Cheng Xiuzhu couldn't help but vomit blood. If Yunzhong was a spy, his intelligence on many of his operations had been on Gu Zhong's desk for some time now. No wonder the Mind Control Gu was completely useless; it probably didn't even hit the mark.
No! If Gu Zhong wasn't poisoned, how could his personality have changed so drastically? And how could he have executed Ling Yan at the court meeting a few days ago as instructed?
The only explanation is that the poison was recently neutralized. However, how could the poison that person personally prepared be so easily neutralized? He couldn't understand it at all.
"You're wondering why the Gu poison in my body was cured? This mind-controlling Gu is truly miraculous. With the mother Gu by your side, the offspring Gu will be capricious and will eventually become obedient to the mother Gu, spontaneously becoming a puppet. When the mother Gu dies, the offspring Gu will also die."
That strange assassination attempt in Qinghe was actually just to plant this Gu poison in me, to control me and use me for your own purposes. What a grand scheme! Now I truly believe that you originally didn't want to kill me.
"As expected of His Majesty, he can easily manipulate people at will, while we, these clowns, remain oblivious and smug. Has His Highness Prince Qinghe already returned to the capital from the Southern Frontier?"
As Gu Zhong revealed his scheme, Cheng Xiuzhu knew that the situation was hopeless. Instead, he gradually calmed down and regained his usual gentle and composed demeanor.
"As expected of the top scholar, he is truly quick-witted."
A hint of regret appeared in Gu Zhong's eyes. Putting aside his stance and methods, Cheng Xiuzhu was a rare talent, what a pity.
"Your Highness, I warned you long ago that such treacherous schemes would be ineffective!" Zuo Yingyuan sighed, his face filled with sorrow. "If you had listened to me earlier, things wouldn't have come to this. With the Prince of Qinghe entering the capital, the tide has turned!"
"I'm sorry, Lord Zuo, you know I will never do as you plan."
Cheng Xiuzhu gave him an apologetic smile, seemingly showing little resentment or dissatisfaction with the current situation where the winner takes all.
"This old minister has failed the late Emperor's trust! Your Highness, please take care!"
After speaking, the white-haired, weathered old man lunged forward, and the armored soldier's blade, which he couldn't retract in time, easily slit his throat.
"Lord Zuo!" Cheng Xiuzhu cried out in alarm, his usually calm face cracking with panic. He lunged forward, but was held down by the armored soldiers, his eyes wide with fury.
Blood gushed out like a fountain. Zuo Yingyuan covered her wound, struggled to lift her head, and stared at Gu Zhong with wide eyes, as if she wanted to take her away with her.
They sacrificed everything and worked diligently for that illusory dream of restoring their country, only to find it all in vain.
"He was a loyal minister... what a pity." Looking down at the gradually cooling corpse below the steps, Gu Zhong could only let out a long sigh.
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Author's Note:
Clues about Yun Zhong and Zuo Yingyuan planted in the early stages
This little world should be finished tomorrow.
Chapter 27 The Imperial Tutor and the Crown Princess (Twenty-Six)
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The battle inside the palace came to an end. The terrified and uneasy rebels were pinned to the ground by masked guards, and for a moment they could hardly understand what had just happened.
Outside the open palace gates, the moon hung high in the sky, and the sounds of battle grew louder as they approached. The clash of armor and swords, accompanied by chaotic footsteps, drew to a close.
A white firework pierced the silent night sky, bursting into a bright light on the edge of the city.
Gu Zhong looked up towards the edge of the city, the white light reflected in Obsidian's black eyes.
The rebellion outside the city has been quelled.
Someone rode through the gradually emptying forbidden passage of the imperial palace, holding a long halberd, pushing aside the enemies in front of him, and passing by the trapped soldiers, before stopping in front of the Ganlu Hall.
A thin figure clad in black armor stepped in, the surrounding light illuminating her face and revealing the still-wet bloodstains.
"Royal Sister!" Upon seeing Gu Zhong standing in the hall in a bright red wedding robe, Gu Yang's eyes lit up. Suppressing his joy, he respectfully stepped forward and kowtowed.
"Ah Yang, you've worked hard..." Gu Zhong looked down at his younger sister, who now had the air of a great general, with a complicated expression and offered his condolences in a soft voice.
When Gu Zhong demoted Gu Yang to the southern border, what others did not know was that Gu Yang took away the tiger tally of 200,000 troops in the southern border and a secret edict.
As soon as the rumors began to circulate this year, Lingyan sensed something was wrong and instructed Gu Zhong to order her to secretly lead the Southern Frontier army to bypass the capital and enter the capital via the Southeast Sea.
On the day the rebels besieged the city, the only way to quell their uprising was to sacrifice Lingyan's life. The rebels would lose their legitimacy and hesitate, fearing that someone else would reap the benefits.
But if they disregard their reputation and only want to attack the city at all costs, the defenses of Xijing will not last a day. The army from the southern border to come to the aid of the emperor still has two days' journey to complete. Gu Zhong's wedding invitation is just a delaying tactic, gambling on the hearts of the people. It is a risky move, but unexpectedly, some people have actually fallen into the trap.
It's just unknown how many of them are opportunists and how many are spies planted by Cheng Xiuzhu to work together from the inside.
"I don't know if you are confident in yourselves or trust me, but this wedding invitation, which I sent out casually, actually had someone deliver it into the city. I thank you all for your congratulatory gifts!"
Gu Zhong turned his gaze to His Highness and sincerely thanked him, which made His Highness's men grit their teeth.
"However, this choice has saved your lives. Take them away first!"
The soldiers, upon receiving the order, dragged away these once-arrogant nobles and aristocrats, whose legs had gone limp, making the hall feel much cleaner.
"But I wonder how His Majesty intends to deal with me?"
Cheng Xiuzhu looked at the group of people being led away, and his already pale face turned even paler.
"Now that the loyal Grand Tutor has passed away, if Your Highness is willing to cooperate, I am always magnanimous and would not mind supporting you for the rest of your life."
Gu Zhong put on a friendly smile, but the icy look in his eyes did not melt away at all.
Zuo Yingyuan's death, seemingly out of grief over the hopelessness of restoring the country, actually left Cheng Xiuzhu with a glimmer of hope.
To completely eradicate the remnants of the previous dynasty, it is imperative that this prince live a good life.
Moreover, there's the unsettling witchcraft cult nearby.
"In that case, I thank Your Majesty for sparing my life."
Cheng Xiuzhu smiled bitterly, as if his last glimmer of hope had been drained away. He put away his harmless and gentle demeanor and then spoke coldly and sarcastically.
"I am completely convinced of this outcome, it's just a pity about the unparalleled wisdom of the Prime Minister..."
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhong felt a surge of anger rise in his chest. He forcefully suppressed the hand that was about to strike Gu Zhong's face, his tone becoming increasingly impatient.
"Please escort this prince to his cell to loosen his muscles."
The palace guards immediately understood and dragged out a pair of shackles, fastening them tightly around his neck and limbs. The weight of the fine iron bound his neck and limbs, causing Cheng Xiuzhu to stagger.
"Your Majesty...you're very kind." He forced a smile and was dragged out by the guards in an undignified manner.
The dust has settled, and the overall situation is now settled.
"My elder sister...the Prime Minister?"
Standing to the side, Gu Yang's eyes were filled with reluctance and doubt. She had heard many rumors outside the city recently.
"Have someone clean the palace. I'll return to my bedchamber first."
Without answering Gu Yang's question, Gu Zhongping glanced indifferently at the bloodstains covering the hall and said calmly.
"Yes..." Knowing that she didn't want to talk about it, Gu Yang could only swallow his words of comfort.
Returning to his palace alone, Gu Zhong ordered all the palace servants to leave before finally relaxing his tense emotions and letting out a long sigh of relief.
Without taking off her clothes and shoes, she lay down on the spacious carved yellow pear wood bed. She reached out and searched around the headboard for a moment. Then, a "click" sounded, and the bed flipped over, revealing a secret passage beneath it.
He took down the ever-burning oil lamp at the entrance of the secret passage and walked briskly into the depths.
The stone wall, covered with moss in its cracks, rumbled and slid aside. Lingyan put down the jade flute she had given to Gu Zhong many years ago and turned her gaze to the doorway.
Gu Zhong put down the oil lamp. The stone room was filled with luminous pearls, making it as bright as day. The floor was covered with a thick layer of soft velvet, and it was fully equipped with bookshelves, a bed, and a table, making it a comfortable place to stay temporarily.
"Sir, it's over."
Gu Zhong smiled and stepped forward, overjoyed, wanting to embrace her.
Ling Yan glanced at her coldly and stepped aside. Since the day before yesterday, this person had abandoned her in this isolated place, not allowing her to stay by his side, and even had the audacity to say that he knew what he was doing. Every time she thought of this, she would get furious.
Even if the entire plan is perfectly executed, unexpected things can still happen. Ling Yan hates being treated like a fragile object and protected, but she never expected that Gu Zhong would strike first this time.
"Is the gentleman still angry with me?"
Gu Zhong squatted down in front of her pitifully, blinking his beautiful phoenix eyes, making one feel a pang of pity.
"..." Ling Yan remained silent, silently expressing her dissatisfaction.
"Sir~" Knowing he was in the wrong, Gu Zhong buried his fluffy head in her arms like a mischievous kitten, trying to get away with it by acting cute.
With the imperial city besieged and wolves lurking nearby, every step she took was fraught with danger. Even knowing that her husband could disguise himself and stay by her side, Gu Zhong was unwilling; she didn't want Ling Yan to get hurt again.
Lingyan helplessly pressed her forehead against hers. What else could she do but spoil her silly cat?
"You... thankfully nothing unexpected happened."
"As you said, I am under Heaven's protection and nothing will happen to me!"
"Now you're quite pleased with yourself. I wonder who it was the other day who even wrote the will."
"Sir, do I look good in this outfit?"
After a brief, shy silence, Gu Zhong seemed to suddenly remember a way to change the subject. He stood up abruptly, spread his arms, and spun around in front of her.
"Even the hibiscus cannot compare to the beauty of a woman's makeup; it is quite beautiful."
Lingyan stared at her intently, a smile creeping into her eyes. She had been wearing the dragon and phoenix wedding dress since this morning, without complaining about its weight; it was truly a difficult situation for her.
With a flick of her skirt, Gu Zhong softly fell into Chen Yan's arms. Her black hair cascaded down her back, her robe was half-undone, and her arms encircled Chen Yan's neck. All her usual domineering aura vanished, and she looked up at Gu Zhong with a dazed expression, as if she were just an ordinary, charming woman gazing at her beloved.
"Sir, tonight is my wedding night..."
Lingyan instantly felt the person in her arms was burning hot. She turned her face to the side and pretended to be calm, but her bright red ears betrayed her shyness.
The finest mutton-fat white jade against the bright red brocade creates a striking contrast that makes one want to hold the perfectly shaped, warm white jade in their hands and admire it closely.
Gu Zhong's hand groped haphazardly and happened to touch the jade flute that Ling Yan had just put down.
"Sir, would you like me to play the flute for you?"
She breathed heavily, clutching Lingyan's collar, pulling her lower and closer together.
"Okay." Ling Yan's breathing became erratic for a moment, and she accidentally stumbled forward. Gu Zhong's well-proportioned legs suddenly tensed up, and she handed the slender jade flute to Ling Yan with trembling hands.
The flute's mouthpiece lightly touched the lips, the two soft lips gently held it, and a slow, gentle melody began to play. A rhythmic melody arose, plaintive and poignant, blending sound with imagery, as if playing a gentle, flowing stream, its notes lingering endlessly. When the piece ended, its lingering charm remained.
Green hills faintly visible, waters stretching far and wide; autumn ends in Jiangnan, yet the grasses remain green. On a moonlit night at the Twenty-Four Bridges, where is the beautiful maiden teaching the flute?
The turmoil within the aristocratic families, which lasted less than two months, came to an abrupt end with this absurd wedding.
The powerful families, having faced another purge, were utterly crippled. Keeping private armies was no longer permitted, and military power in all the prefectures and counties was completely returned to the hands of the emperor.
Upon investigation, it was found that the rebels of the previous dynasty had fueled the unrest, and many powerful families had colluded with the previous dynasty.
What caused even greater uproar was that a former prince almost became the emperor's consort; the real-life drama was far more interesting than anything in the play.