Time passed like a fleeting white steed, and in the blink of an eye, two days had gone by.
At dawn.
Lu Chen briskly walked on the sparsely populated street. Just after passing through Chongde Lane, he heard a familiar voice from behind that made him pause:
“Huaiyu, please wait.”
In just a moment of confusion, Lu Chen realized that “Huaiyu” was his original host’s courtesy name, and the voice was calling him. He quickly stopped and turned around to look.
Soon, he saw a slender figure standing quietly under the archway of Chongde Lane, bathed in the morning tranquility and illuminated by the faint light from the east. Her enchanting form emitted a hint of imagination-inspiring allure.
With just a glance, it was evident that she was an extremely charming beauty.
However, as Lu Chen recognized the person’s appearance, he suddenly lifted his hand and bowed in a serious manner, responding with a tone of respect:
“Minister Xiao.”
Yes, the beauty was none other than the high-ranking official with whom he often had official dealings, the Minister of Works, Xiao Yun.
A Second Class official!
“Mmm.”
Xiao Yun nodded and walked over to him. Her gaze lingered on his newly-worn eighth-rank court attire for a moment, and her eyes inexplicably took on a subtle demeanor.
“Huaiyu, dressed so formally, are you planning to go to the Imperial Gateway to welcome the Cangming Holy King?”
The Imperial Gateway was a passageway reserved for the Emperor alone.
Lu Chen’s lips twitched. He was about to respond when a low voice suddenly sounded from the side alley:
“Minister Xiao, there’s no need to ask further.”
With those words, a middle-aged man dressed in a third-rank court attire and of a rather tall stature walked out of the alley.
Lu Chen turned his head to look, quickly recognizing his identity.
Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Wu Zongyun.
Great, another high-ranking official.
Lu Chen courteously bowed to him, “Assistant Minister Wu.”
Wu Zongyun folded his hands, and with a solemn expression, he said to Xiao Yun:
“Since the Emperor’s passing six years ago, when the Empress usurped the decree and deposed the Crown Prince to enthrone the young Emperor, the court has been thrown into chaos by her clique. This has caused suffering for the common people. Fortunately, the Cangming Holy King took pity on the people and the state. He led over twenty thousand troops out of the Holy Domain, heading south to support the nation. With the power of the Nine Abyss, he has eradicated the rebels. Today, as the Cangming Holy King takes control of the capital, the world will undoubtedly return to stability. A time of benevolence and prosperity is on the horizon. At this moment when everything is being renewed and grand plans are being laid out, we cultivators should gather together. This young person here must also be a determined individual, naturally planning to welcome the Cangming Holy King and contribute his efforts to the upcoming era of great governance.”
“Amazing!”
Hearing only half of it, Lu Chen couldn’t help but secretly give him a thumbs-up in his mind. He thought:
“Impressive indeed. This guy is deeply involved in politics. He can spin selling himself for glory into something so righteous and just, and this narrative is brimming with virtue. This guy managed to keep his position as a Third Class official during the period of the Empress’s rule, and it’s clear now that he had good reason for it.”
At present, every courtier knew that the Empress’s faction had been thoroughly defeated. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, in just a couple of hours, the Cangming Holy King would step through the Imperial Gateway and take the leap to ascend into the heavens.