I Rely on Beauty to Stabilize the Country Chapter 121

Chapter 121

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Gu Yuanbai suddenly moved.

He walked quickly to Xue Yuan’s side and swiftly drew the dagger from Xue Yuan’s waist.

The cold light of the dagger reflected on Heqin Wang’s face, Gu Yuanbai’s anger raging, his mind swelling, feeling nauseous as if all his organs had shifted, his teeth clenched, “I’ll kill you!”

Xue Yuan, trembling with fear, intercepted him, gripping the wrist of the hand wielding the dagger, fearing that he would hurt himself, “Your Majesty, you can’t kill.”

Gu Yuanbai wouldn’t listen.

Even though he knew he and Heqin Wang were not blood brothers, they still had a blood relationship. Whether it was the former Gu Lian or the current Gu Yuanbai, they both regarded Heqin Wang as their own brother. They had been brothers for twenty-two years!

The Emperor’s eyes turned red, his breathing heavy, his chest unable to draw air, still glaring fiercely at Heqin Wang, “Gu Zhao—! I’ll kill you, I will definitely kill you!”

Gu Yuanbai’s head throbbed dully, the pain piercing, relentless like needles, his hands trembling, the long blade shaking in his grip.

How could he, how dare he!

Heqin Wang’s hands were trembling too.

He looked into Gu Yuanbai’s eyes, where the killing intent was like a blade stabbing into Heqin Wang’s heart. His heart was pierced by the mud, bleeding drop by drop. The most fearful scene in Heqin Wang’s nightmares finally appeared before his eyes.

He could only freeze, unable to say a word, staring at Gu Yuanbai, his limbs trembling with fear.

Gu Yuanbai knew.

He knew the dirty thoughts his elder brother harbored towards him.

Xue Yuan followed Gu Yuanbai’s back and gently embraced him, softly coaxing, “Your Majesty, your body just got better, don’t be angry. If you feel uncomfortable, just bite me, okay?”

Gu Yuanbai trembled, and Xue Yuan took advantage of his distraction to quickly take the large blade from his hand.

Glancing at Heqin Wang, with a sneer at the corner of his mouth and a coldness in his eyes.

Heqin Wang watched the intimacy between the two of them, feeling a stench rising in his throat. He gripped the clothes on his chest, feeling a painful tightness in his heart, but still stared motionlessly at them.

He never thought of dragging Gu Yuanbai down. Gu Yuanbai shouldn’t like men. He hid it so deeply, suppressed it so much, just to let Gu Yuanbai live cleanly. How could Xue Yuan dare?

Gu Yuanbai buried his head in Xue Yuan’s neck. After a long time, he couldn’t stop trembling with extreme anger. He clenched his fists, hoarsely saying, “Take him away.”

***

Heqin Wang was thrown out by Xue Yuan.

The former pride of heaven laid prostrate on the ground, his dignity shattered. Heqin Wang’s hands trembled as he struggled to lift himself off the bluestone.

The people in the mansion wanted to come forward to help, but Xue Yuan drew his blade, saying, “Your Wangye likes to lie on the ground, not to be assisted.”

It would take a long time for Heqin Wang’s stiff brain to hear these words. He stared at the tip of Xue Yuan’s shoe, and in front of all the servants, he gritted his teeth and stood up, trembling.

Gu Yuanbai walked out of the study from behind Xue Yuan.

The emperor, with a frosty expression and ice in his eyes, glanced around at the people present and said, “Bring the wine.”

Moments later, the guards brought several jars of wine. Gu Yuanbai had them pour the wine around the study, then extended his hand towards Tian Fusheng, “Firestarter.”

Tian Fusheng lit the firestarter and respectfully handed it to Gu Yuanbai.

Gu Yuanbai raised his hand, his sleeve brushing past, and with a light toss, the firestarter ignited the wine instantly. The flames spread quickly, engulfing the entire study in no time.

The red glow of the flames reflected on Gu Yuanbai’s face, highlighting his expression of cold indifference. Heqin Wang’s face changed dramatically, and without thinking, he rushed towards the study, only to be pinned to the ground by several guards. Heqin Wang’s face contorted with desperation as he pleaded, “Gu Lian, you can’t burn it!”

He struggled fiercely, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, and the guards almost couldn’t hold him down. “Heqin Wang, you cannot go.”

Gu Yuanbai finally looked down at him, teeth clenched, “Gu Zhao, do you still want to keep it?”

His anger left him breathless and weak. Gu Yuanbai took a deep breath and looked away until the flames devoured the entire inner room of the study, until everyone in the mansion was alarmed by the fire. Only then did he turn around to leave.

The golden embroidered dragon on the hem of his moon-white robe moved with each step, exuding a fierce and imposing aura. Heqin Wang reached out but had not yet grabbed the dragon when Xue Yuan gently pulled Gu Yuanbai aside, avoiding Heqin Wang’s grasp.

Gu Yuanbai walked past him without a moment’s pause.

After walking a few steps, he encountered Heqin Wangfei, who was being assisted by a maid.

Heqin Wangfei was already seven or eight months pregnant, but she looked excessively haggard. Her wrists and neck were too thin, her complexion pale, but her stomach was frighteningly large.

Glancing at Gu Yuanbai, the Wangfei then looked at the study room behind the Emperor, where a fire had already started, tears welling up in her eyes.

It seemed like she had unloaded some heavy burden and felt relieved after a long time.

Gu Yuanbai saw her and pursed his lips. “Physician, come and treat the Wangfei.”

The accompanying physician stepped forward and took the Wangfei’s pulse. After a moment, the physician tactfully said, “The Wangfei is healthy, but she’s a bit emotionally distressed. She mustn’t overthink, as it’s harmful to both herself and the child.”

Wiping away her tears, the Wangfei replied, “I understand.”

Gu Yuanbai pondered for a moment. “Is it possible to travel a long distance?”

The physician was surprised. “May I ask where does His Majesty mean by ‘long-distance travel’?”

“From here to the palace in Hebei,” Gu Yuanbai’s eyes darkened. “Rest and recuperate in the palace, and also accompany Taifei.”

The physician hesitated, but the Wangfei solemnly bowed and said, “I am willing to go to the palace to accompany Taifei. It’s quiet there and most suitable for nurturing the child. I dare to ask His Majesty for permission. As long as I travel slowly and steadily, there should be no problem.”

The physician nodded. “The Wangfei is correct.”

“Then let’s prepare to go to the palace today,” Gu Yuanbai resumed his pace. “From now on, without my orders, no one in Heqin Wang’s mansion is allowed to step out.”

Heqin Wang’s mansion was in chaos.

***

After Heqin Wangfei left the mansion to go to the palace, a servant surnamed Wang pushed open Heqin Wang’s door.

“Wangye,” Wang lit a stick of incense he took out from his sleeve, and said anxiously, “The mansion has been guarded.”

After a while, Heqin Wang tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You once told me that the Emperor was very concerned about me. At that time, I rebuked you for understanding nothing. Now, do you understand?”

Mr. Wang remained silent.

Heqin Wang took a deep breath, sniffing the scent in the room. In a trance, he seemed to see Gu Yuanbai standing in front of him, looking down at him and sneering. “My good elder brother, how did you end up like this?”

“Isn’t it because of you?” Heqin Wang murmured, dispelling the illusion and rubbing his face in frustration.

Mr. Wang glanced at the incense, which was already halfway burnt, and sighed. “Wangye, there’s not much incense left in the mansion.”

After a moment of thought, Heqin Wang said, “There are many things in the private treasury. Help yourself to them. If you can exchange them, then exchange. If not, then so be it. I won’t force it.”

Mr. Wang’s eyes flashed. “Understood.”

***

On the way back to the palace, Gu Yuanbai remained silent with a grim expression.

Xue Yuan advised, “Your Majesty, you cannot kill Heqin Wang.”

“I know,” Gu Yuanbai’s fingertips dug deeply into his palm, “How dare he—”

Xue Yuan held his hand, brushing his nails aside, also coldly smiling inwardly.

No wonder Heqin Wang’s attitude towards him was always hostile and strange. As Gu Yuanbai’s own brother, to harbor such thoughts towards him, if the late Emperor knew, he would probably jump out of his coffin in anger.

“Such a person deserves to be punished severely,” Xue Yuan said, “Anyone who dares to have such disrespectful thoughts towards the emperor must be prepared for the consequences.”

Gu Yuanbai diverted a bit of his attention from his anger to glance at him.

Xue Yuan, with an unchanged expression, said, “Naturally, I am not included in that.” After all, he had sought a relationship with the heavens.

After saying a few words to amuse Gu Yuanbai and dissipate his anger, Xue Yuan glanced at Gu Yuanbai’s feet, applied some medicine, and saw that they were still red. He couldn’t help but gently scratch them a few times, sighing, unsure if he was happy or worried, “How can they be so delicate?”

Gu Yuanbai withdrew his foot, and Xue Yuan sat down beside him, draping his arm over Gu Yuanbai’s shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Your Majesty, people like Heqin Wang are too thick-skinned, utterly shameless. If you’re upset, then take it out on me. Otherwise, if you still think about Heqin Wang, he might be overjoyed.”

“You’re right,” Gu Yuanbai’s expression hardened, “I won’t think about this matter anymore.”

Xue Yuan smiled, patting Gu Yuanbai’s back. When they got off the carriage, Xue Yuan was the first to jump down, lifting his robe and kneeling on one knee in front of the carriage, patting his left leg and raising an eyebrow at the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, your feet are tender. Don’t step on the carriage step, step on my leg instead,” Xue Yuan said, “I won’t wobble at all, I guarantee it.”

Gu Yuanbai stood on the carriage, frowning. “Get lost.”

He didn’t have the habit of using people as stepping stools.

Xue Yuan: “Please bestow Your Majesty’s favor.”

Gu Yuanbai turned his head away, wanting to get off from the other side. Xue Yuan stood up from the ground, then blocked the way, lifting his robe in time to block Gu Yuanbai’s path. “Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai’s face darkened, stepping on his thigh and getting off the carriage.

As Xue Yuan had said, his legs were indeed strong, easily supporting the full weight of Gu Yuanbai’s foot. In fact, they were so firm that Gu Yuanbai felt they were even harder than stone.

But this feeling seemed somewhat familiar.

The emperor’s expression momentarily changed.

Xue Yuan stood up from the ground, carefully looking at the footprint on his knee. The emperor’s shoe sole was very clean, and even the shallow imprint was something he couldn’t bear to brush away. Turning his head, he saw the captain of the guards hesitantly staring at him. Xue Yuan smiled slightly, “Lord Zhang, why are you looking at me like that?”

Just as the captain of the guards was about to speak, Xue Yuan suddenly strode past him and caught up with Gu Yuanbai. “Your Majesty, where are you going? Shall I carry you there?”

“Xue Jiuyao,” Gu Yuanbai’s tone was unpredictable, “tell me, did you do something unspeakable with my feet last night?”

Xue Yuan pretended to be dumbfounded, furrowing his brows. “What?”

Gu Yuanbai abruptly stopped. “Did you make me lean against that d*mned thing?”

Xue Yuan’s scalp tingled. “Your Majesty, please don’t scold me.”

Whenever the Emperor scolded him, he couldn’t bear it.

Gu Yuanbai sneered twice, thinking he still had some face. “D*mned thing, d*mned thing.”

He cursed three times in a row.

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