"I'm not afraid of Qi Yuanliang killing me."
Gu Chi was not intimidated by Qi Shan in the slightest.
To put it bluntly, everyone knows about everyone else's dark past.
"My only fear is that the Lord will find out and not approve."
"It's normal that the lord doesn't agree."
Liao Jia thought about the scene: the Grand Censor of Kang State was writing furiously, burning the midnight oil, and quickly producing several erotic novels about the enemy ruler by relying on his "three minds and two thoughts" technique; the Grand Secretary and Grand Tutor of Kang State was writing with great skill, and in one go, he drew erotic pictures of the enemy ruler.
The text is vivid, and the illustrations are flexible.
This combination could indeed cause the master to have a heart attack.
The two were not afraid at all of their graves being dug up by future generations.
Gu Chi turned his face, his expression suggesting he had a thousand words to say: "What I mean by 'not agreeing' is different from what you understand as 'not agreeing.' The Lord has always believed that his painting skills are unparalleled, and that a mere fire-avoidance painting is a piece of cake."
Compared to Gu Chi commissioning Qi Shan to draw erotic pictures, their master was probably even angrier that the person commissioned wasn't herself.
Must we pray for good deeds?
Why couldn't it be her?
Liao Jia said awkwardly, "...She hasn't given up yet."
The situation within Kang Kingdom is stable, and various industries are developing rapidly, especially the entertainment industry. [Five Elements Lacking Morality] is a veteran and a pillar of this industry. Most commoners, having enough to eat and some spare money, seek spiritual fulfillment, and the first play they hear is almost always a work by [Five Elements Lacking Morality].
The combination of a storybook titled "The Five Elements Lacking Morality," a storyteller, and a theatrical troupe is simply a winning combination! There have even been fake creators on the market with titles like "The Five Elements Without Morality" and "The Five Elements with Morality," but they didn't stay active for long before those vulgar and borderline books were banned and the creators were arrested and imprisoned.
Gradually, people became dissatisfied with just listening to stories.
However, some content is something that the opera troupe cannot recreate.
The need for similar illustrations arose.
Shen Tang had always wanted to illustrate Gu Chi's storybooks.
Despite several direct and indirect attempts to subtly hint at his intentions, Gu Chi feigned ignorance and managed to evade them. If Shen Tang weren't still the ruler, burdened with numerous tasks, he truly wouldn't have been able to politely refuse. During that period, Shen Tang's gaze towards Gu Chi was filled with resentment and grievance, a sense of desolation at having his talent misunderstood and unappreciated. Initially, Qi Shan and the others were unaware of the true situation, assuming Gu Chi had made a mistake. However, upon learning the full story, they fell silent: "For the sake of the ruler's reputation, you must grit your teeth."
Don't give in just because the Lord says a few sweet words!
Your Majesty's painting skills are truly something that cannot be disgraced for posterity!
Gu Chi said softly, "The lord always believed that 'the world is muddy but I am pure, everyone is drunk but I am sober.' It's not that her painting skills are bad, it's just that we ordinary people don't know how to appreciate her paintings. Her confidence in her painting skills is several times greater than her actual ability!"
In other respects, the Lord is still able to recognize reality.
When it comes to painting, he's as determined as if he'd swallowed a weight.
Liao Jia: "...Let Qi Zhongshu write it."
He has had the privilege of reading the Lord's works, so he cannot comment on them.
The combination of a Censor-in-Chief who writes erotic novels and a Grand Secretary who draws erotic pictures is still slightly better than a Censor-in-Chief who writes erotic novels and an Emperor who draws erotic pictures, especially since the latter combination has someone with terrible drawing skills who is still incredibly confident.
The former, at least, represents a powerful alliance.
Gu Chi was about to imagine Qi Shan's sour face when his smile suddenly vanished, and he urged the caravan to hurry. When Liao Jia looked at him questioningly, he said, "There's a group of wandering knights watching us nearby. On the surface, they're just ordinary knights, but Wu Xian's men have infiltrated them."
Since Wu Xian didn't kill anyone at the funeral, he naturally wouldn't dare to commit murder openly afterward. He could only use the name of a wandering knight to make a fuss.
A wandering knight-errant, to put it nicely, is a person who acts with chivalry; many fictional characters portray them as righteous individuals who value loyalty and brotherhood above all else, punish the wicked, and rob the rich to help the poor. To put it bluntly, they are scoundrels and rogues.
Even if Wu Xian were the ruler, he could not completely control them.
It's understandable that a group of wandering knights, angered by the enemy nation's provocation during its period of national mourning, would bravely intervene to protect the reputation of the Gao Kingdom. If a rogue or scoundrel accidentally kills someone, it's not Wu Xian's fault. These days, accidental killings by wandering knights are all too common.
Liao Jia clicked his tongue and said, "A narrow-minded person is unworthy of being called a hero."
The Dragon-Slaying Ceremony of that year, and the earlier Allied Forces of Xiaocheng, though flawed in their members, also included many true heroes. Who would have thought that Wu Xian would survive to this day?
Then Liao Jia changed the subject: "However, if I were Wu Zhaode, I wouldn't let the two of us go back so easily. The victor decides the fate of the world. In the face of achievements that are worthy of being mentioned by future generations, no one will care whether the loser died because of a conspiracy or something else."
With sufficient financial rewards, they can resort to even more despicable methods.
Gu Chi sneered, "If they come, just kill them all."
The wandering knight-errant strikes first, and killing him is no fault of him.
A response came from outside the carriage.
"only!"
Since Gu Chi and his companion dared to travel to Gao State for a funeral at this critical juncture, they were naturally not unprepared. Not only was the entire caravan composed of elite martial artists, but the leader was also Zhao Feng's daughter, Zhao Wei, and Zhao Dawei.
They were all carefully selected by Zhao Feng and are absolutely reliable.
They still harbor hatred towards the Gao Guo side.
It comes with a built-in buff.
The Kingdom of Gao was still relatively new, and the construction of its official roads was slow. Beyond the capital, the roads became uneven, riddled with potholes and sparsely populated, with a long distance to the next post station. The surrounding area was still desolate wilderness, an ideal place for murder and body disposal.
Zhao Wei directed his men to blast a large pit open beside the official road.
He kicked several corpses inside.
He waved his hand: "Cover it with soil."
The group was highly skilled, carrying out the murder and burial in one swift motion. Along the way, they encountered several groups of wandering knights who attacked them, and the number of professionals mixed in among them also increased. Without exception, they were all defeated and reincarnated, becoming young again.
The journey, with its frequent stops, took twice as long as the trip there.
"We'll be back in Heyin in another hour or two." Liao Jia changed into her favorite red dress and adorned her temples with the most delicate pink peony. She looked languid and became the most eye-catching presence in the teahouse. "I came to Tianhai years ago, but I never imagined it would fall into such a state of ruin."
No wonder the Tianhai family is so distraught and hates the Lord. They watched helplessly as their ancestral wealth accumulated over generations shrank and depreciated. If they didn't break down, who would? Although the Lord didn't intentionally target the Tianhai family, her actions were tantamount to stealing their money and killing their parents.
Gu Chi: "The situation is special."
In wartime, it's already a miracle that the population of the front-line counties hasn't all fled.
Gu Chi and his companions stopped here to rest, which was the teahouse's biggest sale in recent days. The proprietress was in a great mood and personally came out to serve tea and wine. Gu Chi and Liao Jia were about to thank her as usual when they looked up and saw the teahouse proprietress's face.
Although the two of them immediately looked away, the proprietress noticed something was off. Being talkative, she touched her face somewhat awkwardly and asked, "Is something wrong?"
Gu Chi smiled and said, "Your Majesty's appearance is somewhat similar to that of an old friend."
The proprietress heard that this was the reason.
He wondered, "Are they really that similar?"
Gu Chi nodded, then shook his head.
The proprietress was a generous person: "It's an honor for me to meet such distinguished guests and old friends. Today, I'll round down the price of your tea. We also have some specialties; would you like to try them?"
Liao Jia smiled and said, "Have some."
As the proprietress turned to get busy, he winked at Gu Chi.
Gu Chi shook his head slightly, indicating that there was no problem.
It's just a coincidence that this person looks like the Lord.
Just as the proprietress served the tea and snacks, a few more people entered the teahouse. Judging from their aura, they were all martial artists, though their cultivation levels were not high. From their words, it seemed they wanted to join the army and make a living. The proprietress, however, noticed the direction they came from.
"Sir, are you seeking entry into the Kingdom of Gao?"
The tea drinker replied, "Hmm."
The proprietress chatted with him casually: "Kangguo seems better."
In terms of military service and compensation, not to mention the Northwest, perhaps no other country on the entire continent has been as comprehensive and well-equipped as Kangguo. Other countries would keep their soldiers until they died, with many going to the battlefield at the age of sixty-five. Kangguo, however, did the opposite. If someone was too old or physically unable to keep up, they had to leave the military, and they were even provided with a way to make a living before they left.
To prevent veterans from going astray due to financial difficulties.
The tea drinkers looked worried and regretful.
"It's good, but the Queen of Kang has passed away."
His companion beside him added, "They don't even have any offspring."
With the king dead and no successor, chaos is imminent. War breaks out between Kang and Gao; anyone with eyes can see who has the better chance of winning.
What is the purpose of entering Kangguo at this time?
The moment the words "passed away" were uttered, the atmosphere in the entire teahouse froze.
Gu Chi and Liao Jia had cold faces.
Unable to sit still, Zhao Dawei stabbed the tea drinker's table with a knife, his eyes bloodshot: "What nonsense are you spouting? When...when did the King of Kang Kingdom pass away? Wu Zhaode, that despicable scoundrel..."
They actually spread rumors that their master is dead?
The group was startled, but intimidated by Zhao Wei's imposing presence, they dared not retaliate. A glance at Zhao Wei's attire revealed her to be a woman, and her accent suggested she was from the Kang Kingdom region; it was understandable that they didn't believe Shen Tang's death. However, they weren't lying: "She truly has passed away."
Gu Chi stepped forward to stop Zhao Wei, lest she actually kill someone.
"What do you mean by his death?"
His face was cold as he suppressed his inner panic and murderous intent.
He appeared calm, but his murderous intent was even stronger than Zhao Wei's.
The tea drinker, however, couldn't see it and thought Gu Chi was a reasonable person. He said irritably, "This matter has spread far and wide. Shexing Pass was breached by the Northern Desert army, and the main force led troops to support it. Unexpectedly, a 20th-rank Marquis emerged from the Northern Desert, and the King of Kang died on the battlefield."
"Yes, yes, I heard their hearts were ripped out."
"If they take out his heart, he'll definitely die..."
"Sigh, what a pity."
"How did a rank 20 Marquis suddenly appear in the Northern Desert?"
"Who knows..."
At this moment, only a few people remained in the teahouse, whispering with regret.
Gu Chi and the others fell completely silent. Liao Jia clearly saw Gu Chi's face turn purplish-blue and his body swaying precariously. He was startled at the sight—Gu Wangchao could hear people's thoughts and could naturally tell whether what these tea drinkers were saying was true or false.
"puff--"
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Liao Jia's mind was buzzing, a complete blank.
"Watching the tide!"
The threatened tea drinker panicked: "He vomited blood."
Zhao Wei disregarded everything else and quickly reached out to support the person.
He shouted sternly, "Quickly! Go back!"
Although Kangguo had many skilled physicians, with Dong Dao being the foremost doctor and the Imperial Physician, these powerful figures capable of miraculous cures were helpless against Gu Chi's condition. He could only be kept alive, not cured.
unless--
Gu Chiken abandoned his alchemy center, thus ruining his future.
Because the source is in his dantian, which is already damaged and incomplete.
Hastily tossing down a piece of silver, Zhao Wei led his men to He Yin at top speed. The tea drinkers had lost their appetite, and the teahouse was deserted once again. The proprietress stared blankly at the pool of dried blood on the ground, a hint of envy in her eyes: "Scholars with literary talent and warriors with martial prowess, such invincible beings, yet they vomited blood and fell into a coma because of news of death. It's truly a pity that the King of Kang has passed away like this."
He died before his business was even halfway done.
"You believe she's dead?"
Just as I was lost in thought, the woman who did odd jobs at the teahouse brought me some water to wipe myself.
The proprietress looked at the woman.
The woman had come to apply for the job a month ago. She was a wandering knight-errant who had run out of money and had to find a place to stay and work to earn money for her journey. The proprietress had just taken over this closed-down teahouse and didn't have much spare cash either, so she hired her.
The woman didn't say much, only that her surname was Cui.
The proprietress casually remarked, "You don't believe she's dead, but she's certainly better off alive than dead. This world is always filled with men fighting and killing for ambition and power, and women are treated as spoils to be fought over, either staying in one man's harem or lying in another man's bed. For so many years, the script and lines haven't changed at all. How boring."
Now that fresh faces are appearing, isn't that a good thing?
The woman said, "He shouldn't be dead."
The proprietress asked, curious about her certainty, "Why?"
The woman did not answer.
She was always like that—efficient and taciturn.
Zhao Wei escorted Gu Chi back to Heyin County as quickly as possible.
Note the detail that no white banners were hung on the city wall.
Her anxiety eased slightly.
The rumors about his death are definitely just rumors spread by the enemy!
"Quickly, find a physician from the medical field; this is not a place for practice!"
Gu Chi's problem was that his emotions were too volatile, which aggravated his old injuries that had been dormant for many years. After a series of treatments by the medical staff, his condition quickly stabilized, but he still had not woken up.
This differs from the judgment of the medical practitioners.
What happened?
Zhao Feng rushed over as soon as he heard the news.
Before he could even see who it was, Zhao Wei grabbed his arm.
Zhao Wei looked at him with red eyes, which made Zhao Feng feel a chill.
"I recently heard rumors that the Lord has passed away..."
Zhao Fengdao: "Oh, that? It's not a rumor."
Zhao Wei's mouth reacts faster than her brain.
"It's good that it's not a rumor, it's not a rumor..."
Seeing that Liao Jia's expression was also off, Zhao Feng quickly said, "Don't worry, it's not that serious. There are rumors that the Lord has passed away and his heart has been ripped out, but the actual situation is not that serious."
Zhao Wei's mind was in turmoil, and she seriously doubted that she was dreaming.
Otherwise, how could we hear such absurd remarks?
However, that is the reality.
Shexing Pass was indeed secretly attacked and lost by the Northern Desert. The lord did lead troops to support the pass but was blocked by the 20th-rank Marquis and had his heart ripped out. The only difference from the rumors is that she did not die.
Liao Jia clenched her fists: "Is Qi Yuanliang dead?"
That's the only explanation.
Zhao Feng scratched his head: "Qi Zhongshu didn't die either."
Now it was Liao Jia's turn to be dumbfounded: "Not dead?"
Zhao Feng nodded: "He's not dead."
He is not dead, but in order to defraud Beimo, he lied and said that "his death was kept secret" and did not give a direct response or explanation to the news circulating among the people. Now he is trying to lure Beimo into taking the bait.
Liao Jia murmured, "How can a person without a heart not die?"
Zhao Feng also found it difficult to answer.
"Perhaps it's because she's not human?"
My colleague Gong Shuwu has turned into a pink skeleton. If the Lord suddenly reveals that he might not be a person, it is acceptable.
ヾ(ゞ)
The original title was "Tang Mei passed away," which feels rather ominous.
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