Xie Anci’s expression changed upon hearing this.
Gu Lingyu had always been nasty; only moments ago, with others present, had he been slightly more civil.
Every time he got the chance, he would humiliate Xie Anci, and sometimes Xie Anci couldn’t be bothered with him, while other times he would simply resort to fists.
“Who I like is none of your business. It’s not you I like, yet you meddle so much.” Xie Anci glared furiously at Gu Lingyu.
“The Emperor is my good brother, and he doesn’t like you, so why do you keep clinging on?”
“Besides, with your status and position, getting as many male concubines or young escorts as you want is just a matter of a word.”
Gu Lingyu snorted coldly. Good thing it wasn’t him Xie Anci liked, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to withstand such relentless pursuit.
“You can’t just substitute someone else when you love a person. You don’t understand” Xie Anci’s expression was indifferent, his eyes lowered, hiding the emotions within.
“You’re right, I don’t understand. But if I liked someone who didn’t like me back, I would never pester them.” Gu Lingyu declared with conviction.
Xie Anci gave a faint laugh. “I hope you remember what you said today.”
“Hmph! I would never be like you.” With that, Gu Lingyu clamped his legs against the horse’s belly and galloped toward the palace.
“Hey! What are you doing? Put me down!” Xie Anci cried out in alarm as he found himself trapped in Gu Lingyu’s arms, carried off toward the palace.
“Regent! Regent!” The carriage driver, seeing Gu Lingyu and Xie Anci ride off, hurriedly chased after them.
Xie Anci jolted along on horseback, his whole body feeling as if his bones had come apart, the pain making his vision blur and darken again and again.
“Whoa” Gu Lingyu reined in the horse, bringing it to a stop.
Xie Anci’s face was pale as he suppressed his rage. “Gu Lingyu, have you gone mad!”
But Gu Lingyu was completely unconcerned. “I was just bringing you to the palace faster, so we wouldn’t be late.”
Xie Anci gritted his teeth. “Is that how you carry someone? Did I ask you to?”
“Hmph, who told you to be so frail.” Gu Lingyu mocked, then asked with puzzlement:
“Don’t you practice martial arts regularly? How did you become so weak after just a few years apart? Looks like you need to train properly.”
Looking at Xie Anci’s pale face, Gu Lingyu found it strange. Xie Anci had always been in excellent health, it was impossible for a mere horse ride to reduce him to this state.
Xie Anci shot Gu Lingyu a glare. The upturned corners of his eyes were slightly flushed, his gaze misted with moisture, his cherry lips slightly parted beautiful, yet with a hint of fragility.
The sight made Gu Lingyu’s Adam’s apple bob, and he turned his head away, not daring to look at him any longer.
“Let’s go, let’s go.” Gu Lingyu walked inside, feigning nonchalance.
Xie Anci rubbed his waist, taking a long while to recover.
It felt like his wound had split open again.
Xie Anci walked into the palace hall with small steps.
When everyone inside saw Xie Anci arriving for morning court, they all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Lu Yunzheng’s eyes lit up upon seeing Xie Anci, and he hurried forward to pay his respects.
“Regent, has your health improved?” Lu Yunzheng asked with concern.
Xie Anci froze for a moment, then paused. “Much better.”
“What happened to your health?” Gu Lingyu leaned in to ask.
Lu Yunzheng rolled his eyes at Gu Lingyu and reluctantly explained:
“His Highness the Regent ran into some thugs a couple of days ago and was injured.”
“No wonder. You’d better take care of yourself. If a mere thug could injure you, it seems you’re not doing so well these days.” Gu Lingyu wore a knowing expression, patting Xie Anci’s shoulder with a laugh.
Xie Anci’s expression darkened. Was Gu Lingyu threatening him?
“Rest assured, dealing with you is more than within my abilities.” Xie Anci took a step back, avoiding Gu Lingyu.
“You…” Gu Lingyu frowned.
Was that saying he was even worse than a thug?
“If you’ve got the guts, let’s have a match after court?” Gu Lingyu refused to admit defeat.
After years of training and experience, he refused to believe he still couldn’t beat Xie Anci.
“No thanks. I have no interest in teaching a child a lesson.”
“Who are you calling a child? I came of age long ago, and I’ve earned plenty of military merits at the border. I could definitely beat you now.”
Gu Lingyu was displeased. He grabbed Xie Anci by the collar, his voice full of anger.
He admitted that he used to be no match for Xie Anci, but times had changed.
Besides, Xie Anci always treated him like a child, which left Gu Lingyu utterly frustrated.
He was clearly about the same age as Li Jinchen, so why did Xie Anci regard Li Jinchen as an equal, a grown man, while treating him like a kid?
Gu Lingyu felt a suffocating frustration in his chest. He just wanted justice for himself.
“Young General Gu, please let go. The Regent is still injured.”
“And this is the imperial court. What do you think you’re doing?” Lu Yunzheng hurriedly pulled Gu Lingyu back. Though he was a civil official powerless in a fight, he still wanted to protect Xie Anci.
Xie Anci gave a disdainful sneer. He knew Gu Lingyu wouldn’t dare start a fight here.
Seeing Xie Anci’s mocking expression, Gu Lingyu’s fury flared higher and higher. He hated nothing more than that look Xie Anci gave him.
It made him feel utterly defeated.
“Young General Gu, don’t be rash.”
“Young General Gu, His Majesty will arrive shortly. Don’t do this, if the Emperor sees, it won’t look good.”
“That’s right, that’s right. Young General Gu, if you have any grievances, tell the Emperor later. You mustn’t resort to violence.”
“…”
Seeing this, the crowd rushed to mediate. Some feared Xie Anci would be hurt, while others were practically hoping Gu Lingyu would throw a punch.
And Nangoboyu, Nangoboyu was the one fanning the flames. He wished Gu Lingyu would just beat Xie Anci to death with one punch.
Xie Anci had long controlled the court’s affairs and opposed him at every turn.
Even the dogs Xie Anci raised opposed him everywhere, and it was more than he could bear.
For a moment, the entire court was in an uproar. If anyone outside had seen it, their jaws would have dropped.
“His Majesty arrives ”
At the eunuch’s loud proclamation, everyone instantly fell silent, kneeling in salute.
Everyone, that is, except Xie Anci.
As a result, Xie Anci stood out conspicuously. Li Jinchen spotted him at a glance, then turned his face away with an ugly expression.
“Long live His Majesty! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand, ten thousand years!”
Li Jinchen settled onto the dragon throne and raised a hand. “Rise, my ministers.”
The crowd thanked him and rose to their feet.
Li Jinchen swept his gaze over the assembly, lingering briefly on Gu Lingyu. “Young General Gu, you’ve returned?”
There was a trace of joy and relief in Li Jinchen’s voice.
Finally, he wouldn’t have to face Xie Anci alone anymore.
Gu Lingyu’s face was still flushed with anger, red as a beet.
Li Jinchen was taken aback. He’d only just returned, what had happened?
“Yes, I have. Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern,” Gu Lingyu replied respectfully.
Throughout the court session, Gu Lingyu kept glaring at Xie Anci from time to time, while Xie Anci remained expressionless, as if none of it concerned him.
Watching the two of them, Li Jinchen wondered, how had Gu Lingyu gotten himself tangled up with Xie Anci again the moment he returned?
However, today Xie Anci was quiet so quiet it was almost unlike him.
“Do any of my esteemed ministers have matters to report?” Li Jinchen was eager to catch up with Gu Lingyu, and for that reason he had even arranged a banquet this evening.
It was precisely to welcome Gu Lingyu back.