Shan He Zhen – Chapter 105

As soon as Gu Chusheng left, Chu Yu immediately gave orders. In all the teahouses, taverns, theaters, and even brothels under their control, preparations began. Storytellers prepared their tales, writers crafted their articles, actors rehearsed their plays, and courtesans composed their lyrics. All these efforts pointed toward the tragic incident at White Emperor Valley years ago, as well as the Moon-Embracing Tower that Zhao Yue was secretly constructing.

The Moon-Embracing Tower was a tall structure that Princess Consort had encouraged Zhao Yue to build. Above was a tower, and below was an imperial mausoleum. Built on an auspicious site, it had floors paved with white jade, lamps adorned with bright pearls, chairs made of gold, and pools filled with fine wine. This tower was built in secrecy, and not many commoners knew about it yet. However, the large sums of money from the national treasury and the fate of death row prisoners in recent years were related to the Moon-Embracing Tower.

According to Zhao Yue’s vision, after pacifying the world, he and Princess Consort would live in the Moon-Embracing Tower, and after death, they would be buried together in this extravagant imperial mausoleum.

While Chu Yu was arranging these matters, Gu Chusheng went directly to the palace.

Now favored by Zhao Yue, he could enter the palace without being summoned. When he entered, Zhao Yue was reviewing memorials. Gu Chusheng entered the great hall and immediately knelt, startling Zhao Yue, who anxiously said, “What is the meaning of this, beloved official?”

“Your Majesty,” Gu Chusheng respectfully began, “This subject has a request.”

“We are like brothers, you can speak freely about any matter,” Zhao Yue said with a gentle expression, walking to Gu Chusheng’s front, but not helping him up, quietly waiting for him to speak. Gu Chusheng raised his head, looking earnestly at Zhao Yue: “This subject requests Your Majesty to bestow a marriage. This subject admires Lady Chu Yu of the Wei family and begs Your Majesty to grant this union!”

With these words, Gu Chusheng kowtowed hard on the ground. Zhao Yue was slightly taken aback, then showed a troubled expression: “Chusheng, Lady Wei is the first wife of the Wei family, a widow of a loyal and martyred official. How… How can a marriage edict be issued for an already married woman? If this edict were to come out, not only would you be ridiculed, but I would also be mocked by the world. Moreover, how could Wei Yun allow such an edict…”

“Your Majesty’s concerns, this subject has considered them all,” Gu Chusheng calmly replied. “This subject also has no other choice. This marriage edict that I seek today is not for myself but for Your Majesty and the sake of the realm.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yue frowned. He looked puzzled as he helped Gu Chusheng up, saying, “Explain slowly.”

“Does Your Majesty know that Gong Sun Lan left Hua Capital last night?”

Zhao Yue was slightly startled, then heard Gu Chusheng continue, “Does Your Majesty also know the real reason for Gong Sun Lan’s visit to Hua Capital?”

“No need for further suspense,” Zhao Yue felt some panic in his heart, but his face remained calm as he took a sip of tea and said steadily, “I’m listening.”

“A few days ago, this subject captured several Bei Di spies. Under intense interrogation, this subject learned that these spies had come from Bei Di with a secret message they wanted to deliver to Your Majesty.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yue’s heart suddenly raced.

Zhao Yue knew better than anyone what content a letter from Bei Di might contain at this time.

But he still maintained his composure, smiling as he asked, “So where is their letter?”

“These spies said that the verbal message they carried must be delivered to Your Majesty in person. Last night when I received the news, I planned to bring them into the palace. Unexpectedly, the Wei mansion suddenly sent a message. You know my feelings for Lady Wei, so I went to the Wei mansion first. On my way back, I was ambushed. My guards set off signal flares, so all the guards from my mansion came to rescue me. When I returned, I found that those few spies had disappeared.”

Last night’s ambush and signal flares couldn’t be hidden. If he said nothing, someone as suspicious as Zhao Yue would certainly doubt him. It was better to tell half the truth and let Zhao Yue guess the rest.

Seeing Zhao Yue frown, Gu Chusheng continued, “After the spies disappeared, I immediately went to the Wei mansion to demand the people back. Such a coincidence clearly showed that the Wei mansion had plotted to take my life. However, when my people arrived at the Wei mansion, they discovered that a large number of Wei family retainers were escorting Gong Sun Lan out of Hua Capital. I ordered pursuit but found they could not be caught up with. Why did Gong Sun Lan go to such lengths to take away a Bei Di spy? What unspeakable secret is there that Your Majesty cannot know?”

Zhao Yue tapped on the table as he listened to Gu Chusheng continue, “This subject speculates that Wei Yun must have done something at the border that he dares not let Your Majesty know. Given his character, what could he have done that he dares not let Your Majesty know?”

“All these years he has increased troops and provisions, repeatedly asking the court for money and resources, saying it was to train elite soldiers. But when he brings these elite soldiers to Bei Di territory, they come back almost annihilated every time, with only him returning. To be so lucky every single time, Your Majesty, do you believe it?”

Zhao Yue raised his eyes to look at Gu Chusheng: “If I don’t believe it, what can I do?”

“Your Majesty,” Gu Chusheng said seriously, “If we confirm that Wei Yun has rebellious intentions, we cannot let him go to fight the Wang family this time.”

Zhao Yue stroked his teacup, slowly saying, “He is already on his way back to the capital. If he doesn’t go to fight the Wang family, where else should he go?”

“Where his father and brothers are,” Gu Chusheng calmly said, “That’s where he should go.”

Zhao Yue raised his eyes to look at Gu Chusheng. He wasn’t at all surprised by these words. He had always known that Gu Chusheng was a man of resolve, with a decisiveness in killing that was no less than that of military generals among the civil officials.

“If I kill him, what if the Wei family rebels?”

Zhao Yue didn’t mind killing Wei Yun; what he minded was the Wei family army behind Wei Yun.

Gu Chusheng calmly said, “That’s why I want to marry Lady Wei.”

Zhao Yue raised an eyebrow, listening as Gu Chusheng said, “If Wei Yun dies, doesn’t the Wei family still have six young masters and four ladies? Especially Lady Wei – during the Battle of Feng Ling years ago, she guarded Feng Ling alone, and later she traveled thousands of miles to rescue Wei Yun and two thousand soldiers. She has great prestige in the Wei family. It can be said that if Wei Yun dies, she will be the spiritual pillar of the Wei family. If Wei Yun’s death wasn’t by our hands, but due to an accident, the Wei family’s decision to rebel would first depend on Chu Yu’s opinion. But what if Chu Yu marries me?”

Zhao Yue was stunned for a moment. Gu Chusheng calmly continued, “Chu Yu and I were once a celebrated couple in Da Chu. It wouldn’t be surprising for her to marry me. When Wei Yun enters Hua Capital, we’ll let him die in an accident, and then I’ll marry Chu Yu. With Chu Yu marrying me, Chu Lin Yang will have to stand on my side. The Wei family, on the one hand, is pressured by Chu Lin Yang, and on the other hand out of respect and trust for Chu Yu, won’t cause trouble. This way, even if Wei Yun dies, Your Majesty need not worry about Wei Yun’s rebellion. And the Wei family soldiers will be pacified, so there’s no need to worry about the Wei family seeking revenge for Wei Yun.”

“What if Lady Wei refuses?” Zhao Yue asked with some concern, “All of this is based on the premise that Chu Yu is willing…”

“I’ll marry her first,” Gu Chusheng said decisively. “I’ll marry her, kill Wei Yun, keep her confined in Hua Capital, and then use the six young masters of the Wei family to force her. She considers the Wei family her responsibility. For the sake of those six young masters, she will have to endure.”

“And after she endures?” Zhao Yue continued to ask. Gu Chusheng smiled slightly, raising his eyes to look at Zhao Yue, “Why doesn’t Your Majesty ask what happens after Princess Consort endures?”

Zhao Yue was stunned by the question. After a moment, he burst into laughter.

“Indeed.”

His voice was calm, “For people like us, what’s the point of talking about ‘after’? We take it one step at a time, don’t we?”

Gu Chusheng nodded. Zhao Yue called someone over, “I’ll think about the marriage bestowal. Let’s not talk about this today. We haven’t drunk together for a long time. Let’s have a drink.”

Gu Chusheng didn’t speak, pondering Zhao Yue’s thoughts in his heart.

He had already analyzed everything very thoroughly. Logically, Zhao Yue shouldn’t suspect anything. Why didn’t he agree?

However, Zhao Yue was accustomed to concealment. He smiled as he welcomed Gu Chusheng, and the two drank for a long time. Zhao Yue sighed and asked him, “They say women value children greatly. Do you think if Her Highness had my child, she might forgive me after some time?”

Gu Chusheng smiled slightly.

“Perhaps,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve already thought of a name for my child. It will be a boy, and I want to name him Yan Qing.”

“Gu Yan Qing?” Zhao Yue murmured. Gu Chusheng felt a bit dazed.

Gu Yan Qing was his only son in his previous life.

After she left, he never had anyone else by his side. When Gu Yan Qing grew up and learned about the grudges between Chu Jin, himself, and Chu Yu, not knowing how to face it, he chose to wander the world. For a lifetime, until his death, he never returned.

Gu Chusheng closed his eyes, feeling a bit drunk. He rarely allowed himself to show signs of intoxication in front of anyone other than Chu Yu. He stood up, bowed with difficulty to Zhao Yue, and staggered away.

Zhao Yue watched his retreating figure. The Grand Eunuch Zhang Hui approached, asking with some puzzlement, “Your Majesty, what is there to consider about Lord Gu’s marriage?”

“Indeed, there’s nothing to consider,” Zhao Yue smiled slightly. “It’s just that, if everything goes according to his wishes, how can that be? He can have Chu Yu, but to ask for her so openly… if Wei Yun doesn’t die, who do you think will be held accountable?”

“If Gu Chusheng marries Chu Yu and then cooperates with Wei Yun… that’s not impossible either.”

Zhao Yue’s voice was calm. Zhang Hui hesitated, “Then, what is Your Majesty’s intention?”

“This marriage must happen, but how can it be so honorable?”

Zhao Yue sneered, “My bestowal of marriage will be out of necessity, to cover up the disgraceful act Gu Chusheng committed against Lady Wei. Tell me, given Wei Yun’s temperament, if his sister-in-law was defiled by Gu Chusheng and forced to marry to save face, wouldn’t he kill Gu Chusheng?”

Zhang Hui was slightly startled. Zhao Yue stood up, calmly saying, “Since he wants to stand on this side, he must not be given a way out. How could my favor be so easily obtained?”

“Your Majesty speaks wisely,” Zhang Hui smiled as he came forward. “As long as he marries Lady Wei, I’m sure Lord Gu won’t mind the method.”

Zhao Yue smiled lightly, not saying more. He turned his head and asked, “Have people been assigned to keep an eye on the Wei mansion?”

“Yes, they have,” Zhang Hui hurriedly replied. “As soon as Lord Gu mentioned it, I went out and quickly had people watch the Wei mansion.”

Zhao Yue nodded, and Zhang Hui continued, “However, this servant heard that last night, the Sixth Young Master Wei fell seriously ill, and the Sixth Madam took the child out of the city.”

“How were they allowed to leave?!” Zhao Yue immediately frowned. “There’s a night curfew. Can people come and go from Hua Capital as they please?”

“The guards at the city gate said it was Lord Shen who vouched for them,” Zhang Hui said softly. “Lord Shen has feelings for the Sixth Madam Wei, as Your Majesty knows.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yue was silent for a moment, finally saying, “How many people left last night?”

“Three – the Sixth Madam, the Fifth Young Master, and the Sixth Young Master.”

“Never mind,” Zhao Yue waved his hand. “There are still four left. Don’t worry about it for now. As for Shen You… considering his past merits, let him go back and reflect without pay.”

“Your Majesty is magnanimous,” Zhang Hui quickly said. “Truly a sage ruler of our time.”

Zhao Yue smiled, hearing such flattery, he couldn’t help but feel pleased. Although he would be vigilant at first, after being an emperor for so long, he unconsciously felt that such words were what he should hear. He raised his head to look in the direction of Qi Feng Palace, calmly asking, “How is Concubine Mei?”

“I heard she’s the same as usual, just becoming increasingly listless.”

Zhao Yue was silent for a moment, then said, “Tell them to speed up the progress on the Moon-Embracing Tower.”

“When she sees the Moon-Embracing Tower,” Zhao Yue looked up, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness, “perhaps she’ll be a bit happier?”