CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 418: FATHER AND SON GO UP THE MOUNTAIN

Lu Qi was somewhat baffled.

Who was this man?

Why was he speaking in such a strange, mocking tone in front of Father and him?

He had seen all the strategists in the mansion, or at least heard of them, and none dared behave so rudely to Father and him.

Could it be... this man wasn’t an ordinary strategist but someone Prince Ming, the royal uncle, had offered to Father?

When Lu Zhaoyan was in the Prince Qin Mansion, he was merely an unpreferred second son. His birth mother’s status was so low that she wasn’t even qualified to raise him.

He grew up under the care of Princess Qin.

The brothers in the mansion looked down on him, often bullying him. Only the youngest, Prince Ming, liked to follow him around, calling him "Second Brother" all the time.

Thus, if there had to be a sibling with an unusually close relationship to Lu Zhaoyan, it could only be Prince Ming.

This was also why, after entering the Imperial City, Prince Ming went straight to live in the Crown Prince Mansion.

Because Lu Zhaoyan cherished this younger brother, the strategists recommended by Prince Ming enjoyed significant respect and status in the mansion.

As his thoughts spun, Lu Qi glanced at Father again. Seeing that Father was not angered by this person’s rudeness, he became even more assured of his speculation.

Father had always taught him to respect virtuous and capable individuals. Naturally, he couldn’t just pay lip service to that principle; he had to act as well.

He made room for Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan sat down unceremoniously between him and Lu Zhaoyan.

Lu Qi frowned.

Where on earth had his royal uncle found this strategist?

His skills were yet unknown, but his temper was certainly something.

"May I ask your esteemed name, sir?"

Lu Qi suppressed his displeasure and asked with measured courtesy.

Lu Yuan crossed his arms and replied indifferently, "The surname is Lu."

Lu Zhaoyan glanced at Lu Yuan.

Lu Qi, ever gentle, remarked, "Ah, your surname is Lu as well. What a coincidence."

The world wasn’t short of people with the surname Lu; it wasn’t exclusive to the Imperial Family of Liang.

But any connection to the Lu name was a stroke of fortune, nonetheless.

He could only say that this strategist before him was very lucky.

Perhaps it was precisely because of his surname that he caught the favor of his royal uncle Prince Ming.

Lu Qi silently evaluated Lu Yuan’s potential worth.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhaoyan, upon hearing Lu Yuan’s surname, thought it was just Lu Yuan intentionally speaking to him—to keep up the idea of trying to make himself his son.

Lu Qi asked politely, "Might I inquire when you became acquainted with my royal uncle?"

Lu Yuan replied flatly, "Yesterday."

Lu Qi found this unbelievable.

After just one meeting, had he already caught his royal uncle’s eye and been recommended to Father?

What sort of extraordinary talent did this man possess?

Lu Qi never entertained the less-than-savory idea that this was "a son of an old acquaintance." After all, even he, a legitimate Qilin Imperial Grandson, didn’t dare act so brazenly before Father. How could a "son of an old acquaintance" possibly have the nerve?

On the other hand, he’d encountered many brazen, self-assured strategists before.

The reclusive expert he was visiting today was one among them.

Lu Yuan, unfazed and disinterested in Lu Qi, stopped responding after only a few sentences, leaving Lu Qi to give up trying further conversation.

An hour later, the carriage arrived at the base of a mountain outside the West City Gate.

At the mountain’s peak stood the ruins of the old Protectorate Temple. Ten years ago, it was relocated after a flood, leaving only this old site behind.

The reclusive expert had been living in the temple for years. Emperor Liang learned of his whereabouts by chance. Unfortunately, no matter how much Emperor Liang implored, the man refused to leave the mountain or serve the court.

Emperor Liang entrusted this matter to Lu Zhaoyan, both as a sign of favor and to encourage him to recruit a future right-hand man of his own.

The carriage driver today was Ji Feng.

Ji Feng dismounted and said to Lu Zhaoyan, "Your Highness, the carriage cannot go up the mountain. We’ll have to proceed on foot. Allow me to carry you."

He signaled to the shadows, and immediately two Imperial Guards in hiding stepped forward.

They were meant to carry Lu Qi and Lu Yuan.

Lu Zhaoyan lifted the curtain, gazing out at the layers of peaks, and said, "There’s no need; we’ll ascend on our own."

If they didn’t even show this much sincerity, how could they hope to persuade anyone to come out of seclusion?

Lu Qi stepped off the carriage first and held out his hand. "Father."

Lu Zhaoyan took Lu Qi’s arm as support and alighted.

Then he turned back to look at Lu Yuan.

This time, Lu Yuan didn’t act difficult. He stepped down from the carriage with a slight bow.

He gazed up at the endlessly winding stairs and sighed heavily. "Such a long staircase; we’ll probably be climbing until afternoon."

Lu Zhaoyan, considering his health, said, "You may rest in the carriage if you wish."

Lu Yuan replied, "That wouldn’t do. I said I’d follow you."

Surprise flashed once again in Lu Qi’s eyes.

Was it an illusion?

Why did it sound as though Father and this man shared a certain intimacy?

"Let’s begin the climb."

Lu Zhaoyan spoke no further.

Emperor Liang had specifically instructed that the recluse disliked being disturbed. Lu Zhaoyan had only brought Ji Feng, leaving the other seven Imperial Guards to wait at the mountain’s base.

The small group started ascending.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Lu Qi looked up and spotted the temple in the distance. Smiling, he said to Lu Zhaoyan, "Father, the temple isn’t far. I suppose we’ll arrive in about another half hour."

Lu Yuan snorted.

Lu Qi asked, "Does Mr. Lu disagree?"

Lu Yuan replied, "Your Highness, have you heard the saying, ’Looking at a mountain wears out the horse’?"

Lu Qi responded, "We’re already on this mountain."

Lu Yuan, appearing amused, said, "It seems Your Highness doesn’t hike often. May I ask where you wandered during your years as a commoner?"

Lu Qi, staying composed, replied, "From your tone, sir, it appears you have some dissatisfaction with me. Might I ask how I’ve offended you?"

Expecting Lu Yuan to deflect with something like "Where did Your Highness see dissatisfaction? Please don’t wrongly accuse me; I can’t bear such blame," Lu Qi was prepared to turn the tables.

Lu Yuan said, "Your Highness hasn’t offended me."

Lu Qi thought, That’s about what I expected.

Lu Yuan added, "I simply view all ignorant people with equal disdain."

Lu Qi, metaphorically stabbed in the heart: "..."

The group had set out early in the morning and only reached halfway up the mountain at noon.

Ji Feng, as an Imperial Guard, was still breathing steadily.

Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Qi, however, were panting heavily, their faces pale.

"Father... let me support you..."

Lu Zhaoyan waved him off, signaling that he was fine and urging Lu Qi to catch his own breath.

Too exhausted to speak, Lu Zhaoyan instinctively looked toward Lu Yuan.

Remembering his injuries and chronic cold illness, he assumed Lu Yuan must be faring worse than he and Lu Qi.

To his astonishment, however, Lu Yuan wasn’t even slightly out of breath. His calm demeanor rivaled that of Ji Feng, the Imperial Guard.

Noticing Lu Zhaoyan’s gaze, Lu Yuan casually walked over and, without a word, lifted him onto his back.

Lu Zhaoyan froze.

Lu Qi was equally stunned.

"You..."

Lying on Lu Yuan’s back, Lu Zhaoyan opened his mouth but forced himself to suppress his fatigue as he said, "Put me down."

Lu Yuan, carrying him effortlessly up the steps, replied, "Didn’t you just signal for me to carry you?"

Frowning, Lu Zhaoyan protested, "When did I ever say that?"

Lu Yuan quipped, "Didn’t you just look at me? That was obviously your way of asking me to carry you."

Despite carrying someone, his pace was steady and light, and before long, he left Lu Qi trailing far behind.

Raising an eyebrow, Lu Yuan added, "Let’s be clear: if I carry you, you become my father."

"I absolutely did not—"

Before Lu Zhaoyan could finish his rejection, Lu Yuan used Qinggong to leap forward, the rushing wind swallowing the rest of his words.