FIMA Ch126: Each Other

In the southern suburbs of Jiangcheng, there was a manor. With its waterside pavilions, sweeping eaves, and elegant, spacious courtyards, it was the private estate belonging to the Jiangcheng Provincial Military Commander, Lu He.

However, Lu He’s family all resided in the capital. Being a solitary man who lived in the military camps year-round, this place had naturally sat empty.

Yet, this afternoon, nearby neighbors saw a group of men in black going in and out of the estate. The long-absent liveliness suggested that some important figure had moved in.

“Let me out! Do you know who I am?!”

“Daring to treat me like this! Once my father finds out, he will definitely blow your entire family to the sky!”

Through the window, Lei Yan shouted and clamored loudly toward the neighboring courtyard.

Sitting in a chair, Lei Linglong’s face was deathly pale, her mind wandering and completely absent.

Gu Siyuan sat beneath a large tree in the courtyard. He seemed not to hear the clamor at all, ignoring it entirely as he remained focused on the things under his pen.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The flowers by the wall brushed against shadows.

Xie Chenyun leaned over his back and said softly, “You were writing this before I left. Are you still not done?”

Gu Siyuan turned his head: “You’re back. You’ve worked hard.”

“Hmph, it was just cleaning up a few pieces of trash. How much time could it take? The shadow guards took the main roads with the soldiers from the military post, they should be arriving soon too.”

Xie Chenyun puffed his cheeks and sat down unceremoniously on the stool opposite him.

Looking at him like this, Gu Siyuan once again felt an itch in his hands, wanting to pinch his cheeks.

Right at this moment, a commotion sounded from the main gates of the courtyard.

The shadow guards had returned.

Soldiers filed in, carrying wooden crates one after another, followed by dozens of people with their hands bound behind their backs.

The commander of the shadow guards reported respectfully: “Master, everything has been arranged properly. The Thunderbolt Hall personnel left behind at the docks have all been taken down, and the entire ship of firearms and explosives has also been taken over by our people.”

“Well done,” Gu Siyuan nodded, speaking faintly.

After saying that, he stepped forward, opened the wooden crates, looked at the black contraptions inside, shook his head, and said, “Truly crude things.”

Hearing this, several of the captured Thunderbolt Hall members couldn’t help but glare at him furiously.

Catching their expressions, a shadow guard kicked one of them: “Behave yourself! Still dare to be insolent?”

Xie Chenyun’s expression also darkened.

He looked at Gu Siyuan and said coldly, “This bunch of guys isn’t very honest. When their ship was docked by the river, they were incredibly domineering, even bullying the laborers on the docks. Why not just kill them directly and throw them into the river to feed the fishes?”

The moment these words came out, the group immediately shuddered, realizing that the people before them were absolutely not someone to be trifled with.

Gu Siyuan chuckled lightly. Without answering directly, he pointed at several people whose attire clearly marked them as better off than the ordinary disciples: “You lot, step forward.”

Hearing this, those people immediately felt unsettled, their feet hesitating to move.

The shadow guards, however, gave them no chance to hesitate. Without showing any mercy, they kicked them forcefully, driving the people right in front of Gu Siyuan.

The few of them didn’t dare resist, and didn’t even dare wail in pain.

Gu Siyuan tossed the parchment scroll he had acquired from Song Zhengqing onto the ground, saying faintly, “Take a good look at the things on here. Can you make it? If you can make it, then you still have a chance. If you cannot…”

At this point, his voice instantly turned bone-piercingly cold and hard, bearing down like a ten-thousand-zhang glacier: “Next year, today will be your memorial anniversary!”

Hearing these words, a middle-aged man among the group—who had a fat head, large ears, and wore rather expensive clothing—immediately began yelling loudly: “You lawless scoundrels! I am the brother-in-law of Vice Hall Master Han of the Thunderbolt Hall! My sister is his most favored! If you treat me like this, my brother-in-law will not let you off!”

Xie Chenyun sneered. This fat man was the exact same one who had been the most domineering at the docks earlier, beating a porter until his head was broken and bleeding.

Without hesitation, he directly lifted his leg and delivered a vicious kick to that fat lump.

The fat man pitched forward violently like a slab of meat. His head smashed against a piece of rockery, immediately covering his face in blood. The pain was so intense he lay on the ground, unable to get up.

Xie Chenyun walked over, stepped firmly on his palm, and said condescendingly, “If you dare to run your mouth again, I will cut out your tongue.”

The fat man’s expression twisted in agony, yet he desperately covered his mouth, not daring to say another word, only nodding frantically.

The expressions of the other selected individuals also trembled. Knowing that their fates were now hanging by a single thread, they hastily and eagerly bowed down to open the parchment scroll, studying it with a hunger born of desperation.

The fat man didn’t dare have any other thoughts either. With his face full of blood, he immediately scrambled over to look at the drawing as well.

About half a cup of tea’s time later.

Gu Siyuan set down his teacup: “Time is up.”

Xie Chenyun knew that Gu Siyuan likely wanted to test them. Standing up, he circled the few people: “Who will answer first?”

Gu Siyuan’s gaze casually locked onto a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache: “Let’s start with you.”

The middle-aged man slowly shuffled forward on his knees, knowing that he had truly stumbled into the hands of these people this time.

These people likely had massive backing, acting completely without any scruples. In broad daylight, they could even directly mobilize the local garrison to encircle and annihilate them. The other party had absolutely no intention of giving them any other choices, nor did they care about their backgrounds or threats.

Xie Chenyun looked at him: “Be honest. If you understand, you understand. If you don’t, say it directly.”

The middle-aged man with the mustache immediately trembled: “I understand, I truly understand.”

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained calm. He said faintly, “It is good that you understand. No need to be nervous; speak slowly.”

The middle-aged man slowly raised his head. The young man before him possessed a noble and coldly majestic aura, his expression as tranquil as a pool of deep water. But he knew that if his answer didn’t satisfy him, this tranquil water would instantly turn into a towering flood and a thousand-layered ice cave, completely swallowing him whole.

He took a deep breath, licked his dry, pale lips, and slowly began to recount: “This blueprint mainly discusses…”

After a while, Gu Siyuan nodded. In this era, to know this much and understand the general principles was already very impressive; he was a specialized talent.

The corners of his lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. Nodding, he said, “Not completely useless. You have some worth!”

The middle-aged man instantly exhaled a breath, his entire spirit lightening, knowing that he had likely passed the test this time.

Gu Siyuan raised a hand: “Take him down and arrange a room for him to stay.”

Knowing what was good for him, the man immediately kowtowed heavily: “Many thanks, Master. Many thanks, Master.”

The shadow guards nearly rolled their eyes.

This wasn’t the unyielding, steadfast appearance he had when we captured him on the ship earlier.

Gu Siyuan looked at the remaining Thunderbolt Hall members: “The rest of you had better not disappoint me either!”

“We won’t, we definitely won’t,” the few men immediately answered in unison.

Gu Siyuan was just about to call on the next person in order to answer.

However, the fat man whom Xie Chenyun had just taught a lesson to suddenly raised his hand enthusiastically and said obsequiously, “My Lord, My Lord! Let me, I also understood it!”

Gu Siyuan looked at him, his voice chilling: “You truly understood it?”

Meeting his gaze, the middle-aged fat man’s heart constricted, but he could only bite the bullet and reply: “I… I understand.”

In his heart, he secretly comforted himself: Something like this, if you’re not an expert, you definitely won’t understand it. The young man in front of me looks like he comes from some wealthy aristocratic or official family; he definitely doesn’t understand these Thunder-Fire Bombs either. The guy before me just said so much; if I say something similar and bluff my way through, it should definitely work.

Gu Siyuan nodded, saying faintly, “Good. Tell me what this object is, and roughly how it is made?”

The fat man hurriedly agreed and explained: “This… what’s drawn on the blueprint is a Thunderbolt Fire Bomb. But, it’s the kind that can be thrown directly by hand, it doesn’t need a launcher to explode. En, and also, once this is made, it should be a bit bigger than a Thunderbolt Pellet. And then…”

For a long while, he finally stammered out a half-baked, heavily watered-down repetition of what the mustached man had said earlier.

He looked up at Gu Siyuan.

“Is that it?” Gu Siyuan looked at him calmly.

Under the sweep of this single glance, sweat instantly poured down the middle-aged fat man’s forehead: “N-no more, that’s all…”

Gu Siyuan lightly tapped his finger against the tabletop. Looking at the chubby middle-aged man, he indifferently delivered his conclusion: “You don’t understand it. You are lying to me.”

Having spent all this time with Gu Siyuan, Xie Chenyun thoroughly understood his personality. He knew this meant his patience had run out.

His face turned freezing cold. He raised his foot once again and kicked the fat man viciously: “You blind dog! Who gave you the guts to dare fool us?!”

The force of this kick was immense. The fat man instantly flew high into the air, then smashed into the ground with a loud thud. Dust flew, weeds were crushed, and an unknown number of bones were broken. After vomiting mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood, he directly passed out.

Xie Chenyun turned his head to look at the shadow guards and said coldly: “Drag him out and feed him to the fishes in the river.”

The shadow guards immediately obeyed the order. Grabbing him by one leg like dragging a tattered burlap sack, they hauled the person away.

The other people kneeling on the ground caught this scene out of the corners of their eyes. Their hearts skipped a beat instantly, and even their breathing became shallow and thin.

They were terrified that the next person to suffer such a fate would be themselves.

Right at this moment, Xie Chenyun’s voice rang out again: “Next.”

And in the subsequent examination of this person, perhaps because of the fat man’s attempt to bluff his way through earlier, aside from recounting the general content of the blueprint, he was also subjected to specific questioning by Gu Siyuan.

The person answering was instantly shocked, giving Gu Siyuan a deep look, and thereafter answered even more meticulously.

Another incense stick’s worth of time passed.

Everyone finished their examinations.

And every single one of them felt an unspeakable reverence toward this noble young man before them, willingly and wholeheartedly submitting to him as their master.

Their master truly understood explosives; truly understood Thunder-Fire Bombs.

He understood them even more profoundly than they themselves did.

They all simultaneously thought of that fat man who courted death just now, sighing inwardly: Showing off your meager skills before an expert, dying was truly a waste of a death.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained completely apathetic. Turning to face these gazes filled with hidden adoration, he said: “For the time to come, make the items on this blueprint at the fastest speed possible. If you lack manpower or materials, just ask.”

“Yes,” the crowd answered in unison.

Gu Siyuan tossed the thin booklet he had just finished writing on the table over to them: “These are the key points I analyzed. Read it carefully; it should allow you to work much faster.”

The group received it and casually scanned a few glances, and then treated it as if they had acquired a supreme treasure, saying repeatedly: “Master is a heaven-sent genius! With these detailed diagrams and explanations, perhaps in seven days—no, five days—the first batch of goods can be produced!”

At this time, a commotion occurred outside the courtyard.

A shadow guard stepped forward and reported: “Master, Commander Lu seeks an audience.”

“Declare him in,” Gu Siyuan nodded. He looked again at the group holding the booklet: “For today, just thoroughly digest this book. Formal work begins tomorrow. Step down.”

The group walked out with faces full of excitement, coincidentally running right into Commander Lu He.

Lu He frowned, casting a glance at this group of jianghu folk, then strode over to Gu Siyuan, kneeling to pay his respects: “This humble minister greets Your Majesty.”

Gu Siyuan raised a hand: “Zhen is traveling incognito. My beloved minister need not stand on ceremony.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Lu He straightened his robes and stood up.

Meanwhile, those Thunderbolt Hall members who had just reached the courtyard gates bumped into each other in an absolute daze.

Just now, what did they hear?

Your Majesty?

Their master… was actually the current Son of Heaven?!

Lu He was an official of the royalist faction and was extremely loyal to Gu Siyuan. He had just been transferred to Jiangcheng three months ago.

Coming here today, aside from the routine greeting, was to discuss matters concerning city defense. After all, Ezhou and Huangzhou, mere hundreds of li away, were currently engulfed in the flames of war. The Wu family setting their sights on Jiangcheng was only a matter of time.

And not long after, Lu He left with a face full of admiration, just like the Thunderbolt Hall members before him.

With just a few words, Gu Siyuan pointed out several major flaws in their patrol defenses, even providing specific examples one by one to explain them, summarizing a few fixed principles.

He needed to hurry back and digest all this; he had benefited immensely.

At this time, only Gu Siyuan, Xie Chenyun, and the remaining captured Thunderbolt Hall personnel were left in the courtyard.

These were the hired thugs with no technical skills.

Gu Siyuan ordered: “Take them down and lock them up. Starting tomorrow, have them work in the newly built firearms workshop. If they aren’t honest, throw them into the river to feed the fish.”

The shadow guards immediately began driving these people out. However, a middle-aged man with a somewhat scholarly air remained kneeling and said: “Your Majesty, this commoner believes his usefulness does not lie in working at the firearms workshop.”

Xie Chenyun looked at him and let out a cold sneer.

Gu Siyuan asked faintly, “How so?”

The scholarly middle-aged man said: “This commoner wishes to report regarding the collusion between the Thunderbolt Hall and the Wu family rebel army across the river.”

Gu Siyuan nodded: “Let’s hear it.”

The scholarly middle-aged man breathed a slight sigh of relief and immediately said: “Currently, their cooperation mainly lies in two areas. First, the Thunderbolt Hall’s assistance is required in the struggle for the Imperial Seal of the Realm. Second, the massive purchase of firearms, aimed at future siege warfare…”

Gu Siyuan had long anticipated these things.

He raised an eyebrow: “Is there more?”

The scholarly middle-aged man’s expression remained unchanged, and he continued to ask: “Your Majesty, how do you plan to deal with the two Young Masters of the Lei family?”

Gu Siyuan slightly raised his eyes: “Do you have a suggestion?”

The scholarly middle-aged man’s eyes lit up: “Master, the Hall Master of the Thunderbolt Hall is a piece of trash who only knows money, not even possessing a fraction of Your Majesty’s grand talent and brilliant strategy. But many of the tools and legacies left in the Thunderbolt Hall are actually quite interesting. Leaving these things in the Thunderbolt Hall is truly a waste; only in Your Majesty’s hands can they realize their greatest value. And the Hall Master only has this pair of children, whom he dotes on dearly. In the future, perhaps they can play no small role.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, implicitly approving of his plan: “Your thoughts happen to coincide exactly with Zhen‘s.”

Xie Chenyun also looked at him with a smile: “You certainly know what’s good for you. Scheming so wholeheartedly and diligently, what is it that you want?”

The scholarly middle-aged man bowed respectfully: “Being able to serve Your Majesty with absolute loyalty, attending by Your Majesty’s side, is already this commoner’s greatest fortune.”

Xie Chenyun immediately caught the deeper meaning in his words and chuckled lightly: “Attending by His Majesty’s side? This is indeed a massive, heavenly fortune. This position is already far superior to eight or nine out of ten positions in the imperial court.”

The scholarly middle-aged man gave a very humble smile: “Your perceptive eyes have seen right through it.”

Xie Chenyun found it even more amusing and continued asking, “Everyone has an ultimate position in their heart. The position beside His Majesty is naturally a shortcut to other positions. What is the ultimate position you desire?”

The scholarly middle-aged man looked up, gave Xie Chenyun a deep look, and became even more profoundly humble and respectful from the bottom of his heart: “This commoner has already passed the imperial examinations, but lost my official post due to being framed by others. If, in the future, I could enter the Ministry of Justice, and slowly work my way up to Vice Minister, that would be best.”

He answered almost without any hesitation. It was very obvious that this goal, or answer, had been pondered over countless times and was already etched into his very bones.

Xie Chenyun couldn’t help but laugh.

The goal is exceedingly precise, and it doesn’t overstep any bounds. Truly a smart person.

Gu Siyuan glanced at him, his expression calm: “Write a record of the causes and consequences from beginning to end and submit it to Zhen. If it passes inspection, you may enter the Ministry of Justice.”

The scholarly middle-aged man immediately fell to his knees, prostrating himself completely in gratitude: “Your Majesty’s boundless grace! Even if this commoner’s body is smashed to pieces and bones ground to dust, it would be hard to repay!”

“Rise,” Gu Siyuan said faintly.

Just at this moment, the shadow guards brought the Lei siblings, Lei Linglong and Lei Yan, out from the neighboring courtyard.

Lei Linglong’s absent-minded state had improved somewhat.

Lei Yan, however, still maintained his arrogant demeanor, yelling at Gu Siyuan and the others: “You damned things! You dare to treat this Young Master like this! This Young Master swears, when my father arrives, I will definitely slice you into a thousand pieces! If I miss even a single cut, I’ll take your surname!”

Gu Siyuan loosened his grip on the teacup in his hand, smashing it directly into Lei Yan’s exposed teeth. Instantly, fresh blood poured out.

He looked at Lei Yan crying bitterly with a runny nose, and mocked faintly: “Still want to take Zhen‘s surname? You really know how to elevate your own worth.”

Seeing him like this, Xie Chenyun also found it extremely amusing and joined in beating the drowning dog: “That’s true. Taking His Majesty’s surname and becoming His Majesty’s son—doesn’t that mean you’d want to enter the Imperial Mausoleum in the future? How could the late emperor not find you dirtying the place?”

The shadow guards delivered a kick to Lei Yan: “In front of His Majesty, how dare you spout arrogant nonsense?!”

“Your… Your Majesty…” Lei Yan’s eyes went wide, trembling uncontrollably, seemingly completely unable to process this.

The person in front of him is the emperor?

The monarch of the Great Zhou dynasty?

How is that possible?

In an instant, he fell into an unspeakable, utter terror.

Lei Linglong also completely snapped back to reality, her emotions complicated to the extreme.

As people of the jianghu, although they lacked respect when privately discussing the current imperial court, everyone had always adhered to the rule of ‘well water does not interfere with river water’ (minding their own business).

They acted as heroes, upholding justice, killing evil gentry and tyrannical landlords, but they would never kill imperial officials, even a lowly ninth-rank ‘sesame’ official.

Because some boundaries could not be crossed; otherwise, they would be the ones inevitably feeling the pressure.

And now, they hadn’t offended an ordinary official, but the Emperor who stood upon the Nine Heavens.

The Emperor was the master of the myriad people, the master of the mortal realm.

How could the majesty of the Emperor be easily violated? Now, not only the two of them, but the entire Thunderbolt Hall was finished…

Looking at the state of these two, Xie Chenyun couldn’t help but sneer coldly: “Heh, now you know fear? This isn’t the time you were talking big back in the Lingxu Pavilion, is it?”

Gu Siyuan reached out and grasped his slender white fingers: “Why bother arguing with them.”

“Take these two away and lock them in the secret dungeon. Without Zhen‘s written order, no one is allowed to visit them. When we take down the Thunderbolt Hall in the future, they will at least be somewhat useful.”

“Yes.” The shadow guards immediately obeyed the command.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, let me go! Treat me like a fart and just let me go, I know I was wrong…”

Lei Yan’s voice begging for mercy echoed from afar.

…

The two had arrived here in the afternoon. Later, Xie Chenyun went out again to capture people, which was followed by interrogations and other matters.

By now, the sun had already set in the west.

The bright, clear moon hung in the sky like a jade plate.

After eating dinner, Xie Chenyun clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely followed behind Gu Siyuan, strolling around the courtyard.

“If it weren’t for today, I never would have known that Your Majesty actually understood gunpowder, and understood city defense and troop deployment…”

“Merely insignificant skills.” Gu Siyuan glanced at him and said faintly, “In the future, as long as you stay by my side, you will always get to witness more.”

“…” Xie Chenyun’s face flushed red. His heart felt as soft as water, thinking to himself: This man is truly incredible at saying sweet things.

Seeing the person beside him suddenly fall silent, Gu Siyuan was quite puzzled.

Xie Chenyun looked up at the bright moon, then at the high roof. Suddenly, he said to him, “I want to go up there and admire the moon.”

Gu Siyuan was still puzzled.

Chenyun’s lightness skill (Qinggong) is quite good. If he wants to go up, he can just go up.

Xie Chenyun looked at him, puffed his cheeks, and repeated it again, pausing after every word: “I. Want. To. Go. Up. There. To. Admire. The. Moon.”

Meeting those starry eyes, for some unknown reason, Gu Siyuan seemed to instantly understand something. He reached out, wrapped his arm around Xie Chenyun’s waist, and brought him leaping onto the roof.

He didn’t know if it was just a psychological effect.

Looking from the roof, they did seem closer to the moon.

The wind was also stronger. The two sat side-by-side, shoulder to shoulder, leg to leg. Their ink-black hair flew in the night wind, tangling together.

Xie Chenyun smiled transparently. Looking at the person beside him, he said softly, “Do you remember the first time we met? Back then, you didn’t even know martial arts. If you wanted to climb a wall, I had to take you out…”

“I remember,” Gu Siyuan nodded.

Xie Chenyun puffed his cheeks: “How long has it been from then until today? How did your martial arts improve so much?”

Gu Siyuan answered casually: “Ninety-two days.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun licked his lips. Resting his chin on his knees, he tilted his head to look at him, asking with a hint of shyness, “Do you remember every single day since we met especially clearly?”

Gu Siyuan felt momentarily confused by this question.

However, he had a photographic memory, so there was nothing false about this.

He nodded, answering straightforwardly: “I do indeed remember.”

The smile on Xie Chenyun’s face deepened: “Then… did you set your heart on me at first sight back then? Is that why you directly left the palace with me?”

Gu Siyuan nodded: “En.”

Xie Chenyun laughed softly. His voice was crisp and pure, like a babbling brook in the mountains during springtime. His long, dark eyelashes fluttered gently like a butterfly’s wings, beautiful and enchanting.

Gu Siyuan was also infected by this joy.

He took the initiative to say to Xie Chenyun: “Weren’t you very curious about what else I know? Do you want to listen to the Guqin?”

“I do!” Xie Chenyun replied loudly and crisply.

Gu Siyuan, however, hesitated for a moment.

Because he suddenly felt that Xie Chenyun’s joyful voice just now was already more pleasant to the ear than all the wondrous music in the world. So, was there still a need to play the zither?

However, upon meeting those star-like eyes, his figure still moved. With incredible speed, he fetched a Guqin from the study below and brought it up.

This manor wasn’t regularly lived in, and the Guqin was the most common ‘Echoing Spring’ style seven-string zither.

However, the melody depends on the player.

Gu Siyuan sat cross-legged, the Guqin laid horizontally across his knees. As his long, slender ten fingers brushed the strings, a crisp, distant thrum rang out immediately.

Once the zither music started, it flowed endlessly—clear as the gentle breeze, gurgling like flowing water…

Xie Chenyun rested his chin in his hand, listening, entirely immersed in it.

This was a bright, fresh, and clear tune. It felt like walking along a mountain path in springtime, accompanied the entire way by a clear, bubbling stream, deer drinking water, and blooming fresh flowers…

The bright, mellow moonlight shone silently on the person playing the zither, gilding Gu Siyuan’s profile, hair, and robes in a shallow, clear radiance.

Red maple leaves spiraled down, landing on his shoulders and thighs.

The song ended.

Gu Siyuan reached out to brush the fallen leaves off himself.

Suddenly, a heavy weight from beside him lunged over fiercely. Gu Siyuan’s first reaction was to move the Guqin aside, lest the sharp strings cut the person.

Thus, the two of them fell overlapping onto the freezing stone tiles of the roof.

Gu Siyuan placed his hands on the person’s shoulders, intending to push him away.

However, the very next second, a warm touch transferred to his cheek. His palm tightened, and for a moment, he actually didn’t know what to do.

The night wind picked up again.

Deep red maple leaves fluttered down, almost burying the two of them.

And that warm touch also began to gradually shift its location.

Lying on top of Gu Siyuan, Xie Chenyun first tentatively licked those thin lips he had coveted for so long.

Gu Siyuan: “…”

Gu Siyuan was somewhat unable to grasp the situation before him. Had this exceeded the boundaries of ‘acting’? Moreover, they weren’t even inside the palace right now.

However, the sensation on his lips was truly not bad.

It reminded him of the taste of jelly he used to eat in the modern world. It carried a hint of nostalgia.

Gu Siyuan had always excelled at being the one in control.

Therefore, he very rationally altered their method of communication. He chose to take the initiative and kissed the other party, only letting go when the other party could no longer breathe and was forced to pinch him out of desperation.

Afterward, with a cold face, he solemnly accused the other party: “Chenyun, you started it first. I was merely using the opponent’s own methods to strike back at their own body.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Is that how that phrase is used?!

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