Chapter 476: Reparation
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The little Daoist was young, but Wuliang Temple usually received many n.o.bles from the royal palace in the capital. If he was an esteemed guest, he was really an esteemed guest.
“Where is he?” Daoist Xuan Cheng adjusted his wide sleeves. “I’ll go and welcome him now.”
The little Daoist boy caught his breath and hurriedly said, “Temple Master, he has been brought in.”
There was no need for him to continue. Daoist Xuan Cheng and the three siblings of the Gu family had all seen the so-called VIP.
More than 100 feet away, flags embroidered with dragon patterns and red curtains swayed in the wind. More than 20 imperial guards escorted the two of them over in a majestic manner.
At the front was a girl sitting in a wheelchair. The young man beside her walked quite slowly with the speed of the wheelchair. He was wearing an apricot-yellow python robe and had a n.o.ble aura. Just walking over slowly made the Daoist temple look like a paradise surrounded by clouds.
This was the honor guard of the prince.
Even though Daoist Xuan Cheng had never seen the Eldest Prince before, he could guess the ident.i.ty of the person who came. He brought a few Daoists forward to greet him.
“Greetings, Eldest Prince and Eldest Princess.”
“There’s no need to be so polite.” Chu Yi placed one hand behind his waist and raised his other hand, indicating for them to dispense with the formalities. “I’m here to offer incense to Marquis Gu today.”
The “Marquis Gu” he was referring to was, of course, Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei’s father, Gu Ce.
Gu Yuan:”…”
Gu Yuan looked at Chu Yi quietly, and his eyes became rather complicated.
After a moment of silence, he cupped his fists and bowed respectfully to Chu Yi. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
There was a rare hint of emotion in his usually cold and restrained voice, and his eyes were also moved.
Chu Yi was the Eldest Prince. His actions represented the Emperor’s att.i.tude.
Today, he had come with the Eldest Princess under the guard of the imperial guard, which meant that this trip wasn’t only his private behavior, but he had openly released a signal to the court.
It was a signal to defend Gu Ce.
“…” Gu Yuan’s pupils moved, and his eyes were a little sour. He quickly suppressed the surging emotions.
Daoist Xuan Cheng was also a little surprised. He said as if nothing had happened, “Your Highness, follow me.”
Everyone escorted Chu Yi and An Le back to the back hall of Sanqing Hall. The guards stayed outside Sanqing Hall, and the other unrelated people were also dismissed.
The back hall was quiet and filled with incense smoke.
Chu Yi and An Le offered incense to Gu Ce’s tablet with solemn expressions.
When An Le stepped forward to offer incense, Chu Yi suddenly said in a low voice, “When I was in the State of Yue, I also checked what happened back then. There’s something wrong.”
His voice was low and slow, and his tone was quite certain.
“What did Your Highness find out?” Gu Yuan’s eyes widened, and his expression changed.
The death of his father in battle was a sore spot that had been suppressed in his heart for nine years. Even in his dreams, he wanted to clear his father’s name and avenge his father.
Chu Yi looked at the tablet in front of him and the two words “Gu Ce” on it. He said slowly, “Nine years ago, the State of Yue sent a 100,000-strong army to raid Yangzhou’s Sishui County. Marquis Gu barely held on with 50,000 troops and barely defended for three months before finally opening the city gate of Tailing City. In that battle, from the soldiers to the commoners, we suffered heavy casualties. The State of Yue army won a complete victory, but only lost 20,000 troops.”
“But when 1 was in the State of Yue, 1 realized that the State of Yue army had lost at least 30,000 people in that battle…”
Gu Yuan:”…”
Gu Yuan’s pupils moved, and his thoughts couldn’t help but spin. Then where did the remaining 10,000 State of Yue soldiers die? Did the Sage of the State of Yue deliberately not report it to boost morale, or…
Chu Yi held three incense sticks in his hand and bowed to the memorial tablet in front of him. After An Le, he inserted the incense stick in his hand into the incense burner.
After returning, he said, “It’s not difficult to investigate.”
The candlelight enshrouded his jade-like bright face, outlining clear lines and emitting a graceful and elegant l.u.s.ter. His gaze was like a deep pool of water, making people unable to see through him.
Gu Yanfei thought of Xia Houqing from his words.
Nine years ago, Xia Houqing wasn’t the Heavenly Palace’s Lord. However, with his current status in the State of Yue, he probably knew many secrets about the State of Yue. He didn’t know what happened back then, so it was easier to investigate.
Still…
Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows and leaned over to whisper to Chu Yi, “He hasn’t gone back yet?”
“No.” Chu Yi shook his head. His originally unfathomable and calm eyes instantly softened and moved, as if a masterpiece hanging high on the wall had suddenly come to life.
Gu Yanfei clearly didn’t name him, but Chu Yi clearly knew who she was talking about. The tacit understanding between the two of them made Gu Yuan’s heart ache inexplicably.
Gu Yanfei thought that Xia Houqing had already returned to the country. She muttered softly, “Didn’t the Sage of the State of Yue ask him to supervise the country?!”
“If he doesn’t hurry back to supervise the country, why is he staying in the State of Jin?! Isn’t he afraid that someone will take over his position once he leaves?”
If Xia Houqing lost his status after leaving for a few months, he wouldn’t be Xia Houqing anymore. Chu Yi couldn’t help but laugh as he thought to himself. His eyes were gentle, and he liked how she treated him like an insider.
He leaned toward her as well and whispered in her ear, “He’s waiting…”
Chu Yi didn’t say what Xia Houqing was waiting for, and Gu Yanfei didn’t ask further. He had a faint guess in his heart.
Seeing the two of them whispering to each other as if no one was around, Gu Yuan’s expression was extremely complicated.
Still…
Gu Yuan looked at his father’s tablet again, and his eyes softened. He thought to himself: Father should be happy for Sister while in heaven.
Wisps of white smoke floated out of the incense sticks inserted in the incense burner and dissipated in the hall. The cigarette smell became stronger.
After offering incense, everyone left Sanqing Hall. Daoist Xuan Cheng personally led the Daoists in the temple to send the Eldest Prince’s honor guard out of the Wuliang Temple. Then, he stood at the entrance and watched them leave.
The foot of Wuliang Mountain was much livelier than when Gu Yanfei and the others came. The ceremonial guard was still waiting there, with a royal aura that was inviolable.
As soon as Chu Yi got off the mountain, he instructed the accompanying imperial guard to handle the matter. “You guys go back to the palace first.”
The commander hesitated for a moment and saw Xiao Shi stop not far away in a black lacquered flat-top carriage.
The carriage left Wuliang Mountain in a grandiose manner and escorted the Eldest Prince and the Eldest Princess back to the capital. However, outsiders didn’t know that the two main figures had secretly stayed behind.
An Le had been an obedient child since she was young. It was rare for her to be out like today, so she found it extremely interesting.
“Sister, shall we go to the Zhen Corporation’s silver shop to pick jewelry?” An Le suggested excitedly as she pinched Gu Yanfei’s sleeve.
They agreed that day!
“Okay.” Gu Yanfei nodded readily.
She wanted to call Gu Yunzhen along, but Gu Yunzhen beat her to it. “Second Sister, I’m a little tired, so I won’t go with you.”
“Brother, send me back first.”
Gu Yunzhen wasn’t blind. She could tell from the lawsuit between Chu Yi and Gu Yanfei that something was wrong and deliberately found an excuse.
Before Gu Yuan could react, Gu Yunzhen got into her own carriage.
Gu Yuan sighed secretly and quickly stuffed a bulging wallet into Gu Yanfei’s hands. He reminded his sister, “Buy whatever you want.”
“Thank you, Big Brother.” Gu Yanfei was stunned and couldn’t help but laugh. She calmly accepted her brother’s good intentions.
Gu Yuan only got on the horse when Gu Yanfei boarded the black-painted flat-top carriage that Xiao Shi was driving.
The group of cars quickly set off, heading towards the capital with a clear goal.
After entering the west gate, they parted ways. Gu Yuan and Gu Yunzhen returned to the Gu Mansion, while Xiao Shi drove to the Zhen Corporation’s silver shop in the south of the city.
The last time An Le came here, it was under the protection of a group of imperial guards. This time, they only had one carriage, with Xiao Shi driving a group of four people.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Zhen Corporation’s silver shop.
Chu Yi personally carried the wheelchair out of the carriage. He had already changed into a bamboo moonlight casual outfit, looking extremely elegant.
“Big Brother, then you’re…” An Le originally thought that Chu Yi would stay in the carriage to wait for them like last time, but she didn’t expect her eldest brother to personally push her wheelchair into the shop.
An Le blinked in confusion and turned to ask him, “Are you going in with us today?”
The little girl had betrayed her brother again.
Gu Yanfei understood what An Le meant again. It turned out that the last time Chu Yi accompanied An Le here, he didn’t even enter.
So this is how he coaxes his sister!
Gu Yanfei glanced at Chu Yi with a faint smile. Her gaze flowed and reflected in Chu Yi’s heart..