Chapter 549 - 300: This Is Lu Yuan’s True White Snake Wife

"What?" Lu Yuan looked confused. He'd never heard of that.

Lu Yuan and Zhao Qiao'Er were sitting side-by-side in the back of the car, which was being driven by one of his trusted men.

Zhao Qiao'Er pressed her ample curves against Lu Yuan, pouting her lips high as if she were a little upset.

Zhao Qiao'Er wasn't actually upset, she was just being coquettish.

Zhao Qiao'Er whined, "My darling, you're just teasing me. I heard all about it from Liyan."

"My wife?" Lu Yuan's mind raced.

'Something like that did seem to happen.'

It was the year before last.

It was that time when Lu Yuan and Su Liyan went to the Imperial City to treat Empress Ma.

Back then, they had traveled to the Imperial City by horse-drawn carriage, not a car.

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan were newlyweds, as thick as thieves.

The two of them would hug and cuddle at every opportunity.

And if anyone couldn't help themselves, it was usually Lu Yuan.

At this moment, Song Meiqin, Gu Ziye, and Su Liyan were not riding in the same car as Lu Yuan.

It was as if the women had planned it, taking turns riding in the car with Lu Yuan.

Faced with Zhao Qiao'Er's surging... assets, Lu Yuan swallowed hard.

Lu Yuan slapped his forehead in a moment of realization.

"How can my wife just tell everyone everything! She even told you about that."

Zhao Qiao'Er gave a wicked little laugh. "I want to experience it too."

Lu Yuan glanced at the trusted subordinate who was driving.

'You really don't see the driver as a stranger, do you,' Lu Yuan thought.

The subordinate driving the car heard Zhao Qiao'Er's delicate voice from behind and felt a little tingle himself.

The fearsome reputation of Zhao Qiao'Er, the Black Widow, had long since spread throughout Taiping City.

Although Zhao Qiao'Er had since cleaned up her act, the people in Taiping City who knew of her past still held a certain admiration for her.

If Zhao Qiao'Er didn't have some skills, she would never have been able to build such a large enterprise.

And if she didn't have some skills for dealing with men, would she even be Zhao Qiao'Er?

The subordinate thought to himself, 'I only knew that the Master was very fond of Madam Zhao, but I've never witnessed her skills firsthand.'

Sitting in the back of the car, Lu Yuan secretly pointed toward the driver.

Riding in a car was different from a horse-drawn carriage. In a carriage, you were in an enclosed cabin.

A carriage's cabin had a curtain that could block the coachman's line of sight.

But you couldn't do that in a car, even though the car Lu Yuan had built didn't have a rearview mirror.

The driver only needed to turn his head slightly to see what was happening in the back seat.

Zhao Qiao'Er naturally understood what Lu Yuan was worried about.

Zhao Qiao'Er faced the front and said sternly, "Hey! Don't you dare turn around in a bit!"

The subordinate at the wheel knew Madam Zhao was talking to him.

The subordinate replied while driving, "Madam, rest assured, I definitely won't turn around."

Before the subordinate could even finish his sentence, an impatient Zhao Qiao'Er pounced.

「Nearing noon, the group stopped to eat at a roadside Post House.」

Zhao Qiao'Er stepped out of Lu Yuan's car, head bowed, tugging at her disheveled clothes.

Her face was flushed, and the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile she couldn't suppress.

She had the triumphant look of a cat that got the cream.

Seeing Zhao Qiao'Er's wanton expression, Song Meiqin muttered, "Shameless hussy~"

The thick scent of jealousy was so strong that even Gu Ziye, who was in the same car, could smell it.

After everyone had eaten, Song Meiqin headed for the car she had been in that morning.

From behind her, Gu Ziye called out, "Aunt Song, it's your turn to ride in the lead car."

Hearing Gu Ziye's reminder, Song Meiqin's face immediately broke into a seductive smile as she cooed, "Coming~"

Not long after the convoy set off, Song Meiqin said, "Lu Yuan, you can't play favorites~"

Lu Yuan understood perfectly. He pursed his lips and nodded emphatically.

As for the subordinate driving the car, it went without saying how envious and jealous he was.

In all his life, the subordinate had never encountered such an open-minded scene before.

「After several days, Lu Yuan's convoy finally reached the Imperial City.」

As soon as Lu Yuan and his party entered the Imperial City's jurisdiction, a group of Jinyi Guard came to receive them.

Gu Ziye smiled and said, "Yuan~ For a Fourth Grade official like you to be welcomed into the Imperial City by the Jinyi Guard... that's treatment on par with a First Grade Official."

Lu Yuan wrapped his arm around Gu Ziye's slender waist and kissed her on the cheek. "This is all thanks to you!"

A group of servants bustled about, finally moving all the luggage from the cars into the mansion.

Lu Yuan and his group had now settled in the Imperial City.

As soon as she had set foot in the Imperial City, Gu Ziye ran off, saying she was going to see her mother—the Empress.

Without a summons, Gu Ziye was not supposed to enter or leave the Imperial Capital freely.

Seeing Gu Ziye's confident expression, Lu Yuan didn't question her, only reminding her, "Be careful!"

Before she was married, Gu Ziye often used to sneak out of the Imperial Capital.

If she could sneak out of the Imperial Capital, she had a way to sneak back in.

On Lu Yuan's first day in the Imperial City, before he even had a chance to report to His Majesty the Emperor,

another group of Jinyi Guard arrived at the mansion with a message.

A Jinyi Guard of a Thousand Households said respectfully to Lu Yuan, "Lord Lu, His Majesty the Emperor summons you for an audience at the Celestial Fragrance Building."

Since the audience wasn't in the Imperial Palace, there was no need for Lu Yuan to wear his official robes.

After making the necessary arrangements, Lu Yuan followed the Jinyi Guard to the Celestial Fragrance Building.

When Lu Yuan arrived at the Celestial Fragrance Building, he saw it was filled with Jinyi Guard.

Although merchants and travelers could normally dine at the Celestial Fragrance Building, they all steered clear upon seeing the place swarming with Jinyi Guard.

Led by a Jinyi Guard, Lu Yuan entered a private room.

Inside, Emperor Gu Yuanzhang was sitting there, dressed in plain clothes.

Lu Yuan flicked his sleeves, about to perform the kneeling ceremony.

"Dispense with the formalities."

The Emperor looked at Lu Yuan and said flatly, "Sit."

Lu Yuan pulled out a chair and sat opposite the Emperor.

The Emperor was the first to speak. "How has Yue'Er been recently?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, she is well!" Lu Yuan answered earnestly.

"We command you to lead the Left and Right Guards of the Mansion to garrison the West Gate of the Imperial City and strictly inspect all who pass through."

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang changed the subject, revealing the reason he had summoned Lu Yuan to the Imperial Capital.

Lu Yuan stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your humble servant will certainly perform his duties faithfully."

"Sit down! No need for such ceremony," Emperor Gu Yuanzhang said with a wave of his hand.

The two talked for a while before the Emperor gave a Jinyi Guard a meaningful look.

The Jinyi Guard withdrew.

A moment later, several old Daoists came up from the first floor.

Lu Yuan took a closer look and saw they were old acquaintances.

The Host and Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace.

The Emperor chuckled. "I hear the Treasure of the Palace from Celestial Dynasty Palace is in your hands?"

Hearing this, Lu Yuan cursed inwardly, 'These old geezers from Celestial Dynasty Palace... after failing to snatch it from me in person, they've actually learned to file an imperial complaint.'

'But this matter is long past. Why bring it up today?'

Lu Yuan didn't lie. "Replying to Your Majesty, I'm not entirely clear on what Treasure of the Palace these Daoists are referring to."

The Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace, an old man, stood there stroking his white beard with a calm expression.

The Grand Elder of Celestial Dynasty Palace glanced at the Host, then braced himself and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Lord Lu possesses a Celestial Master Sword, which is the Treasure of the Palace that our Celestial Dynasty Palace lost a hundred years ago."

No wonder Lu Yuan wouldn't acknowledge it. They were trying to get back something they lost a hundred years ago.

The Emperor had no reason to entertain such an unreasonable request.

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang said to Lu Yuan, "Where is this sword? Bring it out and let these Daoists have a look."

Lu Yuan replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, the sword is at my Ten Kings Street Mansion. I do not have it with me."

"Well then, Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace, you all go with him. If you can truly prove it's yours, he won't deny you."

The Emperor took a sip of Pre-Ming Maojian Tea and made his decision.

Between the lines, the Emperor wasn't siding with Lu Yuan.

After a while, once they had respectfully seen the Emperor off, the Host and Grand Elder of Celestial Dynasty Palace followed Lu Yuan all the way.

It made Lu Yuan feel quite uncomfortable.

Lu Yuan said irritably, "Host, why are you after my Celestial Master Sword again?"

Last time, Celestial Dynasty Palace had tried to snatch it back from Lu Yuan secretly.

This time, they actually got the Emperor to ask for it.

To cross the eastern sea and suppress the Wa Country, and to deal with the Wa Country's Xingzi and Sorcerers, a special decree ordered the two Royal Daoist Temples, Celestial Dynasty Palace and Le Shen Temple, to dispatch Daoists to form a large Celestial Master Corps to go with the expedition.

At this critical juncture, the Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace brought up the matter of the Treasure of the Palace in front of all the civil and military officials.

Hearing this, all the officials were shocked and amazed at the courage of the Celestial Dynasty Palace's Host.

I mean, how long has it been since Marquis Yongchang Lan Yu was... reincarnated? And already someone else was jumping out to provoke the Emperor's wrath.

In the grand hall, the Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace appeared to be asking the Emperor to make a judgment, but in reality, it was borderline extortion, taking advantage of the situation.

The Empire had supported Celestial Dynasty Palace for years, yet when they were needed, they started making demands. This was a challenge to imperial authority.

The aged Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace should have understood this principle.

And yet, the old man had brought it up at this most inopportune time.

In the imperial court, the Emperor showed no anger, merely acquiescing to the request of the Celestial Dynasty Palace's Host.

And that was why Emperor Gu Yuanzhang had Lu Yuan return to the Imperial City to stand guard, and why this "Feast at Hong Gate" was taking place.

The Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace said to Lu Yuan with a chuckle, "Benefactor, this Celestial Master Sword is the source of my Celestial Dynasty Palace's fortune."

Lu Yuan didn't care about any of that, but he still replied politely, "How so?"

The Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace shook his head and said, "Ever since our Celestial Dynasty Palace lost its Treasure of the Palace, our fortune has been in decline. In decades, we have hardly produced a single cultivation prodigy.

"If this continues, we'll have trouble holding on to our title as a Royal Daoist Temple!"

Lu Yuan led the Daoists back to his mansion.

The moment they stepped through the Mansion Gate, Su Liyan sensed them.

The Grand Elder of Celestial Dynasty Palace was at the Great Celestial Master Perfection Realm, while the Host's power had already entered the Celestial Monarch Realm.

Su Liyan came out to greet them, her voice soft. "Brother, why are there so many guests today?"

Su Liyan glanced at the Daoists behind Lu Yuan, a hint of vigilance in her heart.

The Daoists flicked their Dusters and performed a salute.

Lu Yuan said, "Darling, please welcome our guests into the main hall. I'll be right there."

Lu Yuan went to a secluded corner of the mansion and took the Celestial Master Sword, which emanated a biting Sword Qi, out from his System Space.

Lu Yuan gazed at the Celestial Master Sword hovering in the air. This sword had been with him for several years; of course he would be reluctant to let someone else take it.

Holding the Celestial Master Sword, Lu Yuan appeared in the main hall.

Seeing the Celestial Master Sword in Lu Yuan's hand, all the Daoists, except for the Host and Grand Elder of Celestial Dynasty Palace, stood up.

Every gaze was fixed on the Celestial Master Sword in Lu Yuan's hand.

Su Liyan, naturally, saw this scene unfold.

Lu Yuan tossed the Celestial Master Sword, intending to let the Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace inspect it.

Lu Yuan wasn't worried they would take the Celestial Master Sword and flee the mansion.

The Emperor was already involved in this matter; they couldn't afford to lose face by acting like common robbers.

The Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace watched the Celestial Master Sword in mid-air, his eyes gleaming, and was about to reach out and catch it.

A white silk ribbon shot out from Su Liyan's sleeve and wrapped around the Celestial Master Sword.

With a gentle tug, Su Liyan pulled the Celestial Master Sword into her own hand.

The Daoists from Celestial Dynasty Palace were stunned for a moment, then all rose to their feet and looked at Su Liyan.

Su Liyan's gentle demeanor vanished. She spoke to the Daoists in a cold voice, "Are you here to take the sword?"

Su Liyan didn't know what had transpired and thought her man was being bullied.

Facing the Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace, Su Liyan wasn't completely confident.

Fortunately, after several months of recent cultivation, Su Liyan's strength was now above the Great Celestial Master Perfection Realm.

In a one-on-one fight with the Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace, Su Liyan wouldn't necessarily lose.

And if the husband-and-wife pair of Lu Yuan and Su Liyan joined forces, they had nothing to fear from these Daoists.

Besides, there were quite a few Mansion Guards at the Great Celestial Master realm within the residence.

"Benefactor, please don't misunderstand. We merely wish to take a look!" the Host of Celestial Dynasty Palace said with a smile.

"Bullshit!"

Su Liyan snapped. "Don't think I'm easy to fool. It hasn't just been a day or two that you've had your eyes on the Celestial Master Sword in my husband's hand."

Su Liyan's assertiveness dropped the atmosphere in the room to a freezing point.

Now *this* was Lu Yuan's White Snake wife!