Chapter 89 Attendant Forty
Although he had heard that Lingtai Lang was skilled in astronomical calculations, Masahiro really did not expect that the other party would even have foreseen that he would come looking for him.
Masakatsu looked at the boy on the bed with barely concealed surprise.
"So you've figured out why I've come all this way?" There was no one else in the room, so Shinju casually pulled up a bench and sat down next to Gu Yixiang.
Gu Yixiang's lips stiffened slightly. To say that he couldn't figure out the purpose of Shinju's trip would be to tarnish his reputation as a clever and resourceful person. Therefore, instead of explaining further, he had to answer, "It's for Wu Duo, isn't it?"
Shinju immediately frowned, his expression turning cold.
The matter of Uncle Wu had already been kept under wraps; very few people knew of his misfortune, making a leak impossible. Could the other party truly have predicted it so accurately?!
Gu Yixiang felt the malevolent aura and oppressive force emanating from Masaki, and immediately felt that he could not breathe properly, as if an invisible hand was choking his throat. He smiled and explained, "Don't be nervous, Lord Qing, I have no intention of being your enemy."
"Tell me everything you know, and I'll make my own judgment on whether you're worth my time."
Gu Yixiang did not get angry about this. Instead, he changed the subject and said thoughtfully, "If it can help me with this matter, I will tell you everything you want to know, without reservation."
Shinju immediately patted Gu Yixiang on the shoulder, drawing the toxins back into his body.
“I’m afraid there’s no room for you to bargain,” Shinjuku said.
“Even if you kill me, it will be useless. You can see my body; it has weakened to such an extent that you don’t even need to lift a finger. It will burn out in a few days.” Gu Yixiang lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly.
The moment the poison entered the other person's body, Shinjuku formed a poison membrane, enveloping it and thus preventing the poison from taking effect. This was not for threatening purposes, but for surveillance.
He didn't quite believe that a mere mortal could comprehend the workings of heaven and earth. If such a person possessed such supernatural powers, why would they need his help? Unless these powers were bestowed upon them by someone from beyond this realm. This person exhibited the same symptoms as Uncle Wu, indicating that he had likely also been possessed, or at the very least, served as a medium for that group to invade this world; otherwise, such a coincidence wouldn't be possible.
In a short time, Shinjuku had already figured out the key to it.
He created a sound barrier, blocking their voices so that the silver scorpions outside wouldn't overhear.
He then said, "Since you are considered a master strategist, you must have already guessed my identity. You are not someone a mere mortal like yourself can handle. On the contrary, I can take care of those you cannot deal with."
Unexpectedly, Gu Yixiang, despite his young age, saw things very clearly. He said, "To the 'gods,' I am indeed just an ant, a mere tool. I have never dared to resist, nor do I intend to be their enemy. Unless... you help me save someone."
“A very important person.” Gu Yixiang suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze solemn, his voice trembling slightly.
.
Fuyiyuan.
"Don't come again. I told you we can't get that stuff. The higher-ups have already raided and confiscated it! Stop bothering me and get out of here." A tall, thin guard pushed away a disheveled actor who was grabbing his hand.
His legs, hidden beneath his clothes, were already incredibly thin. With that push, he fell heavily to the ground, scraping his elbow. Instead of fresh blood, dark blood flowed from his elbow.
The actor bit his lip deeper and deeper, until it became a scar that never fully healed.
The guard glared at him with disdain. The performer shrank back, covered his face with his disheveled hair, and staggered back into his room.
Before he could even cross the threshold, an old man suddenly appeared from nowhere, carrying a wine jug. He nudged the actor and said, "Hey, want some Five Stone Powder? Come to my room, and I'll give it to you."
The actor trembled all over, scratching his skin with his fingers, but he couldn't suppress his agitation. "You've lied to me again! I won't believe you anymore! You lie to me every time! I won't believe you!!"
The old man grinned, revealing his yellow teeth. "Look at you," he said, "always so suspicious. Besides me, who else would want to talk to you? Come on, whether there is or not, you'll know for yourself. I'm not lying to you this time."
The performer's eyes darted around, clearly wavering, and the old man gave him a "I knew it" look. This kind of person had become mentally unstable from using Five-Stone Powder; even though he had never gotten that stuff from him, he still wouldn't let go of the slightest possibility.
The guards nearby saw it, but simply looked away in disgust and did not stop it.
Just as the old man was grabbing the actor's hand, about to lead him into the woodshed, the sound of a carriage came from the other side of the courtyard gate.
After a moment's hesitation, a stunningly beautiful woman in a platinum cloak walked towards them, looking travel-worn. Two or three guards knelt to one side, not daring to raise their heads.
The old man stared wide-eyed, but the beautiful woman's gaze did not fall on him; instead, she looked at the performer who was scratching himself and huddled to the side.
"Gu Xi".
When Shinju arrived, he scanned the guard with his divine sense and headed straight for this place.
He never expected that the only actor who glared at him during the raid on Fengluan Tower that day, the person in front of him, was actually Gu Yixiang's own brother.
The old man was about to strike up a conversation when the guard behind him immediately shouted, "You've seen the Grand Master of the Imperial Horse Stables, why aren't you kneeling down?!"
The old man was terrified that the young beauty before him possessed such great power. His legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud. "Spare me, sir! My lord! I had no ill intentions whatsoever..."
It was only then that Gu Xi, the actor, realized that he hadn't heard anyone call him by his original name in a long time, and tears involuntarily streamed down his cheeks.
When he saw the person's appearance clearly, a feeling of mixed hatred and anger surged within him.
Shinju pretended not to see Gu Xi's hostility and ordered his men to help him into the house. As for the old man, he was kept in place, awaiting his fate.
He wanted to thoroughly investigate the situation here.
Half an hour later, Shinju finally understood the situation at Fuyiyuan. Since the purge, many servants from the brothels owned by aristocratic families had been sent here, including entertainers and courtesans.
After the investigation was completed, most of these people, except those who had committed actual crimes, were stripped of their slave status and regained their identities, but were all sent to local areas. Those who did not wish to leave the capital had to register with the relevant officials at the Fuyiyuan (a type of burial institution), and for the first three years they had to have a legitimate job and a guarantor in order to stay; otherwise, they would also be expelled.
People like Gu Xi, whose lives were ruined by banned drugs, were not even accepted by brothels. Furthermore, due to the recent crackdown on most brothels in the capital, many smaller ones went into hiding, becoming more discreet and scattered. Those without connections couldn't even return to their old professions. Unfortunately, the Prince of Zhen had decreed that Fuyi Courtyard couldn't expel these people without cause, and the current lack of job opportunities left many idle at Fuyi Courtyard.
Masakatsu sighed. If policies are implemented but oversight is inadequate, this is how it happens.
However, it's unlikely that the busy King Zhen could handle everything perfectly.
Since he's been caught up in this matter, let's just handle it for the King of Zhen. Just as Zhen Su was about to submit a memorial, the Silver Scorpion Guard appeared and said, "His Majesty has ordered that for minor matters, you may act first and report later. After it's done, you can return to the palace and report in person."
This was certainly much more convenient, so Shinju agreed without considering how arbitrary and permissive the delegation of authority was. The steward of Fukui-in rushed back, only to overhear the conversation between the guards and Shinju. He was terrified, thinking he had overheard something he shouldn't have and was about to die.
Zhen Su had no time to deal with the affairs of the manager. Although he had fulfilled Gu Yixiang's request by taking Gu Xi away from this place, he had an idea when he looked at Gu Xi and those who were suffering from the addiction to Wushisan.
Before long, all the unemployed staff of Fuyiyuan were summoned and lined up, entering a small room one after another.
Gu Xi kept muttering to himself. Ever since Masakatsu arrived, he had been wondering if the other party had come to take revenge on him. He was certain that the glare he had given the other party had been seen. His damaged mind prevented him from thinking any further, so he silently counted the time each person spent in their room to distract himself from the itch and fear that ran deep in his bones.
There were six people ahead of him in line, and those who came in later came out faster than those who came in earlier, from the time it took to burn two incense sticks to the time it took to drink a cup of tea, getting faster and faster. He also noticed that the entertainers and singers in front of him all came out with radiant smiles. Even when he first entered the Phoenix Pavilion, innocent and naive, he had never seen them so genuinely joyful and happy. Those peach blossom-like faces, however, seemed like a monstrous flood to him, so abnormal that it made his heart skip a beat and gave rise to an extremely ominous intuition.
Soon it was his turn.
Gu Xi, feeling uneasy, leaned against the wall and slowly walked in under the guard's sharp gaze.
He was greeted by that handsome, platinum-colored figure standing beside the bed. His golden eyes, which shone like the molten gold of the setting sun outside the window, glanced at him and said, "Come here."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
