Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhiyao was radiant and high-spirited as he descended the seven steps and approached the four people.

He kept his fist clasped in greeting, a smile on his face: "I apologize for not greeting you sooner, Third Uncle and Third Aunt. Father is currently talking with Ninth Granduncle... and is being lectured by him."

"Ninth Uncle, that old man..." Chu Minghou chuckled and shook his head, sizing up Chu Zhiyao: "Yao'er, you've grown up. Your heroic spirit is no less than your father's. Truly remarkable, remarkable."

Looking at Chu Zhiyao before him, he saw the young Xuan King, a sense of kinship arising from their shared blood.

"Third Uncle is too kind. Please, come inside quickly," Chu Zhiyao said with a smile.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Third Brother, you've had a hard day today."

"Bah, it's nothing compared to the border. Old Ninth, Old Tenth, and even Eighteenth Uncle have arrived," Chu Zhiyao said.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "We're the closest, yet we're the latest to arrive."

As they walked inside, crossing the high threshold of the main gate and passing the 'Blessings, Longevity, and Prolonged Years' screen wall, a lush expanse of pine trees came into view.

Welcoming pines, beauty pines, myriad-leaf pines... various species of pine trees stood proudly under the lights, vibrant with greenery.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head inwardly.

Planting pine trees in the front hall, this Fourth Uncle, Xuan King, was truly eccentric.

These pine trees were meticulously pruned, obviously well-cared for.

Among the pine trees were two exquisite octagonal pavilions with flying eaves and carved beams and painted rafters.

Ornate lanterns illuminated the pavilions with a soft glow, and the stoves inside burned red-hot, the heat contained by the surrounding screens.

Even so, it was still a winter night, and it was not suitable for civil officials to stay here. Those remaining in the pavilions were all people with profound cultivation.

The two small pavilions were already full of people, their laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere.

Chu Zhiyuan and the others followed Chu Zhiyao towards the front hall.

The front hall had thick white felt curtains, obscuring the view inside.

Chu Zhiyuan's extrasensory perception revealed that the front hall was deserted, with only two people talking.

One was a middle-aged man with a physique as robust as a lion, and the other was a lean and wiry old man.

The wiry old man paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, speaking, while the lion-like middle-aged man listened obediently with his head lowered.

"Tell me, can't you do anything right all day long? Just for a birthday, you have to make such a fuss. You never used to be like this!"

"..."

"Ninth Uncle, you misunderstand. I won't accept their gifts."

"Who knows if you'll accept gifts or not?"

"I absolutely won't!"

"If you return the gifts, you can earn another wave of goodwill. You're really calculating. Old Fourth, I didn't realize you had these skills. I admire you, I admire you!"

"Ninth Uncle, please don't make fun of me."

"Make fun of you? You're making fun of me!" The wiry old man snorted. "If I had known this, I wouldn't have bothered to make this trip. I shouldn't have come!"

"Ninth Uncle, you really misunderstand me. I just wanted to show them that I, Old Fourth, am not just someone who eats and waits for death. I've also made contributions to the court!"

"What contributions? Oh, you mean Yao'er. You think you've raised a good son, so your contributions are great!"

"Ninth Uncle, isn't that so?"

"...Alright, alright, alright. It's a good thing Yao'er doesn't take after you, he takes after the Emperor!"

"This is also my skill. Having a son who looks like Father Emperor," he said, his tone full of pride.

Chu Zhiyao stopped and turned to look at Chu Minghou awkwardly.

Chu Minghou shook his head and smiled wryly, raising his voice: "Ninth Uncle."

Chu Zhiyuan saw the two people inside the thick felt curtain turn their heads to look over.

Chu Zhiyao stepped forward and lifted the curtain, gesturing for them to enter.

Chu Minghou walked ahead, stepped into the hall, clasped his fist and bowed deeply: "Nephew Minghou greets Ninth Uncle!"

"Old Third!" The wiry old man quickly stepped forward and helped Chu Minghou up, looking at him and noticing the white hair at his temples, his eyes instantly reddened.

"Third Brother, Third Sister." The lion-like middle-aged man clasped his fist with a smile: "Third Sister, your grace remains unchanged."

Bai Ning Shuang smiled softly: "Fourth Brother, congratulations."

The wiry old man Chu Qingyan grabbed Chu Minghou's hand, his eyes red, his lips mumbling: "Minghou, you've aged a lot."

"Ninth Uncle is still as strong as ever, not changed at all." Chu Minghou smiled, holding his hand: "You're still so energetic when you scold people."

"Hmph, shouldn't Old Fourth be scolded?" Chu Qingyan retracted the moisture in his eyes, as if the previous excitement was an illusion, and glanced at Xuan King Chu Mingqiang: "Looking like a petty man who is complacent with a little success, losing the face of our Old Chu family!"

"Ning Shuang greets Ninth Uncle." Bai Ning Shuang curtsied.

"Greetings, Ninth Granduncle." Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi also bowed.

"Ah..." Chu Qingyan nodded to Bai Ning Shuang, looked at Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi with emotion, and sighed: "In the blink of an eye, Bai girl, you've become a mother. I still remember you as a naughty child... Yuan'er is a promising child. Old Third is indeed fortunate."

Bai Ning Shuang chuckled: "Ninth Uncle, you're the first one to say that the Prince is fortunate."

Chu Qingyan laughed: "Old Third married a virtuous helper like you, and has such a well-behaved daughter and such a promising son. What more could you want?"

"Giggle..." Bai Ning Shuang smiled radiantly: "Ninth Uncle, you really know how to praise people."

Chu Minghou laughed: "Ninth Uncle, today is Fourth Brother's birthday. If you want to lecture him, you can wait until after today. Don't spoil everyone's mood."

"Alright." Chu Qingyan nodded with a smile, then turned his head, his face sinking, and glared at Xuan King Chu Mingqiang: "Use your brain a little!"

"Ninth Uncle is still so biased towards Third Brother." Chu Mingqiang muttered a few words, and quickly said: "Ninth Uncle, Third Brother, let's go, let's go to the back for the banquet. Third Sister, you womenfolk are in another courtyard. Yao'er, Yao'er!"

Chu Zhiyao quickly stepped forward: "Father."

"Take your Third Aunt and them to find your mother."

"Yes."

Chu Mingqiang then led Chu Qingyan, Chu Minghou, and Chu Zhiyuan directly to the east side courtyard, and soon arrived at the back courtyard.

...

The courtyard in the east back was spacious, paved with green bricks, and had several plum trees.

There were eight main rooms, and eight rooms each in the east and west厢房. The front罩房 were all open at this time, and each room was very lively.

Chu Minghou and Chu Qingyan arrived at the easternmost room in the center of the main house, while Chu Zhiyuan entered the westernmost room in the center of the main house.

As soon as he entered, he saw Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan.

Seeing him come, the thirty or so youths around the table stood up and clasped their fists in greeting.

Chu Zhiyuan returned the greeting with clasped fists, came to Chu Mingxuan, who was in the main guest seat, and smiled: "Eighteenth Uncle, aren't you going to the room next door?"

"It's too uncomfortable over there. I can't chat with them." Chu Mingxuan waved his hand: "It's more lively here. You know I like to join in the fun the most."

Chu Zhiting echoed: "That's right, that's right. Eighteenth Uncle should be here. It's lively! Listening to them talk over there will make you doze off. It's too boring!"

Chu Mingxuan pulled Chu Zhiyuan to sit next to him: "Have you seen Ninth Granduncle?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Chu Mingxuan patted his chest with a lingering fear: "Luckily I came early and avoided a disaster."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "Eighteenth Uncle, is it that bad?"

"Every time I see him, he has to nag for a long time. My head is about to explode." Chu Mingxuan looked like he couldn't bear to recall the past: "I was afraid of running into him if I came late, so I came early."

The others also agreed with empathy, all with lingering fears.

Chu Zhiyuan then understood that they had come so early in order to avoid the Grand Clan Elder Chu Qingyan.

As the Grand Clan Elder, equivalent to the head of the Clan Affairs Office, he was the most powerful and respected person in the Da Jing clan.

Towards these younger generations, Chu Qingyan was always earnest and sincere, for fear that they would not walk the right path and would not work hard. Whenever he saw them, he would give them face-to-face instructions and nag them.

The youths present were all from the Bright Martial Hall, and Chu Zhiyuan had specially arranged for them to sit at the same table, so the atmosphere was the most enthusiastic and lively.

Chu Mingxuan leaned over and chuckled: "Old Fourth, are you curious, how can you meet if the men and women are sitting separately?"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "It's not strange to be separated."

The atmosphere in the Da Jing Dynasty was open, but it hadn't reached the point where men and women could sit at the same table. It was a basic rule to have a table for men and a table for women.

Chu Mingxuan said: "After the meal, we'll listen to operas, watch acrobatics, and watch wrestling. At that time, we won't be sitting separately. We'll be able to see the County Princesses, County Lords, and the daughters of various families."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, but didn't pay much attention.

——

The wine and dishes were quickly brought up. There were no outsiders here, and Chu Mingxuan was the highest in seniority, so Chu Zhiyao personally came to sit with them.

With Chu Mingxuan here, who was the best at creating an atmosphere, there was no worry that the banquet would be deserted, and soon the wine was drunk and the ears were red.

While eating, Chu Zhiyao smiled: "Some guys will come to propose a toast later, Old Fourth, be careful."

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

Chu Zhiyao said: "I don't know who said it, you're going to marry the Xiao girl from the Duke of Anguo's family, the number one beauty in Yujing. I don't know how many guys are thinking about this Xiao girl."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "There's no such thing."

"Since it's been spread, it shouldn't be far off." Chu Zhiyao smiled: "There won't be waves without wind."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and didn't refute.

The Duke of Anguo's mansion indeed intended to marry Xiao Ruoling over, only waiting for his nod. As long as he nodded, this marriage would be almost settled.

As a hereditary Duke's mansion, the current Duke of Anguo was mediocre, lacking talent, and acted steadily and conservatively.

Although the Qing Prince's mansion had declined, the status of the Prince was still there, and the Qing Prince's reputation was not bad, being kind and affectionate.

The Duke of Anguo's嫡女 marrying the Heir Apparent of the Prince was considered a good match.

Chu Zhiyuan had been delaying without letting go because he hadn't seen her in person and hadn't figured out what this Xiao Ruoling was like.

A great man inevitably has a wife who is not virtuous and children who are not filial. He didn't want to get too involved in his children's love affairs, and only wanted to focus on cultivation and become a Grand Master as soon as possible.

Therefore, he needed a stable back courtyard that could allow him to cultivate in peace.

But if her character was not good, then even if she was beautiful, he would definitely not marry her. If her character was good enough, then marrying her would be fine.

He had been hesitant because there were also benefits to marrying the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

Although the Duke of Anguo's mansion was not strong in this generation, it was, after all, a hereditary Duke's mansion. If they really married, it could also become an arm of the Qing Prince's mansion, making the Qing Prince's mansion's reputation even stronger.

Therefore, he had been vague in his response.

He had been looking for an opportunity to see the Supervisory Division's files on the Duke of Anguo's mansion, so as to have a thorough understanding of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

But the opportunity had not yet appeared.