Chapter 1275 - 1111: Identifying People by Their Looks
Chapter 1275: Chapter 1111: Identifying People by Their Looks
"Who?" A faint voice came through, bringing a sense of relief to Gu Chengyu. It’s good that he was awake—it saved him the trouble of thinking up a way to wake him up.
Chang Yuan groped under the pillow with difficulty; keeping a dagger there was his habit.
"No need to be alarmed, General Chang. I mean you no harm!" Gu Chengyu raised his hands and slowly approached Chang Yuan’s bedside.
"Someone!" Through the faint candlelight in the room, Chang Yuan saw the person dressed in night clothes. He couldn’t clearly hear what the other was saying and immediately called for help.
Gu Chengyu sighed helplessly and went forward to cover Chang Yuan’s mouth. Didn’t I tell you not to shout?
Chang Yuan was startled, and with a flip of his left hand, he swiftly thrust the dagger he held toward Gu Chengyu. This was the moment he had been waiting for—to catch the other off guard when he neared and let down his defenses.
His body hadn’t recovered, and he had no strength at all; this thrust used every ounce of his strength.
Gu Chengyu sensed the cold flash and instinctively dodged, quickly grabbing Chang Yuan’s wrist with his left hand. Gu Chengyu slammed his wrist against the bed’s edge; being injured, Chang Yuan couldn’t withstand the blow at all, and the dagger immediately fell to the ground.
Gu Chengyu kicked it up with his foot, catching the dagger in his hand.
"General Chang?" A subtle noise in the room made the follower standing guard outside speak up and inquire.
The cold blade pressed against Chang Yuan’s neck, startling him. This person was indeed up to no good.
"Reply to him!" Gu Chengyu felt somewhat wronged in his heart; he truly meant no harm, yet this person complicated things so much.
"General Chang, are you getting up at night? I’ll come in!" The follower, seeing no response from Chang Yuan, directly pushed the door open.
Gu Chengyu hurriedly jumped onto the bed, pressing the dagger closer to Chang Yuan.
"Xiao Yi, no need! You go out first!" Although his mouth was freed from being covered, the dagger still threatened him, so he dared not risk his life, complying with Gu Chengyu’s words.
"Then I’ll be leaving!" The follower’s foot hadn’t stepped in, and in the dim light inside, he couldn’t make out anything clearly.
Since Chang Yuan said there was nothing wrong, he stepped back out, closing the door as he did so. These past two days, General Chang’s waking hours were unstable, and waking in the middle of the night was quite normal.
Gu Chengyu waited for a moment, and after hearing no sound outside, he softly said, "Send the people outside away; I have something to say to you."
From the follower’s reaction, it seemed he wasn’t sent to monitor Chang Yuan. Moreover, Chang Yuan could even call his name.
"Xiao Yi, I’m hungry. Go cook me a bowl of porridge!" Chang Yuan felt this person might truly not be here to assassinate him; otherwise, why go through so much trouble, given he was now powerless to resist.
Once the footsteps faded, Gu Chengyu released Chang Yuan. As he turned his head, he noticed many bloodstains on the other’s white inner garment, likely because he had exerted too much force just now, causing the wounds to reopen.
Seeing this, he realized he was now on someone else’s bed and couldn’t help but feel a chill. He quickly got off the bed and tidied his clothes.
"General Chang, I just said that I mean you no harm. I am Gu Chengyu, an Imperial Censor sent by the court to investigate the recent appearance of Da Xing operatives at the border. I only just arrived at the border when I heard about your stabbing incident, and the culprit was my senior brother, Yin Kun. To understand the truth, I came to explore your quarters at night. I apologize for disturbing your rest, and I hope you’ll forgive me, General Chang!"
Gu Chengyu apologized and pulled down the black mask on his face to show his sincerity.
Chang Yuan had calmed down by then, "Your senior brother mentioned you, said you are quite good-looking. Seeing you today, it indeed seems so!"
By the dim candlelight, Chang Yuan could make out the figure’s features. Yin Kun often said his junior brother not only had a high and noble demeanor but was also as beautiful as the moon. Seeing him under the lamp, his appearance was even more striking; this person must be Gu Chengyu.
Gu Chengyu’s mouth twitched. What words? Good-looking? Is appearance the way to recognize someone now?
"General Chang, let’s keep this brief; after all, it wasn’t easy to see you. You know your current situation is not good. Not only are you injured, but it seems you’re also under house arrest. The soldiers guarding outside the courtyard belong to General Qi."
Gu Chengyu cautiously inquired, wanting to know Chang Yuan’s attitude towards Qi Huan Yu.
"I’m fully aware; actually, I still don’t understand why your senior brother ended up in my tent that day. All the events were described to me by Qi Huan Yu, as he brought many people who witnessed everything that happened. Your senior brother appeared in my tent in the middle of the night, clutching a dagger, the same dagger sticking in my chest—I can’t argue my innocence."
As Chang Yuan spoke of this matter, he appeared utterly relaxed, his calm face showing no turmoil.
Gu Chengyu felt that his demeanor as he spoke seemed not to truly believe it was the truth. From a normal person’s perspective, discussing such a matter should have been more emotional.
"Does General Chang believe in my senior brother?" Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but ask.
"Whether I believe him or not, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I was certainly drugged that day. However, I’m usually very cautious—all my food and water are tested for poison by others. That night, Da Xing robbers attacked the camp. If there wasn’t something wrong with my body, could I have not woken up? Moreover, with a dagger in my chest, being completely unable to fight back, this is already obvious."
Chang Yuan simply analyzed the situation; whenever he was awake these past few days, he would ponder over earlier events.
"Perhaps it was knockout smoke." Gu Chengyu added.
"Yes! But who set the smoke? Your senior brother can’t completely clear his name of suspicion, although I also don’t believe he would do such a thing. I felt a sense of kinship with him at first meeting, and despite the short acquaintance, I am willing to trust him."
Chang Yuan sighed, expressing his heartfelt thoughts.
Gu Chengyu’s face darkened, "It’s normal for General Chang to think that, given how everything appeared. But my senior brother is just as confused as you; he also woke to find himself holding a dagger, having no idea what had happened. Attempts to explain later were ignored. I’m here for another matter, too: that follower my senior brother entrusted to you—what’s his current situation? And the testimony—do you still have it on you? Could you lend it to me for a look?"
Gu Chengyu realized there might be a trace of mistrust towards Yin Kun in Chang Yuan’s words, so he didn’t bother arguing further.
"The testimony was originally on me, but now I don’t know where it is. As for that follower, he was imprisoned in the dungeon at the time, and I’m also unsure of his wellbeing now."
Chang Yuan wasn’t foolish; he naturally knew there was a conspiracy involved. However, he wasn’t certain whether Yin Kun was part of it.
Gu Chengyu frowned; it seemed that tonight yielded no results.