I Rely On Beauty To Stabilize The Country or Peerless Beauty

by Usui Takumii

not mine, foxaholic, novelhall, etranslations space and wuxia world. Beware Bl. Total: 164 Chapters and 16 Extras. Waiting for the translator to update.

6. 41 to 50

Chapter 041 - His Majesty asks 'do you believe in Us?'

Our… eyes are burning.

Gu Yuanbai was about to gouge out his own eyes, but then he suddenly spotted a scar on Xue Yuan's waist. It was a scar from a terrible knife wound, and even now it looked so severe that it was obvious it had been life threatening.

"How did it end up like that?" Gu Yuanbai frowned, wondering what kind of encounter could cause the novel's protagonist to suffer such a grievous injury.

"I was born like this." Xue Yuan frowned. "I'm a rough man, not as refined as Your Highness."

Gu Yuanbai's eyebrow twitched. "I'm talking about that scar on your waist!"

Xue Yuan's expression suddenly closed off, and he pulled up his pants in silence, turning around to head out and pick up firewood with the rest of the guards.

Gu Yuanbai said sternly, "Get back here!"

Xue Yuan paused for a moment before turning around to face Gu Yuanbai again.

His eyebrows were pressed together, his eyes were dark, as if covered by a black mist, and anyone would've been able to tell that he was in a very bad mood at that moment.

He looked like a barrel of oil that was about to explode, leaning away from Gu Yuanbai in fear of hurting the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai suppressed the lecture that was about to spill out of his mouth. He huffed and asked, "Aren't you going to treat Us?"

Xue Yuan's expression changed a few times, and finally he stepped in closer and muttered, "Your Majesty, where were you injured?"

Previously, he had been begging Gu Yuanbai to let him take a look, but when he mentioned the scar on his waist, the mad dog stopped his requests completely.

Gu Yuanbai said unhappily, "Under the left calf."

Xue Yuan looked down and placed one knee on the ground, lifting Gu Yuanbai's left leg up. The suit had been tied tight, and he had to loosen the ties one by one before rolling the trouser's leg up.

Gu Yuanbai was wearing a broad red coat today. If he got injured and started bleeding, it'd be hard to tell from the outside. Gu Yuanbai just felt a bit of pain, and, when Xue Yuan exposed his left leg, he saw that there was actually a hole on the pants.

It had probably been caused by a branch or something similar tearing it without him noticing. When Xue Yuan saw the wound, his face sank and his touch became softer. He took out the medicine bottle that he hadn't finished using up and, after cleaning the wound, he applied the medicine on Gu Yuanbai.

The hand applying the medicine took it very seriously, without shaking at all. He feared that Gu Yuanbai would pull his leg back if it hurt, and he took his other hand to grasp Gu Yuanbai's ankle firmly.

His palms were as hot as fire.

Gu Yuanbai glanced at the wound casually. "Xue Jiuyao, We asked you something and you just turn around and walk away?"

Xue Yuan replied, "Your Highness, Lord Zhang and the others have returned."

Gu Yuanbai looked up and realized they had returned, and, in the blink of an eye, Xue Yuan had stepped back to prepare himself to light up the wood that had been soaked by the rain.

After a while, the captain of the guard took a wet handkerchief and walked over, explaining in a warm voice, "Your Majesty, young master Xue said that, once this wet wood is ignited, it'll release a lot of smoke. Covering the mouth and nose would be a good idea."

Gu Yuanbai took the wet handkerchief and glanced at Xue Yuan's back. The guard captain followed his gaze. Even if he didn't like Xue Yuan, the man, who was loyal and reliable, still said, "Young master Xue knows a lot."

Gu Yuanbai covered his mouth and nose with the handkerchief and finally said, "You should learn more good things from him."

Zhang Xu's face twisted, and he almost wanted to say 'Does Xue have anything else good in him?'. But since the one saying that was the Emperor, he just thought that maybe he had been prejudiced against Xue Yuan and ignored his good points, so he nodded and said, "I will do as you say, Your Majesty."

Gu Yuanbai nodded slightly.

After the fire was ignited, the smoke in the cave slowly dissipated.

Gu Yuanbai was sitting by the fire, his face lit up by the flames. Xue Yuan was being extremely quiet, just fiddling with the fire on the side.

Gu Yuanbai said, "Guard Xue, We want to ask you a few questions."

Xue Yuan glanced at him. The warm light illuminated the young Emperor's face, making it go a bit red and looking tender as tofu. He softened his voice unconsciously. "What does Your Majesty want to know?"

Gu Yuanbai said, "About the military's needs, We want to ask about your army's soldiers and cavalry, the new and old recruits, and about the wounded veterans."

Naturally, Gu Yuanbai already knew about these issues, but there could be things to be gained from asking someone else for their point of view.

Xue Yuanbai was very familiar with these matters, and he told him about all of it. Who was alright, who felt scornful, and some ideas that matched with what Gu Yuanbai already had in mind.

Gu Yuanbai raised his eyebrows and looked at him with a smile. After he finished talking about the friction between the people in charge of distribution of military resources and new and veteran soldiers, Gu Yuanbai asked the question he most wanted to know. "What about the wounded veterans?"

Xue Yuan said with a smile, "Your Majesty, they're miserable. There's no need to use medicine on those with light injuries, and there's no need to use medicine on those with severe injuries. Instead, you can just wait for their deaths. As for those that have their legs broken or their hands amputated, since they cannot go to battle nor hold a sword or spear, there's no need to heal them up."

Xue Yuan's expression was indifferent, and he glanced at the guards that were listening to him with a smile full of teeth. "It's a pretty good way to save up on medicine, isn't it?"

The guards' had complex expressions. They could tell that Xue Yuan's words were full of irony.

But a scene like that, no matter how it was told, wouldn't have the same impact as seeing it in person. However, because Xue Yuan had personally experienced such a battlefield, when he spoke he carried a rather convincing aura.

Gu Yuanbai asked again, "What caused the scar on your waist?"

Xue Yuan slowly turned to look at him, his lips curled into a smile. "Your Majesty, do you really want to know?"

His expression looked off, as if a large beast was about to rise up violently.

Gu Yuanbai nodded.

Xue Yuan suddenly pushed Gu Yuanbai to the ground like a vicious wolf. He put his hands on the sides of Gu Yuanbai's head, his eyes looking red, and his whole body loomed, a black shadow over Gu Yuanbai. "Your Majesty, have you ever heard of two-legged sheep?"1

"Yoru Majesty!" The guards got up quickly, drew their swords, pointing them at Xue Yuan, and surrounded the two of them. "Xue Yuan, let go of the Emperor!"

The mad dog had obviously gone mad, and he looked terrible, but even though the push was obviously heavy, Gu Yuanbai didn't even feel any pain.

Xue Yuan may not have even noticed himself, but his actions when he pushed Gu Yuanbai down on the ground were very restrained.

Gu Yuanbai asked, "What is a two-legged sheep?"

"On the battlefield, the losing side will be looted and plundered." Xue Yuan smiled grimly. "When there's no good to take, they treat the women as beasts, as food, as military prostitutes; they bring them around as their pay. They call them two-legged sheep. Those barbarians also split those women into three, six or nine types, and cook them differently, Your Majesty. The beautiful ones would be placed in a pot and cooked slowly over a small fire. That's their preferential treatment for beautiful women."

A blue vein on Xue Yuan's neck bulged in anger, and he pressed on. "We, the ones guarding the border, wanted to kill those nomads, but, no matter how many times we told the Imperial court, we wouldn't be allowed to! We were told to drive them away, but how many times can we simply drive them away? They won't learn the lesson if we don't kill them! We don't get paid, the court won't send us goods, and our fucking weapons are blunt! We need to recruit new soldiers, from where are we supposed to get them?!"

Xue Yuan sneered and continued. "That day, I saw the nomads coming back again, so we headed in to guard the population's homes ahead of time. The people were scared. They were scared, seeing us standing at the border every day without going to battle. They thought we were working with the nomads. After we showed in front of their doors, they thought that we were going to snatch their daughters away to eat them. An old woman with a head full of white hair rushed out of a house holding a kitchen knife, and a soldier raised his sword and cut her up without thinking.

"This confirmed to them that our battalion were all gangsters." Xue Yuan lowered his head, his hot breath falling on Gu Yuanbai's face. "They revolted, to either kill us or die. Our army suppressed the riot and they didn't want to kill them, but they desperately tried to kill us. My2 injury was caused by a little boy with a knife."

There was silence in the cave, and the only thing that could be heard was Xue Yuan's heavy breathing.

"But thanks to that riot," Xue Yuan said, suddenly grinning, "we managed to stay alive, by stealing the food from those that now had died."

Some of the guards heard this and furiously said, "How could you—"

Xue Yuan turned his head and glanced at them harshly, and the speakers could just shut their mouth.

"Your Majesty has asked me so many questions. Now this official wants to ask Your Majesty one thing." Xue Yuan looked down at Gu Yuanbai, staring directly at the delicate young Emperor, completely different from him, and stretched out a hand to lift the Emperor's chin. He needed to control his hands' strength, so he began to shake a bit. "Your Majesty, what were you doing at the time?"

The Emperor frowned slightly and said, "Xue Yuan, it hurts."

Xue Yuan's hands shook harshly.

He looked at Gu Yuanbai stiffly and, as if he had received a major blow, his madness vanished completely. He slowly got off the young Emperor, then pulled him up, saying quietly, "Where does it hurt?"

Crazy, Xue Yuan thought, I've gone completely crazy.

Gu Yuanbai just said 'it hurts' and that instantly dispelled the anger and resentment that were flooding Xue Yuan's heart.

The painful memories from just a moment ago disappeared abruptly, and his hatred towards the ruler and the grievances that threatened to eat him alive calmed down once more. Because of that, his renewed anger and cruelty also seemed to have been put out by a sudden splash of cold water.

Gu Yuanbai sat up, his hair dirty with dust from the ground, and the marks of the fingers on his chin were clearly visible. Xue Yuan looked at the fingerprints he had left behind, and the anger in his eyes turned towards himself.

Xue Jiuyao, don't you know how weak he is?

Xue Yuan raised his hand and slapped himself.

He also thought you're finished, Xue Yuan.

You cannot keep holding onto all that hatred and resentment.

Gu Yuanbai calmed down. In fact, it didn't hurt much. Xue Yuan had unconsciously protected him. He said it just to remind Xue Yuan, who seemed to have been going crazy.

He just didn't expect the effect of that sentence to be so good.

It was so good… that it went beyond Gu Yuanbai's expectations.

Gu Yuanbai exhaled and then turned to the side. Just like Xue Yuan had, he also grabbed Xue Yuan's chin and turned his face around so that he could look at him directly.

The flames jumped around, and the other people around them didn't dare say a word. He could hear the other man's breathing, louder than his own.

"Since We are here and We are in charge, those things you speak of will never happen again," Gu Yuanbai declared simply. "Do you believe in Us, official Xue?"

Xue Yuan raised his head and looked at Gu Yuanbai. Before he could reply to him, he heard a strange sound.

It was a thumping sound that seemed to come from inside his own chest.

Footnotes

This is a historical term and there seems to be a good amount of contemporary evidence for the practice, particularly during nomadic invasions in Mainland himself as laozi here.

Chapter 042 - His Majesty warms up in a cave

Xue Yuan actually didn't go crazy again and Gu Yuanbai managed to comfort him easily. Gu Yuanbai was a bit surprised himself.

He warmed himself up for a while, thinking about the things Xue Yuan had told him. It was like a thorn in his heart. And it wasn't just him: the Imperial court's inaction was a deep thorn for all of the border officials.

They needed to fight the nomads, frighten them away, get their territory and capture their people for free labor. However, before fighting, the Great Heng's cavalry needed to be trained first.

In order to train the cavalry, many horses were needed.

The nomads were very strong riders, and cavalry always had a natural advantage over infantry.

The Imperial court didn't have enough cavalry, and the trade routes weren't well developed. At that moment, they couldn't strike the nomads' southern territory, only send men to beat them up and teach them a lesson before the roads were built. The government would escort the commercial roads and provide armed guards. They couldn't deal with all of the troops scattered across the entire grassland, but they could deter them and get them to accept the border trade obediently.

The fire lit up Gu Yuanbai's face. Xue Yuan, next to him, suddenly recovered from his trance and rushed out of the cave.

The rain was still pouring outside.

Gu Yuanbai: "…" Xue Yuan is really crazy.

Xue Yuan, who had been called crazy by the Emperor, got drenched by the rain. He thought that the water should be able to wash away the water in his mind. He wiped his face, feeling that he had sobered up and returned to his senses, and turned back to the cave. He spotted Gu Yuanbai among the crowd at a glance.

Hearing his footsteps, the young Emperor looked up and glanced at him. He was surprised to see how wretched he looked, and then his lips curled up in a smile.

Xue Yuan stared straight at Gu Yuanbai. Something seemed to flash in his eyes, but, before Gu Yuanbai could discern it, Xue Yuan looked away and strode forward.

His clothes were soaked, clinging to his tall, strong body, and he dripped rainwater as he walked. He headed straight to Gu Yuanbai, and Gu Yuanbai looked at him, suppressing his smile. "Official Xue, did you get a head injury?"

The speed of Xue Yuan's heartbeat was bothering him. He looked at Gu Yuanbai's pale lips. "Your Majesty, I think something is wrong with me."

Gu Yuanbai opened his arms and waited. "What is it?"

"My–" heart speeds up when I see you, Xue Yuan thought. "I always want to–" take your pants off.

That didn't sound right.

Xue Yuan glanced at Zhang Xu and thought of asking him to take off his pants. He had just thought about it when his face twisted suddenly, and he almost puked in disgust.

After the nausea passed, Xue Yuan told himself I don't have a problem, I still don't like men.

But then why would I jump around in front of Gu Yuanbai, wanting to take his pants?

How come that now… Gu Yuanbai is all I can think about?

Xue Yuan was confused.

After a while, he leaned down, looming over Gu Yuanbai, and whispered in his ear fervently, "I want to see if you're pink there or not."

He sounded like he was looking for an ultimate answer.

No matter what, Xue Yuan wanted to know whether he'd go back to normal just by looking at it.

Gu Yuanbai was completely confused. "Where?"

Xue Yuan's nostrils flared, and he said frankly, "Your penis."1

The guards who sat around the fire were talking in low voices in groups of twos and threes. Suddenly, they heard a bang from the side. They turned their heads and saw that the Inspector in Chief had been kicked by their Emperor right on his future descendants.

His Majesty had an ugly expression, fixed in a sneer. Xue Yuan was on his knees, bending over in pain, full of a sour and refreshing sensation. The guards looked at Xue Yuan's expression and they all felt his pain. They couldn't help but shudder with a chill.

Gu Yuanbai had a strong foot, but, fortunately, Xue Yuan managed to take a step back just in time to avoid the kick landing with full force. Otherwise, he'd really be lost and end up as the first eunuch of the Xue family.

However, even after avoiding the stronger blow, it still hurt. Xue Yuan curled up in pain. Seeing him like that made Gu Yuanbai finally feel at ease.

He stepped forward. "Heh," he chuckled. "Do you still know pain?"

Xue Yuan was sweating profusely. He raised his head and glanced at Gu Yuanbai, and his heart began to thump again. He stretched out his hand to squeeze Gu Yuanbai's ankle and gasped a breath of cold air painfully. "Your Majesty, don't injure yourself by kicking me."

At the moment when the heavy rain fell in the sky, the officials of the Weather Bureau broke into a cold sweat.

However, at that moment, nobody cared about whether they were sweating or not. All the palace attendants and soldiers were busy, escorting the princes, ministers and officials who were out hunting to take shelter from the rain. And yet, the most important and anxiety-inducing one, His Majesty, hadn't been found.

The Emperor had asked the Weather Bureau to monitor the weather often, because Gu Yuanbai needed to be the backbone during that critical period of anti-corruption measures. If he fell ill, he wouldn't be able to back the anti-corruption officials during his recovery, and they would shrink down and allow the local bullies to take the initiative once more.

And yet, the Weather Bureau wasn't able to predict the rain on even such an important day!

The palace attendants and soldiers were so worried that they were foaming at the mouth, worrying that the Emperor was caught out in the rain and that he wasn't wearing enough clothes. After Prince He was escorted back to the palace, soaked wet, by his guards, he learned that the Emperor had yet to return.

After standing there for a while, he woke up with a jolt and then turned around and strode outside, getting his guards to prepare straw raincoats and lead their horses deep into the rain, to find the unaware Emperor.

The guards tried to persuade him. "My lord, the palace guard has already been sent out to find him. If we join them, we'll just be another drop in the sea."

"Then we'll be a drop in the sea," Prince He said and turned his horse around, the raindrops striking his raincoat and sliding down. "Hurry up."

The guards had no choice but to put on their raincoats and try to keep up. The horses struggled traveling in the heavy rain and skidded several times on the wet ground. Prince He called out over and over, and he finally ran out of patience and shouted, "Gu Lian—"2

Gu Lian was the Emperor's name. The characters in the name Yuanbai meant 'beginning' and 'virtue', which matched the meaning of the character for Lian. When the late Emperor died, the current Emperor had yet to have his coming of age ceremony, and he left those characters for Gu Yuanbai's courtesy name.3

Prince He was used to using Gu Yuanbai's name. He called it out at that moment, and the faces of the guards surrounding him twisted and they stopped him, saying, "My Lord! Don't call out His Majesty's name directly!"

Wiping his face, a trace of bitterness flashed in Prince He's expression, and he murmured, "I actually forgot…"

He was in a trance for a moment, recovered, and continued to shout with his subordinates, "Your Majesty—"

In the cave, the Emperor, who was being so anxiously sought after, was getting warmed up by the fire. And Xue Yuan, who was still smiling despite being kicked, tended to the fire with high spirits. Gu Yuanbai was expressionless, and he had yet to give Xue Yuan a good face.

Xue Yuan was usually not a talkative person, but when he looked at the expressionless young Emperor, his mouth wouldn't stop and he kept smiling, trying to amuse the Emperor to get him to smile.

The front of his body that was facing the fire had been dried by the flames, and the back was still a knotted mess. It'd be hard to say whether he looked handsome or ugly at that time, but he had a talent for amusing people.

"Your Majesty," Xue Yuan said with a smile, "I'll tell you an interesting story."

He chose to tell a story of a scholar that went to the countryside to teach, but he couldn't even pretend to understand cereals. Warriors and scholars were always at odds: the scholars disliked how rough the warriors were, and the warriors disliked the scholars' posturing. Therefore, when Xue Yuan finished telling his story, all the guards had a smile on their mouths, and many flat out laughed.

Gu Yuanbai glanced at Xue Yuan. Even though he still wanted to kick him, he also listened to the story.

At first, it sounded amusing, but after thinking it over he felt horribly helpless.

Some scholars in the Great Heng era had never set their feet on the ground, and they didn't know where the rice in their bowls came from. There were also many scholars that had lived hard lives and devoted themselves to the common people before becoming officials, but then afterwards they became corrupt, making the citizens feel unhappy. They lived eating, drinking and wasting public funds extravagantly. The one Gu Yuanbai remembered the most was Li Shen, the author of "Pity the farmers"; the contrast had shocked his moral worldview back when he was a kid.

He sighed and started worrying about going bald. The road is long, when will it end?

Xue Yuan saw everyone laugh, but the young Emperor sighed. He felt a bit at a loss and, taking the courage he used to lead his troops to war, he said in a deep voice, "If Your Majesty doesn't like this story, I have others."

As soon as he had said that, they heard from the cave someone shouting "Your Majesty!" from the outside. The guard that was near the entrance hurriedly stood up, looked out carefully, and replied, "Your Majesty, it's Prince He, he's brought some people!"

"What are they here for?" Gu Yuanbai looked at the steady rain outside the cave. "It's raining so heavily, even if they find Us, We cannot go back with them."

It wasn't like Gu Yuanbai feared the rain, but, since Gu Yuanbai's health was closely tied with the future of the country, he couldn't afford to take risks.

The guard hesitated. "Should I send Prince He back?"

"Let them come in," Gu Yuanbai said. "They can warm up by the fire, and we'll head back together when the rain stops."

The guard ran to the entrance of the cave and tried his best to call Prince He over, who wasn't too far away. After a while, Prince He and his guards stepped into the cave. They took off their soaked raincoats. Prince He looked up and, seeing that Gu Yuanbai's complexion looked good, he felt relieved.

"What is the Weather Bureau doing?" Prince He frowned, walking over to Gu Yuanbai and sitting down. He stretched out his hands to warm up by the fire. "They didn't manage to predict properly on such an important day. If Your Majesty hadn't been able to find a cave, I fear you'd all have caught a cold."

Gu Yuanbai nodded, agreeing. "They really deserve some punishment."

Prince He couldn't help but smile. He glanced at Gu Yuanbai again and said without thinking, "How long have you been by the fire, Your Majesty? Your face is all red."

"Really?" Gu Yuanbai also felt a little thirsty. He was about to ask Zhang Xu to bring him some water when someone handed him a water canteen at his right. It was Xue Yuan.

Gu Yuanbai took a sip and said with a smile, "Prince He, what's the situation like outside?"

Prince He's expression softened for a moment, seeing Gu Yuanbai speak to him and listen attentively. Then, he suddenly stiffened up, and his tone became strained. "…all the officials are very worried about Your Majesty, and nobody was injured or fell ill."

Gu Yuanbai nodded. "Not bad."

Prince He stared at the fire and fell silent.

His eyes reflected the fire jumping around, and he hurt as much as if he had been set aflame.

Or perhaps it was due to Gu Yuanbai being by his side, so close to him, that he felt so much pain.

Footnotes

The expression used in the raws would be interpreted more literally as "your babymaker" or smth.顾敛 the lian means , men would have a coming of age ceremony after which they would put their hair up in a crown/hairpin at around 20 years old. This was also tied to getting a courtesy name, which was a proper outside name to be addressed with since the actual personal name was considered a bit too intimate.

Chapter 043 - His Majesty's Inspectors

Fortunately, the cave was big enough to squeeze in twenty or thirty people.

Tian Fusheng, who was waiting for them back at the camp, had been worried that the Emperor might be hungry, so he asked every search group to carry some tightly wrapped snacks with them. Prince He and his guards were very careful, and, by the time they took them out, they were all still intact.

However, Gu Yuanbai wasn't hungry, and he told the guards to share the snacks between themselves.

By coincidence, when the guards ran out of snacks, the rain outside began to decrease, and, within a minute, the sky cleared up, the sun shone on the ground, and the wind and rain stopped.

Gu Yuanbai took the lead and stepped outside. The ground and mud outside stained his boots, and it was a bit slippery. Prince He, next to him, was trying to decide whether to offer his hand to support him, but before he could do so Xue Yuan, standing on his other side, had already extended his hand to hold Gu Yuanbai's. He placed his other hand on his waist, and he said with a smile, "Please be careful when walking, Your Majesty."

Gu Yuanbai took very steady steps, and the hem of his hunting clothes fell on the ground, getting splashed with mud with every step.

Xue Yuan glared at these mud stains and he leaned down to lift up the back of Gu Yuanbai's robe. Gu Yuanbai looked down, glanced at him and looked away. He wasn't willing to give him a second glance or even give Xue Yuan a smile.

Still angry.

The horses were led outside and the fur wet from the rain was wiped with a clean robe. Gu Yuanbai turned around on his horse and glanced at Xue Yuan, who stood aside. He looked down at him specifically, the corners of his mouth turning up, and he whispered in a cold tone, "Beast."

The word was said so quietly that only Xue Yuan heard it.

Xue Yuan raised his head suddenly and his eyes met the Emperor's condescending gaze.

Gu Yuanbai smiled nastily, raising the reins, and the horse turned around obediently, its hooves splashing Xue Yuan with muddy water. Xue Yuan closed his eyes, sighed, and looked down at his robe. The thing that had been scolded by the Emperor for being a 'beast' had already slightly raised its head.

"…" Xue Yuan muttered to himself in a low voice, "How can you go up from being scolded?"

The hunting grounds were wet and slippery from the rain, and hunting wasn't possible, but the Emperor's activities were not yet finished.

The camp had already been cleared out, and the hunted prey that was suitable for roasting was all placed together. Among them, the bear that Xue Yuan had killed was extremely noticeable, and everyone that came and went would take a look at it.

Gu Yuanbai granted Xue Yuan the paw that he had cut off from the bear to take it back to Xue Mansion. Next, rewards should be given out to comfort and placate everyone. The cooks in the dining area in the Imperial palace were busy taking care of the ingredients, the smell floating their way and reaching their noses.

Gu Yuanbai washed his own hands and had the servants set up a simple barbecue. A charcoal fire was lit and a group of officials followed the Emperor enthusiastically to learn to roast meats.

"Our officials," Gu Yuanbai said with a faint smile, "you've been working hard these days, so take a good rest. After you return, you'll be busy once more."

The courtiers all remained humble and expressed that it was no trouble to share His Majesty's worries.

Gu Yuanbai smiled. The Imperial cook happened to be going to take the rice to wash it. Gu Yuanbai called him over, grabbed a handful of rice, and sighed. "Good rice from a good field. But how many people can eat rice this good in the world?"

Hearing his words, the courtiers also sighed and echoed his words quietly, mulling over what the Emperor had meant by themselves, as a reminder of the anti-corruption measures.

Gu Yuanbai roasted a skewer of meat personally and had a good time with the officials, finally returning back to the capital with his huge army before the sky went dark.

Xue Yuan took the bear's paw and returned to Xue Mansion. After training swordsmanship with General Xue for a while, he put it aside and sat down in a daze.

General Xue asked, "What are you thinking, son?"

""

Xue Yuan frowned. "I think there's something wrong with me."

"What's wrong?"

Thinking about Gu Yuanbai all the time, that's what is wrong.

From the hunting grounds all the way back to the mansion, except for the time when he had been practicing the sword and didn't think of him, Gu Yuanbai was once more occupying his thoughts.

Thinking of his angry expression, of his smile, and of wanting to take his pants off.

Xue Yuan said, "I'm always thinking about the Emperor."

General Xue was stunned, and then laughed. "Hahaha, that is a heart full of loyalty to the Emperor! As a member of His Majesty's court, it's natural to think of him all the time."

Loyalty? Xue Yuan sneered.

"When I think of him my heart jumps." Xue Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Is that a heart full of loyalty?"

General Xue nodded in affirmation and he patted Xue Yuan's shoulder with satisfaction. "That's exactly it, an official that wants to achieve great merit for the Emperor."

Xue Yuan was silent.

Can he still have such a thing?

""

After the Spring Hunt, the court's officials started to inspect their families' properties closely. In particular, the officials whose families were not in the capital sent them one strongly worded letter after another, asking them to hurry up and get rid of any sort of embezzlement or corruption.

Hiding their fields, not declaring tenants, they shouldn't lose sight of the big picture!

After a few days like that, at the morning court, Gu Yuanbai, dressed in a complex, heavy Imperial robe, solemnly gave the order to launch a large-scale anti-corruption operation across the country.

On that day, the Imperial court, the Supervision Office, and the newly formed Eastern Feather Guard, which had been thoroughly vetoed by the Emperor, got to work.

Nobody in the country would know that there'd be two different waves of anti-corruption investigations. What Gu Yuanbai wanted was one in the light and one in the dark, to find out all the big bastards that were deluded enough to try to trick the Imperial court!

Flying fast, officials from the Imperial court, guarded by elite soldiers of the Eastern Feather Guard, rushed towards the nearest granary in the capital.

Among those officials, besides some older officials that had been there in the past, the new personnel had all been specially trained by the Supervision Office, moving from the dark to the light, and today the Imperial court was completely under the Emperor's control.

Kong Yilin and Qin Sheng, who had just entered the Eastern Feather Guard, were also among them.

Kong Yilin knew that this task was a test of his skill from the Emperor, so he composed himself and decided that he had to achieve outstanding success. Leading the way was the Investigating Censor, who was also loyal to the Emperor. The censor rolled up in front of the granary and sent away his horse, ignoring the sweaty officials that wanted to step forward out of politeness, and directly sent someone to open the door of the granary.

The yield per hectare and the grain harvested in the various farms were recorded in the books, and the books had been handed over to the Imperial court and the Supervision Office by the Ministry of Finance. The Investigation Censor looked at the report in his hand and said solemnly, "Start."

He didn't listen to the officials at all, and he didn't look at the data provided by them. Standing upright in front of the granary, he kept recording data as his subordinates reported it.

"Three hundred and sixty-one bags of old rice and one hundred and fifty-six bags of new rice."

"This official performed a random search in twenty bags of the aged rice, and of them seven bags were mixed with insects and sand."

The loud, steady voices came from all over the granary, and the hands of the officials waiting for the report started to get sweatier and sweatier and their legs weaker and weaker.

The intensity of this anti-corruption operation is terrifying!

They're determined to turn over the entire granary!

At the same time, starting from the capital, the Imperial court officials explored all around. As they got ready to receive the first batch of anti-corruption officials, everyone started sweating profusely.

No one had thought the Supervision Office would go to such great lengths.

If there was a problem in a granary, the officials involved would be re-examined by the Imperial court. And, once signs of corruption were found, it wouldn't be nice.

Everything was done in accordance to the law, determined by the sums of money embezzled. And if the locals said that an official had gone beyond embezzlement, then it'd be a big deal and there'd be no escape.

The Imperial court's anti-corruption activities were energic, and when the news reached the local level, officials from all over the country tensed up. The corrupt officials panicked, planning for prison, secretly returning the goods that they had taken, and dumped their savings to buy the stuff they had sold to get it back. Some of them actually didn't have enough money, so they could only grit their teeth and take the money from their families to make up for it, and then make plans to exchange them for money after dealing with the inspections.

Those that weren't on the loop started rejoicing. Upright officials were even more concerned with the corrupt officials than the Emperor, and some took the initiative to arrest the corrupt officials and send them to the Emperor for processing.

They rubbed their palms together, thinking that they could get rid of the corrupt officials and even get some merit in the eyes of the capital.

The capital and the officials of the capital were the center of political power in all of the Great Heng Dynasty.

In some people's eyes, this opportunity might or might not be an opportunity to achieve a high position.

Sun Xiaoshan was a minor official of the Supervision Office.

He had been born in a heavy snow storm, and his parents abandoned him under the roots of an old tree. After someone picked him up, he survived by scavenging food from underneath people like a dog.

The wealthy family beat him and scolded him at every turn, and when he couldn't stand the pain, Sun Xiaoshan would rush to lick their shoes so that they'd laugh and put their feet down to have him lick them clean.

That was the least painful part. If Sun Xiaoshan was able to lick them clean, he might still get a bowl of rice instead of food for pigs. The rice was so fragrant that he drooled just thinking about it, so he would lick even harder.

The rich people would call him a beast, saying that he was worse than pigs or dogs. Sun Xiaoshan envied those pigs, because they could eat a lot of meals before being slaughtered without having to lick shoes or be beaten. Such a good life, Sun Xiaoshan was jealous. His childhood dream had been to be a pig.

Just like that, he survived year after year. Sun Xiaoshan grew up, and every time a bowl of watery soup didn't fill him up, he got so hungry that he would bite himself in the middle of the night. Sometimes he'd break skin and taste some blood, and he was disgusted and eager. He wished he could eat himself, but he was afraid of pain. He was so hungry he even swallowed mouthfuls of soil, and his stomach cramped just from smelling rice.

After that, the wealthy family had a guest and they had Sun Xiaoshan lick his shoes. Sun Xiaoshan thought he brought food, so he rushed to make the guest happy. The guest kicked Sun Xiaoshan almost to death, saying in disgust, "So repulsive."

Afterwards, the repulsive Sun Xiaoshan was thrown to a mass grave wrapped in a straw mat during a snowy day.

Sun Xiaoshan was hungry and cold, and when he finally managed to get out of the straw mat, he thought that he was really going to die there.

Death would also be a relief, he thought. What's the point of living such a desperate life while starving?

However, on that day with the heavy snow, Sun Xiaoshan was brought back by officials from the Supervision Office.

Sun Xiaoshan first thought that it was another place where he could lick shoes, but the people from the Supervision Office gave the scrawny boy warm clothes, and the day when he was brought back, he was given a fragrant, thick white porridge full of rice.

The porridge had pickles and crunchy radish, and it tasted delicious. It was the first meal that made him feel full. Sun Xiaoshan almost swallowed his own tongue from eating it.

He was crying as he ate, and his tears fell on the bowl of porridge.

The person that gave him the food smiled and said, "Eat slowly, there's still a big pot left. It's such a shame you only get to eat porridge today. Wait for a few days and we'll have a lot of fish and meat!"

"A lot of fish and meat?" Sun Xiaosan listened in a daze. "Can I eat too?"

The people from the Supervision Office laughed happily. "If you can't eat, who'd be eating? In two days you'll get to enjoy it."

When they were taken to a place to sleep and took a bath, Sun Xiaoshan was at the back, and he asked eagerly, "I can lick shoes, do you need me to lick your shoes?"

The official he asked it to was taken aback, and then he patted Sun Xiaoshan's head awkwardly. Sun Xiaoshan would remember the warmth of his palm.

"Don't worry. With His Majesty around, nobody would dare make you lick shoes."

Sun Xiaoshan felt scared. He knew that he didn't have any skills. What qualifications did he have to be able to have a good meal?

But they really ate.

After many, many filling meals, he saw a big bowl of meat. The meat was placed in front of him. When Sun Xiaoshan saw the meat for the first time, his eyes went red.

It was really the best meat in the world. Sun Xiaoshan took a dozen bits for every piece of meat, and he felt that he was tainting it by eating it. He felt bad for the meat, but he couldn't resist the craving and, bite after bite, he ate it.

That day, he ate meat until he was full, and, when he got up the next day, Sun Xiaoshan had another full meal.

It was a life he couldn't dare think of before entering the Supervision Office.

When Sun Xiaoshan began to learn some letters and various skills later on, during the first class, the Supervision Office senior spoke to him.

Standing by the window and surrounded by the afterglow of the setting sun, the senior said, "There's always some people in this world that treat our citizens poorly and won't let them eat. His Majesty is the only one who is good to us. He wants to protect everyone so that they all can eat and wear warm clothes.

"But there are always some that want to mess with His Majesty's rule and not let the citizens live well."

Sun Xiaoshan took these words very seriously.

The loyalty to the Emperor of the officials in the Supervision Office was beyond anything outsiders could imagine.

The Supervision Office had been established early and it had been short on people. Therefore, everyone worked hard, trying to become suitable and work hard to do what the Emperor ordered.

Sun Xiaoshan studied desperately because he wanted to pay His Majesty back. When he completed his studies and started to work for the Emperor, he saw many that wanted to damage His Majesty's rule.

The corrupt officials were the biggest among them.

The horses crossed the Lizhou border, and one of the elite soldiers behind him said, "Official Sun, we're here."

Sun Xiaoshan stopped thinking about his memories and he glanced with pity at the corpse-like farmers walking on the sides of the road. He said, "Let's hurry up and find out why the peasants went to the mountains to become bandits."

See, there's always people trying to corrupt His Majesty's rule when His Majesty is trying to govern the lands.

All of these Great Heng citizens are living enslaved by corrupt officials.

Under His Majesty's rule, they could've eaten enough rice and meat, but that possibility was completely destroyed by those parasites.

In the Supervision Office, everyone's goal was to get rid of those parasites that damaged His Majesty.

Nobody could stop the Emperor from improving the Great Heng.

Chapter 044 - His Majesty sends someone to tell the dispute between Niu and Gao

After the anti-corruption campaign was launched, the Supervision Office's personnel reported the situation in Lizhou to Gu Yuanbai first.

Once he read about it, Gu Yuanbai was furious.

The governor of Lizhou executed a corrupt official that year. It was said that the official was an outlaw who had stolen girls and taken bribes. The governor of Lizhou sent him to prison without investigating the matter. After the case was examined by the Ministry of Justice some issues were discovered in it and the governor was asked to judge the case again, but the governor insisted on his initial decision and beheaded the official directly.

Officials from the Supervision Office discovered that, although the official that had been executed was guilty of some embezzlement, it wasn't worth the death penalty, and they hadn't commited crimes or stolen civillian girls; it was completely false. With the situation being so, then the governor could simply be accused of having misjudged the case and not knowing how to tell right and wrong apart. However, the men from the Supervision Office found something interesting after investigating.

The official that had been erroneously sentenced to death turned out to be a member of the 'Shuangcheng School' in the capital.

And after careful investigation, officials from the Supervision Office discovered that the governor was also a member of the same Shuangcheng School.

Forming factions for personal gain, the greatest taboo before the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai looked at the letter sent back by the Supervision Office. The Emperor's anger caused everyone in the hall to kneel to the ground trembling. He sneered, "Alright, very good."

He had only just cleared out the late Emperor's court, and the factions among the officials didn't dare to split. So they started establishing factions within a school of thought?

Gu Yuanbai put the letter on the table. Still burning with anger, he slapped the table again and said coldly, "Summon the Head Instructor of the National Academy."

At the end of morning court the following day, before the officials could leave, they were led to the National Academy by the Emperor, supposedly in order to inspect the scholars.

The scholars at the National Academy read out loud, their voices crisp and pleasant to the ear. The Head Instructor and lecturers were already waiting before the building to welcome the Emperor.

The group of officials followed the Emperor with a smile, thinking that it was just a whim of His Majesty to go see the great talents at the National Academy.

After the students finished reciting, the officials thought it was over. Unexpectedly, the lecturer invited them into the school with a serious expression.

Several seats were placed inside the academy's hall. The officials exchanged a look, and the Head Instructor stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, officials, please sit down."

The Minister of Industry looked at the front of the room. "Your Highness, please sit."

Gu Yuanbai walked to the back and said, "We will sit at the end."

"How can this be?" The Minister of Industry said in a panic. "How can Your Majesty sit behind us?"

But Gu Yuanbai had already sat down with an indifferent expression. "Sit down."

Everyone sat down, confused.

Normally, high ranking officials sat at the front. Since the Emperor was now sitting at the back, they also sat towards the back.

After all the officials were seated, the instructor spoke, and his first words caused the hearts of all the officials in the room to jump. "I would like to tell you all about the Niu Gao dispute during the late Emperor's reign."

The Niu Gao dispute had been a chaotic conflict between factions back when the late Emperor was still alive. It was a bloody political battle between Niu, one of the most important ministers in the court, and another faction headed by Gao.

The late Emperor had been a Buddhist with a kind heart, a soft and benevolent ruler that was easy to persuade. Back at the time, the conflict between Niu and Gao had become turbulent, and the Emperor only punished them to be struck with a board thirty times to get them to learn restraint. Seeing how weak the Emperor's punishment was, the two factions competed arrogantly for court status and power, relying on the idea that 'you can't punish everyone'.

It wasn't until the current Emperor was born that the late Emperor decided to clear out the factions for the sake of his own son. The members of the Niu and Gao factions, which had been messing with the government for the last 8 or 9 years, were dismissed one after the other.

The incident had also become something that nobody dared to bring up, a topic that was unmentionable.

And now, the Head Instructor of the National Academy was talking about it right in front of the officials of the court and His Majesty.

Officials with good political instincts had already noticed how unusual the situation was. The closer they were to the Emperor, the straighter they sat, and they would listen to every word intently.

"Establishing factions for private gain is a vice that has existed in every dynasty," said the Head Instructor in a loud voice. "The dispute between Gao and Niu during the late Emperor's reign was just one among many. Even though the factions were headed by important court ministers, the battlefield extended beyond the capital, to the local provinces…"

Some people had already started to sweat and they lowered their heads slightly, not daring to listen any more.

It was then when the Emperor's voice came from the back of the room, saying in an indifferent tone, "Raise your heads and listen carefully."

So the courtiers had to raise their heads, not daring to miss a word. And, as they listened on, their hearts sank down lower and lower.

The Head Instructor explained about the way the local officials from the two factions would frame and kill each other due to the dispute, and these bloody deeds were revealed in all its gory details, every sentence enough to make their hearts skip a beat.

The Emperor was sitting at the end, and he could see everyone's backs. Some officials glanced outside and they saw the guards guarding the lecture hall, big swords at their hips, and in an instant their backs became soaked with sweat.

After who knows how long, the explanation about the faction dispute finally ended. When the lecturer walked down from the front up to the Emperor, most of the officials sitting in the front breathed a sigh of relief. They felt slightly relieved, and started to think about why the Emperor had brought them to the National Academy to listen to that talk.

The Head Instructor said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have completed the lecture."

Gu Yuanbai was leaning against the carved wood of his seat. He nodded slightly when he heard those words, tapped on the armrest with his fingers with a neutral expression, and said, "Then start it again."

Sweat dripped down the lecturer's forehead, but he didn't dare delay for a moment and he walked once more back to the front.

Over and over again. The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely tense. Gu Yuanbai looked around, and he could see at a glance that some people had already begun to fidget.

Tian Fusheng brought Gu Yuanbai some tea, and Gu Yuanbai drank it slowly, the anger that had been in his heart gradually sinking.

What's the difference between a faction headed by a high-ranking official and one headed by a school or a local official?

They all want to take possession of Our land, rights and resources, use Our means to recruit Our officials, giving away gifts at someone else's expense.

But the Emperor lamented, how can it be easy to be so generous?

When Gu Yuanbai quenched his thirst, he put down the teacup. He motioned Xue Yuan over, who was standing at the back door, with a smile on the corner of his lips. Xue Yuan walked over to Gu Yuanbai and asked quietly, "What does Your Majesty command?"

My heart is pounding, is this really the heart of an official before his ruler?

Xue Yuan glanced at Gu Yuanbai discreetly, wishing to see him smile and not wanting to see him so angry. What should I do if he gets angry? I guess this is really a heart full of loyalty to the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai said, "Go and invite Imperial Teacher Li Bao. He experienced the dispute of Niu and Gao personally back in the day, and he speaks with more emotion."

Xue Yuan stood up, his shadow falling over him, and he accepted the request clearly, turning around to walk out.

Gu Yuanbai was blinded by his shadow, and subconsciously glanced at Xue Yuan's back. At first glance, he found that, unexpectedly, Xue Yuan seemed to be a little taller.

Gu Yuanbai frowned and asked, "How old is Xue Jiuyao this year?"

Tian Fusheng thought for a while and finally said, unsure, "He should be twenty-four."

Is it possible to still grow taller at twenty-four? Gu Yuanbai looked at the stressed out officials before him and thought casually, then, since I'm only twenty-one, how come I don't know how to do it?

The officials before him wished that the Head Instructor would speak faster. After he was finally done speaking, the Head Instructor didn't dare leave, and a young eunuch next to the Emperor walked over to him and said, "Head Instructor, sir, please come down. You have worked hard today and it's hot outside, go back and rest first."

When everyone saw the teacher leave, they all thought it was over and they relaxed suddenly, their faces displaying a calm expression. But nobody spoke before the Emperor, and nobody dared to make a noise.

After over a quarter of an hour of silence, footsteps came through the door. When everyone looked up, they saw the famous scholar, Li Bao, walking in with a cane step by step to the front. After seeing the officials underneath watching him, he took a deep breath and said energetically, "Today, this old man will tell you officials about the conflict with the Niu Gao factions that plagued the rule of the late Emperor!"

The courtiers felt light headed and their hearts were thrown around once more. Such a rollercoaster had their legs shaking.

The sun outside was high but it didn't shine too strongly. However, the people inside the hall seemed to be in the middle of the summer, to the point that they felt it was too hot to breathe.

After Li Bao finished speaking and was accompanied outside, no one dared to relax again.

Gu Yuanbai waited for a while, and then asked pleasantly, "What do you think, officials?"

We don't dare to move, we don't dare to think.

The six ministers and the most important officials of each department looked at each other. The advisors of the Zhengshi Hall were all the same, they didn't have corrupt people forming factions.

After a while, someone finally stood up and said, "Faction drama will only cause trouble to the court. Once it's discovered, it must be severely punished!"

"You're right, Minister of Justice," said the Emperor. "Then, how severe should the punishment be?"

The Minister of Justice said, "The punishment should be administered at different levels depending on the gravity of the situation."

Gu Yuanbai nodded, his voice softening. "Minister of Justice, you speak correctly, We think so as well."

The officials noticed that Gu Yuanbai's tone was more relaxed, and they became a bit less tense.

But the Minister of Justice didn't dare to relax. His intuition told him that His Majesty had yet to say the most important words and the actual point.

Sure enough, without changing his tone, the Emperor asked, "Then, if a local high-ranking official from a faction uses his power to eradicate another faction's officials that are innocent of any crimes and insert people from his faction to cover those positions, what is the crime?"

Suddenly, the pressure on the Minister of Justice increased. He spoke carefully and thoughtfully. "The crimes are forming a faction for personal gain, bending the law, and lack of integrity."

Without saying whether it was correct or not, the Emperor turned around and called out, "Minister of Public Personnel, what do you think?"

Nobody understood why the Emperor had suddenly called the Minister of Public Personnel, and they turned to look at him. The Minister was also confused, but he replied respectfully, "I think that the Minister of Justice is correct."

It had been a year since the Emperor had taken the reins of the government, and everyone had had time to study him in detail. If the Emperor was in a good mood, he'd call them official this or official that. But when he was in a bad mood, or an official had violated a rule, he'd call out the full title of his position, just like he had with the Minister of Public Personnel right then.

"We also think that the Minister of Justice is correct," Gu Yuanbai said with a smile. "Now that the situation We mentioned has happened, and since the Minister of Justice agrees with this situation, then We just need to send the Ministry of Justice to deal with the situation."

The Minister of Justice wasn't responsible for handling that sort of case. His eyes opened wide, and he had a bad premonition. "Yes, Your Highness."

Gu Yuanbai finally stood up and walked out escorted by a palace servant. After a couple steps, he remembered something and turned around to say, "Minister of Justice, the faction involved in this case is the 'Shuangcheng School'."

Those in the court that belonged to the Shuangcheng School got suddenly startled.

The Emperor laughed and then his voice suddenly turned cold. "We hope that you won't commit the same mistake of bending the law for your own sake.

"High-ranking officials should always act for the sake of the country and the citizens." Gu Yuanbai looked at all the officials one by one, and added, "We hope that all of you learned what you were taught in the three lectures you received today."

The courtiers, that were themselves members of various factions, had already broken into a sweat and bowed down soberly. "Yes."

Gu Yuanbai walked out of the lecture hall. The legs of the courtiers who were still standing in the lecture hall had turned stiff. When they were feeling scared, they suddenly heard someone say, "Sirs, please go, the affairs of the government cannot afford to be delayed for another moment."

General Xue, who was among the courtiers, sensed that the voice was too familiar, and when he looked up, he saw that it was none other than his own son.

Xue Yuan had a courteous smile and an impressive appearance.

The members of the court were all startled awake and started walking out in groups of two and three. General Xue walked up to Xue Yuan on the side and whispered to him, "What happened to His Majesty today? What mess did the Shuangcheng School cause?"

Xue Yuan glanced down at General Xue, and asked lazily, "General Xue, are you questioning the Emperor's will?"

General Xue was so angry that he strode out.

When everyone had finished leaving, Xue Yuan straightened the saber around his waist and hurriedly chased after the Emperor.

Once he stepped outside the National Academy's gates, the Emperor's carriage was already far away. Xue Yuan dropped his smile and looked around. Stepping forward, he pulled General Xue off his horse, jumped on it, raised the reins and chased off in Gu Yuanbai's direction.

General Xue was so angry that he started jumping on the spot. "Son, you're being too rebellious—!"

After a while, Xue Yuan caught up with the larger group of guards. He rode his horse up to the carriage's side and cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, if you're in a bad mood, you can take out your anger on me."

After saying just two words, he couldn't help but laugh.

A few days ago, the Emperor had called him a beast, but nevermind that. Lately, Xue Yuan had felt that he had become too crazy, so maybe if he got scolded again he'd get scared.

A pale hand opened the carriage's window. Half of Gu Yuanbai's face became visible, his lips curled up in amusement, and the line of his jaw was sharp, showing a cold, harsh beauty. "What are you talking about, Official Xue? Do We vent Our anger on those around Us?"

What was more, Gu Yuanbai was no longer angry. Why stay upset all for a group of stupid people? If he got annoyed…

Gu Yuanbai couldn't help but look at Xue Yuan's neck through the carriage window.

He still remembered the irritation and annoyance that he had let out from the bottom of his heart the last time he had bit Xue Yuan. It was actually pretty good. Since he had transmigrated to the Great Heng, only Xue Yuan could endure Gu Yuanbai's anger. The mad dog had thick skin, and Gu Yuanbai could on occasion act outside of how an Emperor was supposed to and be himself.

Other people couldn't take it, the guard captain couldn't, Tian Fusheng couldn't, Chu Wei couldn't, neither could those in the Supervision Department.

Gu Yuanbai had to be a mountain in their hearts. A mountain couldn't collapse or act out in irritation or vent when upset, just remain dedicated to serving the country and the people.

But after all, it feels a bit lonely.

That might be how it was meant to be, but, after all, Gu Yuanbai was still an energetic young man from the 21st century who liked adventures and thrills.

Xue Yuan saw that Gu Yuanbai's eyes were still on his neck, and suddenly he felt as if the place where he had been bitten before was itchy. He reached out and touched it.

His neck having healed, Xue Yuan glanced at Gu Yuanbai, leaned over while on horseback and pressed one hand against the carriage to stabilize his body. With his head close to the window, he coaxed him in a quiet voice. "Your Highness, do you want to bite me again?"

Gu Yuanbai lifted his eyes and glanced at him.

Xue Yuan licked his lips and suddenly smiled. "Don't you like watching cuju matches? If you are in a bad mood today, this official will play a game against Captain Zhang and the others for you. I think the reward doesn't need to be anything big." Xue Yuan stared at Gu Yuanbai with dark eyes, concealing a half truth. "Just smile and be happy, that'll be enough."

Chapter 045 - His Majesty's "Great Heng Newspaper"

When Xue Yuan stared at someone, he looked like a carnivorous beast staring at prey that was about to fall in its hands.

No matter how nice his words were, Gu Yuanbai didn't feel touched. On the contrary, he felt that there was an underlying meaning to his words. Either Xue Yuan was putting up a façade, or he was secretly gloating.

First impressions were always important. The first, second and third impression Gu Yuanbai had gotten from Xue Yuan… weren't great. Now when he said words that sounded caring, the effect wasn't as good as when Tian Fusheng or even Captain Zhang Xu said them.

Therefore, the Emperor didn't show the soft smile that Xue Yuan wanted to see. Instead, he nodded perfunctorily, and then closed the carriage window without hesitation.

The window was slammed shut, causing a breeze to hit the hair on Xue Yuan's temples.

Xue Yuan stiffened for a moment before he straightened up slowly. He stopped smiling, raised his hand and touched a corner of his lips expressionlessly, wondering, am I that scary when I smile?

What does Gu Yuanbai mean?

It was at that moment that the guard captain approached the other side of the carriage and spoke warmly through the door, "Your Majesty, your officials will take care of this matter. Do not worry, taking care of your dragon body is important."

The Emperor sighed inside the carriage and replied softly, "We are fine, no need to worry."

Zhang Xu smiled and then he straightened up and said no more. Suddenly, he felt a gaze that was absolutely unkind. He looked back through his line of sight and saw Xue Yuan, who was staring at him expressionlessly on the opposite side of the carriage.

The Emperor had said that he should learn more from Xue Yuan, so the chief guard smiled very calmly and maintained the proper demeanor befitting of a guard captain.

Xue Yuan retracted his gaze, looked at his hand, and slowly clenched it, holding the reins.

The Imperial Court and the Supervision Office continued their investigations.

Before the anti-corruption campaign, Gu Yuanbai had allowed over a month for those that noticed the anti-corruption plans and had the ability to produce the money they embezzled to return it. Since these people still weren't able to move, Gu Yuanbai would let them be as long as they coughed up all that they had embezzled.

The rest of those who were unable to receive the signals from Gu Yuanbai had no ability to resist his actions.

The Imperial Court, the visible side, would show no mercy and it'd leave without accepting any invitations or offerings after the investigation. On the other hand, secretly, the investigations would be more ruthless and, after half a month, they were often able to completely get rid of the corrupt officials behind the scenes.

The more they investigated, the bigger it got. The bigger it got, the more they had to investigate. Those in regional cities and prefectures who didn't have a clean record began to feel uneasy. Some officials were still trying to fill the gap, while others planned to run away with their money.

Qingzhou, Shandong.

A county magistrate was hurriedly packing his bags and preparing to take his family and escape. Outside the window, the sky was dark, and it was a good time to leave the city. Two carriages were already waiting outside the gates, and half of the space in them was taken by piles of gold and silver and treasure. The official sat in one of the carriages with a panicked expression, sweating.

His wife sat next to him, feeling uneasy. "Are we just going to flee like this?"

The official said fiercely, "Can we afford to not flee?! Should we take out all the gold and silver in the family to fill in the gaps from the embezzling?! Even if you want to, we don't have that much money!"

The lady stopped talking, looking at the gold and silver in the carriage with greed in her eyes.

The carriages arrived at the city gate, and the official lifted the curtains and said to the guards, "Open the door, let me out of the city!"

Seeing that it was a city official, the guards hurriedly retreated and opened the city gates.

In the dark, the carriages drove away at a leisurely pace. The official lifted his sleeves and wiped the cold sweat on his face. He couldn't believe that he had gotten out so easily.

The wife was already laughing, and the official looked at her smile and had a bad premonition. But he was out of the city, and the carriages drove all night, and who would be able to know where he was the next day?

The official laughed as well, but his time of smiling after escaping catastrophe didn't last long. The carriage stopped suddenly, and the inside of the carriage shook, making the official and his wife feel dizzy.

"What's the matter?!" The official steadied himself, shouting angrily, "Can't you drive a carriage?!"

It was quiet outside, and no one answered him. The official's heart thumped, and his bad premonition returned to his mind.

He stretched out a trembling hand, lifted the curtain of the carriage to take a look, and suddenly had a heart attack.

On the road outside, he saw a group of constables holding torches and surrounding his two carriages. They were all dressed neatly and carrying big swords, and the faces illuminated by the torches looked majestic and terrifying.

The leader of the group walked over to the man wearing the official's uniform. He looked at the official who had attempted to leave and laughed. "Zhao Ning, Zhao Ning, are you planning to escape?"

The county official exclaimed in dismay, "You—"

An official that had been silent before, Xian Cheng, laughed coldly, and his usually slouched back seemed to straighten suddenly. He stared directly at Zhao Ning with burning eyes and said, "With me here, don't even try to run away! You've stolen this much, and now you want to escape like this?! Don't even think about it! I'm going to arrest you now, and when His Majesty's Supervision Office arrives at Huangpu City,1 I will hand you over for interrogation!"

The county official screamed, "I have no grievances with you!"

The torch lit up everyone's face amidst the darkness, dissipating the chill, and the county official looked at every constable holding torches and spoke slowly. "Do you think we want to do evil for you? Do you think we want to be scorned by the people?! This is Huangpu City! Not your money bank! What do we dare to do? The Imperial court has come to investigate corruption, so what else do we not dare to do!"

At the end of his speech, his fists were already clenched, and blue veins were popping out from the excitement, his eyes full of hot tears.

Some of the constables behind them could not help but utter angry, pained curses, their voices rising one by one. Everyone who had their eyes closed to immoral behavior couldn't help but think of the people in the city.

The corrupt official Zhao Ning looked at this group of people and lowered his head in dismay.

Scenes like that were happening everywhere.

A good official who cared about the common people would stand up, take the lead in gathering evidence of corruption from other officials, and would just wait for the court to send someone to look for it. In some places, where no officials had come forward, scholars and literate people that were informed about the capital would be encouraged after learning about the anti-corruption policy. They'd gather their courage and call on the people in order to stop corrupt officials from robbing Peter to pay Paul, so that these officials wouldn't dare move or would return the embezzled amounts.

"Gentlemen!" The scholars sweated profusely, but they still did their best to inform everyone about the anti-corruption activities over and over again. They spoke loudly and firmly until their mouths went dry. "The court will definitely catch corrupt officials. His Majesty will surely punish these people that take advantage of their position!"

The Great Heng Dynasty had relatively free speech, but in a bureaucratic system it'd be difficult to know the potential consequences of offending an official by scholars that had yet to become officials themselves. If they did so and the Imperial court didn't find out about the corrupt officials, they'd die.

But when they looked at the people who awaited eagerly and those chanting "It's His Majesty's will!" and "Corrupt officials should die!" they felt full of strength. It was that emotion that led them to face the corrupt officials, and do so more forcefully.

And these good officials, scholars and common people went to great lengths to create a perfect situation for the court to act. The court wasn't going to waste it.

As of late, something called the "Great Heng Newspaper" appeared in the capital, sold by the Zhang family's bookstore west of the capital. Only one hundred copies would be sold every day.

The newspaper would keep track of the recent anti-corruption proceedings. It recorded which officials were dismissed by the regional government, how much they had embezzled, and what other things were implicated in it. In addition, it'd record the touching deeds that happened all over the place, the citizens' opinions and the benefits from anti-corruption measures, etc. The citizens of the capital would start queuing at the door of the Zhang family's bookstore before dawn to be able to see the contents of the Great Heng Newspaper first.

Those in the capital, for some reason, also looked at it like it was a precious thing that they didn't even dare look at too much for fear it'd disappear; they'd cry tears of joy as if it was rain when they saw officials fall and they'd secretly wipe them away. When seeing the gratitude and praise towards the Emperor from other prefectures and regions, it was impossible not to laugh at the sky with pride.

The contents of such a paper would easily rally the citizens, materialize their sense of belonging to the country and cluster them around the Emperor.

Of course, that newspaper was being written by Gu Yuanbai.

At a teahouse.

A storyteller slammed his mallet down with a copy of the Great Heng Newspaper in his hand. He said loudly, "…that Huangpu magistrate returned with all the constables to the city with the big official! The citizens that heard them couldn't leave their houses because of the curfew, but they looked through the cracks of their windows and doors and rejoiced, wanting to celebrate, and had to cover their mouths in fear of disturbing their sleeping children.

"The people of Huangpu city consciously controlled the city gates every day before the Imperial Supervision officials arrived and didn't allow any outsider to enter or leave, strictly preventing the magistrate from escaping. When the supervision officials arrived, they investigated the magistrate's mansion and the local granary thoroughly. Sure enough, they detected a lot of corruption! It took three days for the supervision officials to count the amount of money embezzled by the county magistrate." The storyteller sneered, and then yelled, "Three hundred thousand taels! The income of more than a thousand households in Huangpu City for a decade! This amount of corruption cannot even be described! The supervisory officials could not bear it, and the Emperor could not bear it either! On that same day, the supervisory officials sentenced the Huangpu magistrate to be executed. When the judgment was released, the entire city cheered, and the old farmers who had been robbed off their hard work had tears in their eyes.

"The children didn't understand the grief felt by their parents and grandfathers, but they also jumped with joy. The parents and grandparents wiped their tears, getting the hems of their clothes wet. They were grateful for the current situation of the county magistrate, Zhao Ning. When Zhao Ning was beheaded, the empty alley was filled with thousands of people and the sound of cheers could be heard from hundreds of miles away. When the hour arrived, the blade fell quickly, and Zhao Ning was beheaded!"

"Great!"

Someone shouted in approval from the audience, and everyone cheered in excitement. "What happened then? What about the money found in the corrupt official's house?!"

The storyteller laughed and said, "Before our Emperor sent officials to fight corruption, regulations were established. Some of the money found from those corrupt officials would be kept locally for construction purposes. Naturally, it's from the people and it should be used by the people. Another part is sent to the Imperial Court to fill up the National Treasury.

"Regarding construction, as it was explained in the newspaper, it means to furnish facilities, and part of the money left by the Emperor locally will also be used to build roads!"

"Building a road huh," the people underneath murmured, "So they're actually starting to build roads."

Sitting elegantly in the teahouse, Gu Yuanbai held up a glass and listened to the passionate words of the storyteller downstairs, distracted and forgetting to drink tea for a while.

He only smiled slightly and took a sip of tea after hearing the passionate discussion about road construction among the people below.

If the court can do what the people yearn for, that'd be the most effective way to conquer the hearts of the people.

People with spare money gather in teahouses, ordering affordable tea and eagerly listening to the storytellers. Those who can't afford it stand nearby, straining their ears to catch fragments of the narrative. Though each person knows they can't personally contribute to the anti-corruption efforts, they all closely follow the matter with extraordinary interest.

Xue Yuan never expected Gu Yuanbai to allow the common people to be aware of the progress of the anti-corruption campaign, even recording the confiscated money and publishing it.

The "Da Heng State Gazette" was established by Gu Yuanbai. Every day, it receives letters from the Imperial Censorate and the Supervisory Office, which are then handed over to the Zhang family for sorting and printing.

People in the capital city are excited for the commoners in other regions, and they are infuriated by the actions of those corrupt officials.

Unlike in the past, where they were like lifeless bodies going through the motions of farming, eating, and sleeping, now that they know what the country is actually doing, now that they know about the situation of their countrymen in different regions, these busy commoners suddenly seem to come alive.

Many elderly farmers, simple-hearted men, come to the gates of the yamen, their faces flushed and hands rubbing together, as they listen to the constables reading aloud the contents of the "Da Heng State Gazette."

They are illiterate and lack education, ignorant and unenlightened. Sometimes they can't even understand the content of the newspaper, let alone the cases of corruption in various regions.

However, this is what Gu Yuanbai requested. Every day, he has the Zhang's deliver the "Da Heng State Gazette" to yamens in different places, and the magistrate of the capital city arranges for someone to read it aloud to the commoners at a specific time, using plain language that can connect with them as much as possible.

The magistrate of the capital city and the low-ranking officials see no point in this, and the commoners, who react with anger or joy according to the newspaper's content, are unaware of the usefulness of their knowledge.

But Gu Yuanbai persists and believes that it has a significant impact.

As an emperor, he has the responsibility to enlighten the common people.

All things require subtle and gradual change, but if the initial steps are never taken, change will never come.

Watching this scene, Xue Yuan feels a sensation he has never felt before, a feeling that seems to be called "peace."

This is something he had never experienced in the borderlands, and it's all thanks to Gu Yuanbai.

Xue Yuan's loyal heart began to beat erratically. He couldn't help but lower his head and look at Gu Yuanbai, who was about to sip the now cooled tea with a smile. Xue Yuan's eyelid twitches, and he quickly grabbed a cup and held it under Gu Yuanbai's lips, saying, "Spit it out."

With a mouthful of water stuck in his throat, Gu Yuanbai looked at him curiously. Xue Yuan couldn't bear his gaze, feeling his whole body go numb whenever he was looked at. His voice softened instantly, almost inaudible, "Your Majesty, the water is cold, spit it out."

Gu Yuanbai spat out the water and stated matter-of-factly, "I occasionally enjoy drinking iced tea in the summer."

Iced tea is made by steeping tea with ice. Xue Yuan had his doubts, "You can drink it?"

Gu Yuanbai placed the teacup down, and Tian Fusheng brought a fresh pot of tea. Upon hearing the question, Tian Fusheng chuckled and said, "It's nothing if Your Majesty occasionally tries it, but I dare not let Your Majesty consume too much for fear of chilling your body."

Xue Yuan glanced at Gu Yuanbai again and again, observing his face that lacked any flesh and his soft, delicate hands. It was difficult not to nod in agreement.

Gu Yuanbai smiled helplessly. After spending so much time with Xue Yuan, the rough and tough military man had assimilated into his surroundings, treating Gu Yuanbai like some fragile porcelain, fearing that any harm might befall him.

But Gu Yuanbai was naturally bold, and while others hesitated to step forward and advise, he dared to take direct action.

The storyteller below had already switched to another article, narrating the progress of the anti-corruption campaign in another region. Once again, the commoners voluntarily blocked the city gates, while the entire city stood outside the doors of local officials. Men slept in front of the government office with their bedding rolled up, and during the day, they waited at the office for their wives to bring them meals. They persisted like this until the arrival of the supervisory officers.

Thanks to the assistance of these commoners and some officials, the apprehension of corrupt officials and bribe-takers became much smoother.

Gu Yuanbai couldn't help but sigh, "Now that we've taken down a group of corrupt officials, there happens to be a new batch of outstanding officials emerging."

Naturally, Xue Yuan responded, "This minister also deserves credit."

Gu Yuanbai cast a sidelong glance at him and chuckled, "What credit do you have?"

Xue Yuan stated matter-of-factly with the logic of a bandit, "This minister protects Your Majesty and ensures Your Majesty's well-being. As long as Your Majesty is healthy, the anti-corruption campaign can proceed smoothly."

Gu Yuanbai laughed, "Captain Xue is now skilled at making opportunistic remarks."

Xue Yuan thought to himself, "Please stop laughing."

His heart was beating faster and faster.

Xue Yuan clutched his pounding heart and sighed, but his gaze remained fixed on Gu Yuanbai's face, his lips eventually curling into a smile.

After drinking their fill of tea at the teahouse, Gu Yuanbai led his entourage to Zhang's Bookstore. Preparations for establishing a commercial route required a lot of effort. Now that the news of Zhang's involvement in building the commercial route for the Emperor had spread, letters from merchants across the land seeking information had piled up like a small mountain. The Zhang family members were busy to the point of chaos, and they had to ensure that every disciple within the family performed their duties without any mistakes.

Therefore, the preparations alone for establishing the commercial route at the border would take at least a month.

The Zhang family patriarch nervously reported the current progress to Gu Yuanbai, but Gu Yuanbai said, "I have already considered this. For now, you can't make any moves. Before the commercial route is established, there is one more thing I must do."

The Emperor's eyes deepened, and he spoke slowly, "I need to send troops to deal with those nomads."

Xue Yuan's eyelid twitched, and he looked at him sharply, his eyes instantly lighting up with excitement.

Dealing with the nomads was necessary before the commercial route could be established.

It had to be done!

The terrible state of the border troops and the people affected by the nomads was a thorn in Gu Yuanbai's heart. At that time, he had already transmigrated to Da Heng and become the Emperor. However, Lu Feng controlled the court, and the entire imperial court was corrupt and polluted. It was the darkest period that Gu Yuanbai had ever experienced.

He had spent three years taking down Lu Feng and had been in power for only six months since assuming direct control. He had put all his efforts into building up the military and cultivating the supervisory institutions because Gu Yuanbai didn't want to experience such a dark time again.

He knew how many people in Da Heng were suffering, how many lives were lost while he, as the Emperor, was dormant. The roots of the Da Heng Dynasty had rotted, and as an adult, Gu Yuanbai understood the disasters that a weak Emperor could bring. However, when he first arrived, there was nothing he could do.

But now, with a strong military and the preparations for the border route underway, once the road was completed and transportation became convenient, he could gain control over the nomadic regions.

Before the road was built, if he wanted the nomadic cattle and horses, they needed to know they must abide by the rules of Da Heng.

After Gu Yuanbai mentioned "dealing with the nomads," Xue Yuan remained fixated, gripping the large blade at his waist. The fluctuating emotions emanating from him were palpable to the surrounding guards.

These guards still remembered what he had said during the spring hunt about the "two-legged sheep." One of them couldn't help but ask, "Xue Yuan, are nomads easy to deal with?"

Xue Yuan spoke with conviction, "It's difficult."

The guards: "..."

Their expressions twisted slightly as they looked at Xue Yuan, who seemed to be boiling with hot blood. They didn't understand why he was in such a restless state if it was difficult.

Gu Yuanbai also heard the word "difficult." He motioned for Xue Yuan to come forward and gazed at him, asking, "What do you mean?"

A member of the Zhang family spoke up, "Your Majesty, the disciples from the smaller ethnic groups have already gathered in the capital. Would you like to meet them?"

Gu Yuanbai smiled faintly. "I've heard that the disciples of the Zhang family in the western capital are all outstanding individuals. It's not easy for me to come out this time, so naturally, I want to meet them."

The Zhang family member left, and the palace chamber door closed, enveloping the room in dim light. The floating dust particles were visible in the subdued lighting.

Gu Yuanbai took the lead and said, "Please be seated."

Everyone in the room took their seats as ordered. Xue Yuan sat confidently, displaying a bold demeanor. Gu Yuanbai had tea served to them, moistening his throat before asking, "Xue Yuan, is it really difficult to deal with the nomads?"

Xue Yuan momentarily became distracted as he spoke, casting an inexplicable glance at the young emperor's lips, then refocused and said, "The nomads are fierce and skilled in horsemanship and archery. Da Heng has been constantly harassed, and by not fighting back, we have only emboldened them further."

"I am aware of this," Gu Yuanbai nodded slightly, "but despite the difficulty, you managed to seize many fine horses from their hands."

Xue Yuan's lips curled, concealing a hint of mockery. "Your Majesty, although the nomads are fierce, Da Heng's continuous retreats have bolstered their confidence. They have always believed in their invincibility. However, once Da Heng adopts a tough stance and they experience a defeat, it will be a complete collapse."

"As long as there is a trend of collapse, they will panic and flee, becoming a group of cowards. The nomads are divided into eight tribes, and they rarely gather together. The aging leader of the Khitan tribe has already passed away, and the leaders of the eight tribes are vying for power in secret. They are scattered in different regions and are unlikely to form alliances. If we want to fight them, it will be much easier."

Gu Yuanbai nodded thoughtfully.

The state of the Da Heng Dynasty was a bit chaotic.

When Gu Yuanbai first arrived, he was completely bewildered by the chaotic state of the country. He resorted to studying late into the night, desperately trying to make sense of the national situation. Through his research, he shattered the historical memories he had of the Tang Dynasty.

The Da Heng Dynasty had its own unique version of history, blending neighboring dynasties together. After the period of late-night studying, Gu Yuanbai had also assimilated into this era.

He adapted well to concepts like the Khitan Eight Tribes.

Xue Yuan continued, "When General Xue and I were stationed at the border, the court sent frontier commanders who were literati with no experience leading troops."

Gu Yuanbai was taken aback and looked up at Xue Yuan, realizing that this must have happened before his arrival.

"These literati knew nothing about military affairs. They thought being a commander was easy after reading a few books on warfare. They looked down on martial artists, disregarded their advice, and were arrogant and proud. Their downfall came even faster than a collapsing mountain," Xue Yuan's tone was indifferent.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuanbai couldn't help but wonder who came up with the genius idea of having literati lead troops.

It would be understandable if they were truly talented individuals, but people who were well-versed in military strategy but lacked experience reminded him of Ma Su, whom Zhuge Liang had high hopes for. Ma Su was knowledgeable in military matters but ultimately lacked experience, leading to his tragic end. On the other hand, there was Wang Ping, who only knew ten characters and couldn't read, but was an exceptional military commander.

There was no need to say it out loud. It must have been Lu Feng's suppression of Xue Yuan's family. The Xue family had been loyal for three generations, and Lu Feng, as a treacherous official, feared such loyalty.

After thinking it through, Gu Yuanbai casually said, "Then, when the time comes, I'll let Captain Xue lead the troops. I believe suppressing the nomads won't be difficult for you, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuan couldn't help but respond, "I won't let Your Majesty down."

Gu Yuanbai nodded, and at that moment, someone came to report that the Zhang family members had arrived. Gu Yuanbai invited them in to meet.

One of the surrounding guards bumped Xue Yuan and said, "Lord Xue, are you so happy just because you can go to the border and fight the nomads?"

Xue Yuan was inexplicably surprised and asked, "Why?"

The guard wondered, "Even if you're happy, there's no need to smile so sinisterly."

Xue Yuan was taken aback, touched his lips, and realized that they were indeed curled upwards.

Was he really so happy just because he could fight the nomads?

That would be overly ecstatic.

Xue Yuan furrowed his brows and tried hard to suppress the upward curl of his lips. But as soon as he thought about the words of affirmation from Gu Yuanbai regarding his abilities, he couldn't help but want to break into a wide grin.

Unconsciously, he glanced at Gu Yuanbai.

Gu Yuanbai seemed to sense something and also glanced at Xue Yuan. When he saw Xue Yuan's contorted expression, struggling to hold back his laughter, he couldn't help but be amused.

In that moment of amusement, a faint smile appeared on Gu Yuanbai's lips, almost as if they turned pink.

Pink.

Xue Yuan couldn't hold back any longer. He couldn't suppress the upward curl of his lips.

Damn it, how could Gu Yuanbai... How could he smile so beautifully at him?

What did it mean?

Why does Gu Yuanbai look so charming when he smiles at him?

What does this mean?

When Xue Yuan left the Zhang family's Bookstore, he was still dazed and couldn't tell which way was which. However, as soon as he saw Chu Wei, who was elegant and outstanding in front of the bookstore, he instantly regained his clarity.

Chu Wei was accompanied by a young servant, presumably here to buy books. He appeared somewhat surprised upon seeing this group of people. When Gu Yuanbai walked out of the bookstore, Chu Wei hurriedly stepped forward, intending to pay his respects, but his arms were promptly supported by Gu Yuanbai.

"No need for such formalities," Gu Yuanbai said with a smile. "I am dressed casually today, so let's skip these ceremonial gestures."

Chu Wei stood up straight and said, "May His Majesty be well."

Gu Yuanbai smiled faintly and walked with him towards the street. "Chu Qing, are you here today to buy books?"

"I wanted to buy a copy of 'Da Heng State Gazette'," Chu Wei sighed. "But it's unexpectedly selling like hotcakes. I heard that as soon as the bookstore opens each day, all copies are sold out within fifteen minutes."

Since the emergence of the 'Da Heng State Gazette,' various government offices and mansions have had people voluntarily deliver newspapers to their doors. Although the quantity per person is limited, it is enough for colleagues to share and read throughout the day. Therefore, during regular duty, Chu Wei never imagined that it would be so difficult to buy a copy of the 'Da Heng State Gazette.'

"Today is my day off, and my father and I have already made it a habit to read the 'Da Heng State Gazette' every day. If we skip it today, it feels like something is missing, and it's quite uncomfortable. But who would have thought that it would be so hard to buy the 'Da Heng State Gazette'? Among all the bookstores in the capital, only Zhang's Bookstore has a meager hundred copies," Xue Yuan said, raising an eyebrow.

Gu Yuanbai's brow raised, and he called out, "Tian Fusheng."

Tian Fusheng stepped forward and handed a copy of the 'Da Heng State Gazette' to Chu Wei, smiling. "Master Chu, here you go."

Chu Wei was momentarily startled, then a smile bloomed on his lips. He expressed his gratitude to the Emperor and Tian Fusheng before passing the newspaper to his stiff book servant and accompanying the Emperor for a leisurely stroll.

On the other side, Xue Yuan wore a warm smile and asked the guards standing beside him, "Master Zhang, what do you think of Master Chu?"

The guard captain replied solemnly, "Master Chu is talented and handsome, a pillar of our nation."

Xue Yuan's smile deepened, and he nodded in agreement. "Master Chu's talents are exceptional, no wonder His Majesty favors him so much."

The guard captain responded, "His Majesty has always valued talents."

"It also depends on whether the talent is worthy of His Majesty's favor," Xue Yuan narrowed his eyes and raised his chin, gesturing. "Take a look."

The guard captain followed the direction and saw the way Master Chu looked at the Emperor, with a smiling gaze. Even on his cold face, there seemed to be ripples of warmth. As the most handsome man in the capital, his appearance was undoubtedly peerless. When his black eyes smiled at someone, it was as if he was looking at a beloved.

The guard captain was puzzled.

Xue Yuan's voice sounded indifferent. "I happened to hear that Master Chu seems to have a preference for men."

The guard captain's face completely changed, and someone forcefully pushed him from behind. Xue Yuan pushed the guard captain directly in front of Gu Yuanbai. Gu Yuanbai stopped his conversation with Chu Wei and turned his head. "What's going on?"

The guard captain struggled to find his words and finally said, "In just over ten days, the Lantern Festival will be held in the capital. Many families have already started making lanterns. Would His Majesty like to go and take a look?"

Gu Yuanbai didn't sense anything amiss and instead became interested. "Is it on the day of Xiaoman?"

The guard captain secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Indeed."

Chu Wei naturally continued, "In my family, my mother has already prepared materials for making lanterns. If Your Majesty is interested, you can accompany me to my residence to personally try making one."

The guard captain glanced strangely at Chu Wei, his vigilance rising.

Gu Yuanbai's interest was piqued, and he nodded. "In that case, I will go with Chu Qing to take a look."

Chu Wei's unintentional tension dissipated, and he smiled, accompanying the Emperor as a guide.

Xue Yuan stepped forward with a cold smile and suddenly interjected, "Your Majesty, a few days ago, wasn't Master Chu injured? I wonder if he has recovered."

Chu Wei lowered his gaze, a shadow fleeting across his eyes. Just as he was about to reply, the Emperor suddenly smiled, his gaze profound as he glanced at both Chu Wei and Xue Yuan, jokingly saying, "Oh, I didn't know that you two were already so familiar."

With a single sentence, both of their expressions turned unsightly.

However, Gu Yuanbai didn't say anything when he saw that expression. He raised his eyebrows slightly and turned his head with a smile.

Seeing his demeanor, Xue Yuan's heart jolted. "Your Majesty, I am not familiar with Master Chu."

Gu Yuanbai smiled and said, "I understand, no need to say more."

What do you understand?

Xue Yuan had a headache.

In this awkward atmosphere, the group arrived outside the Chu residence. Chu Wei's page boy finally regained some agility. He shivered and hurriedly ran forward to knock on the door. When the gatekeeper opened the door, he anxiously whispered, "The Emperor has arrived, quickly inform Master and Madam!"

The gatekeeper was dumbfounded. "Ah?"

The page boy pushed him in a hurry. "Go quickly!"

The gates opened wide, and just as Gu Yuanbai was about to step into the residence, Chu Xun, dressed in casual attire with a slightly disheveled hairpiece, rushed over. When he saw that Gu Yuanbai had truly come, his eyes widened, and he immediately saluted Gu Yuanbai.

"No need for formalities," Gu Yuanbai smiled and said, "I heard that Madam has been making lanterns recently, and I was curious, so I came uninvited."

Chu Xun hurriedly expressed his humility and immediately sent someone to summon Madam. A folding screen was set up, and Madam explained everything to Gu Yuanbai in a tense voice from behind it.

Gu Yuanbai sat at the table, calmly and leisurely. Following Madam Chu's instructions, he moved his hands slowly. After a while, Madam Chu also became much calmer.

The lantern-making materials had been thoroughly inspected by the people around him, so Gu Yuanbai didn't pay too much attention when using them. However, when he picked up a slender bamboo strip and rubbed it in his palm, he couldn't help but feel a sudden pain. Furrowing his brow, he took a closer look and found a tiny thorn on the bamboo strip that had pricked his palm.

The guards' hands were calloused, and even the palace attendants' hands were accustomed to delicate work. They had checked everything carefully. Yet, this almost invisible thorn seemed to have been newly sharpened and escaped their inspection.

Xue Yuan was the first to notice something amiss. He strode forward, his robe fluttering, and reached out to hold Gu Yuanbai's hand. After taking a close look, his voice sank. "Bring a needle."

Someone brought a needle, but no one dared to use it to pick out the tiny thorn. They all looked at Xue Yuan with anticipation and encouragement.

Xue Yuan thought to himself, "I've killed so many people and seen so much blood. Am I afraid of picking out a thorn?"

But his hand remained frozen, unable to move downward. Finally, Xue Yuan looked up at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, are you afraid of pain?"

Gu Yuanbai was about to say that he wasn't afraid, but then he felt a prick in his palm as Xue Yuan successfully picked out the tiny thorn.

Xue Yuan looked at the thorn and chuckled coldly. He crushed it between his fingertips, then smiled at Gu Yuanbai with a heavy air. "Your Majesty, I have avenged you."

Gu Yuanbai laughed. "This small thorn couldn't possibly harm Captain Xue's hand."

A thought crossed Xue Yuan's mind. He lifted the Emperor's hand that he was still holding and blew on the palm before saying, "Your Majesty's hand is quite advantageous."

Gu Yuanbai asked, "What do you mean?"

"Good... good to touch, good to look at, just good in every way."

Xue Yuan recalled the kick he had received earlier that had hit him hard. His expression twisted slightly for a moment, but then he thought that if the Emperor wanted to kick him again, he would endure it. He suppressed his discomfort.

So he honestly said, "As soft and touchable as jade."

"Your Majesty!" Chu Wei suddenly spoke up, his voice louder than Xue Yuan's words. He smiled and said gently, "Shall I recheck the remaining bamboo and wood?"

While Chu Wei was speaking, he had already reached out his hand. This pair of scholarly hands wasn't delicate and tender; Chu Wei was never a weak person. Gu Yuanbai glanced at those beautiful hands that resembled jade and shook his head. "That's not necessary. I've already done half of it. I just need to be more careful."

This was the first time in both of his lives that Gu Yuanbai was making lanterns, and now he felt the excitement of a young person. He restrained himself and followed Madam Chu's guidance, steadily and calmly shaping the outlines and then pasting on the lantern paper.

When the Emperor was in court, he was imposing and intimidating. But now, in this exceedingly serious appearance, he seemed approachable. His fingers danced on the lantern, looking like an exquisite painting.

Chu Wei was captivated for a moment. When the lantern was finished, he took the initiative and said, "Your Majesty, would you like me to paint several branches of red plum blossoms on the lantern's surface?"

"Sure," Gu Yuanbai readily agreed.

The two of them were enjoying themselves, occasionally exchanging smiles. Xue Yuan watched them and gradually became expressionless. After some time passed, he suddenly laughed silently and let out a soundless "ha" towards the sky.

The hand gripping the large sword trembled with anger.

After dispersing, Xue Yuan returned to Xue Mansion with an expressionless face. His intimidating aura made everyone in the mansion hesitant to approach him.

General Xue was urged by Lady Xue to come forward. With his hands behind his back, he sternly said, "Who are you trying to show your displeasure to in the mansion?"

Xue Yuan swung his sword, splitting a wooden stand into two halves. Without stopping his movements, he continued wielding the large sword with an emotionless expression.

Finally, he threw the sword aside and fiercely kicked the nearby weapon rack, causing it to crash loudly onto the ground.

A servant who heard the noise cautiously peeked over and saw Xue Yuan's darkened expression. He immediately shrunk his head and hastily retreated.

General Xue shouted in anger, "Xue Yuan!"

"You said last time that my loyalty to the Emperor is unwavering," Xue Yuan suddenly spoke up, but he didn't look at General Xue, as if lost in thought, his face looking grim. "Are you certain that this is loyalty?"

General Xue asked, "What else could it be?"

Xue Yuan's back tensed, his breathing becoming heavier. The answer was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't seem to say it. Finally, he unbuttoned his collar and said in a heavy tone, "The Emperor intends to launch an attack against the nomadic tribes."

General Xue was taken aback.

Xue Yuan turned around to face him, his collar in disarray, bloodshot eyes. "I will join the battle."

In the imperial court.

Gu Yuanbai was reading the confidential report sent by the Supervisory Office.

It was a letter from an official named Sun Shan in the Supervisory Office. It provided information about the situation in Lizhou. The governor of Lizhou was indeed involved in corruption, though the extent and methods were discreet. Initially, Gu Yuanbai thought it was related to factional disputes, but after days of investigation by the Supervisory Office, they discovered some hidden clues.

Following the trail, they eventually uncovered something utterly repugnant.

To put it in simpler terms, the governor of Lizhou had a circle of friends.

Those who could join this circle were powerful leaders of bandit gangs with many subordinates.

The Governor of Lizhou embezzled local funds, but the amount wasn't significant. His favorite activity was taking advantage of his official position to gather information about the routes of silver, grain, and provisions transported by the court to various locations, as well as the routes of money and grain sent from local areas to the court. He would then report specific details such as the timing, routes, and number of personnel of these passing convoys to his circle of friends in the criminal underworld of Lizhou. The criminal dens in the circle would evaluate the convoy's strength and select several alliances of bandit gangs to intercept and seize these goods.

Aside from the share given to the leaders of the bandit gangs, the Governor of Lizhou personally received thirty percent of the seized items.

Thirty percent! With a hundred taels of silver, he could embezzle thirty taels; with a million taels of silver, he could embezzle three hundred thousand taels!

Moreover, the Governor of Lizhou also provided information about the routes of convoys carrying tax revenues from Lizhou to the court, guiding the bandits to rob the locally collected silver and grain. If there was an excess of grain, it would be resold locally and elsewhere. This was even more despicable than mere embezzlement of state funds!

The Governor of Lizhou was well aware that this circle of friends had to be hidden from outsiders, making it unsearchable and untraceable. He ensured that members within the circle couldn't add each other as friends, and he strictly prohibited the dissemination of any records from the group. He had safeguarded this circle of friends like an impenetrable fortress.

The reason the officials from the Supervisory Office became aware of this "circle of friends" was due to a bandit leader in one of the dens taking a woman as his concubine against her will. The woman harbored deep hatred and had been searching for an opportunity to expose the case to the authorities. One night during the distribution of spoils, she noticed something amiss with the silver being brought back to the bandit stronghold. She cleverly extracted the information about the governor from the bandit leader's mouth.

Devastated, the woman lost all hope. When the lower-ranking bandits took her down the mountain for treatment, she encountered the officials from the Supervisory Office.

The officials from the Supervisory Office have since provided shelter for the woman. However, after discovering that her family had been killed by wicked bandits, she has completely lost her will to live and might choose to end her own life once they leave.

Gu Yuanbai, who had been expressionless while reading the confidential report, furrowed his brows and sighed softly.

In any era, women always faced more difficulties than men.

Corrupt officials always found ways to indulge their greed, and Gu Yuanbai had no desire to comment on the actions of the governor of Lizhou. However, he felt sorry for the woman.

Even when abducted to the mountains, she didn't lose herself, never gave up hope of returning, and continued to find ways to inform the authorities. Her courage alone was enough to be praised as a remarkable woman. Moreover, she displayed intelligence by noticing the unfair distribution of spoils and learning about the collusion between officials and criminals from the bandit leader.

It was a great loss to see such a woman forced to her death by wicked individuals.

Gu Yuanbai replied in the letter, expressing his willingness to bring her back to the Supervisory Office if possible.

After sending the reply, someone took care of mailing the letter.

Gu Yuanbai stood up and walked towards the inner chamber. The palace attendants helped him remove his clothes and prepared water for him. Gu Yuanbai looked up at the carved beams and painted rafters in the hall, silently thinking to himself that capturing only the Governor of Lizhou would be too easy. He needed to make good use of his circle of friends and capture the entire network of corrupt officials and criminals.

He let out a long sigh, dismissed the attendants, and stood by the window.

The flower lantern he had made during the day was placed on the table. Gu Yuanbai caught a glimpse of it and walked over to light the lantern.

As the warm yellow light illuminated the room, the shadow of a simple and vivid plum blossom appeared on the table. Gu Yuanbai touched the flower lantern, his face reflecting both bright and dim light, but his mood improved somewhat.

What a peaceful and prosperous era.

Only when everyone had enough to eat and wear, when the granaries were full and people understood etiquette, and when they were well-fed and knew the difference between honor and disgrace, could it be considered a true era of peace and prosperity.

Xue Yuan had sat by the bedside all night.

Sitting there like a mounted soldier, his leg muscles tense.

His gaze was heavy, carrying a sense of wind and rain.

His madness only subsided in front of Gu Yuanbai. Why did it subside? Because he was afraid that Gu Yuanbai couldn't handle his madness, afraid that he would harm him.

But this stifled and suppressed state, on the verge of erupting, was not suitable to remain by Gu Yuanbai's side.

But as soon as he thought about leaving Gu Yuanbai...

Xue Yuan's hand clenched tightly, blood vessels appearing on his skin.

He suddenly stood up, striding towards the wolf den. Loyalty to the emperor, loyalty to the emperor. Was this what loyalty to the emperor looked like?

Was this the kind of heart that would rage at the sight of the emperor smiling at another man who liked him?

The emperor's smile, the emperor's touch.

The emperor wanted wolf cubs.

The next day, when Xue Yuan was carrying two wolf cubs on duty, he heard that Gu Yuanbai had fallen ill.

This was the first illness Gu Yuanbai experienced since the day he coughed up blood. It came suddenly and fiercely, and Gu Yuanbai had no idea what was happening.

Caught off guard, everyone in the palace became busy. The people from the Imperial Medical Bureau hurriedly went about their tasks. When Xue Yuan arrived at the palace, the scent of medicine permeated the air. Gu Yuanbai had already taken his medicine and was resting.

Xue Yuan handed the two wolf cubs in his arms to a eunuch in charge of caring for animals in the palace and entered the inner chamber. Gu Yuanbai was huddled in bed, coughing softly.

Headaches, coughing fits, and chills plagued him.

Tian Fusheng stood by his side, and when Xue Yuan entered, he learned that Gu Yuanbai was speaking softly with a hoarse voice, "…The current anti-corruption efforts don't need us to watch over them all the time. You should instruct the officials in the Ministry of State Affairs and the Supervisory Council to pay more attention. Regarding the Governor of Lizhou, do as I just instructed."

Tian Fusheng responded continuously, "Your Majesty, please rest assured."

The medicine contained something to aid sleep. Gu Yuanbai's eyes were either closed or half-opened; he felt a bit lightheaded. In these two months of illness-free days, Gu Yuanbai had almost forgotten how frail he had become.

The bed was cold, despite all the measures taken. The warmth would always be dissipated by Gu Yuanbai's icy hands and feet.

He was extremely tired, so tired that he didn't want to mention the coldness of the bed anymore. He thought to himself that it would gradually warm up.

The dragon bed remained silent. The Emperor disliked being disturbed while sleeping. Tian Fusheng led his people out, and Xue Yuan stood by the dragon bed like a door god. Tian Fusheng softly called his name for a long time before he hoarsely replied, "I'll stay here and keep watch."

Tian Fusheng's voice was as soft as a mosquito. "Captain Xue, His Majesty doesn't like..."

"Manager Tian," Xue Yuan gently interrupted, "I feel hot all over, like a furnace. Can I hold His Majesty's hand to cool down?"

Tian Fusheng fell silent and glanced at the Emperor on the bed. Seeing no objections from the Emperor, he led the others to withdraw.

However, in reality, Gu Yuanbai was just too uncomfortable to hear their conversation.

The doors to the inner chamber were closed, and the scent of incense filled the air. Xue Yuan took a deep breath and glanced at the beams above, wondering how Gu Yuanbai could fall ill so easily.

He steadied his trembling hand and suppressed the burning anger in his heart. Kneeling beside the bed with one knee, he reached his hand into the covers and ended up touching an icy hand.

Gu Yuanbai coughed softly, and the next moment, the blanket was lifted, and a scorching body pressed against his back.

Xue Yuan took off his coat and boots, climbed onto the dragon bed, and embraced Gu Yuanbai from behind. Before Gu Yuanbai could even furrow his brows, Xue Yuan whispered softly in his ear, "Just warming you up."

He was like a large furnace, pressing close to the icy cold Gu Yuanbai. His words were low, and his breath was scorching hot. "Your Majesty, just this once, after this, you can hit me, scold me, make me kneel on porcelain shards, or even drown me in water. Anything is permissible."

As Xue Yuan spoke, he reached out his hand without giving Gu Yuanbai a chance to refuse, encircling him from behind and gripping his equally cold and intimidating hand.

The warmth was incredibly comfortable. Gu Yuanbai's mind felt hazy and swollen, but he suddenly remembered that Xue Yuan was the male lead of a danmei novel, and men like him would inevitably develop feelings for other men.

So he spoke in a hoarse voice, "Get away."

However, Xue Yuan almost completely enclosed Gu Yuanbai in his embrace.

Apart from the words "daring and presumptuous," no other words could describe Xue Yuan.

But it was precisely because of this that Xue Yuan had the opportunity to hold the young emperor in his arms.

He tightened his embrace around Gu Yuanbai. "Your Majesty, I've said it. Once you've warmed up, you can punish me however you like."

"Just consider sparing my life for the sake of my unwavering loyalty to you," Xue Yuan chuckled softly, sighed, and said, "Even if you break my legs."

The scorching heat emanated from behind, warming the entire dragon bed as soon as Xue Yuan climbed onto it. Gu Yuanbai's head grew increasingly dizzy, and before falling into a deep slumber, he said, "I'm allowing you to climb the dragon bed once."

Nothing could compare to his own comfort.

Accustomed to a life of luxury and being dominant in personality, it took Gu Yuanbai merely three seconds to decide that regardless of Xue Yuan's preferences—whether he liked men or women—nothing was more important than his own comfort.

If he could provide him with warmth in bed, then it should be rewarded.

Xue Yuan was momentarily stunned.

After a while, his chest felt stifled, and he muttered, "Damn."

He grabbed Gu Yuanbai's hand and couldn't help but feel excited and uncomfortable because of his words. His whole body tensed up, afraid of causing discomfort to the young emperor, so he discreetly moved backward.

Sensing the warmth slightly receding, Gu Yuanbai furrowed his brows and leaned back, pressing against him.

The young emperor's willingness to embrace him made Xue Yuan's loyal heart race erratically. The entire inner chamber fell silent, and only this disturbing sound filled the air. Xue Yuan glanced at the top of Gu Yuanbai's head and then at his own chest. He held his hand beneath Gu Yuanbai's head, afraid that the annoying sound would disrupt their tranquility.

Gradually, warmth spread through Gu Yuanbai's body, and the fingers Xue Yuan held in his hand began to warm up as well. Gu Yuanbai rested his head on Xue Yuan's body, and since Xue Yuan couldn't move too much, he simply lifted his body slightly to observe Gu Yuanbai's current state.

Upon looking, he saw Gu Yuanbai sleeping soundly.

Just his sleeping face alone had Xue Yuan utterly captivated. Xue Yuan stared for a long time, only snapping out of his daze once his whole body had gone numb. His eyes constantly wandered to the young emperor's lips, which had a faint color to them, but were warmed by Xue Yuan's body temperature, making them soft and adorable.

It was strange. Why did other handsome men appear effeminate in Xue Yuan's eyes, yet Gu Yuanbai did not?

Oh, wait. When Xue Yuan first laid eyes on Gu Yuanbai, he also thought he was more beautiful than any woman, lacking a masculine demeanor.

Holding Gu Yuanbai felt as though he was holding a precious treasure. All the heavy resentment from the previous day dissipated in an instant. Even when faced with punishment, Xue Yuan felt cheerful and willing, believing that he was seriously ill.

His heart throbbed increasingly, and Xue Yuan wondered if he had become weak enough for Gu Yuanbai to infect him with his ailment.

Finally, feeling uncomfortable with a dry mouth, Xue Yuan reluctantly released Gu Yuanbai and got off the bed to find some water to drink.

As soon as the warmth left, Gu Yuanbai uncomfortably struggled to wake up from his slumber. When he opened his eyes, he saw Xue Yuan slowly approaching the bedside with a glass of water. His head buzzed uncomfortably. Gu Yuanbai half propped himself up, snatched the cup from Xue Yuan's hand, and gulped down a large sip before immediately burying his head and falling back asleep.

Xue Yuan looked at the now empty glass, then glanced at the water droplets trailing from the corner of Gu Yuanbai's lips down his chin.

His adam's apple bobbed, and he felt the discomfort as he tugged at his collar.

Did he actually consider licking the water off Gu Yuanbai's chin?!

Gu Yuanbai was born with innate weakness, a frail body from the very beginning.

After several years of care, his condition gradually improved. However, he had suffered multiple hidden injuries in the midst of political power struggles. Lu Feng was afraid that he would recover and live a healthy life, so he had been feeding him slow-acting poison for several years, hoping to expedite his death.

Bit by bit, things worsened, making it difficult to treat.

Before falling asleep, Gu Yuanbai felt particularly at ease because everything had been arranged according to various protocols. He slept peacefully until evening, and when he opened his eyes, he was still a bit dazed, unaware of the current time.

As he propped himself up, he realized that the sensation in his hand was not right. Lowering his head, he discovered that he was leaning on Xue Yuan's body.

Xue Yuan must have fallen asleep at some point. His eyes were tightly shut, and his sharp eyebrows were still furrowed. Gu Yuanbai retracted his hand, then got up. However, he felt a tightness around his waist and, upon looking down, he saw that Xue Yuan's hand was wrapped around him. This sudden movement caused Xue Yuan to instantly wake up from his slumber.

"Who?!" he questioned fiercely, brimming with hostility.

After a few moments, Xue Yuan regained his senses. He glanced at the now awake Gu Yuanbai and involuntarily curved his lips. "Your Majesty is awake?"

His voice was hoarse, carrying the contentment of waking up from a deep sleep.

The bedding was still warm, and Gu Yuanbai felt lazy all over. He instructed, "Go and bring me a cup of warm tea."

Xue Yuan obediently got out of bed, his collar askew and his robe loose. When Gu Yuanbai raised his head, he couldn't help but notice Xue Yuan's tall and powerful back. His gaze drifted downwards, revealing strong, straight legs beneath his well-toned buttocks.

Having discarded his outer garments, Xue Yuan's youthful body, honed through various battlefields, made it hard for one's attention to shift away.

Although he may have gone a bit mad, he didn't lose the allure of a resolute man.

Gu Yuanbai sat up straight, lazily leaning against the bed frame. Xue Yuan poured a cup of water and, because Gu Yuanbai had requested warm water, he even touched the cup's surface with his fingers to check the temperature. Then he poured a little into his hand and tested it, feeling that it wasn't scalding. With the cup of tea in hand and even the water jug, he walked steadily toward Gu Yuanbai, afraid that one cup wouldn't be enough.

As the Emperor took the water cup and brought it to his lips, he trembled from the scalding sensation. The hot water couldn't be swallowed, and his lips turned red, his expression filled with pain.

Xue Yuan was dumbfounded. He pinched Gu Yuanbai's face, urging him to spit it out, and said angrily, "You burned your mouth, and you're not letting go?"

However, Gu Yuanbai swallowed that mouthful of water directly.

Xue Yuan's face turned dark, and he threw the teapot and blanket to the side, then reached out to pry open the Emperor's lips, inspecting if there were any blisters caused by the burn.

Gasping for cold air, Gu Yuanbai said, "I nearly burned to death!"

He's too delicate, too tender. Xue Yuan couldn't even feel the temperature in his hands, yet it scalded the little emperor's mouth.

When Xue Yuan thought about this, he felt more uncomfortable than if he had been stabbed. In his agitation, his hands were rough, and he ended up hurting Gu Yuanbai's lips. Unable to control himself, Gu Yuanbai kicked him.

Xue Yuan used one hand to hold down Gu Yuanbai's foot while continuing to inspect his lips. "Stop messing around and let me take a look."

Gu Yuanbai had recovered by now. He turned his head and let out a hiss. "Captain Xue, can you be more gentle?"

"Alright, alright, I've noted it. I'll be gentle," Xue Yuan wondered, "Your Majesty, how can you be so delicate?"

Gu Yuanbai: "..."

He kicked Xue Yuan again, causing him to fall off the dragon bed along with the blanket. Xue Yuan landed with a solid thud, but he didn't have time to worry about that. He got up and kneeled at the edge of the bed, his expression turning stern. "Let me take a look."

What was the point of making a fuss? Couldn't they wait until his mouth was fine?

This time, Xue Yuan applied force, but he was also extremely cautious. If Gu Yuanbai said his hands were rough, he didn't dare to rub vigorously and could only exert the lightest touch. It was more challenging than going into battle and slaying enemies. Xue Yuan ended up drenched in sweat, and only after confirming that Gu Yuanbai was fine did he realize his back was soaked.

Gu Yuanbai had long since recovered but he felt weak all over, had a headache, and was thirsty. "Captain Xue, I asked for warm water."

Dragging his cold sweat-covered body, Xue Yuan went to fetch warm water for the delicate little emperor. This time, he tasted the water's temperature by placing it in his own mouth. After repeatedly confirming it wouldn't scald anyone, he handed the water to Gu Yuanbai.

Gu Yuanbai drank half a pot of water, relieving some of the dryness and hoarseness in his mouth. The inner chamber was dim, with only a few candles lit around. Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes, allowing his mind to continue resting, and asked, "What time is it?"

Xue Yuan finished the remaining half-pot of water and replied, "I don't know."

Gu Yuanbai couldn't say anything.

After a while, the palace attendants entered the inner chamber silently. Tian Fusheng approached and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's time for your evening meal. Shall I serve it to you?"

Feeling the slight throbbing in his head, Gu Yuanbai struggled to get up. "Then, let's eat."

Once the Emperor finished his meal, it was time for the court to disperse. However, Xue Yuan stood still, watching as the physicians from the Imperial Hospital came to examine the Emperor's pulse.

Tian Fusheng kindly reminded him, "Sir Xue, it's time for you to leave."

Xue Yuan's voice was deep. "I know."

But he was reluctant to move his feet.

When Gu Yuanbai heard those words, he looked up and met Xue Yuan's gaze. It reminded him of the warm and comfortable feeling he experienced when sleeping during the day.

Xue Yuan was just too suitable for warming the bed.

Gu Yuanbai spoke lazily, his voice hoarse, "Until I recover, Captain Xue, stay by my side. Your fiery temperature can help me suffer a little less."

Xue Yuan couldn't help but curl his lips. When he heard the phrase "suffer a little less," he couldn't help but ponder. How could he let Gu Yuanbai suffer?

Since they didn't have to leave the palace today, after the Emperor finished his meal, a new set of guards replaced the previous ones. Xue Yuan joined his colleagues to have their meal. The palace servants would inform Xue residence and prepare some clothes and daily necessities for him. When Xue Yuan finished his meal and returned, someone would hand those items to him.

Gu Yuanbai was already lying on the bed, covered with a bright yellow dragon-patterned blanket. In his hand was a memorial, which he was reading slowly and attentively.

Gu Yuanbai read carefully. Kong Yilin and Qin Sheng's group had already transported silver and food to Lizhou. This batch of supplies was the bait to catch the biggest fish in the anti-corruption operation.

The target, the Governor of Lizhou, had relatively little overt corruption within his jurisdiction, yet the people under his rule still suffered. The deeper the inspectors investigated, the more terrified they became. In the end, they discovered that the reason many local bandits had turned to crime was due to the Governor's secret coercion.

The actions of the officials turned the people into bandits, and they colluded with the bandits as well.

This matter was too terrifying and absolutely could not be made public.

If the news spread, it would only result in public distrust of the court, leading to riots and a backlash from bandits across the country.

Gu Yuanbai exhaled a breath of impure air. He had to firmly hold onto this bait, the fish.

He could neglect everything else, but the Governor of Lizhou must die.

Gu Yuanbai exerted force in his palm, leaving a mark on the memorial.

Seeing him dealing with state affairs, Xue Yuan stood by his side and suddenly struck up a conversation with a eunuch nearby.

"Can rough hands still be treated?"

The eunuch was startled and answered nervously, "Sir, if you usually use some hand care products, it would be better."

Xue Yuan had a headache. "Explain it clearly."

The eunuch said, "Essential oils, pearl powder, or fish oil. Applying them to your hands and feet will make them smooth."

Xue Yuan fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly said, "Go and get me these things."

Gu Yuanbai had just finished reading the memorial when he caught a glimpse of a figure approaching out of the corner of his eye.

He turned his head and saw that it was Xue Yuan. After observing him for a moment, Gu Yuanbai suddenly asked in a casual tone, "Captain Xue, if one day the people under your command also started coveting wealth that does not belong to them, how would you handle it?"

Xue Yuan replied, "If they deserve death, then I will execute them."

Gu Yuanbai smiled and said, "But corrupt officials are hard to eliminate."

"They may not be completely eradicated, but by showing our stance, they will be afraid," Xue Yuan grinned. "It's the same principle as leading troops. There will always be a few individuals daring enough to violate military discipline. Why do they dare to do so? It's because the overall authority of the commanding officer no longer intimidates them. Once the higher-ups' authority is insufficient, chaos will ensue among the subordinates."

Gu Yuanbai said, "Please continue."

Xue Yuan calmly responded, "I have finished speaking."

Gu Yuanbai remained silent.

Xue Yuan added, "Your Majesty, I am a crude person and unable to manage state affairs."

Gu Yuanbai thought to himself, then how did you become the regent?

However, what Xue Yuan said was indeed correct.

The farther the local officials were from the central authority, the scarcer the Emperor's majesty became, making them less fearful. Perhaps it was because Gu Yuanbai's authority had not reached a level where it could deter them from acting recklessly in their respective regions, thus they became audacious.

After this anti-corruption campaign, it was believed that Gu Yuanbai's authority in the hearts of local officials would reach a new height.

But that alone was not enough.

The Daheng Dynasty had been weak for over a decade. Nomadic tribes dared to invade, local officials dared to embezzle, and powerful local forces colluded with officials, becoming more influential than the Emperor himself.

Gu Yuanbai needed to win a decisive victory, a victory that had not been achieved in nearly fifteen years. This battle would be against the nomadic tribes.

It would also be the first nationwide display of authority after Gu Yuanbai took power.

He had to take the military out for a stroll so that these people would realize how insignificant they truly were.

After relieving his own mood, Gu Yuanbai noticed that Xue Yuan's complexion had improved significantly. He spoke gently to his "bed-warmer," saying, "Captain Xue, it's getting late. Come to bed."

Xue Yuan felt a tingling sensation on his scalp from Gu Yuanbai's warm voice. He placed his hands on his belt and swiftly removed his outer garments, leaving only his inner clothes.

A palace maid took the clothes and neatly arranged them while lighting a soothing incense for sleep. Silently and one by one, the palace attendants exited the room.

Xue Yuan truly felt like a blazing furnace. Once he got into the bed, Gu Yuanbai couldn't help but sigh, finding it incredibly comfortable.

Because of this ability, Xue Yuan's position in Gu Yuanbai's heart suddenly rose several notches, and Gu Yuanbai became more amiable towards him.

After a while, Gu Yuanbai caught a whiff of an herbal scent, and he sniffed it, realizing that the fragrance was emanating from Xue Yuan.

"What did you use?" he asked directly.

Xue Yuan froze completely.

As a grown man, it was the first time he had secretly used a hand moisturizer, only to be discovered. He mumbled, "It's nothing."

The scent wasn't unpleasant, but seeing that Xue Yuan was reluctant to disclose, Gu Yuanbai didn't bother to inquire further.

The young emperor was soft and fragrant, and so was the dragon bed. However, Xue Yuan started sweating profusely within a short time. He asked, "Your Majesty, are you feeling hot?"

Gu Yuanbai flipped open a book on relaxation, feeling comfortable. "I'm not hot. Are you, Captain Xue?"

Xue Yuan stared at the book in Gu Yuanbai's hand with a solemn tone. "Your Majesty, please look at me."

Finally tearing his gaze away from the book, Gu Yuanbai turned his head and frowned. "Why is Captain Xue sweating so much?"

Xue Yuan's forehead was covered in sweat, and his black hair was damp. His facial features were sharp amid the mist of water droplets. "Your Majesty, the quilt is too thick, making the bed hot."

It was already late May, and someone like Xue Yuan indeed couldn't bear the heat. Gu Yuanbai furrowed his brows. "What should we do, then?"

"Your Majesty is still cold, with cold hands and feet," Xue Yuan's voice lowered, like a cold jade. "Shall I warm you up, while you cool down my hands and feet?"

Gu Yuanbai contemplated for a moment, then lowered his head slowly and said, "Alright."

Xue Yuan seemed like a ravenous wolf allowed to feast on meat. He swiftly turned over and took the ice-cold hand that Gu Yuanbai casually offered, closing his eyes with contentment.

The Emperor's hand was smaller than Xue Yuan's, delicate and tender. Xue Yuan gently rubbed the fair palm, causing a tickling sensation. Gu Yuanbai instinctively tried to retract his hand, but Xue Yuan pulled him back with even more force.

"What book is Your Majesty reading?"

Xue Yuan put on a fake smile and fixed his gaze on the book.

Gu Yuanbai casually replied, "Just a travelogue, to pass the time."

Xue Yuan's gaze at the book was unkind, and he thought with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Can't I also pass the time?"

He truly felt like a furnace. In less than a moment, Gu Yuanbai's hand was slightly damp with sweat, much to his surprise. Xue Yuan let go of the Emperor's hand and said, "Your Majesty, shall I warm your feet?"

Gu Yuanbai instinctively said, "Go ahead."

In an instant, Xue Yuan reached the other side and grabbed Gu Yuanbai's ankle from within the bed. He lifted it and tucked it into his clothes, warming it against his abdomen.

With his lower abdomen feeling firm and the icy feet encountering warmth like fire, Gu Yuanbai felt so comfortable that his brows relaxed. He couldn't help but say, "Captain Xue, you've worked hard."

Xue Yuan thought to himself, What hardship is this when the young emperor's feet are as comfortable as jade and as cold as ice?

He forced a smile on his face and said, "It's what I should do."

Last time, when he warmed Gu Yuanbai's feet, he was scolded for being presumptuous. But this time, warming the emperor's feet was completely justified.

Xue Yuan couldn't help but feel some satisfaction. After a while, when he had also warmed Gu Yuanbai's feet, he loosened his grip and took the initiative, saying, "Your Majesty, shall I hold you while you read?"

Gu Yuanbai politely declined, "I'm not used to it."

Despite saying he wasn't used to it, Gu Yuanbai found himself lying in Xue Yuan's embrace, following the warmth, after falling asleep.

Holding Gu Yuanbai, Xue Yuan sighed deeply. Before embracing him, he didn't feel like something was missing. It was only when he held Gu Yuanbai that he realized how empty he had felt inside.

Closing his eyes and carrying the heart of a loyal subject that was beating irregularly, he sighed once more and fell asleep.

The next morning, when Gu Yuanbai woke up, his head still felt heavy.

However, after resting well for a day, he at least had the energy to leave the bed. Although the morning court had been delayed, all the officials responsible for reporting matters had gathered in the side hall of the Xuanzheng Hall.

The court couldn't focus all its attention on the anti-corruption efforts alone. The responsibility for the anti-corruption process lay with the Imperial Censorate, the Supervisory Office, and the Eastern Feather Guards, as well as the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Personnel, which were concurrently responsible for the governorship of Lizhou. Other officials were busy with their own political affairs.

Officials from the Six Ministries and the Grand Secretariat were gathered in the side hall of the Xuanzheng Hall, discussing three matters: road construction, border defense deployment, and trade relations.

Gu Yuanbai found himself needing to take breaks frequently, as he seemed absent-minded. In the end, the courtiers couldn't bear it and suggested they finalize a set of regulations for the emperor's approval after further joint discussion.

Gu Yuanbai slowly nodded, allowing them to leave.

Once the officials had departed, Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes, feeling utterly drained.

He thought to himself that he finally understood why ancient emperors desired immortality.

It wasn't necessarily due to a greedy attachment to power and a yearning for youth, but it could also be the profound helplessness of an emperor who desired to accomplish things but lacked the strength to do so.

He wished to live a little longer, just a little longer, so that he could do a little more, accomplish a bit more of his grand ambitions.

After becoming emperor, Gu Yuanbai jokingly remarked to himself that he really wished he could live for another five hundred years. But who could live that long?

So many ambitious and talented ancient emperors couldn't even live for five hundred years.

It felt powerless.

And also very sad.

But there was no way around it.

Gu Yuanbai was lost in thought for a while but eventually opened his eyes. He called Tian Fusheng and said, "Tell the people in Jinghu Lake to speed up."

Out of all the matters in the world, Gu Yuanbai could leave the rest for future generations to handle, but not this one.

If anyone other than Gu Yuanbai touched the issue of rebellion, it could easily backfire.

Therefore, Gu Yuanbai had to expedite the process. He always felt that this illness was like a reminder from the heavens that his time was running out.

This tragic thought persisted until the time for the medicinal bath at noon.

The medicinal bath helped dispel the cold. Before the imperial physician proceeded to diagnose his pulse, he sighed with relief and said, "Your Majesty's condition is showing signs of improvement."

Gu Yuanbai was taken aback, furrowing his brow. He felt the physician had misdiagnosed him. "My head is still hurting."

The imperial physician smiled and said, "After soaking in the medicinal bath for a couple of days, everything should be fine. Your Majesty, didn't you have a warm stove last night? I observed that you rested quite well, and as long as you get enough rest, the illness will improve by three points."

Gu Yuanbai pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "In that case, I understand."

It must have been Xue Yuan who warmed his bed throughout the night, making him feel warm and comfortable, which contributed to his slight improvement today.

Knowing that his illness was improving, Gu Yuanbai inquired in detail from the physician if it had affected his overall health. Although the physician's response was cautious, it visibly eased Gu Yuanbai's mind.

Gu Yuanbai reassured himself that he could live for at least another two or three years. The current regent and the future influential figures hadn't shown any signs of rising to power. Even if he became a background figure, he should still have some vitality left.

With this thought, he became completely calm and composed.

The emperor's thoughts were deeply hidden, unnoticed by those around him, yet the emperor had already comforted himself.

Outside the palace gates, Xue Yuan stood upright but seemed distracted. His colleagues around him asked him to share some stories about the border and the battlefield, but Xue Yuan couldn't be bothered. He lazily pressed his tongue against his palate and uttered a few words, "I don't know."

His response left the guards speechless.

The scent of medicine wafted through the cracks in the doors and windows. After getting used to the medicinal aroma, it became quite pleasant. Xue Yuan took a deep breath of the medicinal scent, his brows furrowed, and his expression dark and gloomy.

There should be a divine physician somewhere.

Nerves tightly wound, imagining the young emperor seriously ill made Xue Yuan impatient to the point of exploding.

A person emerged from the palace and summoned Xue Yuan to enter. Xue Yuan pursed his lips, his official robe fluttering as he strode into the hall.

Guided by a palace attendant, Xue Yuan was led behind a folding screen. Knowing that his life was temporarily out of danger, Gu Yuanbai's enthusiasm for work reignited, his voice muffled and hazy with the steam of the medicinal bath. He said, "Xue Yuan, I want to hear more about the border."

Xue Yuan paused, looking at the flowers and birds on the screen, and spoke slowly, "Alright."

The affairs at the border were mostly characterized by harsh conditions, danger, shame, and desensitization.

Cruelty was mentioned in passing, but after glossing over it, Xue Yuan was surprised to find that he had nothing substantial to share with Gu Yuanbai.

The beauty of the northern frontier was lost on those who had been there for too long. People in the north, including the military, were treated as nonentities.

Xue Yuan chose to tell Gu Yuanbai about the less brutal aspects within the cruelty.

He spoke in a calm and unhurried manner, and Gu Yuanbai listened attentively. By the time Xue Yuan finished, the water Gu Yuanbai was soaking in had cooled down.

Inside, attendants were helping the emperor get dressed and wiping off water. Xue Yuan lowered his head, his gaze reaching all the way to his own boots from beneath the edge of the folding screen.

Judging by the screen, Xue Yuan could tell the young emperor's preferences—pure, refined, and meticulous. He probably liked gentlemen who were knowledgeable in poetry and literature. But Xue Yuan was no gentleman.

The young emperor was quite fond of Chu Wei.

Although Chu Wei rarely had the chance to meet the young emperor, they always had delightful conversations whenever they did.

Xue Yuan thought to himself with a tinge of bitterness, "Fuck."

He felt so frustrated.

Gu Yuanbai finished dressing, and the noon sunlight was the most intense and vibrant. Combined with the warmth from the medicinal bath, he couldn't tell if the moisture on his face was sweat or steam.

When he walked out and saw the expression on Xue Yuan's face, he casually asked, "What's on your mind, Captain Xue?"

Xue Yuan instinctively glanced at Gu Yuanbai, who was flushed from soaking in the water, and a shiver ran through his body. "I was thinking about this folding screen, Your Majesty."

Gu Yuanbai casually said, "Since Captain Xue likes this folding screen, then it shall be rewarded to you."

Xue Yuan was taken aback, but Gu Yuanbai had already left the palace, taking away the lingering fragrance along the way.

Taking advantage of his current vigor, Gu Yuanbai quickly attended to state affairs. After the evening meal, exhausted and uncomfortable, he lay down on his bed.

Someone pressed up against him from behind, just as Gu Yuanbai was about to drift off in the warmth. He heard a soft voice coaxing him, "Your Majesty, do you like Chu Wei?"

Gu Yuanbai turned to the side, furrowing his brow.

Xue Yuan persisted, "Your Majesty, do you like Minister Chu's face, or do you prefer his hands?"

Dark thoughts filled his mind.

If he liked the face, it would be scarred; if he liked the hands, they would be severed.

Xue Yuan was a cultured individual, not someone who engaged in killing and burying corpses.

Gu Yuanbai fell ill for several days. By the time he recovered, the progress of their operation had already reached Lizhou.

He only provided a rough direction for this matter, leaving the specific details of how to ensnare the governor of Lizhou and make him dare to take the bait in the current anti-corruption movement to his trusted subordinates.

Kong Yilin was resourceful and a deep-thinker. Gu Yuanbai believed that Kong Yilin would handle this matter perfectly.

His recent bout of illness gave Gu Yuanbai a sense of urgency. Even though he was still weak after recovering, he threw himself into the nation's development, disregarding any advice.

On that day, Gu Yuanbai received a message from Consort Wan.

Consort Wan's words were gentle, tinged with a sense of longing. She requested a meeting with Gu Yuanbai, expressing her yearning for the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai put down his brush and, as he looked up, a sudden feeling of being in a different world washed over him. Momentarily stunned, he chuckled and said, "Who secretly informed Consort Wan?"

Tian Fusheng apologized, "Your Majesty, it was my doing. I am willing to accept punishment."

Gu Yuanbai sighed and gazed outside the hall on the sunny day. "Why would I punish you? You were only concerned about me."

Lost in thought for a moment, he stood up and said, "Then, as Consort Wan wishes, I shall go and see her."

In the imperial estate of the capital city, Consort Wan smiled gently as she fanned Gu Yuanbai with a feather fan, watching him enjoy his tea and snacks.

Consort Wan was only in her early forties, an age still full of vitality in modern times, but now, a heavy aura of twilight clung to her demeanor.

Having spent more than a decade in the imperial harem and having taken fertility drugs in her earlier years, her physical condition was damaged, and she had lost the will to live well. Although her appearance was not yet aged, it exuded an air of weariness.

A few months ago, Consort Wan fell ill. The imperial physicians said it would be difficult for her to survive through the summer. Gu Yuanbai did want to visit Consort Wan, but she did not wish to see him frequently.

Since the young Emperor ascended the throne, their meetings had become few and far between. However, their bond had not diminished. Consort Wan simply wanted to spare herself the pain of seeing him less and speaking less. When the time came for her departure, she wanted to at least feel a little better.

In the cool shade under the tree, Gu Yuanbai stopped eating after feeling slightly satisfied in his belly. Consort Wan had someone bring a cool handkerchief and smiled, saying, "It's been getting hot lately. Has the palace prepared everything necessary to endure the summer?"

Gu Yuanbai instinctively looked towards Tian Fusheng, who quickly replied, "Your Highness, everything has been prepared."

Consort Wan looked at Gu Yuanbai and smiled, "Look at you. When Tian Fusheng told me that you've been so busy lately that you forget to eat, I didn't believe it. But now, seeing it myself, he wasn't exaggerating. Even if the world is busy, does that mean every single matter needs your personal attention at this moment?"

Gu Yuanbai smiled wryly and said, "You're right."

"Even if I am right," Consort Wan said, "it's up to you, Your Majesty, to take it to heart."

Gu Yuanbai explained in a gentle tone, "The state affairs have been busy recently, and I can't be absent."

Consort Wan then looked up at Tian Fusheng.

Tian Fusheng kept his head low but dared to speak up, "Indeed, it's busy. However, all the affairs have been delegated. The officials are the pillars of the nation, and Your Majesty doesn't have to personally handle everything."

Gu Yuanbai jokingly scolded, "Tian Fusheng—"

"What's wrong? Your Majesty, are you not allowing me to speak?" Consort Wan chuckled, "Look at what Tian Fusheng said. Those are the true words. If Your Majesty doesn't take care of your own health, how can those around you be at ease?"

After saying these few words, Consort Wan already felt a bit weary. She took a moment to compose herself and sighed, "Yuanbai, you mustn't play with your own health."

Gu Yuanbai remained silent for a while before whispering a low response.

Consort Wan looked at the shadows of the trees, with patches of light filtering through. Her voice was slow, carrying the weight of over a decade, "The late Emperor always talked about being a good Emperor. But he couldn't fulfill his words. Burdened with busy state affairs, he couldn't sit still and handle them patiently. Each day was postponed until the next, and in the end, it was he who suffered from exhaustion."

"After your birth, the late Emperor could be considered diligent in his governance. But even in such diligence, he never neglected rest. During his leisure time, he would go to temples or enjoy himself. Yuanbai, the late Emperor understood the importance of rest and not exhausting oneself. He acted in this manner, and Da Heng never experienced any major mistakes. I believe an Emperor should be like that, don't you think?"

Consort Wan didn't understand the national situation of Daheng, nor did she know what Gu Yuanbai was busy with. Her words carried a sense of innocence, but they came from the perspective of a mother, hoping that her child would have some time to rest.

Gu Yuanbai did not argue and simply smiled, saying, "What Consort Wan said is correct."

After the midday meal, Consort Wan returned to her bedroom to rest. Gu Yuanbai strolled through the estate with his companions, enjoying the blooming flowers and the leisurely green grass. Having immersed himself in the abundance of greenery, it felt as if his entire being had been cleansed.

The continuous chirping of birds accompanied Gu Yuanbai's leisurely footsteps along the flowing water. He engaged in casual conversation with the person beside him, saying, "Recently, I have been incredibly busy, and only when I occasionally raise my head do I realize that summer is approaching."

As he finished speaking, he became lost in thought. Will Consort Wan be able to endure this summer?

Since Gu Yuanbai arrived, he had rarely seen Consort Wan. Nevertheless, the emotions in his memories made him concerned about her well-being. The imperial physician was always present, providing a report on Consort Wan's health every two days. Conversely, he thought that Consort Wan must also worry about his own health.

Lost in his contemplation, Gu Yuanbai slowed down his pace. Tian Fusheng, who was beside him, said, "Your Majesty, we cannot persuade you, but there is always a phrase that you must listen to Consort Wan."

"I don't want to see you right now," Gu Yuanbai raised his chin slightly, "Stay aside."

Tian Fusheng smiled and retreated, while Xue Yuan hurriedly took a large step forward before the chief guard could approach, pretending to be closest to Gu Yuanbai.

As the heat source drew closer, Gu Yuanbai turned his head and cast a sidelong glance at him, saying, "Stay away from me."

Xue Yuan chuckled, "Your Majesty, just two days ago, you praised me for being comfortably warm all over."

A mischievous smirk curved Gu Yuanbai's lips as he replied, half-smiling, "Captain Xue, you're warm at the appropriate time, it's beneficial. But when it's not supposed to be warm and still feels this way, it becomes rather bothersome."

Xue Yuan furrowed his brows and remained silent.

Gu Yuanbai took a few more steps while smiling, but he accidentally stepped on a slippery spot. His feet slid, and he was about to fall into the water.

With a start, Xue Yuan's heart raced as he reached out and grabbed Gu Yuanbai's waistband, narrowly saving him from falling. However, due to the momentum, Xue Yuan fell backward. Just before hitting the ground, he pulled Gu Yuanbai into his arms, and they tumbled into a nearby haystack.

Gu Yuanbai's waistband remained in Xue Yuan's hand, and once he regained his composure, he noticed that he had pressed Gu Yuanbai beneath him. Still dizzy and disoriented, Gu Yuanbai had not yet recovered. Xue Yuan's hand rested on Gu Yuanbai's waist, with his fingertips grazing the edge of his trousers.

His mind went blank, and Xue Yuan only remembered the phrase "undo the pants." Acting on instinct, he attempted to remove them, and he stood frozen in place upon realizing what he had done.

He did it.

As Gu Yuanbai felt a chill beneath him, he finally snapped back to reality. He propped himself up and saw Xue Yuan fumbling with his pants, completely lost and seemingly enchanted, as if he had drunk a potion of confusion.

Gu Yuanbai's face darkened, and he heard the approaching footsteps of the guards, their alarmed voices echoing towards them. He angrily exclaimed, "Stay away, all of you!"

The guards halted their steps, standing not far from the haystack, staring at the clothes entangled behind the bushes, where the Emperor and Xue Yuan had fallen together. Confused and puzzled, they said, "Your Majesty?"

With a stern expression, the Emperor's voice carried a terrifying tone, "Leave."

Xue Yuan swiftly pushed himself away, releasing the grip on Gu Yuanbai's pants, and in a panic, he began to retreat. His actions were quite dramatic, startling the guards who were about to step back. Everyone stared at Xue Yuan in confusion, but he only remembered the word "leave." He pushed through the crowd and quickly walked away.

With his sharp and handsome face, Xue Yuan's devilishly charming features had turned completely red.

The other guards regained their senses and hastily followed, rolling away from the scene. Just as Xue Yuan took a couple of strides, he was abruptly stopped.

Gu Yuanbai was still lying on the grass, partially propping himself up. He had a few strands of tender grass sticking to his body, and his face was as black as ink. "Xue Yuan—"

Xue Yuan's entire body went numb, and he turned around and knelt on the ground, unable to struggle. "I beg for forgiveness, Your Majesty."

The other guards, upon seeing the Emperor's expression, had already made their escape.

Gu Yuanbai plucked a blade of grass from the ground, revealing a dangerously sinister smile. Slowly sitting up, he scrutinized Xue Yuan with his piercing gaze.

Xue Yuan felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny, and the redness on his face and neck intensified. What kind of expression was this that even made him blush more?!

Gu Yuanbai stood up and coldly walked closer to Xue Yuan. He lifted his foot and forcefully stepped on his lower body without any mercy. "Xue Yuan, I thought your previous desire to see my offspring was just a passing comment, but I didn't expect you to truly harbor such thoughts!"

"..." Xue Yuan's expression twisted in pain instantly, unable to move. At this moment, he didn't know what he was thinking. The pain made his mind go blank, and between the cold sweats, he instinctively spoke loudly, "I have a loyal heart to the Emperor!"

Gu Yuanbai's foot came to a halt.

Xue Yuan was covered in sweat, his eyes and expression filled with "determination." His words were resolute and unwavering, as if stating a fact: his heart was truly loyal to the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai initially thought that Xue Yuan, the future seme in the BL novel, had developed feelings for him, and crushing his thing was originally intended to directly dispose of Xue Yuan. Upon hearing Xue Yuan's words, Gu Yuanbai narrowed his eyes, exuding a full sense of intimidation as he stared at Xue Yuan. He repeated in a low and menacing voice, "Loyal heart?"

Beads of sweat rolled down Xue Yuan's forehead.

Gu Yuanbai's dragon boots were on top of his most sensitive area. Gu Yuanbai's attitude clearly indicated that he was ready to dispose of him at the drop of a hat. Xue Yuan seemed to understand that this was not the time for resistance and remained quiet, not daring to raise his head.

Xue Yuan resolutely declared, "A loyal heart."

Amidst the pain, there seemed to be a vague sense of pleasure.

Looking down from above, when Xue Yuan raised his head to look at Gu Yuanbai, he caught sight of his fair neck and chin. With his robe unable to cover his legs, the marks were clearly visible when Gu Yuanbai slightly lifted his foot and stepped on Xue Yuan's body.

The Emperor's expression grew fiercer and more casual, radiating danger, causing Xue Yuan's heart to tremble even more intensely.

It was more exhilarating than being on the battlefield, killing countless enemy leaders.

Gu Yuanbai didn't know whether to believe it or not. He didn't know what came to his mind and sneered, "Xue Yuan, do you really have a loyal heart?"

His heart trembled sharply twice.

Xue Yuan felt like he was drunk, but he had to sober up. He honestly replied, "My father taught me what it means to have a loyal heart."

Gu Yuanbai thought to himself that he didn't know if Xue Yuan was loyal or not, but he had five points of trust in General Xue's loyal heart.

Judging from Xue Yuan's tone and expression, he didn't seem to be lying. Instead of reprimanding Xue Yuan's actions, Gu Yuanbai first asked, "Is peeling off my pants an act of loyalty to the Emperor, Guard Xue?"

Xue Yuan thought, here it comes.

He forced a smile, and at this critical moment, his confidence as a commander suddenly returned. "I accidentally tugged on Your Majesty's belt and seemed to unintentionally bump into Your Majesty's leg. In my momentary impatience, I wanted to peel off your pants and take a look."

Gu Yuanbai scrutinized Xue Yuan for a while, but in the end, he withdrew his foot. When his dragon boots touched the ground again, the beads of sweat on Xue Yuan's forehead finally ceased, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, after he let out that breath, Xue Yuan felt puzzled. His father had said he had a loyal heart, so that should be the end of it. Why did he feel relieved for no apparent reason? Why did a sense of emptiness arise within him?

"With crude and mindless actions like this," the young Emperor's face remained calm, but his underlying ruthlessness was terrifying, "if there is a next time, I will dispose of you directly!"

As Xue Yuan experienced pain, a look of agonizing grimace appeared on his face. He endured it and said, "I... I understand."

Gu Yuanbai stayed with Concubine Wan for a day, during which Xue Yuan behaved obediently. When they were about to leave, halfway through, Gu Yuanbai abruptly abandoned Xue Yuan on the streets of the capital, speaking firmly, "You're dismissed."

Left behind, Xue Yuan rode his horse and paced in place for quite a while. Then he turned his horse around and headed back to the jade shop he had visited before.

Upon his arrival, the shop owner recognized him and greeted him warmly, wearing a smile on his face. "Honorable sir, how is the jade piece you purchased last time serving you?"

Xue Yuan glanced at him strangely and asked, "What am I supposed to do with it?"

He had bought that item on a whim when he was feeling dazed and distracted. After bringing it home, he had no use for it. It was just a translucent piece of white jade, not particularly attractive. He casually tossed it in his room and never touched it again, wasting his money.

The shop owner smiled awkwardly and silently cursed in his heart. "So, sir, what brings you here today?"

Xue Yuan raised his eyelids and glanced around the shop before his gaze settled on a jade finger ring.

After Gu Yuanbai returned, he immediately summoned Chu Wei.

Chu Wei was busy with the news brought by officials from the Imperial Censorate from various places. Upon hearing the summons from the Emperor, he immediately set aside his work and entered the palace.

During these days, the Imperial Censorate had been busy, and the capital's number one beauty seemed somewhat tired, yet still incredibly handsome. Chu Wei bowed to the Emperor and said, "May Your Majesty be well."

Gu Yuanbai asked, "Chu Qing, you must have been busy these days?"

Chu Wei honestly replied, "Indeed, I have been busy, but it has been fulfilling."

After a moment of contemplation, Gu Yuanbai spoke, "I have another task for you, Chu Qing."

Without hesitation, Chu Wei said, "Please command, Your Majesty."

"You and Xue Yuan will assist Zhang Shi. They have many preparations to make, but they lack court officials by their side, which complicates matters," Gu Yuanbai earnestly suggested, "Both of you possess literary and martial talents, complementing each other perfectly."

Gu Yuanbai was implying it so strongly that it was almost explicit.

Even though today Xue Yuan had truly shown loyalty to the Emperor, and he had only pulled down his pants only out of concern for his safety, Gu Yuanbai, who had never had his pants pulled down by someone of the same sex in both of his lives, felt that it was better to quickly matchmake the official couple.

If Xue Yuan wanted to pull someone's pants down, he should target Chu Wei. He could do it however he pleased, preferably to the extent that he would only consider pulling someone's pants down when it came to Chu Wei. That would be ideal.

Chu Wei's face stiffened, and he casually revealed a cold smile tinged with mockery. He said, "Your Majesty, Xue Yuan and I will handle this matter well."

Originally, Chu Wei had been worried that Xue Yuan's presence by the Emperor's side might lead to sinister plots. Now, the situation was just right.

Perhaps this was an opportunity to find evidence of Xue Yuan's disloyalty to the Emperor.

With lowered eyes and a calm expression, he thought it was necessary to find a way to make the Emperor detest Xue Yuan.

Meanwhile, in the distant land of Southern Jinghu.

Some people wearing prisoner's clothes and shackled with handcuffs and leg irons, the prisoners had empty expressions as they were being transported on the prison wagon to the headquarters of the remnants of Lu Feng's group.

These individuals were the spies unearthed by Gu Yuanbai in the capital a few days ago, most of whom were household servants with notable names from various influential ministerial families. Although their lives in those households were not comparable to those of the masters, they were still a hundred times better than their current situation. Throughout the journey, they endured great torment while on the prison wagon. Several humiliated women even contemplated biting their tongues to end their lives.

But in the end, they were brought to Southern Jinghu.

When the soldiers released the prisoners in Southern Jinghu, naturally, there would be people there to receive them and make use of their remaining value like the stronghold of the remnants of Lu Feng's faction in Southern Jinghu.

Among the remnants of Lu Feng's faction, there were about a hundred people who had managed to escape from the capital. Although Lu Feng was dead, many of his followers and students managed to escape the Emperor's scythe of death. Xu Xiong, a military officer who had escaped with them, arrived in Southern Jinghu.

The power dynamics in Southern Jinghu were complex, and the local society was chaotic. The local tyrants committed crimes, even going as far as taking lives and controlling officials. Countless lands were annexed by them, forming a vast network of black power. In such a chaotic place, it was ideal for the growth of rebel forces in secret.

The remnants of Lu Feng's faction believed that although the Emperor had displayed his thunderous methods, his power had not yet been fully consolidated, and thus he lacked the ability to catch up with them. Now that the Emperor had the capability, they had no idea where they could hide themselves.

In secret, they also named themselves the "Jiashen Society."

The name "Jiashen" was derived from the homophonic characters for "driving" and "ascending" in the terms "xingjia" and "shengxia," respectively, which meant the Emperor's demise. The malicious intent behind these words was evident.

Currently, more than twenty important figures from Lu Feng's faction had gathered in the main hall, discussing the recent shortage of funds and provisions in their organization.

When Xu Xiong defected, he took five thousand soldiers with him. Along with over a hundred idle individuals who had never worked a day in their lives, the mountains of wealth they brought from the capital were almost completely squandered.

The belongings left behind by Lu Feng were also nearly depleted.

The hall was filled with voices of debate. Xu Xiong was currently the leader of the Jiashen Society, and he held the military power. The others had to follow his orders. Some clever followers had already been used by him as advisors.

One of the advisors was engaged in a lively discussion when a commotion outside caught their attention. They turned to see that Zhao Zhou, the trusted advisor of Xu Xiong, had brought someone inside.

Xu Xiong's brow furrowed, and he asked loudly, "Mr. Zhao, who is this?"

Xu Xiong's original name was Xu Xiongzhi, but after his defection and ambitious aspirations, he changed the last character to "Yuan," the same character as Gu Yuanbai's name.

Zhao Zhou smiled and brought the person in front of Xu Xiong, saying, "General, this is my friend, Liu Yan, a native of Jiankang in Jiangnan."

Liu Yan had an ordinary appearance, but he exuded a refined and scholarly air. He bowed slightly to Xu Xiong and smiled, "I have long admired General's name. Meeting you in person today, I understand what a true hero is."

Xu Xiong knew that his strategist would not introduce someone useless to him, so he chuckled and raised his head, saying, "I am flattered. May I know what brings Liu Xiaoyan here today?"

Liu Yan's expression changed, and he suppressed his grief and hatred. "It's all because of the current Emperor that I had to seek General's help!"

Xu Xiong couldn't help but glance at Zhao Zhou, who smiled faintly and nodded imperceptibly. Xu Xiong felt delighted and pretended to be surprised, saying, "What has that dog Emperor done this time?!"

Liu Yan lowered his head and said, "I have a business in my family and some spare money. I used to have close relationships with officials in the government offices. But now, as the Emperor has begun his anti-corruption campaign, he unjustly sentenced my entire family, accusing us of colluding with officials and businessmen, branding us with the crime of execution and imprisonment. I had no choice but to flee with my family's wealth."

Xu Xiong asked again, "What about your parents and family?"

"They couldn't escape," Liu Yan's voice choked, "They were all, they were all..."

Zhao Zhou's gentle voice interjected, "They were all victims of the current Emperor."

Liu Yan nodded repeatedly as tears welled up, unable to hold back his emotions.

Xu Xiong almost couldn't contain his laughter.

Hahaha, just look at this, look at this, fortune smiles upon me, Xu Xiong!

Just as their supplies of food and money were depleted, someone came along offering funds and provisions. Xu Xiong felt ecstatic. He pretended to console Liu Yan and, once Liu Yan officially joined the Jiashen Society, Xu Xiong couldn't take his eyes off the carts filled with gold, silver, and sacks of grain being brought in.

Liu Yan stood behind the crowd, the shadow in the hall casting upon his face. Many people were gathered around the carts of wealth, paying no attention to him.

Liu Yan raised his head, the sadness on his face gone. He looked around at his surroundings, surveying the entire stronghold of the rebel forces.

This is the Jiashen Society.

This is the Jiashen Society that the Emperor wants to crush, the rebellious force against the local tyrants.

The name sounds quite unpleasant, Liu Yan thought.

But he would stay here seriously, using the carts of provisions and wealth given to him by the Emperor to secure a position by Xu Xiong's side.

After spending so much money and wealth, he had to obtain a position worth mentioning, right?

In the capital city, two important figures were handling their affairs.

Xue Yuan and Chu Wei stood in front of Zhang Shi. Both of them wore expressionless faces. As soon as the designated time arrived, they exchanged pleasantries with Zhang Shi, the clan leader, and immediately headed towards their respective horses.

Although Chu Wei knew that a normal person wouldn't threaten the lives of imperial officials in public, Xue Yuan was not a normal person. Therefore, Chu Wei specifically instructed a strong servant from the mansion to act as Xue Yuan's horseman. Before getting on the carriage, Xue Yuan rode past him on horseback.

Xue Yuan's voice was deep and heavy, "Master Chu, let me advise you."

His voice lowered, becoming menacing, "Don't provoke people you shouldn't provoke."

A cold smirk curled up on Chu Wei's lips, "Allow me to advise you as well, Master Xue. Don't daydream about things you shouldn't daydream about."

Xue Yuan sneered, glancing at him with sinister eyes, before finally riding away.

The dust kicked up by the hooves of the horses choked Chu Wei, causing him to cover his mouth and nose.

Chu Wei stood there motionless.

Xue Yuan's gaze gave Chu Wei the feeling that he really wanted to kill him.

A person who had experienced the ebb and flow of the battlefield emitted an intense aura of murderous intent that couldn't be ignored. If it weren't for being on the street...

Chu Wei exhaled a breath of air and turned around to get on the carriage.

This person was too dangerous. How could he stay by the Emperor's side?

After returning home, Xue Yuan spent a full hour in the training ground suppressing the surging killing intent within him. When he emerged from the training ground, his body was soaked with sweat, and he walked expressionlessly towards the bathhouse.

The servant behind him jogged to keep up and said with difficulty, "Young Master, Second Young Master wishes to see you."

Xue Yuan, exuding a cold air, replied, "Tell him to crawl to the edge of the pool, fall in, and then crawl back up before coming to talk to me."

The servant's steps halted, trembling as he ran towards the room of the Second Young Master, saying, "Yes, yes, I'll have the Second Young Master do just that."

Xue Yuan, with an expressionless face, walked all the way to his room. The adjacent bathhouse was already prepared with water. Holding a clean change of clothes, he entered the bathhouse. The room door slammed shut with a resounding bang as his strength struck it.

He hadn't seen Gu Yuanbai all day.

A whole day.

Xue Yuan's eyes were bloodshot from the strain.

Xue Yuan was a rough man who didn't care much about water temperature and didn't enjoy leisurely baths. He simply poured water over his head, and the more he poured, the darker his expression became. Images of Gu Yuanbai's face and Chu Wei's face flashed through his mind, sometimes even their faces looking at each other with a smile.

Xue Yuan poured a ladle of cold water over his head in frustration.

The water rushed onto the floor, and Xue Yuan's cold expression followed the flow of water. However, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a small white object under a corner cabinet.

His eyelid twitched, and he strode forward, stepping over the flowing water, and bent down to pick it up. It was a white handkerchief.

The handkerchief had dirty stains on it, as if it had been stepped on.