Chapter 35: Calmly Facing Tomorrow's Banquet

Night had fallen.

Lu Xiao returned to his quarters only after concluding his cultivation at the end of the You hour. He had been deeply immersed in his practice, and the gains were significant. With a few more days of diligent effort, advancing his cultivation realm would be well within reach.

Lu Xiao’s primary reason for returning at this hour was Er Niu. He knew that if he hadn't arrived, Er Niu would surely have saved his meal for him. Having labored all day, he was hungry too.

Upon returning to the small dwelling, he found the dishes on the stone table outside had already gone cold. Neither master nor servant cared for formalities; they began eating immediately before the food could cool any further. As they ate, Lu Xiao asked about the afternoon and whether any incidents had occurred.

"This afternoon, San Cha from the Second Madame’s courtyard stopped by. He said there is a banquet tomorrow and that you, Fourth Young Master, are expected to attend."

It was currently the winter month, with over a month left until the end of the year. Lu Xiao could roughly guess the nature of the banquet he was being asked to attend at this time of year.

"When San Cha saw I wasn't there, did he ask any prying questions?"

Hearing Lu Xiao's question, Er Niu chuckled. "When he came to deliver the message, San Cha seemed to want to ask but didn't dare. He kept looking around, so I took the initiative and asked him what was wrong. The moment I did, he looked terrified; he finished his message and turned to leave immediately."

Recalling the afternoon's events, Er Niu found it quite comical. Those who used to strut and bully him were now all acting cowardly. The two shared a few jokes, and Er Niu continued the conversation. Having been by the side of Lu Xiao’s elder brother, Lu Zheng, for nearly six years, Er Niu had a fair idea of what the banquet entailed.

"Fourth Young Master, take off your outer robe tonight. I’ll press it under a wooden board for the night. It will be crisp and neat tomorrow, making you look even more dashing."

Clothing worn frequently often became full of wrinkles, and too many wrinkles made one look slovenly. The usual way to fix this was to press the garment under a flat, heavy board overnight.

"I can handle that myself. You’ve been busy all afternoon, Er Niu; get some rest."

Lu Xiao declined the offer, but after dinner, Er Niu insisted on taking the task upon himself. He claimed he wasn't tired and reminded Lu Xiao that, as a servant, these were his duties.

Lu Xiao could not refuse and let him proceed. The banquet scheduled for the next day was an internal affair within the Marquis’s estate. Every year at this time, the estate would send away some of the older servants. Before their departure, the estate would host a banquet in their honor, which all members of the Lu family were expected to attend. The younger generation would represent the family to express gratitude to these veteran servants—a gesture meant to highlight the Lu family's benevolence and righteousness, while also serving as positive encouragement for those still in service.

Although Lu Xiao was held in low regard and was currently shunned by the entire estate, protocol dictated that he attend. The Old Madame, a beneficiary of traditional customs, would rarely break them, as doing so too often would render them meaningless. Moreover, it was merely an invitation to a banquet.

Lu Xiao gave little thought to the event. He would simply go to make up the numbers and follow the formalities. The only thing he needed to consider was whether he could pack some food to take back. Er Niu had been eating too poorly while staying with him, and bringing him something would be a welcome relief.

He did not cultivate that night, as he felt somewhat fatigued from the afternoon's training. He slept until dawn.

The next morning, at the Chen hour, Liu Wang arrived with several servants to remind Lu Xiao to prepare for the evening’s banquet and to ensure his attire was clean and neat. These servants were soft-spoken, a stark contrast to the persistent, thunderous knocking they had subjected him to previously.

Lu Xiao opened the door to acknowledge them, and the group quickly departed. The servants of the Marquis’s estate were now genuinely afraid that Lu Xiao might drag them down with him. In their eyes, the extraction of Lu Xiao’s spiritual bone was inevitable. They reasoned that if Lu Xiao cooperated, the elders would surely grant some of his minor requests—perhaps even something as trivial as breaking their own legs to keep him company during his final days.

After rising, Lu Xiao saw that Er Niu was still asleep. He decided not to wake him and went to the kitchen himself to fetch breakfast, paying no mind to the distinction between master and servant. He treated Er Niu like family. Though the other servants were no longer intentionally causing trouble, Er Niu was still exhausted from doing the work of two people. He hadn't performed such heavy labor in a long time, not since he had served by the elder brother’s side.

When he returned with the meal, Er Niu was awake. They ate together and rested briefly. Since the banquet was today, the servants hadn't bothered to assign any odd jobs. Er Niu had somehow scavenged a bronze mirror and insisted on tidying Lu Xiao’s appearance.

"With your handsome looks, Fourth Young Master, if the noble daughters of the capital saw you, they would surely fight to marry you. In the three years the Eldest Young Master has been at the capital’s academy, I don’t know how many admirers he’s had. You are even better-looking, Fourth Young Master; you would surely be even more sought after."

Lu Xiao smiled at this. "You’ve become quite the flatterer today, Er Niu, praising me to the heavens."

Er Niu’s expression turned serious. "You must believe me, Fourth Young Master; I speak no lies. Among all the young masters in the capital, I’ve never seen anyone more dashing than you. At best, they just wear more expensive clothes."

Er Niu had seen the world and had encountered countless young nobles in the capital. Having seen so many, he was well-positioned to compare. He wasn't lying; in terms of physical appearance, Lu Xiao was truly striking, and none of the young men in the capital could surpass him.

However, in this world, looks were not the most important thing. The reason his brother, Lu Zheng, was so favored was primarily due to his literary achievements. At twenty-four, Lu Zheng was a scholar who had perfected the four realms of Clear Spring, and with his refined, gentlemanly demeanor and the backing of the Marquis’s estate, it was only natural for him to be pursued by women. How much his looks contributed was hard to say, but it was likely no more than twenty percent.

Lu Xiao didn't argue with Er Niu, understanding that the servant was just trying to comfort him with kind words. He adjusted his clothing and walked to a nearby water vat, using its reflection to check his appearance. Having been pressed, his robe looked much better, and he felt a newfound sense of vigor.

In truth, this change was not merely due to the grooming. The cultivation and tempering of these past days had significantly improved his physique. As his realm rose, his spirit and vitality had followed, naturally giving him a different presence.