Chapter 1308: Chapter 1144: Liao Wu’s Sudden Death

The Emperor rushed to the outside of the Imperial Study Room, only to see Liao Wu kneeling on the ground, with a rag stuffed in his mouth. He was still wearing that clean robe, but now it was covered in dust and blood stains, as if he had rolled around in the mud, looking utterly disheveled.

"Old Third!" The Emperor paced to the front of Liao Wu, squatted down, and looked at him with a mocking gaze.

Liao Wu glanced up at the Emperor and chuckled lightly, "I didn’t expect that after two years, I would still lose to you! Brother, give me a swift end!"

The Emperor suddenly drew out the guard’s long sword nearby, "Old Third, wouldn’t it have been better for you to stay quietly at Bao En Temple? Why did you have to keep pushing me? I spared you back then, you should have let go of the past."

He stepped forward a few steps, staring at Liao Wu, who had closed his eyes, "You taught me not to show mercy to enemies, or I’ll suffer for it later!"

Without waiting for Liao Wu to respond, the Emperor swung the sword, and when the warm blood splashed onto the Emperor’s chest, he could feel the scorching heat through his thick clothes as if it were branding his chest.

The Emperor’s hand holding the sword trembled slightly as he looked at Liao Wu lying in a pool of blood, he let out a heavy breath.

Having personally killed his own brother, the Emperor couldn’t fully understand his own emotions at that moment. Perhaps a sigh of relief, perhaps reluctance, perhaps guilt—above all, it was exceedingly complex.

"Bury him properly! Lay him to rest at the back mountain of Bao En Temple, to preserve some of his dignity." The Emperor dropped the long sword in his hand and turned to walk towards the Imperial Study Room.

Pang Chu naturally understood the Emperor’s intention; Liao Wu had become a monk and thus wasn’t considered part of the Imperial Family, therefore he couldn’t be buried in the Mausoleum. He didn’t even have a title up until now, according to the Emperor’s wishes, the tombstone would only bear Liao Wu’s name.

The Emperor entered the Study Room, summoned a few ministers to discuss how to eradicate the remnants. After the ministers had left, the Emperor felt utterly exhausted, and couldn’t help but lean back in his chair and close his eyes to rest.

"Pang Chu!" Suddenly, the Emperor remembered something and shouted.

"Reporting to the Emperor, Chief Pang went to handle Master Liao Wu’s affairs, do you need to instruct anything?" Xiao Quanzi peeked in from outside the hall, carefully made a bow to the Emperor, then waited silently for the Emperor’s instructions.

"Come and grind ink for me!" The Emperor pondered for a moment, then summoned Xiao Quanzi to serve him.

"Yes!" Xiao Quanzi was inwardly delighted, he didn’t expect the Emperor to keep him by his side today. Since the late Emperor passed away, he had endured quite a few cold shoulders in the palace.

Back then, the late Emperor still held him in some regard, apart from De’an and those concubines, none of the palace maids and eunuchs dared to show disdain to him. Since the current Emperor ascended the throne, his status naturally plummeted.

After all, the current Emperor had many attendants around him already, someone who wasn’t accustomed to service wouldn’t receive much attention anymore.

But due to today’s chaos, many of the immediate attendants died, allowing him to seize this opportunity.

The Emperor had arbitrarily chosen someone to serve, naturally not caring about the turmoil in the other’s heart. He picked up the memorial placed on top and unfolded it.

This was Gu Chengyu’s memorial, which was regarding Yin Kun’s assassination attempt on Chang Yuan. He had already reviewed it carefully, the evidence was conclusive that Qi Huan Yu colluded with Da Xing, thus Yin Kun was innocent.

The Emperor thought for a moment, "Go summon the officials from Hanlin Academy to draft a Holy Decree for me!"

Xiao Quanzi immediately replied and retreated upon hearing the words, actually, he could recognize a few characters, but he never showed it. The palace eunuchs were strictly forbidden from being literate, he was young, able to serve by the Emperor’s side naturally because of his cleverness.

Being literate was something he had to keep to himself, earlier when the Emperor picked up the memorial, he recognized the characters of Gu’s name on it.

...

"Sir! Prince Jing has exerted great force this time, Prince Gong suffered quite a loss."

Gu Chengyu raised his eyebrows and put down the gift list he was holding; he was reviewing the annual gifts sent back to the Capital.

"Did Prince Gong lose considerable military force this time?" With Prince Jing restraining Prince Gong, Gu Chengyu could finally relax a bit.

"Indeed! Prince Jing’s counterattack caught Prince Gong off guard; this time Prince Gong’s army suffered heavy losses, estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Prince Gong has already retreated, Fengqing Prefecture achieved a major victory this time. However, Prince Jing also suffered significant losses, the two sides fought fiercely."

Ming Yan clenched his fists, this time both parties suffered substantial losses, the borders should be stable for a while.

"Prince Gong’s foundation was already weak, this time he lost a lot, he probably won’t act again in the short term, the borders should remain peaceful for some time." Gu Chengyu nodded, finally able to have some peace of mind.

However, Prince Jing’s foundation was still too weak, Gu Chengyu planned to occasionally provoke a dispute, giving both parties something to do. Large conflicts cannot occur, but small frictions are necessary!

Just like with kids, when they remain still, it signifies they’re up to something big. Only by occasionally stirring things up can they be kept busy.

Ming Mo took the gift list handed by Gu Chengyu and tucked it into his怀.

"Send it as per this gift list!" Gu Chengyu was quite satisfied with the list, the specialties from the border were quite unique. There were plenty of furs, agates, and some valuable supplements, and the prices were quite reasonable.

"Will it be too scant at Duke Zhen’s Mansion? There are many people there, what if they snatch the gifts meant for Miss Yao?" Ming Mo slightly curled his lips, his eyes carrying a clear hint of amusement.

Gu Chengyu noticed the mockery in Ming Mo’s eyes and couldn’t help rolling his eyes, "Duke Zhen’s Mansion is, after all, a noble aristocratic family of the Capital, where would they stoop to covet such small fortune? Besides, Miss Yao has her own gift list, surely these people wouldn’t be so shameless?"

The peaks adorned with bamboo stones, the trees laden with pine and clouds. The border has been experiencing continual heavy snow near the year-end, rarely granting clear days.

Unconsciously, Gu Chengyu had stayed at the border for nearly two months, finally receiving another Holy Decree.

"Mr. Gu, the Emperor commands you and our people to return to the Capital together, to provide each other care along the way!"

Gu Chengyu smiled slightly and stepped inside to meet the eunuch. Inside, the brazier was lit, the eunuch wiped his face after entering and shivered profoundly.

"Mr. Gao, please have a seat!" Gu Chengyu gestured for Ming Yan to serve tea, after Mr. Gao sat down, he took a look inside the room.

He found the banquet hall somewhat shabby, the layout of the Capital’s houses was usually grand and magnificent. Besides being large, this banquet hall’s arrangement wasn’t even as good as Chief Pang’s courtyard.

"The border is indeed a bitter cold place, especially Yuhe Pass, simplicity is preferable for martial artists, please forgive me, Mr. Gao!"

Gu Chengyu noticed the gaze of the other and realized that he was yet another snob. If it weren’t for his Standard Third Rank status supporting him, these worldly-wise people accustomed to living in the palace enjoyed currying favor with the powerful and stepping on the weak.

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