Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Yuyao, Ruhu Water Gate Wharf.

"My lord, if we reveal our identity as Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) and pretend to have urgent official business, we can travel directly from Yuyao along the official road, change horses at the post stations along the way, and gallop all the way to the Qiantang River Water Station in Hangzhou. We can reach it in one day."

Inside the cabin, Qin Fang was reporting to Lu Chen the information he had obtained from the post station.

"Then in Hangzhou, we took an eight-oared fast boat, which went down the Qiantang River and the Fuchun River into the Xin'an River, and then we took a short land transfer to the Yangtze River."

Then they would change to light boats with multiple oars and travel upstream on the Yangtze River, changing oarsmen at the river stations along the way until they reached Wuchang Prefecture. This part of the journey would take five or six days at the fastest and seven or eight days at the slowest.

Upon arriving in Wuchang Prefecture, we landed at Hankou on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

The boats going upstream on the Han River are too slow; it's better to switch to fast horses and travel overland, which will take three days to reach Chengtian Prefecture.

"Today is the nineteenth day of the first lunar month. We'll set off tomorrow. If all goes smoothly, we should arrive in Chengtian Prefecture by the end of the month. Even if there's a slight delay, we should be there by early February."

Lu Chen looked at the simple map he had just drawn on the table. On the map, in addition to the section from Ningbo Prefecture to Chengtian Prefecture, there was also a section from Chengtian Prefecture to the capital.

After deciding to go to Chengtian Prefecture in person to find out the real "Lu Chen", Lu Chen suddenly thought of something.

The only time the Jiajing Emperor left the capital for a southern tour to Chengtian Prefecture after he ascended the throne was apparently in the eighteenth year of his reign!

If the Jiajing Emperor is already there when I arrive at Chengtian Prefecture, I will be at a great disadvantage.

Lu Chen couldn't possibly remember exactly when he set off on this southern tour or when he arrived in Chengtian Prefecture.

But there was one thing that Lu Chen remembered very clearly, and he remembered the exact date.

That was the fire at the Weihui Imperial Palace that occurred during Emperor Jiajing's southern tour.

This event has been described in many historical records, and even in novels and films from another dimension.

This incident is often regarded as an important reason why Lu Bing was able to gain great power later on.

Although the Jiajing Emperor had been cultivating the Lu family father and son, preparing them to take over the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that was all.

Lu Bing braved the raging fire to break down the door and carried the Jiajing Emperor out of the inferno. This act of saving the emperor earned him the honor of being one of the Three Dukes and Three Ministers.

This day was the 28th day of the second month of the 18th year of the Jiajing reign.

With this timeline, Emperor Jiajing would have arrived in Chengtian Prefecture at least three months prior.

There's still time!

"Qin Fang, you and the men will set sail tomorrow, taking the silver and goods on board to Yangzhou. In Yangzhou, you will transfer to a cargo ship. Once you arrive in Linqing, store everything in the warehouse first, and I will deal with it when I return."

Lu Chen thought for a moment and quickly made a decision.

"I set off lightly and rushed to Chengtian Prefecture as quickly as possible."

I will use my identity as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard on this trip; no villain will dare to make a move.

After speaking, Lu Chen patted the 27-pound Broken Mountain Blade.

"Don't worry, even if you encounter someone who doesn't know what's good for them, they will become a dead soul under this blade."

Going to Chengtian Prefecture, who knows what unspeakable things might happen? It would be best to go alone.

. . .

February 4th.

Chengtian Prefecture, on the east bank of the Gongtang River, within the Lu Family Manor.

"My lord, Wang and her son Lu Chen have been living a secluded life for many years, almost never leaving the manor. Those who know them are mostly people from the manor."

The steward of the estate pointed to a new grave and said to Lu Chen,

"This is Wang's tomb. Lu Chen is a filial son. After his mother passed away two years ago, he came to the tomb to pay his respects every day."

It wasn't until early April of last year that he received a letter from his stepmother in the capital, saying that Lu Kun was seriously ill and that he, the illegitimate son who had been left in his hometown for eighteen years, needed to go to the capital to take care of him.

Lu Chen packed his luggage and left Chengtian Prefecture.

This child has grown up and has hardly ever left the village. This time, I had to take him to the government office to get the travel permit for his trip.

This time, however, he has to travel all the way to the capital alone. It's a wonder that Lu Kun, that ugly thing, can bear to do it. Isn't he afraid that something might happen to Lu Chen on the way?

Now, more than half a year has passed, and Lu Chen hasn't even sent back a single letter to let me know he's safe. I wonder if he's still alright.

The real "Lu Chen" died in that shady inn before he even left Xiangyang Prefecture.

Hearing the manager say this, Lu Chen felt a pang of sadness.

With Lu Chen's travel permit in hand, along with the talisman of the Jinyiwei captain, Lu Chen found the real "Lu Chen's" address on the second day after arriving in Chengtian Prefecture.

It turns out that the real "Lu Chen" and his birth mother, Wang, have been living in this estate belonging to the Lu Song family for many years.

Although they lived a secluded life and rarely left the village, the people there still recognized them.

Lu Chen was certainly not foolish enough to impersonate the real "Lu Chen" in front of someone who knew him. Instead, he directly used his identity as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the pretext of official business to find the steward of the estate and inquire about Wang Shi and Lu Chen and his mother.

Lu Chen had no intention of solidifying his identity as "Lu Chen"; even a fool could tell that it was impossible.

Chengtian Prefecture is, after all, the place where the real "Lu Chen" grew up. No matter how secluded he is, there must be some people who know him.

The most important purpose of this trip is to find out the relationship between the real "Lu Chen" and Lu Song and Lu Bing.

Lu Kun was the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital. It was already very abnormal that he had left his illegitimate son Lu Chen and his concubine Wang Shi in Chengtian Prefecture for so many years.

Now, learning from the steward that Wang Shi and her son Lu Chen have been living in seclusion for years, it's even stranger.

"You just called Lu Kun an 'ugly thing'?"

Lu Chen sensed something unusual in the steward's words.

Regardless of the circumstances, Lu Kun was a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a seventh-rank military officer.

But when the steward mentioned Lu Kun, he showed no respect whatsoever. He even made fun of Lu Kun's appearance in front of him, a member of the Imperial Guard.

"Please don't be offended, sir. I just happen to say it casually."

As expected of the steward of the Lu Song and Lu Bing family estate, this man clearly lacks any respect for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Lu Kun and the old man are very familiar with each other. Back then, he was the manager of this manor."

After Lu Kun went to the capital with the head of the family, I took over the position of steward.

Back then, among all the stewards of the Lu family, Lu Kun was indeed the ugliest one; everyone in the Lu family knew that.

This man, precisely because of his ugly face, unexpectedly benefited from this misfortune and married the great beauty Wang as his concubine.

"So, it turns out that Lu Chen's birth mother, Madam Wang, was actually a great beauty!"

Lu Chen glanced back at the new grave not far away, his heart filled with doubt.

How did Lu Kun manage to marry her?

"That's why they say it's a blessing in disguise."

The steward also turned to look at Wang's tomb.

"Back then, this Wang was a maidservant by the master's side. Unfortunately, she offended the master for some reason and was given to Lu Kun in a fit of anger. She was also ordered to be a concubine and not to be promoted to the principal wife."

"The only reason such good fortune fell into Lu Kun's lap is because of his ugly face!"