Lu Yun didn’t answer the question. He simply looked at Lu Jingjun and said with gratification, "You’ve made good progress this year."
In the instant he had patted Lu Jingjun on the head, Lu Yun’s senses had already "seen" through his son, inside and out.
Early-stage Anjin, with a solid foundation and condensed Qi. It was obvious he hadn’t been slacking off. To have such strength at his age was quite impressive.
Being praised like that by his father, Lu Jingjun actually felt a little embarrassed.
Just as he was about to say something, Li Zhen walked over with a hearty laugh and grabbed his arm. "Hey, Jing Jun, let’s sit down first and talk!"
Then, he obsequiously led Lu Yun toward the head of the dining table. "Come, come, my dear in-law, please, take the seat of honor!"
The most comfortable chair and the most exquisite set of bowls and chopsticks were already placed there.
As for the other members of the Li Family, Li Zhen had long since sent his few concubines and some relatives from branch families to eat in a side hall.
Now, at the main table in the living room, there was only his in-law Lu Yun, himself, and his son, daughter, and son-in-law.
After several rounds of drinks and courses, Li Zhen raised his glass to toast Lu Yun again. The smile never left his face throughout the entire process.
After a few more pleasantries, Li Zhen looked up and glanced at his son, Li Jinghua, and his daughter, Li Zhiyun, who were sitting beside him.
Li Jinghua froze for a moment before quickly reacting. He hastily stood up. "Dad, Elder Lu, I’m full. Please, take your time."
Li Zhiyun, also understanding the cue, stood up as well and said with a smile, "I’ll go see if the desserts are ready in the kitchen."
The two of them hurried out one after the other, leaving only three people in the living room.
Li Zhen put down his wine glass, cleared his throat, and then looked at Lu Yun with a solemn expression. "By the way, Elder Lu, there’s something I need to tell you."
"Jing Jun has been thinking about resigning from his job at the General Affairs Department to go back to Yun Port City and pursue his career there."
"Oh?" Lu Yun put down his chopsticks and turned his gaze to Lu Jingjun.
He knew his second son well. He had loved martial arts since he was a child and had a good deal of talent for it.
After growing up, he had been dead set on joining the military of the Daxia New Country, wanting to make a name for himself.
He had finally managed to marry Li Zhen’s daughter through his own abilities. He was now the son-in-law of a deputy chief, a man with a star on his shoulder.
With his esteemed father-in-law’s support, he had finally established a firm foothold.
’Logically, this should be the perfect time for him to climb the ranks. Why would he suddenly quit?’
Lu Jingjun felt his father’s gaze and lowered his head with a bitter smile. "Dad, haven’t you seen the recent newspapers?"
"The cabinet meetings, the new Emperor system, the representatives from the Western Countries... Hmph. If things keep going this way, before I even get a promotion, I’ll..."
He paused, then said, full of indignation, "Rather than waste my time here, waiting to go down with this sinking ship, I might as well go back."
Lu Jingjun originally had his own plan: work hard at the General Affairs Department, use his father-in-law’s help to climb the ladder step by step, all the way to the top!
By then, he too could shelter the Lu Family from the storm. After all, no matter how strong his father was, he couldn’t protect the Lu Family for a lifetime.
But Lu Jingjun had never expected that before he could even make it safely to shore, the great ship he was on was about to sink.
Regarding this, Lu Yun didn’t say much, nor did he intend to persuade him. After all, his son was a grown man now, capable of his own judgment and choices.
"Mm, as long as you know what you’re doing, that’s all that matters."
’It works out. I don’t need my son to struggle so hard on the outside anymore.’
Hearing Lu Yun’s calm words, Lu Jingjun felt an inexplicable sense of peace settle over him.
He looked up at his father’s much younger-looking face and suddenly felt that with a good father around, there was nothing to be afraid of.
The next moment, Lu Jingjun’s eyes lit up, the disappointment on his face completely vanishing.
"Dad, you’re a Grandmaster of Huajin now! When I go back, I can focus on learning martial arts from you!"
Pursuing politics was just a trivial choice for him; becoming a Grandmaster of Huajin had been the dream Lu Jingjun had hidden in his heart since childhood.
Now that his father had entered that Realm, if he went back and learned from him day and night, he might just have a chance!
The ever-shrewd Li Zhen looked at his son-in-law’s eager expression, then at Lu Yun’s calm, impassive face.
His eyes darted for a moment, and then he laughed. "Ah, Jing Jun, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for you to go back to Yun Port."
"Just because you can’t advance in the Capital City doesn’t mean you can’t advance elsewhere. Your father is a Grandmaster of Huajin now. If he could get a Governor Appointment Letter..."
He paused, watching Lu Jingjun’s eyes gradually widen, and said, word by word, "You can still achieve great things in Yun Port City!"
"Military Governor?"
Lu Jingjun was stunned. He looked at Li Zhen in shock. "Father-in-law, are you saying my dad should become the Military Governor of Yun Port City?"
’If my father could take that position... the Lu Family would be more than just solid as a rock. It would be an iron-clad mountain of gold!’
Lu Jingjun suddenly remembered something, and his brows furrowed. "That’s not right. Doesn’t Yun Port City already have a Military Governor?"
Li Zhen gave a slight, cunning smile. "As a high-ranking official in the General Affairs Department, I naturally have some inside information."
He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "The new Emperor system is now inevitable. That President of ours has made up his mind."
"But the Military Governor of Yun Port City... heh. He’s respectful on the surface but plays tricks behind the scenes, paying lip service to the orders from the Capital City."
"As it’s a strategic location right next to Kyoto City, how could the President tolerate a thorn in his side? He’s already decided to replace him in the next few days."
Lu Jingjun, who had been listening intently, couldn’t help but ask, "But even if he’s replaced, it would be someone from the Yuan Family taking the position! How could it fall to our Lu Family? The President has never even met my dad. How could he trust him?"
Li Zhen nodded in response. "Mm, Jing Jun, you’re right. That is indeed the case."
He then changed the subject. "However, the President has his own considerations."
"The situation in Yun Port City is complex. Foreigners, gangs, merchant guilds, and local factions are all deeply entrenched. Parachuting in a complete stranger from the Yuan Family might not be enough to control the situation."
"So, he mentioned before in the General Affairs Department that he wants to find someone local to Yun Port City who is both influential and powerful enough to keep all the factions in line to serve as the Military Governor."
"Then, he’ll send a scion of the Yuan Family to be the Vice Military Governor, ostensibly to assist, but in reality, to supervise."
At this point, Li Zhen looked at Lu Yun expectantly. "Elder Lu, you happen to be an advisor for the Martial Arts Demonstration and a locally respected Grandmaster of Huajin."
"If you could make the other candidates... mm, have no objections..."
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning couldn’t be clearer. Making other candidates "have no objections" was simple. A Grandmaster of Huajin had plenty of ways to make people have no objections.
Lu Jingjun caught on as well. He turned his head to Lu Yun and asked excitedly, "Dad! What do you think?"
Li Zhen also looked at Lu Yun, awaiting his answer.
"The Military Governor of Yun Port City?" Lu Yun fell into thought.
’The world is on the verge of chaos. Various factions are stirring, foreigners are watching like hungry tigers, and there’s a group of strange, ghostly things lying dormant in the shadows. On top of all that, the President is hell-bent on stirring up trouble with some new Emperor system...’
’If I could become the Military Governor of Yun Port City and command over a hundred thousand troops, it wouldn’t be a bad choice.’
’Then I could hand over military authority to Jing Jun, let him train the soldiers and handle the miscellaneous affairs, and I could enjoy my leisure.’
’It wouldn’t affect my cultivation, nor would it interfere with protecting the Lu Family. It would be killing two birds with one stone.’
"I have never met His Excellency the President. How could I get him to nominate me?"
The moment he said this, both Li Zhen and Lu Jingjun were overjoyed!
For Lu Yun to ask this meant he was interested!
Li Zhen quickly sat up straight, his face wreathed in smiles. "Elder Lu! There’s something you don’t know!"
"Tomorrow evening, His Excellency the President will be holding a grand banquet at his residence. It’s to... mm, lay the groundwork for the upcoming cabinet meeting and to connect with the various influential factions."
"They call it a banquet, but really, only prominent figures will be there: the Commanders-in-Chief from the various cabinet ministries, distinguished guests from the Western Countries, and some long-famous Grandmasters of Huajin!"
"As the deputy chief of the General Affairs Department, I naturally received an invitation as well."
"When the time comes, Elder Lu, you can accompany me, and you’ll naturally be able to meet His Excellency the President!"
At the end, Li Zhen quickly added, "Don’t you worry, Elder Lu! You’re a Grandmaster of Huajin now. Who wouldn’t look up to you?"
"I’m sure that when the President meets you, he’ll have to be perfectly polite!"
Hearing this, Lu Yun gave a slight nod. "Very well!"

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