Chapter 701: What’s the big deal about having a male favorite?
Sang Zhixia got the confidence from Xu Yu to rest easy, and really regarded herself as a guest invited to the Gui family, and was very relaxed.
After a short rest, Sang Zhixia took people to stroll around the Lanting Pavilion for a while. He also asked someone to bring brushes, ink and stone for painting, and asked Xu Yu to pick up the pen and help him draw a picture of orchids.
After enjoying the flowers and painting, someone came to Sangzhixia to ask what to eat in the evening. Sangzhixia was in a good mood and ordered some local specialties of Nanyun.
We really had a great time eating, drinking and having fun, and then went into the house to rest when night fell.
Outside the paper window where the candlelight flickered, passers-by could clearly hear the melodious piano music coming from the house.
All the movements of Lanting Pavilion were heard by Gui's father and son, and Gui Lianzhi's eyes and eyebrows were filled with unspeakable weirdness.
"Have you found out the identity of that guard? Are you sure you saw him living in the same room as the Sang Dong family?"
The messenger knelt on the ground and said cautiously: "In reply to the young master, there is no way to find the identity."
"But that guard behaved very intimately with the Sang family. He even fed them in public, played the piano and joked with them in the same room. They were very close."
It is true that Sang Zhixia is dressed as a married woman, but so much time has passed and the Gui family has not been able to find out whether Sang Zhixia's husband is a real person or just a cover.
To be precise, apart from Sang Zhixia's name, they didn't even find out Sang Zhixia's true origin or who her parents and family were.
Gui Lianzhi didn't dare to think about how much manpower and material resources were needed to conceal a person's origins so thoroughly, and how many invisible secret forces were continuously paving the way and supporting Sang Zhixia.
But Sang Zhixia was so close to a guard...
Gui Lianzhi's mind flashed back to Xu Yu's overly striking face, and he asked suspiciously, "Could it be... that he's a male concubine she keeps by her side?"
"She's a decent woman, and she openly brings her male lover with her. Does her husband have any objection to this?"
"How can there be such a man in the world?"
After Gui Sheng sent Sang Zhixia away, he locked himself in his study for half a day. When he heard Gui Lianzhi's words, he sneered, "What's the big deal about having a few male favorites?"
"Luckily, such a person is a girl, otherwise..."
I am afraid that in this great wave of upheaval in the vast country, there will inevitably be another name.
Gui Lianzhi was in a complicated mood and didn't know what to say. He paused and said softly, "Dad, what on earth is this guy doing here?"
"What did she say to you during the day?"
Gui Sheng looked at his son, whom he had high hopes for, with an ambiguous expression. He sighed silently and then said in a hoarse voice, "Who do you think has a better chance of winning, the King of Lingnan or the Emperor?"
Gui Lianzhi was so frightened by these words that his heart skipped a beat. He said in panic, "Dad, this is not something people like us can say."
"Didn't you say before that no matter how the fight goes on outside, our family will absolutely not get involved? Regardless of who wins or loses, before the outcome of the Sheng family is clear, getting involved will be a serious crime of confiscation of property and extermination of the clan. We..."
"I asked you a question, so you just need to answer it. Why are you talking so much?"
Gui Sheng looked at Gui Lianzhi who was so flustered by just one sentence, and then thought of the oppressive aura in Sang Zhixia's every word, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart.
The son is not worthy of his father...
He was so arrogant that he could call the shots in Nanyun and get whatever he wanted.
But the only legitimate son was born and raised in a golden nest, safe from all wind and rain, and could not withstand the slightest wind and rain.
When he was around, he could still keep the Gui family standing.
Once he is gone, with Gui Lianzhi's skills, there is no way he can maintain the Gui family's position as the top four families in the Nanxun Chamber of Commerce.
Just the illegitimate children of the Gui family are enough to turn into jackals and tear Gui Lianzhi into pieces.
Gui Sheng quickly closed his eyes.
Gui Lianzhi sensed something, swallowed hard, and then said cautiously, "In my opinion, Kyoto's chances of winning are actually slim."
"Father, the King of Lingnan has the advantage of time and place, and he has an endless supply of powerful generals. His offensive is shocking and he has won countless victories along the way. It seems that he will be able to enter Kyoto at any time. It is only a matter of time."
Seeing that Gui Sheng was silent, Gui Lianzhi grew bolder and said softly, "Let's not talk about anything else, just talk about Xu Yu who is currently stationed in Chuzhou."
"I've heard before that Xu Yu was once the heir of the Jiaxing Marquisate and the young master of the Xu family in Kyoto. After joining the King of Lingnan, he was adept at using unusual tactics and commanding his troops with remarkable skill. However, during the attack on Chuzhou, he was tricked by that bastard Fu Kun and was accidentally injured, forcing him to recuperate in Chuzhou for the time being."
"Chuzhou is only a few hundred miles away from Nanyun. Countless troops are stationed there, and they will attack us sooner or later. The people sent by the court are no match for Xu Yu."
Gui Lianzhi paused, smiled bitterly and said, "But in the final analysis, these have little to do with us."
"Until Xu Yu attacks us, we'll just get through this as usual."
"When Xu Yu leads his troops to attack us, we should be decisive and avoid any tricks. If we surrender to the Gui family, they will still be the Gui family. It will just cost us more gold and silver, which we don't lack."
Perhaps sensing the lingering struggle in Gui Sheng's eyes, Gui Lianzhi took a breath and added, "Dad, don't take it too seriously."
"I've inquired about it. Xu Yu's military discipline is strict. He never allows his soldiers to harass civilians. He also never kills innocent people in places he captures, nor does he commit acts of burning, killing, and looting."
"Even if Xu Yu really led his troops to attack Nanyun, it wouldn't affect us at all."
Gui Lianzhi's current thoughts are also what most people in the south think.
Unlike Fu Kun, a murderer who was despised and hated by everyone, the Lingnan army maintained strict military discipline wherever it went, and the lives of local people were not actually greatly affected.
As long as they behave themselves and don't do anything wrong, the Gui family will still be the Gui family.
However……
Gui Sheng pulled the corner of his mouth in a bitter smile and said dejectedly, "I used to think the same as you."
"But now it seems that we may have been dreaming too early."
It is true that they are also ordinary people.
But putting aside the false reputation of the common people that they have long forgotten, these local gentry may be more like fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered in the eyes of others.
He has countless gold and silver, but he is rich but unkind.
He exploited the people in his hometown and his tyranny was greater than that of an official.
These were nothing in the past many years. Collusion between officials and businessmen and covering up the truth have long become an unspoken trend.
It's different now.
Once the Lingnan army invades, they will inevitably kill people as sacrifices to create a deterrent effect of bloodshed.
If we want to eliminate the power of the gentry that is suppressing officials and make an example of them, now is the best opportunity.
Nanxun Chamber of Commerce must be the first choice under the knife.
Sang Zhixia said that she came to express her gratitude, and she was right.
otherwise……
What awaits the Gui family may be more than just the loss of gold and silver.
Gui Sheng sighed several times in his heart, thinking that it was his fate. He said with tired eyes, "Forget it, you can go down."
"in addition……"
"Send a message immediately to our people at the docks to select thirty large ships. Tell them I have a shipment of goods that needs to be shipped urgently. All must be ready by noon tomorrow."
"There must not be the slightest delay."
Gui Lianzhi left in a hurry.
Gui Sheng sent someone to Lanting Pavilion to tell Sang Zhixia that he wanted to invite Sang Zhixia to a banquet at Xiangshui Pavilion at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.
"Xiangshui Pavilion?"
Sang Zhixia swung her tongue around and pressed it against the side of her jaw, then nudged Xu Yu's chest with her head. "If I remember correctly, that's our restaurant on the riverbank?"
Xu Yu played with Sang Zhixia's fingertips, brought them to his lips and pecked them, chuckling softly, "Zhizhi, it's done."
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