Chapter 153 [VIP]
Sheng Jiang got off the carriage.
Shen Xu leaned back on the pillow, once again opening the booklet in his hand and turning the pages one by one.
As he moved, his long sleeves fell down, the pearlescent patterns on them shimmering like waves in the sunlight.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard conducted a thorough investigation, recording each person's physical characteristics, household registration, age, and all other information in the roster.
In the grand opening of the Nine Provinces, there are 120 people from Yongzhou in this volume alone.
However, household registration and age can both be forged, so they cannot be used as accurate information.
Just like Shen Xu himself, his household registration was fake. After escaping from Blackwater Fortress, he took a dead man's travel permit and replaced it with his own. His name and date of birth were all fake.
Having been on the run for ten years, the sister must have lived to see this day, and she must have changed her name to live under an assumed identity.
He didn't know if his sister was now a "Yongzhou person," a "Yanzhou person," or perhaps a Qingzhou or Xuzhou person...
However, my sister has a beauty mark on the left side of her lip and a plum blossom birthmark on her right elbow.
He first quickly flipped through the pages, but no one had noted such a detail in the description. Then he slowly looked through each page.
The white smoke rising slowly from the incense burner exudes a delicate fragrance.
"Meow".
The cat woke up and, seeing that he wasn't paying attention to it, it trotted over and affectionately rubbed its paws against his shoulder.
"So filthy,"
Shen Xu reached out and plucked a cat hair from his sleeve, rubbing his fingers on its fur.
"Didn't you love going to the Wenyuan Hall? Why don't you go anymore?"
"Meow".
"Can't understand."
"Miu miu".
Shen Xu said impatiently, "Stop making noise."
The cat meowed all the way, and when they arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Sheng Jiang was already waiting.
He arrived at breakneck speed, carrying more than ten identical rosters in his hands.
A young eunuch went up and knocked on the door. Upon learning who the visitor was, the servants quickly welcomed the person in, while an old woman went to the back to report to Gu Zhizhuo.
Shen Xu tossed the annoying cat out first, then got off the carriage and, without looking to the side, ordered, "Go and get the imperial edict."
Sheng Jiang climbed into the carriage, where the bright yellow imperial edict was placed on the table, still covered with cat hair.
He muttered to himself, "This cat drools while it sleeps?"
The imperial edict was smeared with saliva and was a little damp; no wonder the master didn't want to touch it.
Tsk.
"Never mind, the imperial edict wasn't for him anyway." Seeing that Shen Xu had already walked far away, Sheng Jiang casually tucked his hand into his pocket and chased after him.
The servants ushered Shen Xu to the main hall, and after sitting for a short while, Gu Zhizhuo came out.
"Master Supervisor."
She lifted her skirt, stepped over the threshold, curtsied in greeting, and said with a smile, "What brings you here?"
Shen Xu gave him a wink, and Sheng Jiang presented the imperial edict.
Gu Zhizhuo narrowed her eyes, looking at the cat hair and drool on the imperial edict with disdain, reluctant to accept it: "What is this?"
"Imperial edict."
Gu Zhizhuo: "..."
Of course she recognized it as an imperial edict!
Was he here to deliver an imperial decree? Did Grandmother and Third Uncle know? They didn't come, so they probably don't know.
Generally speaking, shouldn't the whole family be present when an imperial edict is announced? The gatekeeper didn't say anything about that.
You're so casual about doing things.
Sheng Jiang's arm was almost sore from holding it up; he wouldn't even take the imperial edict when it was right in front of him. This Miss Gu was definitely the first person to do that.
Shen Xu generously explained, "What you wanted, Prince Li got for you."
Gu Zhizhuo's phoenix eyes lit up: "You should have said so earlier!"
Prince Li is really generous; he kept his promise of three days.
“Your Excellency,” Gu Zhizhu raised an eyebrow, picked up the imperial edict by the corner, shook off the cat fur on it, and asked suspiciously, “You didn’t take this imperial edict out of the cat’s bed, did you?”
"Isn't that right, Shenmao?"
"Meow."
Shen Xu said impatiently, "If you don't want it, just throw it away."
"Of course I want it! How could I refuse? I went through so much trouble to get it," Gu Zhizhuo said with a smile. "You didn't see it, Prince Li is incredibly stingy. It wasn't easy to get this title."
She curved the corners of her mouth into a smile, her eyes crinkling with delight.
Given the Emperor's current clouded judgment, he might actually agree even if she went directly to him and offered Gu Yan in exchange for the title. However, this would inevitably cause controversy among the imperial family and nobles, as Gu Yan would be the first non-royal prince of the Great Qi Dynasty. Having Prince Li handle things would save a lot of trouble.
Perfect.
Shen Xu rested his chin on his hand, looking her over with a half-smile, and said, "Tell me how you shamelessly and eloquently persuaded that old man to devote himself entirely to your schemes. Li Si."
Over the past three days, Prince Li has been employing a strategy of both retreat and advance, which Shen Xu has observed closely. In particular, Prince Li has truly put in a lot of effort, as he managed to obtain the imperial decree without incurring the emperor's hatred towards the Gu family.
Tsk. Gu Zhizhuo glanced at him. What did he mean by "shameless"? Couldn't he at least speak properly?
"I'm just stating the facts."
Shen Xu chuckled coldly, clearly not believing him.
Gu Zhizhu shrugged, unfolded the imperial edict, and read it word by word.
Shen Xu leaned back on the armrest of the grand master's chair, playing with the jade pendant on his wrist, his face full of impatience as he waited.
The imperial edict elevates the Gu family, Duke of Zhenguo, to the rank of Prince, with the title of Prince Zhenbei, a hereditary title that will not be downgraded, and grants them the authority to hold the tiger tally and garrison the northern frontier.
A faint smile appeared on Gu Zhizhuo's lips. This title was rightfully earned by the Gu family. From his great-grandfather to his grandfather, and then to his father, uncles, aunts, and so on, their achievements should not be buried.
If you want the Gu family to maintain their power, you can't just give them no benefits at all.
"Thank you for making this trip, Chief Supervisor." Gu Zhizhuo bowed slightly.
She sat down at the lower end of the table and placed the imperial edict on the coffee table. Seeing that he showed no intention of leaving, Gu Zhizhuo asked in confusion, "Is there anything else?"
"Gu Yan".
"Oh right, I forgot!" Gu Zhizhuo slapped his forehead and told Qiongfang to bring Gu Yan over. "You don't need to bring anything. You'll have everything once you enter the palace. Our Gu family can't compare to the palace's supplies."
After saying that, she smiled at Shen Xu: "Right?"
Shen Xu: "Hehe."
Gu Zhizhu ignored her and dismissed Qiongfang, then asked out of curiosity, "Will there be an official title?"
"Do you wish you had one?"
“I hope he remains nameless and unrecognized, never to be included in the imperial genealogy.” Gu Zhizhu spread his hands and said frankly, “Don’t look at me like that, I’m not that kind-hearted as to wish Gu Yan well.”
I hold grudges very much.
Shen Xu remained noncommittal. He raised his hand and beckoned, and Sheng Jiang walked up, holding a stack of rosters in his hands.
Gu Zhizhuo understood immediately and dismissed all the maids, leaving only Qingmei behind.
"This is the register of all the courtesans in the capital."
Shen Xu rested his right elbow on the coffee table, his wide sleeves cascading down, fiery red. He paused at the mention of the courtesan: "Can you find her?"
Gu Zhizhuo: "Put it down for now."
"Bring over another coffee table." This was said to Sheng Jiang.
She roughly counted them; there were eleven books in total.
After a quick look around, Sheng Jiang brought over the coffee table as well, and the two coffee tables were put together.
Gu Zhizhuo carefully put the lists away one by one. Just as she was about to take out her compass, she caught a glimpse of the cat obediently squatting next to Shen Xu out of the corner of her eye. On a whim, she beckoned and called out, "Chen Cat, come here."
Hearing her call her name, Shenmao twitched her ears and gracefully walked over.
"Mimi".
Gu Zhizhuo scooped it up by its little belly, placed it on the coffee table, and stroked its black nose, saying, "Look, which one here is the most unlucky."
"Meow?"
"Pick the one you like best."
The cat stared blankly at the rows of names in front of it, cautiously touching them with its paws, then sniffing each one. It tilted its cute little head and looked at Gu Zhizhuo: "Meow?"
"Your favorite."
Gu Zhizhuo stared intently at it.
As if it understood, the cat jumped off the coffee table and ran towards Shen Xu.
It circled around Shen Xu's calves, patted him with its paws, and left two dark plum blossom marks on his neat robe.
"Meow!"
Pat it again.
"Meow!"
Shen Xu: "..."
Gu Zhizhuo stroked his chin, then suddenly realized, "It said you're the unluckiest person here, and it likes you the most."
Shen Xu: "..."
Shenmao pressed her head against his fiery red robes, and they were the best of friends in the world.
Shen Xu lowered his eyes, his red lips curving into a tiny smile, and gently stroked the cat's head.
"Touch me!" The cat was delighted, its whiskers bristling, and it spoke in a sweet, coquettish voice.
Why.
You can't rely on cats; you can only rely on yourself.
Gu Zhizhuo still took out the compass. She still remembered the birth date and time that Shen Xu had told her. She gently moved the inner dial with her fingers, and the magnetic needle of the compass started to rotate and kept rotating for a long time.
She waited for a long time, but the magnetic needle showed no sign of stopping.
The hexagram is not formed without reason, and the lines are not released arbitrarily. (Note 1)
The search for this person was unsuccessful, according to divination and the will of Heaven.
Gu Zhizhuo took the compass to his side and threw out the counting rods.
"Do not inquire about their whereabouts."
"I only care about safety."
She cast three hexagrams in a row, each taking a considerable amount of time. When she looked up again, the cat was sitting arrogantly in Shen Xu's lap, ordering Sheng Jiang to get it water.
Sheng Jiang dared not, for fear of splashing water on Shen Xu.
"How is it?" Shen Xu asked impatiently, his arrogant voice tinged with an indescribable tension.
Gu Zhizhuo said frankly, "The predicament is already set in stone. We are trapped in it. Retreat means death, advance means destruction."
"In this situation, whether we advance or retreat, it's a dead end."
Bang.
A bright red sleeve swept across the coffee table, causing the teacup to fall to the ground and tea to splash onto his robe.
Beneath Shen Xu's eyelashes, his pupils were pitch black. He suddenly stood up, and the cat rolled off his lap. As soon as it sat down, it was about to throw a tantrum, but before it could even show its little tiger teeth, it obediently started licking its paws and secretly peeking at him.
Shen Xu passed by it like the wind, his clothes lifting it up and knocking it to the ground.
He rushed to Gu Zhizhuo in three strides, his hands gripping the armrests of the armchair. His peach blossom eyes, devoid of any charm, were instead filled with ruthlessness and an oppressive aura: "What did you say!?"
Sheng Jiang was startled. He hesitated, looking left and right, and silently took a few steps back. The cat rolled over and got up, obediently leaning against him, equally weak and helpless.
Shen Xu stared straight at him, her eyes bloodshot, just like that day at the manor, as if he would snap her neck at the slightest slip of the tongue.
Gu Zhizhuo was never afraid of him back then.
Now, of course, I'm not afraid of him anymore.
She said nonchalantly, "Look at the second hexagram. The superior man sacrifices his life to achieve his goals (Note 2), and finds joy even in dangerous situations. She willingly stepped into the predicament. She did not give up on herself, but rather gambled with her life and staked her soul."
Shen Xu gripped the armrests of the armchair tightly with both hands, his soft voice carrying a chilling undertone: "Continue."
Gu Zhizhuo asked him to look at the third hexagram: "Water | Thunder Tun".
Shen Xu couldn't understand, so he stared into her eyes and listened to what she had to say.
Gu Zhizhuo flicked her sleeves and said calmly, "Sit back down." The hair ornament in her hair swayed gently, and the pearls that fell down cast a faint shadow on her cheeks. Her expressionless face revealed no emotion.
Heh, Shen Xu let out a cold laugh, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
Sheng Jiang shrank back a little, and the cat looked left and right before obediently following.
Qingmei tiptoed over and stood with them. It was terrifying.
Gu Zhizhuo met his gaze.
After a while, Shen Xu silently straightened up. He did not return to his original seat, but sat down in a round-backed chair next to her, separated by a tea table, and squeezed out a single word: "Speak." His tone was as cold as if it were wrapped in a thin layer of ice.
“Water | Thunder. Water above, thunder below.” Gu Zhizhuo picked up a counting rod. “It’s an ominous hexagram.”
Shen Xu remained expressionless, but his hand, resting on the coffee table, suddenly clenched.
"Master Supervisor, have you considered meeting with these people?"
Gu Zhizhuo tapped the book with his fingertip.
In the vast capital city with a population of 800,000, she originally thought it would be very difficult to search for all the courtesans.
After all, private entertainers do not register with the government, and some even have legitimate status, making a living as entertainers in secret.
Now that everything has been investigated, let the Imperial Guards bring them over in batches so he can see them with his own eyes. He should be able to recognize them then, right?
"See?"
Shen Xu raised his palm to his forehead, his fingertips tapping lightly on his forehead, seemingly chaotic yet containing some special rhythm.
Blood flowed from his palm, trickling down his arm in a sticky, wet stream.
Shen Xu, who usually wouldn't even let a speck of dust get on him, seemed oblivious to this.
The blood blended with the color of his sleeves, equally vibrant.
He let out a low laugh, a laugh that was somewhat disturbing.
"Youthful recklessness led to the deaths of your parents."
"Useless, lost my sister."
"To seek revenge, he mutilated himself... Hah, how could I possibly face her?"
Gu Zhizhuo: "..."
Sheng Jiang and the cat, along with Qingmei, had already shrunk into a corner, pressed against the wall, as quiet as a cicada in winter.
Just then, the old woman's voice suddenly rang out: "Young lady, Prince Li and the Minister of Rites have arrived."
"please."
Following closely behind, Qiongfang also arrived with Gu Yan.
Shen Xu dusted off his sleeves, leaving a bloody handprint on the coffee table.
His voice was devoid of any emotion: "Come here."
Ji Shi was beautiful, and Gu Yan resembled her greatly, with rosy lips and white teeth, and an exceptionally handsome appearance. Unfortunately, he now looked like a jade boy with a gloomy face, full of hatred. Gu Zhizhuo was unwilling to talk to him any further, and she said to Shen Xu, "Chief Eunuch, this is Gu Yan. You may take him away."
Gu Yan didn't look at Shen Xu, but stared intently at Gu Zhizhuo, questioning, "Gu Zhizhuo, why don't you want me anymore!"
He continued shouting in a shrill voice, "Why are you driving me away?"
"Because you don't have the surname Gu." Gu Zhizhu interrupted him, rubbing her ears, and said calmly, "You're not my brother, so why should I treat you like an older sister?"
"I'm not leaving!" Gu Yan said fiercely. "My uncle the emperor said that I will inherit the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. I am the Duke, and you are the ones who should leave. It's you! After you die, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will be mine. My uncle the emperor likes us the most."
"Get out!"
He yelled and lunged at her like a madman.
Gu Zhizhuo turned to the side, and Gu Yan stumbled and fell onto the coffee table, the counting sticks clattering to the floor.
Shen Xu glanced at him menacingly, then suddenly stood up and grabbed his neck with one hand.
"Mmm."
Gu Yan was terrified, his face turning as pale as paper.
Gu Yan shook her head with difficulty, tears streaming down her face, trying to pull his hand away.
"Ugh... Sister, sister... help."
"Ouch! Chief Supervisor Shen, let him go!"
Prince Li rushed in, his face pale with fright, exclaiming, "Don't be impulsive...don't be impulsive!"
"Let him go!"
Shen Xu released his grip, and Gu Yan fell to the ground, panting heavily and coughing. Terrified, he scrambled backward.
Shen Xu flicked his sleeve and walked out without looking back.
"Meow."
Shen Mao hurriedly waved and followed, running even faster than Sheng Jiang.
Gu Zhizhu bent down to pick up the counting rods on the ground.
Huh...
etc.
Her fingers paused, and the counting rods that fell to the ground formed a hexagram of Thunder over Water.
From Shui Lei Tun to Lei Shui Jie.
"Hey, girl, look, is Gu Yan alright?" Prince Li helped Gu Yan up, patted his back, and then called out to Gu Zhizhuo to ask. Even if he disliked Gu Yan, he wouldn't stand idly by.
Gu Zhizhu ignored him and muttered to himself, "The hexagrams are unacceptable, and Heaven's will is against it."
"Heaven's will is against it?"
At that moment, as if struck by a sudden enlightenment, Gu Zhizhuo grabbed the counting rods on the ground and quickly chased after them.
"Girl, girl! Where are you going?"
Gu Zhizhuo lifted her skirt, stepped out of the threshold, and called out, "Wait!"
She picked up a counting rod and threw it at him.
Sheng Jiang was so frightened that he even forgot to rush over and grab the counting rods.
*Smack*
The counting rod hit him on the back of the head.
Shen Xu paused, and when she turned around, her red lips were slightly raised as if she were smiling, but her raised eyebrows and eyes held a madness, and the ruthless aura surrounding her sent chills down one's spine.
He bent down and picked up the counting rod.
With a click, the counting rod broke in two between his fingers. He didn't say anything, but this one action alone conveyed the message: if you don't speak properly, you'll die.
Ugh, what a terrible temper.
She strode forward and lowered her voice, saying, "Master, go and arrest that Taoist priest named Changfeng at the Prince of Jin's residence."
"Whether it's falsely conveying imperial edicts or fabricating charges."
"Arrest him."
A note from the author:
Note 1: "Tongxuan Fu"
Note 2: The Book of Changes
*
The ancient Nine Provinces consisted of three to five provinces, dozens of cities, hundreds of counties, and thousands of villages. In ancient times, a single province had a population of tens of millions.
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