FIMA Ch85: Little Goblin

Gu Siyuan lifted his head, his face as stern as usual, and solemnly replied, “I recommend myself.”

The Emperor Jianzhao looked at him for a long time, eyes wide open.

In his lifetime, he had never seen such a person?

Although he often advised his ministers to recommend virtuous and talented people without avoiding their relatives, that was clearly just a polite statement. The old foxes in the court would never do such taboo things, let alone openly recommend themselves.

The Emperor Jianzhao confirmed once again: “You… you recommend yourself, you recommend yourself to be the commander of the capital troops?”

Gu Siyuan nodded expressionlessly: “If Your Majesty simply wants someone to command the capital troops effectively, to ensure orders are followed, and to serve Your Majesty, then I can do it. I am willing to share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

The atmosphere became silent.

The Emperor Jianzhao squinted his eyes.

Gu Siyuan’s martial arts and ability to handle affairs were naturally top-notch.

The key was his loyalty; he only followed the Emperor’s orders and disregarded everyone else, be it the consorts in the harem or the princes.

Moreover, he had a particularly bad relationship with Consort Lu and Xie Xuan.

The Emperor Jianzhao’s gaze flickered, looking deeply at Gu Siyuan: “Siyuan, your nature truly hasn’t changed at all.”

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained unchanged: “I am merely speaking the truth. I cannot guarantee others’ loyalty, but I can guarantee my own.”

“Hmm.” The Emperor Jianzhao nodded and said no more.

He neither agreed nor disagreed.

However, later when the entourage passed through the Imperial Garden, he suddenly ordered a stop, saying he wanted to get down and walk around to relax, then dismissed everyone, leaving only Wang Chengying to serve him.

Gu Siyuan guessed that the Emperor Jianzhao probably wanted to visit his true love consort’s palace.

The Jinghong Palace was located behind the Imperial Garden, in a very secluded southwest corner with only one courtyard.

Because it was far from the Emperor’s residence, Huangji Hall, no one usually came here.

No one even knew when this palace changed its name, if not for the fact that the person living here bore the Emperor’s fourth son, it would have been completely invisible.

At this moment, the owner of this imperial city, the Emperor Jianzhao, was sitting leisurely in this simple courtyard, drinking tea with a very pleasant mood.

Opposite him sat his reportedly least favored son, Xie Huan.

The Emperor Jianzhao put down his teacup and said slowly: “I plan to give the position of commander of the capital troops to Gu Xun.”

“Gu Xun?” Xie Huan raised his eyebrows and frowned.

To be honest, he was very dissatisfied with Gu Xun. Last time at the sacrificial altar in Qing County, if it weren’t for Gu Xun, his plan against Xie Xuan would have succeeded.

Although in the end, the matter was escalated to an assassination attempt on the Emperor, and the assassin was blamed on the Eastern Sea pirates.

Yu Zhiyao also sensed something and never mentioned the marriage proposal again, quickly returning to Zhejiang to continue fighting the pirates.

Thus, the matter of marrying Xie Xuan was left unresolved, achieving half of his original goal, but he still felt uncomfortable.

He always felt that Gu Xun might cause him trouble in the future.

However, for some reason, his father trusted Gu Xun very much.

The Emperor Jianzhao squinted at him: “Do you have anyone in mind?”

Xie Huan snapped back to reality and quickly shook his head: “No, if father has made a decision, Gu Xun must have his merits.”

The capital troops were crucial for the safety of the capital and the imperial palace, even he did not dare to meddle casually.

His father treated him more favorably because of his mother, but there were still things he needed to be cautious about.

The Emperor Jianzhao nodded: “Gu Xun indeed doesn’t give you all much face, but that’s just his personality. He is very loyal.”

“Father’s chosen person is naturally right.” Xie Huan nodded, then softly added, “But I’m worried that Zhonglang General Gu’s lack of experience might not be able to handle the seasoned veterans in the capital troops.”

The Emperor Jianzhao took another sip of tea, his eyes deep, and said slowly: “Isn’t it good if he can’t handle them?”

If he could handle them, the capital troops wouldn’t entirely belong to the Emperor, would they?

Gu Siyuan would become another de facto commander of the capital troops, so why would he create a special supervisory position?

He wanted Gu Siyuan to only have a nominal position, to act as a messenger, handling things the Emperor was too lazy to deal with.

Gu Siyuan lacked experience, had no family background, and relied entirely on the Emperor’s trust.

Without the Emperor, he had nothing.

No matter what, he couldn’t escape the Emperor’s grasp.

The seasoned veterans in the capital troops would naturally not lean towards such a person.

Thinking this, the Emperor Jianzhao was amused.

Initially, he didn’t even consider Gu Siyuan, but upon analyzing it now, this candidate was indeed very suitable.

Opposite him, Xie Huan’s expression became more composed as he understood his father’s intentions, quickly flattering: “Father’s insight is profound.”

“It’s good that you understand.” The Emperor Jianzhao nodded satisfactorily, suddenly saying: “Earlier, the Empress Dowager mentioned selecting a wife for Xie Xuan during the upcoming Qianqiu Festival. Since you are a year older than him, you should also participate.”

Xie Huan smiled and nodded: “Everything is up to father.”

Selecting a wife…

Xie Xuan, do you know that your future wife is already mine?

Seeing his genuine smile, the Emperor Jianzhao was pleased and said: “Rest assured, I have already chosen the most suitable person for your main wife.”

…

Xie Xuan left the Empress Dowager’s Ning Shou Palace.

The Empress Dowager’s Qianqiu Festival was just a few days away. He heard from the palace maids that the Empress Dowager planned to invite many noblewomen and court officials’ daughters to observe and choose brides for him and Xie Huan.

He hurried to inform the Empress Dowager that he was not suitable for selecting a concubine recently.

At first, the Empress Dowager was very opposed to the idea. However, when he pointed out that his health was poor and he did not want to delay other families’ daughters, the Empress Dowager was silent for a long time and eventually agreed.

Thinking of the Empress Dowager’s expression, Xie Xuan smiled lightly in his heart, not knowing whether it was joy or sadness.

He suddenly realized that the Empress Dowager might also know that his illness since childhood was not a real illness.

For a moment, Xie Xuan suddenly felt that this imperial city had become extremely oppressive and cold.

Clearly, it was almost summer, yet he couldn’t feel a trace of warmth. His brows drooped, and his long eyelashes cast a pitiful fan-shaped shadow under his thin eyelids.

After a while, Xie Xuan chuckled a few times and raised his head again, only to find that he wasn’t on the road out of the palace, but had somehow walked near the Chuntao Pavilion.

Many concubines and even princes had drowned in the lake near the Chuntao Pavilion, making it extremely ominous, and people usually avoided coming here.

At this moment, a pebble hit his thin back.

Xie Xuan’s body trembled, and he looked around.

Not far away, in a dense rowan tree, sat a tall figure leisurely tossing two pebbles in his hand.

Seeing his gaze sweep over, the person hooked his finger and coldly ordered, “Come here.”

Tsk, what a rude guy.

Xie Xuan chuckled softly and stepped over.

“How can General Gu be so naughty? How old are you to still climb trees?”

But, heaven tells us not to speak ill of others, especially not in their presence.

In the next moment, a shadow flashed before his eyes.

His feet left the ground, and he found himself standing on the trunk of the rowan tree.

Xie Xuan had no martial skills, and his body had been weak since childhood, with no balance ability at all. As soon as his feet touched the trunk, he began to sway dangerously, wanting to scream but unable to.

This was the inner palace, after all. If people were attracted by the noise, they both wouldn’t be able to explain, so he had no choice but to humbly reach out and hug the hateful culprit beside him.

Gu Siyuan stood steadily on one side, looking coldly at his struggles for a while before kindly holding his collar and helping him stabilize his body.

Xie Xuan patted his chest with lingering fear and glared at the hateful guy in front of him, “General Gu, are you bullying me again just because you’re good at martial arts?”

“His Highness’s constitution is too weak, and I was just testing and training you.” Gu Siyuan replied righteously.

Xie Xuan glared, “So, I should thank General Gu for his concern?”

Gu Siyuan remained calm, “You’re welcome.”

Xie Xuan grinded his neat little white teeth and made a fierce expression.

If this guy wasn’t wearing the Imperial Guards’ armor, he would have bitten him already.

Then, his mouth and half his face were tightly covered by a big hand.

Xie Xuan wanted to struggle.

Hmph, he couldn’t always be bullied by this guy.

“Shh, look over there.” Warm breath hit his cheek, and a low, magnetic male voice sounded in his ear.

Xie Xuan’s ear tingled, and the feeling spread to his heart.

Damn brute.

But he still focused and looked in the direction of Gu Siyuan’s gaze.

Not far from the fake mountain below, two figures had emerged at some point.

From their actions, it was clear that they were familiar, even intimate.

Moments later, the two cautiously separated and left.

Only then did Gu Siyuan release his hand from Xie Xuan’s fair little face, which had turned red from holding his breath.

Xie Xuan took a few deep breaths and then looked at Gu Siyuan with a deep gaze, “So General Gu already knew about their relationship, that’s why you didn’t want me to marry the Jiang family’s girl. What a pity, I thought…”

His voice trailed off, full of allure.

Gu Siyuan pinched his chin and coldly asked, “Thought what?”

Xie Xuan smiled lightly, stuck out his tongue, and licked his red lips, his voice seductive, “I thought General Gu didn’t want to marry, and didn’t want me to marry either, planning for us to be a pair of wild mandarin ducks…”

Gu Siyuan’s pupils shrank, and his thumb slowly moved up, pressing on the lips that had just been licked and were now moist, “Wild mandarin ducks? I just found out today that His Highness isn’t a girl-like man but a real woman?”

“…” Xie Xuan.

How disappointing this guy was.

Xie Xuan, feeling indignant, puffed his cheeks and said, “Why can’t you be the female one?”

Gu Siyuan snorted coldly and couldn’t be bothered to answer.

The answer was obvious.

Xie Xuan’s eyes scanned him up and down. True, with such a rough appearance, who would think he’s a girl? They might even think he’s Pan Gu reincarnated, here to split the heavens.

Xie Xuan couldn’t help imagining what Gu Siyuan would look like in women’s clothes.

Tsk, what a scary thought.

Ignoring Xie Xuan’s vivid imagination, Gu Siyuan continued with the serious topic, “In the next few days, His Majesty might announce the candidate for the Capital Guards’ Commander. When the time comes, have your people strongly oppose it.”

Xie Xuan’s eyebrows twitched with a flash of hostility, and he narrowed his eyes, “Hmm? Didn’t we agree to act as if we knew nothing?”

Everyone knew that Emperor Jianzhao doted on him the most, so how could he oppose the emperor’s wishes too much?

Wasn’t this different from what was agreed before?

Gu Siyuan smiled slightly, “Because this candidate is special.”

“The candidate is special, who is it?” Xie Xuan blinked, his eyes pure and innocent like an inexperienced child.

Such a deceiver.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained unchanged, “It’s me.”

“Who…” Xie Xuan was stunned.

Gu Siyuan pinched his soft cheek: “Far away in the sky, close at hand.”

Therilence for a long time.

The silent atmosphere was about to stagnate.

“Turns out it’s you…” Xie Xuan’s mouth slightly curved, a sparkling smile appeared in his eyes, and he tilted his head to look at Gu Siyuan: “General Gu is really a charming little goblin, not only has this prince fallen for you, but even my father can’t escape your grasp.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

He confirmed that this guy in front of him was really asking for a beating.