Martial Cultivator

Lu Xin did not keep him guessing and smiled as he said, "Before I even had the chance to bring up Lord Warden Commander, the Old Family Head took the initiative himself. He declared that the Lu Family's entire profit for this year would be handed over. Not only that, but every branch of the family would also contribute eighty percent of its available funds to the court." "I had even prepared quite a speech. But the play I planned had just started and I barely had time to start performing before I was driven right back off."

Chen Chao frowned. After thinking for a moment, he finally said, "Old Master Lu is truly righteous."

He had gone through Lu Yin's records before. From what he remembered, Lu Yin had never seemed like this sort of person.

Lu Xin continued, "As for the rest, with the Lu Family taking the lead, the other great families in the Divine Capital will more or less contribute some money as well. But they certainly won't be as generous as the Lu Family."

"That's only natural. As the old saying goes, the hardest thing in this world is taking money out of someone else's pocket. As long as they contribute something, that's enough. Let them follow their conscience."

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and smiled. "If the imperial court didn't truly need the money, this official wouldn't want to play the villain. My reputation at court isn't particularly good to begin with. Now that this official has stirred up this matter among the great families as well, who knows whether the history books will have even a few kind words to say about me."

Lu Xin smiled. "Does Lord Warden Commander actually care about that?"

"Not particularly, just said it in passing."

Chen Chao rubbed his head and sighed. "Originally, this sort of thing should've been left to Nandu. She would've handled it with ease. But the Northern Frontier needs her just as much right now, so this official had no choice but to do it myself."

Lu Xin looked at Chen Chao without saying anything, though there was a faint smile in his eyes.

Chen Chao turned back to look at Lu Xin and smiled. "There's something I can tell you frankly. If the imperial court survives this crisis, your Lu Family will certainly receive some benefits. There'll be plenty of businesses the imperial court can entrust to you. But don't take that as a certainty for now, because no one can say whether we'll make it through."

Lu Xin shook his head. "The Lu Family isn't doing all this for that."

"You may not be doing it for those reasons, but once you've done these things, there should naturally be a return. One good turn deserves another. It's a simple principle. I'm sure you understand."

Chen Chao rubbed his cheeks and smiled. "Nothing should ever be taken for granted. The imperial court can't take things for granted, and neither can you. Only then will this world keep getting better."

Lu Xin thought for a moment before saying, "I've learned something."

Chen Chao smiled and did not speak.

After chatting with the future head of the Lu Family for another half an hour, Lu Xin turned and stepped out of the carriage. But after picking up his lantern, this young business prodigy did not leave immediately. Instead, he asked earnestly, "Lord Warden Commander, can we really win?"

The same question had crossed many people's minds, but very few ever had the chance to stand before Chen Chao and ask it outright.

Silence filled the carriage for a long time.

Lu Xin thought Chen Chao could not answer the question. He merely smiled and turned to leave.

But at that moment, Chen Chao's voice came from inside the carriage.

"The answer is like the lantern in your hand. It can't illuminate very much, but at least it lets you see the road ahead. We may lose. Or perhaps we'll be just like that lantern, able only to light up the tiny patch around us, unable to compare with the daylight that illuminates everything."

"If that's the case, then what's the point of all our efforts?"

Chen Chao smiled. "If we already know we can't illuminate everyone or change everything, then why do we keep insisting on doing it?"

"Is it because no one will care about what we've done?"

Looking at the lantern in his hand, Lu Xin murmured, "Yes... then why do it?"

From inside the carriage, Chen Chao smiled and said, "Because those who are illuminated will care."

"What this official is even more afraid of is that if even this lantern is gone, then the next time you walk on the road at night, you won't be able to see anything at all."

......

......

The carriage slowly left the long street. There was now a coachman, Weng Quan.

The current deputy commander of the Left Guard wore a gloomy expression, completely unlike his usual lively self.

Through the curtain, Chen Chao asked, "What is it? Didn't get enough to eat the last time you had dinner at your Second Uncle's house? Why the long face?"

Though he was joking, Chen Chao really wasn't used to seeing Weng Quan this dejected.

After all, this fellow was someone even more talkative than Yu Xiyi. He shouldn't have been like this.

Weng Quan gritted his teeth and asked, "Sir, can this subordinate go to the Northern Frontier?"

The moment Weng Quan asked, Chen Chao understood. Most likely, this fellow wanted to go to the Northern Frontier, but his Second Uncle had stopped him, which was why he looked so miserable.

Chen Chao raised an eyebrow. "If you go to the Northern Frontier, who's going to handle everything here in the Divine Capital?"

"There will always be someone capable to do it. This subordinate wants to go north and kill demons. I want to do my part for the court!"

Weng Quan took a deep breath. "As long as you give the order, this subordinate can leave the city tonight!"

Chen Chao said nothing, merely looked at Weng Quan quietly.

After waiting a long while without hearing a response, Weng Quan was just about to speak when Chen Chao slowly said, "What's the hurry? When it's your turn to go north, you won't be able to avoid it. When that time comes, even if you want to live, you won't."

Weng Quan hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

Chen Chao said, "If I were you, I'd hurry up and find yourself a wife and leave behind an heir. Otherwise, if you die in the north, there won't even be anyone to burn a few sheets of paper money for you from afar during Qingming."

Weng Quan shook his head. "If I'm destined to die in the north, then I'd rather not put someone else through that. Just thinking about making the girl I like become a widow makes this subordinate feel awful. I'd rather she marry someone else and live out her life peacefully."

Chen Chao sighed with emotion. "I never thought that brain of yours could come up with something like that."

Weng Quan chuckled. "That's just how it is. If you like a girl, how could you bear to see her suffer? You'd wish all the suffering would fall on yourself, while that girl only enjoys the good things in life."

Chen Chao glanced at Weng Quan and said, "So you've decided you're going to marry an old lady? And spend every day massaging her feet and shoulders?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. There's no problem with that, right?"

That had indeed been Weng Quan's thinking, but hearing Chen Chao put it that way left him feeling a little uncertain.

Chen Chao shook his head. "That's not how it works. When two people are together, each thinks about the other. Waiting only for someone else to do everything for you, or only doing everything for someone else, neither is right."

Weng Quan let out an "Oh," still looking confused. A fellow like him could never quite understand the intricacies of such matters. He simply committed Chen Chao's words to memory before curiously asking, "Your Excellency, you've been with Miss Xie for so many years now. Why haven't you gotten married yet?"

Before Chen Chao could answer, the carriage came to a stop.

They had arrived at the Xie Family's residence. The Xie Family had already received word of their arrival, but this time the main gate had not been thrown open. Chen Chao's late-night visit was obviously not something meant for others to know.

Chen Chao stepped out of the carriage, glanced toward the Xie Family's residence, and only then said, "This official is also afraid of making the girl I love become a widow too."