Their emperor, without uttering a word, personally went to the rebellious minor star system.
He acted so brazenly, as if he wasn't worried at all about being stripped of power.
He personally went to quell the rebellion.
A year passed before I even left!
It's no exaggeration to say that He Hui was completely dumbfounded.
When Gu Tang returned later, he brought back a baby.
Then they announced to the public that it was his son and that he was being raised in the palace.
The little prince's birth mother is unknown, and he looks more and more like the deceased former crown prince, Gu Feng, as he grows up.
He Hui and the others looked at Gu Yan's increasingly clear features and calculated the time.
Although it seems unlikely, given Gu Yan's age, he might really be Gu Feng's posthumous child.
Otherwise, how could he be completely unlike Gu Tang, yet look exactly like Gu Feng?
Furthermore, they received an accurate answer from the doctors in the palace, confirming that Gu Yan was indeed of royal blood.
The former princelings, including He Hui, are tempted again.
They became increasingly certain that Gu Yan might be Gu Feng's posthumous son.
New concerns followed.
They began to worry that Gu Tang might harm the child.
After all, as Gu Yan grew up, rumors and gossip began to spread all over the capital city again.
Too many people have seen the former crown prince; some older members of the nobility even swear on their own beliefs—
Gu Yan's appearance is exactly like Gu Feng's when he was a child.
He Hui, Gu Tailin, and the others began making preparations.
They decided that if anything unexpected happened, they would protect Gu Yan at all costs.
Unexpectedly, not long after, Gu Tang did not get married, but instead established an heir apparent.
Two-year-old Gu Yan thus became the crown prince of the Galactic Empire.
The Crown Prince's former subordinates gradually developed new expectations.
Although Gu Feng is dead, if one day they can help his son ascend the throne.
Make him the new monarch of the Galactic Empire.
It's not bad, is it?
They began to look forward to Gu Yan growing up.
Perhaps because they had guessed what these people were thinking, and knew that before Gu Yan came of age, Gu Tailin and the others, considering the stability of the empire, would not do anything too outrageous.
Gu Tang began running outside without restraint.
He spends most of the year away from the capital city.
The Galactic Empire has existed for nearly four hundred years and has long had a complete system of governance.
Furthermore, with Gu Tailin and others firmly in control of the military, there is no need to worry about anyone causing trouble.
Gu Tang was incredibly dashing.
There's a rebellion in a small star system to the east, and he's going to quell it.
Monsters are appearing in the territory, slaughtering civilians, and he is going to hunt them down.
...
This year it's even more ridiculous; the fact that space pirates are causing trouble on the border has alarmed His Majesty the Emperor of the Galactic Empire.
Finally, we returned to the capital city.
He seemed to just casually glance at the memorials that were required to be reviewed by His Majesty the Emperor.
He always seemed unenthusiastic about government affairs.
Each time, He Hui would corner him in the palace and have him report on his duties.
They all looked helpless, as if they could fall asleep at any moment.
But He Hui knew that these were just appearances.
Although the Galactic Empire is not like the feudal empires of the past.
A vast constitutional monarchy has its own operating system.
However, he was a truly capricious and irresponsible emperor.
It is still possible to throw the empire into chaos.
The struggle for power is an age-old theme that has never disappeared with the development of the times.
But Gu Tang did not.
He not only prevented the Galactic Empire from falling into internal strife.
On several occasions, when He Hui felt that the empire might be in turmoil, it was Gu Tang who, by delegating power and using his own methods, helped the Galactic Empire weather the potential crises.
He Hui looked at Gu Tang, who was lazily leaning against the table, and his tone contained a gentleness that he himself did not realize.
He repeated his words: "I have never thought about whether or not the Mandate of Heaven should belong to His Majesty."
He took a step closer to Gu Tang, his voice even gentler: "The empire will not be in chaos, nor will the capital star."
Gu Tang's eyes widened.
The intoxication in his eyes receded like the tide, and he watched as He Hui walked closer and closer to him.
His Majesty the Emperor's bedroom was not very large.
He Hui took two more steps forward and stood in front of Gu Tang.
He could only see the expression on He Hui's face by tilting his head slightly upwards.
"You..." Gu Tang opened his mouth, vaguely sensing that something was wrong.
"Your Majesty, and always will be my Your Majesty. No one has the right to plunge the empire you have been protecting into new chaos." He Hui said softly, yet with unwavering conviction, each word distinct and weighty: "I will stand with Your Majesty and protect the Galactic Empire."
Gu Tang: "..."
He blinked and waved to He Hui, "I...I understand."
He gestured to him, "It's very late. If there's nothing else, Minister He, please go back."
He Hui nodded.
He bowed to Gu Tang and turned to leave.
Watching the other person's figure disappear into the night, Gu Tang reached out and touched his chin.
"What's going on?" he muttered, as if talking to himself, "Why are they keeping me up in the middle of the night, insisting on seeing me just to say these things?"
but……
He probably guessed it too.
He Hui was a key figure among his elder brother's former subordinates, and the other party always knew more secrets.
From this perspective...
Gu Tang narrowed his eyes, his slender fingers tapping absently on the table.
They must have some solid evidence.
"He likes you." A deep, pleasant male voice came from behind Gu Tang.
He suddenly turned his head.
Then they saw Qin Junche, dressed in casual black clothes, with his arms crossed, leaning against the door of his bedroom.
"When did you arrive?" Gu Tang frowned.
Qin Junche did not answer his question.
He strode forward and walked to Gu Tang in just a few steps.
Then he looked down at the other person.
He arrived very early.
His Majesty the Emperor's bedroom has never been guarded, and even the personal guards are not allowed to enter.
It wasn't Qin Junche's first time here anyway.
He always felt that Gu Tang was practically waiting for someone to assassinate him.
However, he didn't know whether Gu Tang did this because he was highly skilled and daring.
Qin Junche was willing to bet that, looking across the entire galaxy, even if someone sent assassins or death squads, they would be 99% no match for Gu Tang.
So he saw Gu Tang drinking alone.
Before He Hui entered, Gu Tang deliberately spilled two glasses of wine in the shadows of the table, filling the entire palace with the smell of alcohol.
They also clearly heard the conversation between the other party and He Hui.
Qin Junche leaned down and stretched out his arm, trapping Gu Tang between himself and the chair.
He repeated the sentence through gritted teeth: "He likes you."
Gu Tang: "..."
Qin Junche looked at Gu Tang with some resentment.
Even setting aside their identities, just considering their appearance...
His Majesty the Emperor of the Galactic Empire is also very handsome.
Otherwise, Qin Junche wouldn't have developed a liking for Gu Tang at first sight.
Gu Tang is so good-looking that he even wants to use the word "beautiful" to describe him.
So Qin Junche initially thought that Gu Tang was a young master who was unaware of the hardships of life.