Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 353 Imperial Preceptor Meng Chi

Murong Jing, holding his wine cup, circled the hall, looking at the civil and military officials, and lowered his voice:

"Several southern Yue tribes are eyeing me covetously. It's easy for me to get into this position, but it's difficult to stay in it."

If I make a mistake, those people below could lose their lives.

Lin Chen glanced at him but didn't reply immediately.

Murong Jing drank another cup, his face flushed slightly, and he became more talkative:

"So all these years, I've only done one thing: to ensure the people of Nanzhao have enough to eat and to keep them from causing trouble."

As long as the people are not hungry, who would have nothing better to do than rebel?

"Those corrupt officials, none of them will live under my nose."

He tapped the table, his tone resolute:

"Although Nanzhao is poor, no one dares to take dirty money. If anyone does, I will personally cut them off."

Lin Chen nodded and picked up his wine glass:

"My father-in-law is a wise ruler; I toast to you."

Murong Jing laughed heartily, clinked glasses with him, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out:

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

"Eat up! Try this grilled fish. Our Nanzhao way of cooking it is different from your Dayan way..."

Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.

It was very light, but every step was firm.

An old man walked in, wearing a gray Taoist robe, with gray hair, a thin face, and high cheekbones.

But he was in excellent spirits, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the hall like an X-ray.

Meng Chi, the national teacher of Nanzhao.

Late stage of Grandmaster.

We've been stuck at this juncture for almost twenty years.

He was the person with the highest cultivation level in Nanzhao outside of the Holy Temple, and also the pillar of Nanzhao's stability.

As soon as he entered, the noise inside the hall subsided by half.

Several ministers instinctively sat up straight, as if they were students meeting their headmaster.

Murong Jing's eyes lit up, and he stood up to greet them:

"The Imperial Advisor is here! Come quickly, come quickly, sit next to me!"

Meng Chi nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone else and landing on Lin Chen.

In that instant, Lin Chen felt as if he had been illuminated by a searchlight.

It wasn't hostility, but it wasn't goodwill either.

More like—

An old hunter is watching another beast.

Meng Chi walked to the table, cupped his hands in a salute, and spoke in a low, hoarse voice, like sandpaper rubbing against wood:

"This old man, Meng Chi, greets the Prince of Zhenbei."

Lin Chen returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "You're too kind, Grand Preceptor."

Meng Chi straightened up, glanced at Lan Fenghuang, and nodded slightly:

"The Holy Phoenix has returned."

Lan Fenghuang stood up and bowed: "Imperial Preceptor."

Meng Chi nodded without saying anything more.

Murong Jing gestured for Meng Chi to sit down, and Meng Chi, without any hesitation, plopped down next to Murong Hong.

As soon as he sat down, several ministers next to him visibly shifted to the other side, as if afraid of getting cold.

Murong Hong wasn't afraid, and leaned closer to whisper:

"Imperial Preceptor, what brings you here today? We can't get you to come even when we ask you to."

Meng Chi glanced at him: "We have distinguished guests today."

Murong Hong felt a chill run down his spine from that glance, and obediently shut his mouth, picking up his wine cup and taking a sip to calm his nerves.

Meng Chi's arrival made the atmosphere more lively, and the ministers became less reserved and began to talk in hushed tones.

A military officer leaned close to his colleague's ear, lowering his voice so that his mouth was almost touching his ear:

"Why is the Imperial Advisor here today? Isn't he the one who hates these kinds of occasions the most?"

He didn't even come to the King's birthday celebration last time; he just sent a disciple with a calligraphy scroll, and that was it.

His colleague shook his head, gave him a wink, and gestured with his chin toward Lin Chen, the meaning quite clear.

Need you even ask? We came for that person.

The general suddenly realized what was happening, said "Oh," and shrank back.

After a few rounds of drinks, Murong Jing suddenly clapped his hands.

With a "snap," the palace doors opened, and a group of dancers entered.

Dressed in the finest attire of the Nanzhao Kingdom, with a silver crown on her head and adorned with silver ornaments all over her body, she walked with a jingling sound, like a string of wind chimes that had come to life.

They danced in the hall, their movements graceful and their rhythm brisk, completely different from the dances of Dayan.

The dance of Dayan is restrained, emphasizing subtlety and restraint; a single glance back can result in three full turns.

The dance of Nanzhao was unrestrained, with a wildness to it, the waist and hips twisting and turning in a wide and sweeping manner, which made people stare in amazement.

The lead dancer was young, only seventeen or eighteen years old. She had bright, expressive eyes that seemed to speak volumes when she twirled.

Her waist was as supple as a willow branch, and when she spun around, the silver ornaments swirled, drawing arcs of light in the candlelight, making her look like a little silver whirlwind.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, watching with great interest, his fingers tapping lightly on the table in rhythm, and he even hummed a couple of lines.

Lan Fenghuang sat next to Lin Chen and whispered the introduction to him, her voice so low that only Lin Chen could hear it:

"This is the Peacock Dance, a traditional dance of the Nanzhao Kingdom, which is usually performed during festivals."

Murong Jing leaned closer, lowered his voice, and gave him a "I'll tell you a secret" look:

"My dear son-in-law, which one do you prefer?"

Lin Chen almost choked on his saliva, and laughed helplessly:

"Father-in-law, what's wrong with you...?"

Murong Jing smiled broadly, his face crinkling with wrinkles, resembling a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Take them if you like; they're all palace dancers, clean and tidy."

"If you like that lead dancer, A-Yue, have her serve you tonight, bring you tea, water, and warm your bed."

Lin Chen quickly waved his hand, his speed leaving afterimages:

"No, no, I'm just taking a look. I appreciate your kindness, Father-in-law, but I really don't need it."

How dare you be so disrespectful at your father-in-law's house? It's a complete disregard for his dignity.

Seeing that Lin Chen wasn't being polite, Murong Jing didn't press the matter, picked up his wine cup and continued drinking, muttering to himself:

"What's there to be embarrassed about? We're not strangers..."

Murong Hong smiled and shook his head, then picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

His older brother has a habit of wanting to give away important guests whenever they come to the house; it's almost become an obsession.

Last time, an envoy came to Dayan, and he almost gave away the peacocks in the imperial garden.

After several rounds of drinks and seven or eight dishes, the atmosphere was quite lively.

Meng Chi suddenly stood up.

The movements were slow, but everyone noticed.

He walked up to Lin Chen, holding his wine glass, his back ramrod straight, like an old gun:

"Your Highness, this old man offers you a toast."

Lin Chen stood up, clinked glasses with him, and the glasses made a crisp sound as they gently touched.

"You're too kind, Imperial Advisor."

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Meng Chi finished his wine, put down his cup, looked at Lin Chen, paused for a moment, and said:

"Your Highness, I have a favor to ask."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and put down his wine glass:

"Please speak, Imperial Advisor."

Meng Chi hesitated again, but only for a moment; the eagerness in his eyes was impossible to suppress.

"This old man would like to ask Your Highness for guidance on my cultivation."

I've been stuck at the late Grandmaster stage for twenty years. That threshold is right in front of me, visible but untouchable, and I just can't seem to cross it.

Over the years, I've visited many senior masters, but I haven't been able to break through. Some say my opportunity hasn't arrived yet, others say my foundation is unstable.

He paused, his voice lowering slightly, tinged with self-deprecation:

"It's been twenty years, and I was almost ready to give up. But I've heard that Your Highness is exceptionally talented and possesses extraordinary cultivation, so I'm taking the liberty of giving it a try."

Even a single word of guidance would be of immense gratitude to this old man.

When he said this, there was a hint of caution in his eyes, as if he was afraid of being rejected.

A grandmaster in his seventies or eighties, a figure whose every stomp in Nanzhao shook the land, was now acting like a primary school student asking a teacher a question.

Lin Chen looked at him and chuckled inwardly.

This old man is straightforward; he doesn't beat around the bush or play games.

"I wouldn't call it giving pointers, but we could certainly spar," Lin Chen nodded with a smile.

"Sometimes, the difference in spiritual practice is just that one step. Once you break through the barrier, everything else is smooth sailing."

Meng Chi's eyes lit up instantly, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and he looked ten years younger.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

He bowed deeply, his waist bent even lower than when he met the King of Nanzhao.

Murong Jing clapped his hands with a smile on his face.

"Great! This is a rare opportunity for us to broaden our horizons!"

He then turned to the eunuch beside him and instructed him:

"Go, activate the night-light array in front of the palace!"

The eunuch accepted the order and trotted out.

The civil and military officials in the hall craned their necks, like a group of spectators waiting to watch a play, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

A civil official stroked his beard and said:

"The Imperial Advisor is the number one expert in our Nanzhao Kingdom. This fight is going to be a spectacle."

The military officer next to him rolled his eyes:

"The number one? Don't you know what kind of cultivation the Prince of Zhenbei has? Even the Imperial Preceptor is questionable in front of him, whether he's even a match for him."

The civil official was speechless and couldn't respond for a long time.

Lin Chen stood up, straightened his clothes, looked at Meng Chi, and said with a smile:

"Imperial Preceptor, shall we go to the palace?"

Meng Chi took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as knives, and his aura began to emanate gradually, making the surrounding air become more tense.

"Please, Your Highness."

He stepped aside to make way, adopting a very humble posture, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.

Lin Chen strode out, and Lan Fenghuang whispered something behind him:

"Husband, please be gentle."

Lin Chen turned and glanced at her: "Do you think I need to make a move?"

Blue Phoenix thought for a moment, then shook her head seriously:

"It seems unnecessary."

Lin Chen chuckled, turned around, and strode towards the outside of the hall.

Behind him, everyone in the hall stood up in a rush, surging out like a tide, afraid of missing the show.