Chapter 21 Mushroom's Secret Revealed (10,000 words long chapter): Gu Huizhou, who had been fast asleep, opened his eyes at some point, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, breathing heavily.
The two were about the same height, and Liang He bowed as he saw Gu Huizhou stop in front of him.
The emperor's first words sent a shiver down his spine: "Let's look at military merits first."
Cui Xiangzhu immediately unfolded the book, and the eunuch on the other side quickly lent a hand. The two of them held the two ends of the book, and the folded pages were unfolded one by one, with densely packed words that made people dizzy.
Liang Fu frowned first. He was watching intently, but he had no idea what the emperor was up to. He turned to look at Liang He and saw that he was pale and clenched his fists without saying a word.
"Did the general understand?"
The page directly opposite Liang He clearly states that the battle achievements originally belonging to Liang He were attributed to the several deputy generals beside him, but they did not receive any position; instead, they were given gold and silver rewards and were forbidden from entering the capital.
“I—” Liang He trembled, unable to speak. He looked up and met Gu Huizhou’s gloomy eyes, and saw the other man smiling at him sarcastically.
From this angle, only he could see it. He clenched his teeth tightly, holding back the blood rushing to his nose. "I understand."
"That's good then." The military merit book was put away, and a little eunuch on the other side came forward with a thick stack of battle reports. Gu Huizhou pressed it down with one hand, "My dear minister, there's no need to rush to look at them. These were all copied by me. Take them back to your residence and look at them slowly."
Gu Huizhou elongated those three words.
Seeing Liang He's appearance, Liang Fu's heart sank. He bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Gu Huizhou turned and sat down on the dragon throne. Although he was looking down, he slightly raised his head and looked at the various expressions on the faces of the people below, some were frightened, some were smug, and some were helpless and blank.
These expressions can appear on anyone, but not in the imperial court.
A fierce glint flashed across his face. "For the past decade, the fertile lands of my Yun Kingdom have yielded dismal harvests. Whether it's reclaiming wasteland or constructing water conservancy projects, the three-year construction was completed at the beginning of last year, so why was last year's harvest still pitifully small?"
Xue Qingping was surprised that the emperor still remembered this matter, and excitedly said, "Your Majesty! I believe that our country has vast fertile land and hardworking people. In recent years, the court has allowed people to reclaim wasteland for farming and has also built water conservancy projects in many areas. There should be no reason for this to happen! I believe that someone has tampered with this!"
"Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly!"
"Something was tampered with?"
"How is that possible?"
"How could such a thing happen!"
"Lord Xue is grasping at straws in his desperation. The whole of Yun Kingdom is like this. How could it be done by simply tampering with things?"
...
Xue Qingping said, "More than ten years ago, we had bumper harvests year after year. Even in drought-stricken areas where there were no irrigation canals, we could still have a bowl of porridge to drink."
"What a coincidence."
Raising his eyes slightly, Gu Huizhou picked up a confidential letter from his side. "My spies have reported that the Director of the Agriculture and Granary has done something quite good!"
The secret letter was slammed onto the table by Gu Huizhou, and at the same time, a figure was escorted into the main hall by the Imperial Guards.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I know my crime! I know my crime!"
When the imperial guards released the man, his round belly hit the ground first. His hands were bound behind his back, and it took him a great deal of effort to kneel down. "Your Majesty! I know my crime!"
He kept trembling and couldn't even speak clearly.
Gu Huizhou picked up the secret letter and had Cui Xiangzhu take it away to circulate among the officials.
"Ten years ago, in August, Wang Xian, the Director of the Agricultural Office, accepted ten thousand taels of gold! He then mixed medicine brought by an unknown person into the seed granary. Coincidentally, that year was plagued by severe floods, and the following year there was no harvest at all, which was the worst disaster in the history of Yun Kingdom in a hundred years."
For several years in a row, seeds from the seed warehouse were sent to various cities, prefectures, and counties, yet the Yun Kingdom still suffered several years of poor harvests.
Xue Qingping broke out in a cold sweat after reading this passage. His eyes reddened with anger. He handed the secret letter to the person behind him, turned around and cursed at the Minister of Agriculture and Granary, "This is simply a beast!"
"brute--"
It was the actions of this one person that caused the entire nation to go hungry and unable to drink hot soup!
That's ten years, ten years!
Countless people lost their lives and countless families were destroyed as a result!
The old minister was so angry that he trembled uncontrollably. Luckily, Han Dahai caught him, otherwise he would have collapsed to the ground. "Quickly, Eunuch Cui! Imperial Physician!"
Xue Qingping was helped down, but the remaining ministers could have easily cursed him to death with a single sentence!
"This, this, this! You bastard!"
"He should be executed by slow slicing and displayed to the public—"
"Outrageous! He must be taken to the Ministry of Justice! Killing him outright would be too lenient!"
"Their entire family should be executed—"
...
Wang Xian was so frightened that he couldn't speak. His eyes were lifeless and his head was hanging low. "I, I, I was wrong! Your Majesty, I was wrong!" He muttered to himself, "I even paid out of my own pocket to buy grain from Xiao Kingdom and distribute it to the people. I, I will atone for my sins, Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Gu Huizhou said coldly, "A person as soft as mud can't escape his notice. Hand them over to the Ministry of Justice."
The ministers below the Ministry of Justice gasped in shock; how could they have forgotten this place?
The Ministry of Justice is under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Justice, but the Department of Justice is not. Although the Department of Justice is located within the Ministry of Justice, it is only for the convenience of the Ministry. The Department of Justice is a court of law enforcement established after His Majesty ascended the throne, and is administered by officials appointed by His Majesty.
Those who go in are all unforgivable villains; it's said that once you go in, not even a bone will come out.
Just hearing about it is terrifying.
The hairs on his body stood on end. The man seemed to have gone mad, unmoved even by the mention of the Ministry of Justice. He kept muttering "Your Majesty, please forgive me" as the Imperial Guards dragged him away like a piece of pork.
Having identified the problem, the next step is to figure out how to solve it.
"What are your thoughts, my esteemed subjects?"
The seeds had been poisoned, so any seeds that grew from them would also be poisoned, or they might not grow at all. Everyone looked troubled. They suggested that instead of asking them, they should call in the Imperial Medical Academy to take a look; perhaps that would be better.
"Three days later, we will discuss this again at the morning court."
"The court session is over—"
-
After reading the battle reports, Liang Fu felt a surge of anger rising within him. He must have been completely out of his mind back then!
He knew that Liang He had been a good-for-nothing since childhood, only playing with flowers and birds. He should have sent Chengfeng when the Liang family sent someone to the front line. How could he be a high-ranking official today!
"You! This is the method you came up with to gain military merit!" Liang Fu slammed the battle report on the table. "Is your brain full of mush?!"
"Do you think the Emperor's secret guards are so easily fooled! Don't you even use your brain? You thought you had it all figured out, but now look what happened! Everything's gone—"
In the end, the Liang family actually benefited the Han family!
"How much better can my brother be than me? He still has to pin his hopes on a deposed crown prince." Liang He showed no remorse. He sat down angrily, his fists clenched tightly.
“That was the last bloodline of the late emperor. Even the exile was a last resort.” His eyes reddened. “Yes, we still have His Highness the Crown Prince.”
"The people in the army can no longer be trusted. I will send someone from the manor to meet them in a moment."
Liang He, already burning with anger, couldn't hold back any longer when he saw Liang Fu still stubbornly clinging to his delusions. "He's a complete waste! What's the difference between him and an idiot after all these years of no one training him? Even if he's kind-hearted, he might just be a puppet in our hands!"
"Brother, no matter who becomes emperor, the Liang family will ultimately control the government! The Gu family has been in this position for far too long."
Liang Fu's pupils trembled, and he couldn't lift the water glass several times. "You!"
"Absolutely not! The late Emperor had a debt of gratitude to the Liang family!"
Liang He was even more puzzled. He asked, "Even if there was a debt of gratitude, it has already been repaid by protecting the deposed crown prince in the Liang family. The late emperor was foolish, does elder brother want to be foolish as well?"
"You!" Liang Fu pointed at Liang He and sneered, "You are simply absurd! The late emperor had shown great favor to the Liang family, and we must, no matter what, put the late emperor's bloodline on the throne!"
"If the Crown Prince can't govern, then we'll do it for him. Even if he's just a puppet emperor, he still has to be the emperor!"
"If that's the case, then how is Gu Huizhou any different?"
Liang He sneered, "Isn't it just about replacing one son with another? Eldest brother thinks the deposed crown prince is easier to control. Isn't this precisely your selfish motive?"
"Of course it's different," Liang Fu looked around and lowered his voice. "Gu Huizhou is ruthless and merciless. Which emperor in history would have established a criminal justice department? He is cruel and ruthless. Even after he dies, he will still be haunted by evil spirits. Do you think he can sleep peacefully at night?"
"For the three days of his ascension to the throne, he slept in blood. How could such a person be worthy of inheriting the late emperor's throne!" The tone shifted abruptly, "The Crown Prince is quite different from him. The Crown Prince is kind and gentle, just like the late emperor. Only such a refined person is the only suitable candidate to inherit the throne!"
With all the doors closed, the midday sun, though dazzling, still couldn't penetrate the room.
In the dim light, the two glared at each other.
Liang He stared intently at Liang Fu, panting heavily, "Brother, are you really willing to accept this?"
“A deposed crown prince who can’t lift a finger or do anything, does my elder brother expect him to start a rebellion? In the end, it was the Liang family who did all the work, yet he only deserves to be a subject.”
Liang Fu was taken aback by Liang He's obsessive gaze, and he turned around resolutely.
"After the Liang family rebelled and seized power, they were traitors to the Yun Kingdom. But after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Liang family became the greatest contributors!"
Liang Fu spoke with absolute certainty, and the two almost forgot what they had just been saying. Liang He gritted his teeth, his eyes now bloodshot, and shouted, "Idiot!"
The two remained silent for a moment, and then Liang He strode out.
"Bang!" The door slammed shut, but Liang Fu remained staring at the table. After a long while, he held the battle report in his hand and burned it on the candlestick.
After calming down for half an incense stick's time, he closed his eyes tightly and said, "Send a letter to the young master and tell him to reply—"
Before he could finish speaking, the door was pushed open again. Liang Fu stared in disbelief at Liang Chengfeng as he entered. "Why are you back?"
"father."
Liang Chengfeng had lost a lot of weight, but his robes were still well-fitting. He bowed respectfully and said, "I heard that I was being conferred the title of general today, so I rode back to the capital early. I wonder where my second uncle is? I should congratulate him properly."
"Um."
Liang Chengfeng sensed something was wrong, "Father?"
The father and son exchanged a glance. Liang Chengfeng's smile faded, and he waved to the servant behind him, "Go outside and wait."
"Father, what happened?"
Liang Fu sat down. "Han Jiqing, General Who Protects the Nation."
"This! How could this happen to the Han family?" Liang Chengfeng exclaimed in astonishment. "Isn't it already a done deal that Second Uncle will be granted an official title?!"
Liang Fu waved his hand, "Now that you're back, I have something to tell you."
A stick of incense burned out.
"Father, rest assured, this matter will not go wrong."
-
The next morning, Liang He brought Li Yunyun to visit, carrying many interesting things. Liang He still did not speak when he saw Liang Fu.
But Li Yunyun smiled obsequiously, "I heard Chengfeng is back. He must have suffered a lot on the way, which must have made his aunt very worried."
Although she was also in her teens, she acted like a virtuous mistress, which made Liang Fu feel quite uncomfortable.
“Aunt,” Liang Chengfeng stepped forward to take it, “I thank you for your concern, and it is also thanks to your idea that I could stay in the capital for a while. Now I am safe and sound.”
Li Yunyun laughed, "Don't be so formal with your aunt. Where are you going? Why are you leaving so soon after your aunt's arrival?"
Liang Chengfeng waved his hand, "Auntie, what are you saying? Today is the coming-of-age ceremony of the daughter of Master Baili. Your nephew and younger sister are going to congratulate Xiaorou."
Li Yunyun was about the same age as the other two, and not long ago she was known as one of the most talented women in the capital.
An awkward expression crossed her face. "Then hurry up and go, don't keep Xiaorou waiting." She turned to look around. "Why isn't Pingxia dressed yet?"
"They're here."
The fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl was very bright and intelligent. Liang Pingxia, wearing a pink jacket and smelling of peach blossoms, ran over and splashed them with perfume. "Father, brother."
Turning around, I saw two more people. "Uncle and Aunt."
Liang He was somewhat kind to this young girl.
After exchanging a few words, Liang Pingxia took Liang Chengfeng's hand and walked out with great interest. "Uncle and Aunt, Pingxia will be going now."
"Brother, hurry up! I haven't seen Sister Xiaorou in so long. The last time we met, she said her coming-of-age robe was so beautiful. She had the best embroiderer in the capital make it two years ago, and I must see it to my heart's content today."
Li Yunyun dug her long fingernails into her palm, leaving a red mark, and stared at the figure without moving. Liang He, displeased, shouted, "What? Now even you don't listen to me!"
Startled, Li Yunyun quickly turned around.
“What are you saying, my husband? Didn’t you say this morning that you didn’t sleep well? Now your shoulder is hurting again? Come inside and I’ll massage it for you.”
The creaking and groaning of the carriage, along with the shouts and noise on the street, eventually turned into the sound of its tracks before it slowly came to a stop.
"Brother, come down quickly!"
Liang Pingxia was a frequent visitor to Baili Prefecture. The two girls had known each other since they were a few years old and had an extremely good relationship. When they were young, they often said that they wanted the other to be their sister-in-law.
A group of guests were gathered at the entrance, and the guards recognized her at a glance, "Miss Pingxia."
"My brother and I have come to congratulate Sister Xiaorou on her coming-of-age ceremony."
The guard wrote down the congratulatory gift brought by Liang Pingxia with great courtesy, but his attitude towards Liang Chengfeng was not so friendly.
"Brother, let's go sit over there first. I need to go talk to Sister Xiaorou after the coming-of-age ceremony. You don't need to wait for me."
Liang Chengfeng had been absent-minded. He paused for a moment, then said, "Hey, Pingxia."
The girl was unhappy about being led by the hand, and pouted, complaining, "Brother, what are you doing?"
"Come over here, I have something to tell you." Liang Chengfeng pulled the man into the small courtyard next door. The plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, but because there were no tables and chairs set up, no one had come over yet.
"What?"
"Would you like Xiaorou to be your sister-in-law?"
Liang Pingxia's eyes widened. "Brother, are you serious?" The little girl couldn't believe it, but she was overjoyed. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled. "I can finally be family with Sister Xiaorou!"
They happily jumped and bounced around in place.
"Then hurry up, so I can stay with Sister Xiaorou every day!"
"But you and Xiaorou aren't familiar with each other yet. How about I help you out in the future?" Liang Chengfeng smiled warmly.
“Of course,” Liang Pingxia readily agreed.
"Then little sister, go play first. I'll go talk to your brother Wenhan for a bit."
Liang Pingxia was still immersed in joy. "Okay, okay, then come find me quickly."
Watching Liang Pingxia skip away, the maidservant beside her hurriedly followed. Liang Chengfeng's face darkened, and he stopped a servant beside him, "Is the Second Young Master here?"
"Young Master Liang, this way please."
The coming-of-age ceremony went smoothly and grandly. In the capital, if you were to ask whose coming-of-age ceremony was so grand, it would have to be Baili Rou, the youngest daughter of the Minister of Revenue.
Look at that exquisite Suzhou embroidery, embroidered piece by piece on the hem of the skirt, and the silk handkerchief in her hand, which upon closer inspection turns out to be made of Xiangyun yarn.
Baili Yi smiled and saw all the guests off. He watched as Madam Baili led her youngest daughter and Liang Pingxia downstairs to eat. Baili Yi stroked his beard and asked, "What is it?"
“Father, Liang Chengfeng from the Liang family came to see his son today.”
Baili Yi's expression changed, he angrily flicked his robes and snorted coldly.
"They dare to even think about such a thing? Rou'er would never marry such a scoundrel. Li Wenjing was beaten to death for the incident at the villa a while ago, yet he left the capital to travel. How can we know if he's still got his hands dirty!"
“Father is right. Your son has not yet agreed to him. The Liang family’s attempt to win us over to deal with the Han family is rather thoughtless.” Baili Wenhan lowered his head, his eyes flickering slightly. “Now is the time when the Han family’s situation is clear. Why don’t we openly refuse the Liang family?”
He raised his head slightly, "Wouldn't that also leave a good impression on the Han family?"
"So you kept the muscle relaxant even though it was useless, just to gain favor with the Han family?" Baili Yi suddenly turned cold, startling Baili Wenhan so much that his face turned pale and he immediately knelt down.
“Father! His Majesty knows medicine, and there are imperial guards on both sides. I really don’t have the guts to tamper with it in front of His Majesty.”
Baili Yi said impatiently, "Get up, get up. I didn't mean to blame you. Let's drop the matter of the Eldest Princess. Marrying the Eldest Princess Han Jiqing wasn't without consequences. The Han family will never rise to a high position again."
"Yes, regarding Liang Chengfeng's matter today—"
Baili Yi sneered, "You don't need to worry about it. I'll go to the palace right now."
"Butler, prepare the horses!"
-
"This! This...this—"
Inside the Cloud Palace, Cui Xiangzhu stood beside Gu Huizhou, his hand trembling as he pointed at the mushroom. It was haunted! He had just seen with his own eyes that there was nothing in the broken porcelain flowerpot, so how did it reappear now!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you must believe this servant!"
“The mushrooms in this flowerpot were indeed missing just now, which is why I rushed to the Imperial Study to find you! I’m not making this up.” His eyes darted around. “Definitely! Someone must have stolen Your Majesty’s mushrooms and then secretly returned them when they saw that I had discovered them.”
Tears streamed down her face. "And the pastries from a few days ago, that person must have stolen them too."
He'll stay up for the next few days if he has to, to find this person!
Gu Huizhou smiled knowingly. "Cui Xiangzhu."
Cui Xiangzhu, quick-witted, said, "Your Majesty."
"If you ever see an empty flowerpot again, bring it with you to me."
"Yes! This servant understands." Standing behind Gu Huizhou, Cui Xiangzhu wiped away his tears with his sleeve. "This servant didn't think things through. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"It's getting late, Your Majesty. Are you still going back to the Imperial Study?"
"Go to Nuanyu Palace."
"That's great. Your Majesty, rest assured, the hot springs have been prepared long ago."
The New Year celebrations are over, and spring is fast approaching. These days, the plum blossoms have faded and haven't grown back. The winding crossroads lead to the palace ahead, where candles have already been lit. Brewed tea and snacks are laid out by the pond.
Those palace servants who attended to Gu Huizhou knew that His Majesty disliked women near him. Even his personal attendants were only young eunuchs. Wisps of steam rose from the hot spring, the pool itself, constructed of jade, shimmering a serene green under the moonlight.
There weren't many people around. Cui Xiangzhu whispered, "Today, a scout said that Hua Yu is dead. Her body was seen outside the capital, thrown into the moat, and then pulled out by the people and dumped in a mass grave."
What is the meaning of flowers?
Gu Huizhou remembered that the palace maid who was sent to Liang He's residence was the one he hadn't expected Liang He to keep her until now. Gu Huizhou nodded, "Take people and handle Lan Yan's matter."
Unexpectedly, Lord Baili entered the palace overnight and frankly told His Majesty about the Liang family's intention to join forces with them. The Liang family still couldn't hold back, and it's unclear how the late Emperor trusted them so much.
But His Majesty actually granted the marriage proposal to the Baili family's daughter. Although the top scholar was already twenty-seven, he was still single, and marrying into the Baili family was still—
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Although the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue are currently busy with the Princess's wedding, this is, after all, Lord Baili's own family's wedding, and we will certainly do our best to handle it."
"This servant will instruct a few more people to keep an eye on things. Otherwise, Lord Lan's household is so small that he might not be familiar with these established customs and etiquette."
He bowed and shuffled, saying, "This servant is also looking after the Princess's side, Your Majesty, please rest assured."
"Um."
Cui Xiangzhu waved for the eunuchs to leave, and seeing the emperor remove his outer robe, he quietly retreated to the outside of the courtyard. He watched as his emperor left the pot of mushrooms by the hot spring.
Cui Xiangzhu couldn't help but think that although this was a rare orange-capped mushroom on Qinghua Mountain, it wasn't impossible to find. His Majesty didn't need to be so careful, even bringing it along while soaking in the hot spring.
Ah, as long as His Majesty likes it. After all this time, he has finally found something he likes.
Yao Ruyi tilted her head as she watched Gu Huizhou undress, revealing broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His dark hair cascaded over his shoulders and blended into the water. The veins on his neck were still barely visible in the moonlight. Yao Ruyi wanted to look down at her chest, but then she remembered that she hadn't yet taken human form, so she decided against it.
Even if the spirits and monsters have the cultivation to transform into human form, they can only transform into their own appearance. The spirits described in the book who transform into court officials can only deceive some minor demons. Someone like him, who has cultivated for nearly a hundred years, would never think of such things.
Even if she looked at him a few more times, she wouldn't have the physique of an emperor. Yao Ruyi turned her head away unwillingly.
It can't be turned back, it looks good.
The emperor's chest was full and rounded, and his arms had smooth, strong lines. When he pushed himself into the water, his muscles bulged out one by one, no wonder he was so incredibly strong. He had broad shoulders and a slender waist. Yao Ruyi really liked this kind of body, but unfortunately she didn't have it. His waist was strong and thin, and there were two symmetrical lines on his front, which extended downwards from his lower abdomen along blue veins.
Further down, Yao Ruyi disappeared from sight, and he felt a pang of regret, his ears turning slightly red. Even setting aside the fact that they were in water, the moonlight only revealed streaks of pale white water.
Besides, he was wearing pants.
Why would someone wear pants while soaking in a hot spring? Yao Ruyi couldn't figure it out. Perhaps they have scars on their legs, or are not good-looking; otherwise, why would they wear pants even while soaking in a hot spring?
The flowerpot was placed next to the pastries, and the aroma wafted over. Yao Ruyi could always smell it, but she never turned around. She just stared intently at the emperor bathing.
He was hungry.
Gu Huizhou vaguely sensed a gaze upon him, and the agate bracelet on his wrist was being played with in someone's hand. It tinkled and clanged against the stone platform by the pool.
The man was in a good mood, and since there was no one else around, he could even talk to himself.
"The eldest princess will be married in the spring. She and my beloved minister are a perfect match, and I am very pleased."
Yao Ruyi listened and nodded.
Your Majesty is truly a good emperor, sharing the people's sorrows and joys. Although General Han is not an ordinary citizen, he is still a subject. To be able to rejoice in the happiness of one's subjects is the mark of a benevolent ruler.
"I almost forgot. Hua Yu was actually thrown out of the General's Mansion, at the prime of her life. With the General's wife entering the mansion, the concubines here will not have a good ending. What a pity."
I never expected His Majesty to feel sorry for a palace maid. She was not a subject, nor even an ordinary citizen. Palace maids were bought into the palace, and their lives were not even as comfortable as those of ordinary people.
Yao Ruyi listened attentively inside the flowerpot.
Gu Huizhou smiled. The pool water was slightly hot, but it was the temperature he was used to. His skin turned pink as he entered the water, and the area where his skin met the water's surface was also steamed and turned a tender color.
If I weren't incredibly stupid, I wouldn't have gone back to that woman.
Gu Huizhou picked up a piece of pastry, hesitated for a while, and then took a bite. The cloying milky aroma immediately spread, and even his throat felt like it was covered in sugar frosting.
He picked up the teacup with one hand and drank it all in one gulp, then poured himself another cup and finished it in a few more mouthfuls.
Gu Huizhou looked at the pastry in his hand with disdain, about to throw it back onto the plate. He changed his mind and looked at the mushroom sitting quietly in the flowerpot. Gu Huizhou chuckled, "It's fine as fertilizer."
Then he threw half a piece of pastry into the flowerpot.
Yao Ruyi stared blankly for a moment.
tyrant!
The pastries were alright when they were behind him; he could smell them every now and then without turning around. But now, it's like they're putting the pastries directly into his mouth!
It cannot be bitten yet.
The tyrant said with disdain, "How can the imperial kitchen be so incompetent? It's sickeningly sweet."
Yao Ruyi disagreed, but she reluctantly went along with his words, and after thinking it over, it seemed to be because of him—
Because he always uses the last piece of pastry to coat the plate with icing sugar after eating, which makes it taste the best and avoids waste.
The mushroom deflated instantly.
No one spoke from the hot spring pool anymore, and ripples spread across the water. The pool wasn't actually stagnant; there was a drainage hole at the bottom, small enough for water to flow slowly. In another warm chamber connected to the pool, eunuchs were boiling water and pouring it into the pool, pot after pot.
Gu Huizhou leaned his head back on the stone platform, his arms casually resting on either side. He closed his eyes to rest, as if only at this moment could he peacefully enjoy the life befitting an emperor.
Yao Ruyi was also preparing to take a nap when he shifted his gaze from the emperor's face to his hands. The emperor's hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers and clearly defined veins; such hands would look good with any beaded bracelet. But Yao Ruyi still felt that he was more suited to the cinnabar bracelet he had worn a few days ago.
The deep red cinnabar made his skin appear even whiter, while the agate beads were a dazzling red.
Yao Ruyi thought it was tacky.
Did he just frown? Was he having trouble sleeping again?
Just as Yao Ruyi was about to take a closer look, she saw Gu Huizhou immediately leap ashore. The jade plate containing the snacks that had been on the shore was thrown out by him and shattered instantly!
"Whoosh—"
The pool water splashed all over him.
Just moments before, in the spot where the emperor had been, a long sword was plunged straight into the wall of the hot spring. Had Gu Huizhou been even a fraction slower, it would have pierced his heart.
"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"
Cui Xiangzhu rushed out from behind, his heart pounding, and shouted.
In an instant, dozens of imperial guards rushed in from outside the courtyard and firmly protected Gu Huizhou in the middle.
Fourteen leaped from the warm pavilion onto the roof and began fighting with the two who had infiltrated the palace at some unknown time.
Gu Huizhou looked at the spot with a dark face. An old, worn-out longsword had been sharpened to an exceptionally sharp point and was inserted straight into the jade. The cut was complete and transparent, and the longsword was firmly embedded inside.
"Whoosh—"
Another sound rang out. Yet another longsword flew into the wall, demonstrating the immense strength of this person. With both swords no longer in their hands, the two were powerless to retaliate and were both subdued by the Imperial Guards.
Gu Huizhou had already put on his outer robe and took two steps forward.
"You dog emperor! You'll die a horrible death!"
Cui Xiangzhu stepped forward and slapped the man across the face. The head eunuch was no pushover either, and five finger marks were quickly left on the side of his face. "Watch your mouth!"
As the two men removed their black masks, Yao Ruyi's heart skipped a beat; he recognized them.
They were the students who attended Li Wenjing's class that day, and who had also been imprisoned together. It was these two who consistently defended Mr. Li. Even when His Majesty ultimately sentenced Mr. Li to death by flogging, these two never uttered a single bad word about him.
"You scoundrel emperor! Even if my brother and I fail to avenge you today, we will haunt you as vengeful ghosts in the future!"
The other person was also slapped several times by Cui Xiangzhu.
If it weren't for the emperor's presence, Cui Xiangzhu would have spat in their faces.
"student?"
One of them glared fiercely at Gu Huizhou and mustered all his strength to rush forward, but was forcefully held down by the Imperial Guards. He almost fell to the ground. "Yes! We are both students of Mr. Li."
"Our teacher imparted knowledge and wisdom to us, even instructing us in the principles of being a decent human being. He would never do such a despicable thing," the student said, his eyes bloodshot. "You tyrant! If you truly did not do those things, why are you afraid of the people's rumors! Our teacher was merely framed, yet—"
He choked up, and in the end, he never even saw his husband's body.
"You dog emperor, you didn't even leave the master a whole body!"
Gu Huizhou frowned and stepped forward, squatting down. "You're right. I even ordered his head to be cut off and fed to the dogs. Such a sinner who spreads heretical books doesn't deserve to defile the soil of Dayun."
"ah--"
The other man remained silent for a long time. Upon hearing this, he raised his head, his eyes filled with hatred that overshadowed his reason. All his strength surged into one place, allowing him to knock away the Imperial Guard's longsword.
Two bloody gashes were left on either side of his neck, and his body lurched straight forward—
Even if he dies, he'll still bite off a piece of the dog emperor's flesh!
"Brother Zhang!"
Before the Imperial Guards could react, the Fourteenth Prince immediately stepped forward and kicked the student away. The two forces collided, and the man spun rapidly, falling towards the hot spring!
"Smack—"
The students were stopped by the stone platform, while the green porcelain flowerpot that had been placed steadily beside the hot spring fell to the ground and shattered into hundreds of pieces.
The emperor rose slowly, his face ashen, a murderous glint in his eyes. He had no more patience to question the two men. "Take them away!"
"You dog emperor! You'll go to hell sooner or later! We brothers will be waiting for you on the road to the underworld, you tyrant! Cruel and incompetent!"
"Sir! I am ashamed that I failed to avenge you—"
The two men were finally silenced when the Imperial Guards, who were annoyed by their constant listening, gagged them.
Cui Xiangzhu quickly stepped forward and picked up the mushroom with his sleeve. Fortunately, it had been well taken care of these past few days, and it didn't get hurt even when it fell to the ground.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, rest assured, the mushrooms are doing well."
Fourteenth Prince stood to the side, frowning, and knelt heavily on the ground. "Your Majesty, Fourteenth Prince confesses his sins." As soon as he finished speaking, he drew his longsword, intending to stab it straight into his abdomen—
"Smack!"
A fragment of a jade disc struck the longsword, and gravity caused the sword to deflect at an angle, piercing the air at its side.
"His Majesty?"
Gu Huizhou took the mushroom and turned around. "Find out how they got in."
Fourteen put down his longsword. "Yes!"
The Imperial Guards were assigned to patrol various parts of the palace, and Gu Huizhou returned to the Cloud Palace with mushrooms in his hands.
"Your Majesty! Is Your Majesty injured? Please wait, this servant will summon the imperial physician immediately."
Cui Xiangzhu turned to leave as he spoke.
"No need, take him away."
"Then this mushroom..."
Gu Huizhou was stunned for a moment, then said, "Send over a new porcelain vase tomorrow."
"Yes, then this servant will not disturb Your Majesty's rest."
Cui Xiangzhu was clearly still uneasy. He glanced at Gu Huizhou twice before closing the door, and his heart was still pounding.
Why hasn't Thirteen returned yet? He's worried about Fourteenth Prince, who's alone in the palace. Cui Xiangzhu looked up at the sky. No, he couldn't leave tonight.
Thinking this, the head eunuch went back and put on an extra set of winter clothes, then sat on the ground leaning against the small door.
Inside the hall.
He was still wearing wet trousers, the soaked fabric clinging to his body, which disgusted Gu Huizhou. Only when he looked down did he notice a bloodstain on the inside of his thigh.
He recalled that it was the longsword that shattered the fragments of the jade disc that flew towards him, cutting a wound on his leg.
He habitually touched his wrist, finding it bare; the agate bracelet lay scattered beside the hot spring. A look of annoyance settled on the emperor's brow. He used the water left in the room by the eunuch to wash himself, his hair still plastered to his shoulders.
Gu Huizhou stopped paying attention.
He placed the mushroom in the teacup, with some soil still attached to its roots, and the teacup fit perfectly.
With exhaustion filling his eyes, Gu Huizhou finally chuckled softly, "It's the same thickness as the rim of a cup." He put some soil in, but could only fit in a tiny bit more mushroom stem.
Then I'll have to trouble you, Immortal Lord.
Pressing his hand to his forehead, Gu Huizhou turned off the light and collapsed onto the bed as if expending all his energy. He let his wet hair hang down to one side, and he didn't even bother to apply medicine to the wound on his leg.
Frustration and weariness surged up at the same time, almost overwhelming him.
"ah--"
"ah--"
"Your Majesty! I—"
"Gu Huizhou, the Emperor will surely regret having a son like you in the afterlife! Ugh—"
"No! No! I don't want to die, I don't want to!"
...
The palace was stained with the stench of blood. On that day, he personally killed no fewer than dozens of corrupt officials who had colluded with foreign powers. For a month afterward, the palace was covered in blood.
New palace maids often heard older palace maids say that in the year the new emperor ascended the throne, even the snow in the palace was stained red with human blood.
Dozens of ministers in the court were purged.
From then on, no one mentioned the change of dynasty again, nor did anyone ask if the new emperor could produce the imperial edict. Those who had fantasized about bringing the deposed crown prince back to the palace and installing him as a puppet emperor vanished without a trace.
Gu Huizhou lay on the bed, his brows furrowed deeply. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead; he couldn't sleep soundly. His hands trembled slightly as he rubbed against the bed, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, revealing his unease.
The scene from two years ago—a sea of blood, corpses, screams, pleas for mercy—filled his mind as if replaying itself. A pair of blood-red shoes approached step by step. Suddenly, those captivating yet dull eyes snapped open. Le Wuyou stood amidst a group of dead ministers, staring intently at him.
"Enjoyment without pride?"
Gu Huizhou heard himself ask, "What are you doing here?"
"Of course I'm here to see how many people you've killed." The woman's bright and delicate eyebrows and eyes turned completely red, and tears of blood streamed down her face. When Le Wuyou opened her mouth, streams of blood gushed out.
Gu Huizhou took a step back. "Why aren't you staying in the palace? Or do you want to go back to the grasslands? I'll send someone—"
Le Wujin's eyes widened. She gripped her own neck tightly with her hands, and broken words came out of her mouth, along with blood clots rolling onto the exquisite Empress Dowager's robes, turning the originally bright yellow brocade robes crimson with blood.
Her embroidered shoes were already soaked in blood, leaving a trail of bloody footprints on the ground.
"Didn't you kill me, Your Majesty?"
"Me!" Gu Huizhou trembled violently, looking down at the woman's gaze. He could hear the metallic cracking of his neck.
He gripped a longsword in his right hand, bright red blood staining his feet. *Clang—*
Yao Ru transformed into human form with a smug expression. If he had a bigger temper, he simply wouldn't have helped the emperor heal his wounds. The orange-capped mushrooms were all about his size, and besides, what kind of mushrooms are placed in a teacup?
With a less than friendly expression, Yao Ruyi picked up a plate from the table and headed straight for the emperor's bed.
The food tasted the same, seemingly prepared by the imperial kitchen. Yao Ruyi remained seated on the emperor's chest, swinging his legs comfortably. The wound on his leg wasn't large, and he absorbed the flowing blood while helping it heal.
To punish the emperor for mocking his inability to sleep through a cup, Yao Ruyi slowed down. The wound was still visibly healing, but not as quickly as usual.
Yao Ruyi was so content, savoring each bite of pastry, that he had no time to think about anything else; he was busy planning things for himself. The emperor, on the other hand, was sleeping restlessly, his hair still damp.
After he finished eating the plate of snacks, he first dried the emperor's hair and then calmed the emperor's mind.
With the last piece of pastry coating the bottom of the plate with icing, Yao Ruyi swallowed the last bite with satisfaction. Turning her head, she stared at the wound healing into a thin line, the scar gradually disappearing. Yao Ruyi withdrew the magic from that spot.
He belatedly realized that the emperor hadn't applied any medicine to his leg today!
Then wouldn't he be...!
Her heart pounded. Yao Ruyi planned to take out the medicine bottle from the emperor's bedside and place it by the bedside in a while. Anyway, he hadn't slept well today and might think she had applied medicine.
With a slight sense of relief, Yao Ruyi immediately got to work.
etc--
!!
I can't take my hand back!
With her mind blank, Mushroom stiffly turned her head. Meeting a sinister gaze, her wrist was gripped tightly by the person, leaving no gap. Yao Ruyi panicked instantly, forgetting to control her weight, and sat squarely on the emperor's chest.
Gu Huizhou, who had been fast asleep, opened his eyes at some point, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, breathing heavily.
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