Chapter 1040: The Cui Father and Daughter [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Is it poorly drawn?
How dare Qi Yuanliang ask such a question?
Gu Chi's facial muscles contorted unnaturally from suppressing his emotions, and he forced a cold laugh through his teeth: "Qi Yuanliang, what are you drawing? Why are the letters sent by the Lord sandwiched in the middle?"
Not only was he sandwiched in the middle, but he was sandwiched between more than twenty pictures of male homosexuality. Heaven knows how much damage his opening of that thing in front of his colleagues, with Wu Xian's beautified, youthful face and body suddenly appearing before his eyes, dealt to his spirit, reputation, and even his body!
Gu Chi felt like strangling Qi Yuanliang to death at that moment!
A common man's anger can cause blood to splatter three feet deep!
We must keep our promise today!
Qi Shan said, "His Majesty just put it there casually."
Gu Chi: "..."
One sentence silenced Gu Chigan.
A sword half-raised is neither quite raised nor quite lowered.
Qi Shan was also helpless about this situation.
Gu Chi doesn't want his colleagues to know he writes erotic novels, so does Qi Shan really want his colleagues to know he draws erotic pictures?
Many colleagues know that "Five Elements Lacking Morality" is Gu Chi, but very few know that the fire-avoidance diagram treasured in their homes may have been drawn by him, Qi Shan. How many years has he been ashore? Now that he has achieved fame and success, serving as the Grand Secretary of Kang State and being granted the title of Grand Tutor, coupled with the wealth of the Gods Society, he no longer needs to earn extra money by drawing fire-avoidance diagrams like he did in his youth.
If Gu Chi hadn't invited him, would he have risked going into the sea?
Not only did he return to his old ways, but he was also caught red-handed by his master.
Who can imagine that scene?
The King of Kang, in a moment of childlike whimsy, decided to surprise Qi Shan, but ended up staring blankly at Qi Zhongshu. The two were separated by a table, on which lay works of art waiting to be baked and dried, while the Imperial Attendant moved stealthily through every inconspicuous corner.
Qi Shan not only wanted to strangle Gu Chi.
He was secretly plotting to kill her to silence her.
Feeling the gaze upon him, the court attendant's hand, which was holding a pen, froze in mid-air, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He thought to himself, "My life is over."
After a moment, he resolutely put down his pen.
He murmured to himself, "...a lover of painting..."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for Qi Shan to hear.
After a long pause, Shen Tang finally managed to utter: "[...6.]"
Did the court attendant lie?
He didn't; he wrote it down truthfully.
But did the court historian tell the truth?
He also overlooked the details.
It's painting, but the content of it isn't very serious.
Shen Tang expressed his dissatisfaction.
Why is it that Qi Shan's mere glance could make the court historian back down, while as the ruler of the country, even a glance at the court records would be refused by the court historian, who would even write the refusal into the records?
Is that a beaver?
The court attendant was actually in a difficult position.
His family had been historians for generations, and perhaps due to this family tradition, even those who didn't enter officialdom were enthusiastic about recording events, noting down those short-lived dynasties and illustrious figures. In this world, regimes changed hands too quickly, and wars were frequent; once a generation was gone, it was difficult for future generations to know what had happened. They recorded these things simply to let future generations know the stories of their ancestors.
The clerk grew up in this kind of environment.
He had access to both official and unofficial histories.
Gradually, I came to understand the good intentions of my people.
Of course, there were also some outrageous and bizarre contents, which he always treated as a joke. But he never expected that his short five or six years in officialdom would reveal content even more outrageous than unofficial histories. A Grand Secretary of the State, privately enjoying drawing pictures of male homosexuals avoiding fire—how could he write this down? What would future generations think of it? He was clearly a proper court attendant!
The court attendant hesitated for a moment, then avoided the main point and focused on the trivial.
They lived up to their conscience and professional ethics, and preserved their good reputation.
The Grand Secretary's painting of Longyang avoiding fire was discovered by the King, and this was written into the daily records, which greatly diminished the credibility of his records! The Imperial Recorder continued to remain invisible, and Qi Shan did not make things difficult for him. Compared to the Imperial Recorder, the King was more troublesome.
Shen Tang: [Hasn't Yuan Liang not drawn this in a long time?]
The court attendant secretly strained his ears.
Qi Shan sneered and betrayed the culprit.
This is what Gu Wangchao wanted.
Is it embarrassing?
If we're going to lose face, let's lose face together!
The scribe's pen paused again.
A Grand Secretary who can draw a "Longyang Avoidance of Fire" diagram, and an Imperial Censor who collects such diagrams... Ha, the Kang Kingdom court is truly full of hidden talents. As the conversation between the Emperor and Grand Secretary Qi continued, an even bigger bombshell dropped: [Wang Chao wants this kind of thing? Tsk tsk, I really can't believe it. He's never been seen getting close to any male officials before, and his body...]
The fire avoidance diagram was naturally for learning and entertainment.
Shen Tang doesn't mind whether her subordinates are male or female, as long as they are healthy, don't suffer losses, don't get hurt, and it doesn't affect their daily work, she can accept it. But, Gu Chi's physique…
Not to mention that the face in the Longyang Fire Avoidance Picture looks very familiar.
The man in the painting... doesn't he look like Wu Zhaode?
Shen Tang's words silenced the court official once again.
so--
Is this the Imperial Censor secretly admiring the neighboring country's ruler?
If the two countries go to war, and the High Kingdom is defeated...
The Imperial Diarist was truly afraid that his daily records would contain statements like "The ruler is wise and still possesses charm; his son, X, is as beautiful as a flower and as beautiful as the moon." His own daily records were even wilder than unofficial histories… Clearly, there was no limit to how outrageous things could get. When Qi Shan revealed the truth about painting the "Wu Xian Avoids Fire" picture, the Imperial Diarist's emotions shifted from shock, rage, anger, to applause.
Given Wu Xian's shamelessness, it's not unreasonable for our side to retaliate.
but--
Whose retaliation involves writing erotic fiction and drawing erotic pictures?
【…I understand Wang Chao's feelings, but—shouldn't he be the strategist, commanding thousands of troops to crush Gao Guo and capture Wu Xian alive, using both overt and covert schemes to seize power?】Shen Tang voiced the official's thoughts. 【…But then again, as a novelist, well, I fully respect Wang Chao's creative freedom; writing fanfiction isn't a problem.】
I'm just worried that his body is too weak and he won't be able to handle it.
Praying for good: [...]
He could barely understand most of what his master was saying.
In summary, it's about supporting Gu Chi.
Write, write with confidence and boldness.
Shen Tang didn't pursue the matter, but there was one question she really wanted answered: "Even though you're all so busy, how come you two still managed to find time—one to write, and the other to draw?"
Praying for good: [...]
Daily Records: [...]
For the first time, the Imperial Diarist, a man who could draw pictures of male sexual misconduct, a censor who collected such pictures, and a king who would enthusiastically provide the Imperial Diarist with knowledge of sexual techniques, felt a strong resistance to his beloved profession.
This would probably be the greatest shame of his life.
Fortunately, Shen Tang did not stay for too long.
She borrowed pen and ink from Qi Shan and wrote a letter.
[I'll send some to Wangchao as well, to save on communication costs.]
Qi Shan, being petty, slipped Shen Tang's letter into the "Dragon Yang Avoids Fire" diagram, intending to tease Gu Chi, but instead angered him. Without a word, Qi Shan used his lord as a shield. He also imitated the court official, admitting it, but not entirely.
Gu Chi took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
After some mental preparation, he finally sheathed his sword.
"Yuanliang, you must not let me find any fault with you."
Otherwise, they would definitely make Qi Yuanliang suffer!
Qi Yuanliang beamed with joy.
Gu Chi then noticed that Qi Shan had brought an unfamiliar face with her. Judging from the other person's aura, they were clearly an ordinary person.
"Is this lady a member of Yuanliang's family?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Xiao reacted the most strongly.
He asked in a deep voice, "What relatives?"
All three of them turned to look at him.
Only then did he notice that there was a fourth person present.
Qi Shan's smile deepened, her eyes sparkling with the light of someone watching a show, and she drawled, "So it's Shan Xiao. How have you been?"
Cui Hui recognized Cui Xiao's true identity at a glance.
There's no other reason than that time has been too kind to these literary scholars who can cultivate their minds; Cui Xiao's face still retains the look she knows best.
Compared to Cui Xiao, her changes are far greater.
Standing next to Cui Xiao, he was much older than him.
She bowed to Cui Xiao and said, "Greetings, Father."
Cui Xiao's eyes widened in surprise, his brows furrowed with barely suppressed excitement. He wanted to step forward but hesitated, for Cui Hui's expression remained indifferent. He knew this daughter all too well; a single glance told him she still resisted him, and a question arose in his mind.
Judging from her daughter's reaction, she wasn't surprised to run into him.
Does this mean she's after me?
Gu Chi's gaze shifted between the father and daughter. Neither of them revealed any crucial information in their conversations; he could only glean a few repeated words from Cui Hui's side, indicating that the father and daughter's relationship was not good.
"...How could Ke Wu be traveling with Qi Zhongshu?"
Cui Hui said, "I've come to find my father."
Cui Xiao's body trembled, and a heart-wrenching guess surfaced in his mind: "You...you've finally come to see your father, could it be your mother..."
He still remembers the scene of his marriage breaking down and divorcing.
His wife bluntly stated that she never wanted to see him again in her life.
Her daughter and son, who were closest to her, also left. Given their personalities, they wouldn't come to see her unless absolutely necessary.
“No, it’s not because of Mother. I came to see you of my own free will.” Cui Hui looked at Cui Xiao’s face, which was much younger than her own, and couldn’t find the affectionate and tender feeling she had back then. Her tone was stiff. “I came to see you for some important business.”
Cui Xiaogang's heart, which had just settled, jumped again.
Could this matter be related to Qi Zhongshu?
His daughter came to see him with him. Could something be going on?
He nodded: "Okay, let's talk over there."
Not only Cui Hui followed, but Gu Chi and Qi Shan also arrived. Cui Xiao wanted to send them away, but Cui Hui said that this matter was related to Qi Shan, and he would be present; Gu Chi was just there to join in the fun. Cui Xiao was a member of his Censorate, and he couldn't let Cui Xiao suffer a loss.
As soon as Cui Xiaogang sat down, Cui Hui spoke up, not even giving him time to prepare tea: "Father, do you still remember Qu Tan?"
Cui Xiao's expression stiffened: "I remember."
For so many years I've been thinking of skinning Qu Tan and turning him into a human drum!
Cui Hui pointed at Qi Shan and said, "That's him!"
Cui Xiao jumped to his feet, staring at Qi Shan, his pupils trembling violently, not even noticing the knife and fan slipping from his hand: "You—"
Before Cui Xiao's anger could reach its peak, Cui Hui coldly interrupted him: "Father, do you really think Qu Tan is the culprit? If it is, why does Mother hate you instead of him? I don't believe that without Qu Tan, our family will be safe and sound. Don't forget, Grandfather is a notorious bandit, and Mother is the daughter of a bandit; our ancestors committed many serious crimes. Not to mention that the prince was already being targeted, even if he wasn't, with your scheme to ascend to that position, you gained merit in supporting the emperor, but how long can our family's foundation remain stable? Mother, Grandfather, and even your identity—which of these won't be attacked by political enemies? Which noble family looks up to us? Mother only wants a simple life, and the only thing she's ever been unwilling to accept is you. You hate that Qu Tan ruined your plans, but even without Qu Tan, there will be this Tan, that Tan!"
"To be honest, my daughter has never truly hated him."
The string of words left Cui Xiao seeing stars.
He stammered, trying to say something: "No..."
“My mother never hated Qu Tan.”
Cui Xiao's face turned pale and then purple.
Cui Hui replied crisply, "Each serves their own master, and life and death are determined by fate. Father should understand this principle better than I do. Who is the root of all this? You still can't figure it out after all these years?"
Cui Xiao was completely refuted and denied.
He sat back down, looking dejected.
They don't even know when their fingernails left crescent-shaped marks on their palms.
After a long silence, he sighed and said, "Did Ke Wu come all this way just to see his father, only to say these hurtful things?"
Cui Hui said, "I just want to prevent my father from making any more mistakes."
This sentence made Cui Xiao unable to suppress his emotions any longer!
He pointed at Qi Shan and said sternly, "How can he be innocent! If it weren't for him, how could your husband and my apprentice have died? How could everyone in the village have died? How could your mother have broken off relations with me? Yes, I am guilty beyond redemption, but is he completely innocent?"
Overnight, he lost everything.
They even abandoned their original name.
All these years I've been all alone!
How could he not feel envious and regretful seeing others reunited with their families?
Cui Hui said, "Father, I remarried later."
Cui Xiao was stunned.
Cui Hui: "I've moved on. After getting married, I had two sons and a daughter. My younger brother has also started his own family and career. My mother has been enjoying her grandchildren all these years... Because of these new relatives, I feel all the more precious about everything I have now, and I don't want to lose anyone else. But we are not the only blood relatives in this world; all living beings have them. I came to see my father today to settle this old grudge."
Cui Xiao nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Cui Hui sighed and said, "My mother has been devoutly worshipping Buddha and meditating all these years, hoping to atone for her sins and those of the deceased, and to accumulate blessings for her grandchildren. Now that my father has entered officialdom and is serving Kangguo, he should serve the country, the people, and the ruler... He should not let personal grudges ruin the overall situation."
After she finished speaking, she changed the subject again and said with a bitter smile, "If we really want to talk about the aggrieved parties, my mother and daughter are the biggest aggrieved parties."
Cui Xiao was not the principal offender but an accomplice.
Only the aggrieved party has the right to demand payment.
Choi Hyo was so angry at these words that he almost had a heart attack.
But he was in the wrong and couldn't lash out.
He pointed at Qi Shan: "What kind of bewitching potion did he give you?"
Qi Shan sat quietly and obediently to the side.
Pure and flawless, like a lotus emerging from the water.
Cui Hui's criticism was fierce, and his own words only made things worse.
Cui Xiao was so angry that tears were about to well up in his eyes, and his voice even had a hint of crying: "...You, you really want to make your father die of anger."
Now it was Qi Shan and Gu Chi's turn to panic.
Cui Hui remained silent upon seeing this, seemingly unsurprised.
Her father was younger than her mother, and as a child he had a cute and innocent face. He was introverted and clingy, and was often made to cry by her fiery mother. Even after he cultivated and gained power, he still cried often. It wasn't that he liked to cry, but that he was just like that by nature; he was prone to tears when he was emotionally agitated and couldn't control them.
After becoming a father, he learned to control his emotions for the sake of his reputation, but it didn't work well in front of his mother, who had seen it all before.
︿(￣︶￣)︿
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we ate roasted whole lamb.
That place is absolutely packed with cars. You only see crowds of people during holidays.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
