu's line of sight. ===== CHAPTER 1400 =====