Chapter 403: Chapter 225: Young Master, We Saw Gu Ziye
Lu Yuan was led by the Chief Eunuch toward a wide-open space.
From a distance, Lu Yuan saw that the bluestone path ended at a training ground. Countless banners were erected around the open field, fluttering in the gentle breeze.
On the Training Ground, there were even people clad in Armor, practicing archery on horseback.
’Well, I’ll be. Instead of gardens, the Imperial Capital has a training ground. Just as expected of the decisive and ruthless Emperor Hongwu. The man has quite a fierce aura.’
Lu Yuan thought this to himself but didn’t dare mutter it aloud. ’There are definitely experts in the Imperial Capital who can hear through walls.’
Lu Yuan followed the Chief Eunuch to the edge of the Training Ground. Seven or eight tents were pitched on the south side, the most conspicuous being the enormous, golden-yellow tent in the center.
’No need to guess. Only the Emperor could use a golden-yellow tent.’
At the same time, Lu Yuan could sense that there were people inside all of these tents.
The Chief Eunuch turned, bowed, and said, "Lord Lu, please wait here for a moment. This one will announce your arrival."
Lu Yuan replied, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Grace."
The flap of the golden-yellow tent was rolled up, and the Chief Eunuch walked straight in.
Lu Yuan leaned slightly to his right and could make out the general scene inside the tent.
A few seconds later, the Chief Eunuch came out of the tent, stood outside, and announced in a loud, clear voice, "Summoning Lord Lu, the Prefect of Dongchang, for an audience with His Majesty!"
The people on the Training Ground stopped what they were doing and turned to watch Lu Yuan.
Under everyone’s gaze, Lu Yuan felt as if he were walking a red carpet.
Lu Yuan flicked his sleeves and took a couple of formal, measured steps. He immediately felt awkward and heard someone snickering.
Lu Yuan hadn’t learned any formal etiquette. Hearing the snickers, he thought, ’Have I been watching too many historical dramas? If you don’t know how to walk the walk, don’t try to fake it. You’ll just make a fool of yourself.’
Lu Yuan coughed lightly and decided to just stride boldly into the tent. He looked less like a Civil Servant and more like a Military General.
In an instant, Lu Yuan’s gaze swept to the man seated in the center of the tent—the Emperor, Gu Yuanzhang, also known as Emperor Hongwu. He had met him once before.
Sitting to the Emperor’s left was a man in a black robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns. A lifelike, four-clawed python seemed to soar across it.
’That must be the Emperor’s most beloved son, Gu Biao.’
’What a grand display today.’
Lu Yuan knelt on the ground and called out, "Your subject, Lu Yuan, Prefect of Dongchang, pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor and to the Crown Prince."
Lu Yuan had never met Crown Prince Gu Biao before, but he could deduce his identity from his attire alone.
Of all the Emperor’s sons, aside from the Crown Prince, the others were enfeoffed as Princes. Princes were not qualified to wear the Python Robe.
A smile appeared on the Emperor’s face. He gestured with his hand and said, "Please, rise! Biao’er, grant Lord Lu a seat."
After Lu Yuan rose, Crown Prince Gu Biao stood up, walked forward, and guided Lu Yuan toward a seat at the side. He said, "We are indebted to you, my lord, for treating the Empress. She thinks of you often."
Lu Yuan was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor and couldn’t quite process what Crown Prince Gu Biao was saying.
Lu Yuan’s legs moved uncontrollably, following in the Crown Prince’s footsteps. ’What have I done to deserve the reigning Crown Prince personally showing me to a seat?’
Lu Yuan acted with extreme humility, his mind racing to avoid any potentially disrespectful actions. He then sat down properly to one side.
Crown Prince Gu Biao waved his hand toward the outside of the tent and returned to his own seat.
The men who had been practicing archery on horseback on the Training Ground all dismounted and returned to their respective tents.
The Training Ground grew quiet, with only the sound of flapping banners and the occasional neigh of a horse.
The Emperor was quite pleased with Lu Yuan’s conduct. He smiled and said, "There’s no need to be so formal. We made you a Fourth-Grade Prefect. Are you adjusting well?"
Lu Yuan paused for a moment before replying, "Your subject... is adjusting."
Lu Yuan wasn’t sure how best to answer. In the few months since his appointment, he had straightened out the local officials in Dongchang City and hadn’t been back since.
However, since that time, Dongchang City had indeed become more prosperous. The Zhao Mansion of Taiping City had even invested in many new shops there.
The Emperor didn’t pick at these details and continued, "Logically speaking, since you saved Our Empress’s life, We should have given you a much greater reward."
It wasn’t that the Emperor hadn’t wanted to reward Lu Yuan back then; rather, Lu Yuan had tactfully refused in person. After treating Empress Ma’s illness, he had taken his wife and returned to Taiping City.
The subsequent official post of Prefect of Dongchang was a reward bestowed by imperial decree, which Lu Yuan had no choice but to accept.
Lu Yuan stood, clasped his hands, and said, "I thank His Majesty the Emperor for his great favor. Your humble subject’s experience is still shallow. This position as Prefect fills me with apprehension, and I fear I will fail to live up to Your Majesty’s immense grace."
The Emperor continued, "You may answer while seated. There is something We do not understand. Our verbal decree should have only reached Qilu Province five days ago, yet We hear you arrived yesterday? The Jinyi Guard sent to deliver Our message has not even returned."
Lu Yuan explained, "Replying to Your Majesty, I came by ’car.’ It is several days faster than horseback."
"’Car’? What kind of ’car’?" the Emperor asked curiously.
Gu Biao, at the side, didn’t understand either and listened intently to their conversation.
Lu Yuan gave a simple description of the ’car’s’ appearance and how it worked.
Lu Yuan’s words piqued the curiosity of both the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
The Emperor said, "Excellent! Tomorrow, bring it over for Us to see!"
Lu Yuan replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Ever since Lu Yuan had arrived at the Training Ground and entered this tent, the Emperor before him had only been asking trivial questions, leaving Lu Yuan completely baffled.
’He summoned me from a thousand miles away... surely not just to make small talk, right?’
’And if he really did just want to chat, he wouldn’t have chosen a training ground.’
"We have heard that in addition to being skilled at handling administrative affairs and disciplining officials, your martial arts are also quite formidable?" The Emperor took a sip of tea, eyeing Lu Yuan with a speculative gaze.
Comments