Chapter 653: The Princess
Chapter 653: The Princess
September 25, 2017
Lu Haikong's debut in Luoyang far exceeded his expectations. He had only planned for Xin Ping to rally a few thousand commoners, but to his surprise, Xin Ping managed to gather tens of tens of thousands, and he even encountered Emperor Ling of Han outside the city.
This serendipitous encounter transformed Lu Haikong into a hero in the eyes of the people and a divine general in the Emperor's eyes. From the moment the Emperor laid eyes on him, Lu Haikong unknowingly gained his trust.
The deafening 'Long Live' chants outside Luoyang City further cleansed the Emperor's spirit, causing a subtle transformation within him. The only regret was that Emperor Ling did not summon Lu Haikong directly.
If he had summoned Lu Haikong in his current state, he might have bestowed rewards on the spot, even those beyond Lu Haikong's wildest dreams. However, the Emperor did not do so.
It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he couldn't!
The emperors of the late Eastern Han Dynasty were known for their short lifespans, and Emperor Ling was no exception. Historically, he lived only until the year 189, and now, in the year 184, he had less than five years left.
The Emperor's frail body, weakened by excessive drinking and debauchery, was further shaken by Lu Haikong's army's momentum and the tens of thousands of 'Long Live' chants. After the initial excitement, he became extremely exhausted.
It wasn't that he didn't want to summon Lu Haikong; his energy levels simply wouldn't allow it.
Though Emperor Ling wasn't the most brilliant of emperors, he wasn't foolish either. He clearly understood the implications of his health, a state secret of the highest order. Even in his senility, he wouldn't dare be careless, especially with the cunning Zhang Rang watching his every move.
Seeing the Emperor's condition, Zhang Rang quickly arranged for his return to the palace.
Despite the Emperor's departure, he didn't forget to instruct Zhang Rang to take care of Lu Haikong and his group. Lu Haikong's appearance had indeed left a deep impression on the Emperor, who couldn't stop thinking about him even in his exhaustion.
After the Emperor returned to the palace, Zhang Rang took over the task of welcoming and accommodating Lu Haikong from a furious He Jin.
Lu Haikong and his group entered the city under Zhang Rang's arrangements and were settled in a military camp within Luoyang.
During this process, Zhang Rang finally met Lu Haikong for the first time. To be honest, seeing Lu Haikong filled Zhang Rang with complex emotions, as their relationship was equally complex.
Speaking of which, he first learned about Lu Haikong through Zhang Li, and initially, he saw Lu Haikong as just a pawn to use against He Jin.
Little did he know that Lu Haikong would become his treasure, and in just six months, Lu Haikong sent him tens of millions in wealth, turning this pawn he once thought to use and discard into a precious and heavy burden.
Eight months ago, at the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, when Zhang Rang first saw Xin Ping, their relationship changed once more. At that time, Zhang Rang still considered Lu Haikong a troublesome and hot potato of a pawn.
Xin Ping's words, 'This is an order,' shattered Zhang Rang's illusion, and he realized that Lu Haikong had become an inseparable part of his political career, a troublesome and inescapable burden.
During that time, Zhang Rang both hated Lu Haikong and had to rely on him.
After Lu Haikong consecutively killed Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, captured Guangping City, and joined forces with Dong Zhuo to take Julu, this troublesome pawn became Zhang Rang's capital for rising in the court.
Just now, when Lu Haikong shouted 'Long Live,' and the Emperor's face turned red with excitement, Zhang Rang realized that Lu Haikong might no longer need him.
In less than two years, watching Lu Haikong transform from a disposable pawn to his current status, Zhang Rang's feelings were inevitably complex.
But Zhang Rang was Zhang Rang; he was a eunuch who served others. While he might not excel in other areas, he was exceptional at controlling his emotions. He quickly adjusted his position and attitude to communicate with Lu Haikong.
After their genuine exchange, both realized that the other wasn't as difficult to approach as they had anticipated.
Lu Haikong wasn't as domineering and sharp as Zhang Rang had thought, and Zhang Rang wasn't as overbearing and unaware of boundaries. Of course, their mutual accommodation played a role in this positive first impression.
However, whether or not they made a good impression on each other is one thing, but the most important aspect of their relationship is their mutual interest in cooperation.
But such matters couldn't be explained in a few words, and they weren't something that could be resolved through a heart-to-heart talk. Of course, they already had an unspoken understanding, so there was no need to deliberately bring it up, and it wasn't the right time anyway.
After settling Lu Haikong's troops, Zhang Rang immediately returned to the palace.
It wasn't that Zhang Rang didn't want to stay longer, but he was concerned about Emperor Ling of Han's situation. It was evident that the Emperor's condition wasn't ideal, and this was precisely the time when Zhang Rang's loyalty was most needed. Zhang Rang knew he couldn't afford to linger with Lu Haikong, as he was well aware that his power came from the Emperor.
Just as Zhang Rang left, Lu Haikong had barely settled into the military camp when Xin Ping, who had just dealt with the issue of the group of commoners outside the city, came to pay his respects.
Perhaps it was because he had encountered various people in Luoyang, but after several months of absence, Xin Ping appeared more composed and experienced than before.
Xin Ping brought with him various intelligence from Luoyang, aiming to help Lu Haikong quickly understand the current situation of the various factions in Luoyang.
Of course, Lu Haikong didn't plan to stay here long-term, and he didn't need to understand every detail about Luoyang. He only needed to know which factions had benevolent or malicious intentions towards him, and the former might be fewer.
As Lu Haikong was learning about the situation in Luoyang, there was also someone in Luoyang studying his information.
In the Northern Palace of the Imperial Palace, a girl in Hanfu attire was lazily lying on a long couch, holding a detailed report about Lu Haikong that had been delivered to her.
This report was incredibly comprehensive, covering almost all the information about Lu Haikong that could be gathered, dating back two years.
"Starting from a livestock business, he gained control of Dingxiang, Yunzhong, and Yanmen counties within two years. He commands an army of over ten thousand soldiers, including historical generals like Dian Wei, Wen Chou, Gao Lan, and Cheng Lian, as well as dozens of exceptional non-historical generals."
"This Lu Haikong is quite formidable. With such military might, he's probably the most outstanding among all the Outlanders."
The girl lazily flipped through the report, her beautiful eyes sparkling with interest.
"Oh, and he's a young hunk too."
Reaching the end of the report, she saw a photo-like portrait at the back. In the portrait, Lu Haikong wore a golden armor, holding the Savaged Axe diagonally in his hand. With a cold and stern gaze, his handsome face exuded a masculine dominance.
The girl's spirits lifted as she saw the photo: "Not bad, huh? Should I go and meet this guy?"
Just then, a knock sounded at her door. She furrowed her brows: "Come in!"
A moment later, a delicate palace maid entered cautiously and approached the girl, bowing her head at her side. "Your Highness, I'll report to you about the recent incident that occurred outside Luoyang City."
After listening, the girl's eyes flashed with interest: "This guy's making quite a stir! I guess I should avoid meeting him for now; everyone's attention is probably on him these days."
As she spoke, the girl, feeling a bit disappointed, set the report aside and lazily stretched her waist, showcasing her undeveloped yet beautiful figure. She let out a lazy cat-like sigh before sitting up.
"By the way, what has my adorable little sister been up to lately?" The girl glanced at the palace across the way and asked the palace maid.
"The Princess has been practicing her sword skills," the palace maid replied softly.
"Still practicing the sword? How boring. Can't she find something else to do?" The girl pouted in dissatisfaction.
Her expression seemed to convey her frustration at not finding a toy to play with, like a child.
"I thought having another person in the palace would make things more interesting, but who knew it would be a wandering cultivator? All she does is practice the sword day in and day out. Can't she think of something more exciting to do?" The girl seemed intent on stirring up trouble.
The palace maid stood silently with her head bowed, like a puppet. Suddenly, as if she had understood something, she lifted her head and said, "Your Highness, the Princess seems to have stopped practicing the sword and is preparing to go out."
"Go out? You mean my adorable little sister?" The girl was clearly taken aback by this news.
She was well aware that after her sister's reincarnation, she rarely left her palace unless it was unavoidable. So, the sudden decision to go out was surprising.
The girl's eyes curved into a crescent moon: "I think I've discovered something quite intriguing."
(End of Chapter)
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