At first, the two of them didn't react.
Changgeng was baffled, "Why is he carrying a broken flute with him?"
Gu Yun was still puzzled, "What flew out?"
Then, both of their gazes fell on the weather-beaten and cracked bamboo flute at the end at the same time.
A moment later, Changgeng suddenly felt that the flute was vaguely familiar. Gu Yun felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He remembered — — the origin of this object was not legitimate!
Both of them moved almost at the same time. Gu Yun reached out to snatch it, but Changgeng instinctively tightened his grip. Both of his hands held the bamboo flute in midair.
Changgeng asked innocently, "Can't I look?"
Gu Yun, "What's there to look at?"
With that, Gu Yun forcefully pulled the small bamboo flute out of Changgeng's hands. He hurriedly hid it in his sleeve.
Changgeng rarely saw him guilty. He couldn't help but think of the little girl who cried her heart out in Lord Yao's house in Jiangnan four years ago. He vaguely understood something, but he didn't dare to believe it. Thus, he asked indirectly, "Was it given by someone else?"
Gu Yun spoke nonsense without blushing or panting, "I peeled it myself."
"Oh," Changgeng blinked. After a while, he said, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally, "Why does bamboo grow in Lou Lan of the Western Regions?"
Gu Yun, "..."
Changgeng blinked gently. This made his eyes look as if they were flickering. Then, he smiled and said, "Godfather's handiwork is too rough. Why don't I peel a better one for you another day?"
Gu Yun was speechless. He was extremely embarrassed. He felt that the kid had seen through him and was deliberately mocking him. However, because the matter of stealing the flute was too outrageous, he couldn't flare up. He could only put away his heroic rabbit tail and run with the wind.
Changgeng didn't chase after him. He stood in place and reflected on this matter for a while. He couldn't help but want to laugh. He retold the story of Gu Yun secretly running to the children's courtyard early in the morning to steal the bamboo flute. Suddenly, his heart was bursting with joy. He was full of vitality for most of the day. Only when the sun was setting in the west did he slowly stop.
The fragrance in his heart that hadn't dissipated pushed Wu'ergu into a small corner. When the flowers fell and the water reddened, a seed-like thought grew from below and thousands of branches.
Changgeng thought, "Why did he keep that thing?"
If he kept it, would he occasionally take a look at it?
Would he think of himself when he looked at it?
Did this mean that Gu Yun's feelings for him … were deeper than he had always imagined?
Would he be able to take an inch and take a mile to get closer to his little foster father?
Miss Chen's anshensan faintly floated out of the sachet. Changgeng stared at Gu Yun's back. He was about to be roasted by the words' let nature take its course 'echoing back and forth in his mind. He didn't dare to be too delusional. However, he anxiously harbored a few speculations. He couldn't help but scratch his heart and scratch his liver. He was overwhelmed with ecstasy.
The journey to escort the criminal was supposed to be long and smelly. Unfortunately, whether it was because the Black Iron Battalion was fast or because Changgeng was dragging his feet, they had already arrived in the capital before the midwinter arrived.
At this time, the Southern Xinjiang rebellion case that had caused a sensation in the imperial court exploded in the depths of the imperial capital.
Sun Jiao returned to the capital half dead. She was shocked and frightened, and in the blink of an eye she fell ill and couldn't recover. Long 'an Emperor himself also didn't expect that the Southwest Tidu would actually dare to rebel when he only used a small trick to promote the drumming order. Shocked and angry, he ordered a thorough investigation.
Due to the wide implications of this case, the Ministry of Appointments, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Supreme Court … and even the entire Supervision Institute became nervous. Even Gu Yun, who had finally returned to the capital for a two-day break, couldn't rest. She was summoned to the palace every two to three days for questioning.
The Southwest Admiral Fu Zhi Cheng colluded with bandits, killed imperial court officials, smuggled purple gold, and attempted to rebel. The bandit leader and the rebel leader were sentenced to capital punishment one after another. Their families were also punished.
However, the cold-blooded and ruthless Emperor Long An was still unwilling to leave the matter at that. The situation quickly got out of hand. Pulling out the radishes would also bring up the mud, implicating the six central ministries. Those who had close personal relationships with Fu Zhi Cheng, who had accepted bribes, opened doors for him, and even those old officials who had recommended Fu Zhi Cheng back then, were all implicated.
Those who were imprisoned were imprisoned, and those who were dismissed were dismissed. For a time, the imperial court was in a state of panic. The entire capital was suppressed in a gloomy atmosphere of suspicion.
The sky was overcast until the end of the year. Only then did a heavy snow fall with a loud rumble.
This year, the Marquis of Stability handed over the Xuan Tie and the Tiger Tally. The implementation of the Drum Order was a foregone conclusion. The Ministry of War quickly sent people to supervise the troops.
At this point, the Emperor Long An's military power was gathered to the extreme. The Martial Emperor of the past could not compare.
At the end of the year, the only thing that made Li Feng not so vexed was probably Gu Yun's ability to adapt to the circumstances.
Just as Changgeng had predicted, the Emperor received the inside information and gave enough face to Gu Yun. He really did promote Shen Yi by two ranks. He issued an edict promoting him to the Southwest Military Commander. At the same time, he bestowed the Fourth Prince, Li Min, with the title of Yanbei Of Gojoseon.
In the first month of the Shi Liu, Old Master Shen, in the name of congratulating the Marquis of Stability on his birthday, pulled two large carriages of gifts to block the entrance.
Old Master Shen had already retired for many years. He only had one son, Shen Yi, who did not seek to improve himself. Shen Yi had been a freak since he was young. He was good at studying and practicing martial arts, but he was unwilling to be obsessed with any of them. He loved to shut himself in the courtyard and play with lighters. The Shen family, from the iron puppets guarding the courtyard to the large and small gas lamps hanging in the room, had all been taken apart and ruined by him.
Although Old Master Shen was a firm believer in Zhuangzi and paid particular attention to following one's heart, he still had some expectations for his son in his heart.
Gu Yun was called into the palace early in the morning to discuss matters and had already left. Although he was not in the capital all year round, he was still in a high position and had received many gifts. There was no mistress in the Marquis fu, so the New Year's gifts were all handled by the old housekeeper. When he heard that it was Old Master Shen's gift, Changgeng specially followed the old housekeeper out to welcome it and looked at it curiously.
Old Master Shen himself was also a weirdo. When he was young, he loved to play. When he was tired of playing in his later years, he began to seek immortality and seek the Dao. He did not care about human affairs. His first hobby was alchemy and his second hobby was brewing wine. Among the gifts he gave to Gu Yun, there were no gold, silver, jewels, silk, satin, antiques and treasures.
Changgeng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When he raised his head, he saw the newly appointed Southwest Commander running over on his horse in a mess.
Old Master Shen completely acted on his own initiative. By the time Shen Yi found out and chased after him, it was already too late. Shen Yi looked at the wine cart at the entrance of the Marquis fu and wanted to cry but had no tears. He buried his face on the horse's neck and said in his heart, "This is too shameful!"
Gu Yun came back in the evening and happened to see his family unloading the wine cart. Shen Yi stood at the side with an emaciated face.
It was unknown what the Emperor said to him, but Gu Yun's expression was indifferent. As long as he returned to the Marquis fu, he was usually very happy. When he entered the door, he did not smile, nor did he joke with the guards at the door. Most likely, he was really unhappy.
Gu Yun: "Why are you here?"
Shen Yi raised his chin and motioned him to look at the crazy wine cart: "My family's old man used it to bribe you. Thank you for promoting me."
Gu Yun sniffed and went forward to pick up a jar. He directly opened the mud seal and stood at the door to smell it. Then, he drank a mouthful on the spot.
"Whatever you want comes. Your family's old man brewed it himself, right? I can tell when I smell it." Gu Yun sighed, "Just in time. Since you're here, don't leave. Anyway, before the first month, we will have to go our separate ways. At that time, we will be far apart. Who knows when we will meet again. Today, accompany me to drink some wine."
Shen Yi had the same intention and happily agreed.
Gu Yun asked again: "Where is Changgeng?"
"In the kitchen."
Gu Yun's footsteps paused: "What?"
"He insisted on personally cooking a bowl of noodles for you," Shen Yi said with a smile, "Uncle Wang tried to stop him for a long time, but he couldn't stop him. I think our Royal Prince is amazing. He can hold the line in front of the enemy, and he can perform acupuncture on the battlefield. When he has nothing to do, he can sew his own pouch. Even the kitchen is as easy as walking on flat ground … If it was a girl, even the Black Iron Battalion would not be able to stop him from blocking your door to ask for your hand in marriage."
Gu Yun frowned: "A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen. It's full of nonsense."
Shen Yi saw that his expression was not right and asked: "What's wrong? What did the Emperor say when he called you into the palace?"
Gu Yun was silent for a moment and lowered his voice: "The Emperor wants to punish Duke Feng."
Shen Yi was shocked: "What!"
Duke Feng's surname was Zhang, and his courtesy name was Feng Han. He had been the head of the Lingshu Temple for eighteen years. When Shen Yi was still in the Lingshu Temple, he worked under him. Now he was sixty years old and had been in the Lingshu Temple all his life. He had never married, had no wives, concubines, children, or grandchildren, and was not interested in men.
It was said that the servant girls who served tea in his residence were all made of iron. Other than himself, there was only an old dog that was about to die. However, it was said that even Shen Yi had never been there, let alone other people. Duke Feng's temperament was eccentric, and he was not willing to have guests in his home. This old man had spent his whole life working on fire engines and steel armor. Other than when Gu Yun reorganized the Black Iron Battalion, he stood up for them once. At other times, he was too lazy to even care about people, let alone politics. How could such a person who stood aloof from worldly affairs anger the Emperor?
Shen Yi: "Why?"
Gu Yun: "Duke Feng Han submitted a memorial yesterday, objecting to the 'Decree Law'. The Emperor was furious."
Shen Yi: "He has always been against it. Since the day the Decree Law was introduced, he has not stopped. I heard from my old colleagues that he would submit a memorial every three days, rain or shine. The Emperor has always ignored him. Why did he suddenly …"
The Decree Law was the decree that restricted the long-armed foresters among the people. When it was first introduced, it was a heated discussion for a while. However, it was later overshadowed by the uproar caused by the drumming order.
"Duke Feng Han's temper … Sigh, you didn't see what he wrote in the memorial the day before. He said that the Decree Law does not restrict long-armed foresters, but the wisdom of the people. In the long run, the country will no longer be a country. He is waiting for foreigners to come and seize the border gate of Daliang. I think he almost pointed at the Emperor's nose and called him a national thief. In fact, the Emperor did not want to lower himself to the same level as him. It's just that the incident in Nan Jiang this time made the Emperor's heart knot, and it hasn't been untied for a whole winter.
The old man hit the nail on the head. "Gu Yun paused and shook his head." Before I left today, the Emperor called me and said, 'I have been cautious and conscientious since I took the throne. Why is there no peace in this country?' What else can I say? "
The Emperor Long An had only been on the throne for a few years. First, his brother colluded with the Dongying people to rebel. Then, the officials of the border colluded with the bandits to rebel. Each incident seemed to be a great mockery. The Violet Gold Black Market had become a sore point for him.
Shen Yi did not say anything. The two of them walked side by side to the inner courtyard. They both knew that although Duke Feng Han was seeking death, his words were not without reason.
In the future, the long-armed foresters among the people would be restricted. From then on, how many new technologies could the Lingshu Temple produce in a year? Moreover, the Lingshu Temple would always prioritize military steel armor. What room would there be for civilian technology to develop in the future?
Shen Yi asked, "Can you protect him?"
Gu Yun looked up at the twilight sky at the end of the imperial capital and sighed, "I don't know. I'll try my best."
Shen Yi nodded. After a while, he suddenly said, "Marshal, I grew up in the capital, but sometimes I feel like I can't breathe."
Gu Yun handed over the wine jar without saying a word.
Shen Yi took a sip of his home-brewed wine and was choked by the strong liquor. He reached out and patted Gu Yun on the back, "We're all preparing to celebrate your birthday. Don't be so serious when we go in later."
The two of them then stood in the cloister, and, sipping at one another, they emptied the jug of wine.
Wine could relieve worries, warm blood, and make people put aside the important matters in front of them and relax for a short time.
However, when they entered the inner courtyard, Gu Yun was still shocked.
He saw that Ge Chen had dug out many scrapped iron puppets in the marquis' mansion. He didn't know how long it took him to repair them. The group of black-faced puppets moved as usual, moving back and forth as if they were flying. They took off their armor and weapons and lined up in a row. Each of them held two satin fans in their hands and danced in a daze in the courtyard. Madam Cao, as the only flesh and blood among them, was leading the dance in red and green.
Gu Yun, "..."
Shen Yi shook his head and sighed, "What a genius."
Gu Yun, "... What?"
Shen Yi put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Ge Chen, that brat, is really a genius. When I think about how this genius took over the First Fire Machine Steel Armor from me, I simply... Tsk, I wish I could snatch him and bring him to Nanjiang."
Gu Yun, "..."
He felt that General Shen's words were strange.
Changgeng really did make a bowl of birthday noodles for Gu Yun. Last time, he only cracked an egg and even broke the eggshell. Unexpectedly, a scholar who had been away for three days had to be looked at with new eyes. When he came back to cook again, his standard was simply incomparable.
He did so well that Gu Yun didn't mention anything like "a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen" in front of him. He almost ate the bowl as well.
After three bowls of yellow soup, the people in the courtyard became undisciplined and out of control.
Shen Yi sighed and said, "For so many years, from the capital to the Western Regions, to Beijiang, and then to Loulan, you were everywhere. Now that you're suddenly gone, my heart feels strange."
Gu Yun, "Stop talking nonsense and drink."
Ge Chen ran over and said sincerely, "General Shen, I know some jianghu friends in the Southwest. If you have any inconvenient things in the future, you can ask them to do it!"
Shen Yi looked at him with tears in his eyes, "There's no need for jianghu friends. Can you give me one of your wooden birds?"
The two of them held hands and looked at each other with tears in their eyes. They ran to the side and talked about "how to extend the life of the Fire Machine" with spittle flying everywhere. They were punished by Gu Yun with three bowls each.
Ge Chen almost rolled under the table after three bowls. Cao Chunhua went crazy and rolled into a ball with the iron puppets in the courtyard. Changgeng took care of this and that and was in dire straits.
In the end, they all drank too much.
Shen Yi pulled Gu Yun and nagged, "Zi Xi … Zi Xi, your Gu family is at the heart of the storm, burp … always at the heart of the storm, you have to be … be careful …"
Gu Yun lay on the wine jar and didn't want to move. She was too lazy to speak and just laughed. Once she laughed, she couldn't stop. Tears came out of her eyes. She laughed and thought, "I'm the only one left in the Gu family."
Shen Yi stood up shakily, took two steps sideways, and fell to the ground with a loud bang. He was still muttering, "His … His Majesty is afraid of you."
It wasn't certain who the Emperor was afraid of, but Changgeng was a little afraid of them. He hurriedly called for the family guards and imperial guards to come forward and help Shen Yi up, "Quickly carry General Shen away."
Gu Yun leaned on the table and pressed her forehead with an unfathomable smile. If it weren't for her unfocused gaze, she would really look like a sober person.
Shen Yi was helped up by the guards in a flurry, but he still refused to be obedient. As he struggled, he vaguely said: "You … Gu Zixi, in your heart … you have let go, but the Emperor, the Emperor's heart cannot let go. He is always afraid of you, just like the previous Emperor. How can he not be afraid? Back then, they destroyed you so much, but you didn't die. The Black Iron Battalion is still … still so mighty. Those people thought, if they were in your shoes, how would they take revenge? Judging others by their own standards, Zi Xi … Everyone in the world is judging others by their own standards … "
Changgeng's alcohol tolerance was average. He was forced to drink a lot by Gu Yun. Originally, he was just barely holding on to a thread of sobriety. Who knew that after hearing this, he suddenly quivered and was stunned that Shen Yi said he was sober.
What did "they destroyed you so much" mean?
He wasn't sure if Shen Yi was talking nonsense from a drunkard. He couldn't help but take a step forward to hear more clearly.
Who knew that after Shen Yi screamed for a while, she turned around and held onto a pillar to vomit until she became a mess. She vomited herself into a pile of mud and weakly fell down. She had directly fainted from drinking.
Changgeng had no choice but to let the people who were still sober carry the drunkards away one by one.
In the end, only a few iron puppets were still dutifully performing their duties. White steam was slowly rising from their heads.
The laughter in the capital gradually faded away.
Gu Yun was half lying on the table. She seemed to have lost her sense of direction. She muttered almost inaudibly, "Promising, they were all carried away."
She still had the face to talk about others. Changgeng sighed and coaxed her in a low voice, "You are the most promising. Let's walk back. I'll support you, okay?"
Gu Yun raised his head and looked at him. His eyes were too dark and deep. Chang Geng, who had just been suppressed by his gaze, felt the tipsiness in his head again.
"Ah Yan …" Gu Yun suddenly called out in a low voice.
Changgeng frowned.
"Ah Yan," Gu Yun laughed. He seemed a little helpless and had his usual cynical sarcasm, "Let me tell you a secret. Don't tell anyone … your father, he … is really not a good person."
Changgeng, "…"
What kind of nonsense was this?!
Gu Yun laughed softly and muttered incoherently, "Who knows that I am in the throes of frost and snow? Who will get drunk with me …"
Changgeng did not intend to continue staring at the drunken cat. He reached out to help Gu Yun up and dragged him into the bedroom. Who knew that Gu Yun would be very clingy after drinking too much. He scratched his body like a lecher. Changgeng was irritated by him and wanted to throw him directly on the bed. He looked down at Marshal Gu's hard bed with a thin mattress and could not bear to do so.
Who knew that Gu Yun would grab the tendon on his elbow when he turned around. Changgeng was suddenly hit and his arm lost strength. He almost dropped Gu Yun. Just as he was about to reach out to catch him, he forgot that his head was heavy and his feet were light. He was knocked down by Gu Yun.
Gu Yun choked and gasped for a long time. He patted Changgeng's back and said nonsense, "Aiyo baby, you killed me."
Changgeng leaned on him. The seed that he tried to bury in his heart silently sprouted in the depths of the darkness.
He stared at Gu Yun's pale chin and suddenly asked in a low voice, "Who are you calling?"
Gu Yun did not say a word.
Changgeng felt that he was drunk. Otherwise, how could he be so bold?
He suddenly leaned forward and pinched Gu Yun's chin, "Godfather, who are you calling?"
The word "godfather" seemed to remind Gu Yun of something. He said vaguely, "Changgeng".
The word was like a blunt piece of iron that lightly scraped Changgeng's ear. There was a roar in his mind. The words "let nature take its course" pushed his back. He bent down and kissed Gu Yun as if he was possessed.
Gu Yun was stunned at first. After a long time, he reacted slowly. He grabbed Changgeng's collar in a daze and suddenly lifted him off his body.
Changgeng, "…"
His back hit Gu Yun's rock-like hard bed. He immediately sobered up. The blood drained from his face. He panicked and thought to himself, "What am I doing?"
Gu Yun looked at him condescendingly. Changgeng opened his mouth and wanted to call out "godfather". He opened his mouth but could not speak.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yun suddenly laughed. The drunkard did not recognize him at all. He reached out and touched his face. He said in a muffled voice, "Good boy."
Changgeng, "…"
The next moment, Gu Yun hugged the stiff Changgeng and kissed his forehead to his lips in a serious manner. He licked open his lips very gently and gave him a long and lingering torture. At the same time, his hands were not idle. He actually fumbled to untie Changgeng's clothes.
Changgeng felt that he was about to explode. He held Gu Yun's waist with one hand. His hands were trembling, but he endured and did not increase his strength.
Gu Yun seemed to feel his trembling. This person had the demeanor of a young master from an aristocratic family in bed. He touched Changgeng's belt and smiled drunkenly. He gently coaxed, "Don't be afraid. Follow me and I will treat you well in the future."
Changgeng lowered his voice to a thin line and asked hoarsely, "Who am I?"
Gu Yun was stunned when she heard this. She stood on the spot and thought. Unfortunately, her brain did not work at all. Not only did she not think of any conclusions, she was also entangled by Changgeng's belt. Gu Yun struggled for a long time. The more she untied, the tighter it became. In the end, she was exhausted. She leaned to the side and fell asleep.
Changgeng clenched his teeth in the silence. He used all his strength to count his long and trembling breaths. After counting fifty to sixty times, he finally gathered enough strength to get up and push Gu Yun away.
He quickly pulled his belt out of Gu Yun's hands. He laid her flat and pulled the blanket over her. After that, he could not stay any longer and turned to run.
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