Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhit霆 smiled and leaned over, "Hey, Fourth Brother."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "What can Ninth Brother teach me?"

Chu Zhit霆 said, "The Xiao girl from the Anguo Duke's Mansion is indeed good. Fourth Brother, you should make a move as soon as possible, lest someone else gets there first. This girl from the Anguo Duke's Mansion is not ordinary. If it weren't for Anguo Duke's high standards, she would have been married long ago."

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows.

Chu Zhichuan chimed in, "I also heard Mother say that the Xiao girl is gentle and generous in her actions, managing the affairs of the Anguo Duke's Mansion in an orderly manner and is good at managing the household."

"Ninth Brother and Tenth Brother, are you both engaged?"

Chu Zhichuan said, "I was engaged three years ago."

Chu Zhit霆 chuckled, "Old Ten's wife is the Third Miss of the Shouguo Duke's Mansion. I've met her, and she is worthy of Old Ten."

"Then who is Old Nine's wife?"

"Ninth Brother's wife is the youngest daughter of Lord Weng, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel," Chu Zhichuan said. "Hey, I've met her too. In the future, Ninth Brother, you will be completely under her control."

"Nonsense!"

"Ninth Brother, I'm not talking nonsense. Ninth Sister-in-law looks like she is well-read and reasonable, from a family of scholars. How will you be able to win an argument in the future?"

"Your Ninth Sister-in-law is very virtuous!" Chu Zhit霆 said with a sweet expression.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and looked at Chu Zhiyao, "What about Third Brother?"

"Me—?" Chu Zhiyao sighed, "The Second Daughter of the Kangguo Duke's Mansion."

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows.

Chu Zhiyao seemed dissatisfied.

"Alas—!" Chu Zhiyao shook his head, "She is very good, but her eldest brother..."

Chu Zhiyuan quickly interrupted him and said with a smile, "Let's talk about something happy today. When does the opera start?"

It was obvious that Chu Zhiyao was dissatisfied with his future brother-in-law.

This was a family matter, and it was difficult for an honest official to judge family affairs. It was best not to listen, as it would inevitably involve privacy, and getting involved would often displease everyone.

Chu Zhiyao stopped talking and forced a smile, "It will take another hour. We need to eat and drink to our heart's content."

"Eighteenth Lord..." A loud laugh came from outside.

Chu Mingxuan said loudly, "Come in."

The thick felt curtain was lifted, and in the cold air were two young men, stout, wearing gorgeous brocade robes, with honest smiles on their faces.

Chu Zhiyuan knew at a glance that they were from the military. Although they had honest smiles on their faces, their eyes revealed a hint of sharpness and suppressed a sword-like aura.

They were obviously trying to put down their posture and show humility in front of everyone.

However, the pride of their nature was difficult to completely suppress.

"Old Hu, Old Song!" Chu Zhiyao immediately stood up with a smile and waved, "Come, come, let me introduce you to everyone."

He pointed to the two men and introduced them to everyone, "My colleagues, good brothers, Hu Gensheng and Song Wantian, both are Guerrilla Generals, with outstanding achievements. They have made it through, and this time they are returning to the Infantry Department to be Deputy Generals."

The two men clasped their fists and saluted again.

The princes and sons of the world, out of respect for Chu Zhiyao, although they did not put the two men in their eyes, still smiled and clasped their fists in return.

The two men raised their wine glasses, "We brothers toast the General, thank you for your care and life-saving grace."

"No need to be so polite," Chu Zhiyao said with a smile, raising his wine glass and drinking it all.

Afterwards, the two men raised their wine glasses again and toasted everyone.

Everyone gave them face and drank it.

The two men tactfully took their leave.

Chu Zhiyuan had been observing the two men and noticed that their aura was dignified and their true energy was flourishing. They should have broken through the first level of the Jade Tower.

At such a young age, with such cultivation, they could be considered martial arts geniuses. No wonder they could make great achievements in battle and become Guerrilla Generals.

A Guerrilla General was a third-rank military officer, and the number of soldiers under their command could be many or few. If it were not a nominal position held by princes, sons of the world, or young dukes and marquises, they often led about a thousand soldiers, which was rare in the army.

After the two men left, Chu Zhiyao said with a smile, "These Hu Gensheng and Song Wantian are both brave and clever, with unlimited potential."

Chu Mingxuan glanced at him, "You helped them return to the Infantry Department, didn't you?"

Chu Zhiyao nodded, "Their temperament is still suitable for being officials. It's a pity to only fight in the border army. It's better to come to the Infantry Department and contribute to the court in the same way."

"You..." Chu Mingxuan shook his head and said, "Be careful, the Censors will probably not let this opportunity pass."

The Censors were most sensitive to the promotion of officials.

What they could not tolerate most was the promotion of officials being influenced by external forces. Whether it was high-ranking officials or members of the imperial family, as long as they dared to interfere in the appointment and removal of officials, they would attack them as soon as there was any sign of trouble.

Once this news leaked out, the memorials of impeachment would surely fall on the Emperor's desk like snowflakes.

Chu Zhiyao said, "I have a clear conscience in this matter!"

Chu Mingxuan snorted, "It's useless for you to have a clear conscience. The key is how others see it. They don't care whether you have a clear conscience or not!"

Chu Zhiyuan once again smoothed things over and said with a smile, "Forget it, Eighteenth Uncle, it's a happy day, let's talk about something happy."

"That's right, that's right," Chu Zhit霆 and Chu Zhichuan echoed.

So everyone raised their glasses again to drink and talked and laughed loudly.

Soon they talked about the Great Zhen delegation.

"They will arrive in five days," Chu Zhit霆 put down his wine glass, his expression solemn.

The excited smiles on everyone's faces slowly faded.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.

Chu Mingxuan and the others turned their gazes to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "I will do my best, let fate decide the outcome."

Chu Mingxuan said, "Fourth Brother, you have no problem. You can even defeat a Grandmaster, let alone that Cheng Tianfeng who is not even a Grandmaster."

Everyone immediately regained their vitality and laughed again.

They had personally witnessed Chu Zhiyuan injure a Grandmaster and obtain two Grandmaster guards. How could he possibly lose to Cheng Tianfeng, a Xiantian expert?

As everyone was talking, a voice came from outside again, "Eighteenth Lord, we're here."

As soon as Chu Mingxuan heard this voice, he said helplessly, "Get in here!"

The curtain was lifted, and an handsome young man came in, followed by two handsome young men, standing like three jade trees facing the wind.

After thousands of years and dozens of generations of improvement, the princes and sons of the world were all of good appearance, either handsome or beautiful. There were very few with ordinary looks, and even fewer with ugly ones.

And these three handsome young men were even more extraordinary. Not only their appearance, but their aura was also upright and imposing, with an indescribable spirit.

The young man at the head, with a frivolous appearance, clasped his fists and said with a grin, "Eighteenth Lord, we're toasting you."

"Ye Baitao, don't give me that. I don't want to see you!"

"Eighteenth Lord, I finally got a jar of good wine for you and was just about to send it to your mansion."

"...You rascal!" Chu Mingxuan pointed at him unhappily, "Hurry up, drink a cup and leave!"

He turned to Chu Zhiyuan and said, "Ye Baitao, the second son of the Shouguo Duke's Mansion, that's Ye Baichuan, the third son, who I grew up with. He is also Old Ten's brother-in-law."

Chu Zhichuan smiled.

But seeing that Ye Baitao and Ye Baichuan had no intention of greeting Chu Zhichuan, as if they didn't see him, they looked directly at Chu Zhiyuan, clasped their fists and said with a smile, "Greetings, Fourth Son of the World. I have long heard of Fourth Son of the World's great name, and I am honored to finally meet you in person!"

Chu Zhiyuan felt their unrestrainedness, as if they didn't put the princes and sons of the world in their eyes, and smiled without any respectful attitude.

Playing together every day naturally dispelled the charm, and they would feel that the princes and sons of the world were also human beings with emotions and desires.

Moreover, the Shouguo Duke was also a hereditary duke.

"Nice to meet you," Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and smiled, his eyes falling on the handsome young man who had been proudly unceremonious behind them.

Chu Mingxuan snorted, "Song Tianhai, who are you putting on a face for!"

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows.

Song Tianhai, the eldest son of the Kangguo Duke, was said to be extremely talented and also in the military, with the potential to become the second Prince Ying.

However, there were too many who had the potential to become Prince Ying, and in the end, there was only one Prince Ying.

Song Tianhai reluctantly clasped his fist, "Greetings, Eighteenth Lord."

His gaze swept towards Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and looked at him.

He could feel the hostility in Song Tianhai's eyes and felt inexplicable.

Song Tianhai's hostility should not be directed at himself, but at Chu Zhiyao, right?

Chu Zhiyao had already darkened his face and glared at Song Tianhai coldly.

"Are you here to see me, or to see Old Three?" Chu Mingxuan chuckled, "Are you here to see it yourself, or are you looking on behalf of someone else?"

"Eighteenth Lord!" Song Tianhai said coldly, "Be careful with your words!"

"Yo, Song Tianhai, your temper has grown," Chu Mingxuan said with a smile, "Are you venting this temper on me, or on someone else?"

Chuckling laughter continued to ring out.

Everyone had a look of good show, their eyes shifting between Song Tianhai and Chu Zhiyao.