FIMA Ch130: Incomprehension

“Your Majesty!”

Everyone’s faces turned ashen in an instant.

At that moment, Xiao Hanxin indeed lived up to being in sync with Tang Sheng. From the other side, she attacked towards Gu Siyuan’s location.

Xiao Hanxin’s martial skills were even more refined than Tang Sheng’s, and she had barely been injured in the recent melee, still having some strength left.

Seeing this scene, Xie Chenyun’s heart almost stopped beating.

However, just as the two approached, a sudden change occurred.

To the shock of everyone present, the emperor, who was known for his cold demeanor and lacked martial prowess, suddenly raised both palms. Almost with lightning speed, he reached out and grabbed Tang Sheng and Xiao Hanxin by the wrists.

Thus, all their fierce attacks came to an abrupt end.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained unchanged as he subtly displayed his inner strength.

“Ah!”

The wrists of Tang Sheng and Xiao Hanxin, who had just wielded their palms, instantly softened like noodles up to their shoulder joints, with their bones shattered.

“Ah… my hand… ah…”

Continuous screams of agony echoed, reaching the ears of everyone around.

The blood sprayed from their mouths dyed their entire upper bodies red.

Gu Siyuan abruptly let go of their wrists, tossing them to the ground as if throwing away garbage, sneering, “You fools seeking your own death! How dare you try to lay hands on Us! We spared your lives several times, merely because you still have some usefulness!”

Seeing this sudden change, everyone in the vicinity immediately knelt in fear, “Your Majesty, forgive our incompetence. Your divine martial skills are unmatched.”

Among them, the only one who didn’t kneel was naturally Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun looked at Gu Siyuan, his previous worries turning into profound doubts.

He frowned slightly and hesitantly asked, “Your… your inner strength?”

Gu Siyuan’s expression softened slightly as he calmly replied, “The daily intensive martial training over these past few months has proven somewhat useful.”

“…,” Xie Chenyun nodded slightly.

Xie Chenyun truly didn’t know what to say.

In just a few days at this palace, Gu Siyuan had almost completely overturned his previous impressions.

His martial skills were unexpectedly high, capable of instantly capturing and disabling Tang Sheng and Xiao Hanxin as easily as drinking water and eating a meal.

Gu Siyuan was unaware of Xie Chenyun’s subtle thoughts. He turned and looked at Yang Tai, who was kneeling on the ground, “There’s no need to delay here. Take the Imperial Seal back to the Wu family army. Let’s conclude this play without any further unexpected incidents!”

“Yes,” Yang Tai hurriedly responded.

The fact that His Majesty did not blame him was the best outcome.

Dusk was approaching.

The setting sun cast slanting rays, and the evening breeze blew in from the river, reflecting the eerie shadows of the corpses scattered across Xuanqing Mountain and the constant splashes of blood as the Xuanjia soldiers moved among them, administering finishing blows.

Gu Siyuan stood with his hands behind his back at the cliff’s edge, quietly observing everything before him, his heart devoid of sorrow or joy.

After a while, he felt that the silence around him was a bit too much.

He turned his head and said coldly, “Why have you been silent? This isn’t like your usual self. Have you been startled?”

Xie Chenyun shook his head.

After some thought, he looked up and asked, “Was today’s affair planned by you before coming to Jiangcheng?”

Gu Siyuan calmly replied, “Not entirely. Before coming, there was only a rough plan. It was only after meeting the Thunderclap Hall members at Lingxu Pavilion that the specific steps of action were finalized.”

Xie Chenyun fell silent.

Well, it seemed that during these days when he was furious about the conference, the emperor had already decided to send these traitors to their deaths.

It was even a plan to kill two birds with one stone, shifting the blame to the Wu family army and causing chaos among the rebels.

He licked his lips and continued to ask, “Your Majesty’s plan was seamless indeed. So, on that day at Lingxu Pavilion, did you deliberately let Tang Sheng go?”

Gu Siyuan nodded without hesitation, “Yes, otherwise, with his skills, capturing him would have been as easy as turning one’s hand.”

Xie Chenyun said, “…”

Heh, truly remarkable.

He pursed his lips and asked again, “But with Your Majesty’s abilities, why not directly sweep through the world with military might, letting everyone witness your ability to quell rebels and intimidate those traitors? Instead, why go through all this trouble, even letting Yang Tai take the Imperial Seal back?”

At certain times, it was advantageous to watch the tigers fight from across the mountain.

But for Gu Siyuan, as an emperor, he naturally had the authority to handle these rebels. Moreover, with the wisdom Gu Siyuan displayed, he was fully capable of dealing with them.

In the end, this might even become a celebrated achievement in future history books.

Gu Siyuan looked at the distant half of the river, where the setting sun shone over the river and mountains, incredibly magnificent.

Such a beautiful scene deserved to be seen by more people.

He pondered for a moment and said with a slight frown, “Desperate situations breed chaos, and desperate people do desperate things. Today, although those aristocratic families on Xuanqing Mountain harbored ill intentions, they still fall under the jurisdiction of the Great Zhou Court on the surface and have not openly rebelled.”

“In addition, there are the martial arts experts from various major sects guarding them. Martial artists often do not submit to court authority and love to break the law with force. If they were to learn of my thunderous methods today, it would likely lead to many conflicts and casualties, which I cannot bear.”

Xie Chenyun remained silent.

He looked at the scene behind him and suddenly felt perplexed.

He didn’t understand Gu Siyuan.

After a while, all he could do was dryly smile and say, “Your Majesty is truly a good emperor, so benevolent and kind. That’s why you took the trouble to persuade people like Lei Yan and Yang Tai to frame this matter on the Wu family army.”

Gu Siyuan shook his head slightly.

“Huh?” Xie Chenyun frowned.

Gu Siyuan looked at him and said in a mild tone, “Persuading Lei Yan and Yang Tai was a trivial matter. There was no need to spend much effort on it. Wherever I go, who wouldn’t bow down to me.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

He fell completely silent.

Alright, though it’s not exactly one thing.

But indeed, with your cunning and scheming abilities, anyone who doesn’t listen and goes against you is truly seeking death.

Gu Siyuan looked at everything settling down around him and naturally reached out to hold Xie Chenyun’s delicate pale hand, saying, “Let’s descend the mountain. It’s time to go to Huangzhou.”

“Okay.”

Xie Chenyun responded softly.

He looked down at their joined hands and suddenly felt that all the inexplicable shadows before might have been just his overthinking.

…

The consequences of the Xuanqing Mountain incident were bound to be profound.

Especially when those soldiers were ‘fishing’ below the mountain, Gu Siyuan had specifically let a few survivors go.

Therefore, within a very short time, news spread throughout the world that the Wu family army had seized the Imperial Seal and plotted against various aristocratic families and major martial arts sects.

However, Gu Siyuan no longer needed to worry about these matters.

In the evening of that day, under the golden-orange sunset, Gu Siyuan and his entourage entered Huangzhou City.

Inside a certain courtyard in the center of the city.

Gu Siyuan embraced Xie Chenyun, who sat high above, while Wang Tan, the fat eunuch who had not been seen for a long time, stood beside them.

The local officials of Huangzhou, including the governor, frowned and stood quietly below.

“How could Your Majesty act so recklessly, leaving the main army without permission?” Wei Zhengping’s face was gloomy.

He said this not out of concern for the emperor’s safety, but because this young emperor seemed increasingly uncontrollable.

It wasn’t a good sign!

Gu Siyuan glanced at him lazily and said, “Anyway, those rebels from the Wu family haven’t attacked yet. What’s wrong with me taking Empress Ai Fei out for a trip? Wei Qing, why have you been so nagging lately!”

With that, he squeezed Xie Chenyun’s shoulder.

Xie Chenyun suddenly snapped out of his daze and squeezed out a smile, “Yes, Lord Wei, if you didn’t know better, you’d think you were the one running this world. Where His Majesty goes, should he really report to you?”

Wei Zhengping glared at him with cold eyes, “How dare you interrupt when we’re talking to His Majesty?”

Xie Chenyun immediately whimpered and hid behind Gu Siyuan, “Your Majesty, I’m scared, Lord Wei is glaring at me!”

Gu Siyuan quickly hugged him and comforted him softly, “Don’t be afraid, my dear, don’t be afraid…”

Then, he turned a cold gaze toward Wei Zhengping and said, “Wei Qing, Lady Xie is innocent and naive. Why scare her like this?”

“…” Wei Zhengping.

Innocent and naive? This enchanting consort?

He endured and endured, but finally couldn’t help but say angrily, “Your Majesty, you used to be so sensible. This time, leaving the main army without authorization, I’m afraid you’ve been misled by this consort. Your Majesty, you must not listen to the slander of this consort again.”

“…” The people in the room looked at each other in astonishment.

The world has truly changed.

The greatest traitor of Great Zhou is actually advising the young emperor not to indulge in beauty and not to believe in slander…

Heh.

“Eunuch Wei, what nonsense are you spouting? His Majesty is the most wise, who can deceive him?” Xie Chenyun immediately took advantage of the situation and pointed at Wei Zhengping, reporting to Gu Siyuan, “Your Majesty, you see, Eunuch Wei might be truly mad. He actually doubts your wisdom!”

Upon hearing this, Gu Siyuan’s face instantly turned icy cold, and he rebuked angrily, “Eunuch Wei, I used to think you were considerate, but now you speak and act so foolishly. You previously hindered my personal expedition, and now you want to control everywhere I go. Why not just let you be the emperor!”

At these words, silence fell across the room, and everyone knelt down with a “plop.”

“Your Majesty, please calm down!”

Gu Siyuan sneered, “Calm down? Why should I calm down? It seems you all want to find ways to control me!”

“We dare not!” Everyone pleaded guilty together.

Beside him, Xie Chenyun hurriedly grabbed his arm, softly advising, “Your Majesty, don’t be angry, it’s not worth getting angry over these fools!”

“Only my beloved understands me.” Gu Siyuan nodded, then slammed the table irritably and shouted down below, “Hmph, a bunch of annoying trash! If there’s nothing else, get out quickly. All you do is ruin my mood.”

…

At that moment, Duke Song suddenly stood up and reported, “Your Majesty, I have important news. The grain and reinforcements from Runing have all arrived and are awaiting deployment.”

Such a significant matter would typically be handled by Wei Zhengping.

However, this time, Gu Siyuan just glanced coldly at Wei Zhengping and casually said to Duke Song, “Then let the Duke handle it. After initial arrangements, bring the documents to me.”

Wei Zhengping’s face immediately changed, and he stepped forward, “Your Majesty, Duke Song is old and frail, and he hasn’t led troops for many years. This matter may not be appropriate.”

Duke Song retorted, “Nonsense! If I can’t do it, can you?”

Wei Zhengping immediately responded, “I am willing to share Your Majesty’s worries.”

Duke Song grew furious, “Shameless!”

Wei Zhengping, unfazed, smiled and said, “Duke Song, don’t be angry. Getting angry harms the body, especially at your age…”

“Your Majesty, you see, I told you Eunuch Wei has gone mad. You clearly said to hand it over to Duke Song, but he still doubts your decision and wants to be your master.”

A slightly sweet voice echoed from above.

Xie Chenyun was righteously criticizing Wei Zhengping in front of Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan immediately pointed at Wei Zhengping and scolded angrily, “Wei Zhengping, do you still regard me in your eyes? I said it’s handed over to Duke Song, then it’s handed over to Duke Song. Today, you truly want to be my master!”

Wei Zhengping’s face darkened, “This old servant does not dare, but Your Majesty…”

Gu Siyuan casually smashed the cup on the table, “You don’t dare? If you don’t dare, then why do you keep talking? Get out all of you! I’m tired and want to rest.”

“The Duke obeys.” Duke Song immediately withdrew.

Wei Zhengping glanced deeply at Gu Siyuan and also slowly left.

All the people followed suit, blinking subtly.

Truly, as deep as the ocean is the emperor’s heart, and it’s like accompanying a tiger!

Who in the court doesn’t know that His Majesty trusts ‘Lord Nine Thousand Years’ the most? But now, seeing this, it’s not much more than that…

Wei Zhengping, with a solemn face, walked into a refined courtyard.

“Yifu, what’s wrong?” Wei Feng looked at the oppressive atmosphere around Wei Zhengping and asked urgently.

“Damn it!” Wei Zhengping waved his sleeve, and the ornaments and tea sets on the table shattered instantly.

“I didn’t expect that fool to be truly bewitched by that nonsense from Duke Song and that nonsense from Lady Xie. Now he believes whatever that enchantress says and has completely excluded us. He doesn’t even think about how we seated him on that throne in the first place.”

Wei Feng’s expression turned serious. “Yifu, do you mean…”

“This place isn’t suitable. The Song family keeps a close watch here. We’ll talk after returning to the capital.”

Wei Feng was displeased. “So, we just watch the young emperor and Duke Song act so arrogantly?”

Wei Zhengping shook his head. “Isn’t it just liking beautiful people? If Duke Song can send beauties, can’t our family? It’s not hard to find rabbits with two legs; they’re all over the place. Are the people I arranged for earlier ready?”

Wei Feng nodded, smiling slyly. “They’ve been waiting in the side courtyard. Heh heh, the young emperor tries to hide it, thinking others are blind. Who would’ve thought that so-called Lady Xie is actually a thorough man? Hmph, I said this young emperor hasn’t seen all kinds of beauties; he’s actually been mesmerized unexpectedly changing tastes.”

Wei Zhengping’s expression darkened. “If this young emperor remains obstinate and disobedient this time, don’t blame our family…”

In the evening,

After Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun had their dinner, having traveled through dust all day, they each went for a bath.

Now, staying in an outer mansion while on the march was naturally not as exquisite as the Jinling Palace.

However, Gu Siyuan was the emperor, after all, and wouldn’t be put out.

Shedding their clothes, as soon as they entered the bath, eight maids stepped forward to serve them.

Gu Siyuan waved his hand, speaking coldly, “I want some peace. Withdraw.”

The maids’ gazes lingered on the perfectly sculpted body as they dared not speak, blushing and bowing their heads before retreating.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Gu Siyuan removed his hairpin, closed his eyes, and leaned against the bath wall, relaxing completely.

Steam billowed around him.

The cool breeze occasionally blew, making it very comfortable.

The water ripples gently around Gu Siyuan, who felt a sense of softness enveloping his body. He remembered the day when he was boating on the river, seeing the rippling water, and suddenly had a strange insight.

He sat cross-legged and began to practice the “Primordial Universe Technique.”

The internal force in his meridians flowed smoothly like a torrential river.

He didn’t know how long had passed.

Gu Siyuan finished his practice, gently exhaled a breath, feeling greatly benefited as he broke through a bottleneck.

At that moment, he heard a faint movement behind him.

“I said no need to serve.” Gu Siyuan spoke softly without turning his head.

In the misty steam, the originally cold and deep voice gained a touch of allure.

Perhaps because of this, the person behind him did not retreat in the slightest.

A warm cloth fell gently on his arm, and delicate fingers lightly pressed on his shoulders.

Gu Siyuan suddenly opened his eyes and met two strikingly similar handsome faces.

Clearly men, yet dressed in thin palace robes, their fair skin barely covered and somewhat exposed.

And these two individuals came solely to serve His Majesty, not retreating even half a step when faced with such a sharp gaze under the hazy mist. They felt the vigorous physique beneath the cloth and immediately blushed.

Gu Siyuan frowned, “Who are you? Who allowed you to come?”

One of them, appearing more refined, immediately replied, “This is Chen Xia, and this is my younger brother, Chen Qiu. General Wei arranged for us brothers to come and serve His Majesty.”

Gu Siyuan lowered his eyes and understood Wei Zhengping’s intention.

He chuckled lightly, looked up at them, and said, “Withdraw. I’m not interested.”

Upon hearing this, the two immediately plunged into the water with a splash. “Your Majesty, General Wei said if we couldn’t please Your Majesty, our lives and our family’s lives would be forfeit!”

“Your Majesty, we dare not ask for anything. As long as we can stay by Your Majesty’s side, it’s enough.”

As they spoke, they leaned towards Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan was about to reach out to stop them.

“Your Majesty!”

At this moment, another leisurely voice came, and the curtain beside the bath was suddenly lifted.

Gu Siyuan recognized Xie Chenyun’s voice and couldn’t be bothered with the two anymore. He turned his head directly, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Chenyun, why are you here too? Today’s bath is unexpectedly lively!”

Xie Chenyun stood outside the curtain, looking at the scene in the pool. His brows and eyes were thunderous and frosty.

He almost gritted his teeth as he spoke, “Gu Siyuan! What are you doing!”

Gu Siyuan furrowed his brow, sensing that Xie Chenyun’s mood seemed off.

Standing up from the pool, water droplets flowed smoothly down his sculpted physique. He casually grabbed some clothes from a nearby rack, draped them over himself, and walked forward. “Chenyun, you…”

Xie Chenyun glared at him hatefully.

In the next moment, the gauze curtain in his hand shattered into pieces, flying through the air. Then, with a swift motion, he struck a palm toward the pool. Due to his cultivation in the “Nirvana Sacred Manual,” this strike held nothing back.

Suddenly, white waves splashed up, and the tremendous force directly overturned the roof, shattering the glazed tiles into pieces that fell down one after another.

As for the two brothers in the pool, they were knocked unconscious, blood trickling from their mouths.

Xie Chenyun still felt unsatisfied. With a light step, he was about to leap out, intending to kill the two directly and make them disappear forever from his sight.

Seeing this, Gu Siyuan frowned deeply and moved swiftly. In an instant, he reached out and effortlessly intercepted Xie Chenyun mid-air, holding him close and asking coldly, “What madness are you displaying here?”

But Gu Siyuan’s intervention only pushed Xie Chenyun, already furious, beyond reason.

Xie Chenyun bitterly smiled and, raising his hand, attacked Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan was not someone to take a beating without retaliation. With a flick of his wrist, he directly blocked the incoming palms. Almost simultaneously, his other hand lightly tapped Xie Chenyun’s shoulder, sealing several major acupoints around him, rendering him unable to use any internal force.

Xie Chenyun suddenly suffered a backlash from the blocked acupoints, doubling over and spitting out a mouthful of blood, instantly becoming as vulnerable as a lamb.

Wang Tan finally rushed in with his men. Seeing the chaotic scene, he stammered, “Your Majesty… Your Majesty, assassins?”

Gu Siyuan reached out to support Xie Chenyun, whose injuries had left him weak and unsteady.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Siyuan decided, “Summon the imperial physician for those two in the pool, and then detain them.”

Having said that, he carried Xie Chenyun out.

Passing through the long corridor, they entered the bedroom. Gu Siyuan placed him in a chair and stared at him quietly. “Tell me, what exactly happened?”

Although Xie Chenyun’s major acupoints were sealed, his mind remained clear.

He lifted his eyelids slightly, looking at Gu Siyuan, who appeared genuinely clueless about everything. Countless thoughts flooded his mind, but ultimately, he found it absurdly laughable.

Could it be that as an emperor, he truly was born without understanding emotions?

He couldn’t believe that Gu Siyuan didn’t even know why he was upset.

Gu Siyuan noticed his pale lips and got up to fetch a robe, which he draped over Xie Chenyun. He poured himself a cup of tea and handed it over.

Xie Chenyun held the cup delicately in his pale hands and finally spoke up, “Your Majesty, those two just now…”

Gu Siyuan poured himself a cup of tea as well and casually replied, “They were sent by Wei Zhengping to serve me. I gave him quite a face today.”

Xie Chenyun’s grip on the cup turned white, and he murmured softly, “Since Your Majesty knew they came with ulterior motives, why didn’t you just send them away? Did you keep them around because you found their appearance pleasing and didn’t mind their service?”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him and calmly replied, “Of course not, Chenyun. I was about to send them away.”

“Really?” Xie Chenyun lifted his head abruptly, a hint of relief crossing his face.

Had he misunderstood?

Gu Siyuan chuckled softly, “Why hide such trivial matters? Besides, Wei Zhengping sent these two brothers precisely because of you. He must have thought I had developed a new preference, favoring men from now on.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Chenyun dropped the porcelain cup from his fingers, which clattered to the ground.

He looked up at Gu Siyuan, licked his lips, and his voice trembled slightly, “Your Majesty, could it be… you don’t actually have an inclination for men?”