Chapter 153
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The next day, after watching the mother wolf give birth, Xue Yuan became busy.
In the palace, he listened intently to the emperor’s discussions with others. When the emperor taught Gu Ran, Xue Yuan would also reflect on the lessons. After returning home, he locked himself in his study, engrossed in reading.
Xue Yuan almost abandoned sleep and food, obsessively filling his mind. His retainers became active, gathering various documents and explaining their intricacies to the young master from all directions.
Xue Yuan was a prodigy. Once he set his mind on something, almost no one could stop him.
And he openly displayed his intention to enter the court.
Gu Yuanbai soon learned about this.
In the original text, the regent was immensely powerful, with unpredictable moods. He often watched mockingly as dramas unfolded before him. Gu Yuanbai didn’t understand why Xue Yuan had become so inscrutable in the original story. But after arriving in this world, with the kingdom stable and the northern nomads retreating, Xue Yuan gradually settled into a peaceful life.
Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow.
He couldn’t help but wonder, if Xue Yuan really entered the court, what kind of performance would he show?
Would this fool fall in love with the power it brought?
Gu Yuanbai had expectations for Xue Yuan to achieve great deeds and felt a renewed desire for conquest in facing this challenge.
He was also a crazy person. He wanted to see Xue Yuan shine, to admire his strength. Such strength shouldn’t be worn down because of Gu Yuanbai. He even imagined what kind of clash it would be if he encountered the regent from the original story, who had abandoned the battlefield for the court’s intrigues.
Just the thought of it made him tremble uncontrollably. Gu Yuanbai’s nerve for challenges even wanted to elevate Xue Yuan to a high position, only to crush him ruthlessly.
But that was just a thought.
Now, Great Heng should develop steadily, without unnecessary turmoil.
Gu Yuanbai suppressed these thoughts and began to teach Xue Yuan, who didn’t disappoint. His absorption of knowledge and keen political instincts quickly allowed him to leap into the court like a wolf.
Seeing this, Gu Yuanbai smiled and, using the merit of protecting him during the Xixia campaign, promoted Xue Yuan to the Grand Council.
***
A month later.
Xue Yuan’s dark official robe billowed as he walked, his cloak fluttering. Entering the palace, he brushed off the accumulated snow and warmed himself by the furnace, asking, “Is His Majesty up?”
The palace servant carefully took his cloak, “Lord Xue, you’re early. His Majesty is not up yet.”
Xue Yuan smiled, warming his hands before entering the inner hall. After half an hour, the emperor emerged, neatly dressed, walking out with Lord Xue. As breakfast was served, Gu Yuanbai lazily took the jade chopsticks handed to him by Xue Yuan, saying, “Let others serve me.”
Xue Yuan replied, “I like serving Your Majesty.”
The rich aroma of the porridge filled the air as they slowly ate breakfast, conversing in low tones.
Tian Fusheng waited at the hall entrance. With Lord Xue now taking care of the emperor’s attire and meals, he found himself with less to do. Over time, he adapted to this leisurely routine, knowing that as long as Lord Xue was present, he could afford to relax and avoid meddling.
After the meal, the servants cleared the table. Gu Yuanbai said, “There’s an issue with the salt merchants in Huainan. I plan to send you to investigate. Do you want to go?”
Xue Yuan nodded, “I’ll go.”
When Xue Yuan decided to become a capable minister whom the emperor could rely on, he knew such tasks were inevitable. A brief separation was only to ensure they wouldn’t be parted in the future. After much contemplation, Xue Yuan finally convinced himself.
At the most crucial moment, it seemed the Emperor did not want Xue Yuan confined by his side. The Emperor wanted him to go, so he would go.
Xue Yuan willingly accepted this.
Xue Yuan secretly sighed in his heart. He now needed to achieve merits, urgently needed accomplishments.
Gu Yuanbai indeed smiled, “In this heavy snow, who knows when you’ll be back.”
“At the fastest, it will take a month,” Xue Yuan held his hand and sighed, “On the day of the Lantern Festival, I hope the Emperor will spare the day for me before I leave.”
Gu Yuanbai hooked his rough, calloused fingers and gave a hum of agreement.
After his duties, Xue Yuan returned to his residence. Travel-worn, he was called over by Old General Xue, who spoke gravely, “Xue Yuan, the Emperor values you; you must repay his trust well. Our Xue family has been loyal for three generations. Loyalty to the monarch is the first rule of our family law. If you do anything against the principles of humanity, you would be worse than a beast. I would be the first to not spare you!”
Xue Yuan nodded casually. His indifferent attitude, as if not taking Old General Xue’s words to heart, enraged the old general. “Don’t bring disaster to the Xue family with your actions! I’d rather you be mediocre than overshadow the Emperor!”
Xue Yuan sighed, “I never intended to overshadow anyone.”
General Xue was skeptical, “If you didn’t, why have you been so active lately?”
“General Xue, you should know,” Xue Yuan curled his lips, “If I wanted military achievements, I could obtain them easily. Haven’t my past merits been high enough? They were easily attainable.”
He lowered his voice, “What I want is not easily attainable.”
What he wanted was to be by Gu Yuanbai’s side for a lifetime.
Entangled and intertwined, even without emotions, they were destined to be inseparable for a lifetime.
***
Another half month later, Kong Yilin and Xue Yuan walked out of the Grand Council. Kong Yilin, extremely tall, was on par with Xue Yuan. As they walked slowly, Kong Yilin laughed, “Lord Xue, you are to leave soon?”
Xue Yuan nodded and smiled, “After I leave, if the Emperor has any discomfort, I hope Lord Kong will correspond with me.”
“By the time a letter reaches you, you’d be back already,” Kong Yilin laughed, advising subtly, “The Emperor is the supreme ruler; even Steward Tian cannot always be by his side.”
Xue Yuan clicked his tongue and smiled, “Lord Kong does not know.”
Curious, Kong Yilin asked, “Oh, what do I not know?”
“The Emperor does not like Steward Tian following him day and night,” Xue Yuan showed a reminiscing expression, “but he greatly enjoys my company.”
Kong Yilin choked on his words.
Xue Yuan smiled, tidying his sleeves leisurely, “Even though the journey is slow, I am anxious. I still need to entrust things to you, Lord Kong. As for others, I must trouble you with extra care.”
Feigning ignorance, Kong Yilin asked, “Lord Chu?”
“Not just him, but others who are young, handsome, and strong,” Xue Yuan counted, “The Emperor likes such people.”
Kong Yilin couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t Lord Xue just praising himself?”
Lord Xue raised an elegant eyebrow and laughed softly.
The Emperor likes strong individuals.
Wolves choose the fiercest mate.
***
Lantern Festival.
Gu Yuanbai changed into regular attire. Xue Yuan had been waiting in the outer hall. When he turned and saw him, he stared for a while, praising without blinking, “The Emperor’s appearance is divine, surpassing even Pan An and Wei Jie.”
Gu Yuanbai chuckled, walking over slowly. Xue Yuan reached out, adjusting the jade pendant at his waist. The jade made a crisp clinking sound, and Xue Yuan flicked it with his finger, “Nice sound.”
This was the second time Gu Yuanbai spent the Lantern Festival with Xue Yuan. As the night darkened and the lanterns lit up, their hands unknowingly clasped together. Their shoulders brushed intimately, and occasional turns would cause their lips to brush across foreheads.
“I brought my salary,” Xue Yuan bought a lantern that Gu Yuanbai had glanced at for a moment, “Whatever the Emperor wants, my silver is enough.”
Gu Yuanbai applauded him lightly.
“Does the Emperor remember?” As they passed a lane, Xue Yuan deliberately lowered his voice, “I once pressed you in this alley and kissed you.”
Gu Yuanbai clicked his tongue, “I remember.”
In the midst of the colorful lanterns, Xue Yuan and he locked eyes, their breaths growing heavy and hot. They held hands and returned to the dark alley.
It was the same coldness, the same dripping water, the same urgent and chaotic kisses.
Gu Yuanbai parted his lips to respond, kissing back more fiercely. Xue Yuan soothed him with breathy words, “Don’t rush, don’t rush, take it slow, even slower.”
Gu Yuanbai’s breath hitched, feeling both delight and discomfort. He glared at Xue Yuan and finally cursed the long-awaited words, “D*mn you, slow!”
Xue Yuan’s laughter shook his chest.
The night passed, and before dawn, Xue Yuan woke up in bed. His chest and neck were covered in red scratches and kiss marks. After admiring them for a while, he gently woke the Emperor, coaxing him to leave another deep mark on his neck.
The Emperor was extremely tired. Irritated by the pestering, he bit down after a while, blood flavor bursting in his mouth.
Xue Yuan hissed. Gu Yuanbai, struggling to open his eyes, unconsciously licked the blood on his lips. Xue Yuan watched him for a while, then offered the other side of his neck.
It was the day of departure. Xue Yuan, after preparing himself, went to bid farewell to his parents with his neck full of marks.
General Xue and Madam Xue stirred in their room, and after a while, General Xue came out in his outerwear, “Go.”
Xue Yuan bowed deeply. In the faint light, General Xue seemed to notice some bedroom marks on his neck.
General Xue was startled, but Xue Yuan had already donned a thick cloak and turned to leave.
The old general, bewildered for a while, couldn’t sleep anymore. Unconsciously, he walked to Xue Yuan’s door. Outside Xue Yuan’s courtyard were palace guards. General Xue approached, and the Chief Guard raised his sword to block him, speaking warmly, “General Xue, the Emperor is still resting.”
General Xue stiffened, his knees buckling as he fell heavily to the ground.
***
The matter with the Huainan salt merchants was deeply complicated. When Xue Yuan began his investigation, he uncovered issues related to illegal salt.
Since the Xixia was annexed by the Great Heng and renamed Ningxia, the blue salt from Xixia was no longer considered illegal. Many salt merchants who relied on selling blue salt from Xixia were hit hard, and with the introduction of salt mines from the Liangzhe region into the market, the price of government salt dropped, leaving little room for illegal salt.
The enormous profits from salt trading and the strong suppression by the government caused chaos in Huainan and Jiangnan.
Jiangnan had previously been ravaged by rebel forces, leaving few powerful aristocrats but many small fry. Combined with the complex situation due to merchants coming and going in Huainan, Xue Yuan had to endure banquets daily, and over time, he became adept at maintaining his composure.
Interacting with a variety of people and secretly gathering information, being in such a situation was a real test of skill. Xue Yuan’s brows and eyes grew more composed, and the smile on his lips deepened. Occasionally, he appeared to be a genuinely amiable gentleman.
Time dragged on, extending another month.
Xue Yuan smiled as he bid farewell to the Lu family in Huainan. Upon entering the residence prepared by the local government, he sensed something was amiss.
He raised an eyebrow and upon entering, found two women in thin silk standing by the bed.
“Get out,” Xue Yuan said in disgust, frowning as he turned and left the courtyard. Outside, he kicked a gatekeeper hard. “Who the h*ll let anyone in?!”
The gatekeeper, terrified, fell to the ground and knelt, “I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”
Xue Yuan’s face was dark, the usual smile replaced by a stormy expression.
The gatekeeper, frightened, crawled forward, clutching Xue Yuan’s leg and crying, repeatedly pleading his innocence and saying he was deceived. Xue Yuan kicked him again, his voice harsh, “I set the rules.”
Thinking about what the gatekeeper did, Xue Yuan kicked him again with full force, causing the gatekeeper to fall over.
“Take him away,” Xue Yuan said expressionlessly, “burn everything in the bedroom.”
His subordinates responded, “Yes.”
Xue Yuan looked around and fixed his gaze on one of them, “Did you see clearly? I didn’t touch those two women.”
The undercover inspector from the Supervision Bureau pretending to be one of Xue Yuan’s subordinates replied, “…Yes, Lord Xue.”
Only then did Xue Yuan’s anger subside a bit.
After this incident spread, the merchants who tried to send people to gain favor with Xue Yuan stopped their attempts.
The salt merchant issue, initially thought to be resolved in a month, was complicated by intertwined interests, taking two and a half months to uncover and address.
By the time Xue Yuan hurried back to the capital, it was already spring.
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