TGCFNM -Chapter 403 Offering Incense

After walking a while longer, the group finally reached the base of the cliff and collectively looked up.

Chu Ling examined it carefully. “There are protruding sections we can grab onto. We can climb it!”

Su He nodded. “It actually looks fairly easy to climb. As long as we stay steady. Otherwise, if someone falls, they might suffer fractures—multiple bones showing signs of cracking and displacement.”

Everyone: “…”

Uncle Hong arrived a moment later. After studying the cliff, he hesitated and said, “On the side of the mountaintop plaza at Jinshan Temple, there seems to be a pine tree growing right by the cliff. Could it be that one?”

Chu Ling and the others immediately looked over, identified the spot, and prepared to climb.

Uncle Hong frowned at them. “Aren’t you going up using qinggong?”

Xiao Hua explained from the side, “Uncle Hong, the young masters are having a competition. They said they’ll climb to the mountaintop without using qinggong. Whoever loses has to pay one hundred taels.”

Uncle Hong let out a long, strained breath. Forget it. Let them do as they please. A whole bunch of troublemakers.

“If you’re climbing, then climb carefully. Don’t fall,” Uncle Hong instructed.

Chu Ling, Wan Sanjin, and Su He obediently nodded. After finding good handholds, they began climbing upward.

Uncle Hong waited below with Zhang Dong and Xiao Hua for a while. Once the three had reached a certain height, he started looking for leverage points, preparing to use qinggong to leap up.

—

At this moment, the mountaintop plaza of Jinshan Temple was completely empty.

However, on an open space slightly below the summit, a crowd had gathered. Though it hadn’t escalated to drawn swords and bent bows, the atmosphere was heavy and tense, stirring an inexplicable sense of anxiety.

Lu Shi frowned faintly as he stood toward the back, shaking his head slightly. What a coincidence today. Who knew how long this standoff would last?

Prince He stood in splendid brocade robes, idly spinning a folding fan in his hand. He looked left, then right, smiling at one side and then the other—clearly here just to watch the spectacle.

Prince Qi tugged at him and lowered his voice. “Eighth Brother!”

Prince He stepped back to stand beside Prince Qi and whispered, “Those two still don’t get along? I’ve been away for so many years.”

Prince Qi looked helpless. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Prince He clicked his tongue and watched the two men facing off. Then he turned back to Prince Qi. “Where’s my Seventh Sister-in-law? And my nephew?”

Prince Qi looked somewhat worried. “She’s feeling unwell today. I came to the temple to get some vegetarian dishes to bring back. She said last time that the vegetarian food here was delicious… Yi’er should be returning soon.”

Prince He laughed. “Seventh Brother dotes on Seventh Sister-in-law as always. She craves vegetarian food, and you climb all the way to Jinshan Temple to get it.”

Prince Qi revealed a trace of helplessness. “She doesn’t ask for much. Just vegetarian food. If only Father Emperor would allow us to leave—far from the capital—perhaps her illness would improve more quickly.”

Prince He folded his arms. “Isn’t Father Emperor keeping Seventh Brother here to balance Third Brother and Fourth Brother? And yet look at those two—they’re still the same as ever…”

Prince Qi shot him a helpless look, and Prince He made a gesture as if zipping his mouth shut.

Over on the other side, Prince Rui carefully supported his consort and frowned at Prince Su across from them. “We’re here to offer incense and seek an audience with Master Wuwei.”

Prince Su’s face lengthened in displeasure. “My wife and I also wish to see him.”

Princess Su tugged at Prince Su’s sleeve and softly persuaded, “Princess Rui isn’t in good health. Let them go first.”

Prince Su turned his head away. He refused.

Princess Su sighed inwardly. Normally he was fine, but whenever he encountered Prince Rui, he became stubborn as a bull, insisting on competing over something.

Prince Rui gave a cold snort, his eyes darkening.

Princess Rui tugged at him. “Forget it. Don’t make an ugly scene here. Otherwise, the palace will summon us again.”

Prince Rui patted her shoulder reassuringly, instructed a servant to support her properly, and strode forward.

Prince Su cast a cold glance over and walked forward as well.

Prince He widened his eyes excitedly. “Are they going to fight? Or start a shouting match? Will Father Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager scold us in turns after we go back?”

Prince Qi was startled and hurried forward to stop them, but Prince He blocked him at once.

“Seventh Brother, don’t go. Let me watch the show.”

Prince Qi looked at him with a headache. “If this blows up, will the imperial family’s reputation look good?”

Prince He said with a grin, “How would I know? Once the birthday celebration ends, I’m heading back to my fief. What do I care whether it looks good or not?”

Prince Qi: “…”

Prince Rui’s face was stern, his presence intimidating. “I clearly arrived first. You had someone block me, and now you still want to compete with me?”

Prince Su sneered. “Prince Rui truly thinks no one else matters. No one is worthy of contending with you, is that it? Should the Great Zhou empire also be handed over to you?”

Prince Rui’s gaze sharpened. “Great Zhou belongs to Father Emperor. Prince Su, you’d better watch your words. Otherwise, no one will be able to save you!”

Prince Su’s expression turned cold. “Prince Rui, don’t you dare—”

“Ao-woo!”

“I’m up here!”

From afar came an excited and wildly arrogant voice, like a monkey suddenly leaping out in the mountains. Holding what looked like a stick of incense, the person dashed to the brazier, lit it, and in one swift motion jammed it into the incense burner.

“I am the first person in all of history! Hahahahahaha! Hand over a hundred taels each!”

Chu Ling shouted gleefully.

Everyone standing nearby: “…”

Prince He stared in amazement. “Who’s that? Where did he come from?”

Prince Qi knew there was a cliff on that side. “Looks like he climbed up from the cliff.”

Prince He was shocked. There were actually people this unafraid of death?

Lu Shi knew more than the others. He knew that the wildly excited “monkey” who had suddenly appeared was the junior he had announced he intended to promote… But now he was starting to regret it. Even for the sake of concealment, he shouldn’t have trampled on his own reputation like this.

Lu Shi’s attendant, Lu Chong, was equally stunned. His face froze in place, but soon he saw two more “monkeys” scramble up, each inserting a stick of incense.

Well then. The first incense offering was still being fought over here, and over there three sticks had already been planted.

“My lord, let’s pretend we don’t know them,” Lu Chong muttered softly.

Lu Shi closed his eyes and turned around.

Prince Rui suppressed his anger, his gaze dark as he stared at the three excited “monkeys.” Then he watched as three more people climbed up from the cliff. They had barely steadied themselves before being dragged to burn incense and stick it into the burner. Afterward, they were still buzzing with excitement.

Lu Shi let out a breath. If he didn’t step in now, these few would lose their lives.

“To be honest, I know a few of those juniors. I’ll go over and give them a proper scolding,” Lu Shi said, walking forward with heavy steps.

At that moment, Chu Ling finally noticed something was wrong. She saw the dense crowd over there—and some familiar faces.

Wan Sanjin, however, didn’t notice. He only saw Lu Shi and immediately said, “Xiao Hua, quick! Help Lord Lu come over and offer incense!”

Xiao Hua responded with an “Oh” and dashed forward, rushing straight to Lu Shi.

Lu Shi had just opened his mouth to reprimand Chu Ling and the others when Xiao Hua grabbed his arm and dragged him forward at a run.

Lu Chong was startled and hurried after them to pull him back, but he stumbled and was dragged along, unable to stop.

Wan Sanjin finally managed to catch up to Lu Shi. He took the finger-thick incense from Lu Chong’s hand, lit it, shoved it into Lu Shi’s hand, and then pressed him down to make the offering.

“Lord Lu, no need to stand on ceremony. We’re all in the same boat,” Wan Sanjin said cheerfully.

Lu Shi: “…”