As the tent suddenly appeared on the open ground, everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Lu Qing, visibly excited, used his cane to get up and staggered forward, almost tripping in the process. Lu Zhou, startled, quickly reached out to support him.

“Father, take it slow!”

Behind him, other members of the Lu family couldn’t contain their curiosity and also got up to follow the old man.

The tent was set up perfectly, and Lu Qing examined it closely. This was not the kind of tent he remembered!

When he was younger, he accompanied the former emperor on hunting trips every year and had seen the guards set up tents. It was a complicated process, often taking at least half an hour! But now, the ancestor had simply opened it with a flick of the wrist, and in the blink of an eye, it was done?

He tried to study it further, but the design seemed complex, and he couldn’t quite figure it out.

Hearing his thoughts, Gu Xingzhao chuckled, “This one is just made for convenience and portability. In terms of material and structure, it’s far inferior to the ones you’re used to.”

She had studied ancient tents and remembered historical accounts of elaborate designs, like the Han Dynasty’s gilded copper tent, which had over 102 intricate parts. Those tents used by ancient nobility were far superior in terms of craftsmanship and materials compared to these modern camping tents.

But when it came to convenience, modern tents were unbeatable. They were cheap, easy to set up at night, and could be taken down and packed quickly in the morning, perfect for the Lu family in their current situation.

Lu Qing, however, thought the ancestor was being modest. To him, this tent was truly extraordinary!

Lu Zhou couldn’t take his eyes off it and reached out to touch it, marveling, “Father, did the ancestor send this too?”

“I’ve never seen such a lightweight tent before!”

Next to him, Mrs. Song and Mrs. Xu followed, saying, “This is amazing! With this, we won’t have to endure the wind and snow at night anymore!”

The Lu clan members were overjoyed. “The ancestor is so kind! Not only food but now a place to stay—this is a real treasure.”

“Too bad there’s only one,” someone sighed. With so many people in the group, most would still have to sleep outside in the cold.

Lu Yang, enjoying his bowl of instant noodles, grinned and said, “Let the women and children sleep inside. We men can handle the cold, especially with the warm clothes the ancestor gave us. What’s there to fear?”

Dressed in his warm layers and eating a hot meal, he even felt a bit too warm!

The others quickly agreed. “Second Brother is right! We’ll stand guard outside.”

Even if they couldn’t sleep inside the tents themselves, just knowing their wives and children were comfortable made them happy.

Just then, Gu Xingzhao sent over six more tents with a loud “whoosh,” dropping them right in front of everyone.

“What… what’s this?”

Lu Qing walked over with steady steps, clearing his throat. “The ancestor has sent more tents. You young ones, come over here. I’ll show you how to set them up.”

Lu Xingyao rolled up his sleeves, while the other clan members, eyes shining, eagerly volunteered to help.

They were all excited to handle something sent by the ancestor, hoping it might bring them a bit of luck too.

With smiles all around, they followed Lu Qing’s instructions and carefully set up the tents. They stretched the fabric, tied ropes, and secured the tents to the ground so they wouldn’t be blown away by the wind and snow.

Though it was the first time they had ever seen such a thing, and they had to take their time figuring it out, the process was relatively simple.

Even the Liu family, seeing what was happening, came over to help. They couldn’t help but marvel, “I’ve never seen such a lightweight tent before. Truly remarkable!”

Meanwhile, young Lu Youtang and the other children were the first to crawl into the tents. With the wind and snow blocked outside, the inside was warm and cozy. The boys rolled around, laughing gleefully.

The adults watching couldn’t help but smile as well.

The whole area was filled with joy and excitement.

Meanwhile, the other exiled prisoners watched from afar, their hearts sour with envy.

Earlier, they had caught a whiff of the delicious food. Out here in the wilderness, with no means of cooking, they couldn’t figure out how the Lu family was eating something that smelled so good.

The more they thought about it, the more their mouths watered.

They couldn’t understand how the Lu family could be so fortunate. For decades, they had an influential elder who was a revered Grand Chancellor. Even after falling out of favor with the emperor and being exiled, the family still had divine assistance delivering them food and shelter.

It seemed like every good fortune had fallen into the Lu family’s lap.

Some of the exiles harbored dark thoughts. The Lu family wouldn’t stay lucky for long. With all their arrogance and privilege, even the guards weren’t getting such treatment.

Hadn’t Lu Qing’s downfall been due to his overconfidence, even daring to challenge the emperor? It was only a matter of time before the Lu family met their end.

Gu Xingzhao watched the Lu family’s happiness for a while, feeling her own sense of joy. Just a few tents, and they were over the moon. This festive atmosphere felt warmer than any New Year celebration she had ever experienced.

She pulled out a trash bag and gloves from her pocket and started cleaning up the empty noodle cups and other trash. As she worked, she thought to herself how sharp the old man still was, learning faster than the younger ones. He had only needed to see her set up the tent once, and now he knew exactly how to do it.

It was clear—people’s intelligence really did vary.

At that moment, Lu Xingyao had successfully set up his own tent and was about to lie down inside, eager to enjoy the ancestor’s gift. But before he could settle in, Lu Qing called him over to deliver two of the tents to the guards.

The others, already lying comfortably inside their tents, let out contented sighs, “Finally, we can sleep well tonight!”

One of them even shot a smug glance at Lu Xingyao.

His face darkened, but he reluctantly picked up two of the tents and walked off under the watchful eyes of his clan members.

The guards had noticed the commotion from a distance and were feeling bitter. Seeing the Lu family setting up tents made them feel the cold even more acutely. They all glanced at Du Hangwu, hoping for some direction.

One of the younger guards muttered, “Boss, are we just going to let the Lu family live in comfort while we freeze out here?”

Du Hangwu remained silent but glanced in their direction. “That Lu family is protected by a powerful deity. You really want to mess with them?”

Mortal men needed weapons to kill, but deities didn’t need to lift a finger to end countless lives. Anyone with half a brain knew better than to provoke a family under divine protection.

The young guard thought to himself, It’s easy for you to say when you’re wearing the gifts they gave you, and eating their food.

But he didn’t dare voice his complaints, fearing he’d end up like Li Si.

The guards could only watch as the Lu family set up tent after tent. The cold wind seemed to bite deeper, and the snow felt heavier. They shivered as they watched the Lu family prepare for a warm night’s sleep.

Just then, Lu Xingyao arrived, carrying two tents.

Seeing him approach, the guards perked up. They had been feeling bitter just moments ago, but now, excitement crept in. When they realized what he was holding, they had to struggle to keep their expressions neutral.

Lu Xingyao looked at their feigned composure and said, “My grandfather instructed me to bring two tents to you. The wind and snow are harsh tonight. These should help.”