Chapter 118
After the military examinations, several promising candidates emerged. Gu Yuanbai assigned them to the land and naval forces, to be trained by the various generals.
This year’s top scorer was a young man named Su Ning. His father, brother, and ancestors for three generations back were all farmers. It was quite remarkable for a farming family to raise such a gifted individual. Gu Yuanbai sent someone to inquire and learned that Su Ning was the beloved apprentice and son-in-law of the Minister of War. No wonder the Minister of War had claimed illness and not attended the examinations – he was avoiding a conflict of interest.
Half a month after the military examinations, those sent to the coastal regions to combat drug use brought an addict back to the capital.
That day, Gu Yuanbai took all the imperial physicians and his trusted ministers to witness the addict’s withdrawal symptoms.
Those who had thought the Emperor was making a big fuss out of a small matter felt a chill down their spines as they watched the addict’s crazed reactions. The chill spread from their limbs to their internal organs, as if they were in the dead of winter.
Without reason, the addict was as ferocious as a wild beast. He was no longer a person, but a living ghost.
Only when the addict finally collapsed, foaming at the mouth, did everyone feel the burden on their hearts lift and breathe again.
“Palpitations, pale or sallow complexion,” Gu Yuanbai said calmly, “Dry heaving, nausea. I experienced these symptoms a few days ago, weakness in my limbs, rapid heartbeat.”
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Kong Yilin took it, looked at it, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Gu Yuanbai leaned back in his chair, pondering the timing of Kong Yilin’s rebellion in the original story.
Given the Western Xia Emperor’s addiction to the national incense, he wouldn’t live much longer once the supply was cut off. Even if he survived, he wouldn’t have the strength to launch a large-scale attack on Great Heng with Kong Yilin.
Then it must be the next successor.
The next ruler of Western Xia must be ambitious and value talent. He understood the value of Kong Yilin and the cotton he controlled, and thus offered Kong Yilin what he couldn’t obtain in Great Heng: power and status.
This suggested he possessed an open mind, not prejudiced against a person’s origins. Or perhaps, this successor was desperately short of talent and thus eager to recruit regardless of their nationality.
He also knew how to assess the situation and adapt. In the original story, the war between Great Heng and Western Xia was Xue Yuan’s triumphant campaign. After realizing they couldn’t defeat Great Heng, Western Xia surrendered swiftly and decisively.
The next ruler of Western Xia was a formidable figure. Would such a person truly be unaware of the harm caused by the national incense, and would he really allow it to spread unchecked?
Gu Yuanbai exhaled and suddenly asked, “Do you know anything about the Second Prince of Western Xia?”
“The Second Prince of Western Xia,” Kong Yilin was taken aback, then recalled, “I only learned of him after he came to the capital. I’m not familiar with him and know very little. I’ve heard he’s not renowned and has mediocre abilities, only his resilience is worth mentioning.”
Gu Yuanbai smiled, thinking, isn’t resilience enough?
He didn’t pursue the matter further, instead changing the subject with a teasing tone: “Kong Qing, I heard that Censor Mi wants to marry his youngest daughter to you. Is this true?”
Kong Yilin’s face flushed. “Your Majesty, Censor Mi has no such intention.”
“Oh?” Gu Yuanbai curled his lips. “I’ve heard that for the past month or two, every time you have a day off, you eagerly rush to the temple. Coincidentally, you always encounter Censor Mi’s youngest daughter there to offer incense.”
Kong Yilin bowed deeply and excused himself.
But as he was about to step out of the palace gates, he glanced back inadvertently and saw Xue Yuan whispering in the Emperor’s ear. Kong Yilin calmly averted his gaze, smiled at Tian Fusheng, and quickly left the palace.
Xue Yuan whispered to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, on your next day off, why don’t you join me for incense at the temple?”
For a whole month, Xue Yuan hadn’t made a single overture towards Gu Yuanbai. Sometimes, Gu Yuanbai would wake up in the middle of the night and ask him to bring water. Occasionally, warm water would slip from the corner of his lips, and when Gu Yuanbai expected Xue Yuan to lean in and wipe it away, he would remain motionless, not daring to even lift a finger to touch him.
The man who had dared to massage him for an hour, constantly taking advantage of the situation, seemed to have transformed overnight, becoming so restrained that he was almost a different person. When Gu Yuanbai emerged from the spring pool, droplets of water dripped from his hair, forming a string of broken beads, trailing down his neck and robes like a swimming dragon. Yet, Xue Yuan would rather close his eyes and lower his head than glance at the Emperor.
Tedious.
These past few days, the sight of Xue Yuan irritated Gu Yuanbai. He thought, is the second move after seduction playing hard to get?
Was Xue Jiuyao planning to use all his military tactics on him, one by one?
He didn’t want to engage in conversation and continued to deal with the memorials with a cold expression. Xue Yuan remained still and softly advised, “Your Majesty, you should rest. I’m worried your health won’t be able to bear it.”
His voice, for some reason, had also become hoarse over the past month.
“Get out,” Gu Yuanbai furrowed his brows. “I’m pure and desireless, I rest every day.”
A smile appeared in Xue Yuan’s eyes. “Your Majesty, how can this be considered rest? Spring has arrived; it’s a pleasant season, neither too cold nor too hot. You don’t need to bring Tian Fusheng, just bring me. I will take good care of you.”
Upon hearing this, Tian Fusheng became anxious, practically ready to rush forward and fight Xue Yuan. “Master Xue, this servant doesn’t like to hear those words. His Majesty cannot leave the palace without me. Not bringing me would be extremely inconvenient.”
Gu Yuanbai turned a page of the memorial. “Can’t I even stroll in my Imperial Garden?”
“That’s different,” Tian Fusheng also urged. “Your Majesty, you really should go out for a walk.”
Gu Yuanbai had been intending to relax his long-tense nerves. He had planned to go out for a spring outing on his next day off.
Now, he raised his eyes and looked at the Captain of the Guard. “Do you also think I should go out and see the spring scenery?”
The Captain of the Guard was flattered. He bowed and said earnestly, “This subordinate agrees with Master Xue and Chief Steward Tian. I think so too.”
Gu Yuanbai glanced at Xue Yuan from the corner of his eye. The smile on the latter’s face indeed changed, now staring chillingly at Zhang Xu’s smile, a creepy sight. Gu Yuanbai chuckled and then said with a smile, “Then let’s go.”
Rest Day, Jingchen Temple.
Gu Yuanbai, dressed in casual clothes, was led by a young novice monk, visiting the Buddha statues in each hall.
The late Emperor was a devout Buddhist and would kneel sincerely before the deities. Gu Yuanbai was a materialist, but after experiencing transmigration, regardless of belief or disbelief, when he saw deities, he would contemplate the existence of gods and ghosts.
He stood in the center of the temple, hands clasped behind his back, his tall figure in green robes facing the golden Buddha without flinching.
The golden Buddha, polished to a gleam, had bright,炯炯有神 eyes. It seemed to be looking back at Gu Yuanbai, the corners of its lips below its thick ears slightly upturned in a gentle and profound expression.
Gu Yuanbai watched for a moment, a thought stirring in his mind, when Xue Yuan suddenly grabbed his wrist with a darkened face: “Don’t look.”
Gu Yuanbai’s train of thought was interrupted. He looked down at Xue Yuan’s hand gripping his wrist, scoffed a few times, and abruptly pulled away.
Aren’t you playing hard to get? Then don’t fucking touch me.
Once he shook off Xue Yuan’s hand, Gu Yuanbai immediately felt refreshed. With a smile on his lips, he happily toured the temple grounds with the novice monk. He didn’t pray to Buddha, but he didn’t stop those around him from doing so. The palace attendants and guards, with permission, lit incense and bowed reverently in each hall with a Buddha statue.
After seeing all there was to see, the group had a vegetarian meal at the temple.
The sandalwood incense in the temple was particularly sleep-inducing. After the meal, Gu Yuanbai felt drowsy and took a nap in a side room. When he woke up, he heard the rumbling of thunder and the pouring of heavy rain. He sat up and looked outside. Although it was only past noon, the sky was dark and gloomy, with a chill in the air. It had indeed started to rain.
“Someone.”
A palace attendant entered and helped the Emperor get up. Gu Yuanbai looked around and frowned. “Why are there a few people missing?”
Before he finished speaking, several drenched figures ran towards them through the rain. It was Xue Yuan and a few guards. They ran all the way to the covered walkway, their dripping clothes soaking the dry ground, splashing water everywhere.
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