Chapter 63 Li Wenjing Enters the Court: "Eating on time is extremely important; remember this."
Gu Huizhou will kill him!
Gu Huai'an forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and crawled forward like a dog, pleading, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I am your elder brother!"
"Your Majesty, we are family, we are brothers!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Blood kept flowing from the wound in his abdomen, but Gu Huai'an had no time to care about that now. He looked up at the man standing outside the railing, his eyes flashing between fear and longing. He didn't want to die, and he couldn't die!
He also wants to avenge his father, and he wants to reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to him!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please spare me!"
squeak--
Black iron chains were attached to the rusty iron railings, rattling loudly with each movement. Fourteen opened the iron gate and stared coldly at the person lying on the ground.
Seeing the door open, a glimmer of hope rose in Gu Huai'an's heart. He rushed forward and tried to climb outside, shouting, "Hui Zhou! Hui Zhou, I am your elder brother!"
Gu Huizhou let out a cold laugh, then slowly took two steps back, observing the scene with indifference.
Fourteen stepped forward and kicked Gu Huai'an hard in the stomach.
Bang--
"ah!"
"It hurts! Ah—"
Painful screams echoed throughout the prison. Gu Huai'an was kicked back into the cell. His white robe was now stained with blood and mud, a stark contrast to his elegant demeanor during the day.
"Ouch—"
"Huizhou! I am your elder brother, we are brothers!"
Gu Huai'an screamed hysterically, his face tightly furrowed, his brows so furrowed they could crush an insect.
The blood on his hands had dried and scabbed over, tearing off bloody fragments with his movements, almost ripping his skin apart. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare me!"
Looking at the person rolling on the ground, a hint of satisfaction finally appeared in Gu Huizhou's eyes. "Royal brother?"
"How come I don't remember having an imperial brother?"
Gu Huai'an's heart sank suddenly. What did he mean by that?
"Oh."
Gu Huizhou paced back and forth, looking down at his robe embroidered with gold thread patterns, then turning to look at Gu Huai'an, who was dressed in filthy, tattered clothes. "When did I ever have a brother like you?"
His expression carried a subtle hint of bloodlust. "I remember that my Crown Prince brother was always dressed impeccably and always carried a folding fan."
The speaker had a cold and eerie look in his eyes; being glanced at by him felt like being stared at by a venomous snake.
“He’s always smiling, but he might execute someone in the next second,” he paused, “I almost died at his hands.”
After Gu Huizhou finished speaking, he stepped forward and stepped on Gu Huai'an's hand.
"ah--"
"ah--"
Gu Huai'an, who had just recovered from the pain, screamed sharply again. He tried to pull his hand back, but the moment he made a move, the dragon boot on his hand slammed down twice.
The ground was covered in rubble, and my fingers were instantly riddled with holes.
"Ugh—ah—"
Trembling violently, Gu Huai'an stared at Gu Huizhou in terror. This wasn't human! This was a demon!
"Gu Huizhou! You little bastard!"
Unable to contain himself any longer, Gu Huai'an screamed hysterically, "How dare you be emperor! It is clearly me! I am the emperor!"
The ferocity on his face could frighten even a child to tears.
"Heh." A cold laugh.
"Finally, they told the truth."
Gu Huizhou looked at the pool of blood on the ground with disgust, afraid to even step on it for fear of getting his shoes dirty.
"Your Majesty, should we take him to the Ministry of Justice?"
As Thirteen spoke, he looked at the man who exuded a cold aura. Compared to the prison, the Ministry of Justice had more to offer.
To deal with this kind of person, we have to use all the tools available in the Ministry of Justice.
Not to mention His Majesty, they all felt a surge of anger just looking at it.
Gu Huizhou thought for a moment, "No need, just deal with him. Two daggers will suffice."
dagger?
Thirteen raised an eyebrow, and he and Fourteen exchanged a puzzled look.
Although he didn't understand, he quickly brought the item, "Your Majesty, the dagger."
Gu Huai'an looked at the two daggers in the man's hand. The sharp blades gleamed coldly in the dim candlelight, reflecting Gu Huizhou's poisoned eyes.
"No! Don't come any closer!"
"No—no—"
His face, neck, body, and hands were covered in blood; it was unclear whether it came from wounds or because there wasn't a single patch of intact skin left on his body.
The scattered weeds on the ground kept poking at his wounds. Gu Huai'an retreated repeatedly, the fear in his heart engulfing him completely. He didn't care about dignity or face, he only hoped that the person in front of him would stop.
"Gu Huizhou! I was wrong, I was wrong! Please let me go!"
Tears mixed with blood, eventually dripping onto the ground along with saliva from the corners of his mouth.
"Wrong?"
Gu Huizhou frowned in dissatisfaction, "Where did my brother go wrong? How could my brother be wrong?"
The two daggers clashed together, "whoosh—"
The sharp, metallic sound made one frown.
"I was wrong, I was so wrong! I shouldn't have pushed you into the water, I shouldn't have let the eunuch beat you, I shouldn't have stepped on your fingers... I, I, I..."
There were too many things to remember. "Yes! I shouldn't have locked you in the stable! Your Majesty, you were wrong! Please, Your Majesty, spare my life!"
Oh shit!
Thirteen and Fourteen clenched their fists tightly. How could an older brother do such a thing!
"Hmm, wrong?"
Seeing that there was room for negotiation, a glint flashed in Gu Huai'an's eyes, "Yes! Your Majesty was wrong! Your Majesty was really wrong!"
His tone became ingratiating, but he dared not move forward. Seeing the man standing backlit in front of him, the fear in his heart grew stronger; he pressed his back against the wall, wishing he could pass through to the other side.
Gu Huizhou raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's the use of being wrong?"
He stated a fact: "You were wrong, but you did it." Then, the man waved his hand, "Hold it down."
"Yes," Thirteen and Fourteen replied in unison.
"don't want--"
"No! You can't do this to me! If my father knew this from beyond the grave, he would come back to claim your life!"
His shoulders and feet were pinned to the ground by the two men, their grip so tight it felt like they could crush him. A sense of powerlessness spread from the depths of his heart throughout his body. Gu Huai'an's lips trembled as he cried out, "No, get away! Get away—"
He held the dagger in his well-defined knuckles for a while, then lowered his head and hid in the shadows. "Swoosh!" The dagger fell, splashing water on his face.
"ah--"
Thirteen and Fourteen exerted force, and the two turned their heads away, using their hair to block the blood.
"Ah—I'm going to kill you!"
I'm going to kill you!
The sound grew louder and louder, seemingly piercing through the entire night sky. Gu Huizhou's dagger fell one blow after another, fragments of white clothing mixed with flesh and blood, their original color indistinguishable.
"Kill me? Do as you please."
As he spoke, with a "whoosh," he plunged the dagger into his flesh once more.
The howling lasted for half an hour before abruptly stopping, only to gradually rise again half an hour later.
The cycle continued until dawn.
When Gu Huizhou came out of the prison, he was still wearing the same red robe, but the outer robe, which had been flowing gracefully during the day, was now soaked with liquid.
He squinted briefly, his expression numb as he walked out of the prison. The head eunuch was waiting at the door with a clean robe in his hand. His heart skipped a beat when he saw him emerge, and he said cautiously, "Your Majesty, this servant has already had hot water prepared in the side hall. Your Majesty, please go and wash up first..."
"Um."
Gu Huizhou strode forward, no longer glancing back.
Cui Xiangzhu hurriedly followed. The emperor's footprints were bloody. His heart skipped a beat. He beckoned Xiao Dezi behind him and whispered, "Go quickly and have someone clean it up immediately."
"Don't let the 19th Party Congress see this."
“Yes,” Xiao Dezi replied, “Don’t worry, Father-in-law.”
A month passed in the blink of an eye after the rebels were defeated, and the lives of the people in the capital improved day by day, as if the capital had returned to its original peaceful state.
News of victory even came from the northern frontier.
"As expected of General Han!"
"It took at least ten days to reach the northern frontier! Yet news of victory arrived in less than a month!"
Another man scoffed, "The prince of the grasslands may not necessarily want to fight. I heard that last time they went to the capital, they returned empty-handed, with the prince and the holy maiden coming back empty-handed. This time, they may just want to give it a try."
A sneer rang out, "I never expected to follow such a useless and incompetent fool as Liang Chengfeng."
The woman listening nearby was displeased. "The grassland people have always been brave and skilled in battle. If it weren't for General Han and Military Advisor Han's strategic deployment and fighting on the front lines, how could the war have been quelled so quickly?"
The man fell silent, his expression somewhat embarrassed, but he still glared at the woman before turning around and going back to work.
The other man who had just spoken seemed to be the shop owner. He smiled at the woman and said, "Have you eaten? There's still some porridge on the table, it's still warm, go and have some."
"Hmph." The woman gave an impatient snort and went into her room to drink her porridge.
Yao Ruyi finished all the noodle soup, took a sip of tea, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Boss, the noodles are delicious."
The shopkeeper's eyes crinkled with laughter. "Thank you for your patronage, young master. Please come again in the future."
Yao Ruyi nodded, put down the copper coin, got up and left.
The capital city looked the same as before, but after walking around, he noticed many differences.
The aunt who used to sell steamed buns has disappeared, and it seems that Granny Li, who used to work at the stall, has also vanished.
The smile on his lips gradually faded as he slowly walked towards the brothel. Since he had come all this way, he decided to pick up some of the brothel's green tea pastries on the way back.
But before he could take two steps forward, a joyful shout stopped him in his tracks, "Ruyi!"
"Brother Yao!"
Yao Ruyi turned his head and saw that it was Chen Zhuyue and Xunyang. A smile appeared in his eyes, and he quickly took two steps toward the two of them, "Zhuyue, Xunyang."
When did you arrive in the capital?
Xunyang looked a bit fatter than before. He chuckled and said, "Just a few days ago," he suddenly became excited, "I heard that Mr. Li is not dead!"
"Is it really true?!"
Xunyang grabbed Yao Ruyi's hand and hurriedly asked. He had asked many people in the capital these past few days, but shopkeepers and commoners all said they hadn't seen him, and he didn't recognize anyone else. Now that he had met Yao Ruyi, he was eager to know the answer.
"It's true."
"Mr. Li did not die; His Majesty simply kept him in the palace to discuss classics and poetry."
As Yao Ruyi spoke, she thought to herself that Mr. Li had been reading and writing all day while he was imprisoned. Since his release from prison, he had been going to the library every day. If he ran into Wang Qianshan, he would be pulled aside and asked all sorts of questions.
But they were indeed always discussing scriptures and poetry.
I'm much busier than before.
"Unexpectedly, His Majesty spared Mr. Li's life."
The three of them slowly walked to a private room on the second floor of the restaurant and sat down. Yao Ruyi had previously said that she would do her best to be a good host, but Chen Zhuyue left in too much of a hurry last time, so it was left unfinished.
Ever since he met the two of them, he's been thinking of taking them to a restaurant.
Xunyang smiled sheepishly, "Brother Yao, you've gone to so much trouble."
"Brother Yao, have you found your family?"
Yao Ruyi was taken aback. Nearly a year had passed, and now that autumn had arrived, he had almost forgotten about it.
"Found it."
"Congratulations, Brother Yao!"
Xunyang was genuinely happy for him.
One by one, the signature dishes were served. Since we were already familiar with each other, we picked up our chopsticks and started eating.
Chen Zhuyue recounted at length their experiences opening schools in Jiangnan, which Yao Ruyi found extremely interesting. Most of the events in the capital were due to the common people's inability to distinguish right from wrong, making them vulnerable to exploitation by those with ulterior motives.
If there were schools run by merchants in the capital... perhaps things would be better.
The three of them had quite large appetites, and by the time they finished eating, the dishes on the table were almost empty. Seeing that they had ordered a lot, the waiter very hospitably brought them a plate of tea and snacks.
Xunyang picked up a piece of pastry, took a bite, and hesitated, "Brother Yao, I know you're working in the palace now. Could you...?"
He had held these words in for the entire meal, and now he finally had the courage to say them.
Hesitating before finishing his sentence, Xunyang knew he had gone too far. In the palace, one wrong step could lead to a series of mistakes.
But now that they know Mr. Li is not dead, how could he be willing to go back like this!
Seeing Yao Ruyi's puzzled expression, Chen Zhuyue gave a wry smile, "As a great Confucian scholar of Yun Kingdom, we scholars would all like to meet Mr. Li."
"But Mr. Li is currently residing in the palace, and for us commoners to see him is as difficult as climbing to heaven. I wonder, Ruyi, could you possibly introduce us to Mr. Li?"
They want to see Mr. Li?
Yao Ruyi swallowed the piece of pastry in her mouth and fell silent.
"Can't."
Xunyang became anxious upon hearing this and couldn't help but exclaim, "Why?!"
"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to." Xunyang hurriedly stood up and bowed to Yao Ruyi in apology. "I'm sorry, Brother Yao, I was just a little too hasty."
Xunyang's eyes reddened. He had witnessed the bloodshed in the capital while in prison, which inspired him to go south to do business.
I never imagined that I would say something that would put Brother Yao in danger in the palace.
"Brother Yao, I..."
Yao Ruyi shook his head again. He took a sip of water and wiped the pastry in his mouth. "I can't take you into the palace, nor can I bring Mr. Li out."
"Brother Yao! We just wanted to take a look from afar, and we'll be relieved to see that Mr. Li is alright."
Chen Zhuyue didn't speak, but her eyes looked over with a hint of inquiry.
"No."
"this--"
Xunyang was incredulous. They just wanted to take a look, couldn't they even do nothing?
Chen Zhuyue let out a long sigh. He stood up and poured tea for the two of them. "It's just a small matter. Since Ruyi is not available, we will not meet." He smiled to himself after he finished speaking. "It's the best thing that Mr. Li is not dead. We will meet again in the future."
Yao Ruyi nodded, "That makes sense."
Xunyang was sullen and drank the water in his cup in one gulp.
Helpless, Chen Zhuyue turned around and poured him another cup. After putting down the teacup, he looked at Yao Ruyi with apologetic eyes.
But Yao Ruyi didn't think anything of it; it was just that the two of them had asked him for help, and he couldn't help them.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them walked out of the restaurant.
Xunyang was still a little down, but Yao Ruyi didn't care. He chatted happily with Chen Zhuyue.
“After I went back, Young Master Qiao came to see me the next day and asked me a lot of questions about you.”
Yao Ruyi smiled and said, "If he comes to the capital, I will definitely treat him well."
Chen Zhuyue said, "Ruyi asked me to give her regards to Young Master Qiao, and he was very pleased. If Young Master Qiao finds out that Ruyi is waiting to entertain him in the capital, he will probably head there immediately."
Yao Ruyi was taken aback; she couldn't do as he said.
But if Qiao Yu comes, he will definitely treat her well and make things clear with her.
"Alright, it's getting late, so I'll take my leave now."
Xunyang forced a smile and said, "Farewell."
Yao Ruyi nodded, and the group bowed and said goodbye.
He turned around and glanced at the already darkening sky. If he went to the brothel now, it would be too late; by the time he returned to the palace, it would probably be night.
Yao Ruyi thought for a moment, "Never mind, I'll come again next time I leave the palace."
He quickly calmed himself down and walked back to the palace, stopping and starting along the way. By the time he reached the palace gate, he had quite a few trinkets in his hands.
They were all small to medium-sized items, suitable for placing in his flowerpots or on the emperor's desk.
When he returned to the Cloud Palace, Gu Huizhou had not yet come back. Yao Ruyi had laid out the trinkets she had bought everywhere. The more he looked at them, the more he liked them; most of them were small porcelain pieces.
One of them looked remarkably like himself, a red mushroom.
He put the mushrooms in the flowerpot as if he were living in it himself.
"Master Nineteen."
Cui Xiangzhu walked over slowly. "The Emperor said he would be back later and asked if you would like to have dinner together in the Imperial Study."
Will you be back later?
Yao Ruyi shook her head, "No, I've already eaten."
The head eunuch was taken aback. "Then this servant will go and report to His Majesty immediately."
"good."
Cui Xiangzhu turned and left. Yao Ruyi fiddled with the gadgets for a while longer, then looked at the sky, which wasn't completely dark yet, and turned to leave.
If he remembered correctly, Mr. Li had been staying in the library these past few days, and even Wang Qianshan had been going there from time to time.
The eunuch in charge of lighting the lanterns in the long corridor of the Cloud Palace lit the lamps. Yao Ruyi walked forward and could see her clothes fluttering in the candlelight.
He changed back into the robe he had worn in early spring; the summer gauze robe was now a bit chilly. Although he couldn't tell, Gu Huizhou always frowned when he saw him.
Yao Ruyi then changed out of that outfit.
As autumn approached, the leaves gradually turned yellow, and even the evening wind carried a chill. He stopped thinking about it and strode towards the library.
As they drew closer, Yao Ruyi was startled; he heard the two talking.
"Sir, I apologize for keeping you from reading these past few days."
Wang Qianshan spoke seriously, which made Li Wenjing feel somewhat helpless. He stroked his white beard and shook his head, "Never mind, what's going on today?"
Wang Qianshan chuckled and stood up. "As expected of a teacher."
Li Wenjing snorted softly, gently closing the book on the table. "Let this old man see if there's anything I don't understand?"
He looked impatient, but he had a very good temper.
These were the first students he mentored, and he treated them almost like his own children.
"This isn't about studying today." Wang Qianshan saw Li Wenjing stroking his beard and couldn't help but stroke it himself a couple of times. "Today, I've come to ask, Master, what are your thoughts on entering the court?"
The hand resting on the book was withered, aged, and wrinkled. Li Wenjing paused upon hearing this, "His Majesty sent you to ask this old man?"
Wang Qianshan smiled but didn't say anything.
He sighed deeply, "I was the top scholar during the reign of the late emperor. I have witnessed the events of the previous dynasty. The actions of the late emperor almost led to the entire Yun Kingdom being swallowed up by other villains! I am powerless to do anything about it, so I voluntarily resign."
His gaze was serene and distant.
"Fortunately, there are still people in Yun Kingdom who can hold the court together. Yun Kingdom has been able to wait for His Majesty."
"People say Your Majesty is a tyrant, but has Your Majesty killed any of these people?"
"Your Majesty has not."
Li Wenjing scoffed, "The capital has been almost completely reorganized by His Majesty."
When he ascended the throne, he personally executed twenty or thirty corrupt officials. These actions continued intermittently over the past two years, and now the Liang family has completely disappeared.
Along with the Liang family, more than a dozen other large and small families were also wiped out.
His Majesty has spent the entire month in the Imperial Study; is it merely to review memorials?
Li Wenjing's gaze was deep; the power structure in the court had undergone a major reshuffle.
"I see the future of the Yun Kingdom in His Majesty." He looked at Wang Qianshan with a smile. "To be able to serve under such a wise ruler, I will do my best, even if it costs me my old bones."
Li Wenjing spoke with deep emotion, claiming he was a man of great learning and possessed certain insights into the ways of governing the world. Having become the top scholar in the Yun Kingdom at the age of thirty, how could he willingly remain hidden in a chaotic world?
I thought he had gotten used to it over the years, but...
Li Wenjing's blood, dormant for decades, slowly revived, as if he had transformed back into that top scholar in his thirties. He smiled faintly and cupped his hands towards a corner.
"Please convey to His Majesty that I am willing to go to court."
He paused after speaking, "I was not coerced by anyone. It is my lifelong wish to enter the court and benefit the people!"
Xu Yi chuckled and slowly emerged from the shadows, with Yao Ruyi following behind him.
"I admire you greatly, sir!"
Xu Yi had somehow appeared behind Yao Ruyi; by the time Yao Ruyi noticed, he was already there. The two of them were secretly eavesdropping together—not exactly gentlemanly behavior, but…
Yao Ruyi gave an awkward smile, "Mr. Li, Mr. Wang."
Wang Qianshan beckoned, "Young Master."
Li Wenjing was taken aback. He looked at the two people who came out together and a look of guilt flashed across his face. He still remembered the wrong thing he had done back then.
"I am truly ashamed."
Xu Yi shook his head, "Sir, you were only trying to save your wife and daughter. His Majesty has not blamed you."
One sentence brought tears to Li Wenjing's eyes, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Yao Ruyi watched silently from the side. It would be best if Mr. Li could voluntarily enter the court. At present, many officials in the court have been demoted, and it is a time when people are in need. It would be good to have one more person.
As darkness fell, the autumn wind still felt a bit chilly.
Xu Yi and Yao Ruyi hadn't spoken together for a long time. The four of them sat around the round table chatting, with the two young gentlemen occasionally whispering to each other.
Wang Qianshan raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you can't say?"
Xu Yi was taken aback, and Yao Ruyi was also stunned. "There's nothing that can't be said."
Wang Qianshan pursed his lips, "Then what are you two talking about?"
Xu Yi touched his nose, feeling guilty. "His Majesty gave me a task when I came here: if I happen to run into the Nineteenth Prince, please ask him on His Majesty's behalf why he didn't dine with us in the Imperial Study?"
Wang Qianshan smiled, his expression complex as he turned to look at Li Wenjing, as if trying to discern something from the old man's face.
But Li Wenjing just smiled and said, "Eating on time is extremely important, you must remember that."
Wang Qianshan was surprised that Li Wenjing, who was of advanced age, was so calm. This was a major event concerning the royal bloodline.
"gentlemen……"
Li Wenjing chuckled, "Although I am getting on in years, I am not someone who knows nothing."
The practice of male homosexuality in Jiangnan had already spread thirty years ago.
The group chuckled.
Xu Yi cupped his hands in respect, "This student admires you." After saying this, he glanced at Yao Ruyi, who was blushing beside him, and kindly changed the subject, "Sir, you will be attending court tomorrow. May I ask what your opinion is on the current situation?"
One sentence was enough to stop everyone's laughter.
Li Wenjing pondered for a moment, "His Majesty may not be at ease enough to replenish the national treasury."
Xu Yi frowned.
"Internal and external troubles. The internal troubles have now been resolved, but the external troubles may not be so."
"Sir, are you referring to the grasslands? But the Liao dynasty has already been defeated by General Han."
Li Wenjing smiled but didn't say anything.
Yao Ruyi said calmly, "Is it the Xiao Kingdom?"
Li Wenjing nodded, "When Xiao Kingdom was defeated, the two countries did not sign a ceasefire agreement."
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Eat well. [Qingxin]
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