121 Unworthy
Gu Jian had indeed handed a memorial to the palace, which was sent to the emperor that day and also to Chu Yi.
Lanterns were lit in the East Warm Pavilion. The candlelight shone softly, making it as bright as day.
"What do you think, Chu Yi?"
The Emperor, who was dressed in a bright yellow robe with a golden plate and dragon patterns, looked up at the white-robed young man sitting on the other side of the coffee table, then turned to look at the small red clay stove beside him. There was a purple sand pot on the stove, which emitted a faint sound of boiling water.
!
When the water boiled, the Emperor skillfully began to heat the cups, wash the tea, brew, seal the pot, divide the cups… The entire set of tea-making actions was smooth and elegant.
The multicolored parrot on the brass bird rack chirped. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed.
Chu Yi sat upright on a rosewood armchair. He held the memorial in his right hand and skimmed through it.
The handwriting on the fold was delicate and neat, but when it reached the signature, the handwriting became distorted. It was obvious that the text and the signature were written by two people.
Beside the signature was a big seal representing the Marquis of Dingyuan, as red as blood.
This memorial was written by Madam Gu in Gu Jian's tone. At the beginning, she passionately expressed her loyalty to the Great Jin Dynasty and the Emperor. Then, she got to the point. She revealed that Gu Yuan was the sinner, Gu Ce's son, that Gu Ce had made things difficult between the enemy and the country back then, and that the late Emperor did not pursue Gu Ce's crime. However, the Gu family did not dare to forget. Although Gu Ce's son had some martial arts strength, he was brave but unwise. He was also extremely naughty and difficult to bear a heavy responsibility in the Divine Arms Battalion.
There was a long paragraph written on the memorial. Most of it was hypocritical nonsense that could be summarized into a sentence. It meant that the mother and son felt that Gu Yuan was not worthy and wanted to reject the position on his behalf.
"Gu Yuan?" Chu Yi's indifferent gaze landed on the word "Gu Yuan" on the memorial, as if he was deep in thought.
Chu Yi did not recognize Gu Yuan.
However, from this memorial, it could be seen that Gu Yuan was the son of the Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Ce.
Gu Yanfei was Gu Ce's daughter, which meant that they were biological siblings.
"Gu Yuan!" The parrot learned his words quickly. Its voice was so loud that the air seemed to tremble.
Chu Yi looked at the fat parrot flapping its wings on the bird stand and smiled. His narrow eyes shone in the candlelight, and his smile was pleasant, gentle, and meaningful.
At this moment, the Emperor had also brewed tea and happened to take in this scene.
It was rare to see his son show such an expression. The Emperor raised his frosty eyebrows as he picked up one of the cups of tea and blew at the froth floating on it. He took a shallow sip and raised his eyebrows in satisfaction.
Because his son liked tea with a stronger taste, he had added five more tea leaves. It was just right.
"Father, what position did Gu Yuan have originally?" Gu Yuan casually placed the memorial on the coffee table. His slender index finger gently hooked the parrot's fluffy chin twice. The parrot was very good at acting coquettishly and rubbed against Gu Yuan's finger obediently.
Gu Yuan was just a small sixth-grade military official and could not enter the Emperor's eyes at all, so the Emperor was also not too sure.
The eunuch serving at the side had always been good at sensing the Emperor's heart. He immediately took the initiative to say with a smile, "Your Highness, Gu Yuan was originally a sixth-grade company commander in the West Mountain's Jiuxiao Battalion."
After a pause, the eunuch continued to explain, "Gu Yuan's promotion to the Divine Arms Battalion this time was Imperial Duke Wei's idea. Two years ago, when Gu Yuan followed the Jiuxiao Battalion to the coast to eliminate the pirates, the bandit leader led 30% of the remaining bandits to escape with the plan of a golden cicada escaping its shell. Gu Yuan saw through it and brought people to wait on the ship. He captured them all in one fell swoop and made the greatest contribution…"
Before the eunuch sent this memorial to the East Warm Pavilion, he had already investigated the ins and outs of the matter in order to deal with any inquiries the Emperor might have.
At this point, the eunuch's gaze shifted. It was not appropriate to continue talking about why Gu Yuan did not receive a reward for his contributions the year before last. After all, this matter involved the previous Emperor. Even the current Emperor could not criticize the previous Emperor.
After the eunuch finished speaking, the East Warm Pavilion fell silent.
Only a faint crackling sound came from the gauze lamp beside him. A faint smell of candle oil floated out and was instantly suppressed by the elegant incense in the air.
The Emperor handed Chu Yi another cup of tea that had just been brewed. The fragrance of the tea entered Chu Yi's nose, and he quickly recognized it as his favorite green tea.
Chu Yi smelled the fragrance of the tea and hit the nail on the head. "The Marquis title."
"If the virtue of the current Marquis is not good, there will surely be future trouble."
Chu Yi's tone was casual, and he did not name anyone, but he demoted Gu Jian to dust with a single sentence.
Gu Jian kept saying that Gu Yuan was "undeserving of his position", but in fact, the person who was really "undeserving of his position" was himself.
The eunuch at the side listened and lowered his head silently. He naturally understood.
If the person who inherited the Marquis title was morally unfit, he would feel guilty and afraid in that position. He would always be worried that someone would come and snatch his title. From this, suspicion would arise, and even unnecessary attacks would cause chaos inside and outside.
As the Emperor stroked his beard, he nodded in agreement at Chu Yi with a loving smile.
He was smart and knew the details. He had never seen Gu Jian before, but he had seen through him with this memorial.
Gu Jian was indeed inferior to Gu Ce.
It should be said that the Gu brothers could not be compared at all. One was in the sky, and the other was underground.
In the past, he only felt that Gu Jian was mediocre and incompetent. Now, it seemed that he had to add "no tolerance".
"Gu Ce back then… What a pity." Thinking of the past eight years ago, the Emperor felt a little emotional. His gentle eyes revealed complicated emotions.
When his gaze landed on Chu Yi, his sorrow was swept away, and he was glowing again. Fortunately, Chu Yi had returned safely!
After Chu Yi took a few sips of tea, he put down the teacup and looked at the Emperor steadily. "What do you think of Gu Ce's surrender back then, Father?"
"…" The Emperor was slightly stunned. His lips pursed, and his originally relaxed and lazy figure instantly tensed.
122 Good Job
The gauze lamp beside him made a subtle crackling sound. The flames danced rapidly, illuminating the faces of the Emperor and Chu Yi.
The eunuch quickly took off the silver gauze lampshade outside and carefully trimmed the wick with scissors.
Chu Yi stretched out his finger and teased the parrot twice before continuing, "I remember Gu Ce, I saw him a few times in the palace when I was young. He's a person who would rather break than bend."
Gu Ce often stationed in Yangzhou during his lifetime, only returning to the capital to meet the Emperor when he was congratulating the Emperor and debriefing him.
!
At the age of six, Chu Yi met Gu Ce for the first time. At that time, Gu Ce was only in his early 20s. He had a jade-like face and was cold and otherworldly.
A little eunuch whispered in Chu Yi's ear that the world praised Gu Ce for being as white as snow on the mountain and as bright as the moon among the clouds.
At that time, the Seventh Imperial Uncle was shooting an arrow in the palace. That arrow missed and almost hit Chu Yi, but Gu Ce grabbed the tributary arrow just in time. It only cut off a few strands of hair on Chu Yi's temples.
If not for Gu Ce, although the arrow was not fatal, it would have scratched Chu Yi's face.
The Seventh Imperial Uncle did not feel guilty at all and even said that he had heard that Gu Ce's archery was number one in the world and had the ability to pierce through willow trees at 200 steps. He wanted Gu Ce to shoot an arrow for him to see.
The late Emperor had ordered Gu Ce to shoot an arrow. Gu Ce took the initiative to blindfold himself, but he shot an arrow at the Seventh Imperial Uncle, also shooting off a few strands of hair at his temples.
The late Emperor was furious, but there was nothing he could do about Gu Ce. This was because the arrow that Gu Ce shot out while blindfolded was almost 300 steps long, causing the entire hall to cheer. Everyone praised him and congratulated the late Emperor on obtaining such a good general.
Under the situation of a thousand people working together, even the late Emperor could not punish Gu Ce.
Chu Yi remembered this incident, and another one that happened when he was 10 years old.
When he was 10 years old, the State of Yue invaded. The late Emperor wanted to make peace with the State of Yue, and someone in the imperial court suggested sending a hostage to the State of Yue to show his sincerity.
Even though Chu Yi was young at the time, he knew that the hostage sent to the State of Yue would only be him. Therefore, at that time, he was quite concerned about the war between the two countries.
At that time, Imperial Duke Wei, Gu Ce, and the other nobles were all fighting. However, because Gu Ce had fallen to the State of Yue without reinforcements, the State of Yue occupied Yangzhou and had unstoppable momentum.
As a result, Imperial Duke Wei and the other pro-war factions were slapped in the face. The noble families led by the Yuan and Wang families became even more arrogant, pulling a group of fence-sitters into the pacifist's camp.
The pacifists prevailed.
In the end, Imperial Duke Wei and the others were outnumbered and could only watch helplessly as the late Emperor issued a decree to negotiate peace.
After that, the late Emperor officially proposed peace negotiations with the State of Yue. He compensated the State of Yue with a total of 10,000 taels of gold, 20,000 fine horses, and the Yellow Water Ocean east of the State of Great Jin. He even sent Chu Yi to the State of Yue as a hostage.
Before that battle, the Great Jin and the State of Yue were equally matched. After this battle, the Great Jin was at a disadvantage.
And he had been gone for eight years.
Whether it was at that time or in the next eight years, he had also repeatedly thought about the "Battle of Yangzhou" in the dead of night…
Chu Yi did not move for a long time. He lowered his eyes and stared at the words "Gu Ce" on the memorial.
The candle flame beside him reflected in his dark pupils and shone with an unknown light.
"Chirp?" The colorful parrot was unwilling to be left alone. When Chu Yi did not move, it took the initiative to rub its cheek against his hand.
Chu Yi's thick and long eyelashes fluttered. Looking at the lively and noisy little fellow under his finger, he suddenly thought of Gu Yanfei's cat, Qing Guang, who had rubbed against him like this.
His fingers moved again, stroking the small, soft top of the parrot's head, as gently as he had teased the kitten that day.
The Emperor watched this scene with interest. He did not expect his son to like teasing birds.
"Father, let's do as Gu Jian wants," Chu Yi suddenly said meaningfully.
"Whatever you say!" the Emperor said without thinking, his smile loving and indulgent.
After trimming the wick, the eunuch covered the silver gauze lampshade again, unsurprised by the Emperor's attitude.
The Emperor had always been easy to talk to when facing the Eldest Prince. As long as the Eldest Prince said something, the Emperor would agree, as if he wished he could immediately hand the world to the Eldest Prince.
If not for the strong opposition of more than half of the ministers in the court, the Emperor would have appointed him as Crown Prince long ago.
Occasionally, the Emperor would lament to himself that he only wanted to be an idle Emperor who played with birds and walked dogs.
Chu Yi smiled and said, "I want to go to the Ministry of War."
This time, before the Emperor could speak, the parrot mimicked him again. "Whatever you say!"
123 Good Job
The parrot's cry was as loud and straightforward as ever, making Chu Yi chuckle. Even the Emperor laughed after a moment of shock.
Ever since Chu Yi returned to the capital in October, the Emperor had mentioned to him that he could choose the six tribes and go wherever he wanted to train. However, Chu Yi had never agreed and had only decided now.
The Emperor was in a good mood and personally fed the multicolored parrot some multicolored millet.
The parrot fell silent when it had something to eat and started pecking at the millet.
!
Chu Yi looked at it engrossed in its food and thought to himself, 'Since she likes that cat, she should like parrots too…'
As he was thinking, he heard the Emperor's gentle voice. "Do you want a parrot, Chu Yi?"
Chu Yi stared at the parrot for a moment, then shook his head.
It was not suitable.
A parrot in a cage was not suitable for her.
Thinking of that clear and carefree girl, Chu Yi's lips curled up, and his black jade eyes lit up.
The Emperor was not disappointed to be rejected by his son. He thought to himself, 'If Chu Yi doesn't raise one, I can also raise another parrot and make a pair.'
Thinking of this, the Emperor's heart skipped a beat. He put his fist to his lips and cleared his throat. "Chu Yi, although Chu You is your imperial uncle, he's about the same age as you. His marriage is already set…"
"You're 18 and not young anymore. Is there any girl you like?"
The Emperor leaned his face close and looked at Chu Yi with burning eyes, eager for him to give a name now.
The eunuch had no doubt that as long as the Eldest Prince could give him a name, the Emperor would immediately write an imperial decree to betroth him.
"…" Chu Yi's eyelashes fluttered twice, and a charming smile appeared on his lips. Coupled with his brilliant eyes, he was so beautiful that it made one's heart palpitate.
Without a word, he clenched his right hand into a fist and gently knocked on the desk, indicating that the Emperor could write a note.
"Good, good, good." The Emperor naturally understood the meaning of his son's action and said repeatedly, a hint of joy rising from the corners of his eyes.
"Good, good, good!"
Amidst the repeated and noisy cries of the parrot, the eunuch went out with the note written by the Emperor and personally made a trip to the Ministry of War.
Since the Emperor had personally given the order, the Ministry of War naturally did not dare to delay. They immediately issued a new transfer order.
Hence, that night, Gu Yuan received this transfer order from the Ministry of War.
He was transferred to the Divine Arms Battalion and promoted to a fourth-grade imperial guard.
The imperial guard was definitely a good job, and he would be in charge of the Emperor's ceremonial guard and escort. The weight of his responsibility was obvious.
Moreover, Gu Yuan had advanced from the fifth-grade to the fourth-grade this time. This level was extremely important, and was equivalent to crossing the distance from "soldier" to "general".
This was a joyful occasion for anyone.
However, Gu Yuan, who had received the transfer order, could not smile at all. He was even a little disappointed.
All these years, he had been determined to follow in his father's footsteps and be able to fight on the battlefield. Although an imperial guard was glamorous, they had to circle around the Emperor, so it was equivalent to being trapped in the capital.
He wanted to go to the battlefield to kill enemies and expand the country's territory.
At this moment, the sky had completely darkened. The night was as black as ink, and the full moon on the 15th of December hung high in the night sky. The silver moonlight added coldness to the already cold night.
At some point, snowflakes that looked like catkins floated down from the sky. A few snowflakes landed on Gu Yuan's cheeks and eyelashes.
Gu Yuan did not notice the cold at all. He was a little depressed and listless.
He walked back dejectedly with the "hot" and "heavy" new transfer order.
After turning around, he saw Gu Yanfei standing more than a hundred feet ahead with a smile.
In the snow, Gu Yanfei was wearing a thick red cloak with rabbit fur, making her face look even smaller.
"Sister." Gu Yuan quickly walked towards Gu Yanfei and raised his hand to help her put on the hood of her cloak. "The winter in the capital is much colder than in Huaibei. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"Show me." Gu Yanfei reached out to him as if it was only natural.
If she wanted it, Gu Yuan would give it to her.
Gu Yanfei took the transfer order and read it from beginning to end. Her thick eyelashes fluttered, and her lips curled into a faint smile.
If it was Imperial Duke Wei who had transferred Big Brother from the Jiuxiao Battalion to the Divine Arms Battalion, then the only person who could transfer him back to the imperial guard was either the Emperor or… the eldest prince, Chu Yi.
Interesting.
If this was really done by Chu Yi, then Big Brother would not be staying in the imperial guard for long. Chu Yi would not raise a fierce tiger like a cat in a nest of wealth.
However, she did not say anything about this. After returning the transfer order to Gu Yuan, she only said, "Big Brother, let's go to the martial arts arena."
Gu Yuan looked at Gu Yanfei in confusion.
Gu Yanfei smiled and pointed in a direction. Her eyes sparkled under the snowflakes as she said loudly, "Let's go get the bows."
"Big Brother, now that you've changed your job, you have to have a good bow."
Before Gu Yuan could figure out the relationship, Gu Yanfei had already grabbed Gu Yuan's sleeve skillfully and strode forward with him.
Gu Yuan obediently followed Gu Yanfei forward. The siblings went to the martial arts arena again.
The martial arts arena at night was quiet, empty, and lonely. At a glance, there was no one else except a sleeping night watchman.
There were only a few lanterns lit up dimly in the martial arts arena.
The siblings crossed the martial arts arena and walked towards Zhengqi Hall on the west side of the martial arts arena. From afar, they saw that the door of Zhengqi Hall was closed and locked.
However, Gu Yanfei did not care at all and kicked forward with her right foot.
The front door was simply kicked open. One of the doors, even the lock, fell to the ground with a loud bang, and even the snowflakes on the ground were sent flying.
...
124 Seizing the Bow
Gu Yuan watched Gu Yanfei's every move with bright eyes and almost applauded her.
His sister's kick was brilliant. It was light when she raised her leg, as fast as the wind, and powerful. It could be said to be fast, steady, accurate, and ruthless.
The hall was also very dark, so Gu Yanfei instructed Juan Bi to light the lamp.
After the row of candles was lit one by one, the hall lit up. The candlelight illuminated the surrounding displays and decorations.
The hall was spread out in all directions, and in front of them hung a large plaque inlaid with golden nine dragons. On the plaque were two large golden words: "Zhengqi Hall."
These words were personally written by Emperor Taizu and given to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Below the plaque was a long rosewood table carved with tiger patterns. The familiar rhinoceros horn bow was hung on the wall in front of the plaque and table. Just like that, it was "consecrated" here.
Gu Jian could not use a heavy bow like the five-stone bow. Therefore, in the past eight years, this rhinoceros horn bow that had been passed down for four generations had been worshiped here.
In the candlelight, the ancient rhinoceros horn bow shone faintly. The broken bowstring had not been replaced and hung in midair.
"Eldest Young Master, Second Lady…" Outside the door at the back, the servant on night watch stammered.
He had been woken up by the sound of Gu Yanfei kicking the door, so he had rushed over. At this moment, his face was filled with shock, fear, and confusion. He did not know why these two masters were putting on such a posture as if they were here to raid the house.
Of course, Gu Yuan understood what Gu Yanfei meant. He raised his hand and took off the rhinoceros horn bow hanging on the wall. His thin lips curled into a faint smile.
Seeing this, how could the servant not understand that these two masters were here for the rhinoceros horn bow?
How could the servant not know the importance of this rhinoceros horn bow? The Marquis would personally come here every three days to wipe the bow. If this bow was taken away, he would not be able to answer to the Marquis!
"Big Brother, this bow belongs to you," Gu Yanfei said with a smile. She stared at him without blinking and silently added in her heart, "My father's title should also belong to you, Big Brother."
The servant hesitated at the door for a while. Seeing Gu Yuan take down the bow, he boldly stepped over the threshold and tried to stop them. "Young Master, you can't take this bow…"
"Swoosh!"
His voice was interrupted by an arrow. Gu Yanfei casually took out a stone bow hanging beside her, skillfully nocked an arrow, and drew the bow… This series of actions was done in one go.
In the blink of an eye, the arrow pierced the pageboy's sleeve and nailed him ruthlessly and accurately to the other door, still hanging from the frame.
"Squeak." The door panel made a rough sound as it was hit by the arrow.
Gu Yanfei did not say anything and only looked at the servant with a smile.
The pageboy felt that he had just walked between life and death. If the Second Lady's arrow had missed by a few inches, wouldn't it have hit his waist?!
He was so terrified that his feet were trembling. Half of his soul flew away, and he did not dare to stop the siblings anymore.
Gu Yanfei took two steps closer to the pageboy with her hands behind her back, scaring the servant so much that he shivered. It was as if he had seen the devil incarnate and subconsciously dodged back. However, there was a door fan behind him, and he could not retreat at all.
Gu Yanfei laughed freely, without the demureness that a lady should have. "Later, feel free to complain to Mingyi Courtyard. Remember to pass a message to Madam and the Marquis on my behalf."
"The bow's string is broken, and it even injured the Marquis. It's really unlucky. I'll use it to perform a ritual so as not to implicate the Marquis Household."
She said it as if it were true, but her expression was teasing. The pageboy did not dare to question her. He nodded repeatedly, his face pale, unable to say a word.
The pageboy felt that the Second Lady was really scary, but in Gu Yuan's eyes, his sister looked cute no matter how he looked at her.
Anyway—
His sister was right.
His sister was right!
Sighing happily in his heart, the smile in Gu Yuan's eyes deepened. The gloominess he felt because of the new change was swept away.
The usually cold and silent young man finally had the clarity he should have at his age.
"Big Brother, let's go." Gu Yanfei pulled Gu Yuan away and took away the rhinoceros horn bow.
The snow outside had grown a little bigger. The snowflakes were like goose feathers, and in the blink of an eye, they were covered in wind and frost on the top of the siblings' heads and shoulders.
Along the way, Gu Yuan played with the rhinoceros horn bow lovingly without taking his eyes off it. His fingers caressed the broken string a few times, and he recalled the scene of him secretly pulling the string in his father's study when he was young…
125 Seizing the Bow
"Big Brother, Mother Jiao… I mean, Miss Wei Jiu brought me to a shop during the day. That's where I bought my bull horn bow. I think the master of that shop is quite skilled, he'll definitely be able to repair this bowstring," Gu Yanfei suggested with a smile.
Gu Yuan had nothing against his sister's suggestion. He immediately said, "Alright, let's…"
Before he could say "go", he suddenly remembered that he had 10 days off before he had to report to the Divine Arms Battalion. However, he had to report to the Ministry of War tomorrow, so this leave was most likely gone.
Gu Yanfei also thought of this and patted Gu Yuan's shoulder comfortingly. "Leave the repair of the bowstring to me."
!
As they spoke, the snowfall became heavier and heavier. Snowflakes fluttered in the sky. By the time Gu Yuan sent Gu Yanfei to Yuheng Garden, the surrounding roofs, walls, and treetops were already covered in layers of thin snow.
Gu Yuan sat in Yuheng Garden for half an hour before leaving.
The snow fell for the entire night and only stopped the next morning. When Gu Yanfei got up early in the morning, it was already a silver world outside the house.
Gu Yanfei, who was sitting in front of the dressing table, listened to Juan Bi's report as she let her comb her makeup.
Juan Bi's family was all born into the family and had in-laws in the Marquis Mansion. She was also a sweet-talker. When she went to the kitchen early this morning to bring up breakfast, she found out a lot.
"Miss, I heard that last night, when the Marquis found out that you and the Eldest Young Master had gone to Zhengqi Hall to take away the rhinoceros horn bow, he was so angry that he almost fell off the bed. He instructed someone to find the Eldest Young Master to ask for the rhinoceros horn bow, but he was comforted by Madam."
"The Marquis has been criticizing the Eldest Young Master for coveting the title of nobility. He's clearly dissatisfied with the previous Emperor's decision back then and disrespected him… He even said that he would personally enter the palace to meet him after he recovers."
"…"
Juan Bi spoke eloquently, including the fact that many doctors had come to Mingyi Courtyard to see Gu Jian's injuries last night. Including the fact that Gu Jian planned to stay in Mingyi Courtyard recently to recuperate.
When she mentioned that Gu Jian wanted to enter the palace to meet the Emperor, Juan Bi was more or less worried. However, seeing that Gu Yanfei was calm and composed, she was relieved.
"Meow!"
The calico cat howled happily outside the window, as if to say, 'Come out and play.'
The winter sun made the snow flawless and crystal clear. The sleek, long-haired cat seemed to glow as it leaped, circled, ran, climbed, and jumped…
It was its first time playing with snow. Stepping on the soft and fluffy snow, it watched as its claws left a cat paw mark in the shape of a plum blossom in the snow. It was so happy that its tail was almost in the air.
Juan Bi could not help but glance at the cat outside the window. She looked at it in a daze for a while before coming back to her senses.
She cleared her throat and continued, "Miss, when I returned from breakfast early, I met Miss Bai Lu."
"Miss Bai Lu was ordered to pass a message to you. Madam said that you can play with that rhinoceros horn bow for a few days, but you have to return it in a few days."
Gu Yanfei smiled and looked at the rhinoceros horn bow on the table. She raised her eyebrows.
Ha, did Madam think that she had given the siblings a way out?
"Miss, it's done." In less than five minutes, Juan Bi had skillfully combed Gu Yanfei's hair.
She knew that Gu Yanfei did not like heavy hair accessories, so she only used two bright red ribbons as decorations.
"Meow!" Qing Guang jumped from the courtyard outside the window to the window sill. It meowed non-stop, urging them to play with it.
The kitten's long fur was covered in lumps of snowflakes, as if it had rolled in icing.
This cat was simply playing crazily! Gu Yanfei flicked her finger gently on the cat's forehead and muttered in disdain, "You only know how to play!"
Gu Yanfei rubbed her chin and thought to herself, 'If this continues, this cat will be useless. Well, next time, I can try to draw a voice transmission talisman and let this cat do something.'
However, this voice transmission talisman was probably not strong enough with ordinary cinnabar.
As she was thinking, Gu Yanfei's two fingers slowly moved down the cat's neck. In the end, she pinched the pink cat's flesh with ill intentions.
Sigh, this place was not like the Bright Spirit Realm.
Perhaps she would ask Chu Yi next time?
"…" Qing Guang was a beast after all and had the wild intuition unique to beasts.
It immediately sensed her sinister intentions. The fur on its back instantly stood on end, and its fluffy cat tail bristled.
Gu Yanfei pinched the soft cat meat pad again and said casually, "Set up the food."
Juan Bi responded and immediately set up a sumptuous breakfast.
Before Gu Yanfei could finish her breakfast, Gu Yuan strode over. He was wearing a leopard embroidered robe that symbolized a fourth-grade military official, making him look tall and straight. His appearance was radiant, and he exuded a heroic aura.
This morning, he had left the house at dawn and gone to the Ministry of War. He had just returned to the Marquis Mansion.
"Big Brother, you're back. Let's eat together."
Gu Yanfei smiled and invited her brother to sit down.
The siblings ate differently.
Gu Yanfei ate elegantly and slowly, chewing carefully as if she was savoring the taste of every food.
Gu Yuan ate extremely quickly and wolfed down the food, but it did not seem vulgar at all. It was clearly a habit he had developed in the military.
After eating until he was 70 to 80% full, he drank half a cup of tea to rinse his mouth and wiped it with a handkerchief. Only then did he have time to get down to business.
"Sister, I got a new job at the Ministry of War today."
Gu Yuan's disappointment from yesterday was swept away. When he said this, his phoenix eyes shone brightly with a burning heat, like the rising sun outside the window.
126 Employed
Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows and looked at Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan continued with a smile, "I saw the Eldest Prince in the Ministry of War. He said that the envoy from the State of Yue will arrive in a few days. It's the Third Prince of the State of Yue. The Eldest Prince asked me to accompany him to the capital to receive the envoy."
This was the first time Gu Yuan had seen the Eldest Prince, Chu Yi, who had been a hostage in the State of Yue for eight years.
Previously, he had thought that the Eldest Prince had been a hostage in the State of Yue for many years and would probably be raised to be weak. It was only when they met today that he realized that the Eldest Prince was different from what he had thought.
!
When the Eldest Prince mentioned the Third Prince of the State of Yue, his expression was calm and composed. There was no trace of caution, nor was there any humility. He was definitely not a weak person. Eight years of being a hostage had not crushed his pride or made him bow down to the State of Yue.
"Meow!" Qing Guang seemed to understand and thought of a human who had pinched the back of its neck.
Hmph, an extremely bold and stupid human!
Qing Guang was about to look up at Gu Yuan when Gu Yanfei quickly pressed a hand on the back of its neck.
Gu Yanfei patted its back perfunctorily twice, meaning that it should eat well.
The cat gave in.
Gu Yuan took another sip of tea and continued, "The visit from the State of Yue was only decided at the last minute this month."
"All these years, the Great Jin and the State of Yue have been minding their own business, and there were only some ordinary trade transactions. It was only when the Emperor ascended the throne that the Emperor spent more than half a year barely suppressing those noble families in exchange for the Eldest Prince's return. He also allowed a firearms blueprint from the State of Yue to be released."
Gu Yuan originally did not know about the agreement between the two countries regarding the firearms blueprint. The Eldest Prince had personally told him about it when he saw him in the Ministry of War today…
Thinking of this, Gu Yuan's eyes turned slightly cold as he continued, "Because the two countries don't trust each other, at that time, the Emperor only gave the State of Yue half a blueprint. This time, the Third Prince of the State of Yue personally came for the other half of the blueprint."
The people of the State of Yue were simply ambitious!
Gu Yuan's eyes were dark, and his hand that was holding the teacup subconsciously tightened.
He had an unforgettable grudge against the State of Yue for killing his father. How could he forget or let go?!
"What firearm?" Gu Yanfei took a bite of the soft and fluffy pastry and asked curiously.
Gu Yuan looked at Gu Yanfei when he heard this. His eyes instantly softened as he explained, "When Emperor Taizu was still alive, he modified the matchlock and named it the 'flintlock'."
As everyone knew, Emperor Taizu was a genius. Not only were his martial arts the best in the world, but he was also knowledgeable and proficient in all kinds of miscellaneous sciences. He had invented glass, mercury mirrors, soaps, improved springs, looms, and movable printing techniques.
Thinking of Emperor Taizu's various achievements, Gu Yuan's handsome face seemed to glow. He could not hide his reverence and yearning for Emperor Taizu.
"Although the original matchlock was far more powerful than bows, knives, and spears, its flaws were also obvious. It took a lot of time to reload the gunpowder and pellets. It also needed to ignite the matchlock to fire, and the shooting was inaccurate."
"After being modified by Emperor Taizu, the new 'flintlock' hit the fire with a flint. Not only did it greatly simplify the shooting process, but it also increased the accuracy of the shot."
"Once a good soldier masters the 'flintlock', it's equivalent to fighting a hundred enemies alone."
Gu Yuan's eyes lit up. He was like a sharp sword that was about to be unsheathed and could rush to the battlefield at any moment.
At first, Gu Yanfei was just asking casually. As she listened, she heard some interest and asked excitedly, "Big Brother, do you have a flintlock?"
"Yes." Gu Yuan nodded and smiled dotingly. "I'll get someone to bring it over for you to play with."
He really did have a flintlock. When he went to the Ministry of War just now, Chu Yi gave him a flintlock.
Hence, Gu Yuan called Juan Bi in and instructed her to go to Chenghui Garden to get it from Wu Tong.
After Juan Bi left, Gu Yuan pursed his lips and was silent for a moment before asking the question that had been circling in his heart for a long time, "Sister, do you know the Eldest Prince?"
His sister should have nothing to do with the Eldest Prince, but today, the Eldest Prince told him that he could tell his sister about the errand he was going to take on. There was no need to hide anything, so he had no choice but to think of it this way.
"Yes," Gu Yanfei nodded honestly.
127 Employed
It was true!
Gu Yuan did not want to ask how they met at all. In his opinion, his sister was so outstanding that it was only right for the Eldest Prince to remember her.
Gu Yanfei picked up a piece of plum blossom cake for Gu Yuan with her chopsticks and asked casually, "Big Brother, have you been to the State of Yue?"
"I've read in books that there are many dialects in the State of Yue. In some places, there are dozens of dialects in a state."
Gu Yanfei was not familiar with the State of Yue at all.
In her previous life, her world was too small, and she only had this small Dingyuan Marquis Household. She didn't even know much about the capital, let alone the distant State of Yue.
Gu Yuan took a bite of the plum blossom cake and shook his head. When his dark phoenix eyes met Gu Yanfei's curious eyes, they were dyed with warmth and became even gentler.
He gathered his thoughts and smiled. "I've never been there, but I've heard some of it from friends."
"The State of Yue is rich in tea leaves and silk. Many cloth shops on Great Yan Street sell the silk of the State of Yue. It's often said that the silk of the State of Yue is dyed with the color of spring water in Jiangnan and is more graceful than the material of the Great Jin."
"When you're free one day, I'll bring you to the area around Great Yan Street. That area is also called South Yue Street. Many shops on the street sell South Yue goods, such as snacks, paper kites, embroidered screens, pouches, fans…"
"By the way, there's also a theater on Great Yan Street. They invited a theater troupe from the State of Yue to sing a song from the State of Yue."
Gu Yuan racked his brains and said everything. He had heard everything from his bad friends, so it was a little messy and scattered.
"Big Brother." Gu Yanfei leaned forward slightly and leaned closer to him. She pinched Gu Yuan's sleeve coquettishly. "Then let's agree to go to the shop on Great Yan Street next time and buy some Jiangnan materials to make clothes?"
"After that, we'll go see the theater troupe you mentioned."
In her previous life, the siblings had missed a lot. In this life, Gu Yanfei did not want to miss it again.
She would tell Gu Yuan what she wanted to do and what she liked.
"Whatever you want to do, I'll accompany you." Gu Yuan agreed to everything. He was even thinking that since his sister liked to watch the show so much, perhaps he could buy a troupe for her in the future. At that time, she could watch it whenever she wanted.
However, before that, he had to work hard to save up money for his sister's dowry!
After marrying, his sister could live as she pleased. She could live happily and wantonly without being restrained in the Marquis Mansion.
Originally, Gu Yuan was not interested in going to the imperial guard. No matter how glamorous the imperial guard was and how bright its future was, it was not what he yearned for or chased after.
But now…
Gu Yuan had a new idea.
Today, since the Eldest Prince had told him so much, and even told him the secrets about the blueprint of the "flintlock", it meant that the Eldest Prince must have other plans for him… Or rather, the Eldest Prince had the intention to use him!
Yes, this was not the time of the late Emperor.
He was confident that with his ability, he would definitely be able to create a world that belonged to him in the army like his father!
For his sister, he had to work harder!
Thinking of this, Gu Yuan's fighting spirit could not help but be ignited. His black pupils burned brightly as he said in high spirits, "Sister, my 10 days of leave are definitely gone. Next, I have to accompany the Eldest Prince. I'll be busy again…"
"After I'm done with my work, I'll definitely bring you to play in the capital!"
Looking at Gu Yuan like this, an inexplicable urge arose in Gu Yanfei's heart. She also wanted to pat her brother's head.
However, her brother would not be happy.
She smothered a laugh in her heart, and her eyes curved into a smile.
"My Lady!" Juan Bi finally returned, holding a heavy rectangular wooden box in both hands.
Gu Yuan personally opened the long wooden box and saw a new flintlock quietly placed on the red velvet cloth in the box. The black and slender barrel shone with a cold luster, and there were eight or nine pellets beside the gun.
Gu Yanfei looked at the strange flintlock and took it out of the box with interest. It was heavy in her hand.
The little girl's arms were clearly as thin as the barrel of a gun, but she easily grabbed the heavy flintlock in both hands, as if she was holding a long sword with ease.
Gu Yanfei held the flintlock in her hand and casually played with it. She touched the barrel, hooked the trigger, and touched the butt of the gun…
Gu Yuan first introduced the various parts of the flintlock. Then, he began to teach her step by step how to clean the barrel, where to fill it with gunpowder, and where to reload the pellets…
"The steps to fire a gun are far more cumbersome than a bow shot. It takes at least a dozen breaths to fire once."
"However, pellets are pushed out of the chamber by burning gunpowder. They're far faster and more lethal than ordinary feather arrows. They can pierce a person's skull at a hundred paces."
Gu Yuan had never used a firearm before. It was only when he was in the Ministry of War that the Eldest Prince personally demonstrated it to him.
It was indeed not difficult to master, and practice makes perfect. No wonder Gu Yuan had heard from his superiors that, on the battlefield, training a soldier to use a musket was far easier than training an archer.
He spoke quite carefully, and Gu Yanfei listened attentively. She nodded repeatedly and rubbed her chin excitedly. "Big Brother, can I try?"
This firearm called the flintlock was a little like a low-level spiritual artifact from the Bright Spirit Realm, but its power sounded much weaker than a spiritual artifact.
She only had to play with it in her hand for a moment to understand the pros and cons of this thing. For example, the combustion of gunpowder could produce a powerful thrust that would push the pellet out, but it would probably affect the accuracy of the flintlock at the same time.
Despite that, a flintlock was probably a killing weapon in this small world.
128 Secret
Gu Yuan readily agreed and said, "This thing is powerful and noisy. We can't try it in the house. Let's go to the garden."
The siblings left Yuheng Garden and headed west to the nearest small garden.
As Gu Yanfei followed the steps Gu Yuan had mentioned and prepared to fire the flintlock, she muttered to herself, "What should we shoot?"
"How about that?" Gu Yuan pointed forward and pointed at a powerful weeping willow on the other side of the lake. He reminded her, "Be careful of the recoil when the flintlock is fired."
!
"Alright." Gu Yanfei smiled and calmly aimed the muzzle of the flintlock at the weeping willow across the lake. She held the gun in her left hand and the stock in her right. Then, her right hand steadily pulled the trigger.
The flint clamp was jerked by the spring and struck the side of the fire door hard, sending sparks flying.
"Bang!"
There was a deafening bang as a fire dragon shot rapidly from the flintlock muzzle. The pellet crossed the lake as quickly as lightning and shot into a weeping willow on the other side.
The shot went cleanly through the trunk, leaving a hole the size of a dragon's eye.
Rustle…
The trunk of the willow tree trembled violently, like a cub trembling in the wind and rain. Willow leaves fell like rain and floated on the sparkling lake, rippling and floating with the ripples of the lake…
Wisps of smoke still spewed from the muzzle of the gun, and the air was thick with gunpowder.
The loud noise on this side almost echoed through the small garden.
The servants in the garden heard the commotion and came in twos and threes, gaping at the scene.
"Sister, you shot really accurately!" Gu Yuan applauded Gu Yanfei's shot.
Gu Yanfei felt her left arm ache and go numb from the recoil of the flint stone. She shook her left arm.
This thing was far inferior to a low-level spirit artifact.
Still…
Gu Yanfei looked back and forth thoughtfully on the flintlock several times. If she added a sharp array on it…
She gently drew with the index finger of her left hand and quickly drew a simple one-time formation with her spiritual power.
Yes, it was drawn very well.
She smiled in satisfaction, then repeated the previous steps. Moving nearly twice as fast as before, she aimed the gun at another weeping willow across the lake.
"Bang!"
A second shot rang out suddenly, louder than the first. Even the clouds in the sky above seemed to be shaken apart.
Another cloud of smoke spewed from the muzzle of the gun. The projectile was faster than before, and it struck the second weeping willow with lightning speed, carrying crimson flames.
With a creak, the tree trunk actually snapped in half.
There was another loud crash. The willow tree's canopy crashed down from where it had broken off and landed on the lake, sending up a huge splash.
The servants watching at the side were all dumbfounded. They either covered their ears, exclaimed, or whispered to each other. No one even thought of reporting to Madam Gu and the Marquis.
More people heard the sound and came. The second gunshot did not just spread through the small garden and even most people in the Marquis Mansion heard it.
At this moment, Madam Gu, who was in the Benevolent Harmony Hall, also heard it.
She was so frightened by this inexplicable loud bang that her heart skipped a beat. An ominous feeling rose in her heart. She frowned and instructed, "Bai Lu, go and see what's going on…"
Bai Lu bowed and left in a hurry.
As soon as she left, an old servant from the gatehouse ran over, panting. She told the little servant who was guarding under the eaves, "Earl Yan'an has come to congratulate you."
The news brought by the old servant allowed her to successfully enter the east room and see Madam Gu.
"Why did Earl Yan'an suddenly come to congratulate us?" Madam Gu asked in confusion.
Recently, their family had been extremely unlucky and simply plagued by bad luck. They really could not figure out what joyous occasion was worthy of the other party's congratulations.
The old woman replied happily, "Madam, they said that they're here to congratulate Young Master for being transferred to the Divine Arts Battalion and being a fourth-grade imperial guard."
"…" Madam Gu opened her eyes in surprise. Then, she retracted the fingers on her left hand and clenched them into a fist.
She didn't say anything, and the old servant just bowed, not knowing what else to do.
The house fell silent.
After a moment of silence, the curtain was lifted again. The green-robed maidservant hurried in again and knelt down to report, "Madam, people from the Marquis Mansion, the Count of Changxing's Manor, and the Longhu General Manor have come to congratulate you on your promotion."
129 Secret
Madam Gu felt as if her heart had been whipped hard by a whip. It was painful, numb, and stuffy.
Madam Gu lowered her eyes and hunched over to cover her left chest. She grabbed it slightly hard and felt her heart throbbing even more.
"Madam, are you alright?" Granny Li asked with concern. She raised her hand to stroke her back, but Madam Gu did not hear her.
One moment, she was thinking about Gu Yuan, the next moment, she was thinking about Gu Ce, who had died young. The next moment, she overlapped these two figures with another elegant figure.
First, it was Gu Ce, then Gu Yuan.
She originally thought that even if Gu Yuan insisted on abandoning literature and entering the military camp, he would probably only stop at being a soldier. How could the king tolerate a son who represented humiliation?
Unexpectedly, first it was the Divine Arms Battalion. Now, Gu Yuan was actually going to be transferred to the imperial guard again. In just a few days, he had advanced three levels from the sixth-grade company commander.
Moreover, he was the Emperor's imperial guard!
He had reached the heavens in a single step.
"Yuan'er's success is a joyous occasion," Madam Gu said in a low voice. "My eldest sister will be happy in heaven."
As she spoke, Madam Gu clenched her left fist tighter, her manicured nails digging into her soft palm. Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed repeatedly by an invisible thorn.
"That person" was like a thorn embedded in her heart…
A thick haze quickly surged in Madam Gu's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.
She took two deep breaths and told herself that it was the Old Marquis's hope that Gu Yuan would recover. If Gu Yuan could rise to the top from now on, it would also be beneficial to the Marquis Mansion.
After a while, Madam Gu calmed down a lot. She looked up and instructed indifferently, "Call the Eldest Young Master… and the Second Young Master to the outer courtyard hall."
"Yes, Madam." The green-robed maidservant bowed and left quickly.
At the same time, the old servant who had come to report retreated.
The room was silent again, except for a faint sigh.
Soon, Madam Gu left the Benevolent Harmony Hall with Granny Li.
Today, an esteemed guest had come to visit, and her second son, Gu Jian, was injured. Madam Gu could only decide to treat the guest personally to show her seriousness.
The doors of the hall were all open, making it look vast, open, and transparent.
Gu Yuan arrived very quickly. Madam Gu had just sat down on the armchair at the head of the table when she saw Gu Yuan walking towards her in a crimson official robe.
A strange glint flashed across Madam Gu's eyes.
"Grandma." Gu Yuan bowed to Madam Gu. His etiquette was flawless.
"Yuan'er." Madam Gu frowned and sighed. She said helplessly, "It's a joyous occasion for you to be transferred to the imperial guard. Why didn't you tell your family about such a big matter?"
"Are you estranged from your family?"
As she spoke, Madam Gu pulled Gu Yuan to her side and patted the back of his hand lovingly, as if yesterday's disagreement had never existed.
Gu Yuan neither nodded nor shook his head.
Madam Gu was already used to Gu Yuan's quiet personality. She sighed again and said, "Forget it, time will tell. In the future, you'll know that Grandma is doing this for your own good."
"In the future, when you become a royal guard, you must do your best and continue to work hard. Don't let Grandma and your father down."
"There are many esteemed guests here to congratulate you today. Your second cousin will also be here later. You brothers, treat your guests well."
The corners of Madam Gu's lips curled up, and even the wrinkles at the corner of her mouth were tinged with joy.
Gu Yuan's eyes darted around, and he clenched his fists, still silent.
In Madam Gu's eyes, Gu Yuan's silence was a silent agreement.
Madam Gu was in a better mood. With a smile, she instructed the maidservant to serve a few plates of Gu Yuan's favorite snacks and fruits.
At first glance, the grandfather and grandson were harmonious.
When Earl Yan'an, Marquis Pingjin, Count Changxing, and the others arrived at the hall, they saw such a scene. Hence, they all congratulated Madam Gu on her good fortune for having children and grandchildren that surpass their masters. They also praised Gu Yuan for his young talent.
Gu Yuan generously entertained these old friends of the Gu family, chatting and catching up.
Madam Gu also praised Gu Yuan from time to time and asked these uncles to take good care of Gu Yuan in the future. From time to time, she would glance out of the hall.
The hall was very lively.
Gu Yuan was smiling, but his smile did not reach his eyes. He looked at the people around him distantly.
He was like a traveler trudging alone, out of place in the joyful atmosphere.
For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to eight years ago. Before he was nine years old, his grandmother and these uncles had treated him like this. They had been kind, warm, amiable, and tolerant.
However, after her father's accident, those uncles all distanced themselves from the eldest branch…
After swallowing the sweet tea, there was only a strong bitterness in his mouth.
"Xiao'er, you're finally here." Madam Gu's slightly excited voice woke Gu Yuan up from his enlightenment.
Gu Yuan looked up and saw a young man about 13 years old in a royal blue robe walking into the hall. He was the legitimate son of Gu Jian and Madam Wang, Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao bowed to Madam Gu first and reluctantly called out to Gu Yuan, "Big Brother."
Gu Xiao had also heard about what happened yesterday. He more or less suspected that Gu Yuan had hurt his father, Gu Jian, so he looked at Gu Yuan with hostility.
The 13 or 14-year-old was at an age full of thorns.
The smile on Madam Gu's face deepened. She was about to let Gu Xiao greet the guests.
Although Gu Xiao was not the heir yet, the Marquis Mansion would be his sooner or later. It was a good opportunity for him to accumulate some connections.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yuan suddenly stood up, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave without a word.
Silence filled the hall.
...
130 Guilty
The guests did not know what was going on. Gu Yuan was clearly talking and laughing just now. Why did he suddenly turn hostile?
Everyone looked at each other and could tell that something was wrong.
Madam Gu's smile instantly froze on her lips.
"…" Gu Xiao's expression was even uglier than Madam Gu's and his lips pursed stubbornly into a straight line. What did Big Brother mean?!
"Gu Yuan!" Madam Gu raised her voice and called him by his name.
However, Gu Yuan did not stop and walked out as if he had not heard anything.
The servants guarding outside the hall did not dare to stop Gu Yuan at all. After all, everyone in the residence now knew that the Eldest Young Master was someone who could draw a five-stone bow.
Madam Gu gritted her teeth and gave the guests an apologetic smile. "My apologies."
Then he stood up resolutely and chased after her personally, shouting, "Yuan'er!"
Madam Gu jogged forward and caught up to Gu Yuan under a parasol tree in the courtyard outside the hall. She questioned angrily, "What exactly do you want?"
She tried her best to lower her voice. She felt as if the light was on her back, and even without looking, she could feel the curious eyes in the hall on her.
Gu Yuan finally stopped and turned half of his face to look down at Madam Gu, who was half a head shorter than him. The golden sunlight shone through the sparse leaves above, outlining the outline of his handsome side profile.
"Grandma wants me to help my Second Brother, right?" Gu Yuan said bluntly.
After being exposed by Gu Yuan, Madam Gu did not deny it. She smiled casually and said, "Yuan'er, you're cousins. It's only right for you to help each other."
"Only right?" Gu Yuan also smiled.
This was how a family should be. Madam Gu raised her chin in a domineering manner, as if it was only natural.
"Someone wants to ruin my future and wants me to repay kindness with evil. Grandma, do I look so stupid?" Gu Yuan's tone was colder and sharper.
What was Gu Yuan hinting at?! Madam Gu looked at Gu Yuan in surprise.
Without waiting for Madam Gu to speak, Gu Yuan changed the topic and said, "I heard that the Eldest Prince likes all kinds of weapons. I plan to take the rhinoceros horn bow for His Highness to play with."
Gu Yuan was equivalent to putting a threat on the table.
"…" Madam Gu's eyes widened, and her face instantly turned green.
Madam Gu did not know at first that Gu Jian had tampered with the bowstring of the rhinoceros horn bow. However, later on, Gu Jian accidentally let it slip, and Madam Gu asked about it. Only then did she know about this.
Of course, Madam Gu could not admit it. She avoided the topic and said, "Yuan'er, I got someone to send a message to your second sister this morning. You can keep this bow for a few days. When you're done playing, you can return it."
Gu Yuan stared fixedly at Madam Gu. His dark eyes were so sharp that they seemed to be able to see through her heart.
When the last of his anticipation was broken, his mind was surprisingly clear and calm, like a traveler who had finally walked out of the fog after a long journey.
"Yuan'er, what do you want?!" Madam Gu tried to hold Gu Yuan's hand, but Gu Yuan quickly took half a step back. He only turned sideways and gently avoided her. His sleeve brushed less than half an inch away from her fingertips.
The grandfather and granddaughter's gazes met in midair, as if they were engaged in a bloodless battle.
Gu Yuan calmly stated his intentions. "I want that rhinoceros horn bow."
This rhinoceros horn bow symbolized the glory of the Dingyuan Marquis Household. Since the bow was in his hands, he would not hand it over again.
"…" Madam Gu's pupils quivered slightly. Her right hand clenched the prayer beads in her wide sleeve, as if she did not recognize the young man in front of her.
Gu Yuan's heart was as clear as a mirror, and he was as still as a mountain.
Just now in the hall, he seemed to have been enlightened and suddenly understood a lot from the attitudes of those uncles.
For many people, the fact that he had obtained the job of a royal guard meant that he would rise up the ranks. From the residence to the outside, there would be people who would curry favor with him.
He was no longer the dispensable eldest young master of the Gu family. He was the Emperor's imperial guard.
To him, it was like a weapon.
He could use this weapon to achieve what he wanted to do.
Last night, his sister had taken the first step by giving him the bow. Now he should speak up and face the rest.