Chapter 505: The Immortal Envoy's Visit
"Ah?" Han Xiuyuan was completely stunned. He never expected his Uncle Grandfather to suddenly bring this up, completely confusing him, as his mind was currently focused entirely on cultivating immortality.
"What, you are unwilling?" Han Ping asked, his tone very flat, yet carrying a hint of unchallengeable authority.
"No, Grandson just feels he is still young." Under his Uncle Grandfather's oppressive aura, Han Xiuyuan could only find an excuse to try and gloss over the matter.
"Don't think I don't know what you are plotting, boy." Han Ping paused. "This Seat is not trying to force you to marry now, but I want you to be ready for it. After all, the Han Family talent is fading; only by taking multiple wives and having many children to strengthen the Han Family can you build a cultivation family."
Han Xiuyuan quickly said, "What Uncle Grandfather says is absolutely correct. Xiuyuan will make early preparations."
Han Ping specifically instructed: "Remember that the marriage partner must be a person who cultivates. Only this way can your children's root bones advance another level, and perhaps in the future, my Han Family can give birth to another Marquis or even a Great Sage."
Han Xiuyuan respectfully replied, "Xiuyuan will bear Uncle Grandfather's teachings in mind."
Hearing these words, the minds of the several young maidens nearby also began to stir. The Han Family was now a towering tree; if they could attach themselves to this tree, not only could they step onto the path of immortality, but they would also enjoy endless glory and wealth.
At the same time, in Hao Prefecture City.
The officials and gentry were sleepless through the night, as no one knew the current status of that person from the Han Family. If the Tiger Lord was suppressed, and that person was then suppressed by Su Niangniang, would they be blamed by the court?
For a time, everyone harbored different thoughts, with some even entertaining the notion of fleeing Hao Prefecture.
Time passed moment by moment. It soon arrived at the morning of the next day.
The Prefect had already sent a letter via spirit eagle to the capital overnight, seeking information on the capital's movements. However, the round trip would still consume a significant amount of time.
To be safe, they had also specifically assigned people to monitor the Han Estate. If they saw anyone from the Han Estate leave the residence and flee toward the city gate, the Prefect would immediately capture the Han Family members and escort them to the capital for execution.
Inside the Han Estate. Han Ping had already begun setting up a Formation. Currently, he had gathered the Metal, Wood, Fire, and Earth elements of the Five Elements, only lacking Water. But he did not possess this water element.
Ordinary water would naturally not suffice; at least a spiritual spring was needed, but he happened not to have brought a spiritual spring eye with him.
Han Ping pondered for a moment, then had Han Xiuyuan go to the Prefectural Yamen to visit the Prefect and inquire about where a cultivators' trade fair might be located near the Xu Nation.
Han Xiuyuan quickly rode toward the Prefectural Yamen; his movements were already under the scrutiny of the Prefect and his party.
"What exactly is Han Xiuyuan's purpose for coming to the Prefectural Yamen?" The Prefect of Hao Prefecture muttered after receiving the news.
The old man beside him said, "Why overthink it? Won't we know once the boy arrives?"
The Prefect slapped his forehead: "I truly became confused with urgency; I couldn't figure out something so simple." He immediately ordered men to prepare tea and now just waited for Han Xiuyuan to arrive.
A short while later, the yamen runner came to report Han Xiuyuan's visit.
"Bring him in quickly." The Prefect had no intention of falling out with the Han Family right now and remained polite and courteous.
"Xiuyuan greets Lord Prefect and Senior." Han Xiuyuan arrived at the yamen's back courtyard and bowed to the two first.
The Prefect smiled and said, "Xiuyuan, there is no need for excessive politeness. You and I are both people of Hao Prefecture; we must interact more often in the future."
Han Xiuyuan replied, "Of course."
The Prefect paused, then asked, "Xiuyuan, what urgent business brings you here this time?"
Han Xiuyuan said, "I have come to ask Senior where a cultivators' trade fair might be located near the Xu Nation. My Granduncle intends to make a trip."
"Han Senior has returned so quickly?" the old man asked, his face filled with shock.
Although the Prefect did not speak, the surprise in his eyes was undisguised; he desperately wanted to ask why he had not yet received the news.
"That is correct." Han Xiuyuan said, "Granduncle returned from the capital last night and plans to look around the areas surrounding the Xu Nation these few days."
The old man said, "The Xu Nation hosts a trade fair every year, but it is always presided over by the Royal Family. If you wish to attend, you must obtain an invitation letter from the Royal Family. This trade fair not only features cultivators from our Xu Nation, but also noble families and rogue cultivators from several surrounding countries who come to participate."
"Thank you, Senior, for the information. I have matters at home and must take my leave." Han Xiuyuan slightly cupped his hands in respect.
The old man returned the courtesy, saying, "Fellow Daoist Han, travel safely."
"Uncle, it seems the power backing the Han Family is even greater than Su Niangniang's," the Prefect exclaimed with emotion after watching Han Xiuyuan leave.
"Mhm." The old man nodded. "It appears that Hao Prefecture is about to change hands from now on. The question is whether the Xu Nation itself will change hands?"
The Prefect was not a fool and naturally understood his Uncle's underlying meaning, but he dared not make any reckless conjectures regarding matters of cultivators.
In the evening. A celestial crane descended from the sky, bringing a cultivator who landed within the Prefectural Yamen.
Seeing the visitor, the Prefect of Hao Prefecture immediately knelt and saluted: "This humble man greets the Immortal Envoy. I beg the Immortal Envoy's forgiveness for failing to welcome your arrival from afar."
"No need." The cultivator spoke, then turned his gaze to the old man beside him: "Fellow Daoist, you should know the residence of Senior Han, correct?"
The old man replied, "I do."
The cultivator said, "I trouble Fellow Daoist to accompany this old man along with your junior to visit Immortal Master Han. While you are at it, please deliver this Imperial Decree to the Han Estate."
"Understood." The old man said with a respectful expression. Although he was very curious about the contents of the decree, he dared not ask any further, fearing he might learn secrets he should not know.
The cultivator, seeing his politeness, did not deliberately put on airs: "I appreciate your trouble, Fellow Daoist."
Escorted by the honor guard of the Prefectural Yamen, the group set off towards the Han Estate. Such a grand procession naturally alarmed the other officials and gentry of Hao Prefecture.
Although they did not show their faces, they sent members of their households to follow, wanting to see exactly what was happening. In recent days, Hao Prefecture City, which had previously been under their control, had slipped beyond their grasp, which made the officials deeply uneasy.
In the past, although they had the Tiger Lord above them, that fellow was satisfied by merely using people to sate his appetite. But that Ancestor of the Han Family was clearly not so easily satisfied, having thrown the upper echelons of Hao Prefecture into complete disarray within just a few days of arriving.
A moment later, the Prefect and his group arrived outside the Han Estate. He did not put on any official airs, instead scurrying like a servant to the front gate and lightly knocking a few times.
Knock, knock, knock...
When the gate opened, the Han Estate servant, seeing the Prefect, was so startled he immediately knelt on the ground.
"This humble man greets Lord Prefect."
"Rise." The Prefect said with a dignified expression: "I trouble you, young brother, to inform them that an Immortal Envoy from the capital has come to request an audience with Immortal Master Han."
"Good... good... this humble one will go and announce it immediately."
As the Han Estate servant turned and ran inside the Han Estate, the news of the capital's Immortal Envoy coming to visit Immortal Master Han also quickly spread...
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