I Rely on Beauty to Stabilize the Country Chapter 83

Chapter 83

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No one knew what Gu Yuanbai was thinking deep down. No matter how much Li Angshun thought about it, he couldn’t imagine that the elegant and luxurious Emperor of Great Heng was already thinking about how to take over the entire Xixia.

Li Angshun, who was originally full of resentment, now felt his face burning under the Emperor’s gaze. This embarrassing feeling didn’t dissipate until he was led away by the eunuch.

When there was no one around, Gu Yuanbai wiped his hands and asked, “Where is the envoy from Fusang sitting?”

Tian Fusheng felt that the Emperor seemed to pay special attention to the envoy from Fusang. He replied in a low voice, “Your Majesty, they are sitting next to the Xixia envoy, in the lower row.”

Gu Yuanbai looked up, but unfortunately, the distance was too far to see clearly. He had specifically checked the number of gifts presented by the Kingdom of Fusang before. Among several neighboring countries, the gifts sent by Fusang could be considered among the best.

From the Han Dynasty, Fusang has been a vassal state of China, and during the Tang Dynasty, it sent people to study in Tang to develop its own national strength upon returning home. After the change of dynasties, now becoming Great Heng, Fusang still shows extreme respect to Great Heng and still wants to maintain a good relationship with Great Heng.

In Gu Yuanbai’s eyes, there is no denying that this country is indeed special.

Gu Yuanbai retracted his gaze, but he sensed a glance from the left side. Following it, he saw Heqin Wang raising his cup towards Gu Yuanbai. Gu Yuanbai smiled and also raised his cup in acknowledgment.

As the white jade cups touched their lips, Gu Yuanbai suddenly remembered that the white jade cup he hadn’t seen before seemed to have been taken by Xue Yuan.

Thinking of Xue Yuan reminded Gu Yuanbai of the two wolves. He turned to look aside, and the two wolves had already been taken care of by someone. They were now lying in a hidden corner, greedily devouring fresh meat.

It smells even better than mine.

Gu Yuanbai suddenly wanted to snort. He turned his face away, temporarily putting aside other thoughts, and started to eat seriously.

After three rounds of drinking, the sky had darkened. After the banquet, the palace attendants sent off the officials and envoys. Gu Yuanbai walked out of the palace and came to the imperial garden to enjoy some fresh air.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, the breeze rustled, and the fragrance of flowers and grass floated.

With his hands behind his back, Gu Yuanbai looked up at the bright moon in the branches. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. He turned his head and saw Heqin Wang, with a strong smell of alcohol, being supported by a eunuch as he stumbled along.

The eunuch who was trying to support Heqin Wang said, “Your Majesty, Heqin Wang is drunk and refuses to leave the palace.”

Upon hearing the words “Your Majesty,” Heqin Wang hiccupped and pushed away the eunuchs around him, standing upright reluctantly. His gaze swept around, finally resting on Gu Yuanbai. He stared with widened eyes and said, “You’re not allowed to make me leave.”

Gu Yuanbai said, “How much have you drunk? You’re reeking of alcohol.”

But Heqin Wang remained silent. He just looked at Gu Yuanbai as if suddenly not recognizing him anymore.

Gu Yuanbai laughed and teased, “Why the expression, Heqin Wang? Don’t recognize me anymore?”

“You’re the Emperor,” Heqin Wang said in a heavy tone, emphasizing each word, “Emperor, younger brother.”

Gu Yuanbai replied with a nasal tone and instructed the eunuch, “Take him to Huayi Palace to rest.”

The eunuchs responded in unison.

Gu Yuanbai retracted his gaze, continuing to look at the moonlight. However, Heqin Wang was unwilling to leave. He stubbornly stood in place and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Gu Yuanbai ignored him.

Heqin Wang persisted, “I’m talking to you. Why aren’t you answering?”

“I don’t feel like talking to a drunkard,” Gu Yuanbai said leisurely.

Heqin Wang said, “I’m not drunk.”

Gu Yuanbai couldn’t help but laugh. He said to the palace attendants, “Why don’t you take Heqin Wang back?”

The palace attendants surrounded Heqin Wang, persuading him in low voices and trying to pull him away, half-soft and half-hard, wanting to take him away. Heqin Wang didn’t move, but he couldn’t resist the pulling of others. After a while, he seemed to wake up, wiped his face, and said, “I want to enjoy the breeze. Your Majesty, let me enjoy the breeze with you.”

It wasn’t until Gu Yuanbai nodded that the palace attendants around Heqin Wang stepped aside. Gu Yuanbai strolled between the paths, and the moonlight followed him.

The gentle white moonlight gently spilled, covering everything in a layer of silver light.

Heqin Wang followed behind. As they walked, he became dizzy again, and his steps began to falter. When they passed by a rockery, he suddenly grabbed Gu Yuanbai’s hand, forcibly stopping the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai frowned. “Gu Zhao.”

Heqin Wang’s breath was in bursts, his fingers tightened, and the smell of alcohol drifted towards Gu Yuanbai’s nose. As the palace attendants in the distance were about to approach, Heqin Wang said, “Gu Lian.”

His voice was low, “Why haven’t you taken a palace consort?”

Gu Yuanbai calmly replied, “I’ve told you before, do you want me to die in the bed of a palace consort?”

“But you can’t even get a woman,” Heqin Wang said with his head down, only gripping Gu Yuanbai’s hand tightly, “how can you have children?”

Gu Yuanbai said, “There are still royal relatives, and there’s you.”

Heqin Wang’s fingers twitched, his heart skipped a beat, “Me?”

“You will also have children.”

Heqin Wang stiffened. After a long time, he let go of Gu Yuanbai’s hand on his own and muttered, “Indeed, you are the Emperor.”

Indeed, he was the Emperor chosen by the late Emperor.

He walked past Gu Yuanbai in a daze, his steps somewhat shaky. Gu Yuanbai was about to let someone go forward to support him, but his brows suddenly furrowed, and he reached out to pull Heqin Wang behind him.

In the darkness, two pairs of beast-like pupils gleamed, and two wolves emerged swiftly towards them. Their eyes were glowing green, staring fiercely at Heqin Wang.

The growls became more dangerous with each sound, their sharp teeth bared. Gu Yuanbai commanded them sternly, “Back off.”

The two wolves circled Gu Yuanbai a few times, trying to find an opportunity to bite Heqin Wang. Gu Yuanbai didn’t hesitate to kick them a few times, pointing into the distance, “Go away.”

After several repetitions, the two wolves whimpered, tucking their tails between their legs, and slowly retreated into the darkness.

After this encounter, Heqin Wang sobered up completely. Sweat appeared on his back. “Your Majesty, do you keep wolves around?”

Gu Yuanbai casually responded, thinking only of the words Xue Yuan had said turning out to be true.

Heqin Wang frowned, “How can you keep wolves around you?”

He said a lot more, but Gu Yuanbai didn’t want to listen. He had someone take Heqin Wang to Huayi Palace and sent guards to protect him, lest he lose his fingers to those two wolves.

Before leaving, Heqin Wang seemed to think of something and suddenly became serious, “Your Majesty, were these two wolves sent to you by Xue Yuan?”

Gu Yuanbai said, “What if they were?”

Heqin Wang looked deeply at him and left with the palace attendants.

When Heqin Wang disappeared, Gu Yuanbai took a stroll again, with the two wolves trailing behind him, pitifully not daring to approach. Gu Yuanbai wasn’t afraid of them, but others were already shivering with fear because of these two wolves, their spines tingling and their body hair standing on end.

“Y-Your Majesty,” Tian Fusheng said cautiously, “It’s getting late.”

Gu Yuanbai glanced at the sky. “Then let’s go back.”

Before going to sleep, the Emperor took a bath. While the Emperor was bathing, the two adult wolves, with their lush and black fur, also strolled into the palace. They obediently picked up the scattered shoes on the ground and brought them to Gu Yuanbai’s feet, trying to please him.

Gu Yuanbai opened his eyes and glanced at them, a smile curling his lips amidst the swirling steam. “Animals resemble their master.”

As soon as he said that, the two wolves put down the shoes, curiously lowered their bodies, and began to lap up the hot water in the pool.

Gu Yuanbai: “…”

Were these the wolves painstakingly trained by the literati man Xue Yuan?

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