pertwk Page 371
Page 371
Zhuge Shenhou had asked Zheng Dongliu for the position of Left Commander more than once, intending to turn the Four Great Constables into the Five Great Constables, but Zheng Dongliu refused each time.
Without Li Gexiao, and with the loss of Zuo Qianhu, Zheng Dongliu would truly be left to fend for himself. Zhuge Zhengwo had always admired Zheng Dongliu's character and therefore did not want to put him in a difficult position, so he could only keep this matter as a regret in his heart.
Chu Yang, carrying a wine jug, ignored the surprised looks from others, sat down next to Li Gexiao, and toasted him.
Li Gexiao smiled knowingly and returned the toast.
The two sat down on the ground, drinking heartily and laughing loudly.
A disabled person respects another disabled person.
Chapter 170. Swords Clash and Shadows! News of Li Xunhuan!
170.
"Hehe, Your Highness is quite the hero today. If I had known you were this capable, we wouldn't have been chased and beaten when we went to steal the wine."
"It's only natural to get beaten for stealing wine, but you want to beat the owner of the stolen wine? Isn't that both impolite and immoral? A person should at least be able to do one of these things."
"Your Highness is absolutely right. We should clink glasses just for that."
"I'll drink as much as you want, but after we finish, you'll have to come with me on the road."
"where to?"
"Go ahead and have some fun! I've been holding back for over twenty years, and I finally broke free of this cage. I have to make up for all the losses I've suffered over the years."
"What loss? You've indulged in all sorts of vices over the years, from eating and drinking to gambling and whoring. I'm so envious of you."
Chu Yang tapped his chest with his hand.
free.
Li Gexiao remained silent for a long time before smiling bitterly, "Your Highness, I am a useless person. No matter where I go, I will only be a burden to you."
Chu Yang smiled and said, "That was true before, but not anymore..."
Under Li Gexiao's astonished gaze, Chu Yang extended his finger and pressed it against Li Gexiao's Ren and Du meridians, using his vast true essence to reopen the Heavenly Gate for him, though the process would be extremely painful.
His meridians were filled with countless tiny cracks, and the flow of true energy through them was equivalent to tearing his wounds open again.
Li Gexiao kept groaning, his face turned pale, and large beads of sweat slid down his temples.
Then, Chu Yang put two Blood Bodhi seeds into his mouth and used his pure life force to repair his meridians. Under the combined effect of the two, Li Gexiao's hidden ailments and old injuries were being rapidly healed.
"Is Your Highness treating Ge Xiao's injuries?"
"Absolutely not! Your Highness! Ge Xiao's meridians are like shattered porcelain; they can't withstand the slightest disturbance. Even the most skilled physician, Lord Zheng, couldn't cure him back then..."
Zuo Qianhu was a little excited and was about to step forward when Lao Guo stopped him.
Old Guo shook his head. "Don't be impatient, His Highness knows what he's doing."
How could someone who could carefully lie low under the emperor's nose for so many years be a reckless fool?
Before long, Li Gexiao's complexion gradually became rosy, and his withered body gradually regained its former appearance.
When Li Gexiao opened his eyes again, his aura was like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, revealing its full sharpness, and there was no trace of dejection in his eyes.
"Li Gexiao thanks Your Highness for your great kindness and virtue, and is willing to follow you to the death!"
Li Gexiao turned over and knelt down, preparing to kowtow, but found that he couldn't bring himself to do so.
A gentle breeze lifted him from under his forehead.
"Your Majesty?"
Chu Yang pulled him up, patted the dust off his clothes, and laughed, "We met in times of trouble, so we're friends and confidants. Let's skip the formalities."
"Even if your injuries heal, you still need to rebuild your true essence from scratch. My few Blood Bodhi seeds can't make up for your deficiency."
"Some things shouldn't be rushed; they need to be considered carefully..."
Li Gexiao understood Chu Yang's intentions; he simply wanted her to calm down so she could think about how to avenge Jing Ruyi.
Given their friendship, Chu Yang could fly to the capital and kill Yan Song in no time if Li Gexiao made the request. But for Li Gexiao, how could he entrust the revenge for his deceased wife to someone else?
If Li Gexiao cannot personally cut off the head of that old dog Yan Song, he will probably not be able to rest in peace until his death.
As Lao Guo watched Chu Yang subdue Li Gexiao, his eyelids twitched suddenly, and the image of His Highness the Wise Prince rebelling flashed through his mind.
A chill ran down my spine.
Zuo Qianhu didn't think too much about it. He just laughed and hugged Li Gexiao tightly, genuinely happy for his good brother.
Li Gexiao patted his shoulder, "I'll have to trouble Brother Zuo to go back and tell my master for me."
Commander Zuo nodded. "Lord Zheng will be pleased to know. Why don't you tell him yourself?"
Li Gexiao was silent for a moment before speaking: "Brother Zuo, times have changed. I can no longer return to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Moreover, from today onwards, my life belongs to the Prince."
The smile on Zuo Qianhu's face vanished, leaving only a long, drawn-out sigh.
Li Gexiao is right. As long as that old dog Yan Song is around, he can't possibly return to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Otherwise, he would bring endless trouble to Zheng Dongliu and might even incur the emperor's hostility.
The power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard comes entirely from the emperor's trust; if that trust is lost, the commander is not far from death.
"I met some friends today and also killed two dogs. I'm in a pretty good mood. If you want to drink, I'll treat you. If you don't want to drink, you'd better leave now."
Chu Yang stretched and swaggered into Tongfu Inn, not forgetting to turn back and remind them, "Remember to take care of their land before you leave."
Old Guo nodded expressionlessly and led Commander Zuo to the government office in Qixia Town.
The most important thing now is to block any news about Chu Yang.
For the sake of the stability of the Ming Dynasty, the virtuous prince must remain the same as before. As for the emperor's reaction, that's another matter.
To keep the information within Qixia Town, we first need to inform Magistrate Lou, and then call in a group of Imperial Guards to handle it; this is their forte.
It's nothing more than scaring the merchants and common people. By putting the embroidered spring knife to their necks, they'll quickly forget what happened today and never remember it again for the rest of their lives.
Li Gexiao went upstairs to take a shower, and when he came out, he was like a completely different person. He was already a handsome man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and the years of hardship had added to his maturity, making Tong Xiangyu and Guo Furong's eyes sparkle with admiration.
Whether it was because she was feasting her eyes or trying to curry favor with Prince Chu Yang, the usually stingy Manager Tong had Li Dazui prepare a huge table of delicious dishes, which the two of them couldn't possibly finish.
In the end, everyone sat at a table drinking and having fun. Emboldened by the alcohol, they gradually became familiar with Chu Yang.
late at night.
Cao Shaoqin rushed back to the capital with his severed arm, bringing bad news to the eagerly awaiting Cao Zhengchun.
Bad news that could lead to his family's ruin and extermination...
The emperor had ordered him to monitor the virtuous prince for so many years, and yet the prince had actually become a peerless master right under his nose.
Now that things have turned out this way, how should we report it to our superiors?
Reporting with your own head in hand?
He had just assured His Majesty the Emperor that the Prince Xian's aptitude for martial arts was utterly terrible.
Thinking of this, Cao Zhengchun felt his vision go black and had a premonition that he was about to die. The next second, Cao Shaoqin spoke up.
"Uncle, why don't we pin this on Guo Bujing to divert His Majesty's attention?"
"Guo Bujing is the teacher of the Prince Xian. He couldn't possibly be unaware of the Prince Xian's background. I think he is intentionally helping the Prince Xian to conceal it."
"With Guo Bujing's help, it's understandable that our Eastern Depot was kept in the dark, isn't it?"
"Moreover, it was Guo Furong who instigated the Prince Xian to leave the capital this time..."
Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun's eyes lit up, and he felt as if he had come back to life.
"Alright! We'll do as you say. Come with me to the palace immediately. We must get there before Yu Huatian!"
Despite his haste, Cao Zhengchun was still a step too late. By the time he entered the palace, Yu Huatian was already standing in the emperor's study, and even Wei Zhongxian was a step ahead of him.
The two men remained expressionless, but a hint of mockery flashed in their eyes.
The emperor was playing with the trinkets presented as tribute by vassal states, paying no attention to Cao Zhengchun in front of him.
Seeing this, Cao Zhengchun sensed something was wrong. He cursed the two bastards in his heart and knelt down without thinking, then began to wail.
"Your Majesty, you must do justice for this humble servant!"
Cao Zhengchun banged his head against the ground repeatedly, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, a sight that saddened all who heard it and brought tears to their eyes.
His outburst stunned not only Yu Huatian and Wei Zhongxian, but even the emperor.
"Oh? Who has caused Chief Supervisor Cao such grievance?"
The emperor put away his cold expression and asked with interest.
"Guo Bujing, the chief constable of the Six Doors! He colluded with Prince Xian to deceive his superiors and subordinates, completely fooling the Eastern Depot, and secretly trained Prince Xian to become a master!"
"Your Majesty! Guo Bujing's intentions are despicable!"
Following the plan he had discussed with Cao Shaoqin, Cao Zhengchun began to plead with the emperor, regardless of whether the emperor believed him or not, to absolve himself of responsibility first!
Yu Huatian and Wei Zhongxian exchanged a glance, and a look of disdain appeared on their faces at the same time.
That old dog Cao, he really knows how to bite!
Everyone in the world knows Guo Bujing's title of "the greatest of heroes." Anyone could rebel, but he alone would not.