The earth fire outside the Xi Nuan Pavilion would add charcoal on its own every fifteen minutes. The bowl-sized gears were interlocked. Whether it was adding charcoal or blowing smoke, they were all done in an orderly manner. Wisps of white steam rose in spirals behind them, and from time to time, they would let out a low sigh.
In the Xi Nuan Pavilion, the monarch and subject were at loggerheads, one kneeling and one standing. Li Feng's hand tightly gripped the Nine Revolutions Coiled Dragon table. His veins were bulging as he said word by word, "Say it again."
After Gu Yun finished speaking, he also realized that he shouldn't have contradicted the Emperor too much. He immediately took a step back, "This subject will die ten thousand deaths."
Li Feng's face was ashen, and he nervously turned the white jade ring on his finger.
Gu Yun said in a low voice, "It's just that the matter of the Ancient Silk Road will affect the whole situation. Your Majesty, please take your time to consider this matter."
Li Feng asked gloomily, "Marquis of Stability feels that other than you, there is no one else in Zhen's hands that can be used?"
At this point, the only thing left to do was to quarrel. Gu Yun simply kept silent and pretended to be dead.
At this time, Zhu Xiaojiao suddenly walked quickly into the Xi Nuan Pavilion and reported in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, Imperial Uncle Wang has arrived. He's waiting outside the hall for the imperial decree …"
When the Emperor was furious, if there were officials who came to visit, the eunuchs would usually advise them to wait outside the hall for a while. Zhu Xiaojiao was deliberately helping them out. Gu Yun looked at him and blinked slightly, indicating that he appreciated the kindness.
The corners of Li Feng's eyes twitched a few times, and his face stretched into a few harsh arcs. He looked down at Gu Yun and coldly said, "Marquis of Stability should go outside the hall to cool off. Otherwise, you'll be dizzy from the charcoal fire and not know what to say and what not to say!"
Gu Yun said, "Your Majesty, please take care of your imperial body."
With that, he bowed and left, nimbly kneeling in the snow outside the Xi Nuan Pavilion. Sure enough, it was cooler.
Li Feng gloomily stared at his back. The Imperial Uncle, Wang Bao, who came in later, didn't even dare to breathe loudly as he stood to the side and waited. A small palace attendant who didn't have eyes wanted to step forward to clean up the ink that had been scattered on the Marquis of Stability's body, but he was nailed to the spot by Zhu Xiaojiao's gaze. Immediately, he froze like a cicada in winter. A moment later, he stuck close to the wall and ran away.
Wang Bao examined the Emperor's expression as he advised in a low voice: "Emperor, that Marquis of Stability is young and full of vigor. He's also used to living with the rough men at the border and sometimes doesn't know when to advance or retreat. Emperor shouldn't get angry over him."
Li Feng did not say anything for a long time.
Back then, Emperor Yuanhe ultimately chose his eldest son, Li Feng, to be the Crown Prince because he was diligent and didn't lose his skills. He had the demeanor of a wise emperor and was more than enough to be a conservative emperor. When Li Feng had just succeeded the throne, he was indeed in line with the previous Emperor's expectations. However, Emperor Yuanhe had indeed left him with a mess. The current Daliang dynasty needed an emperor who couldn't be lacking in courage and foresight. A conservative emperor wasn't enough.
Ever since the Emperor Long An ascended the throne, it could be said that everything had gone wrong. In the middle of the night, he would often ask himself, "Am I able to shoulder this world?"
However, if a person — especially a person of high status and power — always asked himself this question, it would be more and more difficult for others to question him in the same way.
Wang Bao's face was about to stiffen from smiling: "Your Majesty …"
Li Feng suddenly interrupted him: "Imperial Uncle, I have a question in my heart for a while. The Xuan Tie Tiger Tally was given by the Martial Emperor. Why did Gu Yun take the initiative to return it to me?"
Wang Bao was stunned. He gathered his courage and glanced at the Emperor Long An. He felt that this question was simply too boring. Could it be that the Emperor was still hoping that Gu Yun would make a big fuss or simply rebel?
"This …" Wang Guojiu's mind quickly turned, but he didn't know what to say. He could only use the same flattery to respond to the ever-changing Emperor's heart and replied, "Your Majesty is a wise ruler throughout the ages. This subject and others will do our best to serve you. It's only a small black iron tiger tally. Even if Your Majesty wants our lives, who would have any complaints?"
Li Feng laughed softly: "I'm afraid that's not necessarily the case. Imperial Uncle, I only understood today. In fact, whether Gu Yun handed over the Xuan Tie Tiger Tally or not, it was the same. How many of the generals in important positions were in the Gu Family's faction? Nowadays, Marquis' words are more effective than mine in the military affairs. The Tiger Tally is just an empty object. What use is it to him? "
When Li Feng spoke, his voice was gentle, as if it was suppressed in his throat. It was like a friendly afternoon chat. However, Wang Bao couldn't help but tremble when he heard it. He only felt that the murderous intent in these words was about to overflow.
"I summoned Imperial Uncle to the palace today to talk to you about Loulan. Forget it." Li Feng waved his hand as if he was extremely tired, "My beloved official, please go. I am also tired."
Wang Bao quickly responded and left Xi Nuan Pavilion submissively with his head lowered.
He didn't know what was wrong with this year. It was clearly past the rainy season, but the snow in the capital came one after another. It was always hindering and causing the ground to be dirty. Gu Yun knelt for less than an hour, but a layer of ice had already formed on her court attire. The Xuan Tie on her shoulders was covered in fine snow, and it became unbelievably cold.
Wang Bao hurriedly brushed past him. Glancing at the pale and handsome face of this awe-inspiring Marquis of Stability, Wang Bao sighed inwardly, feeling that it was a pity. However, that was all. Wang Bao was a smart person. He knew who had bestowed him with his current status and knew what he should do.
Just like that, the night in the imperial capital became dark and dense.
After serving Li Feng until he fell asleep, Zhu Xiaojiao mustered up his courage and walked out. He picked up the umbrella and trembled as he came out to see Gu Yun.
Gu Yun was about to melt into the snow. Zhu Xiaojiao used his orchid fingers to hit the grey-robed inner attendant in the corridor: "Dog servant, it's snowing so heavily. Don't you know to give Marquis an umbrella? Are your eyeballs for venting?"
In the eyes of the inner attendant, Zhu Xiaojiao, who was mocked by tens of thousands of people, was already the highest official in the world. He was so frightened that his face turned ashen and he trembled.
Gu Yun blinked away the snow on her eyelashes and said indifferently: "Eunuch, don't scare this child. His Majesty asked me to come out and cool down. How can I cool down with an umbrella?"
Zhu Xiaojiao took three steps and two steps to stand in front of Gu Yun. He stretched out his hand to pat the snowflakes off Gu Yun's body, but unexpectedly, he was the first to cry out, "Aiyo!" His soft and tender fat palm nearly caused a layer of flesh to stick to the black armor on Gu Yun's shoulder. The old eunuch trembled as he complained, "My dear Marquis, why did you quarrel with His Majesty? Kneeling here for an entire night, it would be strange if your legs and feet didn't get sick. Aren't you the one suffering? What are you trying to do? "
Gu Yun smiled: "It's nothing. We martial artists have rough skin and thick flesh. Just now, I was a little hot-headed and spoke too much. Thank you for your concern, Eunuch Zhu."
Zhu Xiaojiao thought for a while and said in a low voice: "Why don't I send someone to invite Yanbei Of Gojoseon and let him enter the palace early tomorrow morning and say a few good words to His Majesty?"
Gu Yun shook her head again: "Don't involve him. It's really nothing."
Zhu Xiaojiao thought about it, but in the end, there was nothing he could do. For a moment, he was afraid that the Emperor Long An would give orders when he woke up, so he didn't dare to leave His Majesty's side for too long. He could only put down the umbrella for Gu Yun.
"Eunuch Zhu," Gu Yun suddenly called out to him and said in a low voice, "Thank you, but you should take the umbrella back."
Zhu Xiaojiao was stunned.
Gu Yun said: "I'll kneel and wait for His Majesty to cool down. You are His Majesty's person … don't let him think too much."
His words were vague, but Zhu Xiaojiao understood. The old eunuch sighed: "If Marquis remembered to be so careful with his words and actions when arguing with His Majesty, why would he have to drink the northwest wind?"
Zhu Xiaojiao also left. Gu Yun exhaled a breath of white air. Bored to death, he carefully pondered what Changgeng had said to him in Huguo Temple — the flood dragon disaster in the East Sea and the mutiny in the Southwest were probably not coincidences.
Slowly, Gu Yun figured out a faint path.
The King of Wei had deployed troops in the East Sea and planned to use a naval battle as a breakthrough.
When Gu Yun took down the rebel army in the East Sea, he didn't waste a single soldier. Compared to the waves that followed, this matter was "light on the head and heavy on the feet."
Because of this, the entire court was in an uproar. The Jiangnan navy was purged from top to bottom. At one point, the Emperor used the power of the Lingshu Temple to create a fleet of sea serpents. This also caused the military expenses of the four armies to become more and more tense.
The greater impact was that the flood dragon disaster in the East Sea gave rise to the "Command Law" that restricted the civilian long-armed master and the drumming order to gather military power in the country. The latter pointed to Gu Yun himself. Thinking back, the Emperor Long An did not attack him for no reason. He was afraid that his actions in Jiangnan could not be hidden from the Emperor's spies.
The promulgation of the drumming order immediately intensified the conflict between the various armies and the court. It was also the source of Fu Zhi Cheng's case.
Gu Yun was in the Southwest and was part of the situation. As a result, he could clearly feel the hand stirring up the water. Someone deliberately provoked the conflict between the mountain bandits and Fu Zhi Cheng and used that idiot Kuai Lantu to intensify it. They waited for the right time to explode in front of Gu Yun. Then, the Nanjiang mountain bandits and Fu Zhi Cheng were treated as a big gift. Through the hands of the Black Iron Battalion, they were sent to the Emperor far away in the capital.
The Emperor Long An would be alarmed to find that even though he had restricted the flow of purple gold within the borders, there was still some coming from outside the borders.
Gu Yun suddenly remembered why he and Shen Yi had been in Loulan for so long but had not been able to find the legendary "Loulan treasure." The Emperor had sent a secret agent who was unfamiliar with the place and people. In just a few days, he dared to submit a report saying that he had found out about the situation.
Was it because the secret agent was too resourceful or was someone deliberately guiding him?
The snow was getting heavier and heavier. Gu Yun shivered violently. Behind him, a plum blossom branch was broken by the heavy snow. It fell to the ground with a crisp sound and died.
Changgeng was awakened by the sound of the broken branch.
Gu Yun had not returned all night. He waited for half the night with his clothes on. He leaned against the headboard in a daze for a moment. It was all a bizarre and variegated nightmare. At this time, the sky was dim and the night had not yet ended. The window lattice was already pale and bright from the falling snow. Changgeng suddenly got up and opened the door, just in time to see Uncle Wang trotting over.
"Uncle Wang, slow down." Changgeng stopped him. "What's the matter?"
In the north wind, the old housekeeper ran with a forehead full of sweat. "Your Highness, there's news from the palace that Marquis somehow contradicted the Emperor yesterday. The Emperor was furious …"
Changgeng's pupils suddenly shrank.
A moment later, a horse left the marquis fu's backyard in the middle of the night. It braved the wind and snow and left in the direction of Huguo Temple.
There was no court assembly the next day. The Emperor Long An did not need to get up so early. However, his liver was too hot and he did not sleep well. When he woke up, his head was dizzy.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Xiaojiao cleverly came over and massaged the Emperor Long An's temples. As she massaged, she said, "Your Majesty, the geranium incense that Master Liao Chi sent last time has the miraculous effect of clearing the heart and calming the nerves. Didn't you say it was good last time when you ordered it? Do you want this old servant to give you some more? "
Li Feng made an "oh" sound. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Is the great master still in the palace?"
For the entire first month, the abbot of Huguo Temple, Master Liao Chi, lived in the palace. On one hand, he prayed for Daliang. On the other hand, he preached scriptures to the Emperor Long An, who was a devout believer in God and Buddha.
Zhu Xiaojiao hurriedly said, "He's here. I heard that the great master got up early to preach in the morning, rain or shine. This old servant saw that Your Majesty's eyelids were a little red. I think you're angry. Why don't we summon the great master to recite scriptures and calm your heart?"
Li Feng laughed and scolded, "Nonsense. Master Liao Chi is a senior monk. Do you think he sings?"
Zhu Xiaojiao hurriedly smiled apologetically and slapped his own mouth, "Look at this old servant's mouth. I'm so short-sighted. I've made a fool of myself again. Although this old servant doesn't understand, every time I hear the sound of Master Liao Chi's wooden fish, I feel that all my worries are gone."
When he mentioned this, Li Feng was indeed moved. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Then I'll have to trouble the great master to run this errand."
Zhu Xiaojiao responded and quickly gave the order. He silently served the emperor to wash up and change clothes. Li Feng suddenly asked, "Where's Gu Yun?"
Zhu Xiaojiao wanted to mention it but didn't dare to. When he heard him ask, he hurriedly said, "Replying to Your Majesty, Marquis is still kneeling outside the warm room."
Li Feng seemed to snort in a low voice with an indifferent expression. Zhu Xiaojiao didn't dare to mention it again. He secretly hoped that the old monk, who looked unreliable, would be of some use.
It didn't take long for Master Liao Chi to arrive at the warm room in the west. He walked past with his head lowered, as if he didn't see the snowman outside the hall.
However, it was unknown what the old monk of Huguo Temple gave the Emperor Long An. Not long after he went in, Zhu Xiaojiao ran out with a gust of wind. He first arrogantly announced the decree, "Your Majesty has decreed that the Marquis of An Ding has committed a breach of etiquette in front of the emperor. He has no respect for the emperor. The commander's seal will be temporarily confiscated. He is ordered to return to his residence and reflect behind closed doors. He will be fined three months of salary."
Gu Yun was stunned.
Zhu Xiaojiao hurriedly gave him a look.
Gu Yun, "… This subject accepts the decree and thanks for the emperor's grace."
Zhu Xiaojiao slapped his thigh and raised his voice to call the eunuch at the side, "Look at these blind monkeys! Why are you still in a daze? Quickly help Marquis up! "
Before he could finish, Gu Yun had already stood up on his own. His limbs felt as if they were pricked by needles. Through his court attire and steel armor, his entire body was soaked by the snow. An indescribable chill unscrupulously drilled into his bones. Gu Yun cupped his hands towards Zhu Xiaojiao and walked out of the palace with a heavy heart. At the same time, he wondered in his heart, "Has this old bald donkey been possessed by someone? Why did he think of saving me?"
… Until he saw the Changgeng waiting for him outside the palace gate.
Gu Yun, "So it was you who moved Huguo Temple. I was wondering why that old bald donkey was so kind."
Ever since Changgeng heard that Gu Yun had knelt in the heavy snow for an entire night, the Wu 'er bone in his body began to stir regardless of the occasion. However, he could not panic. He could only repeatedly recite the Clear Heart Mantra and paced back and forth in front of the palace gate like a trapped beast. Although he was prepared, Gu Yun was in a more sorry state than he imagined. Changgeng's mind rumbled and he felt that his surging blood was about to rush up to his throat.
Without any explanation, he wrapped Gu Yun in a thick fox fur coat and reached out to touch her faintly blue face. Gu Yun had been frozen for an entire night. No matter how thick her skin and flesh were, her reaction speed was much slower at this time and he touched her face.
However, this action was too ambiguous. Gu Yun did not know whether to hide or not. She could only casually joke, "Have you figured out the weight of my bones?"
She did not know if this person was broad-minded or really heartless. He was already in this state, yet he was still joking around!
Changgeng did not say a word as he dragged Gu Yun into the carriage. His heart ached so much that the rims of his eyes turned red.
As soon as they got into the carriage, the warmth hit them in the face. Gu Yun rubbed her hands and turned to ask Changgeng, "Is there wine? Give me a bowl."
Changgeng did not say a word.
Gu Yun tilted her head and saw that his eyes were so red that it was as if blood was about to drip out. She could not help but laugh, "Heavens, I have never seen you cry since you were young. Today, I have learned something new. Quickly let Uncle Wang bring a basin. It just so happens that the Emperor punished me with three months of salary. We can rely on you to eat."
Of course, Changgeng did not want to cry. He was forcefully suppressing the murderous intent in his heart that was mixed with hallucinations. His entire person was about to explode.
Gu Yun finally noticed that there was something wrong with his gaze, "Changgeng?"
Changgeng forced himself to calm down and squeezed out a sentence from his throat, "Adoptive Father, change your clothes first."
His voice was so hoarse that it sounded like two pieces of rusty old ironware scraping against each other. Gu Yun frowned when she heard it. She paid attention to it and quickly untied her drenched hair bun. She took dry clothes from the carriage and changed into them.
Changgeng did not dare to look at her. He sat at the side and lowered his eyes. He followed the method that Miss Chen taught him and breathed in and out. However, the rustling sound in his ears was clearly so weak that it could be easily drowned out by the rumbling of the carriage. At this moment, it was as if it had become a spirit. It kept drilling into his ears. The more he breathed in and out, the more impatient he became.
Gu Yun placed the crown on the small table in the carriage. With a click, Changgeng finally regained his senses, "I boiled some medicine to expel the cold. You first …"
His voice stopped abruptly. Gu Yun's ice-cold fingers pinched his wrist.
Changgeng quivered and wanted to withdraw his hand. However, Gu Yun held his wrist tightly. He could only whisper, "Adoptive Father …"
"I don't know much about the pulse," Gu Yun's expression became serious, "but I roughly know what it means to suffer from qi deviation during cultivation."
Changgeng hurriedly avoided his gaze.
"Changgeng, tell me the truth. Are you …" Gu Yun paused unnaturally. Even if his heart was as wide as the sea and his skin was as thick as the city wall, he still felt that it was not easy to say the following words.
Changgeng seemed to have a premonition. He slowly raised his red eyes.
Gu Yun was silent for a while. He steeled his heart and mustered more courage than contradicting the Emperor. He said with difficulty, "Do you have something that is hard to say?"
Changgeng panted a few times and asked in a low voice, "Adoptive Father, what are you talking about?"
Gu Yun, "… Men and women."
Whether it was the Clear Heart Technique or the Clear Lung Technique, they were blown apart word by word and turned into ashes.
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