Chapter 29: Hey, Living Together with Masaru

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The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed, interrupting Lu Ge’s humming.

Following the sound, he looked up.

From within the palace gates emerged two ranks of imperial guards, none bearing umbrellas, braving the wind and rain.

Under their protection, a grand canopy towered, approaching slowly.

Prince Zhao sat atop the imperial carriage, followed by a retinue of ministers.

Even the eldest had come out to lose face; none of these ministers dared remain inside the palace.

“Master, Prince Zhao has come personally to greet you,” Shen Dao said with a smile.

In Shen Dao’s mind, to have a sovereign come out in person, whether willingly or under duress, was no small matter.

Truly worthy of being the master.

“Hahaha, Lu Zi, Shen Zi, are you both well?”

The imperial carriage passed beyond the palace gates. Prince Zhao was helped down and greeted Lu Ge and Shen Dao with a respectful clasp of hands.

“We’re well enough.”

“After all, there is no rain outside the palace, and the weather is clear.”

“This sunshine feels quite pleasant,” Lu Ge said with a smile.

Prince Zhao’s expression faltered. Did Lu Zi always speak so bluntly?

“As long as you’re comfortable, that’s good, that’s good.”

No wonder he could be king.

Now, standing before Lu Ge, no matter how displeased he was inside, not a trace showed on his face.

“Lu Zi is my direct disciple, the patriarch of Daoism.”

“Today I should have come earlier to welcome you to the banquet.”

“Only the torrential rain delayed me.”

“I have long heard of Lu Zi's vast powers, surely you know how to stop the wind and rain.”

“I now invite Lu Zi and Shen Zi to follow me into the palace for an honor.”

Prince Zhao humbled himself, no longer carrying the arrogance he showed inside the palace.

Lu Ge looked at Prince Zhao and sighed softly.

“I came happily to attend the banquet.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to eat well, drink well, and part on good terms?”

“Why must it come to this?”

With that, he turned and returned to the carriage.

“This storm will pass naturally in three to five days.”

“As for the banquet, there is no need.”

“Shen Dao, let’s return.”

Shen Dao nodded and bowed to Prince Zhao in farewell.

The carriage turned around, leaving the palace behind.

Only Prince Zhao remained, his expression darkening.

He, the sovereign of a nation, had already admitted defeat by coming out personally to greet them.

Yet Lu Zi still refused to show any respect.

Not attending the banquet was one thing; not even willing to stop the rain on the spot was another.

Fine, fine—did he think the sovereign was a pushover?

Prince Zhao’s anger flared anew as he boarded the carriage and returned to the palace amidst the rain.

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Elsewhere.

“Master, by refusing Prince Zhao’s face so harshly, aren’t you worried that…”

Shen Dao’s face showed concern.

Lu Ge answered calmly, “What? Afraid he’ll retaliate against me?”

Shen Dao nodded.

Lu Ge shook his head. “Setting aside whether he could manage it, there’s hardly time.”

“This year, the Qin Kingdom will raise armies to invade.”

“He is powerless even to resist the Qin forces; how could he find time to exact revenge on me?”

These words made Shen Dao’s heart shrink suddenly.

“Master, is this true?”

Lu Ge closed his eyes. “Right now, the Qin Kingdom is already restless.”

“Then why did Prince Zhao invite me to the banquet?”

“Why the sudden change of face today?”

“Simply because before, he wanted to win me over, to drag Daoism onto Zhao’s war chariot.”

“But seeing I took Xiao Zheng as a disciple and am close to Qin, he sought to give me a warning.”

The carriage wheels rolled along the ancient street and soon returned home.

Lu Ge immediately dove into his study, continuing to peruse the classics.

Time passed swiftly, five months slipping away quietly.

“Master, Master…”

Shen Dao’s anxious voice came from outside the door.

Lu Ge lifted his head from the texts and looked toward the entrance.

He saw Shen Dao, anxious and hurried.

“What is it?”

Lu Ge asked casually.

Shen Dao steadied himself. “Just received news.”

“The Qin Kingdom has sent the five ministers, led by Wang Ling, directly towards Handan.”

“What you said before has come true.”

Lu Ge nodded. “Mm.”

Shen Dao was startled. Just ‘mm’? No other reaction?

“Master, the Qin invasion is imminent; war will break out.”

“Should we prepare?”

Lu Ge thought for a moment. “No rush.”

“Lord Pingyuan is no fool; Qin won’t take Handan so easily.”

“If we must prepare…”

“Go to the hostage residence and bring Xiao Zheng’s family here.”

Shen Dao understood immediately. “You fear Prince Zhao may kill them in a fit of rage?”

Lu Ge nodded. “Prince Zhao is not magnanimous.”

“If Qin’s attack intensifies, he might do just that.”

Shen Dao said no more, bowed, and left promptly.

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Zi Chu’s family lived in the hostage residence. Although their treatment was poor, their freedom was not restricted.

As long as they remained in Handan, they could move about freely.

Only leaving the city was forbidden.

Shen Dao hurried off and did not return until dusk.

With him came a large carriage.

“Greetings, Master.”

As soon as Lü Buwei entered, he smiled broadly and clasped his hands in salute to Lu Ge.

Lu Ge was surprised. “Why did you come along too?”

Lü Buwei looked a bit embarrassed. “Everyone in Handan knows I am close with Young Master Zi Chu.”

“Shen Zi told me Qin is invading, and they might be in danger.”

“I fear being implicated, so I shamelessly came to seek refuge.”

“I beg Master’s mercy and protection.”

At this moment, Zi Chu’s family also dismounted.

Zi Chu stepped forward to pay respects, Zhao Ji holding Zhao Zheng followed behind.

“This is Shen Dao’s residence.”

“Whether you can stay depends not on me.”

Lü Buwei’s face brightened; Lu Ge’s words implied no objection.

He quickly looked to Shen Dao, eyes full of expectation.

Shen Dao laughed heartily. “You may stay.”

“Though my humble abode has few spare rooms.”

Lü Buwei waved his hand. “No matter.”

“I will buy the neighboring house immediately, tear down the courtyard wall, and merge the two into one.”

At that moment, the aura of a wealthy patron soared to the heavens.

Wealth is indeed a blessing.

Shen Dao nodded. “If so, then no problem.”

He then instructed Shen Zhong to arrange rooms for Zi Chu’s family.

Days passed one by one.

Outside, the flames of war gradually ignited; the entire Handan was thoroughly besieged by Qin forces.

But inside Shen Dao’s home, peace reigned like a mountain.

“Great knowledge is serene; small knowledge is trifling.”

“Grand words blaze; small words are mere chatter…”

In the courtyard, Lu Ge’s chanting of scriptures never ceased.

Zhao Ji sat nearby, holding Zhao Zheng.

Lu Ge read aloud, something he had never done before, clearly reciting for little Zhao Zheng’s sake.

Shen Dao, Lü Buwei, and Zi Chu were unreserved, each coming over to listen.

Lu Ge was now reading Zhuangzi’s “Equality of Things.”

They had all read it before, but hearing Lu Ge’s recital now imbued it with a strange new depth.

Indeed, as Lu Ge heard Lao Dan chant the Tao Te Ching daily within his sea of consciousness, this was no idle listening.

Now, as he recited “Equality of Things,” even a trace of Lao Dan’s chanting style sufficed to reveal the profound truths of the classic.