Chapter 124
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Li Angyi walked to the door, supporting his injured leg, to see the Emperor off.
As Gu Yuanbai walked away, he suddenly stopped and looked back. Li Angyi was still standing in the same place, still seeing him off.
The distant view blurred the expressions on their faces, but Li Angyi seemed to have never broken his right leg, his back slightly hunched, no different from before.
As long as he didn’t move, others couldn’t see through him.
Gu Yuanbai boarded the carriage and Tian Fusheng happened to glance at him, seeing the Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his lips slightly curved as he toyed with a jade ring. Tian Fusheng immediately lowered his head, sensing the Emperor’s murderous intent.
Two years ago, when the Emperor executed Lu Feng, he had the same expression.
The carriage slowly started moving and gradually disappeared around the corner. Li Angyi was still standing at the gate, his attendants behind him, helping him walk. “Your Highness, why didn’t you hide?”
“Hide?” Li Angyi smiled and patted his right leg. “I lost a leg but saved a life. Isn’t this a worthwhile deal?”
The attendant said, “But you lost a leg.”
“But I’ve eased the Emperor’s heart,” Li Angyi narrowed his eyes, being supported into his bedroom, “If I had hidden, my life would have been taken by the Emperor of Great Heng.”
Great Heng Emperor was indeed decisive in his actions. He had already offered his own weakness, but Gu Yuanbai still didn’t trust him.
***
Gu Yuanbai’s carriage arrived at the shipyard of the Ministry of Works.
The Shangshu of the Ministry of Works and the left and right Shilang were already waiting here, accompanying the Emperor to inspect the recently built battleships such as tower ships, chariots, and seahawks.
One by one, these giant objects appeared before their eyes, and when they looked up, they were astonished and amazed.
Ancient shipbuilding technology was among the best in the world. This was why Gu Yuanbai dared to openly crack down on drugs and dispatch the navy to the coast. Large warships were plentiful, and small to medium-sized warships were even more solid. The winches installed on both sides of the chariots and ships could terrifyingly grind enemy ships to pieces when turned.
The weapons matching the warships were already equipped, and Gu Yuanbai inspected the specifications of the cannonballs and arrows. Each warship was equipped with fire-fighting equipment, and oil as an accelerant was indispensable.
With the powerful navy of the Tang Dynasty in the past, the Ministry of Works had never lacked funds for building ships. After Gu Yuanbai took power, he invested millions and millions of silver into shipbuilding materials. From the previous dynasty to the present, the number of warships that Great Heng could send into battle could be counted in the thousands.
Even medium-sized warships in Great Heng could carry about two hundred soldiers, while traditional large warships like tower ships could carry about five hundred soldiers.
Gu Yuanbai believed that even if war broke out suddenly now, he might not win, but he wouldn’t lose either.
The only weakness was that Great Heng’s navy had been neglected for many years.
No matter how sharp the weapons were, if the wielders couldn’t unleash their power, what was the difference between a child holding a blade and a shirtless adult?
Gu Yuanbai certainly didn’t forget about the navy’s training, but if the people behind Xixia had been preparing for decades, how could the soldiers he had urged for just two years compete with them? In this battle, Great Heng must be cautious and careful.
Coming out of the shipyard, Gu Yuanbai returned to the palace with a heart full of blood and fighting spirit. His expression was sharp, and his steps were swift. Xue Yuan glanced at him several times, feeling as if the young emperor was about to charge into battle.
But the Emperor took a few quick steps and felt slightly out of breath.
Slowing down his pace, Gu Yuanbai turned to Tian Fusheng and asked softly, “Has there been any news about Female Physician Jiang’s uncle?”
Following behind, Xue Yuan frowned slightly at the mention of “Female Physician Jiang.” After returning to the capital, he had deliberately inquired about the woman rumored to have a deep relationship with the Emperor. The “female physician” mentioned by the palace attendants should be her.
Tian Fusheng lowered his voice, “Your Majesty, Female Physician Jiang’s grandfather and uncle were separated during the famine in Hebei. Our people have been searching house by house, but there’s still no news. Hebei is vast, and there are many remote areas. It’s not surprising that it’s taking some time.”
“Moreover, those fleeing from famine would go wherever there was food,” Tian Fusheng thought for a moment, “It’s quite possible that Female Doctor Jiang’s great-uncle has already left Hebei. The world is vast, but if we search the surrounding three provinces, we will definitely be able to find him.”
“They’ve been separated for forty years now,” Gu Yuanbai sighed, his expression calm, “Even if her uncle was young at the time, he would be fifty years old now.”
Is he really still alive?
The chance of that was extremely slim, and Gu Yuanbai didn’t have much hope to begin with. But as long as there was a prescription to cure him in this world, more than one person would know about it. What he wanted most wasn’t Female Physician Jiang’s uncle, but his medical skills.
Sometimes, books were easier to find than people.
Gu Yuanbai suddenly frowned, lost in thought. “I think I heard about Hebei some time ago.”
“Jingchen Temple, a famous monastery in Hebei,” Xue Yuan suddenly spoke up, “I remember it clearly. I intercepted him in front of the courtyard before the rain, and this monk spoke with a Hebei accent.”
Yes, Gu Yuanbai suddenly realized. He casually asked, “How old did the monk look?”
“He was young,” Xue Yuan said, “But his answers were steady.”
Gu Yuanbai nodded lightly and didn’t ask any more questions.
During nap time, Xue Yuan personally went to help the Emperor rest in bed. He gently tugged at the Emperor’s waistband and whispered, “Your Majesty, who is this Female Physician Jiang?”
“From Lizhou,” Gu Yuanbai replied.
Xue Yuan suddenly pulled off the belt, and the sleek and bright outer robe scattered like flower petals. He stood up, bending over to remove the Emperor’s clothes from his shoulders. “Your Majesty clearly knows I’m not asking about this.”
With his arm raised, the outer robe was removed from the sleeve. Xue Yuan, being close, moved slowly, and Gu Yuanbai’s face occasionally brushed against his chest. Xue Yuan was accustomed to military life, not paying attention to his own scent, but the smell on him wasn’t unpleasant. Instead, it had a unique flavor, like the accumulation of years of warfare.
It smelled of wind, sand, deserts, and the heaviness of smoke and fire.
Gu Yuanbai was somewhat absent-minded until his fingertips were touched. “Her ancestors studied medicine, and her medical knowledge is useful to me.”
Xue Yuan’s expression tightened. “I understand.”
The palace attendants in the inner hall were busy with their tasks, and the guards outside stood straight with their backs to them. Xue Yuan lowered his head, meeting the raised face of Gu Yuanbai, their lips touching briefly before quickly parting.
This is clearly an affair.
Such an accidental touch instead stirred up an itch. Without that something in his mouth, he only wanted the other to lick it and gently bite down again. The memory of that feeling was so pleasant, so pleasant that Gu Yuanbai almost wanted to grab Xue Yuan by the collar right now, force him to lower his head, and kiss him forcibly. But if he did that, wouldn’t he be completely entangled with Xue Yuan?
Gu Yuanbai had said he wouldn’t indulge Xue Yuan, and the previous instances of intimacy didn’t count as him indulging anyone. If he kissed and indulged now, he would truly have to take responsibility.
Gu Yuanbai’s expression remained unchanged. Not wanting to take responsibility, he said, “Get down.”
Xue Yuan’s eyes darkened. He touched his lips, and his chest began to pound wildly, like a pack of crazed wolves crashing around inside him.
He stood still, unwilling to leave.
Gu Yuanbai adjusted his robes and, seeing that Xue Yuan still hadn’t left, raised an eyebrow and looked up. He was about to mock him, but as soon as he lifted his head, Xue Yuan suddenly bent down and gave his lips a strong kiss. Gu Yuanbai’s lips stung, and before he could react, Xue Yuan had already straightened up and left with big strides.
“…” Gu Yuanbai clicked his tongue and muttered softly, “Crazy.”
He slowly climbed into bed and was just about to close his eyes and sleep when he heard hurried footsteps outside, accompanied by indistinct whispers. The door of the bedchamber was suddenly knocked on.
The knocking grew more urgent and anxious.
A sense of foreboding rose in Gu Yuanbai’s heart. He quickly sat up in bed, his black hair cascading down his back in disarray.
“What is it?” he asked, gripping the bedding tightly.
The guard outside spoke in a tense voice, “Your Majesty, Wan Taifei… Wan Taifei…”
Gu Yuanbai’s breath hitched, and he froze on the bed. He heard himself asking, “What’s wrong with Wan Taifei?”
“Wan Taifei is gravely ill and on the verge of death,” the guard said with difficulty, “The palace guards are holding the token and waiting in the hall.”
The world seemed to fall silent.
Although Gu Yuanbai was sitting on the bed, he felt as if he were floating among the clouds, with no solid ground beneath his feet. After a long moment, he said, “I don’t believe it.”
This must be another trick by some hidden enemy. The palace was guarded tightly by Gu Yuanbai’s people, and the imperial physician had sent a message recently stating that Wan Taifei had been in rare good spirits. How could she be on the verge of death now?
Gu Yuanbai chuckled, “A trick, do they really think I’ll fall for it twice?”
He wanted to get out of bed to punish those guards who dared to report false information, but when he swung his legs off the bed and stood on the ground, he suddenly felt weak and dizzy.
Gu Yuanbai grabbed the bed frame suddenly, and the safety clasp tied to the bedside was accidentally hooked by his tail finger and fell to the ground with a “clatter,” shattering into pieces.
The door was violently pushed open, but in an instant, Gu Yuanbai was already lifted up by Xue Yuan. Gu Yuanbai looked dazedly at his tail finger. How could he be so careless? It was so ominous.
“Take me out,” his voice was hoarse.
Xue Yuan silently carried Gu Yuanbai out. The people kneeling outside were the ones Gu Yuanbai had sent to protect Wan Taifei. These people were loyal, and Gu Yuanbai trusted them, but seeing them now, the young and frail emperor’s eyes turned red, his expression frozen.
“Your Majesty,” the palace guards looked exhausted, bloodshot eyes brimming with tears, “Wan Taifei, she—”
“I don’t believe it,” Gu Yuanbai interrupted them casually, “Once deceived is not enough, do you want to deceive me again? Bring me a horse, I want to rush to the palace as fast as possible.”
Tian Fusheng knelt down with a thud and risked his life to advise, “Your Majesty, your body can’t handle it!”
Gu Yuanbai said, “Prepare the horse.”
The chief guard knelt on the ground with his men, anxious, “Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!”
They naturally couldn’t stop Gu Yuanbai, but as Gu Yuanbai looked at the kneeling crowd, a blood red tint slowly stained his expression.
Wan Taifei was critically ill, she might die tomorrow, or she might have died before he even received the news. Only by riding a fast horse could he possibly rush over to see Wan Taifei for the last time. Why were they stopping him?
Because of his body? Because of this useless body, he couldn’t even manage to see Wan Taifei for the last time?!
Gu Yuanbai gritted his teeth, a bloody smell filling his throat, his teeth trembling, squeezing out each word, “Xue Yuan, prepare the horse, take me to the palace.”
The hall fell silent, no one dared to speak. Just when Gu Yuanbai thought Xue Yuan wouldn’t speak either, Xue Yuan suddenly turned around with Gu Yuanbai in his arms and returned to the inner hall. He found a cloak and shoes, carried the Emperor in front of everyone, and said concisely, “Let’s go now.”
Gu Yuanbai’s grip on Xue Yuan’s neck tightened slowly, his shoulders trembling.
He didn’t look at the road under his feet, only knowing that Xue Yuan’s steps were extremely fast. He didn’t know how long they had been walking, but they had already reached the stable. He shouted loudly, “Hongyun!”
The warhorse neighed a few times, and Xue Yuan turned around and lifted Gu Yuanbai onto Hongyun’s back. He put on the shoes and cloak, then mounted the horse and pulled the reins.
The mane fluttered, and a cold wind blew. Although it was already warm in June, Gu Yuanbai felt unusually cold at this moment, his fingers stiff and unable to bend.
The palace gates faded away, the bustling market faded away, and the walls of the capital faded away.
Xue Yuan reached out from behind and held Gu Yuanbai’s stiff fingers.
“I must go to see her for the last time,” Gu Yuanbai murmured, “If I don’t see her this time, I will never see her again, and she will never see me again.”
Even if he ran to the ends of the earth, even if he shouted loudly, no matter how much power or money he had, he couldn’t exchange for Wan Taifei’s last appearance.
She was the mother of the young emperor, and also his own mother.
Xue Yuan’s voice was firm, “You’ll see.”
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