Chapter 15 Drunken Mushroom's New Year's Greeting: "This Immortal Lord will make it up to you."
His attempts to stop them were completely futile; in the end, he could only watch helplessly as their emperor poured half a cup of Tusu wine into the flowerpot.
Han Jiqing was stunned. "This...this mushroom won't die tomorrow, will it?" After saying that, he slapped himself hard. "What are you talking about dying during the New Year?"
"Slap!" "Slap!" Two more slaps followed.
Gu Huizhou remained silent. "Come in through the door."
Han Jiqing's money bag jingled as he swaggered in through the door, then bowed deeply to Gu Huizhou, saying, "This humble general wishes Your Majesty a Happy New Year."
"stand up."
Han Jiqing got up and plopped down opposite Gu Huizhou, with a table between them. He carefully examined the calligraphy, saying, "I thought His Majesty's calligraphy was beautiful when I was His Majesty's page."
"I didn't expect that after all these years, she'd still be prettier than me."
Gu Huizhou raised an eyebrow. "So if there's any emergency in the future, don't write the battle reports yourself."
"Your Majesty, do you despise me?"
The ripples in the wine cup subsided. "How could I?"
Han Jiqing chuckled, "This humble general also thinks it's unlikely."
The two looked at each other in silence. Han Jiqing's smile faded. "Your Majesty, the Han family will always stand by your side."
“Although the Han family made a mistake in the past, it will not do so now, nor in the future!” he shouted. “Your Majesty! You will always be my brother, Han Jiqing. I am willing to go to war for the Yun Kingdom! Even if I, Han Jiqing, die on the battlefield, I will still be bringing honor to my Han family.”
"The general is drunk."
Han Jiqing shook his head, "Tch, underestimate my drinking capacity. I can drink more than Liang He, and he hasn't managed to do it in two years." He said with a smug expression, "Just half a year ago, in our most important battle against the Crown Prince of Xiao, if I hadn't drunk him under the table the day before, who knows what stupid things that idiot would have done."
The tone was full of disdain.
“Your Majesty,” he took another swig of wine, “you owe me the honor of sending Liang He to war with me!”
"It was my Han family's fault for helping Consort Jin get rid of you back then. But it's your fault for sending such an idiot into my army these past two years!"
Gu Huizhou, who had just been smiling, changed his posture, leaned back on the soft couch, closed his eyes, and exuded a cold aura. His fingers kept fiddling with the string of red cinnabar beads.
“I often see Consort Jin in my dreams. She always has a stern face and never smiles, but she still uses the best medicine to treat our injuries. Those are all herbs that can't be bought in the capital. These past two years, when I've been injured and need medicine, I especially miss the medicine that Consort Jin gave me back then.” His voice choked with emotion, and Han Jiqing downed another cup of wine, the cup slamming against the table with a crisp sound. “If I hadn't helped Consort Jin get rid of you back then, she wouldn't have died.”
"Slap!" His reddened eyes were filled with a dazed look. "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this humble general said that word again."
"Someone come here."
Thirteen appeared from an unknown location, "Your Majesty."
“Send General Han back to the Han residence.”
"Your subordinate obeys."
"Your Majesty!" Han Jiqing continued to shout, "Your Majesty! This humble general knows that Your Majesty is still my brother! Your Majesty, you cannot deceive this humble general. If Your Majesty were truly the tyrant the people speak of, you would have already killed those hundreds of scholars. What would be the point of keeping them alive!"
"If Your Majesty spares Li Wenjing, all the other scholars will die!"
"Smack!"
The noise subsided only after Han Jiqing's mouth was covered by Thirteen, and the two staggered out of the warm pavilion, arm in arm.
"fourteen."
"Your subordinate is here."
"You and Thirteen together."
"yes."
After all, he had served as a general in the army for two years, so it was a bit of a stretch to have Thirteen escort him back by himself.
The inscription "Peace reigns throughout the land, tranquility prevails in all directions" lay on yellow paper on the table. Beside him, the emperor, still draped in a fox fur coat, reclined on a soft couch with his eyes closed. A black and gold belt cinched his waist, and one leg dangled loosely to the side. His hands stopped moving, and only the wisps of incense smoke remained in the warm chamber.
"Consort Jin," Gu Huizhou sneered.
Two years ago, the late emperor was critically ill and it was uncertain whether he would survive the New Year. The imperial advisor gave him several suggestions: bring women born on a yang day, yang month, and yang hour before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month into the palace to avert the disaster.
The late emperor, grasping at a straw, ordered a nationwide search for girls born at that time. The people, worried about the emperor's fate, even offered their six-year-old daughters. The emperor was overjoyed and, on the second day of the first lunar month, ordered all six to be brought to the palace.
The six women were brought to the palace on the third day of the month. The emperor was beaming, and his cane and dragon robe were new. He hurriedly went to the inner palace.
When the late emperor rode his horse into the inner palace, he encountered Consort Jin admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden. The joyous occasion put the emperor in a good mood, and he went to Consort Jin's palace for a short visit. That night, he passed away while enjoying himself with six women.
During his lifetime, the late emperor was diligent in governing and loved his people, deeply concerned about their suffering. He valued civil affairs over military matters and reduced conscription. His reign was hailed as a golden age by the people. After his death, the entire nation grieved, and even three days later, when the new emperor ascended the throne, no one could bring themselves to smile.
"How come I've never heard of this prince before?"
"I heard from someone in the palace that it was Consort Jin's decree. After all, Consort Jin was the only one who saw His Majesty that day."
"Since Consort Jin has no son, this prince is probably not legitimate."
...
On the day the new emperor ascended the throne, dozens of officials were demoted, and the Grand Preceptor was beheaded and his head displayed in public; the blood flowed from the Forbidden City, and the stench lingered for a long time. The new emperor issued more than a dozen laws, conscripted soldiers, and collected taxes, declaring that he would go to the front lines to wage war against the Xiao Kingdom in ten days.
"This... it seems this person is not as benevolent as the late emperor!"
"How could this be so bloody! It goes against the ancestors' wishes!"
"Why start a war? Why do we have to fight when everything is fine!"
"Could it be because of the eleven cities ceded by the late emperor?"
"We've already conceded. Starting a war now would be a waste of resources and manpower!"
...
And on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
"The Empress Dowager hanged herself!"
"What! Your Highness, Consort Jin—"
The emperor, lying on the soft couch, looked unsteady, his forehead furrowed and his breathing became rapid.
I dreamt about that day again.
Han Jiqing stayed in the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers. The plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden were always the most beautiful in the capital. "The Consort Jin has good taste. In winter, these plum blossoms are the most beautiful."
"No, no, now we should call her Empress Dowager."
“Your Highness,” he sighed again, “it is His Majesty.”
"The Empress Dowager probably wanted to prepare some food for His Majesty. Every year on the Lantern Festival, you two spend it together. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager can finally put one of her worries to rest."
Gu Huizhou, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat with him in the Imperial Garden, listening to Han Jiqing speak, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes. "Hmm."
Even so, a smile still played on her lips. "If she wants to leave, she can decide for herself."
After that crazy woman threatened to kill him, Consort Jin took him in. She disciplined him with both beatings and scoldings, making her practically his mentor.
"Women from the northwestern tribes don't have a good ending if they go back. It's better for them to stay in the palace. The Empress is now the Empress Dowager, and she's living a good life."
"Alright, it's about time. My father must have already gone back." Han Jiqing stood up. "I will accompany Your Majesty to see what delicious food the Empress Dowager has prepared."
"Something terrible has happened!"
As the two approached the palace, a palace maid nearly bumped into Gu Huizhou. She looked up and immediately collapsed to the ground, her legs giving way. "Your Majesty! Greetings, Your Majesty! The Empress Dowager... the Empress Dowager has hanged herself."
A chill ran through him. Gu Huizhou didn't remember anyone speaking at the time. He only heard the palace maid finish speaking before striding towards the Empress Dowager's bedchamber. The Empress Dowager's bedchamber was always magnificent, filled with jewels and collectibles. Even the plum blossom tree at the entrance had just been brought back from the north the day before.
A graceful figure hangs from the roof beam, a smile playing on her lips, free and unrestrained.
She took off the magnificent robes that belonged to the Empress Dowager and casually tossed them aside; one corner of one of them was even charred black against the embers.
She herself wore the tribal costume she had worn on the day she entered the palace. With a light application of rouge, she looked just as she had sixteen years ago.
Gu Huizhou felt as if his throat was blocked. He took two steps back and choked out two words, "A proper burial."
The Empress Dowager's passing has become insignificant amidst the many recent events. She was never a daughter of a prominent family in the Yun Kingdom; as a foreign empress dowager, she received no respect from the people.
What's more, she was the one who conveyed the late emperor's decree, sending over such a tyrant.
The images in his mind blurred again. Gu Huizhou struggled to open his eyes, but was held tightly by the suddenly clear images.
"My name is Yue Wujin, and I come from a tribe in the northwest. I know medicine and martial arts. From today onwards, you will live with me, and I will put you on the throne."
From that time on, Xiao Gu Huizhou thought he finally had a concubine as his mother, but he didn't get any good days.
"Stop right there! Did I say you could leave? If you can't even learn this move today, you won't eat!"
“A prince of such high status, unable to even resist a mere eunuch, might as well be dead.”
"Eat this poison. If you're still alive tomorrow, you can continue to follow me."
"Get out, don't dirty my bedchamber."
...
Curses and beatings followed her like a shadow for several years. Gu Huizhou hated her at one point and tried to assassinate Yue Wujin several times at night, but to no avail.
The woman just sneered, "If you really kill me, then it'll be a success."
"Take your medicine, and stop looking half-dead. Go practice your kung fu tomorrow; with just these few moves, you'll make people laugh."
The woman's image in his memory became increasingly blurry. The emperor, lying on the soft couch, clenched the bracelet in his hand, the veins on his arm bulging, and he slept very restlessly.
"His Majesty!"
Gu Huizhou suddenly opened his eyes. Was he dreaming again?
He was breathing heavily, his eyes still cold. On the table were only the wine glass and the candlestick. The yellow paper was blank, and even the wine pot was still in its original place.
The mushroom's memory stopped just before he poured the wine.
"His Majesty!"
The voice was impatient, but sounded dizzy, and much softer than before. Gu Huizhou turned his head to look, and the person was still standing by the door, the veil on his face properly covering his face, revealing a silly grin on his eyes.
"What brings you here, Immortal Lord?"
Yao Ruyi swayed a couple of times, then reached up to hold her head, muttering, "What's going on? Why are there two emperors? Could it be that the blood the emperor shed the other day was poisonous?"
Perhaps holding his head helped, for he stopped swaying. Yao Ruyi took two steps forward and bowed deeply to the emperor, who was leaning against the soft couch, "This immortal lord has come to pay New Year's respects."
“What was it again?” Mushroom frowned. “Oh, wishing peace and tranquility to the world.”
Gu Huizhou raised an eyebrow, turned his head and saw that the words on the yellow paper had reappeared, along with the wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner.
"Furthermore, this immortal lord is not one to ignore right and wrong. I wronged you regarding Li Wenjing's matter, and I will make it up to you." I should have known better than to destroy the emperor's earth dragon back then.
Yao Ruyi smiled.
Compensation? Gu Huizhou frowned.
"Ha," as dawn broke, Gu Huizhou sat up straight on the soft couch, his fox fur coat thrown aside, sweat pouring down his forehead. This was the compensation he'd promised; the warm chamber was now burning like a furnace!
————————
The next day, in the Imperial Study.
Gu Huizhou raised his eyes, "General Han, recently in the frontline camps—"
Han Jiqing, "Slap!"
Gu Huizhou: "..."
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