Chapter 147 [VIP]
Upon hearing Gu Zhizhuo's words, Prince Li was completely stunned, his mouth agape.
A king?!
Ha, she actually dared to say that. This isn't just not excessive, it's downright outrageous!
After the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, no kings of different surnames were enfeoffed. There were only three dukes, each holding a tiger tally. The Duke of Zhenguo was the head of the three dukes. Apart from them, there were only earls and marquises.
Gu Zhizhuo's suggestion to request a royal title for the Gu family is far too far-fetched.
Prince Li gestured to Xie Yingchen with his eyes to intervene, but Xie Yingchen picked up his teacup and pretended not to see it.
Prince Li laughed in exasperation. They say a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl. In the Xie family, the son has already developed feelings for another before the daughter-in-law has even entered the family. Look at him, such a fine young man, not daring to say a single "no" in front of his wife.
"Miss Gu."
Prince Li swallowed hard to ease his parched throat, and said seriously, "Your request is a bit excessive."
His expression turned cold, revealing his imposing presence.
Prince Li was the late emperor's younger brother. In his youth, he had also followed the Taizu Emperor to the battlefield.
He later served as the clan leader for several decades, but he was not an easy old man to get along with.
However, Gu Zhizhuo dared to make this request, and he wouldn't panic because of his cold face.
Gu Zhizhuo's hands remained on the table, his body leaning slightly forward, as he asked in a threatening tone, "Where is the passage?"
Prince Li shook his head: "This will not do." He said in an unyielding tone, "Miss Gu can make other requests. How about this, there is a royal garden in the western suburbs. I can grant it to the Gu family on behalf of the Emperor. What do you say?"
That garden is very large, covering two or three thousand acres. Construction began in the previous dynasty and lasted for twenty years. It was expanded and repaired from time to time. Its value can no longer be measured in gold and silver.
Gu Zhizhuo had been there several times; it was incredibly beautiful, and it was no exaggeration to say that every step was a scenic view.
Gu Zhizhu smiled without saying a word. She picked up three wine cups from the table and arranged them in a row in front of her.
"At the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, three people were granted the title of Duke for their outstanding military achievements."
She picked up the wine pot and filled the three wine cups with wine.
Gu Zhizhuo's hand gestures were extremely steady, each glass of wine was level with the rim of the glass, not a single drop spilled, and the amber-colored wine seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.
Prince Li thought the wine was offered to him and was about to reach out his hand when he realized she had no such intention.
He awkwardly withdrew his finger and pretended to clear his throat by placing it to his lips.
Gu Zhizhuo slowly recounted: "After the founding of the Great Qi, the Duke of Anguo laid down his arms and the Duke of Weiguo entered the court, and both of them lived in comfort ever since. Only the Duke of Zhenguo was ordered to guard the northern border. For more than forty years, the men of the Gu family have used their blood and flesh as a shield on the northern border, preventing the Northern Di from stepping into the Great Qi."
"Your Highness, does this count as merit?!"
Prince Li replied without hesitation, "Yes."
Gu Zhizhuo picked up the wine pot and poured wine into the first wine cup.
The wine cup was already full, but when Gu Zhizhuo poured it again, the wine immediately overflowed, flowing down the rim of the cup onto the octagonal table, where it pooled around the cup, releasing a strong aroma.
Prince Li lowered his eyes; he understood what Gu Zhizhuo meant.
Gu Zhizhuo straightened the wine pot and continued in a clear voice, "More than four years ago, the Western Frontier was in chaos, the Liang Kingdom invaded, and the Central Plains almost fell. My father was appointed to a critical mission and saved the Great Qi Kingdom."
"Your Highness, does this count as a merit?"
"Calculate."
Prince Li nodded again, his expression becoming even more solemn.
Gu Zhizhuo calmly picked up the wine pot and continued to pour wine into the wine cup. The amber-colored wine flowed down from the spout and into the overflowing wine cup.
More and more of the wine spilled out, flowing onto the edge of the octagonal table.
“Three years ago, a rebellion broke out in Yanzhou. Chen Guangwu declared himself king, seized the three provinces of Yanzhou, and advanced directly towards Yizhou. The emperor, disregarding his mourning period, ordered my elder brother to quell the rebellion. My brother was only twelve years old at the time. To protect the capital from the slightest threat, he was almost cut in two with a single stroke. The scar on his back runs from his shoulder to his waist.”
"Your Highness, does this count as a merit?"
Prince Li said solemnly in a hoarse voice, "It is."
Gu Zhizhuo continued pouring, and the wine soaked through the octagonal table.
She stopped and gestured for him to look.
The two wine cups represent the Duke of Anguo and the Duke of Weiguo.
The wine in the cup was the same as when he was first granted the title of Duke, level with the rim. Now, however, the Duke of Anguo is a wealthy and idle man, while the Duke of Wei wields immense power in the court.
A wine cup represents the Duke of Zhenguo.
The wine overflowed, dripping down the edge of the table and onto the floor, drop by drop.
Now, apart from the crippled Gu Baibai and the returned Gu Liaoliao, the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion is left with only a group of children.
Gu Zhizhuo dabbed some wine on his fingertips and gently rubbed them.
She said, "Emperor Taizu once said, 'Rewards must be given to those who have rendered meritorious service, and punishments must be handed down to those who have committed crimes.' (Note) Back then, the three dukes had similar merits and were all awarded the title of duke. So now..."
*Smack*
Gu Zhizhu slammed his hand on the octagonal table, splashing wine onto Prince Li's face.
Prince Li almost thought she was going to pounce on him and jumped up from his chair.
"Your Highness, is it too much for me to ask for a royal title for the Gu family?"
Prince Li was so startled by her that his heart almost skipped a beat, and he subconsciously shook his head.
With that shake, he immediately sensed something was wrong, and his neck froze in place.
This girl... she almost convinced Prince Li.
He slowly sat down, trying to appeal to her emotions: "Girl, a prince from a different surname isn't a good thing for the Gu family. It's just superficial glory."
Gu Zhizhuo understood what he meant, of course. It was simply a matter of someone's achievements overshadowing the ruler's, and whether the superior could tolerate such behavior.
In fact, even if she didn't vie for the title of king, with the 200,000 troops under the Gu family's control, those who were not to be tolerated would still be tolerated.
If that's the case, why doesn't she fight for it?
This is what the Gu family deserves!
Gu Zhizhu shook the almost empty wine pot, a casual gesture that made Prince Li uneasy.
"If the above achievements are not enough to grant the Gu family a royal title, then surely the fact that the Gu family raised Gu Yan for six and a half years should be enough?"
A cold laugh escaped Gu Zhizhuo's lips as he tilted the teapot downwards once more.
This time, her movements were much slower, and the amber-colored wine flowed down from the slender neck of the jug like a thin stream of water.
Prince Li frowned, thinking to himself, "Why won't she listen to reason?"
“Your Highness,” Gu Zhizhuo mimicked his tone, “have you ever considered what it means that Gu Yan’s surname is Gu, but his given name is ‘Yan,’ which is the same as the princes’ surname?”
Is she implying that the Emperor will eventually bring Gu Yan into the palace? Prince Li frowned. In fact, if the affair between the Emperor and Lady Ji had not been exposed, Lady Ji would still be the duke's wife, and the Emperor would have no reason to bring Gu Yan back.
"Your Highness has served in court for so many years, you should know the Emperor quite well. May I ask, Your Highness, if my entire Gu family were to perish, would the Emperor revoke the title, or bestow it upon an illegitimate son who bears the Gu family name and takes the title of a prince?"
She said this through gritted teeth.
It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded over Prince Li's head, making his head buzz.
Gu Zhizhuo suddenly increased the speed of pouring, and the overflowing wine flowed all the way to Prince Li's front and onto his sleeves. In no time, the wine pot was empty.
"The Duke of Zhenguo's family has earned everything with their blood, flesh, and lives over four generations, and now his son is getting it all for nothing. With this credit added, isn't that enough?"
Gu Zhizhu threw the empty wine pot away. The pot bounced a few times on the ground, making a loud banging sound. This startled Prince Li, who was staring blankly at the wine on the table, so much so that his heart almost jumped out of his throat.
Gu Zhizhu chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Does Your Highness think that since this matter hasn't come to fruition yet, it can't be considered a merit?"
This girl.
With a terrible temper and a sharp tongue, Prince Li patted his chest. He really dared to say anything.
Prince Li wasn't particularly displeased by being contradicted. He looked at her as if she were a junior member of his family. Even if he felt annoyed or resentful, it was all directed at the Emperor.
The emperor is no match for the deposed crown prince!
He lacked skill and was incapable of managing people; he was always afraid of everything. His fear of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was obvious to anyone with eyes to see. Despite Prince Li's repeated attempts to persuade him, the Emperor repeatedly assured him that he would never revoke the Duke of Zhenguo's title.
The former Prince Li thought that the emperor meant he would not take action against the Gu family.
Now, with Gu Zhizhuo's insightful revelation, Prince Li felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and all the things he had previously been unwilling to think about suddenly came together.
Nine times out of ten, the emperor really did have this in mind!
If that's the case, even if the Gu family were to be accused of some crime that would bring ruin upon the entire family, everyone would tacitly accept the Gu family's fate because the emperor didn't exterminate them completely, leaving the Gu family with a bloodline and a title.
Who would have known that this bloodline actually belongs to the "Xie" family, and that the emperor's blood flows in their veins?
Prince Li's hands were trembling, and the trembling was getting worse.
Gu Zhizhuo ripped through this thin veil, laying bare the sordid truth before his very eyes.
Gu Zhizhuo lowered her eyes. All of this was not her imagination or assumption, but something that had actually happened in her previous life.
The Gu family was skinned alive and their flesh and blood were used to nourish Gu Yan.
After her death, the Gu family line ended completely.
Gu Zhizhuo's eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the emotions overflowing in her eyes, just like the wine itself.
"Since Your Highness is so insistent, so be it."
Huh? Why is she being so easy to talk to? After being startled by her several times, Prince Li, who was always jumping up and down, took a deep breath.
"From now on, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will no longer interfere in any military affairs of Daqi, including those of the Northern Frontier. As for our Gu family, it's time to follow the example of the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Anguo and enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life in the capital."
Prince Li: !
"Anyway, even if I do nothing, my position as Duke is secure. The more I do, the more people die. Those who die are all members of the Gu family, and it really has nothing to do with others. Sigh, I've made so many contributions, but there's no benefit to it, and I still have to worry about my achievements overshadowing the ruler."
Gu Zhizhuo sneered repeatedly: "Grandfather is really something, so narrow-minded. Fortunately, I've come to terms with it."
With a flick of her sleeve, she swept the wine cup representing the Gu family to the ground.
The wine cup rolled smoothly to Prince Li's feet, and his heart jumped again: "Girl..."
Gu Zhizhuo snorted, "Young Master, let's go."
She left without warning, and when she stood up, the round stool behind her creaked loudly.
Xie Yingchen also stood up, smiled at Prince Li, and said in his usual polite manner, "Grand Uncle, we'll take our leave now."
"You, you, you..."
Prince Li pointed at her with a trembling finger, his temper turning so easily, just like her grandfather's!
"Chen'er".
Prince Li gathered his strength, called out to Xie Yingchen, and asked in a strange tone, "You also think this title can be given?"
What Prince Li wanted to say was that he might also sit on that chair in the Golden Palace in the future, and he was willing for his maternal relatives and uncles to be a prince of a different surname with military power.
Such calamities as the usurpation of power by imperial relatives were not uncommon in any dynasty.
He didn't shy away from asking Gu Zhizhuo these questions either; he was also asking her if she was determined to fight for the title of king for the sake of the Gu family, and whether she wasn't afraid of alienating her husband in the future.
Xie Yingchen turned to look at him and said affirmatively, "The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has made outstanding contributions; it deserves the award."
His gaze was frank: "Emperor Taizu once said that if a ruler is afraid because he is jealous of others' achievements, he might as well not sit in this position, but become a general and seize the credit based on his own abilities."
“Grand Uncle, though this is a rough way of putting it, the world is so vast, who can do everything personally? Since you have entrusted it to someone else, you should be happy to see that you have made a contribution. That is because I have good judgment.”
"A ruler who knows how to use people well can ensure the prosperity of the world. Grandfather, this is the right way."
Xie Yingchen's eyes shone with confidence.
In a daze, Prince Li seemed to see the late emperor. At that time, the late emperor and the Duke of Zhenguo had a harmonious relationship, with the emperor not disliking the minister and the minister not doubting the emperor.
He looked at Gu Zhizhuo again. The little girl was smiling, as if she hadn't understood his deeper meaning. But in fact, this girl was very clever. How could she not understand? It was just that she trusted Chen'er.
“Grand Uncle, why don’t you discuss this with the Emperor?”
"Young master, let's go. Your Highness, stop discussing it. Tell the Emperor that whoever wants to do it can do it. The Gu family is quitting."
Gu Zhizhuo grabbed Xie Yingchen's sleeve, slammed the door open, and walked away, her skirt fluttering, without looking back.
"Hey hey!"
Prince Li hurried to chase after them, but he was old and had just suffered a stroke. By the time he slowly reached the door, both of them had disappeared.
"Boys are outgoing!"
Prince Li was almost laughing in anger.
Xie Yingchen is now completely devoted to Gu Zhizhuo.
The attendant asked, "Your Highness, shall we continue the pursuit?"
"What are you chasing? Do you think your prince can catch up with me on these two legs?" Prince Li said, puffing out his beard and glaring.
Smelling the rich aroma of wine filling the room, Prince Li felt a heavy weight in his heart. He was worried that the emperor would agree—that would mean the emperor, whose mind was not clear, might cause trouble again for his beloved youngest son, and in that case, the emperor would only continue to be ill.
They were also worried that the emperor would not agree. Since Miss Gu had already said so much, there was no way she would back down.
Prince Li thought for a moment: "Let's go to the palace first."
After the emperor fell seriously ill, he stayed in Hanzhang Palace, and only a few people in the court knew the truth.
With Prince Li in charge, the palace remained peaceful and no trouble arose.
The attendant helped Prince Li walk towards the corridor.
One side of the corridor faced the small garden, and Prince Li immediately saw that Gu Zhizhuo and his group had already left the building and were walking along the pond. A commotion arose not far away, and a group of people rushed in. He squinted to see—were they soldiers?
"Girl," Prince Li called out loudly, wiping the sweat from his brow, "with your temper, you two wait a minute..."
Prince Li wanted to suggest that Gu Zhizhuo come to the palace with him.
The door to a private room not far behind them opened.
"Eh, Your Highness?" A familiar voice rang in his ears. Prince Li turned his head and saw that it was Duke Wei.
Duke Wei emerged from a separate, elegant room and, upon seeing Prince Li, strode over with slightly unsteady, drunken steps.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Duke Wei said with a hearty laugh. "Would you like to have a drink with me?"
"No, no," Prince Li refused. "I cannot drink alcohol."
The Duke of Wei, remembering his stroke, exaggeratedly slapped his mouth: "Yes, yes, you can't drink. Your Highness, come, come, come and listen to some music..."
Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure suddenly darted out from the screen separating the two private rooms and pounced on Prince Li.
"Your Highness, be careful!" Yuehui
Chang Sui quickly stepped in front of Prince Li, and the dark figure immediately changed his mind, grabbing the nearest Duke Wei and pulling him into a private room.
Prince Li was getting on in years, and his reactions were naturally a bit slow. He was stunned for a moment before he finally uttered, "Your Excellency, Duke!"
They don't seem like people you know, do they?
"Hurry, someone come here!"
The door slammed shut.
Duke Wei was also stunned. He had drunk too much and slipped and fell to the ground after being dragged in.
The ground was damp and smelled strongly of wine; there was wine everywhere.
Who spilled such fine wine on the ground?
Duke Wei was a few beats slower to look up and saw a slightly overweight man. When the man met Duke Wei's gaze, he menacingly lit a tinderbox.
"what are you up to!"
The Duke of Wei fell quite hard and couldn't get up for a moment, looking at him with a look of fear.
"It's the Duke, isn't it?" The man's voice was somewhat manic. "Tell them to let me go, or we'll die together!"
He gave a stiff, forced smile and held the tinderbox up to the Duke of Wei, the smoke making the Duke cough.
As if by some strange twist of fate, the Duke of Wei remembered what Gu Zhizhuo had said: "You will suffer a fire within three days."
The firelight danced in his pupils, burning his skin with a dull ache.
Today is the third day.
"I paid money to buy her, so what if I kill my own servant..." the man muttered maniacally. "Even if she's bled to death, she's still someone I paid money to buy."
He brought the tinderbox closer to the Duke of Wei's face and shouted, "Duke! Your life is valuable! Tell them to let me go! Hurry up!"
A note from the author:
Note: From *Strategies of the Warring States*, Qin Strategies.
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