Chapter 153 Chapter 153 is the only genuine version...

Sheng Jiang got off the carriage.

Chen Xu leaned on the pillow and opened the book in his hand again, flipping through the pages one by one.

As he moved, his long sleeves fell down, and the pearlescent patterns on the sleeves rippled like waves in the sunlight.

The Jinyiwei checked very carefully, and the list recorded everyone's appearance, household registration, age, and other information.

In the opening of the Nine Provinces, in this volume alone, there are 120 people from Yongzhou.

However, household registration and age can be forged and cannot be accurate.

Just like Chen Xu himself, his household registration was fake. After escaping from Blackwater Fort, he used a dead person's pass to replace it. His name and date of birth were all fake.

After ten years on the run, my sister must have kept her identity secret to survive until now.

He didn't know whether his sister would be from Yongzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, or Xuzhou...

However, my sister has a beauty mark on the left side of her lip and a plum blossom birthmark on her right elbow.

He first flipped through it quickly, as no one had ever made such a note on the characteristics, and then he read it slowly, page by page.

The white smoke rising from the incense burner exudes a light and elegant scent.

"Meow."

The cat woke up, and seeing that he ignored it, it came over happily, put its front skin on his shoulders in a coquettish manner, rubbed against him, and was very affectionate.

"It's so dirty,"

Shen Xu raised his hand and picked a cat hair from his sleeve, rubbing his fingers on its fur.

"Don't you like going to Wenyuan Palace? Why don't you go?"

"Meow."

"Can't understand."

"Meow meow meow."

Shen Xu was impatient: “Stop making noise.”

The cat meowed all the way, and when it arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, Sheng Jiang was already waiting there.

He came over at full speed, holding more than ten rosters of exactly the same size in his hands.

A young eunuch went up and knocked on the door. After learning who the visitor was, he quickly welcomed the person in. Another maid went to the back to report to Gu Zhizhuo.

Shen Xu threw the annoying cat out first. After getting off the carriage, he ordered without looking away, "Go get the imperial edict."

Sheng Jiang got into the carriage. The bright yellow imperial edict was placed on the table, with cat hair on it.

He muttered, "Is this cat drooling while sleeping?"

The imperial edict was made a little wet by the saliva, no wonder the master was reluctant to touch it.

Tsk.

Never mind, the imperial edict wasn't for him anyway. Seeing that Shen Xu had already walked away, Sheng Jiang casually put his pockets in his pocket and chased after him.

The servant welcomed Chen Xu to the main hall. After sitting for a while, Gu Zhizhuo came out.

"Master Governor."

She lifted her skirt, stepped over the threshold, bowed, and said with a smile, "Why are you here?"

Shen Xu gave a wink, and Sheng Jiang presented the imperial edict.

Gu Zhizhuo narrowed her eyes. She looked at the cat hair and saliva on the imperial edict with disdain and didn't want to respond. "What is this?"

"Imperial edict."

Gu Zhizhuo: “…”

Of course she recognized it as an imperial edict!

Did he come to announce the decree? Did Grandmother and Third Uncle know? They didn't come, so they probably don't know.

Normally, the whole family must be present when an imperial decree is announced, right? The concierge didn't say anything.

You are so casual in doing things.

Sheng Jiang's hands were almost sore from holding the imperial edict in front of him. This Miss Gu was definitely the first person who refused to accept it.

Shen Xu kindly explained, "It's what you wanted. Prince Li got it for you."

Gu Zhizhuo's eyes lit up: "You said so earlier!"

Prince Li is really considerate. He promised three days and it only lasted three days.

"Master," Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrow, picked up the imperial edict by the edges, and shook off the cat hair on it, asking suspiciously, "Could you have taken this imperial edict out of the cat's nest?"

"Isn't that right, Shenmao?"

"Meow."

Chen Xu was impatient: “If you don’t want it, just throw it away.”

"Yes, of course I won't. I worked so hard to get it." Gu Zhizhuo said with a smile, "You didn't see that Prince Li is very stingy. It was not easy to get this title."

She curled the corners of her mouth, her eyes and eyebrows curved in a smile, and she looked particularly happy.

Given the emperor's current state of confusion, he might have agreed even if she had gone directly to him and offered Gu Yan in exchange for his title. However, this would have inevitably sparked controversy among the royal family and the nobles, as he was the first prince of a different surname in Daqi. Having Prince Li intervene could have saved a lot of trouble.

Perfect.

Chen Xu held his chin with one hand, looked at her with a half-smile, and said, "Tell me how shameless and eloquent you were to coax that old man into planning for you wholeheartedly."

In the past three days, Prince Li has been fighting and defending, retreating to advance, and Chen Xu has seen it all. Especially after receiving the imperial edict, Prince Li has not let the emperor hate the Gu family. It shows that Prince Li has really put in a lot of effort.

Tsk. Gu Zhizhuo glanced at him. What does "shameless" mean? Can he even speak?

"I'm just talking about the facts."

Chen Xu sneered, clearly showing his disbelief.

Gu Zhizhuo shrugged. She unfolded the imperial edict and read it word by word.

Chen Xu leaned on the armrest of the armchair, playing with the jade pendant on his wrist, his face full of impatience.

The imperial edict promoted the Gu family, Duke of Zhenguo, to the rank of prince, and granted them the title of King of Zhenbei, which was hereditary and would not be demoted. They were in charge of the tiger talisman and stationed in the northern border.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Gu Zhizhuo's mouth. This title was what the Gu family deserved. From great-grandfather to grandfather, to father, uncles, aunts and so on, their achievements should not be buried.

If you want the Gu family to keep their empire, you can't just give them no benefits.

"Thank you for your hard work, Governor." Gu Zhizhuo bowed.

She sat down and placed the imperial edict on the coffee table. Seeing that he showed no sign of leaving, Gu Zhizhuo asked doubtfully, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"Gu Yan."

"Oh, right, I forgot!" Gu Zhizhuo slapped his forehead and asked Qiongfang to bring Gu Yan over. "You don't need to bring anything. You'll have everything you need once you enter the palace. How can our Gu family compare to the expenses of the palace?"

After saying that, she smiled at Shen Xu: “Right?”

Chen Xu: “Hehe.”

Gu Zhizhuo turned a deaf ear to her and sent Qiongfang away. Curious, he asked, "Will there be a canonization?"

"Do you wish there were?"

"I hope he will remain nameless and unranked forever, and never be included in the Imperial Book of Chronicles." Gu Zhizhuo spread his hands and said frankly, "Don't look at me. I'm not so kind as to wish Gu Yan well."

I am very vindictive.

Chen Xu didn't comment. He raised his hand and made a gesture. Sheng Jiang walked up with a stack of rosters in his hand.

Gu Zhizhuo understood what he meant and asked all the maids to leave, leaving only Qingmei.

"Here is the list of all the courtesans in the capital."

Shen Xu leaned his right elbow against the coffee table, his wide sleeves drooping down, blazing like fire. His voice paused when he mentioned Jizi: "Can you find her?"

Gu Zhizhuo: "Put it down first."

"Please move a coffee table over here." He said this to Sheng Jiang.

She roughly counted them and found there were eleven in total.

After a quick look, Sheng Jiang brought the coffee table over and combined the two coffee tables together.

Gu Zhizhuo put the books away one by one and was about to take out the compass when she accidentally caught a glimpse of the cat squatting obediently next to Shen Xu. With an idea in mind, she waved and called out, "Cat Shen, come here."

Hearing her calling him, Cat Shen shook his ears and walked over gracefully.

"Meow."

Gu Zhizhuo picked it up by its belly, placed it on the coffee table, touched its black nose and said, "Look, which one here is the most unlucky?"

"Me?"

"Pick the one you like best."

The cat stared blankly at the list of names lined up in front of it, carefully touching it with its paw, then sniffing at each one. It tilted its cute little head and looked at Gu Zhizhuo: "Meow?"

"Your favorite."

Gu Zhizhuo stared at it with burning eyes.

Shen Mao seemed to understand, it jumped off the coffee table and ran towards Shen Xu.

It walked around Shen Xu's calf and patted him with its claws, leaving two dark plum blossom marks on his smooth robe.

"Meow!"

Pat again.

"Meow!"

Chen Xu: “…”

Gu Zhizhuo touched his chin and said with sudden enlightenment, "It said you are the most unlucky here, and it likes you the most."

Chen Xu: “…”

Shen Mao put his head on his fiery robe and was the best friend in the world.

Chen Xu lowered his eyes, raised his red lips slightly, and reached out to gently touch the cat's head.

Touch it! Shen Mao was happy, his whiskers were raised high, and he was talking in a coquettish voice.

Why.

Cats are unreliable, you can only rely on yourself.

Gu Zhizhuo still took out the compass. She still remembered the birth date that Shen Xu had told her. She gently fiddled with the inner disk with her fingers, and the magnetic needle of the compass began to rotate for a long time.

She waited for a long time, but the magnetic needle still showed no sign of stopping.

The hexagram is not formed in vain, and the lines are not released without reason. (Note 1)

Looking for this person, the hexagram and the lines are not accepted, and the destiny is not allowed.

Gu Zhizhuo took the compass and threw the counting chips.

"No questions about whereabouts."

"I just want to ask about your safety."

She made three divinations in a row, each of which took a long time. When she looked up again, the cat was sitting in Shen Xu's arms, arrogantly ordering Sheng Jiang to get it some water.

Sheng Jiang didn't dare, for fear of splashing water on Shen Xu.

"How is it?" Shen Xu asked impatiently, with an indescribable tension in his arrogant voice.

Gu Zhizhuo said calmly: "The dilemma has already occurred. Once we are trapped in it, retreat means death, and advance means destruction."

"In this situation, whether we advance or retreat, we will both end up dead."

Bang.

The fiery red sleeves swept across the coffee table, the teacup fell to the ground, and the tea splashed on his robe.

Shen Xu's pupils were pitch black under his eyelashes. He stood up suddenly and the cat rolled off his knees. As soon as it sat down and wanted to lose its temper, it licked its paws obediently and peeked quietly before showing its little fangs.

Chen Xu passed by it like the wind, and the hem of his clothes knocked it to the ground.

He rushed to Gu Zhizhuo in two steps, pressing his hands on the armrests of the armchair. His peach blossom eyes were devoid of affection, but instead filled with cruelty and oppression. "What did you say!?"

Sheng Jiang was startled, hesitantly looked left and right, and silently took a few steps back. The cat rolled over and got up, leaning against him obediently, just as weak and helpless.

Shen Xu stared at him straight, with bloodshot eyes, just like that day at Zhuangzi, as if he would strangle her neck immediately if she said something careless.

Gu Zhizhuo was never afraid of him at that time.

Now I'm not afraid of him anymore.

She said calmly, "Look at the second hexagram. The gentleman sacrifices his life to achieve his ambition (Note 2). He takes pleasure in being in a dangerous situation. She voluntarily steps into the predicament. She is not giving up on herself, but gambling with her life and her soul."

Chen Xu tightly grasped the armrests of the armchair with both hands, and his soft voice contained a hint of chilling coldness: "Continue."

Gu Zhizhuo asked him to look at the third hexagram: "Water | Thunder Tun."

Shen Xu couldn't understand, so he stared into her eyes and listened to her.

Gu Zhizhuo brushed his sleeves and said calmly, "Sit back." The hairpin in his hair swayed gently, and the hanging pearls cast a faint shadow on his cheeks. No emotion could be seen between his unsmiling brows.

Haha, Shen Xu let out a cold laugh, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

Sheng Jiang shrank back again, and the cat looked left and right, then followed him obediently.

Qingmei tiptoed over and stood with them. It was so scary.

Gu Zhizhuo met his gaze.

After a while, Chen Xu stood up silently. He did not return to his original seat, but sat on the armchair across the coffee table from her and squeezed out a word: "Speak." His tone was as cold as if wrapped in a thin layer of ice.

"Water | Thunder Tun. Water above, thunder below." Gu Zhizhuo picked up a counting stick. "It's an ominous hexagram."

Chen Xu had a blank expression on his face, and his hands on the coffee table suddenly clenched.

"Master, have you ever thought about meeting these people?"

Gu Zhizhuo pointed at the book with his fingertips.

The capital city is so big with a population of 800,000. She originally thought it would be difficult to check all the prostitutes.

After all, private prostitutes do not register with the government, and some even have good records and make a living secretly as prostitutes.

Now that everything has been investigated, let the Jinyiwei bring them here in batches so that he can see them with his own eyes. He should be able to recognize them, right?

"See?"

Chen Xu raised his palm to his forehead, tapping it lightly with his fingertips, seemingly in a chaotic manner, yet also as if containing some special rhythm.

Blood flowed from his palm and down his arm, flowing stickyly.

Chen Xu, who usually didn't want even a speck of dust on his body, seemed unaware of this.

The blood blended with the color of his sleeves, and was equally bright.

He let out a low, somewhat sinister laugh.

"Your youthful recklessness has brought death to your parents."

"Useless, I lost my sister."

"To seek revenge, she harmed herself... Hehehe, how can I face her?"

Gu Zhizhuo: “…”

Sheng Jiang, the cat, and Qing Mei had shrunk into the corner, pressed against the wall, as quiet as a cicada.

Until the old woman's voice suddenly rang out: "Miss, Prince Li and the Minister of Rites have arrived."

"please."

Soon after, Qiongfang also came with Gu Yan.

Shen Xu brushed his sleeves, leaving a bloody handprint on the coffee table.

There was no emotion in his voice: "Come here."

Ji was born beautifully, and Gu Yan looked very much like Ji, with red lips and white teeth, and a very good appearance. Unfortunately, he now looked like a jade boy with a gloomy face, full of hatred. Gu Zhizhuo was not willing to talk to him any more. She said to Shen Xu, "Master, this is Gu Yan. Please take him away."

Gu Yan didn't look at Chen Xu, but stared at Gu Zhizhuo and asked, "Gu Zhizhuo, why don't you want me anymore!"

He continued to shout in a shrill voice: "Why are you driving me away?"

"Because your last name isn't Gu." Gu Zhizhuo interrupted him, rubbed his ears, and said calmly, "You're not my brother, so why should I treat you like a sister?"

"I won't leave!" Gu Yan said viciously, "Uncle Emperor said that I will inherit the Zhenguogong Mansion in the future. I am the Duke, and it is you who have to leave. You! When you die, the Zhenguogong Mansion will be mine. Uncle Emperor loves us the most."

"Get out!"

He yelled and rushed towards her like a madman.

Gu Zhizhuo turned sideways, and Gu Yan fell unsteadily onto the coffee table, and the abacus fell to the ground with a crackling sound.

Shen Xu glanced at him sinisterly, suddenly stood up, raised his hand and grabbed his neck.

"Hmm."

Gu Yan was so frightened that his face turned pale as paper.

Gu Yan shook her head with difficulty, tears streaming down her face, and tried to pull his hand away.

"Um... sis, sis... help."

"Ouch! Lord Shen, let him go!"

Prince Li ran in from across the threshold, horrified, and exclaimed, "Don't be impulsive...don't be impulsive."

"Let him go!"

Chen Xu loosened his hand, and Gu Yan fell to the ground, gasping for breath, panting and coughing. He was so scared that his legs were shaking and he rolled and crawled back.

Chen Xu waved his sleeves and walked out without looking back.

"Meow."

Chen Mao waved hurriedly and followed him at a trot, running faster than Sheng Jiang.

Gu Zhizhuo bent down to pick up the abacus on the ground.

Hmm…

etc.

Her fingers paused, and the counting sticks fell to the ground, forming a hexagram of thunder and water.

From Shui｜Leitun, to Leishuijie.

"Hey, girl, take a look. Is Gu Yan okay?" Prince Li helped Gu Yan up, rubbed his back, and called Gu Zhizhuo to ask. No matter how much he disliked Gu Yan, he would not stand idly by.

Gu Zhizhuo turned a deaf ear and muttered to himself, "The hexagram does not accept it, and the destiny does not allow it."

"God forbid?"

At this moment, it was like an epiphany. Gu Zhizhuo grabbed the abacus on the ground and quickly chased after him.

"Girl, girl! Where are you going?"

Gu Zhizhuo lifted her skirt, stepped out of the doorway, and shouted, "Wait!"

She picked up an abacus and threw it at him.

Sheng Jiang was so frightened that he even forgot to rush over and grab the counting sticks.

Pop.

The counting stick hit him on the back of the head.

Shen Xu paused and when he looked back, his red lips slightly raised, as if he was smiling, but there was a hint of madness in his raised eyebrows, and the cruel aura lingering around him was chilling.

He bent down and picked up the abacus.

With a click, the abacus broke into two pieces between his fingers. He didn't say anything, but this one action alone conveyed the impression that if you don't speak properly, you will die.

Tsk, what a bad temper.

She walked forward quickly and lowered her voice, "Master, go and arrest the Taoist priest named Changfeng in the Prince of Jin's mansion."

"It doesn't matter if it's a false imperial decree or a fabricated charge."

"Catch him."