Chapter 105 - 105 Sincerity
105 Sincerity
The late Emperor wanted to make peace with the State of Yue, but he did not issue a decree to reinforce Yangzhou for a long time. Gu Ce tried his best to hold on for three months, but in the end, he was forced to open the city gate to the State of Yue…
However, the Yue people did not believe him and killed Gu Ce.
When the late Emperor heard that Gu Ce had lost to the enemy, he was furious and almost took away the title of Marquis of Dingyuan. However, because Gu Ce’s daughter, Gu Yunrong, saved Kang Wang in the chaos in Yangzhou when she was six years old, she made up for Gu Ce’s mistake.
The late Emperor thought about it, and in the end, he bypassed Gu Ce’s eldest son, Gu Yuan, and passed the title of Marquis of Dingyuan to Gu Jian.
Thinking of these past events, Imperial Duke Wei sighed in his heart. “This shouldn’t have happened…”
If the late Emperor had sent troops to support Yangzhou in time, Gu Ce would not have been forced into a corner and even died at the hands of the enemy!
A lifetime of heroic leadership was ruined.
Although Imperial Duke Wei did not say anything wrong about the late Emperor, Imperial Duchess Wei could tell what her husband meant. The corners of her lips curled up mockingly as she sneered, “The late Emperor was a fool!”
Emperor Taizu was a refined and cultured man. Unfortunately, his sons were all mediocre, and none of them had his bearing. The previous Emperor had only ascended to the throne as the eldest son of the first wife.
Imperial Duke Wei stroked his beard and sighed. “Gu Ce’s son, Gu Yuan… isn’t easy either.”
He still remembered that two autumns ago, Gu Yuan had followed the imperial guards to the coast to suppress the pirates. He had made a great contribution and should have been able to be promoted at least two grades. In the end, it was obvious why he did not receive any rewards from the previous Emperor.
Imperial Duke Wei had a noble status, and it was quite an honor for Gu Yuan to have Imperial Duke Wei remember his name.
Imperial Duchess Wei raised her heroic eyebrows and smiled. “It looks like he’s a good child like that girl.”
Imperial Duke Wei pondered and said, “Gu Yuan seems to be in the West Mountain Camp now, Ren…”
He did not remember very well and was about to instruct the attendant to ask around when the curtain happened to be lifted at this moment. A housekeeper walked in without looking sideways and bowed to the two masters. She reported, “My Lord, Madam, Kang Wang and Lord Yuan heard that my Lord was sick and specially came to visit. They even brought the Shangqing Spiritual Master of the Wuliang Temple.”
As she spoke, the housekeeper’s eyes lit up.
Shangqing Spiritual Master was known for having immortal skills in the capital and was an expert in medicine. Usually, there was an endless stream of believers who went to Wuliang Temple to pay their respects and seek medical treatment, but they often could not even meet him. If they wanted to invite Shangqing Spiritual Master to visit for treatment, they would have to make an appointment half a month in advance.
A living Taoist master like Shangqing Spiritual Master with immortal skills could not be invited just like that.
Imperial Duke Wei and his wife looked at each other. The corners of Imperial Duchess Wei’s mouth curled up into a faint smile as she said meaningfully, “Kang Wang probably knows that the Eldest Prince is also at Tianyin Pavilion today.”
Imperial Duke Wei was the most impatient to deal with those pretentious noble families. He said angrily, “Let them go back. Tell them that I’ve already rested.”
The housekeeper accepted the order without another word.
After a while, Chu You and Yuan Zhe, who were waiting outside the imperial duke’s mansion, received a message from the housekeeper.
“Hmph.” In the carriage, Kang Wang, Chu You, snorted unhappily. “Didn’t I say that these nobles haven’t even cleaned up their country bumpkin act yet? They’re acting like they’re from a rich family.”
Three generations were wealthy families, and a hundred years were aristocratic families.
The Wei family’s imperial duke position had only been passed down to the second generation and could not even be considered a wealthy family.
Yuan Zhe sat opposite Chu You and comforted him. “Calm down.”
He glanced sideways at the plaque of the Wei family mansion outside the window, and a hint of disapproval flashed across his deep eyes.
Yuan Zhe took a sip of tea before saying meaningfully, “The Eldest Prince sure hid well.”
There was silence in the carriage.
Chu You’s long and narrow eagle eyes narrowed and flashed with a cold light. He could not help but think of the matter that had caused him to be demoted.
After that day, he received Rong’er’s letter and learned about what had happened in the Marquis Mansion. Thinking about the game in the East Warm Pavilion, he finally believed that he had been schemed against.
Today, he had specially brought Shangqing Spiritual Master here to see if Imperial Duke Wei was sick…
Chu You’s eyes turned even colder as he asserted, “Chu Yi must be up to something again.”
Imperial Duke Wei was watching the show in Tianyin Pavilion when he vomited blood for some reason. He was coincidentally seen by Chu Yi, who happened to be there and had a “miracle doctor” beside him.
What a coincidence!
Chu You did not believe that Chu Yi did not secretly play any tricks. For example, harming the imperial duke first before saving him!
Yuan Zhe did not comment.
He lifted one of the curtains and smiled apologetically at the Taoist priest, who was silent in the other carriage. His eyes were filled with respect as he said, “I’ve troubled you for a wasted trip today. Spiritual Master, are you willing to go to my humble abode to rest?”
Shangqing Spiritual Master looked up with a far-reaching and aloof gaze. He smiled calmly at Yuan Zhe and said, “There’s no need to take it to heart, everything is fate. I still have to return to the temple to preach, so I won’t disturb you today.”
Yuan Zhe did not force him either. He instructed the coachman to send Shangqing Spiritual Master back to the Wuliang Temple before leaving with Chu You.
Imperial Duke Wei was ranked among the four dukes. Many people in the imperial court watched every move of the imperial duke’s mansion. Soon, everyone in the imperial court knew that Imperial Duke Wei was seriously ill.
Hence, in the next few days, many nobles came to visit.
Even Madam Gu of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion specially found some expensive herbs and planned to let Gu Jian and his wife go there personally.
However, the Wei family had recently closed their doors and refused guests. Madam Gu did not expect them to enter and only wanted to express her intention to befriend them.
If they wanted to befriend such a noble, the Marquis Mansion had to show their sincerity.
“Xinwen, the herbs you found are still a little ordinary. Why don’t you bring the 300-year-old ginseng from my storeroom?”
Madam Gu made up her mind and decided to bear the pain of giving away something precious.
Madam Wang could not help but smile. Just as she was about to thank Madam Gu, she was interrupted by the maidservant, Bai Lu, who had just entered. “Madam, Miss Wei Jiu from the Wei family is here to visit.”
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other in surprise.
Imperial Duke Wei’s status was extraordinary. Back then, he even dared to scold the late Emperor, and anyone could see his arrogance.
Furthermore, Miss Wei Jiu was the youngest daughter of Imperial Duke Wei’s heir and was doted on by Imperial Duke Wei and his wife.
The Gu family and the Wei family had never interacted. They had yet to visit, so why was this girl from the Wei family here personally?!
Bai Lu continued, “Miss Wei Jiu’s servant said that they’re here to see the Second Lady today.”
Bai Lu spoke clearly, but in Madam Gu’s ears, the word “Second Lady” naturally referred to Gu Yunrong.