Chapter 5 Chapter 5 He peeled shrimp for him and he called him "Sixth Brother"...
Mu Congmo didn't seem unhappy at being so humiliated. Instead, he was surprised by Gu Shiyan's straightforward approach. Having spent a long time in the imperial court, he knew that every word from the civil servants carried a hidden meaning. He hadn't seen someone so straightforward in a long time. Indeed, with his immense power as his backing, Gu Shiyan didn't need to play along with anyone, even the emperor.
"Since you asked, I will speak frankly. The aristocratic families have been making a lot of small moves recently. I need to spread the news of my cooperation with the Venerable to make them wary."
"The emperor is actually using my name to intimidate others. Shouldn't others be using your name to bully others? Besides, my master has been in seclusion for many years. If he knew that I was involved with the court, I'm afraid there would be no place for me in this huge Yunliang Qianchi." Gu Shiyan teased.
"Your Excellency is joking. If Your Excellency wishes to use my name to bully others, I would be honored. Putting aside the deep bond between Master Wu Zun and Your Excellency, even if Yun Liang Qianchi truly cannot return, I am willing to leave a place for Your Excellency in the palace."
For some reason, Gu Shiyan seemed to detect a hint of joy in Mu Congmo's tone. He retracted his previous opinion. Now it seemed that the current emperor might really have some mental problems.
"During the time in Jiangnan, I can protect Your Majesty's safety. In exchange, Your Majesty needs to help me find the whereabouts of the Demon Lord Danxi. What do you think?" Gu Shiyan was afraid that the emperor would say something strange again, so he stopped joking and talked about business.
It was Danxi again. He was the one who colluded with Prince Huai, the one who assassinated him secretly, and now the young man in front of him was looking for him. Mu Congmo thought to himself, this Demon Lord is really a character, and people are always thinking about him wherever he goes.
"I am willing to accept your protection, but I don't know why you are looking for Danxi?" Mu Congmo wanted to know why a mere Demon Lord was worth the young man's long journey from Yunliang to here.
"Didn't I tell His Majesty? I came here to kill someone." Gu Shiyan's tone was still indifferent, and he wore a silver mask on his face, and his expression could not be seen.
Murder? I've never heard of any grudges between Yunliang Qianchi and the Demon Lord. As for the relationship between this young man and the Demon Lord, it's even more impossible. The Demon Lord rose to fame decades ago, and the young man was probably still an infant then. Mu Congmo thought to himself, "I need to have the Shadow Dragon Guards secretly investigate this matter."
As for questioning Gu Shiyan personally, Mu Congmo had no such plans. Not to mention that most of these grudges in the martial arts world were related to old matters, Gu Shiyan's attitude alone was enough to put him off. He seemed to answer every question without any calculation, but in reality he was cold and distant, which Mu Congmo could naturally see. He didn't think Gu Shiyan would answer this question.
"I will have my men inquire about the whereabouts of the Demon Lord and will inform His Majesty as soon as we have any news."
"I would like to thank Your Majesty here. Since the matter has been discussed, Your Majesty, please go back. I am going to prepare lunch." Gu Shiyan began to see the guests off.
"It so happens that I haven't had a meal yet. I wonder if Your Excellency would be willing to do me the honor of having a meal with me." Mu Congmo invited Gu Shiyan.
Gu Shiyan nodded in agreement for some reason. The reason was, of course, to save money. It was free food, so why not eat it? He couldn't possibly be asked to pay for it, as he was the emperor. Besides, Mu Congmo was incredibly attractive, so he should be a good eater, Gu Shiyan thought.
And just like that, the following scene appeared.
The two sat across from each other at the table, waiting for the waiter to serve their food, each looking at the other in silence. Gu Shiyan was just like that, usually only speaking a few words to those close to him. Mu Congmo didn't know what to say, fearing that he might say something wrong and displease the young man in front of him.
Hong Ting wanted to stay and serve, but Chang Ye and the other two said that the two masters might have something else to discuss, so they pulled Hong Ting towards another table. Hong Ting glanced at Gu Shiyan, and when he saw the latter nod, he sat down with the two of them.
Jiangnan, with its crisscrossing rivers and abundant aquatic resources, is known for its diverse and diverse seafood. Among them, a dish of blanched white shrimp is crystal clear, like a piece of jade. Another dish, steamed sea bass, has scales that shimmer in the sunlight.
Gu Shiyan took a look. He loved fish and shrimp, but fish dishes had bones and white shrimp had shells. Normally, Hong Ting was there to serve them. Now, he didn't want to disturb Hong Ting's meal, so he just glanced away and turned his gaze to the side dishes.
Mu Congmo watched his movements unfold. He raised his sleeve, rolled up his sleeve, picked up a white shrimp, and slowly and methodically began to peel it. His stern expression contrasted sharply with his movements; when had the aloof and noble emperor ever done such a thing? His movements were clearly clumsy, but he managed to peel a complete white shrimp.
He placed the white shrimp in Gu Shiyan's bowl. Gu Shiyan looked at the extra shrimp in the bowl and looked up at him. The boy's face was still covered with a mask, but Mu Congmo seemed to see the boy's expression beneath the mask. He was stunned for a moment. After reacting, he pretended nothing had happened and turned to pick up another white shrimp and peeled it. Only when Gu Shiyan's bowl was piled with shrimp like a small mountain did Mu Congmo take out his handkerchief to wipe his hands.
The three people standing nearby stared blankly at him. Mu Congmo, sensing his intense gaze, only glanced at them indifferently, frightening them so much that they quickly averted their gazes, not daring to look up again. When he looked at Gu Shiyan, his eyes were as gentle as spring water, and a smile played on his lips, a stark contrast to the coldness he had just displayed.
Although he didn't know why Mu Congmo peeled the shrimp for him, Gu Shiyan still slowly picked up some and put them into his mouth in order to avoid wasting food. The mountain of shrimp meat became less and less as Gu Shiyan moved, until there was nothing left.
Seeing the young man devour the shrimp he had peeled, Mu Congmo's smile widened. "These shrimps are warm in nature, and eating too much can cause internal heat and stagnation. If you like them, I'll peel them for you next time, okay?" Mu Congmo's tone was as bewitching as a poison, bewitching.
How could a great emperor be like the vixen in a storybook? Gu Shiyan sighed inwardly. Fortunately, he had great self-control and was not deceived. "Why do you have to trouble me so often? This is usually Hongting's job. If he hadn't been taken away by your men, you wouldn't have to condescend to do such a thing yourself."
"I am a few years older than Xiaolang, so it would be nice if you could call me Sixth Brother. This way it wouldn't seem strange. Besides, peeling shrimps for Xiaolang is not a big deal, and seeing Xiaolang happy makes me happy too." Mu Congmo spoke with a pious tone, like a loyal believer offering his all to the gods.
Gu Shiyan was once again shocked by the emperor's shamelessness. Calling him Sixth Brother? He wondered if he treated his half-brothers the same way. Among the royal family, even brothers could be sincere with each other, let alone a random stranger like him.
"Okay, Sixth Brother." Considering that Mu Congmo had diligently peeled so many shrimps for him, Gu Shiyan decided to fulfill his small request.
Little did he know that his address as "Sixth Brother" had disturbed the usually calm and composed emperor. The young man's voice was like a warm spring breeze blowing away the winter snow. A rare panic crossed Mu Congmo's face, but for a moment, he forced himself to calm down. The young man's anger at Sun Ang's teasing, and whether this had given rise to his dislike for Long Yang's behavior, Mu Congmo's resentment towards Sun Ang grew even more intense at the thought.
So much so that when Sun Ang accompanied his father into the palace to meet the emperor at a palace banquet later, he could clearly feel the disgust in the emperor's eyes. Of course, this is all a story for later.
Mu Congmo picked up the teacup and took a sip, trying to cover up his loss of composure. Seeing this, Gu Shiyan said nothing more.
They finished their meal without another word. Gu Shiyan usually took a nap, and just as he was about to go back to his room to rest, Mu Congmo stopped him, saying he couldn't sleep after just finishing a meal. Gu Shiyan naturally didn't want to be disciplined, but this time even Hong Ting agreed with Mu Congmo's reasoning.
Gu Shiyan had no choice but to reluctantly go out with Mu Congmo for a walk to help digest the food.
The two wandered aimlessly through the bustling city, but as they walked, they noticed something was amiss. Jiangnan had been a prosperous region since ancient times, with fertile soil, numerous rivers, well-developed transportation, and frequent trade. Xingding County, as the capital of Jiangnan, was no exception.
But along the way, beggars were everywhere. Their clothes were tattered and barely covered their bodies. They were all pale and thin, with only skin and bones left. Seeing this, Mu Congmo clenched his hands, his dignity was not in rage. These were his people, and now they had become like this.
The Huaiwang Palace, nestled in Xingding County, was magnificent. To demonstrate his fondness for his youngest son, the late emperor showered him with rare treasures. Secret guards reported that the Huaiwang Palace was teeming with concubines, with music and singing unceasingly day and night. Truly, while the rich feasted and feasted, the poor froze to death on the streets.
As for the head of Xingding Commandery, he had probably already secretly joined the Huai King's entourage. It was truly ironic that the taxes collected with the blood and sweat of the people of these three counties had become gifts from the local officials as a token of filial piety to their superiors.
The two of them walked all the way to the government office, where a group of scholars were gathered and wanted to break in, but were blocked by soldiers.
The leading scholar shouted, "Several of my classmates have been missing for months. We've reported the case repeatedly, but the authorities have ignored it. Only when bodies appeared in the river and were fished out did the authorities begin an investigation, only to have the case hastily closed with a simple fall into the water. Whether it was an accident or murder, everyone knows the answer. Whether the authorities are incapable of investigating this case, or simply afraid of the power behind it, are they afraid to investigate? You all know."
"Ji Anran had once been praised by a scholar as a top scholar, and the Prince of Huai had begun to consider recruiting him. One day, at a poetry gathering, the Prince of Huai invited Brother Anran. Brother Anran was devoted to his country, while the Prince of Huai was dissolute and unruly, so he naturally did not like him. Brother Anran simply said, 'I have read thousands of volumes of poetry and books, and I will devote my life to the ancient Yi and Zhou dynasties. My heart is with my country, and I beg Your Highness the Prince of Huai to forgive me.' The next day, Brother Anran disappeared from his home, and his body was not recovered from the river until the day before yesterday by a fisherman."
"Most of those missing students were those who rejected the Huai King. Under his pressure, many students joined his school. But we refuse to give in. We simply want justice for our fallen classmates. If you cannot give it, then we will go to the capital to file a complaint with the emperor."
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