Chapter 1: The Young Concubine Son, Gazing at the Autumn Light

The sun was high, and the autumn breeze was gradually rising.

Lu Jing, dressed in a green robe, was sitting among several artificial hills, reciting classics in a low voice.

"Hexagram 63: Gazing with longing, regret; delay, and there will be regret. …"

"Hexagram 94: Perhaps leaping in the abyss, no blame. …"

Lu Jing's voice was deep, but each word was clear and resonant, like the sound of jade, firm and powerful. The book of *Zhou Yi* in his hand was filled with his annotations.

In the distance, in a delicate and exquisite "Bright Moon Pavilion,"

Sheng Zi, dressed in a red robe with intricate patterns, her brows carrying a hint of heroism yet not losing her natural beauty, was looking at the green-robed young man reading.

"Lu Yi, your third brother is quite interesting. He is about to enter the Southern Duke's mansion as a son-in-law, yet he still insists on reading every day…"

"Doesn't he know that once he becomes a concubine son, he can no longer take the imperial exams?"

Beside Sheng Zi was a beautiful young girl who bore a slight resemblance to Lu Jing.

The girl's name was Lu Yi, and she was Lu Jing's cousin.

"I don't know what useless books he's reading." Lu Yi lazily lifted her head, looking at the place where Lu Jing was with indifference: "I heard from the servants that Lu Jing has been particularly diligent these past few months, but the books he reads are somewhat strange."

"In my opinion, he's just putting on a show to hide his shame. After all… the Southern Duke's mansion has delayed the wedding several times, clearly regretting it."

As Lu Yi spoke, she frowned slightly, her eyes clearly showing impatience.

Seeing the inquiring look in Sheng Zi's eyes, she explained, "The reason is probably that the martial genius of the Southern Duke's mansion is not very satisfied with such an… ordinary husband?"

"Moreover, I heard that after Nan He Yu returned to the capital, the Southern Duke's condition has improved, so there's no longer a need for a marriage to bring good fortune."

Sheng Zi, with her long hair tied back, asked curiously, "The Southern Duke's mansion doesn't want Lu Jing to be a concubine son anymore? But you said just the other day that your third brother's life contract had already been submitted to the household registry office, and his name was recorded in the Southern Mansion's external register."

"Strictly speaking, he is already a concubine son of the Southern Mansion. If the Southern Mansion breaks the engagement now, it can only be the Southern family's daughter who divorces him? Wouldn't that harm your third brother?"

"Sheng Zi, just call him Lu Jing." Lu Yi stood up, her face showing a mix of shame and anger: "Who cares about his life now? Although he is just an unpopular illegitimate son, he is still of the Lu family's blood. If he becomes a concubine son, it is a great disgrace to the Nine Lakes Lu family."

"Especially… especially now that he is despised by Nan He Yu, and the wedding has been postponed several times. How many noble young men on this ten-mile Changning Street are laughing at the Lu family? I feel quite uncomfortable when I go out these days…"

"Lu Yi." Sheng Zi suddenly interrupted Lu Yi, who was speaking with shame and anger: "The affairs of your Lu family are not something I should meddle in, but… you know that Lu Jing becoming a concubine son of the Lu family was not his own choice."

Lu Yi was taken aback, her eyes becoming even sharper: "The Southern Duke's mansion specifically requested him to marry Nan He Yu to bring good fortune to the old duke. There must be a reason for naming him specifically. It's probably because Lu Jing himself brought this disaster upon himself."

"Is that not a good thing?" Sheng Zi tilted her head: "The old matriarch and the first lady decided that Lu Jing would enter the Southern Duke's mansion as a concubine son. The Southern Duke has submitted three memorials, and the exiled Lu family's head has been recalled to Tai Xuan City and is already on his way back. This is also a good thing for the Lu family."

Sheng Zi's eyes were calm, and her words were reasonable.

Lu Yi was slightly stunned, remaining silent.

Sheng Zi sighed inwardly.

She actually understood that the young masters and misses of the Lu family were not unaware that this marriage was a transaction.

The Southern Duke's mansion got a concubine son with a decent background and could bring good fortune to the ailing Southern Duke.

The Lu family's head was also able to return from the impoverished Yuan Mountain Road to Tai Xuan City as he wished.

In this marriage, both the Southern and Lu families were getting what they wanted.

The only one who would become a laughingstock and lose his future was the green-robed young man in the distance.

The people of the Lu family, however, still cared about the reputation of the Nine Lakes Lu family, viewing the illegitimate son becoming a concubine son as a great disgrace, and thus despised and humiliated him.

Lu Yi was young and had been influenced by the surrounding talk to despise Lu Jing, so she couldn't be entirely blamed.

Sheng Zi gazed at Lu Jing from a distance, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"A pitiful person."

"I hope that when General Lu returns, your situation will improve."

—

Lu Jing did not know that while he was reading in the crevices of the artificial hills, he was being observed.

He was just reading quietly among the hills.

However, strangely, what Lu Jing was reading was not the Four Books and Five Classics of this world, but a *Zhou Yi* that did not exist in this world!

For three months, he had been reading diligently every day.

As the sunlight shifted, shining on the pond in the western courtyard of the Lu family, Lu Jing finally finished reading the book in his hand.

When the last line of text turned into an insight, imprinting in his mind, a beam of white light suddenly appeared, flying into Lu Jing's thoughts.

His mind already contained many white lights, forming a network. The latest white light was like the last tile, falling onto the network of light.

"Boom…"

With a loud explosion, Lu Jing's thoughts briefly dispersed.

When he regained his consciousness, he saw that the many lights were now emitting a golden glow, shining brightly, and countless pieces of information were pouring in!

"The mystery of the *Zhou Yi* lies in [seeking good and avoiding evil]…"

"Obtained: Fiery Metal Life Essence—[seeking good and avoiding evil]."

As various pieces of information appeared in Lu Jing's mind, he felt his consciousness suddenly become clear, and a golden light exploded!

The past also quietly surfaced in Lu Jing's mind.

This *Zhou Yi* did not belong to this world; it was just that Lu Jing happened to be holding a *Zhou Yi* when he crossed over.

Lu Jing, who had crossed over, studied the *Zhou Yi* in such detail because he discovered that every time he read the *Zhou Yi* and gained insight, a white light would appear in his mind.

When these white lights intertwined, it seemed to be constructing a unique… palace.

Thus, Lu Jing, who had just arrived in this unfamiliar world, clung to this lifeline like a drowning person, reading and reciting diligently for more than three months.

Today, when the white lights in his mind finally coalesced, a golden light like the sun appeared.

Lu Jing was amazed by this, and suddenly, the golden light flashed again…

[When a gentleman reads, he can seek good and avoid evil!]

[There is an observer.]

[Evil: Deliberately read aloud to attract attention, making others admire your diligence.

Benefit: Obtain white life essence—[putting on a show].

Disadvantage: Being too deliberate may be despised by others.]

[Good: A gentleman is not influenced by external things, continue to read diligently until late at night.

Benefit: Obtain white life essence—[diligent and hardworking], admired by the observer.]

Lu Jing clearly perceived that the lines of text were shining brightly, floating in his mind.

Evil and Good seemed to be waiting for him to make a choice.

"Reading the *Zhou Yi* a thousand times, studying it carefully, has finally paid off."

Lu Jing took a deep breath: "Three months of effort have not been in vain."

He had already noticed the two vague figures in the Bright Moon Pavilion in the distance.

But with his limited eyesight, he couldn't see who was in the pavilion, and he didn't care.

So he continued to focus, pondering the two pieces of information in his mind.

"Studying the *Zhou Yi* allows me to seek good and avoid evil…"

The first piece of information seemed to suggest showing off his diligence in front of the observer, but the evil omen might make the observer think he is putting on a show, which would be a lower choice.

Moreover, his status in the mansion was already despised, and if he put on a show, it might lead to gossip, which would not be good.

"The second piece of information is a good omen, suggesting I remain unaffected by external things and continue reading until late at night. Weighing the pros and cons, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Since that's the case, I should naturally choose the good omen."

In just a few breaths, Lu Jing made his decision.

"Although reading until late at night is tiring, since it is a good omen, it should benefit my life in the future."

Lu Jing's gaze was calm, and he took a deep breath. He took out another book, *Zhi Shen*, from the stone table in front of him and continued to recite.

"A sage, with a clear mind, can fully realize his heart's virtue."

"The changes in the world are unpredictable, and the matters of life and death are significant. There are those who seek to avoid danger and survive at the cost of harming righteousness…"

Although the good omen suggested hard work, Lu Jing had already understood his situation over the past two months.

His mother was of low birth, and the Lu family's matriarch, the first lady, and even the pillar of the Lu family, General Shen Yuan, all despised Lu Jing—now himself.

Moreover, he was originally going to be a concubine son, but now he seemed to be despised by the renowned Southern family's genius, becoming a laughingstock among the noble families…

Such a start could lead to his disappearance at any time, leaving him no choice but to work hard.

And…

It's just reading more books. Compared to the freedom of choice in the future, what is it worth?