Early the next morning, the fully recovered Yang Fan was about to return to the Thousand Horsemen Camp when someone from the Palace came to pass on an edict for him to enter the Palace.
Yang Fan stayed in the Palace until almost noon before leaving the Palace in a mess with the officials from the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Censorate. All the officials hurried back to the yamen and rushed to tell the news to their own officials and all the officials who were close to them.
The Emperor had decided to move the capital! No, it wasn't a decision. He had already started moving the capital!
Wu Yizong also attended the Imperial Conference at Wu Cheng Hall. When he saw Yang Fan, Wu Yizong's expression immediately changed between green and white. It was as if a large dye shop had opened on his face. However, he did not immediately pounce viciously and bite like a mad dog as Yang Fan thought. This surprised Yang Fan.
Yang Fan already knew that the prostitutes and patrons of the brothel had been implicated. From his actions, he could guess that although Wu Yizong would take revenge on him, he would not do so with great fanfare. He had already lost all face in front of him and would not continue to lose face in front of all the people of Luoyang.
However, at the time, his ruffian and scoundrel behavior had been seen by several court officials. It must have spread in officialdom, so Yang Fan guessed that when he saw him in the Palace, he would not have many misgivings. Perhaps he would immediately attack him on the spot like last time.
He had not expected Wu Yizong to know how to endure. This made Yang Fan look at him in a different light. Yang Fan was not afraid of a mad dog that would bark at him endlessly if he stamped his foot. However, if this mad dog knew how to endure and evolved from a mad dog to a poisonous snake, then he had to be on guard.
The Emperor had not summoned them to discuss matters. He had given them a direct order. He ordered them to immediately hand over the matters at hand and set off the next morning for Chang 'an to make preparations for the capital move.
When Wu Yizong heard this, he no longer stared fiercely at Yang Fan. His aunt had indeed decided to move the capital. He was one of the advance officials. If the emperor moved back to Chang 'an, as a general of the imperial army, there was no reason for him to command the army in Luoyang. This army had to be handed over to the Southern Office.
Through the relocation of the capital, the Emperor reduced his power and strengthened the power of the Political Affairs Hall. The expansion of the power of the Prime Ministers was actually strengthening the power of the Li Tang family. Wu Yizong's mind was filled with ideas on how to seize power in Chang 'an. He had no time to care about Yang Fan.
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Yang Fan immediately ordered a personal guard to deliver a message to the Thousand Horsemen Camp, telling Sima Xuliang to hand over the Black Tortoise Gate's defense, pack up and prepare to depart from the camp. After sending a personal guard to the Thousand Horsemen Camp, Yang Fan hurriedly returned to the Yang Estate. As soon as he entered the door, he ordered, "Go, summon Gu Da, Gu Er, Gu San, and Miss Gu to the study!"
The Gu brothers' defensive zone was located in the outer residence of the Yang Estate. They were the fastest to arrive. Very soon, they stood in front of Yang Fan with their heads held high and chests puffed out. Each of them was in high spirits and high spirits. When they looked at Yang Fan, their gazes were filled with kindness and joy.
They already knew that Ah Lang had slept in their sister's arms and was seen by everyone in the residence. Logically speaking, from their standpoint, they should have beaten this bastard who took advantage of their sister and ruined her innocence. But … the three brothers were bursting with joy.
They didn't care about the strange gazes of the servants in the residence. Their only regret was that when they found Ah Lang, they were in the bedroom. Moreover, Ah Lang was still sick. Even if he had done something 'bad', it would be limited. If he had done it on the bed … it would have been perfect.
Don't think that the Gu brothers were trying to curry favor with the rich and powerful by pushing their own sister into the fire pit. In fact, they never thought about what benefits they could get if their sister became Ah Lang's woman. They were happy, and they were happy for their sister from the bottom of their hearts.
Among the three brothers, the youngest Third Brother's children were already old enough to buy soy sauce, but their little sister was still living alone with her sister-in-law. She had long passed the marriageable age. The three brothers loved their sister dearly, so it would be strange if they didn't worry about her. At her age, coupled with her status, she was neither suitable for a high position nor a low one. Who should she marry?
Now, as long as their little sister was willing to marry someone, and that person was a good leader, they would thank their ancestors. Not to mention that the person was Yang Fan, a young and handsome man with such status. In their opinion, their little sister must be very lucky to have found such a perfect husband.
As for the fact that she couldn't be the legal wife, they had never thought about it. With Ah Lang's status, it was already too high for their Gu family's daughter to be his concubine. Even if they were promoted to civil status, ordinary families wouldn't be willing to marry a woman from their family as a wife. This kind of influence could only be gradually removed after two generations of good citizens.
Moreover, they didn't think that they could kill a person within ten steps with outstanding martial arts. Being a martial arts master was never a symbol of status and identity in the orthodox society. Most of the Wanderers in the legendary novels had a noble master who couldn't even truss a chicken. Wanderers were the group of people who were the furthest from the social order. They repeatedly preached how they despised etiquette, looked down on the rich and powerful, and ignored the hierarchy, which proved their lowly status and lowly identity.
Just like in the era where men were superior to women, there were jealous shrews, but they were pitifully few. Because of this, the occasional appearance of a jealous shrew would be recorded as a miracle by the literati. What was preached would never be what people were used to. They were people of this era, not monsters with water in their heads. How could they have such strange and inappropriate ideas?
Yang Fan had seen the martial arts of the three brothers. None of them was a match for him, but if it was one against two, he might only have a slight upper hand. If the three brothers attacked together, he would definitely lose. Therefore, he trusted the three brothers' martial arts skills very much. But when it came to brains … Yang Fan trusted Miss Gu more.
Therefore, when he saw the three brothers gathered, Yang Fan didn't wait for Miss Gu to arrive and explained the purpose of gathering them, "I have to go to Chang 'an immediately. You go back and pack your luggage. We'll leave in the afternoon."
The three brothers didn't hesitate and replied respectfully, "Yes!"
Yang Fan continued, "I'll leave tomorrow. You go ahead of me. There's something I need you to do. I'll tell Miss Gu what you need to do. When the time comes, you just need to listen to your younger sister's arrangements."
The three Gu brothers nodded repeatedly, thinking to themselves, "As brothers-in-law, we're not as close as our younger sister to him after all!"
When the three brothers went out, Gu Zhuting, who was dressed in a short green robe, happened to rush over. The eldest brother winked at his younger sister, the second brother gave his younger sister a thumbs up, and the third brother made a face at his younger sister. In the face of her three brothers' friendly teasing, Gu Zhuting's pretty face immediately turned red.
She hadn't told her family about Yang Fan's promise to her. She wanted to hide this happiness and joy in her heart and slowly savor it in the middle of the night. She wanted to wait for Ah Lang to fulfill his promise in public, and then turn it into a surprise for her family.
However, in the minds of the three Gu brothers, apart from being vigilant and experienced when killing people, they were usually extremely simple-minded. Since the younger sister had hugged Ah Lang to sleep for a whole night, her chastity was naturally his. Was there even a need to think about it? He couldn't refuse it. If he dared to refuse, the three brothers would …
Of course, the Gu family owed Ah Lang a great debt of gratitude that could never be repaid in this lifetime. No matter what he had done, they couldn't use violence against him. But … Ah Lang was such a good person, so he couldn't let the younger sister suffer, could he?
"Ah Lang!"
Gu Zhuting said to Yang Fan with a blushing face. Her long eyelashes drooped as she stared at the tips of her feet. Her toes were drawing circles on the green bricks. The shy look of a young girl was exceptionally charming.
Unfortunately, her coquettish look was useless to the blind. Yang Fan was lying on the table, holding a brush and scribbling something. He said to her without raising his head, "I entered the palace today. I've received the emperor's edict that I have to go to Chang 'an tomorrow morning. I guess I won't be back for a year."
Gu Zhuting let out an "ah" and her pretty face suddenly turned pale. Because of her identity as a woman, it was convenient for her to enter and exit the Inner Residence. She had been responsible for the security of the Inner Residence, so it was impossible for her to leave with Ah Lang. Ah Lang would be gone for a year, then …
Yang Fan continued, "I've just told your three brothers that you will leave with them in the afternoon. Go to Chang 'an ahead of me and do something important for me."
Gu Zhuting's heart immediately flew back to heaven from hell. Didn't this mean that not only could she stay by the best man's side, but she would also be alone during this time? Gu Zhuting, who had just come back to life, answered crisply with a misty look in her eyes, "Yes!"
Pursing her lips, Gu Zhuting couldn't help but say, "The Empress did not reveal anything in advance, and without the discussion of all the civil and military officials of the imperial court, such a major matter as moving the capital was done just like that. As expected, she was acting on her own volition!" She added sweetly in her heart, "The Emperor is wise!"
"Oh?"
Yang Fan, who had been writing, paused and looked up at her. He chuckled and said, "You're wrong about this. Moving the capital is such a big thing, involving politics, economy, military, culture, education, construction, transportation … She also has to convince those princes and ministers who have too many interests in Luoyang and are unwilling to move the capital. It involves too many aspects.
The safest way is to use the power of the whole country to arrange it through the court. If it were ten years ago … No, even five years ago, the Emperor would have done this. Now she has given the court a 'Act first and report later'. It's not because the Emperor is arbitrary, but precisely because she has no confidence to sway everyone's opinion. That's why she decided to set an established fact so that no one can stop her. "
"Oh …"
Gu Zhuting answered softly and said with infinite admiration, "Ah Lang really has sharp eyes. I didn't see it at all."
She said it just now because she was full of joy, and also because she wanted Ah Lang to think that she was not a female warrior. Obviously, Ah Lang liked intelligent women. But since she guessed wrong … it didn't matter. Which man didn't like obedient and obedient girls who admired and worshipped him?
Yang Fan was writing with his head down. As he was writing, he suddenly looked up at Gu Zhuting and chuckled, leaving Gu Zhuting confused.
Yang Fan noticed Gu Zhuting's careful and flattering mind, but he didn't find it annoying at all. Instead, he was very happy.
No wonder when he read history books when he was young, he often found it strange that treacherous officials were known to be treacherous, but the fatuous emperor liked them. Now he understood. Who would like a person who contradicted him all day long and reprimanded him at the slightest provocation? If treacherous officials were as cute as Ah Gu, he would rather be a fatuous emperor.
In fact, in the Yang family, wasn't he just an emperor?
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