The Zhenyuan Army returned in triumph, mightily entering the city in a grand procession. The citizens of the capital beat gongs and drums, celebrating throughout the land. Joy sprouted like bamboo shoots after the rain, spreading across the soil of Yan. After the merits were evaluated and rewards bestowed, the celebratory banquet in the imperial palace was also held for two days and two nights.
While wine cups clinked in the palace and everyone harbored their own thoughts, stories of the Ninth Prince’s outstanding achievements were spreading throughout the city’s streets and alleys.
The common folk did not know what relationship the Ning Wang Manor’s concubine-born son had with the Ninth Prince. His Majesty ordered that all civil and military officials were forbidden from ever mentioning that Ning Wang Manor once had a concubine-born son, forcibly washing the truth into: the Ninth Prince had been frail and sickly since childhood, favored by the emperor, raised in Changchun Temple from a young age, well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, knowledgeable in the principles of governing a state, and only descended the mountain a year ago to return to official duties. After descending the mountain, he immediately accomplished several great deeds—providing relief to the sick at Yong’an Temple, opening the granaries in Fengzhou to provide disaster relief, securing ten thousand dan of provisions from the wealthy merchants of Yan, and after accompanying the army on campaign, rendering outstanding service.
Only then did the people suddenly realize—so that was how it was. They had wondered why the young divine doctor who saved people at Yong’an Temple refused to reveal his name; he turned out to be a noble of the imperial family! And matters such as opening granaries and procuring provisions were not things ordinary people could achieve; it turned out they were done by the peerlessly talented Ninth Prince.
At this moment, the common folk delighted in retelling the stories, and those who had witnessed the events at Yong’an Temple now fawningly recalled afterwards that they had felt back then that the youth’s bearing was noble, not someone ordinary!
───♡───
This move of the emperor’s was to use the deeds done by Lu Huan to win the hearts of the people.
Although Lu Huan had been used this once, he actually had no particular opinion about it, since this move was beneficial for stabilizing the people’s hearts. Previously, riots had repeatedly broken out across various regions of Yan. After the news spread, it somewhat soothed the people, and the riots greatly decreased. Added to that the northern border had won yet another victory—within a short time, Yan enjoyed unprecedented support from the common people.
These past few days, the topic at every meal in the capital was the Ninth Prince who had suddenly risen to prominence. Because he was mysterious and young, Lu Huan’s fame soared in an instant, surpassing the other princes and becoming the one with the best reputation among the common people.
Naturally, this drew the vigilance of the factions of the Fifth Prince, the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince.
Especially the Fifth Prince, who paced back and forth in his manor, fists clenched, face dark as iron.
Back then, on Qiuyan Mountain, he had felt that Lu Huan’s brows resembled the emperor’s somewhat, but he hadn’t thought much of it—who would have expected that Lu Huan was actually the child left behind by the esteemed Consort Qing, whose very name had made the entire imperial palace fall silent seventeen years ago?! Had he known earlier, let alone making him his study companion—he should have taken advantage of the time before the boy’s wings had fully grown and made him disappear entirely!
And now, behind him had unknowingly gathered the entire Zhenyuan Army, as well as the support of several first-rank officials in court.
A power that had not risen before had now suddenly surged forth, making a stunning entrance.
He was likely an incredibly formidable opponent.
Previously, the Fifth Prince appeared outwardly friendly with the Crown Prince, but the Fifth Prince’s faction and the Grand Chancellor’s faction behind the Crown Prince had always been engaged in open and covert struggles.
But ever since Lu Huan restored his identity as the Ninth Prince, these two factions instead temporarily set aside their blades, and unanimously shifted their impeachment focus onto the Zhenyuan General, the Minister of War, and Commander Yun, among others. However, the Zhenyuan Army had just returned victorious from battle, and at this time, trying to find faults in the Zhenyuan General was extremely difficult. Thus the factions of these princes could only stew in silent anxiety.
As for Yun Xiupang, Zhang Gongwu, and the others, as well as those who had known Lu Huan in the Imperial Academy, their shock at this moment was beyond words.
These matters will set aside for now. In short, while the people celebrated nationwide, the court was full of turbulent undercurrents.
After the Grand Historian formally compiled the Ninth Prince’s court records, two task completion messages popped up at the same time for Su Xi and Lu Huan.
【Congratulations on completing Task Thirteen (Advanced): Please let all of the capital know who was behind the ‘divine doctor of Yong’an Temple’ and the ‘mysterious wealthy merchant who raised thirty thousand qian to procure provisions.’ Reward: Gold Coins +1500, Points +12!】
【Congratulations on completing Task Fourteen (Advanced): Successfully restoring the identity of His Highness the Ninth Prince. Reward: Gold Coins +2500, Points +18!】
As soon as these two main quests were completed, the points instantly rose from one hundred fifty-two to one hundred eighty-two.
Su Xi and Lu Huan were both a little excited, though naturally in different ways.
Lu Huan silently calculated how much more was needed to reach two hundred points, and then searched on the curtain to see what the next quest was. He then saw in advance that the next yet-to-be-issued Quest Fifteen was: “In June, Chengzhou will face a flooding breach. Please manage the flood and allow the common people to live in peace and stability. Points reward: 18.”
The Chengzhou dam was the largest project undertaken by the Ministry of Works last year—how could it possibly breach? If things unfolded exactly as the quest said, and the dam really broke, wouldn’t that mean several million people would be displaced?! It was probably yet another link in the Ministry of Works corrupted by greed.
Lu Huan frowned, inwardly cursing the Ministry’s pests, then continued searching, but the curtain refused to show the next quest. This meant he had to complete Quest Fifteen first before he could continue forward.
However, it was only early May. Even if he made advance preparations to prevent the breach, the quest could only be completed in June. Didn’t that mean he would have to wait at least another month before he could see her?
Su Xi, meanwhile, quickly opened the current status window, and saw that the current status had already become—
【Financial Assets】: The Ninth Prince’s family assets, one hundred forty-five manor farms (already equivalent to one-third of “Wan Sanqian,” wealth rivaling one-third of Yan).
【Political Support】: Zhenyuan General, Minister of War, Commander Yun, countless officials of the Ministry of War, and certain officials in court.
【Fame & Prestige】: It is said among the populace that the Ninth Prince is unmatched in beauty, holds the world in his heart, and is a genius in governance.
When Su Xi saw the evaluation in the Fame & Prestige section for her little Zai Zai, she broke into a laugh. After all, she had accompanied him as he started from that tiny firewood courtyard, spending only two years to reach where he was now. It truly had not been easy. In her heart she felt a sense of accomplishment, like stacking building blocks piece by piece until success, and she couldn’t help but smile.
Lu Huan looked up at her. Perhaps affected by her smile, the urgency and restlessness in his heart finally eased a little. No matter what, it was only a little over a month—hopefully nothing unexpected would happen within that month.
───♡───
The great surname of Yan was Yan, and according to his ranking, the Ninth Prince’s courtesy name was Qing. But beneath heaven, aside from the imperial clan, naturally no one dared address a prince by name, so very few ever called him Yan Qing. All officials respectfully addressed Lu Huan as His Highness the Ninth Prince.
The next day, a horse-drawn litter and a line of Imperial Guards waited outside, waiting to escort the Ninth Prince to Yong’an Temple.
Those who had been rescued by Lu Huan at Yong’an Temple had knelt all the way from the temple, petitioning to see the Ninth Prince once and kowtow in gratitude, so the emperor decided to use this opportunity to have Lu Huan travel in his capacity as the Ninth Prince to Yong’an Temple to pay respects to the Buddha—equivalent to formally announcing it to the world beyond the Grand Historian’s record and imperial edict.
Lu Huan accepted the change in identity with utter calm, but Su Xi, upon seeing the awe-inspiring Imperial Guards outside, felt a bit dazed. In the past, no matter when her Zai Zai went out, he always traveled alone. Now, as the Ninth Prince, wherever he went there was a litter and imperial canopy accompanying him—this formation was far too luxurious.
She was always interested in each level of official attire he wore, and now, the prince’s ceremonial attire Lu Huan donned was more noble and exquisite than any he had worn before: a jade-balanced golden hairpin, a nine-chapter crown, live dragons embroidered in bright yellow gold thread across his shoulders, back, and sleeves, and gold ornaments with vermilion tassels tied at his waist. His cold brows and star-bright eyes, his jade-white skin—he was breathtakingly handsome.
Even though Su Xi had grown used to his exquisite appearance, each time he lifted his brows and looked toward her, she still couldn’t help being stunned anew.
This was the downside of turning on the original artwork. His face made it far too easy for someone to lose focus on the plot.
If the artwork had been on from the start, Su Xi feared she would never have dedicated herself wholeheartedly to studying how to complete those quests.
From the moment Lu Huan boarded the litter at the manor and headed toward Yong’an Temple, Su Xi involuntarily stared at his face in a daze the entire way. Lu Huan noticed this. Although the tips of his ears flushed slightly, he still forced himself to act composed, dusting off his robes and straightening his attire for her to see.
Under heaven, no man wishes for his looks to be so outstanding that others ignore everything else about him and focus only on his appearance. If anyone else kept staring fixedly at Lu Huan, he would likely have already been extremely displeased, face darkening. But she—he wanted her to keep looking, to look a little longer. Even if there was the slightest possibility that she might care for him more because of his face, that would still be good.
The common folk of Yong’an Temple were excited, shouting “Long live the Ninth Prince, long, long live!”
These dialogue boxes popped up endlessly, filling the entire screen before Su Xi suddenly snapped back to her senses. Oh my god, she had been staring at her Zai Zai—watching him brush his robe and step into the litter—and had stared all the way until now. She immediately felt a little embarrassed and looked away.
Lu Huan stepped into the temple, devoutly offering prayers.
White smoke rose in delicate wisps from the incense burner. He opened his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and suddenly looked toward Su Xi, who was separated by a veil-like curtain. His eyes carried a faint shimmer as he curved his lips toward her: “Xiao Xi, do you know what I just prayed for?”
Seeing the flush on his ears, Su Xi instantly felt something major was about to go wrong. Her eyelid twitched, afraid he was about to say something heart-stirring again. She hurriedly said, “N-No idea—”
But before she could finish speaking, Lu Huan stared at her and slowly said, “I prayed for a fated match.”
His dark eyes glistened with gentle moisture, mist rising in the air, as he looked at Su Xi. It was as if, if she were to say something harsh, a desolate leaf would immediately sprout above his head.
