Chapter 37
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Gu Yuanbai wasn’t exaggerating; Xue Yuan indeed became a sensation in the capital this time.
His three-and-a-half-day campaign to suppress the bandits shocked many people. Eyes from all levels of society were fixed on Xue Yuan, and the topic of conversation over tea and meals was this amazingly swift bandit suppression.
The soldiers who followed Xue Yuan in the bloodbath at Wangtu Mountain were fierce on the first day, driven by the desire for merit and killing. But after a night’s sleep, half of them woke up and vomited the next day.
They were even more ferocious and crazed than the team Qin Sheng had led. Although it was embarrassing to vomit, they now exuded a nascent murderous aura.
Xue Yuan was responsible for taking down the three bandit strongholds. The follow-up was for Gu Yuanbai to handle.
Before assigning them to labor, he needed to clarify one thing: why had so many people turned to banditry? Where did these bandits come from, and what colossal administrative failures had forced so many to abandon their farms and become despised outlaws?
Gu Yuanbai had people investigate this. After discovering the origins of these bandits, he dispatched the Supervision Bureau and the Censorate to investigate further. The Supervision Bureau operated in secret, while the Censorate worked openly, sending two groups to Lizhou to probe the reasons.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the Donglingwei continued their rigorous selection process. The soldiers who had participated in the bandit suppression were among those being scrutinized. Their gazes and demeanors now distinctly differed from those who had never killed.
One day, Gu Yuanbai found time to personally visit the Donglingwei’s selection site and observe the soldiers’ physical tests.
Upon learning of the Emperor’s arrival, the soldiers were excited, standing straighter and shouting louder, their voices almost dazing the examiners.
Gu Yuanbai stood at the front, smiling as he watched them test in groups. His presence seemed to invigorate the soldiers, leading many to surpass previous records.
Few had seen the Emperor in person, but they knew their food, clothing, and monthly pay came from him. The soldiers were well-fed and well-dressed because of the Emperor.
In fact, they ate better and more plentifully than at home.
Gu Yuanbai sat beside the officials responsible for selecting the Donglingweis, surrounded by his bodyguards and Xue Yuan.
The sun was blazing that day. Ministers and soldiers alike were drenched in sweat. Those guarding Gu Yuanbai were also sweating, but Gu Yuanbai himself seemed cool and fresh, as if enveloped in a refreshing aura.
Standing behind, Xue Yuan discreetly loosened his collar. The breeze against his throat made him feel more comfortable.
The Chief Guard, noticing the scars on Xue Yuan’s neck, frowned and whispered, “Lord Xue, what caused those scars on your neck?”
His tone carried a hint of reproach. Xue Yuan, touching the scars with a cheerful mood, replied, “None of your business.”
The Chief Guard’s brows furrowed further, still whispering, “Serving before His Majesty, you should not be so careless about your appearance.”
Xue Yuan smirked and replied mischievously, “What could I do? Could I stop him from biting me?”
The Emperor’s small bite had almost taken a chunk of Xue Yuan’s flesh.
“If His Majesty hasn’t said anything,” Xue Yuan’s expression turned cold, “what’s your problem?”
The Chief Guard’s face darkened, “This defiles His Majesty’s eyes.”
Xue Yuan narrowed his eyes and stared at the Chief Guard. When his expression was stern, his sharp features were intimidating. The Chief Guard stood straight, returning the gaze.
Xue Yuan suddenly laughed, “Are you saying the Emperor has never seen bite marks on a neck before?”
He couldn’t help but laugh, glancing at Gu Yuanbai’s fair neck. No wonder the Emperor bit him. Someone so delicate would turn bright red with just a single mark.
Gu Yuanbai, unaware of the commotion behind him, had his servant wipe his forehead with a handkerchief. Waving them off, he asked, “Gentlemen, have you found any promising candidates so far?”
General Cheng, present, responded first, “Your Majesty, after two days of selection, we have chosen over a hundred elite soldiers for the Donglingwei.”
He handed Gu Yuanbai a booklet, which Gu Yuanbai opened and smiled at, “General Cheng, you’ve learned to use tables?”
General Cheng chuckled sheepishly, “I found it very convenient for this purpose.”
Gu Yuanbai nodded approvingly, “Indeed.”
The booklet detailed the names, origins, previous battles or tasks, military merits, and various test results of over a hundred candidates.
These Donglingwei candidates were all formidable men. After flipping through a few pages, Gu Yuanbai praised General Cheng and stayed until noon, watching the soldiers leave for lunch before departing.
As the weather grew warmer, the palace felt stuffy. Passing by the lake, Gu Yuanbai decided to have his paperwork moved there to work in the lakeside pavilion.
Palace servants draped light mosquito nets around the pavilion and lit incense to repel insects. The cool breeze made Gu Yuanbai feel unusually comfortable while working.
The fragrance wafted through the air, birds chirped pleasantly, and Gu Yuanbai worked efficiently. After an hour, he finished his paperwork and took out a separate report from the prefect of the capital.
Under Gu Yuanbai’s leadership, the court was like a wolf scenting blood, ready to strike. Even while busy with the Censorate, the Donglingwei, and the upcoming anti-corruption campaign, they did not forget to use public opinion to pressure various temples.
The temples that were closely associated with the abbot of Chengbao Temple voluntarily handed over a considerable portion of their temple lands after speaking with the abbot. Many monks were also released, and now, monks returning from the temples could be seen frequently on the streets of the capital.
The news of the Emperor’s plan to reduce the number of redundant monks gradually spread among the temples.
Gu Yuanbai was very satisfied with this situation. If he could avoid using military force, he would; if he could avoid using harsh methods, he would. In this way, the temples gained a good reputation, and so did the court. This was a win-win outcome.
The new laws concerning the specifications of various temples had not yet been researched by the Ministry of State Affairs. Gu Yuanbai deliberately slowed down the process, giving these temples time to voluntarily submit their lands and monks.
Once the actual laws regarding temple specifications were finalized, those temples that had not yet gained a good reputation would be forced to hand over their lands and monks.
“How many people were captured during the bandit suppression?” Gu Yuanbai suddenly remembered this matter.
Xue Yuan replied, “Over four thousand.”
Gu Yuanbai was surprised, “That many?”
Xue Yuan smiled. The people of Xiguang Mountain came down the mountain in the dark and, surrounded by the troops, thought that many imperial soldiers had arrived. Without any resistance, they surrendered. Over two thousand people from Xiguang Mountain suffered minimal casualties, while many were killed at Wangtu Mountain and Songzi Mountain.
It was said that the remaining captives from Wangtu Mountain were so overjoyed to see the imperial troops that they wept with happiness.
Gu Yuanbai silently arranged the use of these four thousand people in his mind and couldn’t help but smile, “Good!”
Xue Yuan looked at his smiling face and suddenly felt that this small matter of suppressing bandits, which he didn’t find worth boasting about, had surprisingly yielded a decent result. He started to smile as well, thinking to himself, “How have I ended up like this as I get older?”
Such a minor achievement was actually making him happy.
D*mn it, he really had spent too little time on the battlefield.
In a good mood, Gu Yuanbai had the reviewed memorials sent to the Ministry of State Affairs. He took a walk by the lake, enjoying the breeze, and after sweating from the walk, returned to the palace.
The palace had already prepared for the Emperor’s bath. After entering, Gu Yuanbai dismissed everyone.
The water was warm, and the bright light streamed in through the windows. Gu Yuanbai took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and comfortably enjoyed the sensation of the water.
After a while, he opened his eyes and looked down. Perhaps it was the heat and the restlessness, but his little member had also responded.
Every day when Gu Yuanbai saw this part of himself, his face was expressionless, but now he felt something. He raised his hand, and for the first time in three years, his five little fingers finally had a use.
Outside, Tian Fusheng suddenly remembered something and asked, “Is there tea in the hall?”
“Yes,” a palace maid hesitated, “but it was made before His Majesty bathed, so it’s probably cold now.”
“Make a fresh pot,” Tian Fusheng urged, “quickly.”
The palace servant hurriedly brewed a new pot of tea. Just as Tian Fusheng was about to take it into the hall, a large hand reached out, grabbed the teapot, and smiled, “Steward Tian, I’ll do it.”
Before anyone could react, Xue Yuan strode into the hall.
The royal furnishings were extremely luxurious, with carpets on the floor and misty fog everywhere. It wasn’t Xue Yuan’s first time in this hall, so he knew his way around. As he was about to enter, he heard faint panting sounds.
Xue Yuan paused, but couldn’t stop himself from pushing the door open a crack.
The breathing became clearer.
Xue Yuan looked up and saw the Emperor with his back to the door, black hair cascading over his shoulders, completely still in the mist, looking somewhat strange.
What was he doing?
Xue Yuan instinctively felt that entering now would scare him. He stepped quietly to the window and peeked inside.
The fair fingers were playing with his own thing, and Xue Yuan could see the appearance of that area clearly. Xue Yuan’s originally casual gaze suddenly focused, his hand holding the teapot tightened abruptly, and a tingling sensation seemed to surge from his hand to his head.
Fair and tender, with a pink hue. How could a man have such a color—like jade?
How could… someone like Gu Yuanbai…
Clearly such a ruthless person, how could he be so tender?
Xue Yuan couldn’t take his eyes off, feeling a tingling sensation all over his body as if he had drunk too much. He thought to himself, Gu Yuanbai’s that area is unexpectedly so cute.
Completely contrary to his own, Xue Yuan felt a tingling sensation in his head from the unexpected cuteness.
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