Chapter 31 Awkward Reconciliation: Mushroom curled the small blanket into a ball, turned around, and left.
Gu Huizhou's lips tightened, and his jaw involuntarily clenched. He stared blankly at Yao Ruyi, whose face was full of defiance, for a long time before chuckling and raising an eyebrow. "I say you're wrong."
The mushroom protested, "What did I do wrong?"
Yao Ruyi had never been so persistent about that matter since he came down the mountain, but he couldn't bear to let his mistake cause his master to be punished.
"So you're asking me for an explanation?"
Gu Huizhou raised his voice, as if he thought the other person was talking nonsense.
He looked at Yao Ruyi's fair yet defiant face and hesitated before swallowing back the words on his lips. He kept fiddling with the beads on his wrist.
Press the tip of your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth.
"As my guard, you should do whatever I tell you to do."
"Then why punish the gentleman? If it's my fault, Your Majesty can punish me alone." Yao Ruyi stared at the ground, his face stern and silent.
The emperor snorted coldly, got up and walked to the table, picked up a brush and continued practicing calligraphy. For a moment, only the sound of ink clashing could be heard in the Cloud Palace.
Yao Ruyi silently got up, his lips pursed in anger. He wrapped his brocade quilt in a ball, turned around, and left.
Outside the Cloud Palace, Cui Xiangzhu was still standing at the entrance, surrounded by a group of imperial physicians in the distance. Wang Qianshan was pacing back and forth right by the door.
When he saw Yao Ruyi come out, he hurried forward, looked her over inside and out, his eyes full of worry, and asked, "Young Master, are you feeling unwell?"
"Sir, I'm fine."
Wang Qianshan was taken aback. This pitiful look didn't seem like anything was wrong at all, and why was she carrying a blanket out like that...?
"this--"
Cui Xiangzhu's heart skipped a beat. He turned to look at the half-closed door of the Cloud Palace and lowered his voice, "My lord, what is the Nineteenth Prince doing? His Majesty is still inside!"
Why is he carrying a blanket? Judging from His Majesty's anxious demeanor just now, he didn't seem like the type to punish the Nineteenth Prince, especially since he was injured...
Moreover, what wrong did the 19th Party Congress members do?
"My lord, your hand is still injured, so you cannot lift heavy objects. This old servant will carry it for you first."
Yao Ruyi shook his head. "I shouldn't have slept in His Majesty's palace in the first place." He turned his head and didn't see Thirteen. "Where's Thirteen?"
Cui Xiangzhu asked, "The Thirteenth Prince has gone to investigate the assassin. Is the Nineteenth Prince alright?"
"Then I'll go back myself."
It seemed that Fourteenth had not returned yet. Yao Ruyi thought to herself, "I know where their courtyard is. I can just go over and prepare a room for them to sleep in."
"Wait, wait!" Cui Xiangzhu quickly stopped him. "The Nineteenth Lord is still injured. Where are you going?" He secretly reached out to grab the brocade quilt in Yao Ruyi's hand, but he couldn't budge it no matter how hard he tried.
The 19th Party Congress's swordsmanship training over the past month has certainly paid off.
He was both anxious and exerting himself, and in the chilly spring weather, the head eunuch broke out in a sweat.
He hurriedly said to the imperial physician beside him, "Hurry up and examine the master!"
Several old men hurried over and stood beside Cui Xiangzhu with smiles, "Your Excellency, the Nineteenth Prince, your humble servant will take your pulse."
“I’m fine now,” he said awkwardly. “His Majesty examined me.”
The old man's outstretched hand suddenly jerked, and he subconsciously pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, placed it on Yao Ruyi's wrist, and pretended to cough lightly, "Let me take another look at you, sir."
Yao Ruyi remained silent, his eyes still fixed on Wang Qianshan behind Cui Xiangzhu. The old man hadn't squeezed to the front, but he kept watching him with concern. How could his already aging body withstand another twenty lashes?
His brows furrowed even more.
"Yes... he is indeed well." The old imperial physician's goatee trembled as he spoke. "As expected of His Majesty, the medicines His Majesty prescribes are superior to ours! It is truly a blessing for Great Yun!"
The old imperial physician turned his head, and the remaining group of imperial physicians echoed, "Who says otherwise! It's a fortunate event for us all!"
"Hahahaha, Physician Wang is right!"
Yao Ruyi remained silent, then angrily stormed out of the Cloud Palace, clutching her small blanket in both hands. She quickened her pace and disappeared in a flash, leaving a group of people looking at each other in bewilderment.
Cui Xiangzhu was so anxious that he stamped his feet. He looked at Wang Qianshan and asked, "Mr. Wang, what's going on?"
Wang Qianshan was still holding a book from the library in his hand, and his eyes were filled with confusion.
Cui Xiangzhu waved the group of imperial physicians away, then instructed two eunuchs to follow Yao Ruyi. He then composed himself and knocked on the door, saying, "Your Majesty, it is this servant."
He happened to be holding the tea that the eunuch had brought him. Smiling, he stood beside the emperor, put down his teacup, and began grinding ink. After thinking for a while, he found a good opportunity to speak:
"This servant just saw the Nineteenth Prince carrying a brocade quilt to the Thirteenth Prince's courtyard. I wonder if he is not comfortable sleeping on the soft couch. This old servant will have the Imperial Household Department send over a bed tomorrow!"
"The craftsman has recently acquired some excellent skills and is preparing to show them off to His Majesty!"
"And the imperial chefs in the Imperial Kitchen have heard that the Nineteenth Prince always smells pear blossoms on His Majesty. Now that the pear blossoms are in full bloom, they have made pear blossom pastries and want to send them to His Majesty to try."
Still, no one paid any attention to him.
The emperor wrote a poem from the Book of Songs on the paper, but the words "Ruyi" (meaning "as you wish") suddenly appeared at the end.
Cui Xiangzhu performed a one-man show for half a day, but no one paid any attention to him. But he didn't think it was useless; he had just been right about the bed-changing incident.
It's likely that the Nineteenth Prince had a falling out with His Majesty and stormed off in a huff. His Majesty might be waiting for him to return right now!
His eyes darted around in their sockets; he had to think of a way to help his emperor.
Thirteen didn't return until nightfall, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
Recently, the Fourteenth Prince has been busy with other matters, so he has temporarily left the palace affairs to him. However, this assassin is proving to be a bit difficult to deal with today.
The cause of the poison on the assassin could not be determined, and the items he carried alone could not identify which side he was sent from.
Thirteen clenched his fists tightly. There were many assassins whose identities he couldn't verify, but this was the first one who had injured someone right under his nose.
He walked quickly towards the courtyard behind the Cloud Palace and saw a lamp still lit next to his room in the distance.
He paused, remembering that no one had ever lived there.
Thirteen quickened his pace and pushed open the door. Holding his sword in front of him, his sharp eyes fixed on the door with intense scrutiny.
His expression was one of surprise. "Nineteen?"
There was only a broken wooden bed and a wooden chair next to it in the room; there wasn't even a table.
Yao Ruyi was even reluctant to spread her own brocade quilt on it, so she could only curl up in the chair, hug the brocade quilt, bury her face in it, and doze off.
The dim oil lamp in the room grew dimmer and dimmer, and Thirteen suddenly pushed open the door, startling Yao Ruyi who was dozing off.
"Thirteen, you're back..."
Fearing that the person would fall, Thirteen quickly stepped forward to support them. He stood to one side and straightened Yao Ruyi's shoulders, asking, "What are you doing here?"
There wasn't even a hard mat on the bed. Even if His Majesty had kicked them out, they wouldn't have to be reduced to this state. Thirteen frowned. "Go to my room first."
Okay.
Seeing that Yao Ruyi had regained some consciousness, Thirteen took her to the next room. The room wasn't big, but it was much better than the previous one. There were writing brushes and ink on the table, and his clothes that he had just changed out of that morning were draped over the wardrobe.
"Why did you come out?"
Yao Ruyi plopped down on the table, still clutching the blanket tightly in his hands. "His Majesty wants to punish the teacher, to give him twenty strokes of the cane."
"To punish the gentleman with a cane?" Thirteen was taken aback. When had His Majesty ever acted in such a way?
He frankly stated, "Nineteen, His Majesty would never handle it this way."
Yao Ruyi suddenly looked up. "He clearly said in front of me that he would punish the teacher with a cane. Just because the teacher went to the library to get a book. And I saw the assassin chase after him," he asked seriously, "Thirteen, as His Majesty's guard, what's wrong with me chasing after an assassin?"
Thirteen thought for a moment, "That must be right." He smiled and said, "But you've only been learning swordsmanship for a little over a month, you can't compare to us."
Fearing that Yao Ruyi might misunderstand, Thirteen quickly added with a smile, "You know medicine; perhaps His Majesty values your talent."
"That doesn't mean we should punish the gentleman..."
Yao Ruyi muttered to himself that he still hadn't found a way to save the master.
"Why don't you do it today—"
Before Thirteen could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.
Cui Xiangzhu stood outside the door with a smile on his face. "Thirteenth Master, it is this old servant."
"What brings you here, Eunuch Cui?"
Cui Xiangzhu craned his neck to look into the room, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yao Ruyi there. He beckoned to Thirteen, "Thirteenth Master, may I speak with you in private?"
"good."
The two walked into the courtyard, and Cui Xiangzhu finally let out a long sigh, "To be honest, ever since the Nineteenth Prince left the Cloud Palace after arguing with His Majesty, His Majesty has not given him a kind look."
“Sir, when has His Majesty ever arbitrarily punished anyone?” Cui Xiangzhu spread his hands. “His Majesty was only afraid that the Nineteenth Prince would rush forward again without regard for his own safety. The talk of caning was just lip service.”
He pointed in the direction of the Cloud Palace, "This afternoon, I arranged for a carriage to take Mr. Wang back, and he wasn't even hurt in the slightest."
Thirteen nodded repeatedly, "Father-in-law is right."
"That's right! Our Emperor just couldn't bring himself to say he was worried about the Nineteenth Prince, so he insisted on having him come out of the palace."
"This old servant is also very anxious!"
Thirteen nodded, "Then why has Father-in-law come this time..."
"This servant only wants to please the Emperor. Only when the Emperor is happy can we servants have a good life." He whispered to Thirteen, "We can't let the Nineteenth Prince spend the night elsewhere tonight."
"Why not?" Thirteen asked, puzzled. "I just told Nineteen that His Majesty would certainly not deal with Mr. Wang hastily. Perhaps we should let Nineteen think it over carefully before—"
Thirteen spoke casually, but to his surprise, Cui Xiangzhu quickly shook his head, fearing that things would really develop as he had said.
"My lord, you don't understand! How can such a thing be left overnight? The misunderstanding must be cleared up that very day!"
He spoke earnestly, his smile obsequious, "Our Emperor is not good with words, but he has already replaced the Nineteenth Prince's soft couch with a golden nanmu bed. The Cloud Palace has also prepared pear blossom pastries for the Nineteenth Prince to try."
Thirteen was speechless. When had His Majesty ever been so considerate of them? "Then—"
"Is it the Thirteenth Lord on duty today?"
"Exactly."
"Then I will trouble you, sir, to speak with Lord Nineteen. This old servant will take Lord Nineteen back now."
Thirteen sighed softly, "Please wait a moment, Eunuch."
"Oh! Thank you very much, sir."
Cui Xiangzhu stood there, rubbing his hands together with a smile. The evening breeze wasn't warm, but he wasn't cold at all. The thought of bringing the Nineteenth Prince back to His Majesty later filled him with excitement.
He looked at the sky and then at the willows beside him, "They should all be green in a few days."
This courtyard wasn't tended by any eunuchs or gardeners, but the flowers and plants were growing quite well, and Cui Xiangzhu had plenty of free time to look around.
Why hasn't the 19th Party Congress come out yet?
He couldn't help but step forward to look, his face already showing signs of anxiety.
Fifteen minutes later, Cui Xiangzhu walked from the courtyard to the gate and lingered there, almost sticking to the door.
"Squeak—"
The head eunuch's eyes lit up. "The Nineteenth Prince." The smile froze on his face the next moment.
Why didn't you bring a blanket?
Seeing that Yao Ruyi's hands were empty, Cui Xiangzhu asked, "Why didn't you bring your brocade quilt, sir?"
Mushroom was feeling down. "I'll go stand guard on the roof beam; I don't need to bring a blanket."
Ouch—
Cui Xiangzhu wished he could beat himself to death for choosing such a method. His heart was racing, and his thoughts were racing. "My lord, what are you saying? His Majesty is determined to have you return."
"They even prepared pear blossom pastries especially for the adults."
Yao Ruyi raised her eyes, "Then does Your Majesty still wish to punish the gentleman?"
"Of course not." Cui Xiangzhu's lips were practically burning with anger. "Although His Majesty may have a bad temper sometimes, he would never punish or reprimand someone without cause. What His Majesty said today was simply out of concern for you, sir."
"My lord, think about it. Did His Majesty only mention the caning in front of you? It was just something he said for your benefit."
"In the afternoon, this old servant had already seen the master off to his carriage leaving the palace."
Yao Ruyi was confused by what was being said, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Wang Qianshan would not use the cane. He looked around and asked, "How did you know about the caning, Father-in-law?"
Cui Xiangzhu: ...
"This old servant heard it from His Majesty."
Cui Xiangzhu wiped his sweat. He recalled that afternoon in the Cloud Palace, he was about to go to the Imperial Household Department to get a bed when he heard the Emperor practicing calligraphy while coldly snorting, "Twenty strokes of the cane, I think that's too lenient."
After thinking for a while, Cui Xiangzhu realized who they were talking about.
"My lord, please come back with me and take a look. The pear blossom pastry smells delicious to me."
Cui Xiangzhu coaxed and tricked Yao Ruyi into going back, then turned around and winked at Thirteen, secretly taking Yao Ruyi's little blanket with him.
Cloud Palace.
Yao Ruyi followed Cui Xiangzhu inside. As soon as she entered, she saw that the original soft couch had been replaced by a golden wooden bed. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she stared at it for several moments without looking away.
Even when Cui Xiangzhu put the blanket on the bed, it didn't attract his attention.
"come over."
Cui Xiangzhu glanced at the door and pushed it out, then closed it. Yao Ruyi hesitated before stepping forward, "Your Majesty."
"You're back?"
Yao Ruyi lowered her head awkwardly. "Your Majesty will not punish the gentleman with a cane?"
"When shall I punish him with a cane?"
Mushroom, indignant, looked up at the emperor with a questioning expression and complained, "You clearly said..."
"Just kidding."
Yao Ruyi remained silent. He stepped forward in a low voice to help Gu Huizhou grind the ink, and after a long while asked, "Your Majesty, as a guard, was I wrong to pursue the assassin?"
He was very persistent about this answer and insisted on getting it out of the emperor.
Gu Huizhou paused, a drop of ink spreading across the paper. "I never ordered you to chase the assassin."
"But Thirteen and the others will all go after the assassins."
Gu Huizhou blurted out, "You are different from them."
Mushroom suddenly felt her heart beat faster. "What's the difference?"
He muttered to himself, perhaps it was true as Thirteen had said; his swordsmanship wasn't yet perfect, and he should stay in the Cloud Palace to heal His Majesty's injuries.
But how could His Majesty be injured every day?
"Take it."
Yao Ruyi hurriedly caught it; it was another gold-threaded bag, the one he had kept in his hand the previous one.
Inside was a white jade hairpin, with a jade ruyi (a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good fortune) subtly carved at the top. It was not visible from a distance; only by holding it in one's hand and examining it closely could one see the craftsman's ingenuity.
"For me?"
"Your reward, the reward for capturing the first assassin."
Yao Ruyi's annoyance vanished instantly. He now completely believed Cui Xiangzhu's words, his eyes crinkling with an indescribable smile. "Your Majesty, was that bed also prepared for me?"
"Hmm, the couch is too small."
Yao Ruyi laughed even harder, but he didn't think the soft couch was too small. The soft couch had its advantages; it was just the right size for him to sleep on.
Even after receiving the reward, Yao Ruyi was still full of energy to grind ink. He held the inkstone and kept turning it around and around. "Today, Mr. Wang talked to me about 'benevolent governance'. His Majesty is benevolent governance."
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "How do you know?"
"This can be seen from the fact that His Majesty executed dozens of eunuchs and corrupt officials after ascending the throne."
Those eyes were so pure, without a trace of ulterior motive, that a hint of gloom settled in Gu Huizhou's heart. "Wang Qianshan really does tell you everything."
Yao Ruyi was taken aback. "Your Majesty is not going to punish the teacher with a cane again?"
"Again?"
"When have I ever punished Wang Qianshan with a cane?" The emperor said as he took off his outer robe and walked toward his dragon bed.
"...never."
"sleep."
Yao Ruyi turned and walked back to his new bed. He looked at it with delight, sat down, touched it from left to right, and looked at it from right to left. Suddenly, he turned to look at Gu Huizhou, who was only wearing his undergarments. "Your Majesty, do you have any pear blossom pastries?"
Gu Huizhou paused, “…”
It seemed as if the imperial kitchen had just delivered something, and he said, "When have I ever liked such sweet and cloying things? Take it away."
He put his outer robe back on, "Cui Xiangzhu."
—
Outside Beijing.
The dimly lit mountain path was strewn with sharp rocks, and the group walked cautiously, afraid of falling. The mountain path at night was rugged and uneven, and the cliffs on either side stretched as far as the eye could see.
If one were to fall at this moment, it would be like stepping into an abyss, giving one the illusion of about to enter the eighteenth level of hell with just one glance.
They encountered another group of people, and the servants leading the way on both sides were taken aback.
The servant quickly informed the important figure behind him, "Sir, there is another convoy of carriages ahead."
Liang Fu was already in a very low mood, and his throbbing temples felt like they were about to explode. "Who goes there?"
The servant replied timidly, "It was dark, and I couldn't see clearly."
The servant was bracing himself for being kicked onto the gravel by Liang Fu the next moment, when he heard a familiar voice behind him, "What does this mean, brother?"
Liang He led Li Yunyun down from the carriage on the opposite side. Li Yunyun's clothes were disheveled, and she hurriedly tugged at the hem of her clothes and took a cloak from her maid Zhou Zhong to cover herself.
Liang He recognized the servant as soon as he spoke; the servant who was originally beside Liang Fu had been dealt with at Yun Temple.
This new servant has been whipped countless times by his elder brother.
"Why are you blocking our way, brother?" Liang He's face was gloomy. This was the fastest way to that villa, and he thought he had already sped up his horse, but he never expected that Liang Fu would block his way from the other side.
They still need to get back before the morning court session tomorrow.
"I haven't asked you yet."
The moment Liang Fu saw Liang He, his heart finally settled, but at the same time, an unnamed rage surged to his forehead. He strode down from the carriage and stood in front of Liang He.
He said in a deep voice, "His Highness the Crown Prince will arrive in the capital sooner or later, but certainly not now."
"Han Jiqing married Xiao Xiaoyuan, and the Baili family will soon be Gu Huizhou's loyal subjects. My elder brother is still indulging in wishful thinking."
Li Yunyun followed behind Liang He with a delicate demeanor. Upon seeing this, she took a slight step back, afraid that the two men's anger would affect her.
“Nowadays, Gu Huizhou’s spies are everywhere. Bringing His Highness the Crown Prince back to the capital now will not only harm His Highness, but also send our Liang family to our graves!”
Liang Fu's voice faded into the mountains. The mountains were eerily quiet as midnight approached, with hardly any birdsong remaining. The darkness was enough to swallow up all voices.
"The people in the capital are in a state of panic right now. Gu Huizhou wants to plant alfalfa and mulberry trees in the ground. What kind of pipe dream is he having? If you trust me, brother, come with me to take Gu Huai'an over so that he can gain a foothold among the common people."
"No, this method is too risky!"
Seeing that the other party wouldn't budge, Liang He was increasingly irritated by their recent arguments. Another thought arose in his mind, and he stepped forward, "Brother, are you really not going to reconsider?"
Liang Fu gritted his teeth and repeated, "No!"
With a sudden burst of strength, Liang He grabbed Liang Fu's wrist and used the momentum to take a large step toward the edge of the cliff, where a bottomless abyss lay below.
"grown ups!"
"General!"
Seeing this, Li Yunyun's face drained of color, and she hurriedly stepped forward to grab Liang He's sleeve, "Husband, you mustn't!"
"It's not your place to lecture me!" Liang He shoved Li Yunyun to the ground, the sharp stones digging into her skin causing her to cry out in pain, "Ah—"
Ignoring her wound, she quickly stood up and returned to Liang He's side, saying, "Husband, calm down."
Liang Fu exclaimed in disbelief, "Liang He! You want to kill me?"
He reached out and grabbed the man back, and the two were locked in a stalemate on the edge of the cliff. The howling wind made their hearts tremble as if they had fallen into an ice cave. "Liang He!"
Liang He seemed not to hear anything. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Brother, are you really not going to let me through?"
"Unless I die!"
Turning his head to look down the cliff, Liang Fu felt his legs go weak. If he hadn't grabbed Liang He's hand, he probably would have already fallen.
But Your Highness, you must not return to the capital at this time.
"You're going to stop me from having such a good opportunity? He has a get-out-of-jail-free card; he won't die!"
Liang Fu's face flushed red. He was a head shorter than Liang He. As the two faced each other, he glared and looked up, the crimson in his eyes difficult to see clearly in the dark. "I'll say it again, no!"
Liang He suddenly laughed, the cold wind howling in his ears along with the hum of the valley, and at the same moment Liang He's voice drifted into Liang Fu'er's ears, "Then you can die first!"
The Liang family only needs him to hold power.
After saying that, he pushed Liang Fu hard on the side shoulder.
"Liang He! You—"
The guards and servants had prepared for the situation when they realized something was wrong, but they never expected Liang He to be so fast. The loose stones under their feet tipped over and slid down as the two men flipped over, and the sound of tree branches falling was exceptionally loud in the mountains.
"grown ups!"
Liang He was held tightly by Liang Fu. Fear filled his eyes, but he was still dragged away. In desperation, he grabbed whatever was around him and could only hold Li Yunyun's soft, boneless hand.
"ah--"
"Husband! No—"
The maidservant's face turned deathly pale. "Madam, quickly grab me! Madam—"
Li Yunyun frantically reached out, but to no avail; her delicate features vanished into the valley in an instant.
The sound of a heavy object falling faded into the valley, and the cries of several startled birds mingled and scattered.
The three were instantly swallowed by the darkness, leaving only the guards on either side looking at each other in bewilderment. "Quick! Quickly go back to the manor and call for help!"
"Madam! Madam, what should we do?!"
The maid felt utterly powerless and plopped down on the gravel, but she had no time to worry about that now. "Quick! You all go down and save the General and his wife!"
Unfortunately, there were no guards to attend to her. "Go back to the Liang residence and call for help! We must find the lord and the general before dawn!"
————————
Crispy and fragrant pearls on top [Let me see]
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