Gongxi Chou did not know Su Shiyi Lu.
I just thought this person's name was strange.
He took a bite of the flatbread: "This guy named Sulu, is he also under Mama's command? I don't recall anyone with the surname Su Shi, right?"
Shen Tang said, "His name isn't Sulu, it's Su Shiyi Lu, and that's his first name, not his surname. He was originally a military officer from the Ten Crows, an old guy with a bad temper and a foul mouth. Of course, this is just something we say in private..."
As the ruler, she cannot show too obvious a preference.
When superiors have a certain preference, subordinates will follow suit to an extreme.
When superiors dislike something, inferiors will follow suit.
Wuzhou is a rather sensitive region in Kangguo, and any policies involving it must be approached with extreme caution, especially those concerning civil and military officials from Wuzhou. Otherwise, a misstep could backfire, inciting unrest throughout Wuzhou, which would then become a major headache for Shen Tang.
Gong Xichou nodded seriously, touching his lips with his finger: "Understood!"
He's the most discreet person.
A meat pie is just a few bites for an adult male. Gong Xichou looked at his empty hands, took a few steps back and went back: "Boss lady, I'll take all the meat pies from your shop."
Shen Tang waited for a while, watching Gong Xi Chou come running over lightly with a bundle full of meat pies: "I've known you for so many years and this is the first time I've known you can eat so much. Your mouth is never idle. I'm really worried that one day you'll run away from home with a body full of muscles and you'll be so fat that you can't even fit into your martial armor. What a waste of such a fit body."
She almost gave up her desire for Gong Xiqiu's body when she thought about how he had become overweight and had a triple chin.
Gong Xichou said, "I've suffered in my life but never gained weight."
He was handsome from a young age.
and--
He chuckled and said, "Does Mama still want my body?"
Martial armor is formed from martial energy, fitting perfectly to the wearer's body. The armor's dimensions are directly proportional to the wearer's appearance; there's no possibility of it becoming too small or unfit due to weight gain. Gong Xichou always knew that Shen Tang liked his body because she herself wasn't as tall and robust, nor could she cultivate such a perfect physique. Gong Xichou was different; what he liked most was Mama's head.
Ever since he learned that she was a sacred object worshipped by the clan, Gong Xichou knew that he would never have the chance to collect her head in his lifetime.
Shen Tang looked him up and down: "If you're going to gain weight, then don't."
Gong Xiqiu looked at the meat pies he had bought with a troubled expression.
Hesitate for a second, then continue the extravagant display.
Camel City, serving as a trading hub between Kang State and the Northern Desert, has flourished in recent years thanks to the support of both countries' policies. Even with the tense situation between the two regions, the deployment of troops on the border, and the imminent outbreak of war, Camel City still retains some of its former glory. It was still early today, and only a few shops were open, which Gong Xichou visited one by one.
Shen Tang keenly noticed that his appetite had increased recently.
Have you been eating too much these past few days?
Gongxi Chou was not a person who cared much about food and drink.
For him, playing marbles was more enjoyable than eating meat pies.
Besides her appetite, Gong Xiqiu has recently been appearing frequently wherever Shen Tang can see her. Previously, Gong Xiqiu would only think of her when he lacked playmates or wanted to pick a fight.
Unsolicited kindness is either a sign of ulterior motives or theft!
Hearing Shen Tang start the conversation, Gong Xi Chou couldn't help but complain to her: "Sigh, isn't it all because of my elder brother's request?"
"The High Priest of Jimo?"
Shen Tang hadn't seen anyone for several days. To be specific, he hadn't seen Ji Moqiu since Yun Da and his companion's night raid.
She decided to take the initiative and launch an attack while the Northern Desert was still unstable.
If Jimo Qiu could join, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
Gong Xichou quickly added another meat pie: "Yes, he knows that Mama is a sacred object of the tribe, and his behavior has become very abnormal. He said he needed to go back to get something... and asked me to protect you during this time. He even fed me Gu worms..."
"Go back? Back to the Gongxi tribe's territory?"
Gong Xichou shook his head and said, "It's the old clan territory."
The clan's territory within Minfeng County was a new settlement after the Wu Kingdom's witchcraft calamity. Before that, the clan lived in a more secluded place, truly isolated from the world. Gong Xichou knew of such a place, but he had never been back to it in his entire life.
"Oh, then what's the story behind him feeding you Gu worms?" Shen Tang believed that he had no reason to harm his only relative and clansman, but one can know a person's face but not their heart. She was closer to Gong Xi Chou, so she was naturally wary of Ji Mo Qiu's behavior of feeding Gu worms to others.
Gong Xichou said, "My elder brother said that pulling up seedlings to help them grow is counterproductive."
Shen Tang: "At your age, you're still considered a 'youngster'?"
Her speechless expression was full of disgust.
Gong Xichou scoffed, "What do you mean by 'at this age'? Let alone my current age, even if I were a hundred or two hundred years older, I would still be a younger brother in front of my elder brother! Since I'm a younger brother, how come I'm not a 'younger brother' in front of my elder brother?"
Even if it's Mama, you can't use her age as an excuse.
Shen Tang: "..."
After Gong Xichou finished speaking, his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes gained another three points of smugness: "My elder brother said that he specially made this Gu worm for me, just in case I was killed by Gong Cheng and the other two while he was away..."
Shen Tang couldn't bear to look directly at Gong Xi Chou's silly, "I'm content with my brother" expression: "Specific effects?"
Gong Xichou: "I already said it, it's for improving cultivation level."
He suddenly thought of Gong Cheng's situation.
"Similar to the enlightenment that Gong Yunchi received."
It's just not as domineering as "enlightenment".
Ji Moqiu didn't hide anything from Gong Xichou;
Gong Xichou didn't hide anything from Shen Tang.
"My elder brother had a strange encounter before, and inherited the entire 'legacy' of a 20th-rank Marquis. He then transferred a portion of this 'legacy' to me through that Gu worm. If I want to fully utilize this 'legacy,' I need some external assistance."
Although food provides limited energy and its conversion efficiency is low, it's better than nothing. That's why Gongxi Chou had such a big appetite.
Shen Tang paused in her tracks: "Are you about to break through?"
"It's not that easy."
If he had a year or two, there might have been a chance, but right now there's a war going on, so how could he have the opportunity to focus on cultivation and breakthroughs? The main purpose of Ji Moqiu giving him this "legacy" Gu worm was to give him a trump card to use in critical moments, to save his life.
When will the High Priest of Jimo return?
Gong Xiqiu: "It will take one or two days at the shortest, and three to five days at the longest."
As they talked, the two arrived at a mansion in the center of Camel City.
This place was originally a paradise built by nobles of the Northern Desert at great expense. It has a very ordinary layout, but the only unusual thing is the backyard.
The left side of the backyard was occupied by a group of beautiful concubines, while the right side was occupied by a whole host of handsome men of all colors, with hair and eyes of all kinds. It was said that the nobles had specially sent people to the various tribes in the northern desert to carefully select them.
With the Kang Kingdom and the Northern Desert having broken off relations, the Kang Kingdom's troops within Camel City launched the first attack, storming the main city, capturing a large number of hostages, confiscating their property, and imprisoning entire families. These people are currently being treated well with good food and drink; they will be dragged out when they are of use.
As for where it will be used?
It's a flag-raising ceremony, of course!
Shen Tang wasn't visiting for the first time, but every time he came, he couldn't help but sigh, "Ah, this is what you call enjoying life. Drunk on a beauty's lap, awake with the power of the heavens... no, the power of the city. And me? I'm just a lowly laborer. My place isn't even as luxurious as a nouveau riche's house."
She cursed the rich man viciously in her heart.
Of course, these nobles from the northern deserts did make contributions as well.
Their property, confiscated during the raids, was considerable. Shen Tang distributed a portion as rewards, keeping the rest for her own private treasury. Of course, she wouldn't enjoy this wealth; it was all prepared for Xun Zhen. She didn't know how much debt she would incur after the battle in the Northern Desert.
Now, every little bit helps.
In a sense, some of this money was hers—that merchant surnamed Chen, who did business in Camel City, had given these people a lot of money. Now, this money had simply gone around in circles and returned to Shen Tang's pocket, so it was perfectly reasonable for her to keep it.
Gong Xichou said, "If Mama needs money..."
He suddenly stopped talking.
Because he remembered that after the extermination of his clan, he had given all the ancestral property he had collected and his savings over the years to Gong Xilai. At present, he was just enough to eat and drink, but he wasn't really rich. Gong Xiqiu immediately changed his tune: "I'll have my elder brother send you some money."
"Your older brother's money? That's inappropriate, isn't it?"
Gongxi Chou explained, "It can't be called the eldest brother's money; it should be said that the eldest brother is in charge of keeping it safe. I remember the eldest priest saying that when the clan moved away, most of the things in the old clan land were left untouched. However, the old clan land is under special protection, and currently only the high priest can go back and open it. Mama is a sacred object, so everything in the clan is yours. The Gongxi clan, including Xun Ding who married into the family, only has four people. It doesn't matter if you use up all the savings..."
Judging from Gong Xichou's tone, it must be a large sum of money.
Shen Tang couldn't help but ask the question that had puzzled her for many years.
"Where did the Gongxi clan get so much money?"
"Our ancestors were once wealthy. They didn't always live in seclusion. Before they went into seclusion, the Gongxi family was quite famous in the secular world, and was a powerful and influential family that had lasted for hundreds of years."
Shen Tang: "...A powerful clan? How powerful?"
Gong Xiqiu recalled the clan records he had read in his childhood, saying, "Mama would ride a warhorse, starting from the ancestral home, and gallop wildly in any direction she chose. It would take her two or three hours to get out of the clan's fields."
Shen Tang: "..."
Good heavens, a true aristocratic family is right beside her!
She suddenly remembered that Gong Xi Chou had once said that the Gong Xi clan had committed a serious crime and were exiled when they encountered their benefactor, who rescued them. This led them to decide to live in seclusion. Before going into seclusion, it was possible they had a large and powerful family. However, this was simply too large.
The level of wealth Gong Xichou described is so high that even a handful of families across the entire mainland could achieve it. No wonder such a large family could live comfortably in seclusion for so many years, with Gong Xichou spending his days like marbles – their ancestors must have been incredibly wealthy.
Fortunately, the Gongxi clan had long since gone into seclusion.
If they were still a powerful and influential family, she would definitely not let them go.
Shen Tang, brimming with curiosity, said, "I don't recall any family of this size that has the surname 'Gongxi'."
Gong Xichou said, "Naturally, it's because I changed my surname."
His mind went blank for a moment.
The ancestral surname was too unfamiliar to him; he couldn't even remember it without deliberately thinking about it: "However, the clan records have been burned and repaired several times, so the original surname of our ancestors is not very certain anymore, but that's not important."
Shen Tang: "..."
If our ancestors heard this, they would probably be so angry that they would sit up in their coffins.
Shen Tang's heart skipped a beat: "Ancestral property, really for me to use?"
How can someone give up money just because of a little pride?
Gong Xichou looked at Shen Tang, who was almost touching his face, and tilted his head back to avoid her. Her smile was too creepy: "I have no objection, and my elder brother will also follow the ancestral teachings. But I don't know exactly how much. Don't be disappointed if Mama is missing."
Shen Tang smiled, hooked her arm around his shoulder, and patted his chest.
She patted the armor, making a loud thud: "It's a small gift but carries great meaning. With our friendship, how could I possibly complain about the amount? This is like a godsend! If we win this battle, as long as Kang Kingdom still exists, we will absolutely not mistreat your clan. I guarantee it!"
Gong Xiqiu rubbed his chest, which was still numb from the shock.
He muttered, "None of that matters. Just promise to give me your body after you die so I can bury you back in our clan's territory."
Shen Tang teased him, "It might be difficult to negotiate with the officials."
The remains of the kings were all buried in royal tombs.
Gong Xichou scoffed: "Do I need to discuss this with them?"
Shen Tang: "...So you'll dig up my royal tomb later?"
This is indeed something Gong Xichou would do.
Gong Xiqiu said confidently, "Mama is a sacred object worshipped by the tribe. After death, she should naturally return to the tribe's territory. What is the royal tomb? Can it be as comfortable as the coffin in the tribe's territory?"
As he spoke, he got angry.
Shen Tang: "..."
She decided to change the subject.
Every time the topic came up, Gong Xichou acted as if he wanted to bury her alive in her coffin, completely disregarding their years of friendship. Given her inherited thought process, if she really angered him, he might not live to see her die of old age.
Thinking of that windfall, Shen Tang pretended to cough and asked, "Is the old clan's territory far away? Should we send someone to meet the High Priest of Jimo?"
Gong Xiqiu said, "Ordinary people can't find it."
Shen Tang's curiosity was piqued: "Where?"
Ordinary people can't find her, but she is the ruler of a country.
As long as she remains within the territory of Kang, there is no place she cannot go.
Gong Xichou tried hard to recall: "It seems to be called something like 'sea'... Tianya Haijiao? Haijiao Tianya? Haishan or Shanhai?"
Shen Tang sighed: "If our ancestors knew that you couldn't even remember the name of the clan's territory, wouldn't they rise from your coffin in the dead of night and beat you, you unfilial descendant? Forget it, let's talk about this later. Right now, things are more important."
Gong Xichou followed behind Shen Tang and continued muttering to himself.
"I think it's called something like Peach Blossom Spring?"
Shen Tang said, "I'm still in Eden."
Gong Xiqiu had previously said that the Gongxi clan's ancestors lived in the "Garden of Eden" more than a thousand years ago and were lucky enough to survive the cataclysmic disaster. Shen Tang's casual teasing frustrated Gong Xiqiu, who then tried to save face by saying, "It's just that the clan history was written too hastily and boringly."
Is it his fault that he can't remember?
“The Garden of Eden and the Old Kingdom are two different places.”
“Mama, give me time, I’m sure I can remember.”
"If that doesn't work, how about we wait until we conquer the Northern Desert and have your older brother take you back to see it? Listen to me, why not see it for yourself?"
Without turning his head, Shen Tang casually replied, "Then, you brothers teamed up to press me into a coffin and bury me alive?"
We not only have to guard against Gongxi Chou, but also against Ji Mo Qiu.
As they spoke, the two arrived at the temporary operations hall.
Shen Tang pushed open the door.
All twenty or thirty pairs of eyes in the room turned to look.
All the fierce eyes were fixed on Gong Xichou.
All they heard was that Gongxi Chou wanted to bury their lord alive!
Shen Tang cleared his throat, awkwardly trying to smooth things over: "Hehehe, everyone, no need to worry, it's all just a joke. Has there been any news from Banbu? Have they figured out the strength of the Northern Desert troops?"
Shen Tang and his men decided to take the initiative and could not remain at Yaori Pass waiting for the enemy to arrive. The main force used Tuocheng as a base. Gong Shuwu volunteered to be the vanguard, and Shen Tang agreed.
|ω`)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
