As Gu Chen walked out of the palace hall, he happened to run into Minister Liu, who was hurrying toward Zichen Hall. Upon catching sight of Gu Chen, Minister Liu bowed to him and said, “General Gu.” Once Minister Liu finished his bow, Gu Chen slightly bent and cupped his fists in return: “Minister Liu, you are too polite.”
Minister Liu’s expression appeared somewhat anxious as he pulled Gu Chen aside and said, “I have been looking for you. Did General Gu happen to see that…”
Gu Chen nodded, indicating that he had already received it, and said to the Minister, “Minister Liu need not worry, I have already received it. There are eyes and ears everywhere here; it would be better for us to step over to my residence to speak.”
Minister Liu stroked his beard and replied, “Very well.”
As the two spoke, they walked together toward the General’s Mansion.
However, not far behind them, an elderly man clad in official robes, his eyes brimming with scheming calculation, stared fixedly at the pair.
Beside the elderly man, a slender-looking young man spoke in a gentle tone to the elder: “Grand Tutor, I understand your thoughts, but the time is not yet right.” Hearing the young man’s words, the elder hastily replied, “Your Highness the Third Prince, you have meticulously plotted for so many years, and this Grand Tutor cannot bear to see Your Highness wait like this. Such a rare opportunity has presented itself.”
The young man’s gentle countenance curved into a smile—a smile that appeared soft on the surface, yet actually concealed schemes deep within that others could hardly detect: “There is no rush, Grand Tutor, let us return first. As long as General Gu and the others remain in the capital, we need not rush to strike. The more entertaining part is yet to come!”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
With those words, the elder followed the young man’s figure into the distance.
Meanwhile, back at the General’s Mansion, Gu Chen and Minister Liu arrived in a chamber. Once Minister Liu closed the door, Gu Chen invited him to sit down together.
“Elder Liu, that confidential dispatch… what do you mean by this?” Gu Chen looked at Minister Liu, taking the confidential missive from his chest and placing it upon the table.
Minister Liu heaved a sigh, his eyes filled with concern: “Just as Liu mentioned earlier, General Gu’s mission this time will inevitably be fraught with danger. Someone within the imperial court is plotting against you.”
“Who is it?” Gu Chen asked.
Minister Liu continued, “Liu is not entirely clear on the specifics, but what can be certain is that it is the work of the Right Faction. Furthermore, regarding General Gu’s departure to investigate the case, the news has already spread wildly across the palace just after you stepped out of the hall. Therefore, someone must have deliberately leaked your whereabouts, and I am quite uneasy. If you head over to Huai’an, you must pay attention to that Junior Preceptor Li Yan by your side; Liu always feels there is something rather fishy about him.”
Gu Chen’s body stiffened slightly, and his gaze grew sharp: “The Right Faction… Grand Tutor and his people? Elder Liu, do you know who that person beside the Grand Tutor was?”
After pondering for a moment, Minister Liu said, “The Third Prince.”
“The Third Prince… It’s him?” Gu Chen was rather surprised. “Doesn’t the Third Prince usually never step outside? Nor does he associate much with other ministers. Why is he walking so closely with the Grand Tutor today? It’s exceedingly strange.”
As he spoke, he seemed to recall something: “Elder Liu, did you happen to see Xiao Ci yesterday?”
“Heir Gu? I did not see him yesterday.” Minister Liu’s face flashed with a hint of perplexity. “However, on my way here this morning, I saw the Heir walking together with the Grand Preceptor. Weren’t the two of them always at odds with each other? At the time, Liu found it quite strange.”
Xiao Ci together with the Grand Preceptor how could that be possible?
Moreover, he had traded heavy blows with the Grand Preceptor just a few days prior; even though the Grand Preceptor wasn’t holding a grudge, he… wouldn’t have gotten mixed up with Gu Xici this quickly. What on earth had happened!
The assassins within the palace, the Right Faction targeting him, Xiao Ci who remained unlocatable under mysterious circumstances alongside the Grand Preceptor, and the Huai’an theft case what in the world were all these unfolding events?!
“I truly have no idea what’s going on! Elder Liu, I shall depart the day after tomorrow. If Xiao Ci has not returned by the time I leave, I must ask Elder Liu to kindly help look for him and take care of him.” Gu Chen’s handsome face was already lined with profound exhaustion as he sighed and spoke.
Seeing this, Minister Liu patted Gu Chen’s shoulder, urging him not to worry: “You and I have known each other for many years; I can certainly manage this small favor. General Gu need not overthink it either. While His Lordship the Heir is indeed rather mischievous, you shouldn’t fret; sooner or later, he will come to understand your good intentions.”
“Let us hope so…” Gu Chen’s brows furrowed slightly as he stripped off his outer robe and hung it upon the rack. “Elder Liu, it is growing late; you should head back first.”
Hearing this, Minister Liu stood up, nodded, and stepped outside.
Meanwhile, Gu Xici, who had just woken up from falling asleep while reading a book in the study, let out a yawn and rubbed his eyes, only to discover that Ye Shu was no longer in the room.
Not seeing Ye Shu in the chamber, Gu Xici slipped into the cyan outer robe Ye Shu had left for him last night. To be precise, it wasn’t that he wanted to wear it, but rather that he couldn’t very well walk out wearing last night’s black night-walker garb, could he? If anyone from his own estate spotted him, wouldn’t they suspect him of being an assassin?
After dressing properly, Gu Xici searched everywhere until he finally discovered a mirror tucked into a corner by the wall. He stood before it, admiring his own dashing demeanor in the reflection.
Truth be told, speaking honestly, Gu Xici was indeed quite handsome, featuring sword-like brows, starlit eyes, a high-arched bridge of the nose, lips of moderate thickness, and well-defined, chiseled facial contours—all of which fully showcased a young man’s heroic vigor.
Having thoroughly admired himself to his satisfaction, Gu Xici stepped out of the study and entered the courtyard connected to the garden. Walking past the courtyard, he followed a path and caught sight of a man clad in crimson robes sitting upon a stone stool, resting his chin in his hand as he leisurely admired the scenery all by himself.
Gu Xici intended to walk past him, but before he had taken more than a few steps, several flying leaves shaved away the hem of his robe, accompanied by a chilling voice ringing out: “Who are you? Why are you within the Grand Preceptor’s residence?”
Gu Xici was startled. What is the meaning of this? Launching an attack without even finishing a sentence! Something’s fishy how did he know I was standing here?
And by the way, who on earth is this guy? I’ve never heard of Ye Shu having any brothers or close friends! Could it be…
Just as he was pondering this, a harsh voice barked: “If you don’t speak, you die!”
I give up! So arrogant, I’ve got to see who he is!
With that, Gu Xici retorted impatiently, “I am the Heir of the General’s Mansion, here to see the Grand Preceptor on business! And who the hell are you?”
Hearing Gu Xici’s words, the man in red sneered, “I am Senior Preceptor Ye’s junior martial brother. Heir Gu? Heh, aren’t you and my senior brother at loggerheads?”
“That’s all in the past…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the man in red flashed right in front of Gu Xici in a blur, reaching out to clamp his hand around Gu Xici’s throat, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. “Do not dodge my question; answer me, or else… die!”
Gazing at the man in red’s frosted expression, his murderous glare, and the hand clenched tightly around his own neck, Gu Xici felt that his entire world was falling apart.
No wonder they’re martial brothers—they resort to violence over the slightest disagreement, using the exact same moves and stances. They’re cut from the exact same cloth!
This one is even more ruthless—he’s ready to kill me after saying barely two sentences!
To think that he, a distinguished heir, possessed zero capability to fight back against these martial brothers.
“W… Wait, listen to me. Although I used to be at odds with your senior brother, he and I are in a cooperative alliance now.”
“Hmph!”
The man let out a cold snort and loosened his grip on Gu Xici’s neck.
Casting a few disdainful glances up and down at Gu Xici, the man sneered, “Looking at you, you’re at best a bag of straw. I truly have no idea why Senior Brother would seek you out for cooperation. Other than having a passable face and somewhat dark skin, you’re completely useless. This so-called Heir is nothing more than a pampered spendthrift who bullies the weak and fears the strong. Don’t let me see you again next time, Heir Gu heh, my name is Ye Feng.”
“You… you think just because your martial arts are a bit better you’re all that?” Gu Xici was provoked to the point of doubting his own existence. “I look down on you too! Ye Shu didn’t even say anything about me, yet you’re getting all high and mighty and launching personal attacks on me. What’s wrong with having dark skin? At least you’re pale you don’t have an ounce of masculinity about you.”
Thereupon, the man in red indifferently uttered two words: “Noisy.”
Those two words thoroughly infuriated Gu Xici, turning his wheat-toned face a fiery shade of red.
Suddenly, the man in red dropped a remark that left Gu Xici somewhat baffled: “No wonder Senior Brother is so vastly different from before. Judging by your appearance, you probably still don’t know Senior Brother’s true identity. I think… seeing you like this, I roughly understand Senior Brother’s intentions.”
With a cold laugh, he turned and walked away.
Leaving Gu Xici standing frozen in place, alone and doubting his life choices.
What true identity? Isn’t Ye Shu the Grand Preceptor? And what’s wrong with how I look—isn’t I dashing?
That fellow named Ye Feng spoke in such a mysterious, cryptic manner and seemed to harbor quite a bit of hostility toward me, yet I’ve never even laid eyes on him before. Could my reputation truly be this abysmal?
Failing to find Gu Xici in the study, Ye Shu decided to check the courtyard. Upon arriving, he spotted Ye Feng, dressed in crimson, walking away in this direction.
A strange feeling stirred within him—why had Ye Feng suddenly descended the mountain to find him without sending any prior notice?
Pondering this, he nevertheless approached Ye Feng and inquired, “Ye Feng, did you happen to see a tall, high-ponytails-wearing man dressed in cyan clothing with somewhat dark skin over by the garden?”
Raising an eyebrow, Ye Feng let out a light sneer. “Senior Brother, are you looking for that Heir?”
Ye Shu looked toward him, his brows furrowing slightly. “You know him?”
Rolling his eyes, Ye Feng extended a hand and waved it dismissively. “I don’t know him, but I ran into him in the garden, and he told me his name himself. And… Senior Brother, he doesn’t know your true identity. Don’t think I have no idea what you’re plotting.”
“Ye Feng, I am in no mood to deal with your nonsense right now.” Ye Shu’s gaze sharpened, his tone unfriendly. “Gu Xici is my arch-enemy; it has nothing to do with you.”
With that, he brushed past Ye Feng and headed toward the garden.
Meanwhile, standing upon the cobblestone path in the courtyard, Ye Feng broke into a low, soft chuckle. That bewitching countenance turned vicious, and his smile slowly faded.
Ye Shu, oh Ye Shu, did you really think descending the mountain means I have no way to deal with you?
I know your martial arts are formidable, but so what? That position belongs to me; Ye Shu, you are only fit to be the mud beneath my feet.
Anyone by your side—whether good or bad—I will snatch away. Even if it means destroying them, I will never let you have them.
On the other side, Ye Shu located Gu Xici in the garden and informed him that something had gone wrong at the palace; Minister Liu had tracked him down with word that Gu Xici needed to hurry back to the General’s Mansion immediately, while other matters would be discussed later.