FIMA Ch130: Incomprehension

“Your Majesty!”

In an instant, everyone’s faces turned deathly pale.

And right at this moment, proving herself to be a perfect match for Tang Sheng, Xiao Hanxin coordinated with him perfectly, launching an attack toward Gu Siyuan from the other side.

Xiao Hanxin’s martial arts cultivation was significantly higher than Tang Sheng’s. Moreover, she had barely suffered any injuries during the previous chaotic brawl and still had plenty of energy to spare.

Seeing this scene, Xie Chenyun’s heartbeat almost stopped.

However, the very moment the two reached him, a sudden twist occurred.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the golden-honored, jade-precious Emperor—who was supposedly devoid of martial arts—suddenly raised his palms with his usual cold expression. With the speed of a thunderbolt leaving no time to cover one’s ears, he reached out and grabbed Tang Sheng and Xiao Hanxin by the wrists.

And thus, their ferocious assault came to an abrupt end.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained unchanged, a faint trace of internal energy appearing in his palms.

“Ah!”

From the wrists they had just used to channel their palm strikes all the way up to their shoulders, the bones of Tang Sheng and Xiao Hanxin instantly shattered, their arms turning as limp as noodles.

“Ah… my hand… ah…”

Successive, blood-curdling screams reached the ears of everyone around them.

Fresh blood continuously spewed from their mouths, instantly dyeing their entire upper bodies red.

Gu Siyuan violently let go of their wrists, tossing them to the ground like throwing away garbage. He sneered coldly: “Idiots seeking your own deaths! To actually harbor delusions of attacking Zhen. Zhen spared your lives time and time again merely because I saw you still had some use!”

Witnessing this abrupt change, the crowd in the venue immediately dropped to their knees, trembling in fear: “Your subordinates failed to protect the Emperor and deserve ten thousand deaths! Your Majesty’s divine martial arts are unparalleled in the world!”

Naturally, the only one who didn’t kneel was Xie Chenyun.

Looking at Gu Siyuan, the bellyful of worry he previously held completely turned into profound confusion.

He furrowed his beautiful brows and asked hesitantly, “You… your internal energy?”

Gu Siyuan’s expression softened slightly, and he said to him faintly, “Dedicating myself to practicing martial arts every day for the past few months has proven somewhat useful.”

“…” Xie Chenyun nodded lightly.

Xie Chenyun truly didn’t know what to say.

In just these few short days since leaving the palace, the impression Gu Siyuan gave him had step by step overturned all his previous understanding.

His martial arts were actually this high—able to capture Tang Sheng and Xiao Hanxin in an instant and cripple them as easily as eating or drinking water!

Gu Siyuan, completely oblivious to Xie Chenyun’s subtle emotional shifts, turned his head to look at Yang Tai, who was kneeling and prostrating on the ground: “There is no need to delay here any longer. Take the Imperial Seal of the Realm and return to the Wu Family Army. As for what follows, wait until the show concludes, and do not allow any further accidents to happen!”

“Yes,” Yang Tai hurriedly replied.

His Majesty not blaming him was already the best outcome.

It was nearing dusk.

The slanting rays of the setting sun shone down, and the evening breeze blew in from the river surface. Reflecting off the corpses littering Xuanqing Mountain and the blood splattered by the Black Armor soldiers weaving through to deliver finishing blows, it created an eerily grim and ghastly atmosphere.

Gu Siyuan stood at the edge of the cliff with his hands behind his back, quietly watching everything before him, feeling neither sorrow nor joy in his heart.

Only after a long while did he feel that the person beside him was somewhat excessively quiet.

He turned his head to look and asked coldly, “Why haven’t you spoken? That’s not like your usual temperament. Were you scared?”

Xie Chenyun shook his head.

After thinking for a moment, he tilted his head up and asked, “The events of today… were they planned by you before you came to Jiangcheng?”

Gu Siyuan said calmly, “Not exactly. Before I came, I only had a rough outline of a plan and felt it was a good opportunity. It was only after seeing the people from the Thunderbolt Hall at the Lingxu Pavilion that I truly finalized the specific steps of action.”

Xie Chenyun fell silent.

Fine. It seems that over these past few days, I was truly ‘the eunuch being more anxious than the emperor.’ While he was half-dead with anger over this damn assembly, the Emperor himself had already decided long ago to send these rebellious ministers and treacherous thieves to the Western Paradise.

It was even a ‘two birds with one stone’ plan, conveniently framing the Wu Family Army for the deed and causing internal chaos among these rebels.

He lightly licked his lips and continued asking, “Your Majesty’s plan was indeed flawless. So… that day at the Lingxu Pavilion, you deliberately let Tang Sheng go as well?”

Gu Siyuan nodded without hesitation: “Indeed. Otherwise, given his cultivation level, if Zhen truly wanted to capture him, it would have been as easy as turning over my hand.”

Xie Chenyun: “…”

Hehe, truly formidable.

He puffed his cheeks and asked again, “But with Your Majesty’s immense talent, why didn’t you just use military might to sweep across the world, letting the people witness your ability to suppress rebellions and awe those treacherous thieves? Why go through all this trouble, even letting Yang Tai take the Imperial Seal back?”

In certain situations, ‘sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight’ was naturally an advantageous method.

But for Gu Siyuan, he was the Emperor. He inherently possessed the standing to deal with these rebels, and given the wisdom he had displayed, he was completely capable of doing so. If he had, future history books might even record it as a glorious achievement.

Gu Siyuan looked out at the shivering river in the distance. The setting sun illuminating the rivers and mountains was majestic and beautiful to the extreme.

Such beautiful scenery should be seen by more people.

He pondered slightly: “When pushed to extremes, chaos breeds; a cornered dog will leap over a wall. Today on Xuanqing Mountain, although those aristocratic clans harbored disloyal intentions, on the surface, they were still under the jurisdiction of the Great Zhou imperial court and had not raised the flag of rebellion.”

“Furthermore, there were also the martial arts masters from major sects escorting them. Martial artists refuse to submit to imperial jurisdiction and love using their martial prowess to break laws. If they had learned of Zhen‘s thunderous methods today, I fear it would have triggered many conflicts and incidents, leading to numerous deaths and injuries. Zhen could not bear to see that.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Looking at the scene behind them, Xie Chenyun suddenly felt somewhat bewildered.

He truly didn’t understand Gu Siyuan.

After a long while, he could only let out a dry, airy chuckle: “Your Majesty is truly a good emperor, so soft-hearted and benevolent. That is why you specifically took the trouble to instigate a rebellion among Lei Yan, Yang Tai, and the others, so they could firmly pin the blame for this matter on the Wu Family Army.”

“That is not the case,” Gu Siyuan shook his head.

“Ah?” Xie Chenyun frowned.

Gu Siyuan looked at him, his tone indifferent: “Instigating Lei Yan and Yang Tai is such a trivial matter, what need is there to spend any effort? Wherever Zhen arrives, who does not bow in submission?”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun fell completely silent.

Fine, although we’re not talking about the exact same thing…

But indeed, with your profound scheming abilities, anyone who disobeys and opposes you is indeed seeking their own death.

Watching as everything in the venue gradually settled down, Gu Siyuan turned his head and, with extreme naturalness, took hold of Xie Chenyun’s slender, pale hand, saying: “Let us go down the mountain. It is time to go to Huangzhou.”

“Alright.”

Xie Chenyun replied softly.

He looked down at their clasped hands, suddenly feeling that the inexplicable shadows looming over him earlier might have just been him overthinking things.

…

The consequences brought about by the incident at Xuanqing Mountain were destined to be profound.

Especially since, while the soldiers were ‘fishing’ for people at the base of the mountain, Gu Siyuan specifically ordered them to let a few survivors escape.

Therefore, in an extremely short amount of time, the news that the Wu Family Army had seized the Imperial Seal of the Realm and murdered the various aristocratic clans and major martial arts sects spread throughout the entire world.

However, Gu Siyuan no longer needed to trouble himself with these matters.

At dusk this day, accompanied by the orange-yellow setting sun, Gu Siyuan’s entourage entered Huangzhou City.

Inside a certain manor in the center of the city.

Gu Siyuan sat high up, holding Xie Chenyun, while the long-unseen chubby Eunuch Wang Tan stood beside them.

The Inspector of Huangzhou and other local officials stood below with their heads bowed and breath held.

“How could Your Majesty be so willful, privately leaving the grand army to go out?!” Wei Zhengping said with a dark, gloomy face.

He didn’t say this out of any great concern for the Son of Heaven’s safety; it was just that this little emperor was visibly becoming more and more out of control.

This was absolutely not a good thing!

Gu Siyuan cast him a glance and said lazily: “Anyway, those rebels from the Wu family haven’t attacked yet. What is wrong with Zhen taking my Beloved Concubine out for a trip to have fun? Minister Wei, why have you become so long-winded lately?!”

As he spoke, he pinched Xie Chenyun’s shoulder.

Xie Chenyun abruptly snapped out of his daze, squeezing a few hints of a smile onto his face: “That’s right, Eunuch Wei! If someone didn’t know better, they would think you are the master of this world! Does His Majesty have to report to you wherever he goes?”

Wei Zhengping glared at him with eyes full of cold light: “When Zhen (I) speaks with His Majesty, what right do you have to interrupt?!”

Xie Chenyun immediately let out a delicate whimper and hid behind Gu Siyuan: “Your Majesty, this concubine is scared! Eunuch Wei is glaring at me!”

Gu Siyuan hurriedly hugged him, comforting him softly: “Beloved Concubine, do not be afraid, do not be afraid…”

Following that, he swept a cold gaze toward Wei Zhengping: “Minister Wei, Beauty Xie is naive and innocent. Why must you frighten him so?!”

“…” Wei Zhengping.

Naive and innocent? This demonic consort?!

He endured it and endured it again, finally saying angrily: “Your Majesty, you used to be the most sensible of all! This time, your unauthorized departure from the grand army was likely also due to being bewitched by this demonic consort! Your Majesty, you absolutely must not listen to this demonic consort’s slanderous words anymore!”

“…” The crowd present looked at each other in dismay.

The world has truly changed.

The number one treacherous official of Great Zhou was actually advising the little emperor not to indulge in beauty and not to listen to slanderous words…

Hehe.

“Eunuch Wei, what nonsense are you spouting?! His Majesty is the most wise and enlightened of all; who could possibly bewitch His Majesty?!” Xie Chenyun immediately seized the opportunity to make an issue of it, pointing at Wei Zhengping and complaining: “Your Majesty, look! Eunuch Wei might truly have gone mad! He actually doubts your enlightenment!”

Hearing this, Gu Siyuan’s face instantly turned freezing cold. He scolded furiously: “Minister Wei, Zhen used to think you were understanding and considerate, but why are you speaking and acting so obtusely now? First you tried to stop Zhen from personally leading the expedition, and now you even want to control where Zhen goes! Why don’t I just hand the position of Emperor over to you?!”

At these words, the venue fell dead silent, and everyone dropped to their knees with a thud.

“Quell your anger, Your Majesty!”

Gu Siyuan sneered coldly: “Quell what anger?! Quell what anger?! Zhen sees that you are all just racking your brains trying to be Zhen‘s master!”

“Your ministers would not dare!” the crowd prostrated themselves in unison to beg forgiveness.

Xie Chenyun hurriedly hugged his arm, coaxing softly: “Your Majesty, do not be angry. It is not worth being angry over these idiots!”

“Only my Beloved Concubine understands Zhen,” Gu Siyuan nodded. Annoyed, he slammed his hand on the table and roared downwards: “Hmph, a bunch of annoying pieces of trash! If there is nothing else, scram immediately! All you do all day long is ruin Zhen‘s mood!”

“…” Wei Zhengping.

Wei Zhengping finally profoundly understood the thoughts of those court ministers from before.

To run into such a brainless foolish ruler who loved listening to slanderous words, it was truly…

Just at this moment, the Duke of Song suddenly stood up, stepped forward, and reported: “Answering Your Majesty, this minister has a matter to report. The rations and reinforcements from Runing have all arrived and are waiting to be arranged into the camps.”

In the past, such a major matter would inevitably be handed over to Wei Zhengping.

But at this moment, Gu Siyuan merely glared at Wei Zhengping, then casually said to the Duke of Song: “Then let the Duke handle it as he sees fit. Once the initial arrangements are made, submit a memorial.”

Wei Zhengping’s expression instantly changed. He stepped forward and said: “Your Majesty, the Duke is old and frail, and has not led troops for many years. This matter is likely improper.”

The Duke of Song: “Insolent! If this Duke cannot do it, does that mean you can?!”

Wei Zhengping immediately replied: “I am willing to share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

The Duke of Song flew into a rage: “Shameless!”

Wei Zhengping, however, felt no pain or itch, and immediately smiled: “Duke, do not be angry. Extreme anger harms the body, especially for someone advanced in age…”

“Your Majesty, you see? This concubine told you Eunuch Wei is simply mad! You clearly already said to hand it over to the Duke of Song, yet he is still here doubting your arrangements, wanting to be your master.”

A slightly sweet, clear voice came from above.

Xie Chenyun was currently righteously blowing ‘pillow talk’ (pillow wind) into Gu Siyuan’s ear.

Gu Siyuan immediately pointed at Wei Zhengping and scolded furiously: “Wei Zhengping, do you still hold Zhen in your eyes?! Zhen said to hand it over to the Duke of Song, so it is handed over to the Duke of Song! Are you truly trying to act as Zhen‘s master today?!”

Wei Zhengping’s face darkened: “This old slave would not dare, it is just that Your Majesty…”

Gu Siyuan grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it down: “Would not dare?! If you wouldn’t dare, then what are you still spouting nonsense here for?! All of you, scram out of Zhen‘s sight! Zhen is tired and needs to rest.”

“Obeying the decree.” The Duke of Song immediately retreated outside.

Wei Zhengping gave Gu Siyuan a deep look and also slowly retreated.

The Inspector of Huangzhou followed them out, blinking secretly.

The Emperor’s heart truly is as unfathomable as the sea; accompanying the Emperor is like accompanying a tiger!

Who in the court didn’t know that His Majesty trusted the ‘Jiuqiansui’ Lord the most? Yet looking at it now, it seems it was nothing more than this…

Wei Zhengping wore a dark expression all the way as he walked into an exquisite courtyard.

“Adoptive Father, what’s wrong?” Wei Feng asked urgently, seeing the utterly gloomy aura surrounding Wei Zhengping.

“Damn it!” With a sweep of Wei Zhengping’s sleeve, the ornaments and tea sets on the table were instantly pulverized.

“I didn’t expect that stupid thing would actually be so thoroughly bewitched by that bullshit Beauty Xie the Duke of Song sent in! Now he listens to whatever that demonic consort says, completely shutting me out! He doesn’t even think about the fact that I was the one who let him sit on that imperial throne in the first place!”

Wei Feng’s expression turned solemn: “Adoptive Father, could it be you want to…”

Wei Zhengping narrowed his eyes: “This place is unsuitable, the people of the Song Clan are watching closely. We will discuss it when we return to the capital.”

Wei Feng was also quite dissatisfied: “Then do we just watch the little emperor and the Duke of Song act so arrogantly right now?”

Wei Zhengping shook his head: “He just likes beauties, doesn’t he? If the Duke of Song can send beauties, does that mean I cannot? In this world, two-legged rabbits are hard to find, but aren’t two-legged humans everywhere?! The people I told you to arrange a while ago, are they ready?”

Wei Feng nodded, giving a vulgar chuckle: “They’ve been waiting in the side courtyard for a long time. Hehe. The little emperor thinks that just because he covers it up, everyone else is blind and can’t tell that this so-called Beauty Xie is actually a man through and through? Hmph, I was wondering how a little emperor who has seen every kind of beauty could be so thoroughly bewitched! I didn’t expect he just changed his tastes!”

Wei Zhengping’s expression was gloomy: “If the little emperor remains obstinate this time and doesn’t obediently listen to me, then do not blame me…”

…

That evening.

After Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun finished dinner, having been covered in dust from their journey during the day, they each went to bathe separately.

Now that they were marching outside the capital, the manor they stayed in was naturally not as exquisite in every detail as the Jinling temporary palace.

However, Gu Siyuan was the Emperor; ultimately, he would never be slighted.

After removing his clothes, he had barely entered the bath when eight maidservants stepped forward to serve him.

Gu Siyuan waved a hand, saying coldly: “Zhen wishes for some peace and quiet. All of you, step down.”

The maidservants’ gazes lingered over that perfect physique that seemed forged by the gods. Ultimately, they didn’t dare speak a word and retreated with flushed faces and lowered eyes.

“Yes.”

Gu Siyuan undid his hair crown, closed his eyes, and leaned against the wall of the bath, relaxing his entire body to the utmost.

White mist billowed upward.

A cool breeze blew in occasionally, making it extremely comfortable.

The water ripples were gentle. Feeling the soft sensation surrounding his body, Gu Siyuan recalled the rippling water patterns he had seen while drifting on the river that day. An inexplicable enlightenment suddenly surfaced in his heart.

He sat cross-legged right there in the pool and began circulating the Innate Heaven and Earth Cultivation Arts.

The internal energy in his meridians flowed as unimpeded as a surging flood.

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

Gu Siyuan concluded his practice and let out a soft breath. His harvest this time had been immense; the bottleneck was completely broken.

Just at this moment, a faint movement sounded behind him.

“Zhen said there is no need to serve,” Gu Siyuan said faintly without turning his head.

Amidst the hazy water mist, his originally cold and deep voice carried a few added hints of sexiness.

Perhaps it was because of this that the person behind him didn’t retreat even a single step.

A warm cloth gently landed on his arm, and slender fingers began to lightly massage his shoulders.

Gu Siyuan abruptly opened his eyes, meeting two quite similar, handsome faces.

Although they were clearly men, they wore thin, sheer palace garments, their snow-white skin half-hidden and half-exposed in an enticing manner.

The two of them only knew they were here to serve His Majesty. Suddenly meeting such sharp, eagle-like eyes and feeling the robust physique beneath their cloths, their faces actually flushed red instantly.

Gu Siyuan furrowed his brow: “Who are you, and who sent you here?”

One of them, who looked slightly more refined, immediately replied: “This slave is Chen Xia, and this is my younger brother, Chen Qiu. Grand General Wei arranged for us brothers to come and serve Your Majesty.”

Gu Siyuan lowered his eyes slightly and instantly understood Wei Zhengping’s intentions.

He actually went to the trouble of finding a pair of twins.

He gave a light sneer, looked up at the two, and said, “Step down. Zhen has no interest!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the two men directly plunged into the water with a splash: “Your Majesty! Grand General Wei said that if we cannot serve Your Majesty to your satisfaction, we and our families will lose our lives!”

“Your Majesty, this slave dares not pray for anything else; just being able to stay by Your Majesty’s side is enough.”

As they spoke, the two of them snuggled closer toward Gu Siyuan’s body.

Gu Siyuan was just about to raise his hand to block them.

“Your Majesty!”

At this time, another leisurely and relaxed voice drifted over, and the sheer curtain beside the bath was violently swept open.

Recognizing Xie Chenyun’s voice, Gu Siyuan couldn’t be bothered with the other two. He turned his head directly, raising his sword-like eyebrows slightly: “Chenyun, why have you come over too? Zhen‘s bath is certainly quite lively today!”

Standing outside the curtain, looking at the scene inside the pool, thunderclouds gathered between Xie Chenyun’s brows, covered in frost and snow.

Gritting his teeth, he enunciated every word: “Gu Siyuan! What are you doing?!”

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

He stood up from the pool. Water droplets rolled down the smooth lines of his body. He casually grabbed a robe from the nearby rack, draped it over his shoulders, and walked forward: “Chenyun, you…”

Xie Chenyun shot him a hateful glare.

The next moment, the sheer curtain gripped in his palm abruptly shattered into pieces, fluttering in the air.

Following that, he raised his hand and sent a palm strike toward the bath. Because his cultivation of the Nirvana Holy Canon had reached a certain level, he didn’t hold back any strength in this strike.

Instantly, white waves splashed high into the air. The massive force and shockwave directly blew the roof off! Glazed tiles cracked into pieces, falling down in a shower.

As for the two brothers in the pool, they were directly knocked unconscious by the shockwave, fresh blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.

Still feeling his anger unvented, Xie Chenyun tapped his toes and prepared to fly out, intending to kill those two directly and make them vanish from his sight forever.

Seeing this, Gu Siyuan furrowed his brow and moved his feet.

In a flash, he reached out, effortlessly intercepting the man in mid-air and pinning him into his embrace, saying coldly: “What kind of madness are you displaying in Zhen‘s place?”

However, because of this interception, Xie Chenyun—who was already enraged to the extreme—completely lost his rationality.

He gave a miserable laugh, raised his hand, and attacked Gu Siyuan.

Naturally, Gu Siyuan wasn’t one to just stand there and take a beating. With a flick of his wrist, he directly blocked the incoming pair of palms.

Almost simultaneously, his other hand struck Xie Chenyun’s shoulder, directly sealing several major acupoints across his body, making it impossible for him to mobilize even a shred of internal energy.

Hit by the sudden backlash of the acupoint-sealing force, Xie Chenyun bent over and violently coughed up a mouthful of blood, instantly becoming a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Wang Tan finally rushed in with his men. Looking at the ruined scene, he stammered, “Your… Your Majesty! Assassins?!”

Gu Siyuan reached out to support Xie Chenyun, whose footing had become unsteady and weak due to the backlash of his injury.

After thinking for a moment, he simply scooped him up horizontally into his arms.

Xie Chenyun was like a broken ragdoll, letting him maneuver him however he pleased.

Gu Siyuan furrowed his brow.

Despite his peerless intelligence, he still couldn’t comprehend everything happening before him.

He looked at Wang Tan and said: “Summon an imperial physician to examine those two in the pool, and then lock them up.”

After saying that, he carried the person out.

Passing through the long, winding covered corridors.

After entering the bedchamber, Gu Siyuan placed the person in a chair and stared at him quietly: “Speak. What exactly happened?”

Although Xie Chenyun’s major acupoints were sealed, his movements weren’t completely restricted, and his mind was perfectly clear.

He lifted his eyelids slightly, looking at Gu Siyuan, who seemed genuinely oblivious. Countless thoughts flooded his mind for a moment, but in the end, he only felt it was absurd and ridiculous.

Could it be that as an Emperor, he was truly born completely ignorant of love?

He actually doesn’t even know what I’m angry about.

Seeing his pale lips, Gu Siyuan stood up, fetched a long robe to drape over him, then poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over.

Xie Chenyun’s slender white fingers gripped the cup. Looking at the person before him, he finally spoke: “Your Majesty, those two people just now…”

Gu Siyuan also poured a cup of tea for himself and answered casually: “They were sent by Wei Zhengping to serve Zhen, likely wanting them to blow ‘pillow wind’ in my ear. Zhen made him lose a lot of face today.”

The hand Xie Chenyun used to grip the cup turned stark white. He said in a low voice: “Since Your Majesty knew they came with ulterior motives, why didn’t you just send them away directly? Could it be you saw they were attractive and felt that keeping them to serve you wouldn’t matter?”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him and said faintly: “Naturally not. It was a coincidence that Chenyun arrived when you did; Zhen was just about to send them away.”

“Really?” Xie Chenyun snapped his head up, a look of joy on his face.

Could I have misunderstood?

Gu Siyuan chuckled lightly: “Why would I need to hide such a trivial matter? Furthermore, the reason Wei Zhengping sent these two brothers over this time is likely because of Chenyun. He actually thought Zhen had truly changed my preferences and fallen in love with men from now on?”

Hearing this, the porcelain cup slipped from Xie Chenyun’s fingers and shattered on the floor.

He looked up at Gu Siyuan, licked his lips, his voice somewhat dry and hoarse: “Your… Your Majesty, do you mean… you do not actually like men?”

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