novelraw Chapter 396 - 131: Just Won’t Say What Was Noticed
Chapter 396 - 131: Just Won’t Say What Was Noticed
March 10, 2018
After seeing off the square-faced member of the Zhao Family, Lu Xin didn’t feel any relief. Holding the golden seal worth a hundred thousand Spirit Stones and the contract of the first son that’s worth a city’s fortune, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, leaving hidden dangers behind.
However, after going over it repeatedly, Lu Xin couldn’t figure out where the problem might be. In the brief conversation earlier, she had successfully portrayed herself as a dignified elder, effectively intimidating the other party. Now, Zhao Jincheng should be awestruck by her mature demeanor, theoretically eliminating any potential threats...
Lu Xin never fixates on things she can’t understand, especially when her workload is piled up high like a mountain. It’s impossible to waste time pondering unsolved mysteries.
"Madam Lu, regarding the general agreement on grain trade between the two cities, Gulan Trading House has proposed new conditions..."
"Madam Lu, about the joint exercise plan I mentioned to you last time, a new amendment has been submitted..."
"Madam Lu, there are new issues with the preparations for the ceremony of city twinning between the two cities..."
"Madam Lu, there are three reports here that need your urgent review and instructions..."
When Lu Xin returned to the City Lord’s Mansion, she was faced with an overwhelming pile of paperwork and the bustling inquiries of the staff.
It felt just like being back in Qingyun City... In Qingyun City, as the actual Patriarch of the Li Family, she was often suffocated by administrative work, having to drink energy drinks around the clock, and during those rare breaks, she would make little straw dolls of Li Fengyun.
She even considered this trip to Shen City as a rare vacation—after all, if everything went smoothly upon arrival, it would be a joyous occasion, a family of three touring Shen City and spending quality time together, the wonderful details needless to say. If things didn’t go smoothly, there was still the martial warrior Li Fengyun to charge forward, while Lu Xin, at most, would change into a little dress and dance to cheer him on.
However, ideals are one thing, and the reality turned out to be that Lu Xin was even more exhausted than she was in Qingyun City! The entire staff of Shen City Lord’s Mansion, seeing this administrative expert, flocked to her like moths to a flame, throwing all major and minor matters at her for guidance.
Lu Xin had lost count of how many times she had been incensed, wanting to wield the Golden Crow Sword and turn all these layabouts into grilled rib racks. But considering her actual combat ability and her remarkable achievements in the Illusion Realm, she could only endure and continue guiding them in advancing their work.
Furthermore, what was even more outrageous was, seeing Lu Xin’s exceptional work capability, Shen Yueying, Shen City’s acting City Lord, not only lacked the awareness to join in the overtime work, but directly threw the City Lord’s Seal to her, declaring that the welfare of Shen City’s millions of people rested on her shoulders.
Lu Xin simply couldn’t fathom how she managed not to burn that wretched seal!
Could you people of Shen City be any more unreliable!? Aren’t you afraid that I might use the City Lord’s Seal to unlock the Earth Vein Lock and blow the entire city sky-high!? You just trust an outsider like me so easily? On what grounds? Just because I look dignified and sophisticated, mature in charm, you fall head over heels, trusting me implicitly!?
You think I’m the type to get lost in novels like some fool!?
Even though Lu Xin had a thousand words to say in her heart, in the end, under countless expectant gazes, she accepted the City Lord’s Golden Seal and embarked on a new career as the surrogate acting City Lord.
A member of the Lu Family born in Qingyun City, married into the Li Family, traveling thousands of miles to Shen City to serve as acting City Lord, what kind of spirit is this?
Lu Xin felt she really must be out of her mind.
Yet, complaints aside, Lu Xin quickly adapted to Shen City’s overtime rhythm, often working with her subordinates until dawn. Relying on her extensive work experience accumulated in Qingyun City, she swiftly helped the people of Shen City streamline work processes, improving work efficiency, assisting the entire City Lord’s Mansion into a virtuous cycle. All this left the true acting City Lord Shen Yueying amazed.
As the former Deputy City Lord, Shen Yueying once oversaw the financial affairs of Shen City, along with many administrative tasks, thinking her experience was sufficiently rich... However, compared to that small figure buried in paperwork, there was a gap in every aspect.
So, even though that young miss from the Lu Family outwardly seemed no older than her daughter... in some sense, she indeed appeared more mature than herself.
It is indeed a fortune for Fengyun to find such a woman as his wife.
And considering that Lu Xin was actually the successor appointed by her elder sister Shen Yue’e before her death, Shen Yueying could even better understand Lu Xin’s advantages.
In fact, in Shen Yueying’s view, perhaps Lu Xin was indeed more suitable as Li Fengyun’s wife.
Although Shen Yue’e could resonate with Li Fengyun on a soul level, after all, people have to live in the present. Having two soulmates live together might indeed lead to endless daily joy, but could also result in an early demise due to neglect of real-world responsibilities...
Shen Yue’e’s own death should serve as a perfect example; she and Li Fengyun were undoubtedly geniuses in cultivation but equally disabled in life... Shen Yueying always remembered how her sister could calculate astronomical multiplications and divisions in a second yet turn a simple egg fried rice into poison.
Upon hearing the news of her sister’s death, Shen Yueying even instinctively thought her sister was experimenting with a new dish.
Later, learning that Shen Yue’e died of exhaustion and depletion, Shen Yueying was utterly astonished.
If they had had a friend like Lu Xin by their side back then, perhaps Shen Yue’e wouldn’t have died so early.
Of course, if Li Fengyun had been a bit wiser back then and chosen me instead of my sister, the three of us might have been living well now.
But these things can only be thought about in my heart. Nowadays, Li Fengyun is already married to Lu Xin, and they even have a child together, living a happy and fulfilled life. As for me, I’ve found solace in the ocean of literature.
Everything is moving in a good direction, and there’s no need to cling to the past. Living is about looking forward.
Thinking of this, Shen Yueying sighed softly.
"So, I’ll leave this work to you. I have some matters to attend to and must leave first."
Lu Xin suddenly turned her head, glaring at Shen Yueying like an enraged, lustful bull: "You want to leave!?"
Shen Yueying explained, "It’s like this, a distinguished guest has recently arrived in Shen City. As acting City Lord, I must personally greet them. There’s really no one else suitable to take over here, so I have to rely on you, Sister Lu."
The three words ’Sister Lu’ effectively pleased the venerable Lu Xin, making the petite woman let out a satisfied snort, then she casually asked, "Which family’s guest? Do we need to arrange a banquet?"
By this time, Shen Yueying had already walked to the door and answered casually, "No need, no need. They despise such social engagements. It’s fine for me to go alone."
Lu Xin initially nodded, then couldn’t help but pause. A guest requiring the acting City Lord to personally greet them, who dislikes social engagements, he.
Combining these three conditions, Lu Xin felt there was only one possible answer.
In the next moment, the Golden Crow True Flame inside Lu Xin’s body began to churn and boil: "Shen Yueying, you damn well stop right there!"
"Tch, so I got found out..."
——
While Lu Xin and Shen Yueying were locked in a love-hate relationship, the person they were both fixated on, Li Fengyun, was in a guest room at the City Lord’s Mansion with Wang Jiu.
In the bedroom, Shen Qingming was sound asleep, her small face laden with fatigue, her eyebrows slightly knitted, as if she were enduring great pain.
Watching her, Li Fengyun felt a pang of heartache: "Qingming has been through a lot lately. I wonder what she sees in her dreams that causes her such pain..."
Tuned to Shen Qingming’s thoughts, Wang Jiu readily solved Li Fengyun’s puzzle.
"She’s dreaming of the moment her physical body was refined. She probably feels that obtaining such a precious opportunity too easily defies logic, so subconsciously she adds unnecessary feelings of pain in her dream."
Li Fengyun, surprised, asked, "Is that so?"
Wang Jiu said, "There’s often this misconception in human society: that the success of a person or thing must be accompanied by arduous struggle and immense endurance of pain, which evolves into the belief that pain, endurance, and struggle can lead to success. Although there is no inherent connection between them, to prevent the general populace from squandering finite life and dull aptitude on pointless endeavors, societal discourse continually propagates this notion of pain-based success. After all, it’s more beneficial for the social order if they stay home and cultivate rather than create chaos outside. Additionally, it provides the ruling class with an excuse for their autocracy."
Li Fengyun, impressed, exclaimed, "I never expected Mr. Sword Spirit to have such profound insight into human society."
Wang Jiu modestly replied, "Not at all, I’m merely learning."
Li Fengyun asked, "So, shall we not wake Qingming?"
Wang Jiu said, "An old friend of mine once said the greatest cruelty is waking someone from a beautiful dream. Since Qingming sleeps soundly, let her rest a little longer."
After speaking, he led Li Fengyun out of the bedroom.
Outside the room, Li Fengyun’s expression darkened as he asked, "Mr. Sword Spirit, I’m not sure if it’s my illusion, but I sensed a hint of discord in my father-in-law’s illusion realm earlier. Could you..."
Wang Jiu, somewhat surprised, responded, "You actually sensed it? With your cultivation, having such acute perception is truly remarkable. If you lived in the Jiuzhou Era, someone with your exceptional talent would definitely be prioritized to join the scouts."
"Well, that’s too much praise."
"You’re welcome. The Myriad Immortals Alliance scouts achieved great feats with a casualty rate exceeding 99.9%, and every individual in it was formidable within human society. You’re no less than any of them."
"...Th-thank you?"