Chapter 30: The Situation Settled, Lu Wu Returns Home

The Zhenghe Hall was where Lord Yuan typically consulted with his strategists on major affairs, and it stood as the most significant building in the Yuan estate. Hosting Lu Wu here was a clear gesture of high regard.

However, the hall was surrounded by three dense layers of armored guards, with swordsmen and archers stationed at vantage points, clearly revealing that the master of the Yuan estate was still deeply shaken by the recent string of assassinations in Songjing.

Lu Wu, having changed into fresh clothes, walked into the Zhenghe Hall. Lady Mingji stepped forward to greet him, accompanied by a youth of no more than ten years.

"Mingji greets General Lu," Lady Mingji said, bowing gracefully.

"You are too kind, Lady Mingji," Lu Wu replied, returning the gesture promptly.

"Ke Lie greets General Lu, and thanks you for avenging my father," the boy said. After his mother had finished her greetings, Ke Lie, the second son of Lord Yuan, stepped from behind her and bowed until his head nearly touched the floor.

"Was it Prince Jiu who ordered your father’s assassination?" Lu Wu asked, feeling a mix of surprise and gratification. Naturally, regardless of his lack of emotional tact, he knew better than to let that satisfaction show on his face.

Lin Zhong had been a guard for Lord Yuan. Since the lord had been assassinated and the circumstances remained unclear until now, the guards had been under suspicion and detained in the dungeons. Now that they were cleared—though they still faced the charge of failing to protect their master—it was far better than being accused of the assassination itself.

"General Lu may not know, but yesterday, when the Jinwu Guard arrived, several palace retainers testified that Prince Jiu had colluded with the Chu martial arts grandmaster Gongsun Boyang to assassinate my father. General Yang Hu, acting with great righteousness, immediately set things right. If not for you, General Lu, turning the tide last night and slaying Ke Jiu, I fear the State of Wu would have fallen into the hands of that villain," Ke Lie said with bitter resentment, bowing deeply once more.

The corners of Lu Wu's mouth quirked slightly. *Righteousness, my foot. Isn't that just jumping on the winning bandwagon?*

"Ke Shou, the son of Ke Jiu, is currently missing. His mother, the Lady of Chu, attempted to flee the capital but was intercepted and is now being held in the Bizhu Palace," Lady Mingji said, hiding nothing from him.

"As for the guard Lin Zhong, he is by my eldest son Ke Tu's side, so please set your mind at ease, General. Ke Tu is currently consulting with high-ranking officials regarding tomorrow's enthronement ceremony and cannot be here to host you; I hope you will forgive him," Lady Mingji added. She then gestured, inviting Lu Wu to take his seat.

The nobility of Wu used a system of individual dining. There was no dedicated dining hall; instead, meals were served on low tables directly in the great hall. Typically, the host sat on the left and the guest on the right, each with their own table. If the host were of higher status or if there were many guests, the host would sit at the head of the hall while guests sat along the sides. With only three people present, the tables were already set for them to face one another. Attendants in exquisite robes moved back and forth, serving platter after platter of sliced meat, roasted meat, assorted fruits, vegetables, and fine wine. Having observed Lu Wu’s preferences during his meal the previous day, they were now simply catering to his tastes.

"I see that General Lu is quite young. May I ask your age? Are you already wed?" After several rounds of wine and conversation, the atmosphere had grown more familiar, and Lady Mingji posed the question.

"I am in my late teens and have yet to marry," Lu Wu replied, feeling a sense of unease.

"What a coincidence! My son Ke Lie is fifteen, exactly your age. You two should see more of each other in the future. Lie'er, why don't you come and pay your respects to your elder brother Lu?" Lady Mingji smiled at Lu Wu before turning to chide her son.

Ke Lie immediately put down his wine cup, stood up, straightened his robes, and walked over to perform a deep bow. "Ke Lie pays respects to elder brother Lu."

Lu Wu had no choice but to stand and return the gesture.

"General Lu is such a hero. Once my son ascends the throne as the King of Wu, I, Mingji, will certainly find a suitable match for you."

***

After finishing what might have been breakfast or lunch, Lu Wu was finally able to return home. Despite Lady Mingji’s repeated attempts to make him stay, Lu Wu felt more at ease at his Wutong Manor—where he was the master and was accustomed to being served by his five maids. It wasn't that the servants at the Yuan estate were incompetent; it was simply a matter of personal habit.

Though he hadn't managed to bring his brother-in-law Lin Zhong back, the man was currently by the side of the future King of Wu, so he was surely safe. Moreover, this was a prime opportunity for Lin Zhong to prove his worth, so even if Lu Wu had asked, he doubted Lin Zhong would have left.

The Black God trotted along, hooves clattering, leading the way. Behind him followed three carriages laden with wealth and four Yuan estate guards—gifts from Lady Mingji. Lu Wu had tried to decline them in every way possible, but Lady Mingji had been adamant, stating that if he did not accept, she would personally lead a large escort to his home to offer her thanks. Lu Wu had no choice but to accept.

When he had charged into Songjing, the Black God had covered the distance in less than an hour. However, the journey back to the Lu estate took over two hours, and the sky was already darkening by the time they arrived.

The gates of the Lu estate were tightly shut. Along the street in front of the house, bloodstains were still fresh, and various "parts"—arms and legs—lay discarded on the roadside, left uncollected. A pungent smell of blood hung in the air, accompanied by swarms of flies. Seeing this battlefield-like scene, the four guards from the Yuan estate grew tense, drawing their swords and shifting into defensive stances, eyes darting everywhere as if fearing an arrow might fly from a wall or treetop at any moment.

"No need to be nervous. Some people besieged my house last night, and I killed a few of them," Lu Wu said, dismounting and offering an explanation.

"General Lu is godlike in his bravery!"
"General Lu is invincible!"
"General Lu is truly peerless!"
"Those rats were truly overestimating themselves!"

The four guards sheathed their swords, offering a chorus of praise. Lu Wu shook his head. Sophisticated flattery should be like spring rain, silent and nourishing; the sycophancy of these guards was too blunt, and Lu Wu found it hard to adjust to.

He tapped the door knocker. After a moment, the side gate didn't open, but a head peeked over the wall.

"Fifth Young Master? Is that you, Fifth Young Master?" the person on the wall asked in a hushed tone.

"Don't be absurd, do you not recognize me?" Lu Wu replied, annoyed. The person on the wall was Qiu Zhi, the gatekeeper who had served the Lu family for over a decade.

"The Fifth Young Master has returned! Open the gate quickly!" Qiu Zhi shouted.

A flurry of chaos erupted inside the Lu estate, followed by the sound of heavy objects being moved.

"What is going on? Why are you blocking the gate?" Lu Wu asked as he stepped through the side gate.

"Fifth Young Master, after you left last night, the Master took the three Mistresses to Wutong Manor. He ordered us to be wary of rogue soldiers, so Commander Jiao told us to barricade the gate. The Commander stood guard all night and just went to get some rest. Should I wake him?"

*Father certainly runs fast.* Still, his father had always said, "A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall," so his swift departure was no surprise.

"No need to wake Uncle Jiao. Have someone get these four some food, then send someone to inform Father that everything is fine here and they can return—actually, never mind, I’ll go myself."

Lu Wu ordered the three carriages of wealth to be taken to his own courtyard. He had initially intended to send someone to Wutong Manor, but after a second thought, he decided to go himself so that his family could rest easy. He imagined his father, the three mothers, his third sister, and Lin Yin were all likely trembling with fear, unaware of the situation in Songjing. By going personally to explain, he could allow his father to make preparations early. Although Lu Wu didn't concern himself much with the family business, he knew that in such a critical moment of succession, knowing the shift in the situation even a moment earlier was far better than learning it later.