Chancellor Lu had been waiting in his residence for a long time without seeing Lu Yuanpeng return. He was restless, just preparing to send someone to the military camp to see if there were still matters keeping him busy and preventing his return today, when Lu Jinxian arrived in full official robes.

Lu Jinxian came in haste, not even having changed his clothes. He handed the official cap he was carrying to the servant guarding outside Chancellor Lu’s study door, waved his hand to signal the servant to withdraw, then stepped into Chancellor Lu’s study with undisguised urgency in his voice: “Father…”

Chancellor Lu was kneeling at his desk, reading bamboo scrolls by candlelight. Seeing his son’s flustered appearance, his brow furrowed: “A gentleman fears not when disaster strikes, nor rejoices when fortune comes. At your age, why can’t you maintain composure? What kind of behavior is this panic!”

Lu Jinxian was about to speak when he heard his father’s words. He stood in the center of the study, bowed to Chancellor Lu, then hurriedly knelt across from his father and said: “Father, our Xiao Liu is kneeling with General Cheng of the Bai family army in front of the middle gate inside Wude Gate, saying he wants to fight Yan to the death and disagrees with the gambling strategy, demanding His Majesty revoke Prince Hancheng’s military authority!”

“What!” Chancellor Lu was shocked.

Lu Jinxian spoke rapidly, supporting himself on the desk as he leaned closer to his father: “Many officials saw this. I originally wanted to bring Xiao Liu back, but father knows his temperament – if I went forward… Xiao Liu might make the situation even worse! His Majesty is probably still at the Bai residence and hasn’t returned to the palace. I suppressed the news and told people not to inform them, to prevent them from going to the Bai residence. But there’s no guarantee that no one in the palace will send word to His Majesty. If His Majesty receives the news, he will certainly return to the palace. Father and I are both important court ministers now. With Xiao Liu being the father’s legitimate grandson acting this way, others will surely speculate wildly that this represents the father’s intentions. If someone uses this as an excuse to cause trouble, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to clean up!”

By this point, Chancellor Lu could no longer sit still. He hurriedly supported himself on the desk to stand, almost jogging outside: “Chang’an! Chang’an! Get my official robes! Have someone prepare the carriage! I must enter the palace! Quickly!”

“Father…” Lu Jinxian hurried after his father, who was walking as fast as the wind. Seeing his father nearly trip on the study doorframe, he quickly stepped forward to support his elderly father: “A gentleman fears not when disaster strikes, nor rejoices when fortune comes, father!”

At this moment, Chancellor Lu couldn’t care less about gentlemen not fearing disaster or rejoicing in fortune. He wished he could grow wings and fly to Lu Yuanpeng’s side, grab that unworthy descendant by the ears, and drag him back. That fool, causing such trouble without knowing anything!

Soon, Chancellor Lu had changed into his official robes and boarded the carriage with Lu Jinxian.

Chancellor Lu’s hands were trembling as he cursed his grandson inwardly… that ignorant little beast who didn’t know his place! Originally, he had thought to go easy on him, considering his military achievements in destroying Xiliang, since his little beast had a loose tongue but a good heart and naive nature – perhaps others had misheard.

Now thinking about it, Lu Yuanpeng wasn’t naive at all – he was the naive one!

Didn’t he know what kind of person his grandson was? The boy couldn’t rest unless he caused trouble for his grandfather every day – he only felt satisfied after stirring up chaos.

“Father, don’t be too angry. Yuanpeng is impulsive and loyal by nature. Perhaps he’s just foolishly following General Cheng Yuanzhi. Besides… General Cheng Yuanzhi is one of the few remaining generals from the original Bai family army. Surely His Majesty will show leniency to General Cheng for his past service and won’t severely punish him!” Lu Jinxian tried to console him. “Xiao Liu will naturally benefit from this association.”

The lanterns hanging from the four corners of the exquisite elm carriage cast shifting light and shadow across Chancellor Lu’s eyes as he sat in the compartment. He understood this logic… he wasn’t worried that Bai Qingyan would severely punish Lu Yuanpeng. It was just as Lu Jinxian had said when he returned home – Lu Yuanpeng was his legitimate grandson. If he didn’t appear to take a stance at this time, people might use this incident to make an issue.

Never mind others – the current emperor, Bai Qingyan, had been completely open-hearted with him as Chancellor. Now that the two-nation gambling pact was established, the Great Zhou monarch and ministers should be giving their all to win this gamble!

Anyone could cause trouble for His Majesty over the gambling matter, but the Lu family… absolutely not!

The Lu family must stand together with His Majesty. Only this way could they be worthy of His Majesty’s trust, and only this way… could they preserve the Lu family’s future.

Thinking of this, Chancellor Lu cursed his troublemaking grandson again in his heart – always causing problems for him! When he wasn’t back, he missed and thought of him, but as soon as he returned, he caused trouble. It would have been better if he had stayed at the border and not returned.

As Chancellor Lu cursed inwardly, the carriage had already reached the palace gates. Lu Jinxian helped Chancellor Lu down from the carriage. The soldiers guarding Wude Gate recognized Chancellor Lu and Lu Jinxian, cleared the entrance, and let the two enter.

Seeing Lu Jinxian supporting Chancellor Lu as they almost jogged into Wude Gate, the young general guarding the city gripped the hilt of his sword and glanced back at Chancellor Lu, saying to his colleague: “Chancellor Lu probably learned about General Cheng, the Brave Determination Earl of the Bai family army, bringing the generals to kneel and request an audience, so he rushed here anxiously.”

“The one kneeling to the right behind General Cheng… that young general who doesn’t look very old, that’s Chancellor Lu’s legitimate grandson, Lu Yuanpeng.”

“No wonder…”

Sima Ping turned his head and saw Chancellor Lu being supported by Lu Jinxian, one hand lifting the hem of his official robes as he hurried over. He whispered to Lu Yuanpeng: “Lu Yuanpeng, your grandfather and uncle are here.”

Hearing that his grandfather had come, Lu Yuanpeng’s skin tightened, and his spine straightened. He slightly turned his head, catching sight of his grandfather and uncle’s figures in his peripheral vision, and whispered to Sima Ping: “Help me see – how does my grandfather look?”

Upon hearing this, Sima Ping turned back to look, then leaned closer to Lu Yuanpeng and whispered: “Furious, with a face like iron.”

Lu Yuanpeng sucked in a cold breath, feeling his buttocks already beginning to ache: “I’m done for… done for! I’m going to be beaten to death by my grandfather when I get back!”

Sima Ping remained silent. He had tried every method he could think of, finding excuses about interception delays at the East City Gate to slow them down, but who knew that General Wei Zhaonian still hadn’t been able to send someone to stop General Cheng Yuanzhi in time.

Now that Chancellor Lu had arrived, Sima Ping felt relieved. As long as the matter didn’t reach His Majesty or the full court, it was still manageable.

After all, if things escalated – military generals gathering to cause trouble, requesting the emperor to rescind an imperial edict – if others connected Lu Yuanpeng’s relationship with Chancellor Lu, the Great Zhou court would certainly be thrown into turmoil.

Such matters couldn’t be explained to an impulsive fool like Lu Yuanpeng, who lacked any political acumen. This fool wouldn’t understand, so today’s events could only be weathered together with gritted teeth.