Chapter 729 Sister Complex (Second Update)

Gu Chengfeng waited outside the palace for a long time, which made him lose his temper.

"Wang Xu, are you sure you can manage? I need to pick up my child in a bit!"

It's delaying people from doing their jobs!

I'll count to three, and if you still don't come out, I'll go into the palace to find you!

Wang Xu came out.

Wang Xu had just led a search party to Tianxiang Pavilion yesterday. Gu Chengfeng had seen him before; the insignia of the Guanduwei official's uniform on his body was so obvious that it was hard not to recognize him.

After leaving Gaomen, Wang Xu boarded a carriage to return to his residence.

Gu Chengfeng quietly followed.

Wang Xu wasn't in a hurry, so the carriage didn't travel too fast. As they moved further away from the palace, the number of shops and pedestrians on the streets increased, causing Wang Xu's carriage to slow down even more.

Gu Chengfeng followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

When Wang Xu's carriage passed a restaurant, it was stopped by another carriage.

A middle-aged man dressed as a steward stepped out of the carriage. He smiled and bowed to Wang Xu's carriage. After saying something to Wang Xu, Wang Xu got out of the carriage and went into the restaurant next to him with the man.

Gu Chengfeng didn't go in directly. Instead, he went to the clothing store diagonally opposite and bought a set of women's clothes. He couldn't bear to buy jewelry, so he only used a hairband. With a veil on, he looked like an ordinary commoner.

He entered the restaurant, saying he was looking for someone. The waiter, seeing that she was dressed plainly and didn't look like a rich young lady, didn't bother to serve her and told her to go find her herself.

Gu Chengfeng quickly found the middle-aged man from before in a side room at the east end of the second-floor corridor.

He stood guard at the door, along with two bodyguards.

Is this a big fuss? What's going on?

With bodyguards on guard, it was impossible for Gu Chengfeng to eavesdrop in the corridor.

He entered an empty room, opened the window, climbed out, and went up to the roof.

He used his lightness skill to reach the room where Wang Xu was, lay down, picked up a tile and slightly lifted it halfway, looking down through the gap.

Um?

An old man?

He was dressed in very rich clothes, sitting on a grand master's chair, with his hands resting on the handle of a huanghuali cane.

Gu Chengfeng was right above him, so he couldn't see his face clearly.

Wang Xu was sitting opposite him, and due to the angle, Gu Chengfeng could see half of Wang Xu's face.

"What is Grandpa Han doing?"

Wang Xu spoke.

Old Master Han? Han Ye's grandfather, the head of the Han family?

Gu Chengfeng pricked up his ears.

Old Master Han gave a wink to the servant beside him.

The servant boy approached Wang Xu with a brocade box in both hands.

Wang Xu glanced at the brocade box and asked seriously, "What is the meaning of this?"

Old Master Han raised his hand, and the servant opened the brocade box.

Gu Chengfeng wanted to see what was inside the brocade box, but the servant's large head blocked his view.

Gu Chengfeng gritted his teeth.

However, he noticed that Wang Xu's body tensed up slightly, and he couldn't tell whether it was from excitement or surprise.

Is this old man trying to bribe Wang Xu?

The Han family is the maternal clan of Consort Han and belongs to the Crown Prince's faction.

Mentioning this, Gu Chengfeng couldn't help but sigh at the complexity of the Great Yan royal family. In Zhao Kingdom, princes were not allowed to form cliques or engage in private affairs. The Great Yan king didn't seem to care. The ten great families openly supported the princes born to their own families, but the Great Yan king didn't seem to be very angry.

The only powerful family that the monarch ever suppressed was the Xuanyuan family.

The entire clan was wiped out.

Old Master Han laughed and said, "I know you've been eyeing this treasure of mine for a long time, so I'm giving it to you today."

Wang Xu withdrew his gaze from the box and said solemnly, "I cannot accept rewards without merit. Old Master Han's actions have made this junior feel uneasy."

Old Master Han laughed heartily: "No need to be so nervous, it's just an antique, I can afford it. If you like it, I have many more in my mansion."

Wang Xu asked, "What advice does Old Master Han have?"

Old Master Han said, "You are a smart man, so I will speak frankly. There is something I don't quite understand, and I would like to ask Commandant Wang to enlighten me."

Wang Xu said, "As long as it doesn't concern the court, I will speak frankly and without reservation."

The Wang and Han families are among the most prestigious families in Shengdu. In fact, the Wang family has a more profound history than the Han family. However, Consort Wang did not give birth to any sons, but only two princesses.

Therefore, in the eyes of the common people, the Han family, which has a crown prince, is superior.

But in fact, according to Gu Chengfeng's inquiries, the Wang family was more favored by the emperor.

Old Master Han spoke softly, "I heard that the eldest grandson of the emperor has returned."

Wang Xu frowned: "Oh? I haven't heard about this. You're very well-informed."

Old Master Han smiled and said, "You don't need to make veiled accusations. After all, I am the Crown Prince's uncle. The Crown Prince just went to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall to visit the deposed Crown Princess. His Majesty was there, as was the eldest grandson of the Emperor."

The implication was not that he paid much attention to the deposed crown princess's movements, but rather that it was just a coincidence that the eldest grandson of the emperor was run into by the crown prince.

The Crown Prince is Old Master Han's nephew. How could we not tell Old Master Han such an important matter?

Wang Xu gave Old Master Han a deep look: "Then what does your coming to see me at this time have to do with this matter?"

Old Master Han said, "To be honest, I suspect that this eldest grandson of the emperor is a fake."

Wang Xu's expression changed: "What makes you say that?"

Old Master Han said meaningfully, "My people transported ore to Qidu, and yesterday they sent a message back by carrier pigeon saying that they had met the eldest grandson of the emperor. Qidu is at least seven or eight days away from here, and I don't think the eldest grandson of the emperor could have grown wings and flown back."

Wang Xu frowned: "Do the people in your household know the eldest grandson of the emperor?"

Old Master Han seemed to have anticipated his question and said with a smile, "You don't think that with the abilities of our Han family, we can't even get our hands on a portrait of the eldest grandson of the emperor, do you?"

The portrait does exist, but the story of meeting the eldest grandson of the emperor via carrier pigeon is fabricated.

How else could we arouse Wang Xu's suspicion?

Regardless of whether Wang Xuxin believed his words or not, he would still go to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall to verify them.

Gu Chengfeng clenched his fists. This old man is quite cunning.

Wang Xu looked at Old Master Han with a serious expression: "So Old Master Han wants me to expose the eldest grandson of the emperor?"

Old Master Han nodded without hesitation: "Exposing him would be beneficial to our Han family. That's right, that's exactly what I want to achieve."

I will openly and honestly state my intentions: I want to clear all obstacles for the Crown Prince. We are all smart people, so why pretend to be innocent and hypocritical?

Wang Xu said solemnly, "If he is really a fake, then it is my duty to expose him. Old Master Han's things should be taken back!"

Wang Xu did this not for the Han family, but for His Majesty!

Grandpa Han repeatedly tried to see him off, but Wang Xu resolutely refused. Finally, with a helpless sigh from Grandpa Han, Wang Xu took his leave.

Gu Chengfeng slowly put the tile back and prepared to leave.

Just then, he heard voices coming from inside the house.

"Master, why did he confiscate it? Is he refusing us?"

It was that middle-aged manager; he had been standing guard in the corridor outside the door and hadn't heard the conversation inside.

Old Master Han smiled and stroked the antique in the brocade box, saying, "The Crown Prince is still too young. Trying to win him favor by catering to his desires is a poor strategy. Attacking his weaknesses and turning the tables is the best strategy. How could I bear to give up this treasure?"

Gu Chengfeng: Good heavens, so this is a scheme to get something for nothing.

The middle-aged steward asked worriedly, "What if he tells His Majesty about our attempt to bribe him?"

Old Master Han scoffed, "If he truly wanted to accept it, he probably wouldn't have told anyone. The Crown Prince also considered this when he felt he should bribe him. But I think it wouldn't matter if he told His Majesty. The deposed Crown Princess and the eldest grandson are already a huge threat to the Crown Prince. Wouldn't it be suspicious if our Han family did nothing? Sometimes, revealing a little flaw can make His Majesty feel that everything about us is under his control, and that our Han family is easy to manipulate and not a big threat."

The middle-aged steward excitedly cupped his hands and said, "The patriarch is wise!"

Gu Chengfeng's lips twitched. "The Crown Prince's cunning must have been inherited from your Han family, right?"

Is this the kind of tactic your Han family uses?

It really is a lineage!

Gu Chengfeng didn't like the thing and really wanted to beat it up, but with his current strength, he was afraid he would have a little trouble dealing with the two assassins outside the door.

—We will never admit that we are powerless to fight back.

I'll call that girl over another day and put a sack over her head!

Gu Chengfeng went to chase after Wang Xu.

Wang Xu originally intended to return home, but after a conversation with Old Master Han, he decided to visit the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.

Wang Xu had spent several years at the imperial mausoleum and taught the eldest grandson of the emperor martial arts, although the eldest grandson had not learned a single move.

But they had spent a long time together and knew things that only the two of them knew. He could find out whether the other person was really the eldest grandson of the emperor with a single test.

After the carriage had traveled for a while, he frowned and said to the driver, "Stop for a moment."

"Yes." The coachman stopped the carriage by the roadside.

Wang Xu got off the carriage and went to a pastry shop to buy peach shortbread, a favorite of the eldest grandson of the emperor.

"Excuse me, do you have a restroom?" he asked the shopkeeper.

"Yes, in the backyard," the shopkeeper said.

"Then, I'll put my peach shortbread here for now."

"Okay!"

Gu Chengfeng waited outside the shop, but Wang Xu didn't come out for a long time.

"What happened? Did you fall into the latrine?"

Gu Chengfeng decided to go find him.

He searched the backyard thoroughly, inside and out, but couldn't find Wang Xu anywhere.

Gu Chengfeng slapped his forehead: "Oh no, he found out! He escaped!"

"Wait, wait, I can't rush it."

Where will he go?

"He...he...I know! He must have gone to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall! He's going to see the Crown Prince!"

Gu Chengfeng kept in touch with Xiao Heng day and night, always listening to Xiao Heng analyze the powerful families and the current situation in Shengdu. Under such influence, his logical reasoning improved to a certain extent.

Then he became more composed.

He took a deep breath.

I'm not in a hurry.

I'm not in a hurry...

Screw you, no rush!

He's doomed the moment he sees Xiao Heng!

Gu Chengfeng took off running!

Xiao Heng, hang in there! You absolutely must avoid Wang Xu! If you can't avoid him, you can even pretend to be dead!

Wang Xu was wearing the official robes of a Guanduwei, which Xiao Heng would recognize if he saw him.

However, Wang Xu was not stupid.

After entering the Imperial Preceptor's Hall under the pretext of seeking an audience with the King, he took advantage of a moment when no one was looking and soiled his clothes. He then borrowed a set of Imperial Preceptor's Hall robes from a disciple of the hall.

In a secluded corner, Wang Xu tied his hair into a high bun on top of his head, making him look every bit the older disciple of the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.

"Is His Majesty and the eldest grandson of the Emperor in the Qilin Hall?" He called out to a passing disciple.

He had a powerful aura, and the disciple thought he was some senior brother he didn't recognize.

The disciple respectfully replied, "His Majesty and the young princess have gone to see the Imperial Preceptor, and the eldest grandson of the Emperor is in the Qilin Hall."

"Thank you," Wang Xu said, and strode towards the Qilin Hall.

It was already late afternoon (5-7 PM).

Summer days are long and sunny, and the sky remains bright.

He arrived at the corridor of the Qilin Hall.

The corridor was empty and seemingly deserted, but several eyes were watching from the shadows.

Wang Xu understood that these gazes came from the assassins of the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.

He wasn't there to kill; he didn't exude any murderous aura, so the assassins wouldn't attack him.

He searched through the rooms one by one, and finally saw a side room with its door half open near the end.

He arrived at the door of the side room and could vaguely see a young man sitting with his back to the door at an octagonal table with flour, bowls, minced meat and other items on it.

The man appeared to be rolling out dough, his movements somewhat clumsy, clearly a first-timer.

The injured princess lay on a bed to the side, while someone else was sleeping on another small bed.

Wang Xu thought that this young man must be the eldest grandson of the emperor that Old Master Han had mentioned.

There was a secret code between him and the eldest grandson of the emperor; he only needed to say one sentence to test whether the eldest grandson was genuine or not.

He needs to be quick and loud so that he can catch the opponent off guard.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Wang Xu suddenly pushed open the door, leaped into the room, and shouted with a booming voice, "Heavenly King covers the Earth Tiger—"

Bang!

The young man grabbed a rolling pin and knocked him unconscious with it!

After striking Wang Xu with the rolling pin imbued with internal force, it flew back into the man's hand.

Gu Changqing did not turn around.

With his face covered in flour, he continued to roll out the dough earnestly and clumsily: "My little sister needs to sleep, don't make a sound."

Cooking for my sister, got it!

(End of this chapter)