Chapter 89 A Grand Funeral: "Let's be brothers again in the next life."

Gu Huizhou didn't speak. He lowered his head slightly, and the complex emotions in his eyes were hard to read.

Thirteen clenched his fists, unable to comprehend how Fourteen could betray His Majesty. "What on earth is going on?!"

Gu Huizhou just watched, like Thirteen, he was also waiting for an explanation.

Fourteen remained motionless in his salute, thinking this might be the last time he would bow to His Majesty, his throat choked with unspeakable regret.

His body trembled. "Your subordinate... Your subordinate encountered Xiao Han before that autumn hunt. Your subordinate was careless and no match for him, so he poisoned me."

Fourteen suddenly looked up, his voice trembling with emotion. "Your Majesty is well-versed in pharmacology, but! But I secretly investigated that poison, and I couldn't find it anywhere. Later, Xiao Han said it was a rare poison developed by the grassland people, and if one doesn't receive the antidote within a month, one won't survive." As he spoke, Fourteen gritted his teeth. He didn't consider himself afraid of death, but…

He was scared.

"Xiao Zhuyue said that as long as I do two things for him, he will completely cure my poison."

It goes without saying what these two things are, Thirteen frowned.

One of the incidents was Baili Wenhan ordering someone to poison someone, and the second was taking Yao Ruyi away.

Gu Huizhou snorted coldly, "I have never treated you badly."

The man crouched down and stared at Fourteen, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. Gu Huizhou would always recall the sight of Yao Ruyi covered in blood at night, and he never wanted to see it again in his life!

His heart felt as if it had been slashed open by a knife.

Thirteen stood silently to the side, his lips pursed, but his eyes were already red. This was his brother who had grown up with him since childhood. His fingernails dug into his palms, and a stream of blood flowed from his hands to the ground.

Gu Huizhou remained silent, his eyes dark. The Shadow organization had been established when he was seventeen, and it had been twelve years since then.

He suddenly sneered, and Gu Huizhou stared intently into the Fourteenth Prince's eyes, saying in a deep voice, "I ask you, if Xiao Zhuyue had asked you to tie up the Thirteenth Prince, would you have listened?"

Thirteen's pupils contracted. The only sound in the prison was the breathing of the three men. Fourteen's lips twitched. He wanted to turn his head to look at Thirteen, but in the end he didn't move. He said in a deep voice, "This subordinate would rather die on the battlefield."

"Hahahaha," Gu Huizhou laughed, his sinister laughter filling the cell. Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes filled with malice, and reached through the bars to twist Fourteen's neck, the veins on his wrist bulging. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Gu Huizhou exerted all his strength. Fourteenth Prince's face was flushed red, making him difficult to see clearly in the moonlight. He gasped for breath, "Your Majesty, this...this subordinate knows that Nineteenth Prince is...is..."

He knew it was a spirit, and he couldn't bear to see His Majesty fall into its trap.

The two looked up at each other. Gu Huizhou knew what Fourteen was going to say, and he lowered his voice, saying nonchalantly, "So what?"

"His Majesty!"

"I've said it before, whether he's human or not, so what?"

"But Your Majesty, you are the Emperor! You are the Son of Heaven! He must have ulterior motives for approaching you!" Fourteenth Prince glared fiercely. How could he bear to see His Majesty so concerned about a mere spirit? Even though Nineteenth Prince had not yet done anything wrong, but…

"I don't care."

Gu Huizhou clenched his wrist. After a long while, he stood up with a gloomy expression, as if nothing had ever happened. Gu Huizhou played with the beads in one hand and drew his sword with the other. "You have been by my side for twelve years. I will not torture you."

Fourteen choked up, his regret hidden behind a smile, "Your Majesty, I have failed your trust. Thank you, Your Majesty!"

With a "thud," he crashed hard to the ground.

Thirteen froze on the spot, looking at Fourteen kneeling on the ground with heartache.

"Swoosh—" Gu Huizhou twisted his wrist and swept his longsword toward Fourteen's neck, blood splattering onto Gu Huizhou's chest.

"Fourteen!" Thirteen whispered.

Gu Huizhou remained calm as he stared into Fourteen's smiling eyes. He carefully wiped the sword clean with a handkerchief, and then, with a "bang," the corpse crashed to the ground.

Gu Huizhou turned his head and looked at the smiling corpse on the ground for a long time. "Give it a proper burial."

"Thump—"

Thirteen knelt on the ground, almost speechless, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thump, thump, thump..." Gu Huizhou turned and left the prison.

As the night deepened and gradually brightened, Thirteen silently stood up. He walked to Fourteen's side and gently wrapped the wound on his neck with a strip of white cloth, which instantly stained red.

Thirteen's voice was hoarse and sorrowful, "Brother, His Majesty said he would give you a grand funeral, but I think you would rather go to that place from back then."

"Come on, brother, I'll take you home."

Under the moonlight, Yao Ruyi shifted his body on the roof of the prison cell. He watched as Thirteen carried Fourteen's body out of the prison, his face indescribably pale. Yao Ruyi pursed his lips, knowing that Gu Huizhou must also be feeling distressed.

But he still wanted to follow them and see what was going on.

Thirteen rode his horse all the way out of the city. He turned his head slightly to look back and heard familiar footsteps. Thirteen was stunned and shouted, "Giddy up!"

Yao Ruyi followed Thirteen to a mountain peak. It was not far from the capital, but it was not the usual road leading to other towns. This place was remote, and this mountain was the only one there.

At the foot of the mountain was a simple and desolate courtyard. Thirteen dragged a coffin out of the room.

Yao Ruyi stood by a tree outside the courtyard. He watched as Thirteen dug a large pit on the hillside by himself. Then he turned around, removed the black cloth from Fourteen's body, changed his clothes on the ground, and re-tied Fourteen's hair.

Thirteen didn't know what he was supposed to do. He just wanted his brother to leave this world with dignity, so that even in the afterlife, people would know that he was a capable man in life and that no one would bully him.

With a self-deprecating laugh, Thirteen whispered to Fourteen, "This outfit didn't come cheap, and I'm a little heartbroken to let you wear it like this." As he spoke, he clenched his fist and sighed, "Let's be brothers again in the next life."

Thirteen's eyes reddened again.

"Damn it, what's with this grown man crying?" Thirteen cursed, then silently placed Fourteen in the coffin. "I bought this coffin when I returned to the capital from Beiyuan, and now it's finally coming in handy."

As dawn broke a little brighter, Thirteen stared at the face in the coffin for a long time. "We grew up together and were brought into the palace by His Majesty together. We've known each other for over twenty years now."

“We’ve been best friends since we were little, and we always did things together. Later, His Majesty saw that we were close and put us together in the same class.”

"Now I'm the only one left. Won't Fifteen and Sixteen laugh at me?"

Thirteen choked up and gave a bitter laugh as he spoke. He couldn't help but shed two more tears and quickly wiped his face with his sleeve. "Anyway, you can't see it. What's wrong with me crying a little?"

"Alright, we'll talk about it later. I'll go back and pack your things for you later..." Thirteen couldn't finish his sentence. He slammed his fist on the coffin. "Damn it!"

Unable to hold back any longer, Thirteen shouted, "Ah!" and then lay down on the coffin and cried loudly.

Yao Ruyi felt a pang of sadness. Hearing Thirteen's cries, his eyes reddened as well. He usually spent more time with Thirteen than with Fourteen.

But no one is feeling good right now.

After half an incense stick's time, Thirteen's crying subsided. He was in a daze, not knowing where he was. He looked up at the dilapidated courtyard and the fine coffin in front of him. Thirteen came to his senses and his throat moved slightly. "Let's go."

With that, he raised his hand and pushed, and the coffin slammed shut with a loud thud.

Yao Ruyi was too far away to see clearly, but he vaguely noticed that Thirteen seemed to have put Fourteen's sword inside, which he had always carried with him.

The coffin was extremely heavy, and Thirteen couldn't possibly lift it by himself. He struggled to drag it, but then he heard faint footsteps behind him. Yao Ruyi, dressed in a white robe, walked over and silently lifted the other side. The two of them silently placed the coffin into the pit that Thirteen had just dug.

They filled the hole back in before it was fully light.

"We weren't prepared enough today, but we'll erect a monument for you another day." Thirteen tried to smile, but his lips seemed to be pulled down by a thousand-pound boulder. "Don't worry, I won't forget."

Yao Ruyi and Shisan walked side by side in silence. Their horses were tied outside the small courtyard. As Yao Ruyi mounted her horse, she turned her head and looked at the place. Although it was desolate, it was quiet and peaceful. A small hill was facing the direction of the capital, which made people feel at ease.

"drive!"

As the two entered the city, it was just the time for the capital's market to open. Thirteen let out a long sigh, turned to look at Yao Ruyi, and patted his shoulder. Facing Yao Ruyi, his voice softened considerably, "Come on, brother will take you to eat steamed buns."

Yao Ruyi looked at him for a long time before nodding.

As always, the two bought a lot of steamed buns from the old woman, filling a whole bag. The old woman always remembered the two of them, and seeing how much they had received, she felt heartbroken. "You must eat more during the holidays, look how thin you are!"

"Thank you, Auntie."

Thirteen nodded in agreement, "Thank you."

Although they bought a lot, the two didn't eat much. Thirteen whispered to Yao Ruyi in front of the Cloud Palace corridor, "I apologize to you on his behalf, Little Nineteen... he..."

Yao Ruyi shook her head, "I'm not angry."

Thirteen clenched his fists, unsure who to blame. He understood Fourteen, but he hadn't even been able to bear looking at Nineteen's injuries back then. "I'm sorry."

"Would you like another one?" Yao Ruyi reached out and took out a beef bun, thinking that Thirteen would probably like to eat beef filling.

Thirteen choked up, "Okay."

With a forced smile, Thirteen took the steamed bun, turned around, and headed straight for the shadowy courtyard behind the Cloud Palace.

Yao Ruyi walked silently down the corridor.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the palace is filled with festive cheer. He walked along the corridor carrying a large bag of steamed buns and encountered many people. Nowadays, the palace eunuchs would greet everyone they met with a few auspicious New Year greetings.

Yao Ruyi left in a hurry last night and didn't have much on her, so he could only give her two steamed buns.

"Hey! Thank you so much, Your Excellency!" Xiao Dezi laughed heartily. He loved steamed buns.

Yao Ruyi rushed towards the imperial bedchamber. Cui Xiangzhu sighed outside the palace, "My lord is back. You even bought steamed buns?" He chuckled, "His Majesty is inside. Please come in, my lord."

"Father-in-law, would you like a steamed bun?"

"Oh! Thank you, sir!"

Yao Ruyi smiled faintly, then turned and pushed open the door to go inside.

The Cloud Palace was exactly the same as the night before, but the moment you entered, you could smell the rich sandalwood fragrance. Gu Huizhou, dressed in a brocade robe, sat on the dragon throne. When he saw people return, he smiled and said, "Come here."

There were still a few steamed buns left in the brown paper bag in Yao Ruyi's hand. He carried it over and asked, "Would you like some steamed buns?"

Seeing Gu Huizhou raise an eyebrow, Yao Ruyi explained, "I bought it on Thirteen. I didn't bring any money with me."

“Hmm,” Gu Huizhou took a bite of one, “I have Cui Xiangzhu deliver the reward money to him.”

"good."

The two didn't say much, and Gu Huizhou didn't show anything amiss on the surface. Yao Ruyi stayed by Gu Huizhou's side, and the two took a nap in the afternoon before going out in the evening.

The festive atmosphere was stronger than ever before, and the capital was filled with the joy of the New Year, partly due to the victory.

In the evening, Fifteen walked in from outside the palace. "Your Majesty, Xiao Zhuyue's legs and tongue have been cut off and sent to the Princess."

"Yes." Gu Huizhou responded, "Send a letter to the old emperor, if he wants more people, ask Xiao Xiaoyuan."

"Yes." Fifteen withdrew.

Yao Ruyi fiddled with the flowerpot beside him without saying a word, as if he had never heard of the name Xiao Zhuyue.

Seeing this, Gu Huizhou smiled and strolled over to Yao Ruyi's side. "What is the Nineteenth Secretary doing?"

Yao Ruyi was taken aback. He smiled and pointed to the flowerpot, "I just had Eunuch Cui bring over some soil from under the plum tree. It smells wonderful."

Yao Ruyi wanted Gu Huizhou to smell it too, but to her surprise, Gu Huizhou immediately frowned and said, "You're not allowed to eat it."

"I didn't eat it." Yao Ruyi hummed. He had already tasted it in the Imperial Garden, and he only brought a bowl of it to smell the aroma.

"really?"

“Really?” Yao Ruyi said firmly.

"Then I will examine it." With that, the man directly captured Yao Ruyi's lips, catching her off guard.