Chapter 308: Chapter 308: The Du Yuru Family Visits
A few days later.
Lu Zheng had just finished having lunch with Liu Qingyan at Renxin Hall and was leisurely heading back home to take a nap under the persimmon tree in the backyard.
As he turned into Tongyi Lane, he saw a carriage parked at his doorstep.
"What’s going on?" Lu Zheng blinked, then suddenly realized the carriage looked familiar.
"Young Master Lu is back!"
A shout interrupted Lu Zheng’s thoughts, and he saw a man dressed in strong clothes emerge from the doorway.
"Is it you?" Lu Zheng exclaimed in surprise.
This man was one of the escorts from the Du family’s mother and daughter whom Lu Zheng had rescued from the World in the Painting on his way from White Cloud Temple to the Jinhua Sect.
"Indeed, it’s me!"
The man quickly bowed with a smile on his face, "I heard the Young Master was back, so my master immediately set out from Yizhou Prefecture to thank you personally. Please forgive the intrusion!"
"No, not at all! Thank you, thank you!"
Lu Zheng waved his hand while following him into his own home. "But, how did you know I returned?"
Lu Zheng wasn’t surprised that Du Yuru could find him since he had reported the address at the time. He was just curious how they managed to find him so quickly.
After all, he told them that he would be back in ten days, and to be on the safe side, they should have come later than that.
Yet, he had only been back for three days, and they had already arrived at his doorstep. From the description by this man...
They must have received the news on the very first day of his return.
The man blinked, scratched his head, looked a bit embarrassed, chuckled, but didn’t answer.
Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows.
If they had stationed someone nearby to keep an eye on him, it shouldn’t be something difficult to say, right?
"Young Master Lu!"
As soon as Lu Zheng stepped inside, he saw Du Yuru and his wife in front, Du Yueyao behind, and Uncle Li accompanying them, all coming to greet him.
"Mr. Du! Madam Du! Miss Du!"
Lu Zheng returned their salute, and then led them back to the front hall.
"When did Mr. Du arrive?" Lu Zheng took his seat at the main position. "I’m sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Not long, we just arrived." Du Yuru shook his head smilingly, picking up a teacup. "I never expected Young Master Lu’s residence to be so elegant. It’s been a real eye-opener."
"I just want a comfortable living space, it’s not worthy of much praise, please forgive me."
Ever since visiting Zhuozheng Garden, Lu Zheng had been tidying up his home when he had time. Though he had no small bridges or flowing waters, he planted various types of trees and arranged pavilions and stone paths.
Furthermore, the calligraphy in the central hall was hand-painted by Lu Zheng. The incense burners, potted plants, and vases were exquisite replica antique decorations brought from the modern world. The tea sets for entertaining guests were modern top-quality Yixing clay products, and everything looked exquisite and costly upon inspection.
Had the status of the Du family not been extraordinary, they might have felt compelled to retreat due to inferiority.
Du Yuru couldn’t help but laugh, "Young Master Lu is truly humble, these items are as exquisite as those in the homes of some nobles."
Lu Zheng laughed and then instructed Uncle Li to prepare some fruit and snacks, and also provide for the guards and servants resting in the side rooms.
Uncle Li responded and quickly ran off.
"You are too kind..."
Just as Du Yuru finished speaking, Uncle Li and Aunt Liu had already brought in the prepared snacks.
Rice-flavored village delicacies, along with sliced apples and peeled oranges.
"Hiss——"
Du Yuru drew in a sharp breath; it was early spring, and where did these fresh fruits come from?
Even if preserved over winter, they wouldn’t be so fresh and tender, right?
"Please!"
"Young Master Lu is indeed extraordinary, truly an eye-opener!" Du Yuru couldn’t help but sigh.
After a brief pause, Du Yuru bowed and said, "When we met on the roadside that day, the situation was pressing, and I had not mentioned to Young Master that I am the newly appointed Prefect of Yizhou Prefecture. I was on my way to assume office on that day when you saved us, for which I am immensely grateful."
"The Prefect of Yizhou?" Lu Zheng was indeed a bit surprised and returned the courtesy, "Mr... Prefect, you’re too kind. To stand up for justice when faced with injustice is what I’ve done, any further gratitude is unnecessary."
The highest-ranking civil official he had met before was the County Magistrate of Tonglin County, and of course, the Governor of the Prefecture from the Anomaly Suppression Bureau held a high rank but was not within the same system as local officials.
However, coming from the modern world, Lu Zheng was broad-minded and, being young, naturally lacked the deep respect for most officials, except for those in modern high positions.
That’s how things are in the modern world, let alone in the ancient realm of the Great Jing Dynasty, not to mention he was already a cultivator, so while his words were respectful, his expression remained unchanged.
This composure and ease only made Du Yuru regard him more highly.
"Young Master Lu is not part of the officialdom. You can just call me Mr." Du Yuru laughed, then pondered and asked expectantly, "Young Master Lu dedicates himself to cultivation, but do you have any plans for examination and entering officialdom in the future?"
"Not interested." Lu Zheng decisively shook his head.
Du Yuru and his wife exchanged a glance; Madam Du nodded, and Du Yuru didn’t mind, saying, "Indeed, official duties are plentiful and inevitably interfere with cultivation. Young Master Lu has profound Dao Practice, making the official status insignificant."
Lu Zheng smiled without answering.
But he roughly understood why after saving Du Yuru’s family that day, he received the Light of Fortune.
Being a Prefect of a prefecture, Du Yuru naturally possessed a significant amount of Light of Fortune.
Moreover, in the Great Jing Dynasty, the military, Anomaly Bureau, City God Temple, and other offices are martial departments ensuring the stability of the realm, while the civil servant system manages the populace, forming the foundation of the Great Jing Dynasty.
Thus, despite not cultivating, the civil servant system’s status isn’t low at all. If one achieves great merit, they can even be worshipped at the City God Temple after death, enjoying incense there, effectively extending life for a hundred years.
Of course, since it’s a Xianxia World, those with lineage or high Dao Practice hold certain conveniences in their actions.
"Does Young Master Lu live alone?" Madam Du took an apple handed by her daughter and asked Lu Zheng while eating.
Lu Zheng nodded, "I live alone."
Du Yueyao’s eyes brightened slightly, the corners of her lips lifting.
Madam Du smiled, "I thought Young Master Lu must be married already, considering you are not young anymore."
Lu Zheng blinked, thinking Madam Du was like a modern aunt trying to set him up with someone for a blind date, so he laughed and replied, "I already have a fiancée."
"Ah?" Madam Du was taken aback.
"What?" Du Yueyao’s face instantly went pale.
"Hmm?"
Du Yueyao had been keeping her emotions restrained, hidden deep down, so Lu Zheng hadn’t noticed anything before, but now her heart raced suddenly, her face changed drastically, revealing to Lu Zheng that something was off.
Could it be? No way! Has this young lady taken a liking to me?
Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows, mocking internally.
Although Du Yueyao was graceful and poised, with a gentle temperament, clearly an educated and cultured young lady of noble family.
However, they had only met once, and her presence was so subtle that Lu Zheng hardly paid her any mind, not to mention having any impression or thoughts about her.
Seriously, could this be a case of love at first sight?