Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 313 Double Ninth Festival

There was no news from Lu Zheng during this period, and Mi Gu thought that something had happened to the two of them on the way.

He felt relieved only when he saw Lu Zheng and the others arrived safely in Yongzhou City.

Lu Zheng was not surprised at all to learn that someone had bad intentions towards him.

He asked calmly, "Who wants to attack me?"

Mi Gu said darkly, "I've sent people to investigate. Someone is secretly spreading rumors that they're willing to pay a large sum for you. There were even letters sent to me urging me to get rid of you... It's unclear who's behind this, but I'm afraid some people are tempted."

Mi Gu added, "But you don't have to worry. In Yongzhou City, under my watchful eyes, those people dare not act recklessly."

Lu Zheng nodded upon hearing this, "Thank you, Mi City God, for the reminder."

"Hey, it's just a small matter." Mi Gu looked at Lu Zheng and said with a smile, "Come to think of it, aren't you really afraid that I will join forces with someone to harm you?"

Seeing that Lu Zheng had not changed at all after hearing these things, Mi Gu couldn't help but feel that Lu Zheng was a little too bold.

Lu Zheng simply smiled and said, "Mi Cheng Huang is a smart man, he would naturally not engage in such activities. Besides, I still have some means of self-protection. If I had been afraid of those villains hiding in the shadows, I would not have gotten to where I am today."

If he doesn't even dare to come to a small city like Yongzhou, how can he talk about saving the world?
Mi Gu laughed heartily upon hearing this and said with emotion, "Young people are truly fearless! Come on, come on, you've all had a hard time coming here. Come in, have a seat, have a cup of spiritual tea, and let's chat slowly."

Mi Gu led the way, and the group entered a spacious living room, where they were served by Zhao Ming and there were no other attendants.

Mi Gu said leisurely, "By the way, a few days ago, a case was brought to me from Yu County, alleging that you had crippled a Qi-refining practitioner from an immortal sect. Is this true?"

"That's true." Lu Zheng nodded.

Mi Gu said, "You are still too impulsive. Those immortal sect cultivators are not bound by the law. What you did is tantamount to offending an immortal sect."

Lu Zheng said calmly, "It's just the Wanjian Sect. I've never even heard of it. Could it be that it's so powerful? Even the Mi City God has to give in to them?"

Mi Gu couldn't help but look serious. How could he show weakness at a time like this? He still had to save face.

Mi Gu said, "It's just an outside force. Why would I be afraid of it? It's just that those Qi cultivators don't follow the rules. If you offend them, they'll be as annoying as flies..."

Seeing that Lu Zheng didn't care, Mi Gu didn't say much.

He raised his hand, took out a stack of papers, and threw them in front of Lu Zheng with a wave of his hand.

Mi Gu smiled and said, "This is the proposed project plan. Do you have any additions or inappropriate points? It just so happens that most of the local gods have come to Yongzhou City. After the Double Ninth Festival, we can assign tasks to them."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng picked up the planned engineering book and slowly flipped through it.

Ling Long, who was sitting next to him, saw this and couldn't help but look at Mi Gu and said with a smile: "Uncle Mi, I have something I want to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?" Mi Gu asked.

Ling Long then expressed his plan to obtain the naming rights of several places.

Mi Gu suddenly looked embarrassed, "Ling Long, this is not easy to handle. It's not that I'm too selfish, but once this door is opened, others will do the same, and it will be difficult to divide it then..."

Ling Long said: "I can pay."

Mi Gu said seriously, "This isn't a question of money. This kind of thing can't be delayed. I'm going to cut the Gordian knot and get things done quickly... Ling Long, you'll need to put in more effort then. Don't worry, you'll definitely get some benefits."

"This naming thing still involves a lot of risks. Some local gods and families, as well as certain beings above, may not be happy to see this happen. I'll bear the consequences alone. After all, I'm the City God of Yongzhou."

Mi Gu was worried that his superiors would not agree with this matter, so he planned to complete the construction of those projects as quickly as possible.

By the time certain gods and officials react, it will probably be too late to object. You can't just demolish those projects that benefit the people, right?
Hearing what Mi Gu said, Ling Long's mouth twitched.

I didn’t realize it before, but it turns out Mi Gu is quite thick-skinned.

One person bears the consequences? What kind of consequences?
Is it to be cursed for a while, and then bear the good reputation that will be passed down to future generations?

Linglong really wanted to say that gods should not be too selfish, but then he thought that Mi Gu was right.

If this matter is not completed quickly, and there are too many voices of opposition, it will be impossible to implement it, which will be counterproductive.

Ling Long had no choice but to say, "Uncle Mi is absolutely right. Ling Long supports you. At least within my Jingshui River Basin, the construction of those water conservancy projects will be accelerated."

"Okay, okay." Mi Gu smiled slightly, "If I collect more incense offerings in the future, I will naturally have your share."

Ling Long smiled and said, "I heard that Uncle Mi's treasury has a lot of treasures?"

The smile on Mi Gu's face faded a little, but he still waved his hand generously, "If it succeeds, you can go to the treasury and choose a few treasures at will."

If you don't take off your shoes, you won't be able to catch the wolf.

Mi Gu was already prepared to spend a lot of money on construction, so he didn't lack this.

"Thank you very much, uncle." Linglong said with a smile.

The two chatted there for a while about family matters and some new things happening in various parts of Chu State.

After a while, Lu Zheng finished reading the plan and made some suggestions.

Mi Gu asked Zhao Ming to correct the record, with a smile on his face, "Lu Zheng, you are really a talented person, but it's a pity that you are not from my Chu country. If I could keep you by my side to give me advice, we can both rise to prominence!"

Lu Zheng smiled faintly, "Thank you for the compliment, City God Mi."

Mi Gu smiled and said, "You just arrived and must have been tired from the journey. You still need to rest. I also have to busy myself with the preparations before the sacrifice. Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. Let's go outside the city to worship heaven and earth together..." Mi Gu ordered Zhao Ming to take Lu Zheng and others to rest.

Zhao Ming led Lu Zheng and Qing Wan to a prepared guest room, which was a unique courtyard.

When they arrived, Zhao Ming said, "Your Excellency's residence is very safe, you two don't have to worry about anything... But if you want to go out, you still have to be careful."

Zhao Ming paused, then lowered his voice and said, "There are gods and people in Yongzhou City who harbor ill will towards you, Master Lu. Be careful and vigilant."

As a local judge in Yongzhou, he had a clear understanding of certain local gods and people.

"Thank you for the reminder, Judge Zhao." Lu Zheng turned and asked, "If someone really attacked me and I fought back and killed them, would that be considered self-defense?"

Zhao Ming's expression changed, and he could only say: "This is the State of Chu."

Lu Zheng smiled and nodded when he heard this, "I understand."

This is the State of Chu. Whether it is self-defense or not is of course up to the officials of Chu to decide.

If there really was a righteous god of high status who died at the hands of Lu Zheng, even if Lu Zheng was right, even Mi Gu would probably be in a difficult position and would not stand on Lu Zheng's side.

Laws are made by humans, and judgments are also decided by humans.

Therefore, even perfect laws cannot achieve absolute fairness and justice.

What's more, the laws of the Chu State still favor those in power.

Zhao Ming said, "You two should take a good rest. If you want to leave, please inform the servants in the mansion."

Lu Zheng asked, "I heard that offering sacrifices to the heavens are necessary. Do we need to go out as well?"

Zhao Mingdao said, "If you two are willing, you can bring out some things and offer them on the altar tomorrow... Of course, since you two are guests from outside, it doesn't matter if you don't offer any sacrifices."

Lu Zhengdao: "No requirements for sacrifices?"

Zhao Ming smiled and said, "Anything is fine. It all depends on your personal preference. Some offerings will be returned to the individual after the sacrifice. After all, the heaven and earth will not really take the offerings away. However, when offering sacrifices to the heaven, the spiritual energy of the offerings will be depleted due to the ritual, so we mostly prepare one-time consumable spiritual objects and will not really use our own treasures as sacrifices..."

"I see." Lu Zheng nodded. "Thank you, Judge Zhao, for clearing up my confusion. We won't go out today. Let's spend some time preparing some gifts so we can participate in the sacrifice tomorrow."

"Okay." Zhao Ming turned and left the courtyard.

Lu Zheng and Qing Wan entered the room, and then used the formation plate to set up a formation to prevent outsiders from prying.

Then, the two entered the Wen Palace space.

Arriving in the Wen Palace courtyard, Qing Wan took a few deep breaths, her eyes sparkling as she said, "It's still more comfortable here!"

In Yongzhou City, Qing Wan always felt uncomfortable all over, and there was an atmosphere that made her uncomfortable.

Qing Wan jumped a few times, and immediately felt refreshed. She looked up and asked Lu Zhengdao, "What kind of sacrifice should we prepare?"

"It's up to you." Lu Zheng smiled, "As long as you think it's good."

Qing Wan couldn't help scratching her head when she heard that, and frowned as she thought about it.

Lu Zhengze walked towards the Wen Palace. Inside the main hall, the new poem was suspended in the strange vision of heaven and earth, slowly absorbing the righteous energy.

Lu Zheng took a careful look at it and felt that if this book was slowly nourished by the spirit of righteousness, it could really make up for the initial lack of literary spirit and become a complete classic.

……

Early the next morning, Lu Zheng and Qing Wan stood in the yard, facing the rising sun and breathing in and out to nourish their energy.

Lu Zheng held the Su Wu Festival in his hand. Under the influence of the Su Wu Festival, the Shinto pressure in Yongzhou City had no effect on the two of them at all.

Lu Zheng looked at the rising sun and murmured, "It's the Double Ninth Festival. Today, the yang energy between heaven and earth is indeed stronger than usual."

"Yes, yes, it feels very warm!" Qing Wan nodded heavily.

If it were ordinary ghosts, the Double Ninth Festival would make them feel uncomfortable and they would not wander around.

After they basked in the sun for a while, Zhao Ming came over and knocked on the door. "Please follow me out of the city. The City God has already left..."

Lu Zheng and Qing Wan left the courtyard and saw Ling Long waiting for them outside.

Lu Zheng raised his hand and took out two exquisite wooden boxes, one large and one small.

Lu Zhengdao said, "This is what we prepared. Please ask Judge Zhao to take it for the sacrifice later."

"No problem!" Zhao Ming put it away without even looking at what was inside.

Ling Long, who was standing next to him, became interested and asked, "What have you prepared?"

"A book." Lu Zheng said.

"Beans!" Qing Wan said excitedly.

Qing Wan thought about it for a long time before deciding to prepare a small box of the best peas, hoping that God would help turn those peas into beans that could be used as medicine.

(End of this chapter)