Chapter 138: Having Friends in High Places Makes Things Easier

The lingering autumn rain fell incessantly, showing no sign of stopping anytime soon. Hearing the patter of raindrops tapping against the leaves, Lu Lelia paced back and forth inside the room with a gloomy face, on the verge of crying out in sheer frustration.

"Ten days! It has been raining for ten days straight. When on earth will this damned rain ever stop?"

"The weather in Bonong River is always like this—either torrential rain or blazing sunshine. You're a grown man, yet you have no patience at all." Feng Yao stared intently at a pot of greenish liquid, occasionally adding pinches of medicinal powder.

Lu Lelia glanced out the window at the overcast sky, slumped heavily into a chair, and let his head drop powerlessly.

He had arrived in Nanzhao full of confidence, only to discover that the King of Nanzhao had abandoned the Tang Dynasty and submitted to Tibet, making a personal audience with him nearly impossible. Managing to contact Duan Xiaohe and his routed remnant troops could barely be considered securing evidence to expose Xianyu Zhongtong. At least that meant his trip to Nanzhao had not been entirely in waste. Duan Xiaohe and his men had only managed to sneak in two days before the rains suddenly started, pushing back Lu Lelia's plans to settle them and return to Chang'an as quickly as possible.

"After this autumn rain passes, the Tibetan diplomatic mission in Daha City will likely depart. Don't you intend to seek an audience with that King of Nanzhao, Geluofeng?" Feng Yao glanced at the dejected Lu Lelia.

"If I could meet him, of course I would want to. But right now, even you, Sister Feng Yao, cannot help me, so how am I supposed to see him?" Whether influenced by the endless gloomy drizzle or not, Lu Lelia's spirits were at rock bottom.

"Didn't you urge me to arrange a grand celebration for the Baimanzu tribe? I think that might just be our opportunity. Currently, the king deeply relies on the State Preceptor Umeng and the Minister of Rites Yang Luodian. If they step forward to persuade the king, perhaps he will come to observe the ceremony on the day our Baimanzu tribe holds it." Having spent years as Geluofeng's wife, Feng Yao still understood the political dynamics within the Nanzhao court quite well.

"Who is this State Preceptor Umeng?" Stirred by a sudden thought, Lu Lelia fixed his gaze on Feng Yao.

"He was the former Grand Elder of my Five Sacred Cult, and is now the acting leader of Nanzhao's state religion, the Heavenly Sacred Cult. He is also the father of your Sister Wuya." Feng Yao nodded affirmatively to Lu Lelia.

Lu Lelia cupped his chin in thought, his eyes growing eager. "On our way here, we captured over twenty disciples of the Five Sacred Cult who came to ambush us, including the Holy Maiden Ayuduo. I imagine Umeng would definitely be interested in that. Besides, since I am carrying Sister Wuya's personal relics, we could find an opportunity to bring Umeng to this place."

"Leave that arrangement to me," Feng Yao said with absolute confidence.

"What about that Minister Yang Luodian? What are his preferences?" Lu Lelia's spirits surged.

"This Minister of Rites, Lord Yang Luodian, cares neither for female beauty nor for wealth. He is a man of integrity and strong moral character, making him very difficult to approach. However, he is an absolute chess fanatic and virtually unmatched throughout Nanzhao. Regarding him, sister is powerless." Feng Yao shook her head helplessly.

"Ha, hahaha!" Lu Lelia laughed triumphantly. "Heaven truly helps me! Sister, you can send someone to inform Lord Yang Luodian that your sworn younger brother, Lu Lelia, is a Grandmaster of the Great Tang and wishes to challenge him, the Grandmaster of Nanzhao. I refuse to believe his fingers won't itch at that!"

After enjoying a few solid meals and soaking in the hot springs, these young Tang soldiers who had been stranded in the deep mountains for months felt that White Chess Valley was nothing short of earthly paradise. Stirred by Lu Lelia's eloquent tongue, they suddenly felt that settling down here to marry and raise families wouldn't be so bad after all. Of course, there were exceptions.

Slightly drunk, Duan Xiaohe did not stand around like the other soldiers, staring longingly at the sky and waiting for the weather to clear up. Instead, braving the fine drizzle, he rushed straight to Lu Lelia's residence.

Fengge was Feng Yao's youngest sister. At fifteen or sixteen, she was deeply doted on by her family, making her naturally uninhibited and daring. Ever since Princess Xiangcao moved into White Chess Valley, Fengge frequently came to visit. After all, being close in age, the two naturally grew quite fond of each other.

Before leaving, she had pressed her ear against Xiangcao's lower abdomen for quite a while, unable to discern anything out of the ordinary, and was now preparing to leave with a lingering sense of unfulfillment. Just as she stepped down from the attic, she saw a fair-skinned, remarkably handsome young man standing at the entrance of the hall.

The young man's eyes were hazy with alcohol, and he looked somewhat sorrowful. Fengge walked straight up to him and gave him a heavy, disdainful roll of the eyes.

"To be drinking like this in broad daylight—it just shows how appalling the military discipline of you Tang soldiers really is, no wonder you lost the war. I've heard that the most formidable general in the Great Tang is General Gao Xianzhi, who is renowned for his striking appearance. Surely you don't think that because you're somewhat good-looking, you're just like him?"

If anyone had compared him to General Gao Xianzhi in the past, Duan Xiaohe would have puffed out his chest and struck the most standard military posture. But today, stung by the beautiful young girl's words, he suddenly felt utterly ashamed, too embarrassed to even lift his head.

"Hmph! Useless wretch," Fengge scoffed coldly, holding her head high as she walked away.

Humming a folk tune, Lu Lelia returned, only to see the dejected Duan Xiaohe sitting in the hall, and his expression immediately hardened.

"Duan Xiaohe, oh Duan Xiaohe, why can't you turn your mind around? I've made it very clear: even if you currently have no chance to return, as long as in your hearts you consider yourselves soldiers of the Great Tang, you will forever remain soldiers of the Great Tang. Didn't I make that clear enough in front of everyone?"

Duan Xiaohe raised his head in panic, smiling awkwardly at Lu Lelia. "My coming here today isn't to argue with you, sir. It's just that seeing all the brothers eagerly praying for clear skies, I wanted to ask—during the celebration, can we really choose the maidens of our hearts?"

"Even the Baimanzu King, who is recovering from his injuries, has nodded in agreement. Do you really think this could be false?" Though slightly puzzled by Duan Xiaohe's sudden change of heart, Lu Lelia still gave him a definitive answer.

"That's wonderful, simply wonderful! This subordinate takes his leave." Saluting respectfully, Duan Xiaohe bolted away like a flash of lightning.

Upstairs in the attic, Lu Lelia found Xiangcao sewing a tiny pair of baby shoes. Unable to resist, he stepped forward, pressed his ear against her lower abdomen to listen for a moment, and then smiled contentedly.

"I'm only two months pregnant, what on earth could you possibly hear? Fengge just listened for half the day, and now you're doing the same." Xiangcao cast Lu Lelia a reproachful yet affectionate glance, finally regaining the youthful vitality proper for a young girl.

"Was Fengge just here?" Lu Lelia asked in surprise.

Seeing Xiangcao nod repeatedly, Lu Lelia cupped his chin in contemplation.

Perhaps unable to bear the pleading gazes of over two thousand men, the rain that had poured continuously for half a month finally cleared up. Just two days later, Nanzhao State Preceptor Umeng arrived at White Chess Valley. After meeting and conferring with Feng Yao for a while, he appeared before Lu Lelia.

"Wuya was a good child. Even in death, she dutifully fulfilled her mission." Umeng, a Yi ethnic man in his forties, gazed at the yellow Soul-Devouring Flute in his hands—Wuya's relic. His dark face remained entirely calm, showing little trace of sorrow.

Lu Lelia lowered his head in silence. It seemed that for men obsessed with power, familial affection was always remarkably thin. He instantly lost whatever favorable impression he might have had toward this Nanzhao State Preceptor.

"Thank you for burying my daughter properly and bringing her relics back to me. As for her revenge, I will naturally find an opportunity to settle the score with Xianyu Zhongtong's family. Now, I am going to see those disciples of the Sacred Cult, so I won't chat with you any longer." Umeng put away Wuya's flute and turned to leave.

"How do you plan to deal with those disciples of the Five Sacred Cult?" Lu Lelia asked with lingering concern.

"The Five Sacred Cult and the Heavenly Sacred Cult were originally one family. Naturally, I will persuade them to serve in my Heavenly Sacred Cult," Umeng replied without looking back.

"What about Ayuduo?" Lu Lelia raised his voice.

"The Heavenly Sacred Cult has only one Holy Maiden, and that is Madam Yuanzhen, Feng Yao. As for Ayuduo, that false saint, I have no intention of seeing her. She will remain locked up," Umeng paused briefly, stated flatly, and walked away.

Lu Lelia had no idea how many Five Poisons Cult disciples Umeng could persuade to serve him, but sparing Ayuduo's life at least showed a tiny shred of mercy.

"I don't like Umeng. In that man's eyes, there is only power." Lying in Feng Yao's bed at night, Lu Lelia's tone was deeply displeased.

"Yet he is my natural ally. Only through mutual support can the two of us secure a foothold in this Nanzhao Kingdom. Otherwise, why would he have agreed so readily to help persuade the king to come to Bonong River for the celebration?" Feng Yao leaned lazily into Lu Lelia's arms, whispering her explanation.

"I know, but I still don't like him," Lu Lelia grumbled like a petulant child.

Feng Yao smiled faintly, gently tapping Lu Lelia on the nose with her finger. "I've already sent word to the Minister of Rites, Lord Yang Luodian. Have you prepared yourself, Grandmaster of the Great Tang?"

Lu Lelia smiled proudly. "Of course!"

Three days later, at midday under brilliant sunshine, a triumphant and high-spirited Yang Luodian arrived at White Chess Valley.

"This humble minister, Minister of Rites Yang Luodian, pays his respects to Madam Yuanzhen." Inside Feng Yao's grand hall, Yang Luodian bowed deeply to Feng Yao.

Feng Yao smiled slightly. "It is my honor that Lord Yang could visit White Chess Valley amidst your busy schedule. There is no need for such formality."

"Heh! I heard the message sent by Madam's messenger—that your sworn younger brother is a Grandmaster of the Great Tang and wishes to challenge this humble minister. Upon hearing that, my fingers itched with eagerness, and I wished to come immediately. Alas, the Tibetan diplomatic mission delayed their departure, dragging things out until now. I hope Madam will not fault me. But I wonder, which disciple of Grandmaster Wang Xizhi is Madam's sworn brother?" Yang Luodian chuckled, his eyes darting around the room.

"Who says only Wang Xizhi's disciples can be called Grandmasters of the Great Tang? Though unworthy, this younger brother doesn't think much of Wang Xizhi's disciples at all." Looking triumphant and gently shaking his folding fan, Lu Lelia stepped out from behind the screen behind Feng Yao.

"You have quite a bold tongue, Your Excellency! Even I, the Grandmaster of Nanzhao, would not dare claim guaranteed victory over Wang Xizhi's disciples." Displeased, Yang Luodian raised his chin proudly.

"Well!" Lu Lelia stared intently at Yang Luodian. "You're Young Master Yang Luodian, aren't you? How is it that you've suddenly transformed into the Minister of Rites of Nanzhao?"

Yang Luodian looked down, stepped forward to clasp Lu Lelia's hand, and burst into hearty laughter. "Ha! I was wondering who Madam Yuanzhen's sworn brother and the Great Tang Grandmaster could be. It turns out to be you, Brother Lu Lelia! It has been over two years since we parted ways on the Yangtze River waterway. I never had the chance to repay you for saving my life back then. Now that you've come to Nanzhao, allow me, your brother, to properly host you!"

"Yang Luodian, Yang Luodian," Lu Lelia muttered under his breath, suddenly realizing the truth. "So you were never a scholar participating in the Luoyang autumn imperial examinations at all, but rather an envoy dispatched by Nanzhao to the capital! Brother Yang, you deceived me terribly."

"Ah!" Yang Luodian sighed. "It's not that your brother intentionally deceived you. At the time, the envoys Nanzhao sent to Chang'an were being hunted down and assassinated one after another. Since I originally intended to go to Luoyang for the autumn exams, upon receiving the king's instructions, I detoured to Chang'an to appeal directly to the throne. If not for Brother Lu's assistance, I would have fallen victim to their poisonous plots as well." Yang Luodian shook his head with lingering emotion.

"A mere gesture of convenience, not worth mentioning. On the contrary, though you are young, Brother Yang, you have already attained the lofty position of Minister of Rites, which truly commands my admiration." Lu Lelia looked at Yang Luodian with unconcealed envy.

Yang Luodian shook his head, a look of modest pride crossing his face. "Brother failed the king's trust back then by failing to bring Zhang Qiantuo's atrocities to the imperial court's attention. I merely brought the young prince Feng Jiayi back to Nanzhao, earning some small merit, which allowed me to enter the Ministry of Rites. Later, I risked my life heading into Xianyu Zhongtong's camp, only to achieve nothing and end up imprisoned. The king, remembering that I had braved life and death without losing faith in Nanzhao, has only just appointed me as Minister of Rites. Lacking in both talent and learning, I am deeply terrified and can only emulate Marquis Wu Zhuge, dedicating myself to the utmost until my dying breath."

"On the path of official career, Brother Yang has left me far behind. However, when it comes to the game of Go, I refuse to accept defeat and wish to match wits with you. Would Brother Yang be willing to grant me the honor of a match?" Unwilling to yield, Lu Lelia issued his challenge.

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure; I was about to ask for it," Yang Luodian replied eagerly.