Chapter 93 Consequences to Be Discussed Later

It was probably for this reason that Thousand-Man Commander Lu seldom spoke in front of others.

In private, some people said that just as the ancient Prince Lanling had a beautiful appearance concealed by a mask, today we had Thousand-Man Commander Lu with his warm voice and silent words.

Of course, comparing ruthless officials like Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing, who framed and murdered people, to Prince Lanling, who protected his home and country, naturally elicited some ridicule and curses from others.

Of course, all of this was behind closed doors.

And of course, even though it was private, those who spoke found themselves inexplicably in trouble—scholars caught cheating during the Imperial examination, thus losing their path of learning, officials exposed for corruption and bribery, or those who misjudged cases, resulting in them being demoted or dismissed from their posts. In all such cases, they got their just deserts for the words they had spoken.

Only that the rewards they received were not at all what they had wanted, but such is the difficulty of having everything turn out just right in this world.

Lu Yunqi stood up and offered his respects.

In terms of official rank, he wasn't that high, but the eunuch in front of him, named Guo Nu'er, was one of the emperor's close attendants and ranked among the top in the Ritual Department.

Seeing Lu Yunqi stand up, Eunuch Guo quickly approached with a smile, his demeanor respectful.

"Thousand-Man Commander, there's no need for such formality," he said with a smile.

Lu Yunqi no longer bowed and straightened up.

"Has His Majesty issued any commands?" he asked directly.

Eunuch Guo affirmed.

"His Majesty said he is aware of the matter. It occurred so long ago that he can't remember exactly what it was," he said.

"I will investigate," said Lu Yunqi and like that, he started to walk away.

Eunuch Guo yelped and hurriedly grabbed his arm.

"My lord, I haven't finished speaking," he said with a smile. "But His Majesty said that the imperial decree was indeed issued. The first emperor wrote only two 'as if presided by myself' imperial decrees; one name was concealed, and one was given to the Duke of Chengguo. It seems now that the one with the concealed name was indeed for the Fang Family of Yangcheng."

Lu Yunqi looked at him, his face expressionless.

"So now, do they need to continue to be concealed forever?" he asked.

Eunuch Guo hastily shook his head with a smile.

"My lord, His Majesty said these are trivial matters. Your marriage to Princess Jiuli is a significant and pressing matter. Don't concern yourself with other issues," he said.

The emperor said he was aware, the emperor said not to bother with the rest.

Lu Yunqi nodded.

"Then I shall take my leave," he said.

After speaking, he lifted his foot and stepped forward, and before Eunuch Guo could react, Lu Yunqi had already stepped through the doorway.

He truly was a sharp and effective blade; no wonder the emperor valued him so highly.

"Lord Lu, Lord Lu," Eunuch Guo hurriedly followed him outside, looking at Lu Yunqi who stood under the sunlight, dressed in a bright red robe.

Lu Yunqi stopped and turned to look back.

Even standing in the sunlight, even dressed in the vivid red, his entire being seemed cold, as if even the sunlight seemed to shy away from him.

Probably because of his innately gentle yet wooden and statue-like demeanor, and likely because he had taken too many lives in secret.

Everyone said he was not to be provoked, but in the end, he was just a dog, wasn't he? How could he be better than these eunuchs?

Eunuch Guo forced a passionately exhilarated smile.

"I shall also come to claim a cup of your and the princess's celebratory wine when the time comes," he chuckled.

Lu Yunqi looked at him, the corners of his mouth tightened.

Was this perhaps a smile?

So it seemed Lord Lu did not always have a neutral expression; he could indeed offer a smile.

Eunuch Guo made his smile all the more intense.

"Is your house prepared?" he asked with concern. "If you need any help, my lord, you just need to say the word."

Lu Yunqi bowed his head slightly and made a small gesture of courtesy.

"Thank you, Eunuch," he said. "Everything is ready."

"Then be on your way, be on your way," Eunuch Guo chuckled. "His Majesty has expressly granted you a month's leave. Don't worry about these matters for now, my lord. Getting married is the most crucial business."

Lu Yunqi did not say another word but bowed, turned, and walked away.

The bright red figure gradually disappeared into the sunlight.

Eunuch Guo shivered, his plump body quivering.

"It's really odd, how this man always seems so fearsome," he muttered to himself before shaking his head and chuckling. "Who knows what kind of life Princess Jiuli lived with him back then. Perhaps because it was unbearable, she sought her own death. Yet he claimed to have loved his wife dearly, which truly doesn't show at all."

After chuckling for a moment and recomposing himself, he strolled leisurely back into the palace, humming a tune without noticing that the little eunuch who had been standing behind him with bowed head lifted his gaze, watching his retreating figure intensely before humbly and cautiously following with small steps.

.............................

Lu Yunqi walked out of the palace gates where a team of Jinyiwei guards wearing flying fish uniforms and wielding embroidered spring sabers at their waists were already waiting in line. Upon seeing him, they all uniformly paid their respects.

Lu Yunqi hadn't yet mounted his horse when a Jinyiwei came out from the palace grounds.

The Jinyiwei was also part of the emperor's Imperial Guard, serving in shifts within the palace.

This Jinyiwei approached quickly, bowed deeply in front of Lu Yunqi, and then stood up to whisper a few words into his ear.

Thousand-Man Commander Lu's face hadn't changed, seemingly heated by the sunlight as he lightly pressed his hand to the corner of his mouth.

"He said he couldn't see?" he said.

The Jinyiwei stepped back with downturned eyes, waiting for his orders.

"Then let him have a look," Lu Yunqi said, and after speaking, he mounted his horse.

The Jinyiwei stepped back again at his word, watching as Lu Yunqi's horse moved forward, with the others following on either side.

Since there weren't many idle onlookers in front of the imperial palace, but as they passed various government offices on both sides, their procession drew the sidelong glances of many.

"Isn't he getting married?"

"Still out and about?"

"Someone's going to be unlucky."

"He's about to have his big joyous day, and he would still strike?"

"Getting married, but he is still the King of Hell; when the King of Hell steps out, it's bound to claim lives."

As this procession passed by, a trail of discussions was left behind.

The people with Lu Yunqi paid no mind to the discussions behind them and soon arrived in front of a government office, which, unlike the busy ones they had passed, looked worn down and desolate. An inconspicuous sign hung there, with seemingly insignificant characters that were, nevertheless, quite eye-catching.

Northern Administrative Court.

Several commanders came forward to offer their salutations and were ready to take the horses.

But Lu Yunqi gestured no need for that and continued to walk forward, with the crowd following suit.

After leaving Government Office Street, they reached a somewhat secluded street, which housed an estate and a prince's mansion, situated at the east and west ends of the street, respectively.

This place was even more desolate than the entrance to the Northern Administrative Court, with only the sound of their horses' hooves reverberating.

They first passed by the prince's mansion, built splendidly and luxuriously like all the others, with the signboard high up hanging the words "Prince Huai's Mansion."

However, unlike other prince's mansions, there were no bustling attendants or servants, and the main doors were tightly shut, seemingly uninhabited.

Lu Yunqi stopped in front of the doors for a moment.

With his upcoming wedding to Princess Jiuli approaching, it was not inappropriate for a fiancé to visit his fiancée—especially not for Lu Yunqi.

The group stopped and waited for his orders, but it was only a brief moment before Lu Yunqi urged his horse forward once more, quickly arriving at the westernmost estate.

Unlike the desolate prince's mansion, this place was bustling with people coming in and out, and the already luxurious mansion was decorated even more resplendently. The two characters "Lu Mansion" hanging high above received a fresh coat of paint.

"Lord."

"Lord has returned."

Seeing Lu Yunqi, many people poured out to pay their respects, and the servant boy at the gatehouse came to take the horse.

Lu Yunqi still didn't dismount; he glanced at the lively estate for a moment, then pulled away his gaze and spurred his horse onward once more.

They turned through several lanes and onto the main street.

Their group's arrival made the lively main street even livelier, but it was a kind of liveliness filled with covert glances, evasions, dodges, grudges, taboos, and eerie atmospheres.

Lu Yunqi ignored everything, keeping his eyes fixed forward as he rode on, seeming to have a destination yet also appearing aimless, just following the road.

The troop disappeared beyond the city gate, leaving Ning Yunzhao on the street side with furrowed brows.

"What is Rou Yaodao up to now?"

"Recently, there hasn't been any news of a major incident, has there?"

His companions discussed, turning to see Ning Yunzhao lost in thought.

"Yunzhao, do you know what's going on?" they asked.

Ning Yunzhao shook his head.

"I don't know," he said.

His companions scrutinized him.

"You answer so readily; are you hiding something from us?" they joked.

Ning Yunzhao smiled and withdrew his gaze.

"I spend every day cooped up studying with you, what you know, I know; what I know, you also know," he said. "There's nothing I could hide from you."

He paused for a moment, nodding.

"Though there might be something."

The two companions' eyes lit up.

"What is it?" they inquired.

Ning Yunzhao watched a servant boy running towards them from among the crowd on the street, panting.

"Family affairs," he said, signaling with his hand. "Xiaoding."

The servant boy came over happily, handing over a letter he held.

"Young Master, a letter has arrived," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

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