"To my shame, my father was very frugal."
Jiang He was calmly trying to smooth things over for the old Marquis, but he stopped in his tracks after hearing Gu Lin's laughter. Why was this Emperor Zhaoyuan acting so arrogantly?
She was no longer the aloof person she was yesterday.
"I see." Despite the mask covering his face, Gu Lin composed himself. As he walked past the old tree at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, his gaze was fixed on the swing beneath it.
Seeing this, Jiang He did not respond. He did not need to tell Emperor Zhaoyuan about A Yu's private affairs.
“In previous years, Da Ning never even sent a birthday gift to His Majesty. I don’t know why you have come to Da Qing in person this year.” Jiang He said with a smile, trying to probe. “As you can probably tell, Da Qing has not taken any precautions this time.”
In fact, Jiang He knew this in his heart as well.
If Gu Lin really wanted to find out the truth, Da Qing couldn't stop him.
"I disdain such despicable acts. Whether or not we take precautions is of no use to me." Gu Lin's lips curled slightly. "The territory I desire will be conquered."
Upon hearing this, Jiang He's heart skipped a beat. So, they just went ahead and attacked...?
When Gu Qingyan and his companions arrived at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, they did not see the scene of chatting and laughing that they had imagined. Instead, they found themselves locked in a fierce confrontation on the training ground.
With each punch and strike, Gu Lin and Jiang He moved so fast that they were almost invisible. Gu Lin still seemed to be in complete control, while beads of sweat were already forming on Jiang He's forehead.
"Can you fight this spectacularly without using internal energy?"
Gu Qingfeng was stunned, his hands involuntarily resting on his limp knees. He knew he would never have the chance to develop such skill again in his life...
After enduring for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jiang He was knocked to the ground by a gust of palm wind and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Emperor Zhaoyuan's martial arts are superb; I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."
Jiang He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shakily got up. He hadn't felt so exhilarated using his moves in a long time.
Gu Lin simply nodded. He had given his all today, and holding back in his fight with Jiang He would have been disrespectful to the latter.
Jiang He then noticed Gu Qingyan and the others, and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.
"I also wish to exchange a few blows with Emperor Zhaoyuan."
Gu Qingling spoke, and Gu Lin turned to look at her. Instantly, Gu Qingling felt a little unsteady on her feet. Even Jiang He glanced at Gu Lin: How could Emperor Zhaoyuan's hostility towards Gu Qingling be so obvious?
"Are you the Crown Prince of Daqing?"
Gu Lin slowly walked up to Gu Qingling, who clenched her fists to steady herself.
"I am the Crown Prince of Daqing."
Gu Lin reached out and pressed down on Gu Qingling's shoulder. "I have heard of you before."
I knew long ago that Ayu had suffered a lot for you, but you still acted like an ungrateful wretch, Gu Qingling. Of all the people who wronged Ayu, you are the most despicable.
"Come!"
It wasn't until he truly faced Gu Lin in the training ground that Gu Qingling realized what the aura of a monarch was. If Gu Qingyan and Jiang He hadn't been watching from the sidelines, he would have definitely backed down.
Before taking action, Gu Lin glanced at Gu Qingyan.
The next second, Gu Qingling crashed heavily to the ground like a rag doll. The moment she hit the ground, she felt as if her internal organs had shifted.
"Get up and keep fighting."
Gu Lin deliberately chose places where outsiders couldn't see, tirelessly adding to Gu Qingling's internal injuries. As long as Gu Qingling didn't admit defeat, Gu Lin would continue to unilaterally abuse her.
"I...I'm dying."
Gu Qingling's face was covered in bruises from the fall, but he knew that his internal injuries would probably take several months to fully heal. Even now, breathing was painful.
"Emperor Zhaoyuan," Jiang He said, seeing that things were not going to develop any further, "His Highness the Crown Prince is young, and it is already his limit that he can withstand a few moves from you."
"I thought the Crown Prince was exceptionally gifted, which is why he challenged me to a contest."
Gu Lin's contemptuous look angered Gu Qingling. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, Gu Qingling quickly attacked Gu Lin's eyes with both hands. The next second, Gu Qingling's scream rang out.
"My lonely hand... ah..."
Gu Qingling's right hand hung down in an extremely twisted position, clearly having been forcibly broken.
"I hate treacherous villains the most in my life." Gu Lin looked down at Gu Qingling lying on the ground. Gu Qingling was in pain and tears streamed down her face. "Tell the Emperor of Daqing what happened just now and ask him to give me an explanation."
Throughout the entire process, Gu Qingyan's eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Gu Lin. He longed to become such a powerful person.
He can protect his mother.
"Second Prince."
Gu Lin looked at Gu Qingfeng, who was sitting in a wheelchair, and said, "Tell the Emperor of Daqing everything about what happened today."
He only wanted to see Jiang He today, but unexpectedly, a lamb was delivered to his door.
Then he would first vent his anger on behalf of A-Yu.
......
"What? Emperor Zhaoyuan broke Ling'er's hand?" Gu Heng jumped up from the dragon throne in anger. "Marquis Dingyuan, you were just watching, why didn't you stop him?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang He knelt on the ground. Gu Qingling had voluntarily entered the training ground, which had a rule that the training could not stop until one side admitted defeat. How could he, as a martial artist, break the rule?
What's more, he was happy to see Gu Qingling get a good beating.
"This is outrageous! Bullying my son on my territory!" Gu Heng was like a mouse whose tail had been stepped on, not even considering whose fault it was. "Cen Hai, how is the Crown Prince doing?"
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician says that His Highness the Crown Prince's hand needs at least three months to heal."
Gu Heng felt as if Gu Lin had trampled his dignity into the ground, and he lost all reason. He pointed at Jiang He's nose and angrily cursed, "You are the Marquis of Dingyuan, yet you allow the King of Daning to bully the Crown Prince of Daqing. What are your intentions?"
"Your Majesty, my loyalty is as clear as day." Jiang He's eyes narrowed sharply. His family, the Marquis of Dingyuan, had sacrificed their lives for the Great Qing for generations, and in the end, his emperor viewed him in this way.
All those years of unwavering loyalty are just a joke.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince hadn’t tried to ambush and blind Emperor Zhaoyuan, Emperor Zhaoyuan wouldn’t have broken the Crown Prince’s hand.” Jiang He looked up at Gu Heng. “If His Highness the Crown Prince had actually succeeded, had His Majesty considered that the innocent people of Daqing would have been dragged into the war again?”
"How dare you! This is my Marquis of Dingyuan! Look at this, this is my Marquis of Dingyuan!"
Gu Heng paced back and forth angrily. "Guards! The Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion is colluding with Da Ning. Imprison the Marquis of Dingyuan in the Heavenly Prison."
"emperor......"
Cen Hai's eyes widened in disbelief. Had the Emperor lost his mind...?
Gu Heng's mind was filled with Consort Yi's words, "This concubine thinks that Emperor Zhaoyuan seems to be very interested in the Empress," and his gaze toward Jiang He was full of resentment.
"Does my word no longer carry any weight? A bunch of useless idiots!"
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