Chapter 64 [VIP]

Even after leaving Taiqing Temple, Gu Zhizhuo was still worried.

Actually, the master stopped accepting disciples a long time ago.

In her previous life, she knelt for a very long time. Her master said she was a fool who insisted on defying the heavens. If they didn't take care of her, she would end up with a broken head and her soul scattered. Finally, he accepted her as his disciple.

What if her master doesn't want her in this life?

"Young master, I miss my master."

"When the real person arrives, I will come with you to pay my respects."

Gu Zhizhuo responded softly.

"Young lady."

Old Dan and the others were guarding the mountain gate. When they saw them coming, they all greeted them.

Gu Zhizhuo had no time to worry for the moment. She cheered herself up and said loudly, "Let's go back to the capital."

It took more than an hour to walk from Taiqing Temple to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. As soon as the gatekeeper saw the coffin, he knelt down with a thud and cried out in grief, "The Duke... has returned!"

"Go in and report."

Gu Zhizhuo had Lao Dan open the main gate, and she and Gu Yique pushed the wooden coffin inside together. She then instructed the head steward Chen Jin, who had come to greet them, to set up the mourning hall.

Chen Jin's face was also full of tears.

The servants scattered.

The servant pushed Gu Baibai's wheelchair to the scene. Madam Gu, supported by Gu Liaoliao, also arrived. She stood a hundred paces away for a while before stumbling over and collapsing onto the coffin, crying out, "Tao'er! Tao'er!"

Gu Liaoliao gently comforted her, "Mother, don't cry. It's a good thing that my elder brother is back."

The old lady lay on the coffin, weeping uncontrollably.

She lived a life of luxury and privilege, yet of her four children, two died and one was disabled.

It's always the case that the elderly bury the children.

They sent them one after another.

"Tao'er!"

"Tao'er. Let your mother take another look at you..."

The old lady pounded on the coffin, her cries shaking the heavens.

Her headband was askew, and her usually neatly styled hair was half-loose, revealing the silver strands hidden inside.

"Let your mother see you."

Her face was deathly pale, and she kept repeating those words, sobbing uncontrollably.

A surge of hot blood rushed to the top of her head, making her vision go black.

The coffin wasn't completely nailed shut; after the bumpy ride, one nail had come loose. The old lady gave it a push, and the lid slid open, revealing a crack. Gu Zhizhuo was startled and quickly went to stand in front of her, saying, "Grandmother, Grandmother, Queque and I are back."

Xie Yingchen cooperated perfectly and closed the coffin tightly again.

He whispered to Gu Baibai, "The Duke only left his head; the Grand Madam might not be able to bear seeing it."

Gu Baibai's heart tightened, and she gave her daughter, who had just arrived, a wink. Gu Zhinan understood and helped to distract her, coaxing and pulling the old lady to the back room.

Gu Zhizhuo secretly felt the pulse, and it showed signs of a stroke.

She quickly sent Granny Zhu to brew a bowl of calming soup.

The calming soup currently used in the manor is all based on her prescription. She prepares individual portions, which can be easily brewed with hot water.

She pinched the old lady's hand between her thumb and forefinger's fingers, coaxing her, "Our journey was smooth sailing. Commander Jiang even set up a mourning hall in Aur City. When we left, the whole city of Aur saw us off, and all the people were remembering their father."

“Every household has set up a memorial tablet for their father.”

"Grandma, look, hasn't Queque grown taller and gotten darker!"

“Grandmother, it’s very hot in the Western Frontier. It’s still light out at 7 PM,” Gu Yique said deliberately, exaggerating. “I’ve gotten quite tanned. I want to eat your milk cake. Please have them make some for me. My older sister says that eating more milk can make you fairer.”

After rambling on for a while, the old lady finally caught her breath.

She grabbed Gu Zhizhuo's arm and sobbed, "Your father was so good-tempered, he was kind to everyone." She wiped away her tears and said, "Why did he die like this? I'm so unfilial."

"He is so cruel. He promised me that he would retire from the military and live a life of filial piety by my side every day."

"Unfilial! Unfilial indeed!"

Gu Zhizhuo felt extremely distressed upon hearing this, and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes, yes, it's Father's fault. He promised to come back and release sky lanterns with me, but he didn't keep his word."

"You're also unfilial!"

Madam Gu poked her with her finger, furious: "You scare me all the time, you have a temper like a dog, and you never know how to speak properly."

"And your older brother, he's been gone for so long, and there's still no news from him."

"None of them are filial!"

Madam Gu slapped her arm repeatedly, her lips trembling as she cried out, "What did I do to raise you all? I raised you all to this age!"

"One by one, they all left."

"Not one of them listens."

"It hurts so much!" Gu Zhizhuo deliberately grimaced. "Grandmother, please stop hitting me."

"Grandmother, my eldest sister has a big bump on her face. Is it from a poisonous insect bite?"

"Ah, where?"

"Here, here it is!"

Gu Zhinan clung to her arm and acted coquettishly.

A little while later, Gu Zhiwei arrived. The group coaxed her for a while, and after a bowl of calming soup, she finally fell asleep.

Gu Zhizhuo instructed Granny Zhu to take good care of her, and then dictated a prescription for someone to fetch it. He also instructed her to give the medicine to the Grand Madam as soon as she woke up, before returning to the front.

The main hall has been converted into a mourning hall.

Gu Zhizhuo recounted the entire journey.

All the children were there, and they broke down in tears, their sobs flowing like a broken string of pearls.

Gu Baibai learned most of the details from Lao Dan. He sighed softly and asked, "Do you hate it?"

hatred!

She hated him to the core. Back in the Western Frontier, she almost wanted to kill Liu Nuo, the Prince of Jin's heir, and the Shangxu Temple without restraint, slaughtering everyone in sight.

However, doing so will only bring the Gu family another destruction.

She was not reborn to die.

Gu Zhizhuo's eyes were misty, and the unforgettable anger and hatred burned in his chest, turning into a metallic taste in his throat.

She swallowed the words hard, her voice hoarse as she said, "I visited several other cities along the way. This land of the Western Frontier has not forgotten Duke Gu Taotao. His loyal soul was buried in the earth, and he died on the battlefield. Father, you deserve it."

Gu Liaoliao let out a low sob and bit her lower lip tightly.

Gu Baibai was silent for a while, then beckoned her over and gently patted her forehead.

The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was like a giant cocoon, tightly bound, just like the Eastern Palace back then.

The deposed crown prince had the trust of all officials and the support of the people. Even though the events of that year were sudden, the deposed crown prince could have turned the tide if he wanted to take a gamble. However, the Great Qi Dynasty was less than forty years old at that time, and the Eastern Palace carried far too much weight. The slightest disturbance could endanger the country.

Yao Yao's trip out was like tearing a hole in the cicada cocoon.

Xie Yingchen said calmly, "We can summon the Prince of Jin's heir to the capital and promote Jiang Youzheng to the position of general."

A glint of light flashed in Gu Baibai's eyes.

He said gently, "After the late emperor passed away during his southern tour, the Prince of Jin produced the edict of succession. Because of this merit of supporting the emperor, he rose rapidly in rank. Later, he also benefited from the Duke's military achievements in the western frontier and was promoted to the rank of Prince."

"Nowadays, the court is divided into three factions. Only Prince Jin has risen to prominence by virtue of the Emperor's favor and by stealing military achievements. He also frequently suppresses the Duke of Wei and the cabinet. If it weren't for the Emperor's favoritism, Prince Jin would have been suppressed by the two factions long ago."

“King Jin knew that his own foundation was not deep, so he had his heir establish himself in the Western Frontier, intending to govern the Western Frontier in the same way as the Northern Frontier of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion.”

He left it at that, but Gu Baibai understood the unspoken meaning.

The emperor was suspicious and could not tolerate the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, so naturally he could not tolerate the Prince of Jin who intended to take over the western frontier.

Gu Baibai raised his eyebrows and lightly tapped the armrest of his wheelchair with his fingertips.

Xie Yingchen wanted to prove to himself that he had enough strength and resources, and that he had not chosen Yaoyao for the sake of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

He didn't treat the Gu family as henchmen, but as business partners.

"Third Uncle, what do you think?" He smiled slightly.

"What are you calling me? It's too early to call me Third Uncle!" Gu Baibai coughed lightly and corrected him seriously, "Don't call me that."

"Since you're here, why don't you help entertain the guests?"

After he finished speaking, without waiting for Xie Yingchen's agreement or not, he called to Chen Jin and said, "Hang up the white paper."

Now? Gu Zhizhuo was stunned for a moment. Was he not going to wait for his older brother?

"Cancan is coming back. Tonight at the earliest, tomorrow at the latest."

Hanging white signifies a major funeral in the household.

Once the white lanterns were hung at the entrance, all the prefectures in the capital quickly learned of it.

Shortly after Gu Zhizhuo left, the emperor announced in court that Daliang had returned the remains of the Duke of Zhenguo, so it was the Gu family who had returned with the coffin.

Thinking about it that way, it makes sense.

After all, if something were to happen to Madam Gu, the Gu family should have announced the death.

Some acquaintances took the initiative to go and offer their condolences. After a few visits, they confirmed that the mourning hall was indeed set up for the late Duke Zhenguo, Gu Taotao.

The area in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was immediately bustling with carriages and people.

The entire capital city was like a lake, rippling with waves.

Even the emperor, deep within the palace, found out. He frowned and sneered repeatedly: "The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is quite adept at winning people's hearts. They set up a mourning hall three years ago, and now they want to hang white banners again. They're just trying to remind people of that Gu Taotao."

"Anything else?"

Wu Shang was giving the report. He said in a serious tone, "Miss Gu entered the capital this morning. She went to Taiqing Temple on the way and returned to the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion before dusk. Shortly afterward, the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion was decorated with white banners."

"The coffin of the Duke of Zhenguo is currently lying in state inside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

"Young Master Xie is also currently residing in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

Snap!

The emperor slammed his folding fan onto the imperial desk, his pale fingertips gripping the handle tightly.

Xie Yingchen and the Gu family. He had indeed been tricked by them, letting the tiger return to the mountain, and personally planting a huge hidden danger for himself.

I wasn't mistaken; the Gu family had indeed harbored rebellious intentions all along. Xie Yingchen was just a sickly man; how long he lived was entirely up to fate. The Gu family's ambitions were probably not for the merit of supporting the new emperor, but for the change of the throne!

Xie Yingchen, too, for his own selfish gain, allowed the Gu family to act with impunity. He doesn't even know his own surname anymore!

The emperor paced back and forth in the imperial study. The thought of being a fool and being manipulated by them made his chest feel tight, and he swayed unsteadily. Li Deshun was so frightened that he quickly went over to support him.

The emperor, with Li Deshun by his side, paused for a moment and then asked, "Is there any new news from the Western Frontier?"

Wu Shang respectfully replied, "Not for now."

"Have Ah Xu keep an eye on the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and Xie Yingchen." The emperor was somewhat weak and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. A short while later, the imperial physician was summoned from the imperial study.

The imperial physicians came and went, staying until dawn, and the emperor did not sleep all night again.

These days, the emperor has been like this, only able to fall asleep with the help of calming soup, and he always wakes up after less than an hour.

He tried all sorts of calming soup recipes, but none of them worked. Only Qingping's calming talisman could help him get a good night's sleep.

"Go and summon Qingping to me."

After saying this, the emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead, went to court, and sat expressionlessly on the dragon throne. He watched as the officials knelt and kowtowed three times, and then the routine arguments began.

He had been sitting on the dragon throne for six years and had gotten used to it.

They argued about everything, big or small, and then asked him to make the final decision. Over the past six years, from being apprehensive at the beginning, the emperor had gradually figured out some of the ways of being a ruler.

In factional strife, the worst thing is to allow one faction to become too powerful, so the key is to maintain a balance.

Ten days ago, the emperor argued for three days about the breach of the Huai River dike. He granted the request of Chief Minister Song to first send Jiang Weian to provide disaster relief, and then discuss how to deal with the people involved.

Then the debate started again about whether to reduce taxes for Huaizhou. This time, the emperor sided with the Prince of Jin and increased summer taxes for Huaizhou.

The emperor leaned back on the armrest of his dragon throne, rubbing his slightly throbbing forehead, listening half-heartedly to the argument below about how to resettle the displaced people from the Huai River, secretly pondering whose side to take this time.

"emperor."

Commander Zhou of the Imperial Guard entered from outside the hall and reported, "Miss Gu from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is requesting an audience outside the Golden Palace."

These words silenced the entire court.

There has never been a precedent in this dynasty for a woman to step into the Golden Palace!

Shen Xu was standing listlessly on the left side of the table. Upon hearing this, he lifted his eyelids, and his charming peach blossom eyes showed a hint of interest.

This boring morning court session isn't so boring after all.

"What does she want?" the emperor asked expressionlessly.

“Miss Gu said that four and a half years ago, when the Duke of Zhenguo was ordered to go to the Western Frontier, he promised the Emperor that he would return to report to the Emperor after the war in the Western Frontier was quelled. She came to report on behalf of her father and begs the Emperor’s permission.”

The emperor gripped the armrest of the dragon throne tightly with his right hand.

Prince Jin, who always understood the emperor's heart best, said in accordance with the emperor's thoughts: "Your Majesty, women should have their proper duties. The Golden Palace is not a place for women to set foot in. Miss Gu has acted recklessly because of your favor towards the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. She should be punished for her great disrespect."

"Your Highness is mistaken," the Duke of Wei said, bowing. "Your Majesty, if it were the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo who escorted the coffin back to the capital from the Western Frontier, would you like to see him or not?"

"The Duke of Zhenguo's family is full of loyal and righteous men, but now there is not even a healthy adult male. So Miss Gu, a woman, has to take on this task. Now that she is returning to the capital to report, how can the Emperor refuse to see her just because she is a woman?"

The Duke of Wei spoke with righteous indignation and stern words, and immediately more people stepped forward.

They all echoed the sentiment.

The emperor has rejected them several times in the past few days.

No matter what the matter is now, we must get the Emperor's approval, otherwise wouldn't that only embolden the Prince of Jin's faction!

"Your Majesty! The Duke of Wei is burdened with selfish motives..."

Inside the Golden Palace, the argument raged on.

Outside the Golden Palace, a light but dense drizzle fell. Amidst the fine rain, Gu Zhizhuo stood upright before the Shuntian Gate, holding a wooden box.

"Yaoyao".

Qin Su happened to be on duty today. He glanced in the direction of the Golden Palace and saw the commander walking quickly towards them. He said anxiously, "Don't be willful. Go back quickly."

“Deputy Commander Qin, there’s no need to say anything more,” Gu Zhizhuo said distantly. “I’m just here to report to the Emperor.”

"You said you came to report back, so what are you carrying in your hands?!"

Qin Su stared at the wooden box in her hand.

The wooden box was square and its size and appearance made him shudder.

"No matter how angry you are, don't make a scene. Coercing the emperor's will will not do you any good."

He offered kind advice, without any ill intent. He didn't want anything to happen to the Gu family.

"Where's your aunt? Why doesn't she try to persuade you..."

“Miss Gu.” Commander Zhou approached. “The Emperor has summoned her.”

"Commander!" Qin Su exclaimed anxiously, lowering his voice, "You and Third Brother... you and Third Master Gu have always been on good terms. Please, for Third Master Gu's sake, make an exception and don't harm the Gu family. Yaoyao is still young and not very prudent..."

Commander Zhou coldly rebuked, "Deputy Commander Qin, your post is over there. Step down."

"Miss Gu, please."

Gu Zhizhuo lowered his eyes slightly and followed Commander Zhou's steps into Shuntian Gate.

As she ascended the high white marble steps, this was the first time in two lifetimes that she had stepped onto the Golden Palace.

The surrounding sounds seemed to be sucked away by some mysterious force. They stared intently at the wooden box in Gu Zhizhuo's hand, and for a moment, even their breathing seemed to stop.

The Prince of Jin retreated straight back, bumping into the official behind him.

The official was so oblivious that he didn't notice anything amiss, and several people were knocked into a heap, falling haphazardly and sprawling in a chaotic mess.

The emperor, sitting high up, initially only saw a young girl with a thin veil over her face and wearing a plain long dress walking towards him. It wasn't until she reached the center of the hall that the emperor suddenly realized what she was holding in her hands.

The wooden box is square and about a foot tall.

The emperor's face turned pale instantly.

He seemed to see Gu Taotao standing before him, his brows furrowed with a dashing and heroic air, so dazzling that even the sun and moon would have to yield to his brilliance.

"Gu..."

The emperor blurted out the words and slid off the dragon throne.

A note from the author: