Chapter 177 A Bold Declaration: Are You Willing to Help Me?
As dusk settled, the Chengen Hall was brightly decorated. Changlu busied himself with the palace servants. This was Guan Ye's first time entering the imperial palace. The time she presented the sword, she had only glimpsed it from afar at the foot of the white jade steps. But as soon as she stepped into the Chengen Hall, Guan Ye was dazzled by the scene before her. The beaded curtains hung at the hall's entrance, the silk brocades swayed gently by the windows, satin cloths were laid on the tables, and jade plates were set on the desks. Black-clad eagle guards stood on both sides of the main hall, holding swords and looking solemn. As soon as Guan Ye and Ajiu entered the hall, a palace maid carrying a bamboo lantern led the two of them into the hall. Ajiu sensed Guan Ye's hesitation and gently squeezed her hand, indicating that she should just follow her.
In the center of the main hall, Mu You was dressed in a bright yellow embroidered dragon robe, his gray hair casually tied up with a black gold crown. Compared to the imposing presence he had on the day he presented the sword, Mu You today seemed more down-to-earth, not like an emperor ruling the world, but more like... Guan Ye boldly scrutinized him, thinking he looked like just a head of a family.
"They're here." Mu You nodded to Ajiu.
Ajiu knelt on one knee, and Guan Ye hesitated for a moment before kneeling down as well. She blinked her big eyes and then hurriedly lowered them. Mu You chuckled, "You were staring at me just now, but now you don't dare to?"
Guan Ye raised her eyebrows and then lowered them again. The shop owner had instructed her not to talk nonsense and to leave after eating, so as not to cause any trouble. Ajiu glanced at Guan Ye and said, "In my opinion, it was the Emperor's majesty that intimidated Guan Ye."
"Get up and take a seat." Mu You slightly raised his chin, looked around at both sides, and frowned slightly.
Shen Yu searched everywhere but couldn't find Mu Chenbi. She whispered a few words to her personal maid, who was about to turn and leave when she suddenly heard Mu Runhe's clear voice: "Hasn't the Crown Prince arrived yet?"
Mu Lexiu peeled some fruit in his hand, raising an eyebrow as he said, "Silly Runhe, isn't your Crown Prince brother sitting right across from you?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned. Mu Runhe's cheeks flushed red with anger, and she picked up a piece of fruit and threw it at Mu Lexiu, "Second brother is talking nonsense, he is not the Crown Prince."
Mu Lexiu caught the fruit that was thrown to him with quick eyes and hands. "Fool, if he's not your Crown Prince brother, how could he be at our family banquet? Open your eyes and look, it's your brother."
—"The Crown Prince has arrived."
Mu Lexiu scoffed, peeled the fruit Mu Runhe had thrown at him, and stuffed it into his mouth in a fit of anger.
Guan Ye turned her head and saw Mu Chenbi, dressed in a dark brocade robe, walking slowly into the main hall. The twin swords hanging at his waist tapped against the black jade dragon pendant on his belt with each step. The hall was silent, but the sound grew clearer, drawing everyone's attention. Ajiu immediately recognized that the swords were forged by Guan Ye. Their eyes met, but neither of them showed any emotion.
"Your subject pays respects to Father and Mother." Mu Chenbi bowed and walked calmly to the seat next to Mu You, then sat down at the table.
Mu Lexiu swallowed the fruit. "Your Majesty is never late. Did you remember the wrong place and go to the Phoenix Palace again?"
"Second brother, how can you be so forgetful at such a young age?" Mu Chenbi didn't even look at him. "Cheng'en Hall, you reminded me of that, how could I forget? The banquet hasn't even started yet, so how can you say I'm late?"
"Alright." Mu You closed his eyes impatiently. "Everyone's here, let's begin the meal."
Mu Chenbi put the Twin Dimples Sword down beside him, his phoenix-feathered eyelashes lingering for a moment, then abruptly stopped just as he was about to raise his sword. Guan Ye was sitting half a zhang away, within Mu Chenbi's sight. The woman he had been longing for was right in front of him, yet it seemed as if a vast distance separated them. Her captivating twin dimples when she smiled were a beautiful sight that Mu Chenbi could only dream of.
Mu Chenbi gently stroked the twin-dimpled sword, forced a calm expression, raised his phoenix-feather eyelashes, and smiled and nodded at Guan Ye opposite him through the passing palace servants. Guan Ye was staring blankly at the unfamiliar dishes when she vaguely sensed something. She raised her eyes and saw the palace servants had already placed plates of delicacies on the table in front of her. Guan Ye's attention was drawn to the dishes, and her full cheeks showed a happy blush.
“She’s really never seen the world.” Mu Lexiu picked up the wine pot and poured himself a drink. “There’s so much in the palace that she hasn’t seen or used. I don’t know what Father Emperor sees in her. It’s one thing that Ajiu has the Emperor’s face and is favored by Father Emperor, but Guan Ye? A sword slave, what makes her so special?”
"As for A-Jiu, is she qualified to attend tonight's palace banquet?" Mu Chenbi stood tall and unmoved. "You value Wushuang, so why doesn't Father invite her to the palace?"
Mu Lexiu raised his cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. He then picked up the wine pot and bowed to Mu Chenbi, saying, "It's a pity that Your Majesty doesn't drink. Wine can relieve worries and sorrows. If Your Majesty could drink some wine, you would feel better."
Guan Ye picked up a honey lychee and handed it to A Jiu, saying, "This is the honey fruit you brought back last time. It was truly a tribute."
Ah Jiu was both amused and annoyed. "What, do you think I bought this on the street to coax you?"
Guan Ye bit into the soft, sweet fruit, and the sweetness filled her heart. A Jiu wiped the sugar stains from her lips, whispered something in Guan Ye's ear, and the two of them chuckled together, as if they were the only two people in Cheng'en Palace.
"Ajiu," Mu You looked at him, "What are you so happy about? Tell me."
Guan Ye quickly sat up straight, while A Jiu maintained her composure, glanced at Guan Ye, and smiled, "Guan Ye said that the honey lychees she ate last time were actually a gift from the Emperor."
Mu You laughed, "Honey lychees, are they delicious?"
Guan Ye looked around and saw that no one was responding to Mu You. After a moment, she realized that he was asking her and quickly replied, "It's delicious."
The girl was adorable, timid yet fearless. Mu Chenbi saw this and felt a pang of pity for Guan Ye. Seeing her and A Jiu working together so well, their words sweet and tacit, Mu Chenbi felt a pang of sadness. At this moment, even the sweetest fruit tasted only sour to him.
Ah Jiu chimed in, "Last time, Guan Ye ate the whole box of candied fruit in one night. She woke up in the morning clutching her teeth and complaining of pain. I scolded her, saying that candied fruit is delicious, but you can't be greedy. Others can eat it for a month, but you finished it in half a day. If you eat too much, your teeth will rot and you won't be able to eat anything when you're old."
Mu You was startled and sat down. "Sister, I ate too much and my tooth hurts."
"Serves you right! What others can eat for a month, you finish in half a day. You deserve to have a mouthful of rotten teeth and be unable to eat anything when you're old."
"Isn't this...delicious?" Ajiu exposed Guan Ye's weakness in front of everyone, making Guan Ye so angry she wanted to punch him. "Tell me everything, you just wait."
"It's just candied fruit." Shen Yu smiled and shook her head. "It's not anything particularly valuable. Since you like it, after the palace banquet, ask the Emperor to give you some more to take back and let your companions in the workshop try it. Eat to your heart's content. Once you've had your fill and are tired of it, you won't crave it anymore."
Seeing that Mu You's expression was somewhat strange, Cui Jin glanced sideways at the palace servants and said, "Give Ajiu and Guan Ye some more candied fruit. Let them eat to their hearts' content tonight."
Mu Chenbi sensed something was off about Cui Jin's tone, and seeing his father's deep, dark eyes, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
"A-Jiu," Chen Yu called to A-Jiu, "His Majesty really likes you. Many people in the hall today were able to enter Cheng'en Hall because of you."
"A-Jiu...I'm terrified." A-Jiu hurriedly stood up and bowed to Chen Yu. "Your Majesty's words are too kind to A-Jiu."
Mu You looked displeased and coughed, saying, "Your Majesty, you frightened Ajiu. Has Your Majesty never been to Cheng'en Palace?"
Chen Yu remained calm and composed, still smiling as she looked at Ajiu and said, "Everyone is careful when speaking to the Emperor. I see that Ajiu and the Emperor are very familiar with each other. After all, she often enters and leaves Chengen Hall and receives a lot of favors, so it is naturally different."
"Am I difficult to get along with?" Mu You's voice was hoarse, his hawk-like eyes glaring at Guan Ye, who was eating fruit. "Guan Ye, tell me."
Guan Ye was so startled that she almost bit her tongue. She hurriedly swallowed the fruit that she hadn't chewed properly, but the flesh got stuck in her throat. She couldn't swallow it or spit it out, so she picked up the wine pot and gulped it down. Ignoring the wine stains still on her lips, she said hastily, "Last time, I had the honor of meeting the Emperor when I presented the sword. I only met him once and then got the chance to eat at the palace banquet. The Emperor is kind and benevolent and not difficult to get along with."
Mu Chenbi chuckled softly and secretly gave Guan Ye a thumbs up. Guan Ye's cheeks burned, whether from the wine she had just drunk or from being frightened, it was hard to tell.
Mu You seemed quite satisfied with Guan Ye's answer, and his tense imperial face relaxed. "Guan Ye is young and has extraordinary casting skills, so it is natural that she can enter this Cheng'en Hall. Guan Ye, I ask you, are you willing to serve the court and cast weapons for the court?"
The sudden change of topic caught Guan Ye off guard; had she just finished flattering him and now he wanted to pledge his loyalty? Guan Ye didn't dare think too much about it and looked up, saying, "This humble woman is already casting weapons for the imperial court..."
Mu Chenbi's eyes narrowed. He knew his father too well; his father would never ask a pointless question at a palace banquet. Xingguo Workshop was originally for the use of the court, and now they were only taking on tasks for the court. Guan Ye was right; they were already casting weapons for the court... No! Mu Chenbi's mind sharpened. His father was asking—"Guan Ye, are you willing..." His father wasn't asking about Xingguo Workshop, but... Guan Ye alone.
"So you're willing to help me?" Mu You slowly coaxed.
Guan Ye felt a little confused, but when she saw Mu Chenbi nodding heavily at her as if giving her some pointers, she didn't have time to think and said loudly, "This humble woman is willing."
Cui Jin's single eye blazed like fire, and he said in a sinister tone, "If one day there were no more outlaws in the world, would you still be willing to serve the imperial court?"
“Imperial Preceptor,” Mu Chenbi interrupted, “Guan Ye has already answered His Majesty.”
"I wish she could answer more clearly." The lamplight flickered, and the runes on Cui Jin's face lit up and dimmed. "His Majesty must also want to hear it."
Are there no more outlying neighborhoods in the world? Guan Ye's heart skipped a beat. After the Blood Crossbow Incident, all five major neighborhoods were destroyed. Before Xingguo Neighborhood returned to the capital, there were practically no more outlying neighborhoods in the world... Guan Ye's lips parted slightly, unsure of how to respond.
Cui Jin had been waiting for this moment. "Your Majesty, judging from Guan Ye's appearance, she is working for the court on behalf of Xingguo Ware, not for her own personal reasons."
Guan Ye suddenly stood up, her abrupt movement startling the eagle guard behind her, who nearly drew his sword. Guan Ye clenched her fists, encouraging herself, and took a deep breath, saying, "I haven't even answered yet, so why did the Grand Preceptor answer the Emperor for me? The court's casting of weapons is for the country and its people. Weapons defend the country and protect it, while craftsmanship strengthens the nation and enriches its people. If they are used by the court, they are used by the country and its people. This applies to workshops and to casters. Even if I am not from Xingguo Workshop, I am still a caster of Jin. I can still light the furnace, wield the hammer, and forge iron for the people. Isn't that also for the country and the court?"
Mu Chenbi's eyes suddenly lit up. Guan Ye, dressed in red, spoke with a powerful and resounding voice, leaving Cui Jin speechless. Mu You's hand holding the cup froze in mid-air, clearly also shocked by Guan Ye's words, unable to believe that a mere blacksmith could utter such bold words.
Mu Chenbi placed his palm on the scabbard of the Twin Dimples Sword—I am willing to walk alongside you, to clear obstacles for you, and to help you achieve your goals.
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