FIMA Ch83: Cooperation

Xie Xuan abruptly raised his head and saw a black shadow flash by rapidly with a “swish”. A tall and straight figure was already sitting on the red-lacquered wooden chair in front of him.

Perhaps because he was off duty and at home in the evening, the person in front of him wasn’t wearing his usual cold black armor and cape as seen in the past.

At this moment, he merely casually draped a black crane cloak over a single unlined garment, his hair was simply tied with a cloth ribbon, and he was holding a folding fan from nowhere in his hand.

Inexplicably, he gave off an indescribable sense of romantic and unrestrained charm, completely different from the cold, hard, and upright demeanor during the day.

Xie Xuan was just thinking this.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eagle-like eyes slightly, resting the folding fan under his chin and lifting it slightly: “Sixth Highness, you are staring too intently.”

Xie Xuan ignored that bit of bizarre joy in his heart, reached out to slap away the folding fan with a “smack”, and looked at him asking hypocritically, “Why has General Gu come at this hour?”

Gu Siyuan sneered, “If I didn’t come, wouldn’t I have missed the Sixth Highness cursing people behind my back?”

Xie Xuan wrinkled his nose, secretly thinking: This guy is indeed not a good person, who tears down someone’s stage like this?

He puffed his cheeks, remaining stubborn: “General Gu must have misheard, this Prince was cursing that pigeon.”

“…”

Pigeon Master, who had just fled for its life to the windowsill because of Gu Siyuan’s sudden arrival, now glared over indignantly with its innocent mung-bean eyes.

What kind of master is this? Do you really think Pigeon Master can’t understand?

Can’t a pigeon’s heart get hurt?

“If Your Highness says so, then it is so,” Gu Siyuan chuckled, not planning to bully this soft little thing anymore.

Feeling guilty, Xie Xuan hurriedly changed the subject: “Since General Gu has come in the dead of night, let’s get down to business!”

Gu Siyuan nodded: “The Sixth Highness sent a message saying you wanted to cooperate with me, why not speak plainly?”

Xie Xuan curled the corners of his lips and smiled: “General Gu said those words by the riverside, do you really not know what this Prince wants to talk to you about?”

Gu Siyuan gently fanned his folding fan, his expression cold: “Doesn’t the Sixth Highness know how I conduct myself usually? Are you the only one who wants to win me over?”

Xie Xuan’s smile remained unchanged, instead leaning in a little closer, their warm breaths intertwining between them: “Isn’t it General Gu who wants to be won over by this Prince?”

Gu Siyuan paused his folding fan, held the chin right in front of him, moved it slightly to the side, and said coldly: “Speak properly.”

“…” Xie Xuan.

Hehe, I think I somewhat understand this guy’s personality now.

Xie Xuan straightened his expression: “Naturally, this Prince can give General Gu things that others cannot.”

Gu Siyuan raised an eyebrow: “For instance?”

Xie Xuan’s eyes were expressive, saying softly: “Saying ‘for instance’ is too boring. This Prince promises, General Gu can have whatever you want.”

Gu Siyuan met his gaze, pondering for a moment: “Whatever I want?”

Xie Xuan nodded: “Of course, even dividing the throne in half is negotiable.”

Gu Siyuan snapped his folding fan shut, his voice cold: “Not interested in the throne.”

“Oh my…” Xie Xuan clapped gently, smiling mischievously, “Not even interested in the empire, could it be that General Gu is exactly like the legends in unofficial history, one who loves beauty over the empire?”

“Childish.” Gu Siyuan’s folding fan tapped on the back of his hand, instantly leaving a red mark with a “swish”.

Xie Xuan withdrew his hand, rubbed it on his clothes, and puffed his cheeks unwillingly. He picked up a pastry from the table and stuffed it into his mouth: “This Prince still has four months until my seventeenth birthday, am I not allowed to be childish?”

Watching him eat like a small animal, his cheeks puffing up one after another, Gu Siyuan’s heart softened slightly. What a pitiful and cute little thing.

Tonight was mid-month, a full moon like a plate hanging high in the sky.

Moonlight poured down like water as the two sat across from each other brewing tea.

However, Xie Xuan had always been frail. After sitting for less than a while, he couldn’t help but shrink his arms.

In the blink of an eye, a wide crane cloak was already draped over him.

The crane cloak had just been taken off the other person’s body, carrying a pleasant temperature. Xie Xuan’s whole body felt relieved.

Just as he was about to say something, the figure before his eyes was already gone.

Early the next morning, Gu Siyuan had to enter the palace for duty and got up at the hour of Mao.

The maidservant brought hot water in to serve his washing, and casually took out the changed dirty clothes to wash.

After searching for a long time, she couldn’t find the outer garment. Frowning with a belly full of doubts, she went out. Could it be I remembered wrong?

Gu Siyuan was on guard duty outside the Taihe Hall.

His martial arts were excellent, and his hearing and eyesight were far superior to ordinary people.

At today’s morning court, the courtiers were mainly discussing two things. One was the assassination case from the day before yesterday; those who should be trampled were trampled, and those who begged for mercy begged for mercy. The second was the metropolitan examination to be held in the capital in March; with less than a month left, the leaders of the various princes’ factions were all fighting to be the examiner.

Because of the sacrificial ceremony incident, Xie Huan’s forces were visibly going to be weakened, but the other princes were still fighting for power and profit to climb up.

Emperor Jianzhao’s mood recently was visibly extremely bad. He found everyone displeasing to the eye, feeling that the unruly subjects were trying to harm him, so matters were suppressed again and again.

The royal court was noisy and chaotic, but in the end, no result was argued out. Emperor Jianzhao angrily flicked his sleeves, stood up directly, and left. Today’s morning court hastily concluded.

When getting onto the imperial carriage, Emperor Jianzhao’s face was terrifyingly dark.

Wang Chengying hurriedly served carefully, carrying a bit more trepidation than usual.

Gu Siyuan, however, still kept his cold face, guarding the surroundings.

Just as the imperial carriage reached the corner, several people came facing them. The leader was an elderly female official, who was someone who always served by the Empress Dowager’s side.

Gu Siyuan waved his hand to stop the procession’s footsteps.

A moment later, the imperial carriage turned around and headed toward the Ningshou Palace.

Just as the imperial carriage arrived outside the Ningshou Palace, Gu Siyuan happened to see Xie Xuan, whom he had just seen last night, also hurrying over.

However, while this guy was trotting all the way, he didn’t forget to secretly blink at him.

After the person went in, Gu Siyuan thought to himself: It seems the Empress Dowager knows about the sacrificial ceremony incident.

Generally speaking, if the emperor solely favored a certain concubine too much, the Empress Dowager would be dissatisfied with this concubine. But the current Empress Dowager Jiang wasn’t like this; Empress Dowager Jiang liked Noble Consort Lu very much, and extremely doted on Xie Xuan.

However, the Empress Dowager was old after all, and her health wasn’t very good. The palace servants originally didn’t dare to tell her about Xie Xuan being assassinated at the sacrificial ceremony.

But this morning, when Jiang Yuanyuan entered the palace to pay her respects, she accidentally revealed this matter. Only then did the Empress Dowager know, and immediately summoned Emperor Jianzhao and Xie Xuan over.

Gu Siyuan stood guard outside the Ningshou Palace for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. A palace maid walked out from the main hall, saying the Empress Dowager summoned him.

Gu Siyuan nodded in acknowledgment and followed her inside.

In his heart, he was secretly pondering: Could it be about a reward again? After Noble Consort Lu’s reward, the Emperor rewarded, and now it’s the Empress Dowager’s turn?

It could only be said his guess was truly spot on.

Empress Dowager Jiang’s hair was already completely white, but her appearance remained dignified. Looking at Gu Siyuan, she said gently: “I must thank you properly. Your temperament is truly quite different from your father’s.”

Speaking up to this point, the Empress Dowager suddenly said: “I remember your father is two years older than the Emperor. You should be about the same age as the Eldest Prince now, are you married?”

Gu Siyuan cupped his hands: “Without establishing a career, how can one start a family? This humble official temporarily has no intention to marry.”

Xie Xuan cast a gentle glance at him.

Empress Dowager Jiang nodded, and didn’t force the matter further.

A moment later, she waved to the side hall next to her. The female official standing there immediately understood, and led a young, beautiful girl out.

This was the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch of Duke Cheng’en’s mansion, Jiang Yuanyuan, and also the female protagonist of this world, who was always deeply loved by the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled at Xie Xuan: “Yuanyuan happened to come to the palace to pay her respects today. You young people go out and talk, I happen to have some words to say to the Emperor.”

“Yes.” Xie Xuan immediately responded.

Jiang Yuanyuan also curtsied gracefully.

When Gu Siyuan turned to leave, he clearly saw Emperor Jianzhao’s eyes flickering. It seemed that being kept behind for a talk, even the Emperor found it hard to endure.

The Ningshou Palace occupied a quite large area, and to the left was a self-contained small garden. It was spring, with red flowers and green willows.

The three of them headed over there.

However, naturally, Xie Xuan and Jiang Yuanyuan walked in front, while Gu Siyuan merely followed behind as a guard.

Jiang Yuanyuan glanced sideways at the person beside her, her emotions indiscernible, but her voice was gentle and pleasant: “Hearing about the sacrificial ceremony incident, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is very worried, and Yuanyuan is also quite uneasy. May I ask if the Sixth Highness is well?”

Xie Xuan nodded politely: “Thank you for cousin Jiang’s concern, I am very well.”

Xie Xuan knew the Empress Dowager had always wanted to matchmake him and Jiang Yuanyuan. He didn’t have many thoughts regarding romance, but the Empress Dowager always doted on him, so he didn’t want to disappoint her. Moreover, Jiang Yuanyuan always had a good reputation in the capital, making her very suitable to be a prince’s consort.

“That’s good.” Jiang Yuanyuan smiled gently, innocent and bright yet without losing her demeanor. She then seemingly muttered to herself, “I don’t know what kind of villains they are, so audacious as to actually plot to murder the Sixth Highness. Your Highness must be careful in the future!”

Xie Xuan said calmly: “The assassins were indeed audacious, but probably they weren’t targeting me. It’s a good thing I went to the sacrificial platform in place of Imperial Father.”

Jiang Yuanyuan’s expression froze for a moment, and after a long while, she said: “So that’s how it is. Yuanyuan was impolite.”

Xie Xuan shook his head, his face showing no change at all.

The two walked a lap around the small garden, chatting casually about some things. Xie Xuan answered every question, but none touched upon the key points. Jiang Yuanyuan quickly became impatient in her heart.

She only wanted to help Xie Huan probe for the truth, to see if Xie Xuan had become suspicious about the events at the sacrificial ceremony; otherwise, she wouldn’t have any interest in getting close to Xie Xuan.

Jiang Yuanyuan smiled and said, “Sixth Highness, Yuanyuan is a little tired and will go back to rest for a while first.”

Xie Xuan quickly nodded: “I was negligent, cousin Jiang take care.”

After returning to the side hall, the little maidservant Dong’er beside Jiang Yuanyuan smiled mischievously: “The Sixth Highness is very gentle to you, Miss. The Empress Dowager kept the Emperor behind, perhaps they are discussing the Sixth Highness’s marriage?”

“Is that so?” Jiang Yuanyuan raised her eyes, saying carelessly.

Ever since the Empress Dowager had this idea, everyone in the family told her she would marry into the royal family and become a prince’s consort. And since His Majesty doted on the Sixth Highness so much, she might even become the Crown Princess and the Empress in the future.

Thinking of the envious and jealous gazes of the sisters in the family, Jiang Yuanyuan sneered disdainfully. Do they think everyone cares so much?

Dong’er beside her didn’t see her expression, only heard the laughter, and hurriedly nodded to flatter her: “I just heard a palace maid sister say that the Empress Dowager mentioned yesterday that the Sixth Highness’s seventeenth birthday is coming up soon, and it’s time for him to take a wife?”

Jiang Yuanyuan sat by the window, thinking to herself: The Empress Dowager and His Majesty are so biased. The Fourth Prince Xie Huan is a year older than Xie Xuan, yet no one worries about his affairs; everyone only looks at Xie Xuan.

However, she would look at Xie Huan, knowing that Xie Huan was a hundred times more outstanding than Xie Xuan.

Doesn’t Xie Xuan just rely on having a femme fatale mother consort?

Jiang Yuanyuan didn’t want to marry Xie Xuan.

And the Sixth Highness also encountered a difficult problem.

“You want to marry the Jiang family’s daughter?” Gu Siyuan crossed his arms and leaned against the tree, looking at him lazily, just like he did by the riverside in Qing County a few days ago.

Xie Xuan looked at him, wanting to answer, “Probably yes.”

But for some reason, he felt a bit guilty and changed his words: “Although this Prince is a prince, marriage matters must also follow the orders of elders.”

Gu Siyuan just stared at him coldly and said: “You cannot marry her.”

Xie Xuan was startled by the toughness in the tone of the person before him, but at the bottom of his heart, there was an inexplicable and secret emotion, like exciting joy.

He deliberately puffed his cheeks and snorted lightly: “You, a petty General of the Household, want to make decisions for this Prince?”

Gu Siyuan scrutinized his puffed cheeks and triumphant little look. He directly reached out his large palm, grabbed his neck and chin, and pulled him over.

The force was somewhat strong, and the white jade-like side face instantly turned slightly red.

Xie Xuan’s arrogant and haughty expression could no longer be maintained, and he began to hum and haw: “You’re being rude to this Prince again.”

His whole body leaned against Gu Siyuan’s embrace, but his struggle was not forceful at all.

Xie Xuan smelled a fresher scent of snow and new tea emanating from the person behind him; it made one feel physically and mentally relaxed, yet not overly stimulating or cloying in the slightest.

An even more icy and low male voice rang out beside his ear: “If the Sixth Highness doesn’t listen, then there will be plenty more times when this official is rude!”

Xie Xuan looked up to glare at him, the naughty tip of his tongue darting out from between his lips to lick his bright red lips, and said leisurely: “Rude, how else does General Gu want to be rude? Are you going to commit insubordination?”

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, some images slowly emerging in his mind, and his breathing became a bit hurried.

He remained silent for a long time, then said coldly and sternly: “The Sixth Highness should mind yourself.”

Xie Xuan’s eyes rolled around, and he smiled lightly: “Fine, this Prince will tell Imperial Grandmother. But what reason should I use? Should I just say that General Gu himself doesn’t want to take a wife, so he won’t allow this Prince to take a wife either…”

The end of his sentence curled up slightly, carrying an intentionally alluring undertone, determined not to let the person before him off easy.

Gu Siyuan stared into his cunning eyes for a moment. His large palm resting on the neck slowly slid down, from the shoulder to the arm, with a very light touch. Although there shouldn’t have been a reaction, Xie Xuan felt an unbearable itch wherever the hand passed.

Finally, the large palm stopped on that slender wrist resembling cold jade. The slow and faint rhythm of his pulse slowly transmitted through the fingertips.

Gu Siyuan lowered his eyes for a moment, chuckled mockingly at him: “Isn’t it easy for the Sixth Highness to find a reason?”

Xie Xuan’s moist eyes instantly filled with floating ice and crushed snow, wanting to pull back his wrist: “What do you mean?”

Gu Siyuan’s warm palm rested on his wrist, extremely comfortable, making him reluctant to let go. He pressed lightly a few more times with his fingertips, and said calmly: “The pulse is thin as a thread, weak upon pressure. Your Highness has been frail since childhood and is not suited for early marriage. It’s best to cultivate your mind and body. Surely Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will understand.”

Hearing his words, Xie Xuan fell silent for a moment, then quickly curved his eyebrows and eyes into a smile: “To think General Gu also knows how to take a pulse and make a diagnosis?”

Gu Siyuan played with that wrist in his hand: “A man of the military just knows a little superficially.”

Xie Xuan glanced at the hand on his wrist, not taking it to heart, and continued to smile playfully: “Then according to Doctor Gu’s brilliant opinion, how long will it take for this Prince to recover? When can I take a wife and start a family?”

Still holding onto that idea.

Gu Siyuan stared at him indifferently, the force of his palm involuntarily increasing slightly: “Terminal illness, incurable. Don’t delay other girls.”

“…” Xie Xuan.

Wow, what a terrifying man.

“I couldn’t tell that General Gu is someone who likes to joke around?” He blinked his eyes and smiled lightly, “Okay, this Prince understands. I won’t get married without General Gu’s consent.”

Gu Siyuan let go of his hand, nodding with satisfaction: “Good that you’re sensible.”

Xie Xuan lowered his eyes to look at his wrist that had lost its warmth, secretly curling his lip. Had I known earlier, I shouldn’t have agreed so readily.

Gu Siyuan continued: “The result of handling the assassination attempt at the sacrificial ceremony is probably coming out soon. Tell your people not to jump too high. Our Majesty has always been skilled at the art of balance. What is gained will be lost, and what is lost might be gained.”

“Mm,” Xie Xuan nodded, then raised his eyes slightly, looking at the person in front of him with ill intent: “By speaking like this, General Gu, are you speculating on the holy intent? This is high treason.”

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes to look at this cunning and alluring little fox, his voice cold: “Not only speculating on the holy intent, but also secretly colluding with a prince, perhaps later there will even be insubordination and rebellion…”

Hearing this, Xie Xuan curved his beautiful eyes into a smile. He “bumped” his chin against Gu Siyuan’s chest through the hard armor, carrying an irrepressible smile, his voice lingering: “General Gu, this Prince is starting to like you more and more, what should I do?”

Gu Siyuan reached out and stroked his fair, graceful neck, saying indifferently: “Could this official not allow Your Highness to like me?”

“Haha…”

Xie Xuan’s crisp and cheerful laughter gradually spread in the small garden, startling away several butterflies gathering pollen.

Shortly after, a voice announcing “His Majesty is departing” came from outside the main hall of the Cining Palace.

Gu Siyuan mercilessly pushed away the person in his arms, saying coldly: “You go out a bit later.”

Xie Xuan nodded obediently, blinking his moist eyes: “Listening to General Gu.”

Gu Siyuan walked fast. When he took his position beside the imperial carriage, Emperor Jianzhao had just walked out of the Ningshou Gate, walking with large strides and his head down, his face even uglier than when he had just finished court.

Wang Chengying trotted behind holding a horsetail whisk, almost unable to keep up.

After getting onto the carriage, Emperor Jianzhao shouted directly: “Go, return!”

“Yes,” Wang Chengying responded.

The imperial carriage lifted. After walking for a good while, Gu Siyuan heard the sound of a cup shattering from behind the bright yellow curtain.

It seems he got scolded, Gu Siyuan thought silently.

The late Emperor had many concubines in his inner palace. The fact that Empress Dowager Jiang could emerge from those terrifying palace struggles meant she naturally wasn’t a fool.

And as Emperor Jianzhao’s mother, she was also the person who understood him best in the world. Naturally, she had long seen that Emperor Jianzhao was using Noble Consort Lu and her son as shields.

So, even though Noble Consort Lu seemingly monopolized the favor of the inner palace and enjoyed all the grace on the surface, she had never made things difficult for or taught Noble Consort Lu a lesson, and even quite liked her straightforward personality.

In this inner palace, which woman wasn’t just trying to survive under the Son of Heaven’s hands?

Empress Dowager Jiang had even persuaded Emperor Jianzhao not to do such things. Even if he didn’t like Noble Consort Lu, Xie Xuan was, after all, his own flesh and blood.

But how conceited was the Son of Heaven?

In this world, no mother could ever overcome her own son.

Therefore, she could only treat Xie Xuan better normally to comfort her own soul.

As soon as this sacrificial assassination case occurred, and she heard the causes and consequences, she could guess it was inextricably linked to Emperor Jianzhao. Maybe it was again to intentionally bully Xie Xuan for the sake of his beloved fourth son.

So she kept him behind alone, criticizing and warning him all at once. Expecting Emperor Jianzhao to turn back was impossible, but those courtiers involved in the case absolutely had to be severely punished without pardon.

This was also why Gu Siyuan had told Xie Xuan earlier that the result of the sacrificial assassination case was about to come out.

Because under the pressure from multiple sides every day, Emperor Jianzhao couldn’t hold out for long.

He was essentially a cowardly person, otherwise he wouldn’t do such a foolish thing as hiding the woman he truly loved out of concern for his reputation, and then finding another woman to act as a shield.

However, the more cowardly a person was, the more sensitive and vindictive their psychology would be. So, even if he was forced to deal with Xie Huan’s people this time, he had definitely recorded all those courtiers who jumped high to force him into his little notebook, just waiting to catch an opportunity to beat them down to hell.

Gu Siyuan lowered his eyes: It seems I still have to find some more trouble for this petty emperor…

Meanwhile, in the small garden of the Ningshou Palace.

Xie Xuan picked the best-blooming camellia and pinched it in his hand to play with.

A grey-clothed servant followed respectfully behind him: “That man named Gu just now actually dared to be rude to Your Highness.”

Xie Xuan rubbed the petals, smiling: “It’s not the first time. Hasn’t General Gu always disliked the Lu family and this Prince?”

“…” The servant was speechless.

He wasn’t talking about this. He saw that General Gu actually dared to forcefully embrace the Sixth Highness in his arms, this was simply…

“Alright.” Xie Xuan scattered all the torn petals into the air.

The flying flowers were like a dream, magnificent and beautiful.

But none were as beautiful as the person standing amidst the rain of flowers.

After all the petals had fallen, he placed his hands behind his back and leisurely walked out of the small garden: “Actually, that’s a good thing.”

A good thing that could be used to achieve his goals.

Indeed, as Gu Siyuan had expected.

Although the handling of the sacrificial assassination case was delayed again and again, it couldn’t withstand the quarrels of several factions in the royal court, the pressure from Empress Dowager Jiang after returning to the palace, and the occasional crying and fussing of Noble Consort Lu.

About half a month later, Emperor Jianzhao finally pronounced the final verdict.

Those men in black caught by Gu Siyuan hadn’t spoken a word after entering the prison of the Court of Judicature and Revision.

However, they eventually found the tattoos of the Japanese pirates of the Eastern Sea on one of them. Thus, the masterminds behind this assassination case naturally became the Japanese pirates of the Eastern Sea; anyway, the Japanese pirates wouldn’t come to Kyoto to refute it.

Moreover, this sacrificial ceremony itself was related to the extermination of the Japanese pirates. It was perfectly reasonable for them to come for revenge, and the courtiers couldn’t find fault with it.

However, this revenge wouldn’t be a matter of a short time; they could only count on the soldiers along the southeast coast to perform well.

With the masterminds resolved, next were the accomplices guilty of dereliction of duty.

This time, the Ministry of Works responsible for the construction work, the Imperial Astronomy Bureau and the Ministry of Rites responsible for supervision, and a large number of officials from the Capital Garrison responsible for clearing the area were stripped of their positions, all receiving severe punishments.

Originally, based on their actual guilt, many officials could actually have been covered up. After all, they didn’t participate directly; it was just a failure to notice, and many weren’t even the direct persons in charge.

But Emperor Jianzhao was a petty person. Since his beloved fourth son, Xie Huan, was bound to lose an arm this time, he wouldn’t make things easy for his other sons either.

He simply implicated the superiors and subordinates of those people. Especially those officials who had already taken sides and sought refuge with the princes; he turned their minor offenses into major crimes, dismissing them from office and confiscating their properties, involving up to dozens of people.

Among them, the commander of the Capital Garrison was the father-in-law of the Second Prince Xie Kuan, and was directly demoted by two ranks. The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was the maternal uncle of the Eldest Prince Xie Hong, and was penalized with no promotion for three years. Originally, the Minister of Rites was about to retire, and he was waiting to move up; now, there was probably no hope.

Emperor Jianzhao’s handling of this could be said to be extremely rough and unreasonable.

Finally, all this resentment was once again placed on Xie Xuan.

After all, everyone knew the Emperor doted on the Sixth Prince the most. Handling it so strictly must have been to vent anger for the Sixth Prince.

After court, the way the several princes looked at Xie Xuan was as if they couldn’t wait to eat him alive.

However, Xie Xuan didn’t mind. Even without these things, these good brothers of his wouldn’t dote on him either. He wasn’t worried about accumulating debts and resentment; anyway, he had no losses this time.

That night, Gu Siyuan, in a good mood, once again went out to the Sixth Prince’s mansion.

Except for the New Year festivals, the capital city of Great Liang strictly enforced a curfew all year round.

On this night, the moon was dark and the wind was high, with dark clouds covering the sky.

Under the eaves of the pitch-black streets, someone whispered: “Where is he? Where did he go?”

“Chasing a scholar, and it takes this much effort?”

Right at this moment, another voice rang out: “Over here, over here, found him…”

The two men in black right below rejoiced and immediately ran toward their companions.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes and followed them.

At the foot of a courtyard wall, four men in black were punching and kicking a scholar: “Run, you can really run, huh…”

“Hmph, even if you escaped from Ling County, what’s the use of running to the capital? Haven’t you still fallen into our hands?”

Hearing the words “Ling County”, Gu Siyuan’s gaze fixed.

A moment later, the four men in black fell lifelessly to the ground.

Carrying the heavily injured scholar, Gu Siyuan went to Xie Xuan’s mansion.

At that time, Xie Xuan was wearing that crane cloak, habitually sitting by the window in a daze.

Mm, this habit has probably been forming for less than a month.

Suddenly, a terrifying face with disheveled hair, full of red and purple bruises, appeared before his eyes.

Xie Xuan’s eyes widened, almost calling people to exterminate ghosts.

The next moment, that familiar cold and stern face also stood beside it, saying calmly: “This is a living person.”

Xie Xuan breathed a light sigh of relief, speaking peevishly: “Did you catch a murderer on your way?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, expressionless: “You could say that, I killed four people.”

“…” Xie Xuan.

Don’t talk about these things so openly in front of me.

He blinked his eyes: “Then this remaining one, is…”

Gu Siyuan said softly: “I rescued this one. He seems to be a scholar from out of town for this session’s examinations. I saw someone chasing to kill him on the street, so I just casually saved him and brought him over.”

Xie Xuan’s gaze narrowed. A scholar for this session’s examinations being chased and killed?

The metropolitan examination for this session ended a few days ago. This might involve a major imperial examination case. Because of the sacrificial ceremony assassination case before, the chief examiner this time was a person belonging to the Eldest Prince, Xie Hong.

Xie Xuan nodded: “He didn’t see your face when you saved him, right?”

Gu Siyuan shook his head: “He passed out long ago.”

Xie Xuan felt slightly relieved in his heart: “Good, I’ll have someone treat him, and if anything happens later, I’ll notify you.”

The person was sent to the guest room of the prince’s mansion.

In the courtyard, only the two of them were left sitting under the moon.

Perhaps because he had already washed up, Xie Xuan’s dark hair fell lazily over his thin shoulders and back. His inherently small, white jade-like face was partially covered, making his moist eyes and bright red lips especially prominent and extremely alluring.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes.

This person was doing it on purpose.

Xie Xuan blinked at him: “Why is General Gu looking at this Prince like this?”

Gu Siyuan picked up a pastry from the table and put it in his mouth, saying calmly: “It goes well with the meal.”

“…” Xie Xuan.

Indeed a rough man, you can even make ‘a beauty to feast the eyes on’ sound so rough and rustic.

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