Black Fairy, the master is a female ghost

Chapter 163 Reception

After Admiral Guan accompanied Lu Xunhuan back to the Prime Minister's Mansion, he took him on a tour of the huge mansion.

Then, the two returned to the reception room and sat down to talk in detail.

Yun Zhongzi came over and asked, "Do you still want me to accompany you all the way?"

Lu Xunhuan introduced himself to Admiral Guan, “Grand Elder Yun Zhongzi of Yuntai Mountain has been protecting me for a long time.”

Admiral Guan quickly saluted: "I've heard a lot about you, I've heard a lot about you."

He said to Lu Xunhuan, "The palace is guarded by experts appointed by His Majesty. There is no need for the Great Elder to accompany him when he goes to court."

Yun Zhongzi nodded and said, "Alright then. From now on, I will escort the Prime Minister to court and pick him up after court every day."

Lu Xun Huan stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "What if I'm delayed in the palace and can't get out for a while? How long do you have to wait to go?"

Yun Zhongzi said, "It's okay. Say hello to the guards on the palace wall. I will guard the palace gate with them until you come out."

Lu Xun Huan asked Admiral Guan, "Is this feasible?"

Admiral Guan replied, "Just tell His Majesty, it should be fine."

Lu Xun Huan nodded and said to Yun Zhongzi, "Alright, I'll talk to His Majesty tomorrow. I'm sorry for the trouble, Great Elder."

Yun Zhongzi said, "It's not hard. I'll just stay there and they'll have to take care of my food, haha."

He saluted Admiral Guan and said, "Admiral, I will not disturb you from discussing business."

After Yun Zhongzi left, Admiral Guan told Lu Xunhuan about the factions of the civil and military officials in the court.

In the past, the royal palace was divided into two major factions, headed by Yu Shangshu and Lu Xiangguo.

Although Prime Minister Lu has returned home due to illness, his faction is still his faction and it is difficult for him to side with Minister Yu.

Lu Xunhuan was not interested in how many factions there were.

He just wanted to know how to get into every corner of the palace.

Especially the dragon bones that are said to be collected by the royal family, whether they are divine bones or ordinary dragon bones, we have to know where they are collected?

After knowing the collection location, it depends on whether he is qualified to enter the collection site and whether he has the opportunity to get it.

But the dragon bone thing was too sensitive, and he couldn't ask Admiral Guan directly. Among the ministers, it was best not to mention that thing at all.

Therefore, even though he was not interested in the factions in Yingzhou City, he still pretended to be interested and listened to Admiral Guan's detailed introduction.

After a while, Li Susu came to ask, "Sir, does your mansion need maids and servants?"

Lu Xun Huan asked Admiral Guan, "How much should I ask for?"

Admiral Guan said, "With such a large mansion like yours, you'd need at least a hundred people to take care of the daily cleaning, gardening, and procurement of supplies, among other chores."

Lu Xunhuan said to Li Susu, "Then let's invite a hundred people, half men and half women."

After Li Susu left, the two chatted for a while. Lu Xunhuan asked, "How strong are the two masters in the palace?"

Admiral Guan replied, "Guarding the entire palace is crucial to the safety of His Majesty, the Queen, the Crown Prince, the many princes and princesses, and the many concubines and nobles. He must be incredibly powerful, probably no less powerful than Great Elder Yun Zhongzi."

Lu Xun Huan nodded: "That's good, then we'll be safe."

The two chatted for a while, and Cheng Yu came to report: "Prime Minister, many officials have come, all bearing gifts and asking to see you. What do you think of the arrangements?"

Admiral Guan stood up and said, "It's all a matter of courtesy. They come here politely, so the Prime Minister naturally cannot lose his courtesy. Let everyone come in, accept the gifts, and exchange a few words."

Lu Xunhuan's reception was endless.

He is the prime minister. Apart from the royal family members, who among the ministers has a higher rank than him?

So, even Minister Yu came with gifts.

Your gifts don't have to be expensive, they are just a token of your appreciation and a way to congratulate him.

Of course, those who came to congratulate were not only civil and military officials, but also members of the royal family.

Most of the princes and princesses were rather lazy and disdained to flatter the new prime minister, so only Prince Nuo came, after all, they knew each other before.

Princess Mi'er, as Lu Xunhuan's fiancée, had to abide by the rules and could not visit his mansion before marrying him, so she did not come.

But although she did not come in person, she secretly entrusted Prince Nuo to send a priceless jade pendant as a token of love.

The princes and princesses were rather lazy, but the princes came one after another.

Besides the king, there are nine other sons of the late king still alive.

Lu Xunhuan received and greeted each of them one by one, and recognized them all.

And the prince, of course, did not come.

Lu Xunhuan knew that during the time that the Crown Prince was in Baocheng, he was reprimanded by the Emperor through an imperial edict, which made him lose face. Therefore, the Crown Prince had always been uncomfortable with him.

This can be seen from the prince's attitude when he met him at the city gate.

Lu Xunhuan didn't care. There were too many people coming, and the reception didn't end until the evening. He even hoped that there would be fewer people coming.

What surprised him the most was that two imperial concubines had secretly sent people to deliver gifts.

He couldn't figure out what was going on for the time being, so as usual he accepted the gift, offered good tea, and exchanged pleasantries.

Fortunately, Admiral Guan was always with him at home and helped him deal with many people, otherwise he would have been dizzy.

It was late at night and the Prime Minister's Mansion was closed, and finally no one came today.

Lu Xun Huan let out a long sigh and said to Admiral Guan, "Thanks to you today, otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to handle it."

Admiral Guan smiled and said, "The Prime Minister is a great sage of our Southern Liang State. In the future, he will help Your Majesty to formulate the national development strategy and make our Southern Liang stronger. I am doing a small thing for you, which is not worth mentioning."

Lu Xun Huan sighed, "Shame on you!" and asked, "There should be quite a few concubines in the harem, but only Concubine De and Concubine Yi sent gifts. Is there something mysterious about this?"

Admiral Guan asked, "Can I say something so outrageous as to be uttered in front of the Prime Minister?"

Lu Xunhuan smiled and said, "What's the relationship between you and me? It's okay to talk."

Admiral Guan moved closer to him and whispered, "Your Majesty seems to have a slight cough at the moment, but overall he's in good health. The Crown Prince is over fifty years old."

He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "Everyone says privately that the prince's health doesn't look like he'll live a long life. He's usually lazy, doesn't exercise, and is also lustful..."

Lu Xun Huan nodded and said, "Now I understand what you said. If the Crown Prince unfortunately dies young, then His Majesty must appoint a new Crown Prince. Perhaps Concubine Yi and Concubine De think that my words to His Majesty will be effective."

Admiral Guan said, "Concubine Yi's son is the eighty-eighth prince, Liang Gong, who is only eight years old this year. Concubine De's son is the fifteenth prince, Liang Jie, who is thirty-nine this year."

Lu Xun Huan nodded again: "I understand, but it's best for us, as subjects, not to get involved in matters like this."

Admiral Guan smiled and said, "If the prince really dies young, none of us ministers can stay out of it. We will all be dragged into it. It all depends on who supports whom."

Lu Xun Huan asked, "What do you think?"

Admiral Guan said, "Prime Minister, you should slowly get to know him and understand him. As ministers, we still hope to meet a wise ruler."

Lu Xunhuan nodded: "Okay."