Chapter 525: Chapter 287: Just as I Expected, a Great Naval Victory

Su Liyan was certainly well-endowed. For the average man, the sight of such large, round assets on her slender, willow-like frame was a significant temptation.

Su Liyan knew that the old man had been staring at the daughter in her arms.

Jolted by Su Liyan’s words, the old man said apologetically, "My lady, I am truly sorry. I was not..."

Su Liyan cut him off. "Enough. It’s not that I’m trying to be impolite, but at your age, what are you doing staring at a mother and her child!"

Seeing his own master getting a talking-to from Su Liyan, Daoist Longchuan was about to speak up and mediate.

A single glance from Su Liyan was enough to make him back down.

Daoist Longchuan instinctively covered his face with his hands and recoiled.

The old man wasn’t offended. He smiled and said, "My lady, to be perfectly honest, your daughter is a true prodigy of cultivation. With guidance from an expert, she could one day achieve immortality."

"An expert? Immortality? Oh, I know~" Su Liyan said airily.

The old man nodded, thinking Su Liyan had agreed.

Su Liyan then continued, "Daoist Longchuan, I haven’t seen you in a while. Where did you find this old character? Starting to swindle people for no good reason!"

Daoist Longchuan swallowed nervously and said, "This Daoist is the long-renowned master of Taoism, Daoist Quanyi, also known as the ’Hidden Immortal’!"

As she listened to Daoist Longchuan’s introduction, Su Liyan felt like she’d heard the name Daoist Quanyi somewhere before, but she couldn’t place it.

Daoist Quanyi chuckled. "That’s just a nickname people in our circles have given me. I haven’t become an immortal yet."

’He hasn’t even become an immortal himself, so how could he possibly teach someone else to become one?’

Su Liyan didn’t buy it. After giving a brief nod while holding Lu Ruyan, she turned to leave.

"My lady!"

Daoist Quanyi reached out to stop her.

Su Liyan’s aura flared as she snapped, "Are you trying to kidnap a child in broad daylight?"

Passersby on the street stopped to watch, each wondering what was going on.

A sudden, frigid wind kicked up, making Daoist Quanyi’s and Daoist Longchuan’s robes whip about.

Struck by the sinister wind, the passersby covered their faces with their sleeves and hurried away with their heads lowered.

Daoist Longchuan clasped his hands to steady himself and pleaded, "We’re all friends here. Let’s not do anything to spoil the peace."

"Master, you have to explain!"

Daoist Quanyi, however, wore a relaxed smile, completely unaffected.

Daoist Longchuan was growing frantic.

If there wasn’t an explanation soon, he was afraid the two of them would come to blows, and he wouldn’t know whose side to take.

"Hey, why are you being such a shameless old codger? What do you want, pestering my daughter and me?" Su Liyan’s tone grew sharp.

The old Daoist chuckled. "My lady, are you sure you won’t consider letting your daughter come with me to cultivate immortality?"

Su Liyan cursed inwardly, ’Cultivate my ass! Why is this old geezer so damn persistent? My brother could teach my daughter. Wouldn’t he be better than this guy?’

Seeing that her intimidation tactics weren’t working and not wanting to cause a scene on the bustling street, Su Liyan said:

"It’s truly inconvenient today. Find me on Prince’s Mansion Street another day. If you can defeat me then, I will consider sending Ruyan to you to learn your Techniques."

Only then did Daoist Quanyi relent. "My lady, we have a deal. I will be sure to visit your residence on another day."

With that, Su Liyan was finally rid of the two Daoists. She walked off into the distance, holding Lu Ruyan.

Daoist Longchuan, puzzled, asked, "I have to ask, Master, why are we so insistent on her daughter?"

The old man, Daoist Quanyi, said, "Ah, Longchuan, you can’t see it. That little girl is extraordinarily gifted. Her future potential is limitless."

Daoist Longchuan naturally couldn’t perceive the profundity of it all, but he had absolute faith in his master’s words.

This old Daoist known as the "Hidden Immortal" was indeed the real deal.

After all, he had enabled the aged Daoist Longchuan to break through from the initial stage of the Grand Celestial Master realm to the Great Celestial Master Perfection Realm in just a single year.

Under a pavilion in the Imperial Capital, Emperor Gu Yuanzhang spoke. "Yue’Er, it’s getting late. Why don’t you accompany your mother back to her chambers to rest."

Gu Ziye glanced at Lu Yuan beside her, pouting. "Father, you wouldn’t happen to have a little secret you’re keeping from Mother and me, would you?"

The Emperor clicked his tongue. "I have matters to discuss with Lu Yuan!"

Lu Yuan looked at Gu Ziye and gave her a meaningful glance. "Princess, you should do as His Majesty the Emperor says."

Gu Ziye stood up and twirled, her long, crimson dress perfectly accentuating her figure.

Gu Ziye came up behind Lu Yuan, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Yuan~" she said playfully, "I still like it better when you call me Yue’Er!"

The scent of an exotic perfume drifted into Lu Yuan’s nostrils.

Lu Yuan instinctively reached out, wanting to give her ass a couple of squeezes.

But a glance at the Emperor made Lu Yuan restrain his wandering hand.

If they were at home, Lu Yuan would have definitely had his way with her.

Lu Yuan coughed lightly and scratched his head, thinking, ’She doesn’t know how to restrain herself at all, even in front of her own parents. She almost made me lose my composure.’

After Empress Ma and Gu Ziye had left, the Emperor’s expression grew cold. He addressed Lu Yuan with great seriousness.

"I am aware of your capabilities. I have already given you my daughter’s hand in marriage. Do you intend to remain a mere Fourth Grade Prefect of Dongchang?"

Lu Yuan was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. He wondered, ’What does this have to do with marrying Yue’Er? Is it impossible for a Fourth Grade official to marry the Princess of the Current Dynasty?’

Lu Yuan had always been wary of the Emperor. He was afraid that if he served as one of his officials, something terrible might happen to him.

The Emperor spoke with the utmost sincerity. "The Court is in dire need of capable men. I hope you can help alleviate my worries and resolve our difficulties."

Since the Emperor had put it that way, Lu Yuan could hardly refuse and cause him to lose face.

Lu Yuan stood and saluted with cupped fists. "If there is anything Your Majesty requires of me, you need only give the word."

The Emperor wore a stern expression. "I know that making you a Civil Servant is beneath you. Why not become one of the Military Generals? I will enfeoff you as a Grand General."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan dropped to his knees with a THUD.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Emperor asked, perplexed.

Lu Yuan thought, ’If you want to kill me, just say so. Why beat around the bush? Becoming one of your Military Generals would be a death wish.’

Lu Yuan kowtowed. "Your Majesty, to be perfectly honest, while I possess some Martial Arts, I have no idea how to lead troops in battle. Please, I beg Your Majesty to allow me to live as a wealthy, idle man."

To say Lu Yuan didn’t know how to command troops was merely an excuse. The truth was, Lu Yuan possessed two Secret Manuals: *Military God: Volume 1* and *Military God: Volume 2*.

The Emperor was already mentally prepared for Lu Yuan’s rejection.

"So be it," the Emperor said. "If that is the case, I will not force you. Rise!"

Lu Yuan suspected the Emperor had either run into some difficulty or was planning a major move.

"Lu Yuan, I will not hide this from you. A few days ago, the Ministry of Justice submitted a report," Emperor Gu Yuanzhang said, taking a sip of tea before continuing. "Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, is suspected of colluding with the Japanese. I have dispatched him to suppress the pirates at sea, but I fear he will only make a superficial effort."

As the two were conversing, a eunuch approached the outside of the pavilion with small, mincing steps.

The Emperor beckoned for the old eunuch outside the pavilion to enter.

The old eunuch entered, presented an urgent eight-hundred-li dispatch to the Emperor, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty, this is a report from the front lines. Please review it!"

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang took the report from the old eunuch’s hands. It was wrapped in imperial yellow cloth and secured with a clay seal.

The Emperor broke the seal, unfurled the report, and began to read.

A slight tremor ran across the Emperor’s face, and an imperceptible flicker crossed his eyes. He then calmly passed the report to Lu Yuan.

’Is this something I’m allowed to see?’ Lu Yuan thought, hesitating to take it.

The Emperor guessed Lu Yuan’s hesitation. He bounced the report in his hand and said, "It’s the report from the front lines. Just as I expected—a great victory at sea!"

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