Chapter 838 The Grand Marshal Has Arrived! (Second Update)
The sound of "little chicken, little monkey" was like a demonic voice from another world, and the one-eyed pirate leader trembled.
No way?
How could it be this kid?
Even though I'm all disguised like this, how did I still get recognized?
"You've mistaken me for someone else!" The one-eyed pirate leader refused to admit it. He turned around and strode towards the railing; he was going to disembark.
If word gets to his son that he was robbed while his own family was on the receiving end, his son will be angry with him.
He beckoned to the little pirate: "Retreat!"
Little Jingkong came running out: "Hey? Little Chicken Monkey, why are you leaving?"
The one-eyed pirate quickened his pace, adhering to the principle that he wouldn't be considered a threat unless he was caught, and strode forward.
Just then, the little pirate's marbles fell out and landed with a thud at his feet.
He stepped on it and fell face down hard!
Lao Tzu's waist—
Chang Jing, can't you go a day without messing with your master?!
Chang Jing glanced at Marquis Xuanping with disdain, picked up a marble from the deck, wiped it on Marquis Xuanping's trouser leg, and then put the clean marble back into his brocade pouch.
"Brother Changjing!" Little Jingkong came to Changjing's side, raised his little head, and stretched out his little fist. "Long time no see!"
"Yes, Jingkong, it's been a long time." Chang Jing nodded, stretched out his hand, and exchanged fist bumps with little Jingkong.
Wang Xu was completely bewildered.
What's going on?
Do you know each other?
What dialect are you speaking? I can't understand it.
Xiao Jingkong was an ordinary little language genius who could seamlessly switch between Zhao language and the Zhao people, which Wang Xu naturally couldn't understand.
But the people in the side room understood.
The old chief minister walked out with a stern face: "Marquis Xuanping, how dare you! You gave up being a proper marquis to become a pirate at sea?"
They even said things like, "Kill all their men, rob all their women, and seize all their children!"
Listen to this! Is this the kind of thing a marquis of a nation would say? This guy is practically a pirate!
Is this what you got from your anti-piracy operation at sea last year?
Why do they not learn the good things, but instead learn all this rubbish and speak it fluently?
Marquis Xuanping had calmed down. He slowly rose from the ground, elegantly dusted off his sleeves, and smiled slightly, saying, "Chancellor Huo, it's been a long time. How have you been? I'm just—"
The old chief priest interrupted him and continued, "It's just a matter of pretending to be pirates to test the strength of our warships. But it seems that the strength is not very good. I will have to personally escort you, sir."
Marquis Xuanping's lips twitched.
As expected of someone who writes storybooks, you even guessed such a brilliant line?
Marquis Xuanping quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, how did you end up on the Yan people's ship? You are the Chief Minister of Zhao, it's not appropriate for you to be with Yan officials."
"Heh." Your ability to turn the tables has improved. It's a pity, Marquis Xuanping, that you're not facing me this time!
The old libationer stepped aside.
From the side room, Empress Dowager Zhuang walked out with an air of authority, though she was not angry.
Marquis Xuanping's eyes flickered. He looked at the old chief minister, then at Empress Dowager Zhuang: "No way, you two... eloped..."
The old priest immediately exploded: "It's not what you think!"
Marquis Xuanping looked at him strangely: "If it's not true, then it's not true. Why are you so agitated?"
The old chief priest raised his hand and straightened his clothes: "I...I was very agitated? Wasn't it you who ruined the Empress Dowager's reputation?"
Marquis Xuanping narrowed his eyes: "Grandpa?"
The old chief priest immediately replied, "What?"
Marquis Xuanping: "Hehe."
Wang Xu couldn't understand the Zhao language, so he just watched them go back and forth, not knowing what they were saying.
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave Marquis Xuanping a deep look: "Come with me."
Marquis Xuanping followed the Empress Dowager into the side room.
Wang Xu propped himself up on the deck, looked at the skilled young pirate, and then at the big pirate who seemed to obey the old lady. A sharp pain shot through his chest.
Who are these people?
If he had known, he wouldn't have swapped missions with the Feng family brat; he would have been better off going to Chen with the eldest grandson of the emperor.
Chang Jing and Xiao Jingkong stayed on the deck to play marbles, while Marquis Xuanping followed the Empress Dowager into the meeting room.
Inside sat two familiar faces—Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun.
Nan Shi Niang and Lu Shi Fu stayed in Shengdu to take care of some personal matters and did not return with them.
There was also a stranger sitting in a wheelchair.
Neither Gu Yan nor Gu Xiaoshun spoke.
They knew that Duke Anguo was fluent in six languages, and that he would give himself away no matter what he said, so they simply stopped greeting Marquis Xuanping and just stared at him expectantly.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly, "We're all family, no need to be so formal. This is Marquis Xuanping of Zhao."
She introduced him to the Duke of Anguo, and then to the Marquis of Xuanping, saying, "The Duke of Anguo of Great Yan, Jiaojiao's adoptive father."
His daughter-in-law found a godfather in Da Yan?
Marquis Xuanping immediately became polite, smiled and said, "So you are Duke Anguo. I've heard so much about you."
On the armrest, Duke Anguo wrote in the Zhao script: "Marquis Xuanping, I have long admired you."
I've truly heard so much about you. Twenty years ago, this woman was listed on the list of beauties of six kingdoms; who in the world didn't know her?
"You can even write backwards," Marquis Xuanping thought with admiration.
"Please sit down," said Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Marquis Xuanping sat down and looked at Gu Xiaoshun: "You've grown taller."
Then she looked at Gu Yan, "Are you feeling better?"
Their energy and spirit are completely different now.
Gu Yan said with pride, "It's healed! My sister cured me!"
Marquis Xuanping nodded: "My daughter-in-law is amazing."
Don't call her that so quickly, she's not your daughter-in-law yet.
If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, Duke Anguo would have written this sentence on the armrest.
However, there are priorities, and now is not the time to dwell on personal feelings; Gu Jiao's life or death is the key issue.
His purpose in this eastern expedition was to negotiate peace with the Zhao Kingdom, and the opportunity to meet the Zhao Kingdom's generals in advance was a rare one for him.
"You've probably guessed a little about my identity," Empress Dowager Zhuang said to Anguo Gongdao.
Duke Anguo glanced at Marquis Xuanping, dipped his fingertip in water, and wrote on the armrest: "Zhaoguo, Empress Dowager Zhuang".
I had some guesses along the way, but I only just confirmed them.
The only people who could make Marquis Xuanping submit to him were the Emperor of Zhao and the Regent Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Zhuang also introduced the old Chancellor: "His surname is Huo, and he is the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy of Zhao State."
He had heard a thing or two about the affairs of Zhao Kingdom; Empress Dowager Zhuang and Grand Master Huo were mortal enemies, and even if knives rained down from the sky, these two would not get involved together.
Therefore, Duke Anguo really didn't guess that the other party was the old chief priest.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly, "Let's get down to business. I'll keep it brief. The reason we came to Yan is because we're worried about our children—"
Marquis Xuanping looked around.
"Aheng is not on the boat," Empress Dowager Zhuang said.
"Where did he go?" asked Marquis Xuanping.
"He went to the State of Chen," said Empress Dowager Zhuang. "Don't rush to ask questions. Let me finish. You left the military camp without permission, which is a crime of dereliction of duty. You impersonated a pirate and kidnapped the Empress Dowager of a country, which is a crime of insubordination."
Marquis Xuanping rubbed his hands together and laughed, "I didn't know it was you, did I? We're family, so give me some face."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said in a deep voice, "I can let your matter go, but what about Jiaojiao's matter? Do you want to get involved?"
Marquis Xuanping asked with a half-smile, "Oh, what happened to that girl?"
When Empress Dowager Zhuang saw his expression, she knew that he really didn't know what had happened in the Yan Kingdom.
You can't blame him.
Just thinking about how Jiaojiao was in such dire straits, and how this guy still had the mind to rob people at sea, she really wanted to slap him across the face!
Empress Dowager Zhuang suppressed her anger and said solemnly, "She is being besieged by the rebel army of Great Yan and the armies of Jin and Liang, and she is about to collapse."
Marquis Xuanping's smile turned cold, and his eyes gradually became dangerous.
Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, "Many things have happened in between, and Chief Minister Huo will explain them to you in a moment. In short, the ones you've come to attack Great Yan this time are none other than Aheng and Jiaojiao."
Marquis Xuanping: "???"
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him and said calmly, "In addition, I should perhaps congratulate you that your son is still alive, the one born to Princess Xinyang."
Marquis Xuanping was again met with a "???"
Ignoring the stunned look on Marquis Xuanping's face, Empress Dowager Zhuang asked, "Who did you travel south with this time?"
Before Marquis Xuanping could speak, a triumphant, devilish laugh came from the deck from a certain Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces.
"Hahahaha! Old Xiao! We've robbed another fat fish today! Our military pay has increased again! This method of raking in military pay is pretty good! Later, we'll help the Great Yan under the guise of bandit suppression and make them pay us some more for bandit suppression! We'll gain both fame and fortune! Hahahahaha..."
Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun looked at the unlucky guy at the door with pity... who had been exposed before he even appeared, leaving not a trace of his true identity.
The two silently counted in their minds, one, two, three—
The burly Tang Yueshan strode into the room with a sweeping, bold laugh, and then suddenly choked on his laughter on the fourth laugh.
Then, I couldn't laugh anymore.
Empress Dowager Zhuang: How did you manage to lead my Grand Marshal of the Army astray like this?!
Marquis Xuanping: Cough...maybe it's...talent?
(End of this chapter)
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